Put Finger To Key

No-one thought it strange that a single race ran the ships operations. Civilisation had surpassed racism and besides they had the bigger brains and the ability to use telepathy without the implant. They were the real deal and could be relied upon for their intelligence as well as their extra sense. As sentients came these were it. A single species evolved over billions of years – from a planet where a year was a long time.

Alex kept her morning pace up until it swamped her and she began to tingle – a familiar sign there was something imminent.

“Now” said the voice “it is just you”.

She tried to reply – “Identify” – but the voice wasn’t one of the officers. Neither was it aboard the ship. Still this wasn’t part of a dream – she was fully aware of when she was dreaming. Time would slow down. Edges appeared softer. As though the mind didn’t have enough energy to fill in all the details, all the things that reality puts in focus before you look.

She was mid stride so just kept going.

“Identify” she replied again, half knowing there would be no response.

Then she heard the screams…

Alex would get a glimpse of everyday thoughts of those aboard the ship. Anyone who used the implants would let slip things and Alex was tuned in like no other. She could hear feelings as well. From across the ship. From the bridge. These screams were from the bridge – and their emotion was deafening.

She fell as she grabbed her head and before she hit the floor she was out cold.

“You’re going to have to relax” – This voice was definitely in her head and the detail wasn’t there. In fact is was more hazy than last time, as if she couldn’t tune in her vision at all. But the voice was crystal clear – “Don’t worry”.

It was though she couldn’t worry. It was clear nothing could be done. She knew the truck had hit – somehow – but that things would carry on if she didn’t try too hard.

Then she went tense, and like a freediver barely making it to the water’s surface she popped out of it again on the floor with a gasp, the screams still there in her head telling her to help.

She scrambled around trying to stand up. It was overwhelming and yet she knew she had to fight back. She used the wall to steady herself as she got upright and started making her way to the bridge. She knew they would be sensing her too. She tried to respond – “Define emergency”. The saying goes that in space no-one can hear you scream but Alex could and despite her best efforts she wasn’t able to communicate like her voices had done in the dreams. “On my way” she tried to tell them.

Waking up wasn’t getting any easier. Everyday the same fear of being stuck in this rut filling her up until it poured out of her eyes. She was full of it. The overflow was taking it’s toll on others as well. It was going to make things difficult on board and there was a job to do, but there were no alternatives so it was time to get up and get some coffee before dealing with the unavoidable.

Sitting up ready to stand she suddenly flicks back in to her dream – as if someone had recorded a VR movie scene for her and pressed play.

“If your head still hurts you should lay down. We don’t want you feeling faint” said the voice.

The place was spinning like she’d had too much to drink. But she hadn’t had a drink. She’d been hit by a truck.

“I think …” her attempt at speaking wasn’t going too well. “… I’ll … ok”

If you try to do anything too soon after trauma like that you’re going to be shaky. Alex wanted to man up. Her legs told her to stop being so stubborn and lay down.

“That’s better” said the voice

Alex twitched as she came to again. Back in the room, sat on her bed. Nightmares were going to be harder to cope with if she had to deal with them in the daytime. Or whatever they call this part when work happens.

Alex stood up as the memory of the flashback echoed in her mind. Her legs remembering her experience and tingling with empathy.

Shower. Dry. Clothes on. Out the door. Back inside. Pick up forgotten pass. Out the door. On the escalator. “Be busy” she thought “keep faking it”.

“ding”

Alex quickly enters in to the Starport and demands the usual “to go”. Keeping busy, she thought, meant rocket fuel. It meant never being tired enough to react with her heart. “Go go go” she told herself.

“Thanks Zi”

A swipe of her Starport addicts key buy a cup of hope and she’s back en route to the bridge.

There was a shit storm awaiting her, thirsty for a new victim to be pulled in. Noone knew it yet but a virus was about to kill the officers onboard.