NAME: DR. S. ATKINS
STATUS: DOCTOR
SPECIALIZATION: FIELD
SHIP: USCSS COVENANT
"How do you feel, ma'am?" Walter asked while he put a cotton stick in my mouth.
After spitting out some cotton that stayed behind, when Walter was done taking my salvia, I answered: "I feel great!" Walter showed a small smile.
"You sound optimistic." He said and I gave him a smile back.
"I am going to sleep for 12 years, what's not to love?" He laughed.
I was glad the droid could understand the sarcasm, that's why I could get along so well with Walter. He could understand it better than most of the people.
"Any dizzi-"
"Nope!"
"Nausea?"
"Nope!"
"Follow the light please." I obeyed by following the light Walter moved in front of my face. "If you could give me your finger, Sarah?"
There was a stinging pain in my finger when Walter put a needle in.
"Cryo-sleep will commence in 153 minutes. Allow one hour before taking the purgative. And please ensure to consume the requested liquid-" He held up a package before my face, containing some pills. "and vitamin pack."
I smiled at him, with my finger in my mouth because of the needle.
"Thank you Walter." I took off in the direction of the rest of the crew after giving Walter one last smile. Covenant's captain, Branson, first officer, Oram, and pilot, Tennessee, were talking by the control panels. I decided to make my way over there.
"It's a hell of a view ain't it?" Branson asked them. Looking at my captain, I noticed he was wearing a blanket and looked sweaty. He probably didn't feel so well.
"It is pure… Majesty." Oram said in awe.
Tennessee took a deep breath, shaking his head. "I don't know what you're talking about. It kind of spooks me out. Some big old sea of nothing." He scoffed. Oram stared at him, clearly not sharing his opinion.
"Space-" The three man turned their heads towards me, not having noticed me before. "The final frontier." Branson let out a short laugh, realizing what I was citing. "To boldly go where no man has gone before." Tennessee was laughing now too. Oram looked at me with amazement.
"Wow, Atkins, those were some beautiful words." I grinned at him.
"Thanks, too bad they aren't mine." A roar of laughter was heard from Tennessee.
"Ah c'mon mate!" He said to a confused looking Oram. "Star trek? You don't know Star Trek? It's a classic man!" I petted the still confused Oram on his shoulder. After that I made my way over to the table were the others were.
I fetched myself a seat next to Lope and Hallet. "Hey boy's, how is my favorite couple?"
Lope placed a hand over his heart. "Atkins, I'm touched."
Hallet provided me with a drink and told some of his jokes to keep us entertained.
"G'night." Branson saluted at us, his crew. He was met with a few 'goodnights' and 'goodnight cap'.
"Feel better." Faris said to him.
I saw his wife, Daniels, winking at him and I smiled. They were so my second favorite couple.
While putting on his cowboy head, Tennessee called: "Is he gone?".
"Yep."
"Ah oh."
The crew roared, knowing what was coming.
"Let's party!" Tennessee laughed.
Music started playing and the volume of everyone's voices turned up. Looking around everyone was drinking, eating and laughing. Enjoying each other's company. It was also a little too sweet I decided. Because of all the couples. It was so obvious at this moment that I was alone.
That was only for a few seconds though. I blended it with the others again by joining a conversation with Upworth and her husband Cole.
Soon enough, there was started a waging game. I decided to watch instead of joining in. I didn't want to lose money just before going to sleep. It was known that I did not have much luck in this kind of games.
"I got 2500." Tennessee called. Some people 'oohed'. "On this handsome young buck right here." He pointed at Hallet.
"Yeah!"
"Go Hallet!" People cheered him on as he took position to arm wrestle his partner Lope.
"Go! Go!" I joined in with the cheers.
Hallet's face contorted in one of full concentration. It was clear he put all his effort in, but I could see he was losing. Lope was too strong for him.
