Aubade: Chapter 5
Touchdown
Aubade is a serial novel for all you sci-fi lovers who love Ripley and Sarah Connor and all the strong women in action movies as much as I do. I wrote it as a sort of ‘love proclamation’ of all the exciting, scary, fun, romantic and silly sci-fi movies and books I have seen and read. This has a bit of everything, and of course, a female lead! I think you’ll like her!
Sara wakes up onboard the interstellar spaceship Aubade and realizes she’s lost everyone and everything she’s ever loved back on Earth. Forever. As she begins to adapt to her new life as the Historian onboard Aubade, she is determined to find out who selected her against her will.
Touchdown
"You do realize that I have no tech support training for this mission and that I have never held such a position in my entire life?"
She didn't want to sound like a whining toddler, but the prospect of the upcoming situation had led her into a state of panic.
"You're the closest to what we have as a tech support person." Captain Meadows was leaning against his desk looking troubled. His words were still ringing in her ears. Each syllable he spoke always sounded crisp and well thought out. He emitted the air a captain should have. He made people feel safe. She noticed a hint of body odor in the room. No, it wasn't body odor, it was something else. Cedar?
"With all respect expressed, why isn't there a tech support staff on this mission?" She couldn't look him in the eyes so she chose a spot on his chest where the third button from the top was reflecting a very polished light.
Meadows didn't blink or pause before he responded:
"Not everyone on this difficult mission survived. Everything possible was done to ensure a 100% survival rate. Unfortunately our medical staff and the equipment could not rescue two of our crew members. As Captain it is my job to reassign the missing positions, and you will be sharing that position with another of our crew. I realize your hesitation, but I assure you, you will have my fullest support. Should there arise any problems due to your lack of experience we will be more understanding toward you than if it were the originally intended staff. You will begin training immediately. Any questions?"
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Cabinet of Curiosities to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.