Chapter 6- misty moments

John thought he'd know who was responsible for the attack upon Alan just by looking everyone in the eye. Surely the guilt would show, someone would look away or appear red in the face .They could even collapse in tears at his feet and beg his forgiveness. But none of those things were happening. That was very disturbing. It told him the attacker had rationalised their actions, and believed they were doing the right thing. He was going to change their mind. "Today something truly unsettling happened", John told the senior members of his team. "It shocked me to the core". He took another look in their eyes. There were still no signs of remorse. "Captain Carter was assaulted by someone at this table", he stated. "No", Sandra's shocked breath washed over him. "Why would someone do that to Alan".

He let silence reign for a moment before answering, "the person who assaulted Alan would know the answer to that".

"Is Alan alright", Victor asked. He sounded genuinely concerned. Surely he could not be the guilty one.

"He's feeling as shocked as I am", John stated gruffly. "His face looked like it had been torn apart by a wild animal".

Sandra gasped again. She eyeballed the others at the table. "Surely nobody here would do that". Commander you must be mistaken".

"Oh I wish I was. Someone overrode the door lock on Alan's quarters. Only a senior member of the Moonbase could do that", John pointed out.

"So Alan does not know who it was", Paul stated. His voice sounded distant, like he was holding back a powerful emotion. John was also holding tightly to his own anger. He really wanted to yell at them all. "He does know, John said. "But he won't tell me". I actually ordered him to reveal the name, but he just said no. "

"Why would he say no", Paul sounded shocked. "Alan's not the type to feel scared", Victor mused. "It's because of our friendship", John told them. "I just want to be clear that I treat Alan in the same way as I do everyone on this base. There is no favouritism ." Nor will there ever be".

John paused again. He was still no closer to finding out the guilty party. Was it a bad tactic to admit to them that he did not know. Was someone laughing to themselves right now. His anger was barely contained. "I will give the guilty person 48 hours to reveal themselves to me." There will be consequences but they will not be extreme. However if the person does not come forward, and I find out who it was. I will banish them from the moon forever".

Now there was sharp intakes of shock all around the room. He was ignoring what Alan had said to him about essential personnel. Because he could not afford to be looking over his shoulder all the time. He would be a target next. If they were going to survive, they had to be an unbreakable team.

John was about to dismiss them all when David made the observation, "was the attack because the computer gave Alan's name as the common factor relating to the infection of the Eagles".

"Alan's name", Paul muttered. "So he knows the answer then". Computer does not get things wrong".

Now the conversation was drifting into dangerous territory. John did not everyone to think Alan was hiding something. However the problem was that the observation about the computer was correct. Yet he was convinced Alan did not know the answer. "Okay so maybe the computer is just compiling facts. It forgets that humans are not logical. Alan does not know the answer. "But someone thought he was keeping the knowledge to himself, and assaulted him. "

"David you knew?", Sandra said cautiously.

David Kamo looked horrified. 'It wasn't me", he stated firmly. He looked over at the others. "Paul and Victor were nearby, they could have seen the reply", he added slowly.

Now it was Paul and Victor's turn to look shocked. "Let's not start pointing fingers at each other", Victor stated firmly. "I think John has been clear enough. " The culprit needs to confess".

"We will not function as a divided base. So it is better that the guilty party does come forward". John stood up. "That's all for now, dismissed everyone".

Xxxxxxx

Alan sat up with a heavy groan. He had fallen into a heavy induced sleep cycle. It had not lasted as long as Doctor Russell had intended. Mostly because he was too anxious to rest fully. He knew nobody could override the lock the Doctor had put upon his door. But it did not make him feel any safer.

His quarters were the last place he actually wanted to be.

Alan slid slowly off his bed. "Open doors", he requested. "Voice recognition accepted, door lock will be released", the system told him.

That had been easy. But the next part may not be. "Security, do not track my movements", he requested. The answer to that order, was a little longer coming. Finally, "acknowledged" was the answer.

Now nobody would know where he was going.

Alan hurried from his quarters, and made his way to the isolation section of the Moonbase. There were lots of place here, he could hide out and think. He glanced at Eagles one and eight as he went by. These Eagles had been isolated as a precaution. In about 3 hours time that isolation period would end and they would be returned to the flight roster. That was good news. However it did not mean they were safe from infection in the future. They were no closer to finding answers. Now it seemed that he should know how to stop this infection. his mind had gone over, what had occurred on each flight many times. He could not pin point anything of significance, that he had done. So that left them back at the beginning.

He felt so frustrated. Sighing heavily Alan glanced at the diagnostic report on Eagles one and eight. A red light was flashing over the screen. How could he have not noticed that. He'd been to absorbed in his own problems. "Warning infection detected", flashed across the screens. "Dammit", Alan swore. The infection must have just been delayed in both Eagles and not stopped.

