In his quarters, Maurice was getting ready for the party. He was feeling a little dizzy and groggy from the long trip. The crew had spent almost two Earth years in hyper-sleep. It was just a side effect from awakening from so long, but that feeling wasn’t fancying him so well.
It was actually Joseph and Tasha’s birthday (they were twins), and it was Tasha’s idea to set the awakening sequence right before they were supposed to reach the Mergez System.
Tasha and Tony worked vigorously to make the storage area look and feel like the beach. The pool was ready and there would be food and music.
They even had solar collectors to mimic the California sunshine that Maurice missed so much.
Well, let’s get this show on the road, Maurice thought. He was wearing his favorite knee-length blue shorts and a blue tank top.
“You look marvelous,” he said to himself. He flexed and posed and stretched in the mirror.
“You look okay,” another voice said.
Maurice turned around suddenly to see that Terri had said that. His heart was beating fast.
“Don’t you know it’s not nice to stow away in the captain’s quarters? I hope you weren’t watching me get dressed! What’s your problem?” he exclaimed.
Terri grabbed some towels and then sat on Maurice’s bed.
“Maurice,” she said. “I know we’re far away from home, but I keep having these nightmares. It keeps bothering me, most of the time when we were in hibernation. It’s my grandfather. I have a feeling he’s sick on earth. I really want to go back home. When we came to Los Angeles, he was the only family I had left. I feel I must go to him. Please understand how I feel.”
She began to cry a little. “Terri . . . ” Maurice said. “I don’t know what to do . . . But I tell you what, when our mission in the Mergez System is over, I’ll make sure we send you home.”
She began to cry more. “Okay, please, I can’t take losing him. He’s the only family I have left.”
Maurice took one of the towels from her and wiped her tears. Most of his crew of ten rarely talked about life back on Earth, but seeing Terri was the youngest, it was understandable that she would crack first.
“Come on, now.” He grabbed her hand and pressed for the door to slide open. “Right now, we have a party to attend.” As they walked down the hallway, they ran into Linda and Natalie.
Linda looked amazing in her black bathing suit, with a towel wrapped around her neck.
“Is this your new girl?” she said.
“Enough,” said Maurice.
“I can’t wait to have some of Tony’s barbecue,” said Natalie.
Maurice cut in, “He’d better make enough for everybody. I’m hungry.”
When they got to the end of the hall, Maurice was impressed with the decorations. It was amazing. The table was loaded with food and everybody was there. Starcutter could fly itself with automatic pilot, he thought, even though he preferred to fly with at least one human pilot.
He had to shake off those thoughts and try to enjoy himself. After all, the party was necessary to boost morale. Not only that, the pool’s water had been treated with a chemical agent that would speed up recovery from hyper-sleep. That meant everybody had to get into the pool, even him. With his phobia of water and all, Maurice tried to shake off his fear of the water. He dipped his foot in and glanced at everyone else. Everybody had dipped into the pool. He was the only dry one in the house.
“You can dive in at any time!” said Tony. Maurice got scared. He didn’t show it, but he was jealous because Tony was an excellent swimmer.
“Can I have your attention!?” Tasha broke a tense moment as she spoke on the mic. “Everybody to the table for the cake cutting!”
Everyone gathered around. Joseph put on this really old song called “Birthday Party” as he and Tasha got next to each other.
“Make a wish, but don’t you two wish for the same things” said Kimberley.
Together they blew out the candles. Secretly, Tasha wished she had a boyfriend like Steve was to Kimberley, and Joseph wished to become famous when they got back to Earth.
Tasha handed Maurice the knife. “We’d be honored if you cut the first piece.”
It was a rectangular red velvet cake with vanilla frosting. He cut a big piece out the of corner and walked away as the music resumed.
He kind of wanted to be alone while he ate his cake and to try to gradually slip his body into that pool so he could feel better.
He ate fast. He started to choke. Out of nowhere, Tony rammed him into the pool, into the deep water!
“Everybody into the pool!” Tony said.
In no time, Maurice panicked. He coughed. There was nothing to grab onto. He sank like a battleship.
Linda wasted no time. She dived into the water, followed by Steve. Together they dragged him out of the water.
He coughed, but there was no response.
“Get Natalie over here! He’s dying. Hurry!” Linda exclaimed.
Joseph brought Natalie over to Maurice. Linda prayed that Natalie’s healing powers could save the captain. With both hands, Natalie pressed against Maurice’s chest. The water began to come out of his mouth and nose. “I’m losing him,” Natalie said.
For a split second, Maurice opened his right eye. And then everything went black. Steve and Joseph lifted up his body and put him on a gurney. Then Natalie and Terri followed them to the sick bay. They had to save him.
Tasha went over to Tony. She didn’t have words. She slapped him. “You ruined my party!” Then she headed to the sick bay, crying.
Tony felt guilty. He wanted to hit her back, but he was completely in the wrong. The best thing to do now would be just to go to his laboratory. He had to think about what he had done.