AFTERSHOCK - Part 5. (End of chapter 1)
The condo sized layout of his quarters was comfortable but not luxurious. After all, this was a ship of war. Opposite the bed which was at the wall was a small couch and right behind it was a very stylish and practical small kitchen with foldable table and a chair. If two people were to eat, one could sit on the couch. The wardrobe was like in every military room, barracks or installation through the ages. Unimpressive yet big enough for all the clothes and other belongings a soldier had and needed. There was a small but functional bathroom with a shower and surprisingly enough he found a washing machine adjacent to the shower cabin.
As he opened the door of the washing machine attractive female computer voices asked him if he wants to wash and dry or only wash his clothes and he cautiously replied. “Wash and dry.”
His uniform was wet, filthy and he hasn’t changed it over a week and he figured it reeked.
The computer voice replied. “Place your clothes in,” so he promptly undressed and put all of it in the washing, “The number of clothes and fabric composition will take 15 min for wash and dry,” the nice computer lady said.
He stepped into the shower and was trying to figure out how to turn on the water as there was no faucet or knobs. “For fuck’s sake,” he swore tastily.
“Specify the temperature and pressure of the water,” the same voice echoed.
He sighed. “Of course, it is fucking voice activated. Warm and mid-strength pressure,” and the water instantly flowed.
He leaned against the wall with his hands and just enjoyed the relaxing massage of the strong streams of water, which was coming from the sides too and was very cleansing. His mind wandered and he was trying to come to terms with what has happened. Just a few hours ago he was in the midst of a fight with Mujahideen and now he is showering on a Starship and he ended up rescuing a girl from the future as the icing on a cake.
His thoughts were broken by the nice computer lady as he started thinking of the monotone voice. “Washing and drying are done. You may remove your clothes.”
He got out of the shower and realised that he has no towels. He went back to the room trying to figure out what to use to dry himself. He used the pillow cover and after he was done with it he threw it in the washer. He got dressed and disassembled his weapons to clean them, which was second nature after the action. Making sure that the tools of the trade were properly taken care of.
Moments after he was done giving them a quick clean he heard a knock on his door. “Come in,” he replied.
Aria entered the room and saw him in the midst of assembling his weapons. “I’ll be quick. Gimme a sec,” he reassured her as he looked at her.
He put his sniper rifle in the wardrobe, then he removed the belt from his battle kit, and left the Beretta holster and spare clips attached to it. He put it on and picked up his rifle from the table.
“You won’t be needing this here,” she advised him with a smile.
“Old habits,” he mused, then gave it another thought and stored the AK next to his sniper rifle.
He turned toward her and something drew his attention. It was not her elegant uniform that looked as if Hugo Boss designed it in the 1940’s, nor was her bobcat hairstyle that drew his attention. It was her Elf like pointy ears that complemented her beauty.
She noticed what he was looking at. “Nope, I am not human, well at least part of me is not human.” she answered his silent question with a smile, “My father was from Earth; my mother was from Solaris. They met when my father was stationed there. He was a scientist. The confederation had a research laboratory on my planet, which is in Tula star system,” she continued to explain as they left his quarters and were making their way to the canteen, “My people are known across the galaxy for their artistic, musical and craftsmanship skills.”
“How does then a girl like you end up in the fleet?” Aiden inquired with interest.
“I was often with my father in his laboratory, and I was fascinated by how things work and I was fascinated how he was talking with pride about the fleet and new worlds that ships like this one that we're discovering new boundaries, planets and civilisations. The rest is history as they say. My desire for exploration was just too big and I joined the fleet. But I never have imagined that it would also mean that I will travel through time, not just space,” she concluded with a chuckle.
Aiden replied thoughtfully. “Lucky for me you travelled through time too.”
“Lucky indeed,” Aria replied as she showed him to the canteen, which was softly lit.
Aiden quickly got his bearings and noticed that there are people are lining up to get their food like in any other canteen and there were some standing at what looked at first glance looked like a vending machine. He found this familiarity strangely comforting, down to plain chairs and tables and typical chitter chatter of the crew taking a break to grab something to eat. Some things really never change he thought, technology does but the principles stay the same.
Aria explained as she saw his inquisitive look. “Our cooks cannot satisfy all food requirements for some crew members due to their physiology, so they get their food from the replicators.”
“Yep, that’s what I thought when I saw it,” Aiden responded and approached one of the vending machines and looked at it suspiciously, “fuck this shit, I am getting my food from the cook.”
Aria smiled. “Sure, whatever you want. I think I am in the mood for some good Earth pizza.”
Aiden grinned. “You still have pizza? That is fucking awesome. I cannot remember when was the last time I had it.”
They lined up behind some other crew members, which ignored them. They were just two more faces among thousands on this ship of war and science.
“It looks great,” Aiden commented as he brought it closer to his nose and savoured the smell of a freshly made pizza.
Aria indicated towards some tables near the window. “Let’s sit there.”
He followed her and as they sat the Earth was coming into view and he kept staring in awe. “It is hard to believe that there is a war going on down there. It looks so peaceful from here. It is just so fucking surreal.”
Aria was observing him as he was talking, without touching his food and she could empathise with him as he continued to talk, “If you would not be there by some ridiculous freak luck I would be vaporised like my buddies,” he looked at her and sighed and took the first bite.
She didn’t say a word. There was nothing to say. She could not even imagine what was going through his mind.
“This is one hell of a pizza. The best I ever had,” Aiden exclaimed with a smile, “Now all that’s missing is a cold Budweiser.”
"Budweiser, what is that?” She asked curiously.
He looked at her slightly worried. “Don’t tell me that there is no beer in the future. For the love of all that is still good in the world, say there is beer.”
She started laughing as she saw his terrified face. “You do all those things I saw you do without fear and not having the beer in the future, that’s what scares you.” She commented as she stood up.
She walked towards the replicator and Aiden was following her with his eyes. Moments later she came back with a perfectly chilled beer and put it next to Aiden. His face broke into a wide grin as he took a very long sip.
He put the bottle down and growled. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Damn this feels good,” and he took another sip when an announcement sounded off the invisible speakers and the alarm went off across the ship.
To be continued
