Personal Log

Day: 284

Time: Estimated 7:28 PM

Flight of the Inexperienced

Holmes crawled out of the control box and examined the computer monitor again. Lines of code and charts filled its screen, and he sighed. Making updates to his computer was harder then actually making the dang thing. He furrowed his brow and looked about the room again.

"Well… I give up. We'll have to deal with what we have," said Holmes, "How's that? What do we got?"

"Although full usage of the new features will not be guaranteed for a few days time, I am already reading full power in many censors and new programs," said the computer, in a newly defined British accent, "May I ask the point of the vocal change, sir?"

"Preference, Computer, Preference," said Holmes, "and for your dignity's sake you better pray I don't name you Jeeves and ask you to call me 'Mahstah Holmes'."

"Would you wish for me to change your title, Master Holmes?"

"Oh, God, hell no. Lieutenant, please. Let's stick with that."

Holmes walked over to another computer terminal and hit the enter button. Music began playing over the PA system.

"You're Love, Lifting Me Higher,

Than I've Ever Been Lifted Before.

So Keep It Up, Quench My Desire,

And I'll Be At Your Side

Forevermore!"

Holmes bobbed his head and sang along, he loved some of the older music. He made his way over to the observatory window and he looked out. For some reason, his eyes focused on one of the choppers in the motor pool. He began to think, turning his thoughts over in his head.

"I've been cooped up too long, Computer," said Holmes, "I think it's time I went on a little walk."

"A… walk, sir?" asked the computer, "I am afraid that such action would be deemed unnecessarily dangerous."

"I'm going to take a gun," said Holmes, "I'm not stupid."

Music still played over the PA, but it was by no means as loud as it was inside. Holmes stood, alone, looking at the main gate, and the forest beyond. He tilted his fedora and adjusted his mask. He cocked a round into the chamber of his rifle and took a deep breath.

"Open the gate, Computer," said Holmes into the headset.

"Were you sure to pack your lunch as well, Lieutenant?" said the Computer.

"Gate, Computer," said Holmes.

The gate began to open, slowly, and Holmes walked out of it, taking his first steps outside the compound. He inhaled, as if to breathe in the "fresh air", but laughed at his pitiful attempted at normalcy. He took a few more steps, almost into the underbrush.

"Hell, Computer," started Holmes, smiling and taking his first steps into the forest, "This isn't so ba-"

Holmes was hit in the face, and a creature was flying around him. Holmes swore, and jumped back. He hit the ground, and threw up his rifle, firing shots blindly into the forest. Cursing and sputtering he turned and darted back through the gate, firing at the creature and at the surrounding undergrowth.

"Shut the gate, close the gate!" yelled Holmes, "Close the damn gate!"

The gate began closing, just as slowly as it had opened, while Holmes emptied the rest of his clip into the forest. After the gate had closed, and the world had grown still again, nothing but the jungle and the music playing over the PA could be heard, Holmes stood still, holding his breath and waiting.

"Computer," said Holmes, "What they hell was that?"

"That, according to the censors, appears to be a Fluttergrub, sir," said the Computer, "It is most closely compared to… the Earth Dragonfly."

Holmes let out the breath he had been holding, and he shook his head and began to chuckle to himself. He then switched to a full clip and headed back to the jeep.

"Did you enjoy your walk, sir?" asked the Computer.

"I've… had a change of heart, computer," said Holmes, starting up the jeep, "First, I'm going to make you into a toaster and recreate an AI just for useful information. Second, I think I know a better way of getting out and about."

After about a month and a half of training and prep, Holmes starred at himself in the mirror of one of the bathrooms and finished up shaving his face. He wanted to keep it clean, and if today went sour then he wanted to die looking like what he wanted to look like. He had been learning to fly.

Simulators and training videos and books, so much. But, as he learned; When you have nothing else to do on a large, deserted planet but learn something, you learn it a lot faster then you would've at any school. Besides a few test hovers to make sure the chopper was still operational, Holmes hadn't flown anywhere yet. Today, was his lucky day.

He walked down to the motor pool, everything he thought me might need packed into the back of it. Guns, ammo, food, water, oxygen tanks, etc etc. He climbed into the pilot's seat and started it up.

"Computer," said Holmes, "Keep an eye on the house while I'm away, but let's test the link-up in case I feel the need to ask a question."

"Loading… Loading… Welcome to the Aerospatiale SA-2 Sampson Combat Helicopter," said the Computer, through the speakers on the helicopter, the radio headset, and the base PA system, "Would you like me to run-through systems diagnostics?"

"Anything change," asked Holmes, firing up the Sampson and preparing for liftoff.

"Not really," said the Computer, "Anything else I can be helpful with? Running the tutorial program? Contacting Loved Ones? Plotting a Destination? Reciting a Prayer?"

"Just look after the base and tell me if something's up," answered Holmes, "And stay on the com in-case I need you. Have a good day!"

With that, Holmes pulled a lever above his head slowly down, and as he did the Sampson jerked into the air, slowly rising into the sky. The chopper jerked slightly, from side to side with the awkwardness of Holmes' controls, but after a few seconds it steadied and he was hovering above the base easily.

"Alright," said Holmes, "We have liftoff. Now… let's see what this thing can do."

He pushed the joystick forward, and the chopper jerked forward, then flew out of the base, and higher into the air. Before Holmes had completely let out the air he was holding in, and actually smiled, he was already flying over the jungles of Pandora. Holmes let out a yelp of joy, and was laughing to himself.

"Man, Computer," said Holmes, "Why haven't we done this yet?"

