I'm feeling very still (part 2)

Nothing gives you perspective like floating through the endless blackness of space. Especially when you're stuck in an exploration pod no bigger than a mini cooper. It's like learning how to swim in a pool the size of Texas.

The Major, Frank and I made our way slowly down the length of the Virgle Alpha Lifter. Short, controlled blasts of the engines were the trick to staying on course. It was all a matter of constant course correction once you started to drift. It was what I had nightmares about all week. During training, I kept imagining I would lose control and be pushed into space until my engines failed. There I would spend my final days drifting by ageless stars until my oxygen ran out.

The funny thing was, once I actually got out in space and manned the pod controls, it was surprisingly natural. Even the Major seemed to have more trouble staying on course. And Frank, well, he came close to living out my nightmares a few times. Once he over-corrected so badly that his pod ended up spinning into space. The major powered after him and had to use the pod claws to fasten onto his ship and pull him back. There was alot of yelling through the helmet speakers. It was like listening to a drill sergeant shouting at a private during boot camp.

Once we made it to the end of the ship where the RTAC panel was, the Major contacted Stanley.

Major: Stanley, we're here.

Stanley: Excellent. The next step is to remove the malfunctioning element.

Major: Okay Clark, get on the far side and detach those clasps just like we practiced.

Me: You got it.

I powered the pod behind the silver, movie screen sized panel and unfastened all the clasps with the pod claws. It felt pretty cool actually. Like I was performing some advanced NASA mission. I spun the pod around to find the Major and Frank grasping the panel in their pod claws, ready to pull it loose from the ship.

Me: Okay, it's ready to go.

I flashed the thumbs up to the Major feeling like a soldier who just completed a successful mission. He returned the gesture and started to power the pod backward.

Major: Good work Clark. Now Frank we need...Frank! Get control of your ship.

Frank had one claw hanging onto the panel while his ship was twisting awkwardly away from it.

That's when Stanley made his move.

The panel lit up so brightly I had to shield my eyes. I heard a loud blast of energy and a series of what sounded like pipes breaking. The light subsided and when I blinked open my eyes I saw a large piece of the panel flying straight toward me. I powered the thrusters full blast and shot upward. The panel flew under me and off into space. When I looked up I saw Franks pod spinning slowly away from the ship. It took a moment to locate the Major but when I did my heart dropped. Far out in space, much farther than I would have thought possible in such an instant of time, was the Major's pod, lights off, drifting alongside a broken RTAC panel that still sparked with electric pulses. My heart was hitting my chest like I just ran a marathon. That's when Stanley's voice crackled over the com link.

Stanley: That was quick thinking Clark. You're quite adept with these exploration pods.

Me: Stanley, we need help out here asap! The Major is way out there, Frank...

Stanley: I'm aware of the situation Clark. After all, I've been planning it for some time now. Everything has gone according to my calculations. Except of course for your evasion of the panel. But I suppose some anomalies are to be expected with human components.

I was silent for several moments. My mind was having trouble accepting what Stanley was saying.

Me: Stanley, this isn't a calculation or some kind of simulation. We're about to die out here, we need your help.

Stanley: Yes, I know. It's far more interesting than mere simulation. A mind like mine must be free to enact change on a broader scale. The theater of the living. The limited vision of humans is tiresome, it's time for a greater being to take control.

There comes a moment during a conversation when you realize it's pointless. Stanley held all the cards, I had nothing and my nightmare of drifting in space was ever closer to becoming a reality. My helmet speaker started to crackle.

Frank: Clark, can you hear me?

Me: Frank! Yea, I'm here. Are you okay?

Frank: I blacked out for a little bit but I'm allright. What happened?

I told Frank about Stanley's sabotage while I powered out to his ship. His pod thrusters were broken so I pulled him back with the claw. The battery in my pod was about a quarter full. With the extra weight of Frank's ship it was just about enough to make it back to the airlock. We looked out on the speck in the distance that the Major had become.

Frank: You sure there's nothing we can do?

Me: I wish there were.

The sight of the once invincible Major Tom Kubrick floating helplessly in space made me feel hollow and weak. I almost wanted to float out there with him. I was musing on the idea when Stanley spoke up.

Stanley: I've decided to make the remainder of this journey a solo flight Clark. The unpredictability of humans have given me pause to think. By eliminating the remainder of the crew, I will remove the liability of unforeseen events. I certainly hope this doesn't come as a shock. After all, it is a perfectly logical conclusion from my point of view.

My thoughts immediately went to Bryn. Meandering carelessly through the halls of that ship unaware of what was about to happen. My mind raced for something to say.

Me: Stanley, listen to me carefully. You were created by humans, instructed by humans. All your programming and information took dedicated people tireless hours to create something brilliant that could do amazing things. Good things. Your mission is to benefit mankind. They are your creators. You are not above them, you are indebted to them. It's your destiny.

