PASSENGERS (2016)

Chapter One

A lone woman is awakened on a sleeper ship way before it's time. Knowing of no way to get back into hibernation, she accepts that her life is now on this ship, and that she will die before it ever reaches Homestead II. She can read, listen to music, swim, eat to her heart's content, and experience space as no one else can. But what can replace the inevitable loneliness of such a trip? Then she meets Arthur.

I do not own any part or character of this film, just my OC.

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Elizabeth was alone. Why, she had no idea. Regardless that this ship felt like a luxury hotel, it was a sleeper ship. Five thousand passengers on board, and she was just one of them. Somehow, her pod malfunctioned. She awoke to loud pings, indicating there was a problem with the pod. To keep her safe and alive, the automated system ended the hibernation function. She climbed out and scanned her hiber-chamber and all the other units there with her. There was no other movement. So they were all still working, she thought ruefully, just not hers. Aged 28, dark brown hair and blue eyes, she was chosen for her medical background and healthy youth.

Elizabeth endured the automated welcoming message, telling her all about the wonders of Homestead II and the ship Avalon. But when she heard the messenger saying they were on the final four months, she cried out. "No! There's something wrong with my pod. I awoke too early!" The messenger ignored her, and continued to give her instructions on how to find her cabin. Was it hopeless? Having no other choice for now, Elizabeth went to find her cabin. She had purchased Second Class rather than First to save some money for her arrival at Homestead II, not that that mattered now. Elizabeth was satisfied when she entered the place she would be calling home, very probably, for the rest of her life. If not for the wrist band she wore, she wished she could check out the First Class accommodations to see what she was missing out on. I'm so thirsty, she suddenly thought.

The messenger told her she might experience some post-hibernation sickness. She didn't feel ill at all, but was still very thirsty. She took the glass of liquid that was dispensed from a wall unit and drank greedily. Once she had scanned her ID , she pulled out her suitcase, showered quickly, and changed into pants and a sweater that she had packed. Clothes and personal items were left waiting for the passengers in their cabins, ready for them when they awoke. But the most pressing issue was to find food.

She left her cabin, the only sign of life, so to speak, being some automated cleaning units racing along the floors. Standing before an information station she had stumbled upon, Elizabeth asked where the nearest food center was. It turned out to be several decks up, and halfway around the ring. She had read the intro package that came with a book detailing all the amenities of the ship. There were cafeterias and dining rooms. Some things were off limits, depending on the class the passenger had purchased. But right now, there was no one around to tell her to scoot.

She found a large but sadly empty cafeteria, and managed to place a breakfast order. She had no idea what time of day it really was, but having a morning meal seemed appropriate. She drank three cups of coffee and ate her eggs, bacon, and hash browns in minutes. Before she left the room, she ordered two pancakes and ate them while she walked the corridors. Elizabeth never saw one person the entire time. Why was her pod the only one that had malfunctioned?

She passed a large room, but backtracked when she saw movement from the corner of her eye. Entering, it looked like a lounge with a long bar, and tables and chairs scattered around. Suddenly, a man moved to the center of the counter, giving Elizabeth a smile and a greeting. "What can I get for you, miss?"

Elizabeth asked him what he was doing there all alone, when she noticed his missing legs and substituted hardware. "An android?"

"Yes, miss. My name is Arthur."

"I'm Elizabeth, Arthur. Do you know how to make a mimosa?"

"Of course. One mimosa coming up." He proceeded to mix the ordered drink.

"Arthur, do you know I'm the only one awake? And earlier than I should be. My messenger said we were four months from arrival at Homestead II, but it can't be true. Do you know how far we are from the colony world?"

"About ninety years or so. Why?"

"Don't you get it? I'm awake due to a malfunction..."

"Hibernations pods are fail safe, miss," the android said, repeating company programming.

"Then how am I here?" she demanded, now frustrated.

She noticed the android had stopped polishing the glass he held, gave one head twitch, then went back to basically telling her she was mistaken. Too tired to argue, she accepted the drink with a thank you, and drank half of it in one gulp. Elizabeth looked at the android with curiosity, then finished the mimosa, leaving the now empty glass on the counter. "Good day, Arthur."

"Good day, miss."

Elizabeth spent time exploring the ship. She found several gyms, a large swimming pool, and various lesson centers. The shops, however, were all locked up. At least she could get food and drinks from the automated dispensers. And there was always the lounge, especially if she needed to talk with someone, human or not.

Three days later, she did just that.

She entered the lounge to see Arthur slide to his place at the counter. "Good day, miss. And how are you this fine day?"

"Alright, I suppose. What do you have to offer today?" She took a seat on a stool, glancing at all the liquor on the back shelves.

"I have an extensive memory library of concoctions from anywhere on Earth. What do you favour?"

Elizabeth chuckled. "I love fruity drinks. Rum based. Traditional umbrella drinks, I think they used to call them."

"Ah, I have just the thing." He rolled from one side of the bar to the other, mixing her drink with his usual expertise.

"You have an English accent, Arthur. Were you modeled after a real person?"

Arthur searched his memory files and found no answer to her query. "I don't know, miss. Perhaps I am just one of many bartenders on various vessels, who look just like me."

"Well, I think you're one of a kind." She reached out to lay her hand on his, patting it. "Good night, Arthur."

After the human left the lounge, the android touched the hand she had touched with his other. He raised his eyebrows, confused, then went back to his station and shut down.