When his arm hit the table there was disappointed yelling and some were laughing. Tennessee was seen sulking because of losing his bet. Hallet spread himself out over the table in exhaustion.
Lope took the face of Hallet. "I need to love you, alright?" He laughed, and kissed him on the lips. "Alright. I still love you."
"Aaaahw." I coed.
"Oh that is disgusting dudes." Said Tennessee. "Those two sexpots."
"What. Did I churn up some uncomfortable feelings?" Lope shot back at Tennessee, holding Hallet and a drink.
Tennessee laughed. "Please, do not challenge my open-mindedness, or I'll slide right out of this jumpsuit and show you how comfortable I am!" He gestured with his hands over the table. "I will colonize all over this table, right there!" People 'oohed'.
"That's disgusting Tennessee!" I called. He laughed harder and people were shaking their heads.
Still chuckling, I looked around at everyone and locked eyes with someone. Walter was standing with the rest of us, though a little further away. We looked at each other and shared a smile.
"I heard about these crazy bugs," Rosenthal started telling everyone. "Just outside this colonial post. Apparently, they look like cockroaches the size of a giant poodle." I scrunched my nose up at the story. Sorry, but I hate bugs. You should see my reaction when I cross paths with a spider.
"OK first of all, stop, because, I'm trying to eat." Cole spoke with food in his mouth.
"Oh, come on. This is barely food." He got told by Tennessee.
"But I love it." He shoved a bite in his mouth. "It's the last time I'm gonna have this meatloaf."
It was silent for while after he said that. Everyone stood still again by the thought that they were going to leave to an unknown planet. Leaving everything they knew behind.
"I'm gonna miss grandma's apple pie." Karina broke the silence. They laughed again.
"Sushi!"
"Hmm, sushi, yeah."
"I think I'm gonna miss barbeque." Tennessee said. Of course.
"Nachos."
"I'm gonna miss pizza, so much!" I joined in. It was something I seriously thought about. I'm never going to eat that heavenly food again.
"I'm going to miss that too."
At that moment there was a choking sound coming from Upworth. I worriedly looked across the table at her. She just put down her drink and grabbed with her hand at her throat.
"Are you alright." Cole asked her.
"Hey, the food is not that bad." Trust Tennessee to make a remark in such situations.
The choking sounds intensified and she stood up from her seat, grabbing wildly around her in panic. Everyone rushed towards her but Walter was there first. With one good placed hit on her back, the blockade was removed and Upworth could breathe freely again.
She coughed a few times and everyone was silently looking at the scene, shocked.
"Down the wrong pipe." Walter remarked. Everyone let out a nervous, relieved laugh.
"Thank you." Upworth thanked the droid.
Walter righted himself again. "I've got your back."
A few laughs were let out and I grinned. Walter looked smug, for as far as the droid could look smug.
"Ooh, that was a joke right." Chuckled Tennessee. Upworth thanked Walter once again.
"So what about that speech Daniels." Someone called to the wife of the captain.
"Well, I have prepared..-" Oram started, but he got interrupted.
"I'm sorry." Daniels said apologetic. Still Oram did not look so happy. "Jake asked me to say something if it's okay?" She referred to her husband.
"Please." Oram then said to Daniels.
"You've all sacrificed so much to be here." She started. I repositioned myself to lean forward, trying to hear it as good as possible.
"To.. Be a part of this. It's the first ever large scale colonization mission to come this far into our galaxy." Couples started taking each other's hands, holding each other. "We're making history. Everyone back on Earth is really grateful for your hard work and courage."
Daniels looked around at everyone and smiled.
"I just want to say I couldn't pick a better bunch of jerks to get marooned on a distant planet with!" I laughed loudly at her words.
"So, to the Covenant!"
Everyone cheered and held up their cups.
"To the Covenant!" They called out. "Cheers."
Holding my cup and laughing, I caught Walters eye once again. Smiling, I raised my cup to him. He answered by giving me a nod with his head and a smile.