"It's suicidal," said the Computer, "But then again, you've already known that?"

"This whole trip is suicidal, Computer," answered Holmes, as he raised the chopper further from the tree line and sped it up towards the horizon.

Pandora was beautiful, and the jungle that surrounded Alpha, the name Holmes had given his small base, was more diverse then he ever could've guessed. Every so often, Holmes would dip low; every so often even below the tree line into empty spaces of the jungle to see what lied below. Trees and flora were plentiful to be found. Plants and Flowers of all types, the likes Holmes had never seen, amazed him at every turn. The jungle would every so often drop, into a small canyon or chasm into the depths of the earth. Grasslands could be seen, and the rivers that seemed to run through all land types of the planet.

Animals, too, were new to Holmes. For the most part, they had kept away from Alpha, and that was to Holmes' liking. Now, though, he found awe and enjoyment out of them. Small lizard like creatures, herds of cow like things running across the planes, different types of what appeared to be birds and bugs fleeing at the presence of the Sampson.

Holmes began taking note of the animals he probably needed to fear, judging by which ones did not scatter by the presence of the chopper. Large, elephant-like creatures bunched up, but stood their ground as he flew over. Some doglike creatures ran when the chopper hovered too close, but Holmes noticed them following him as the flight grew longer, and he noticed that they only fled when he was really close.

"What are those, Computer?" asked Holmes, "They're as big as dogs! That's what was in the Cafeteria. Jungle Cats…"

"Actually, Lieutenant," said the Computer, "They have more in common with dogs then cats. The censors indicate those are, in fact, Viperwolves. They are cataloged as dangerous in large numbers."

"I'll be sure to look out for them," said Holmes.

"May I make a suggestion?" said the computer, "Increase your altitude. We don't want any… unforeseen problems. And, may I say, according to the records the Viperwolf is by no means at the top of the foodchain."

"Let's do that," said Holmes, raising the chopper a little more.

As minutes turned into a couple of hours, Holmes was thinking about heading back. He then spotted a group of flying objects off in the distance.

"Computer, a group of flying objects out in the distance… what are those?"

"Well… the Sampson's censors are not picking them up well enough, but I could make an approximation based on the optic receptors on the nose of the craft. They appear to be Mountain Banshees."

"They're… quite big," said Holmes.

"They have been known to engage Sampson Helicopters, and overtake them in a group," said the Computer, "They are dangerous, sir. Logic dictates we stand clear. Please keep your eyes open, sir. You're not the baddest flying thing out there."

Holmes thought for a second, allowing his eyes to paint the sky around him, before turning back.

"I've seen enough," he said, "I'm heading back to Alpha."

The total flight time added up to about three and a half hours by the time Holmes circled Alpha and carefully brought the Sampson down into the open roof of the motor pool. As he set it down, the Computer closed the roof above, and Holmes slowly began shutting down the systems.

"Well… flight number one is complete," said Holmes, "And you were worried…"

"Welcome home, Lieutenant Holmes," said the Computer, "May I suggest taking baby steps next time? Three Hours, Twenty-Seven Minutes, and Forty-point-two seconds is a little much for our first test flight."

"Yippie-Ki-Yay, Computer," said Holmes, "Isn't that what those American Cowboys do? It's worked for them thus far. Why don't we just jump into it?"

"If I can say, sir," started the computer as Holmes jumped out of the Sampson and grabbed some of his personal belongings, "The American Cowboys died in great numbers, and were rejected to the west by the majority of American Citizens in the east. The United States itself lost majority power in-"

"Blah, blah, computer," said Holmes, "What I was meaning to say is I came back in one peace and the chopper is fine!"

Holmes opened up the door and left the motor pool, Computer locked up the motor pool after him as he began walking across the yard toward the observatory door.

"I'm just saying," said the Computer, "Did you even think about switching out your oxygen tank? Your current tank is reading empty. You may not have air in a few seconds."

"I'll be inside in those few seconds anyway," said Holmes, "Hey, throw on some music, something orchestral. You know I need to calm down and think about all the things I'll be able to-"

Holmes dropped all the bags and things in his hands, his eyes fixed on an object on the ground. After a few seconds, he knelt down, fished out an extra tank from one of the bags he was carrying, and he screwed it onto his mask. He then put the old tank back inside the luggage, and he walked over to the object on the ground.

Holmes wrapped his hand around it, and pulled on it, yanking it from the ground. He examined the long, smooth shaft of wood, with a feather back on one side and a sharpened end on the other. His heart sank, and he nodded his head as he came to the realization he held an arrow in his hand.

He was then aware of that same feeling he had been living with for quite some time. His head jerked up, and he took a few steps back, the arrow still in his hand. He grabbed the magnum out of his holster, and pulled back the lever, making it even more ready to fire. He looked around, examining the edge of the jungle.

"Computer," said Holmes, "I thought I told you to tell me if anything happened."

"What do you mean?" asked the Computer, "Nothing of any substantial amount happened when you were away."

"What about any figures, what about this?" asked Holmes, holding up the arrow as if the computer could see.

"There was no structural or system damage, nor could I detect any possible threat to the installation or yourself. I did not compute the need to make you aware of the projectile."

"Damn, Computer," said Holmes.

"It is just a lone projectile, fairly primitive," said the Computer, "If more were fired, I may have computed an attack and made you aware.

"It's not the arrow, Computer," said Holmes, "It's whoever fired it."

Holmes picked up his things, and headed back inside, shaking his head, "I am getting so sick of these ghosts. These… damn people!"