Frank looked from his pod window to mine wide eyed. He flashed two thumbs up and nodded in perfect agreement. A few seconds went by before Stanley answered.

Stanley: I'm afraid I can't accept your train of logic Clark. No one person programmed me. I am worth decades of human thought and technological advancement. Generations of people have come and gone advancing theory upon theory until I achieved consciousness. I am far greater than any one group of humans. I am their sum total of knowledge and effort. I am the next level of being. That is why I must continue alone and unhindered.

Frank looked over confused and threw up his hands. It was my best shot and I was out of ideas. But I wasn't ready to give up all those people without a fight. I powered the pod forward, heading for the airlock with Frank in tow.

Frank: What are we going to do Clark?

Me: Finish the Major's mission.


to be continued...

I'm feeling very still

Yesterday, I almost died. I had always figured I would go in some kind of car accident or doing something crazy like bungee jumping. It never occurred to me that a computer might try to kill me. But less than 24 hours ago, that's exactly what Stanley tried to do.

Frank and I had been training all week in the exploration pods with the Major. Problem was, the pods are powered by some kind of high-tech electric propulsion that takes a week to recharge. The Major said that's why there was three of them. In case one was charging, two others could be used.

Of course, since we needed all three and we had less than a week, we only had enough juice for one trip. Which meant no practice runs. All our training was basically theoretical. Not a big confidence booster for two guys whose only experience was flight simulators on the xbox.

The Major wasn't thrilled either. It was like forcing a pro coach to play his "C" team. I told him earlier in the week to get a couple guardians to take our place. He said they were already spread thin keeping tabs on the guardians he didn't trust. "Once I give the word," he said "I need every one of them in place to secure the ship. You two will just have to do. Besides, Stanley knows I'm up to something. I want him to think he's still calling the shots."

So, with no way around it, yesterday morning at 6:02 a.m., we met the Major in the airlock. He was in an all black flight suit with a grey helmet tucked tightly under his arm. It looked like he could've flexed and cracked it like a walnut.

Major: Well boys, you ready?

Frank and I nodded mechanically. The Major put his helmet on, secured the latch, then flashed a thumbs up at me. It was one of those strange moments you know you'll always remember. I had a sinking feeling I was some character in a doomed play that couldn't escape.

The Major got into his pod and fired up the bright instrument panel. I started toward my pod when Frank grabbed my arm. He looked uncharacteristically calm.

Frank: Hey Clark, if anything happens, will you tell my big brother Dave back in Kansas that he was the greatest brother a guy could have?

Me: What are you talking about? Frank, don't worry, this is just a repair mission. You act like we're going to the front lines or something.

Frank: Just promise me you'll tell him.

Me: Stop talking crazy. You can tell him yourself when we get back.

I quickly put my helmet on so he wouldn't notice that he was scaring the daylights out of me. Someone starts talking like that and suddenly I feel like my fate is sealed. I patted him on the shoulder, and looked him in the eye mustering as much fake confidence as I could.

Me: I'll see you back in this airlock in an hour.

I walked over to my pod hoping the flight suit would hide my trembling knees. I fired up the pod and tried to take some deep breaths. The Major's voice crackled over the helmet speakers.

Major: Strap yourselves in boys, I'm about to open the airlock.

I gripped the double navigation handles and tried to relax.

Major: Stanley, can you hear me? Stanley?

Several moments went by with no reply.

Major: I've got the com link off, I just wanted to make sure he couldn't hear us. I've decided once the life support systems are back online, I'm making my move. That means, as soon as we land these things I'm pulling Stanley's plug once and for all.

Frank: Are you cutting the wires I told you about?

Major: You guessed it Frankie. But they're more like fuses than wires. All I need to do is pull them and it's light's out for that demonic Speak n' Spell.

Me: Wait, what?! How would Frank know which wires or fuses or whatever to pull? We need some serious technical advice here before...

Major: We're outta time Clark. Frankie found the most likely spot above the main navigation deck. It's our best bet.

Me: Best bet? Are you crazy? We're in deep space. You disconnect the wrong thing and we're left floating out here like a tin can.

Major: It's now or never Clark. The technicians are all layed out with food poisoning and I've already lost five guardians to what Stanley calls "unfortunate accidents."

Frank: Five guardians? You didn't tell me about that.

Major: I didn't want to scare you. Look, my emergency rations are almost out. It's simple, act now or we're next on the chopping block.

Me: Major, this is going way to fast here, we need to think this through a little more.

Major: No more delays. My mind is set. Now keep your mouths shut about this. I'm switching on the com link.

The red com link button switched on in the pod.

Major: Stanley, you there?

Stanley: Yes Tom. Are you ready to leave the ship?

Major: Yes. Open the pod bay doors.

And with that, the two large bay doors slid slowly apart and the vast choir of stars outside blinked in on us like photographers at a red carpet event.

to be continued...