Aubade: Chapter 2
April 5-9, 2023 you can get a free copy of my book ‘No End Code’ on Amazon! Reason: Just because. Because you are here, now, in this moment. Because life is for living.
After last week’s first chapter of Aubade I received some encouraging “What happens next?”
Want to know the truth? This is probably my declaration of love for all sci-fi and action movies I’ve seen throughout the years — all distilled through a strangely romantic and perhaps pulpy lens.
It’s definitely stuff teenage me would’ve loved to read and watch. As a young child I used to sit two meters from the TV screen and watch the original “Battlestar Galactica.” So, you’ve been warned. We’re entering sci-fi land. Which can be a divider. Which in itself also is an invitation to all of you who also love “Alien”, “Terminator” and all sci-fi movies we’ve forgotten the names of but loved (and hated), and hundreds of trashy romance novels, and technology we barely understand, and strong and weak characters we end up sort of liking, or hating. I’ve tried to include them all, because I love that kind of stuff. Even if I’m lightyears from that teenager, she’s still here on the other side of the time membrane.
I don’t know how keen I am to publish another serial but let’s give it a try. You have to tell me when you’ve had enough. There’s a lot of Aubade material in the crypt.
If you haven’t left yet — you’re welcome onboard the spaceship Aubade. Yes, there are those beepy sounds you always hear in a good space movie. And the blinking lights. Yeah, I’ve got those too.
New here? Read Chapter 1 here before you continue on with Chapter 2.
Alone
Sara followed Evelydia to the meeting hall. She looked around and noticed mostly younger looking people. Sara sat down in the back row and counted about fifty available seats. She wore simple yet practical and well-fitting clothes in a dark blue color.
She felt as if she was viewing everything through a long tube and felt disconnected. She was not scared or even tired, but as she watched people mill into the room she began to sense that something was missing.
Captain Meadows began speaking:
"Good morning. I am Captain Meadows. We have worked very hard to make the awakenings as smooth as possible, and I am proud to say that we've had no complications so far." The middle-aged looking man gave a nod in the direction of Evelydia and Dr. Renni.
The feeling of disconnectedness became overwhelming until she became unable to focus on what was said. She was alone. She was alone out in space together with people she had never met before. She had never been to space before, and she had never had any desire to go. Alone! Nausea began to set in.
"... and that's why some of you experience temporal loss of memory. As we review this mission everything will return to you, and the sooner the better because your assistance is needed!"
Captain Meadows let out a small laughter and managed to tickle a few people into smiling.
"Since we are still in the process of awakening our entire crew it will take up to two days before you are required to report to duty, but some of you will be needed right away after this meeting – in which case you have already been given instructions. For the rest of you, make sure you socialize according to the manuals which you can access on your notepads. Please make sure you spend ample time reviewing your position and responsibilities before you report to the Captain.
You were chosen for a reason, and as I already stated, everyone was screened for compatibility on all levels, so we should have a very competent crew onboard Aubade. I want to point out that despite the different backgrounds, the compatibility of the entire crew has been matched carefully. Yes, you will notice differences in customs and cultures, and we will have to approach those with understanding. While all of us volunteered this is not entirely a freely formed group of people. You know it, I know it. But our foremost duty is to ensure the survival of all crew members. We are, after all, what's left of us."
Meadows was motioning toward all while pressing his lips together in a serious contemplation.
One summer, right after Sara graduated from Complete Care, she traveled to Australia. Professor Trent invited her to come with him to study the Aboriginal culture of Australia, and it was the first time she met people of the Old. Professor Trent knew Sara since she was a little girl, and she considered him the most important grown up in her life. Even more important than her Care Givers.
He taught her everything she knew about History and the world of the Old. She loved the past. Since she showed such interest and almost intuitive knowledge about the past, Professor Trent decided to arrange for her to study History at the University of Oxford right after her graduation from the Complete Care system in New York. She was thrilled beyond words. Her Care Givers at the Complete Care House were proud, and she understood that she was finally on her way to become a grown up herself. The trip to Australia that summer inspired her to learn more about her own ancestry.
When they sat with the Aborigines of Australia and listened to their ancient stories, Sara began to wonder if she was doomed to be alone for the rest of her life. Five years later, while she was working on her PhD at Oxford, Professor Trent invited her on another trip. This time to the Coast. They were going to stay for a whole year to study the people of the Old. Professor Trent received special permission and clearance for both of them. It was on this trip that Sara learned that she would never be alone again.
"And, if we could turn our attention to Sara of Hanley, Historian of Oxford. Ah, I realize you haven't had much time to adjust but we would very much appreciate a short introduction."