"No, no, no", he yelled. Now they'd lost two more Eagles. It seemed that the computer was wrong after all. He was not the common factor. He should march into the control centre and yell at a certain member of the team. Perhaps he'd even punch them a few times.

But he could not find the energy within himself to do that. Fatigue was wearing him down. So he settled for yelling at an inanimate object to vent his anger. "Bloody Eagle One", he swore," you could not even stay infection free. Well now we're back at the beginning. And", he paused, "you are not my favourite Eagle anymore", he finished. He sounded like a little kid throwing away his favourite toy. But the attitude did help negate a little of his anger.

Alan then slumped down into a nearby chair, and closed his eyes.

"Beep, system update", the computer pinged. Alan opened his eyes and stared at the screen.

"No", he stated ,as he stared at the readout. Two of the personnel came running through the doors. The both skidded to a halt as they looked at him. "We were alerted to signs of infection in both ships just 20 minutes ago. At that time we could not notify the Commander as he was in an urgent meeting. "

Glancing at the what the read out was telling them, they then demanded, "sir, what did you do?"

Alan found his throat had just gone dry. He'd just affected a change, yet he had no idea how it had happened.

"I don't know", he stated. The crewman shook their heads, "you have to know", they claimed. "We're calling the Commander. You better think about what you are going to tell him."

xxxxxxx

John found Alan pacing the floor in the isolation bays. "What are you doing here Alan, you should be resting", John asked. "I could not rest John", Alan replied. "Every time I closed my eyes I kept expecting there to be someone attacking me again. I know Dr Russell said nobody could break in, but I was not so sure". So I came down here. Then I found that both Eagles one and eight had been infected by the white mist."

Glancing at the report of Eagle One's current status, John remarked "Eagle One is not infected".

"It was sir", Crewman Hews said definitely as he handed over the last report. John saw that this data was different from what he was seeing on the screen in front of him "So what changed in the last ten minutes", he asked. Crewman Hews pointed at Alan, "he must have done something. Though he claims not to know."

So the Alan factor had happened again. John could not ignore what the facts were now telling him. Alan must know the answer. Yet when he looked him in the face he saw terror and confusion. Alan could not fake that. "Tell me what happened Alan", he said gently.

"I didn't touch anything", Alan swore. "You must have done something", Hews insisted. Alan sighed heavily, "all I did was vent my frustration. "That's not going to do a thing. Look I'll just say the same things to Eagle 8 and you'll see".

He felt highly embarrassed repeating his speech, but it was the only way to prove he had nothing to do with the change in Eagle one's status.

"See ", Alan told them, when he'd finished calling Eagle 8 useless," talking to Eagles, has nothing to do with..."

"Beep ,infection clearing", the diagnostic system of Eagle 8 proclaimed. "Oh my", Alan stated. John stared at him. Nobody had thought of an individual quirk changing things. Obviously Alan was so comfortable talking to his ships, that he did not consider that to be unusual. He needed some clarification of this fact. "Did you talk to each Eagle you were flying", he asked. Alan nodded, "come on John, surely that has nothing to do with why the infection dispersed. How can it? We've tried talking to the white mist and nothing happened."

"I think we need Victor's expertise now", John remarked. He was as stunned as Alan.

Victor only took about five minutes to arrive. He was quickly briefed by John. "So is Alan controlling the white mist or is it the other way round", he mused. "We never screened Alan, after his first flight."

John grunted, Victor had just complicated things again. Alan was now moving into 'threat' territory. That meant he'd have to take extreme action against his friend. He did not want to have to do that. All he could hope for was that Victor was wrong. "No we didn't screen Alan", he admitted. "Because there were no problems detected in Greer. He was the first pilot to encounter the white mist."

"Ah but maybe he wasn't John. What if Alan was actually the first to encounter the Mist", Victor suggested. "Let's theorise that the mist is a lifeform. What conclusion would it draw when it first encountered Alan." Victor looked over at the pilot. "Were you talking to your ship the whole time", he asked.

"Not all the time, but a fair amount". Alan thought about what an alien lifeform might determine from that. "Did the mist think the Eagle was alive", he asked.

"It might have initially but then none of the other pilots talked to their ships. Nor did your ship reply to you", so I don't think the mist believes Eagles are alive", Victor determined. "There has to be another reason."

"We have tried to communicate with them, and they don't respond', Alan stated. "They don't respond to us. They do respond to you", Victor pointed out.

Alan felt terribly uncomfortable with that statement. Had he somehow been infected by the mist. He thought through everything that had happened. "They can't be controlling me", he said tentatively.

Victor just gave him a look. It felt like he was being dissected.

"Can you be sure of that Alan", he asked. Alan felt a shiver pass through his body. He imagined the next thing that happened would be him being confined to the medical section. How could he prevent that. He frowned, and pain shot through his face. The pain was an unwelcome reminder of the attack. It could also be his way out of seclusion.