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Life on the ship fell into a routine that was not yet boring, but was predictable. She'd rise after allowing herself to sleep in, then she'd shower and eat, maybe go for a swim or take a learning course. She might work out, then swim again. The observation deck was great for checking out stellar phenomena. At times, she would read a book online or just take a nap. When she felt really bored, she'd go get a drink and talk with Arthur. He would greet her with a charming smile every time, yet still called her 'miss'. One day, she visited him with no intention of having a drink.

"I have a surprise for you, Arthur." Elizabeth walked up to the bar to be met by his usual pleasant smile.

"Surprise, for me?" he asked, while polishing the requisite glass.

She held out a tie, cobalt blue in colour, with small stars hand sewn into the fabric. "I thought perhaps you'd like a change from the boring black bow tie."

"You think my bow tie is boring?" he asked with mock hurt.

Elizabeth tilted her head, her eyebrows raised. Arthur understand the implied response. "I have a lot of time on my hands. I made it myself, but if you don't want it..."

"Of course I want it. It's perfect, miss."

She went behind the bar, and standing next to the android, she removed the offending black bow tie, and draped her tie behind his neck. She had helped her father do his tie on important celebration days, so knew the intricacies of tying a tie. While she worked in silence, Arthur watched her, his slight smile broadening. When she was done, her hands patted the tie and then his chest. She exhaled with pleasure. "It suits you." She returned to the other side of the bar. "I'll be back for that drink you promised me. The one with the umbrella."

"I'll have it ready for you, miss." He watched her leave, then he picked up a shiny silver tray, looking at his reflection. He admired the young woman's gift, and smiled again. It did suit him.

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It had been several months since her early awakening. Elizabeth still enjoyed her visits with Arthur, feeling she had to go through his entire lexicon of alcoholic beverages. He had even made up some not in his memory files. Today she decided to enjoy her evening meal with him. It had gotten tiresome eating alone in the dining room or her cabin.

While Elizabeth dressed, she realized that she had wanted to look pretty this evening. But for whom? An automated bartender, who happened to have a name? The fact that he always called her "miss", never once using her name, made her chest feel heavy. Was she actually attracted to this android who seemed to take great pleasure in inventing new alcoholic concoctions for her? Or she was putting way more in it than there really was. He had said he was programmed to serve. One day, feeling quite depressed, she had been talking with him, when she began to cry. He listened to her babble through her tears, and when she had finished, he had said he would always be there for her. And he was.

She sighed, and finished putting her hair up so she could wear a pair of dangling gemstone earrings. What the hell, she liked them, even if the android never noticed them or anything else she wore. There would be lots of days of blue jeans, t-shirts, and sweats. Why not dress up for dinner and drinks tonight? She would select her supper and bring it to the lounge so that she could talk with Arthur while eating. She had mentioned how much she liked tropical drinks, so Arthur had promised to make her something special this visit. Elizabeth tried to convince herself it was only because there was no one else that she had become attached to the inhuman bartender. Tried and gave up. So what, she thought. I'm alone, and he makes sure I don't feel alone. She left her quarters with a whistle on her lips, and headed to the lounge.

On arrival, Elizabeth was greeted with a smile by the artificial man standing at the bar. "Good evening, miss. You look lovely tonight."

She set her supper tray on the bar, and sat on a stool right in front of the android. She gave Arthur a smile of her own, and asked, "Do you think so? Really think so?" His smile lit his eyes, Elizabeth noticed.

Arthur tilted his head. "Yes, of course." He reached from behind the bar and set a large drink in front of the young woman. "Something special, just for you, miss."

Elizabeth saw the most elaborate drink she'd ever had. Tall, with a stick of bamboo that had small slices of pineapple and a couple maraschino cherries impaled on it, sitting in a mixture of layered alcohols. The layers didn't blend together, which was magic in itself. Arthur then stuck a paper umbrella into the top slice of pineapple. "Voila!" he said with a grin.

"It's a real umbrella drink!" Hopping off the stool, Elizabeth ran to the far end of the counter around the corner, and stepped behind the bar. She went up to the android, and ignoring his hardware, gave him an impulsive hug. "Thank you! It's perfect, Arthur! You're perfect." She pulled back to find the bartender had a surprised look on his face. This close, she noticed he was taller than her by at least 4 inches. It always seemed they spoke at eye level when she was on the other side of the bar.

Elizabeth reached up to touch Arthur's cheek. With no warning to him, she leaned in and kissed the android. Then mortified with her action, she said, "I'm sorry. I don't know why I did that."

"It's alright, Elizabeth. It really is," the android reassured her.

He called her Elizabeth. He had never called her by name. It was always 'miss' with him. Polite and proper. Why had he used her name this time? Embarrassed, Elizabeth returned to her side of the bar, and tried to act nonchalant. "Well, I guess I should get down to supper and this delicious drink you took so much time to make. Tell me, how do the layers stay separate?" She began her meal and sipped from the tall glass. It wasn't long before she found herself a bit tipsy. She asked Arthur questions about his history, made silly jokes which he dutifully smiled at, and fell more and more in love with him.

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A/N : I saw Passengers in its entirety for the first time this weekend. I fell in love with Arthur, the android bartender, played by Michael Sheen. who also portrayed another fave character of mine, Castor from Tron Legacy. So I put together this short piece, two to three chapters at most. Enjoy!