Prometheus Afterlife
"Traveler 1"
Author's note: Thanks everybody, for the encouragement, Chapter 14 lists below. Hope you like, Z
Elizabeth Shaw was awaken from her sleep as she lay in her room on the Tirpitz. The scientist/archeologist was startled by the powerful vibration, and heavy drone of something being activated on the ship. It took her a moment to realize that it was the spacecraft's bulky thrusters being engaged. She sprang into action. She swung her legs around on the bunk and quickly dawned the footwear which she'd kept within arms reach.
Liz had gotten in the habit of sleeping in a "control suit" just in case there was immediate action needed to be taken when aroused from slumber. Onboard the engineer's vessel she had gotten used to David8 remaining on guard duty during her sleep cycles. She knew, that if awaken, she may have to respond quickly, at a moments notice when alerted by the android. She had continued the practice of preparedness even after being rescued by the Titan. Now, it seemed, it was paying off!
Liz was confused about what was going on? In an instant she was out the door headed towards the ship's bridge. About that same time she felt the Tirpitz's thrusters powering down. The engines cutting off, the sound of the thrusters slipping back into inactive duty reached her ears. Elizabeth realized that Meredith Vickers may be testing the flight capabilities of the ship. Attempting to find out what was still operational, and what was not. It sounded as if the ship's thrusters were still working. The apprehension Liz had felt in her gut began to subside a little, her nerves were settling into a calmer state. She realized then, that she was hungry.
The archeologist headed for the ship's galley. She was looking to engage a quick breakfast of coffee and biscuits before she began her duty schedule aboard her new home. On the way she did not meet up with a single soul she now shared the ship with. She was curious, but at the same time knew that many of the individuals she landed on LV-233 with, the day before, were likely busy with chores deemed necessary to be performed by the mission commander. Vickers had given Liz a list of duties to complete as well. First up, she wanted Liz to organize the ship's medical compartment. Get it ready for any emergency. A sensible request, one that Liz did not have a problem conducting.
Vickers' second command was to have Captain Marshals, and Lieutenant Kellers finish scouring the vessel. Make sure there was nothing aboard that shouldn't be. Kellers and David9 had done a good search of the Tirpitz the day before, but it had not been as thorough as Meredith had wanted. Once this duty was complete, Vickers then wanted Marshals and Kellers to prepare for recon duties.
The two Davids were to continue with scans of the surrounding area, and also make note of any activity within the hives. Meredith Vickers would do what Meredith Vickers did best, give commands and look authorative.
Liz wandered towards the mess hall. She fixed herself breakfast then decided that she would visit David up on the bridge. She brought her coffee and biscuits with her.
"Good morning my Prometheus buddy," Liz spoke as she entered the cock-pit cabin and saw David standing there at the ship's controls. The droid turned to view her.
"Good morning Miss Sha…"
"DAVID!"
There came a voice over the vessel's intercom system. There was no denying who had spoken the android's name. David turned to address the voice which had just echoed loudly over the ship's com.
"Yes Miss Vickers?"
"Report,…. the thrusters? What's the forecast?"
The droid pressed the return button to reply to the mission commander's inquiry.
"Both Port forward, and rear Starboard thrusters operational. Port aft and Starboard forward thrusters must be clogged with storm dust and need maintenance before returning to full capacity," the droid reported,…. "still the two functioning thrusters will allow us to reach orbit if need be."
David looked back at Liz. It was at that moment that the scientist realized that the bot had changed his cloths. He was now wearing a grayish control suit, other than the light blue she usually saw him in.
"David," Liz spoke, "I much prefer the light blue suit that you wear over the gray one you're sporting now."
The android looked at his early morning visitor to the ship's bridge.
"Well Miss Shaw, you may prefer the blue, But Miss Vickers prefers the gray….. says she'll be able to tell me apart from David8 this way."
There it was. Elizabeth was a little stunned by the revelation, but now she realized that she had not greeted her droid when she'd entered the cock-pit that morning. David8 had been relieved of his night duty at some point, and now may be resting somewhere relaxing his circuits. The Titan droid, David9, was now acting pilot over the ship's controls. There had been a swap. Liz was curious as to where her droid may be, or what duties he may have been requested to perform?
"Where is Meredith Vickers now?" Liz asked of David9.
"She's examining the escape shuttles. It is unknown if they are still functional?" The droid replied.
The Tirpitz had three escape pods, as did most of the fleet Peter Weyland had launched into the great vacuum of the unknown. Prometheus had been launched with a unique shuttle designed especially by Vickers. The one with the medical operations chamber aboard which had allowed Liz had used it's computer to abort the creature growing inside her. That pod had been destroyed when Meredith had attempted her first escape from LV-233. Now, it seemed that she was preparing herself another emergency escape route just incase another unforeseen incident arose. Meredith was a cautious calculator. She played the odds, but always prepared herself a way out. Her mind always thought of moves well in advance.
David9 continued …
"The commander, Miss Vickers, had Lieutenant Kellers take a two-crew rover this morning, and launch motion detectors in hives 1 and 2. There's been a hit in hive 2. There's something alive in there," David9 spoke, "she sent out a recon team. Captain Marshals and Da….."
"Hey asshole how about let me in!" came a voice over the com system. It was Richard Kellers. The lieutenant was standing outside the air-lock of the reclamation chamber in the cargo bay. David9 and Elizabeth Shaw could see him in the hold monitor.
"No reason to become expressive lieutenant," David9 voiced, "de-pressuring the chamber now."
"Traveler-1 is underway," Kellers said, " team two is headed for hive 2. Recon mission 2 is underway now," Kellers voiced over the com.
Just then Elizabeth noticed, through the cock-pit glass, dust being stirred up on the path leading to hive 2. A vehicle was traveling at a good pace, down the dusty road towards the second structure in Bee Valley. It was the remaining planet-rover that had been undamaged in the cargo hold of the Tirpitz, and it was now speeding towards the main structure of hive 2.
"Who are the individuals merited by Vickers to perform this mission?" Liz asked of David9, although she had a pretty good indication of what his answer would be.
"Captain Marshals and David8, why?"
Liz suddenly felt sick
END PART 14