"If I was being controlled I would have punched", he stopped himself saying the name at the last minute, "in the damn face and then taken control of the base".

Victor could hear deep pain in that statement. "Fair point", he admitted. "But you are the Captain of the Eagle fleet". Controlling you would give the mist access to the base". I don't think we can afford to rule anything out". He could see the fear upon Alan's face. Any second now the young pilot was going to run away. Then unfortunately security would have to be notified.

John could sense Alan's thoughts. His feet were twitching, as though they were preparing for flight. He put his hand out, and let it lightly rest upon Alan's shoulder. He wanted it to be clear he was not trying to restrain Alan, just support him. He could thankfully counter Victor's theory. "But what have they done that convinces us they want access to our base", John countered. 'They've cocooned Eagles, that's it. There have been no attempts to get control of weapons, or any other essential components."

"Yes, that's true. If they were controlling me, I could have easily blasted holes all over the base by now", Alan added. He took a look at John. Then there's the fact that I don't actually have ultimate authority. I am sure they'd try to infect you if they really want to take over".

Victor actually let a smile slip out. Alan was anxious and angry, but was still capable of making a very good logical argument. His respect for the pilot grew. "Alright, alright, I can accept that control is not on their agenda. But they are listening to you. At least regarding, these two Eagles. Can you do anything for the others that are cocooned?", Victor asked.

"There's only one way to find that out", Alan stated. He moved along the isolation compartments until he came to the cocooned Eagles. "Hey Eagles, I do need you back. I miss your company. So could you stop whatever is happening and rejoin the fleet." It sounded like such a silly thing to say.

He stood there and waited. "See nothing is happening", he told Victor and John after fifteen minutes had passed.

"The cocoon process took awhile so I'm guessing it's not simply going to disappear", Victor replied. He sat down and waited.

John and Alan joined him.

Twenty minutes later, "cocoon thickness has decreased by 5 percent", came the analysis.

Victor looked over at Alan. "I think it's going to work Alan. The mist is doing what you ask." He tapped his fingers on his chair. I've been doing some more thinking." I believe we can relate this experience to animal behaviour upon Earth. There are species that imprint upon the first thing they see. They then follow that creature, believing it to be their parent. In this case, it might have been the first thing they 'heard'. They liked the sound of your voice, and what you were saying." That's why they would not respond to other forms of communication."

"So I can reverse the cocooning process just by asking". That's good. But I am just one person. How am I going to stop them infecting other Eagles. " He glanced at the cocoons. "There must be a reason they are doing that", he added.

Victor nodded, "we did think they were we going to transform, just like Earth's butterflies. That process may take a long time".

"Or perhaps your theory is not accurate," John pondered. Maybe the cocoons are simply protection, and nothing more. We certainly cannot affect them in that state." Victor was muttering to himself. "You raise good points John. Maybe we should compare the mist to hermit crabs, and not butterflies. They need somewhere to live, and the Eagle's seemed like a good place. The only ones they avoided were those that Alan interacted with. His voice spoke of a purpose for those Eagles".

"Alan does raise a point though, how do we keep the mist away from the Eagles permanently", Victor pondered.

"Well they seem willing to give up the Eagles. So perhaps they just need an alternative. Somewhere hollow. "There may be other parts of the moon they'd be willing to live", Alan remarked. "If we'd be okay about them staying here".

John had to think about that for awhile. The mist could cause future problems. But that was not a certainty. It would be far enough away that they could co exist. He had to think about the short term. They needed the mist gone, and didn't know any other places it could live.

"Very well I agree to that. Alan find a way to tell them".

Alan thought about what to say, he'd never actually directly addressed the mist. He'd only talked through the ships. Thus he did not know if they'd respond any other way. "Hey Eagles, I know it's uncomfortable having these lifeforms near you. Perhaps you'd prefer it if they found a home in the crater at the far side of the moon." Alan broke off. He could only hope the mist would get that message.

"That might get them to leave space, and build their homes upon the moon", he told Victor and John. "I suppose it depends on why they are out there in space. It's probably not their natural habitat. "There were so many of them that last time. For awhile it seemed like they were following us. They'd never done that before. " What did I say to the Eagle that time, to have made them act differently", Alan pondered.

Alan yawned. His eyes flicked shut for a second. All he really wanted to do was rest.

John put out his hand and gently steadied Alan. He had become rapidly more pale. "You don't need the answer to that right now". Go back to your quarters and rest. Or would you prefer I send you to medical".

Alan was deep in thought. He barely registered what John was telling him. John's hand tightened on his arm. His eyes slipped shut again and he felt himself wobble on his feet. He knew he'd collapse soon. Yet he could not rest. Because he'd remembered what he said at the beginning of their mission.

"I said that today we needed to find resources. John do you think the mist knows where to find them. Were they actually trying to help us", he asked.