Meadows introduced everyone in the room, and now it was her turn. Unfortunately it coincided with her realization of what she was missing, and instead of standing up and smiling as everyone before her had done, all she could express, in this moment of increasing horror, was a gasp of air as her body tensed with the weight of a hundred years of worries and memories returning to her. All at once a surge of neural pathways opened up, and she managed to understand a few of the images she saw before everything became a confusing chaos of distorted thoughts and fragmented images.
Sara was staring at an invisible spot on the wall right in front of her. She was hyperventilating and people around her began to notice that something was wrong. Evelydia ran up to her seat and used a scanner to check her vitals, and then called for help. Two men nearby helped carry Sara out of the room to the medical center.
"Sara? How do you feel now?" Dr. Renni sat on a chair next to her bed while monitoring a screen near her head.
"We noticed some unusual neurological activities, and it might be related to the awakening. We are going over your records. Evelydia?"
"Yes, Dr. Renni, I have Sara's records here now and it seems as if an error in the input values before the sleep could be the cause for the uneven awakening."
"Error?"
"It seems only a very rudimentary brain scan was done on her, and since we had no definite pointers to focus on when reconnecting it might have caused unexpected neurological results, in other words panic attacks at the realization of what has happened etc etc..." Evelydia's voice was calm and confident.
"Very unusual indeed." Dr. Renni looked back at Sara. "We've adjusted some pointers for you, and you shouldn't really experience anything discomforting from now on, and in case you do, we still have a limited supply of nests, just so you know."
"I never volunteered," Sara spoke in a voice so clear that Dr. Renni almost startled.
"Excuse me?"
"I never volunteered. I never volunteered to be part of this!" Sara waved her arm in the air while trying not to cry.
"Sara, I am glad you feel good enough to speak, and I realize you've had a rough awakening, and we are sorry for it. Someone must have made an entry error in your input information, and it wasn't large enough to cause more damage, but what you are experiencing now must be related to it."
Dr. Renni was leaning over her while talking, and she noticed that his breath was completely clear and free of odor. His nails were well manicured. It looked like he rarely used his hands to do anything that would damage them.
"No, you don't understand. I never volunteered. I couldn't. It's not possible. It's a mistake! I am not supposed to be here!"
Sara sat up and Dr. Renni backed away, but kept staring at her. Evelydia came up to the bed.
"I know what this mission is. I heard about it often, and I knew people who worked on it, but you have to believe me, I never even considered volunteering. I couldn't!"
She looked around the room, still trying to ground herself in the knowledge of where she actually was.
"Please believe me, I have no idea of how I ended up on this ship, Aubade? I have no idea. Someone must have taken me against my will, because I never volunteered. I never did. Check my records. See if you can find anything, but I swear I remember my life back on Earth - and the last thing I remember was going to bed after I, after I..."
Her voice broke up and tears began streaming down her face as her body heaved up and down in shaky motions.
Doctor Renni finally showed what looked like distress.
"Sara? What are you saying? You do know that everyone onboard Aubade volunteered. Are you saying that you didn't? Evelydia? Call for Meadows. Sara, what was the last thing you remember?"
Sara wept and could not speak. She wept for all the memories that had returned to her and each one made her even sadder, and so more tears kept streaming. In her memories she was not alone, even if all of the people in them were long gone now.
Someone shook her shoulders. She opened her eyes and saw Captain Meadows sitting in front of her on the chair Dr. Renni had just sat on. He was holding her shoulders in a tight grip, and she saw that his lips were moving. She let the memories lift for a moment and she heard his voice:
"Sara? You must stay with us. We know you know where you are, and now we're trying to help you figure out how you got here. All of our records indicate that you volunteered, but you are denying that. Am I correct?"
"Yes."
"What was the last thing you can remember back on Earth?"
Sara looked up and exhaled a loud breath. She knew this was going to sound impossible. No one, no one here would know what it meant to her. So she did not tell them the last thing she remembered. And yet she did not lie to them. She did not tell them the last thing she remembered was the smell of her sleeping daughter's hair.
"The last thing I remember is going to bed after a very long day."
Well, what should we do? Shall we keep going? Let me know in the comments!
Thank you to all subscribers! I am thrilled and grateful that you choose to spend your time here in the Cabinet of Curiosities! Obviously you have a refined taste in your Substack choices, and you belong here. This place is growing and I’m glad you've joined me on this cockeyed caravan! Here you can read more about me. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram.
What can you do to support me? Well, since you asked, you can buy No End Code, my sci-fi anthology and leave a review on Amazon and Goodreads. You can also subscribe to this newsletter and spread the word. Please press the heart button and leave a comment!
Excellent Chapter 2!! A poignant close, "So she did not tell them the last thing she remembered. And yet she did not lie to them. She did not tell them the last thing she remembered was the smell of her sleeping daughter's hair."
I've read the first two, and started the third. Don't quit. No reason to quit. Ride it out. We'll all be glad you did.