Chapter 2. Voices
Note: RSTC still doesn't belong to me, but Amy and her squad is copyright!
I dedicate my work to my native speaker teacher at school, so special thanks to you Anna!
( The things I wrote in this type of letters is psychic talk. )
„I still can't believe the Major said a „little crater"! From down here it seem about 300 kilometers wide and 40 meters deep." fumed Sparco.
„To be exact, it's 267 kilometers wide and 45 and a half meters deep. It's the second bigest crater on this place of rock. It's name is Spartacus and it's located next to the Sea of Darkness."
„Thank's for the geography lesson Wheeler!"
„Anytime pal. Anyway, did you know, that in the 19th century people still believed, the Moon was made of cheese?"
„I saw an episode of the cult-cartoon, Tom and Jerry, in which Jerry landed here and ate up a crater, 'cos it was cheese. The whole Moon was cheese! And that series was created in the 1950's." Amy said.
„What's Tom and Jerry?" asked T'hezdra.
„It's a cartoon series, about a grey cat called Tom and a brown mouse called Jerry."
„Yeah, and sometimes there's a bulldog called Spike with his puppy son in it." Danny added.
„Strange. I should wach a few episodes when we get back to Earth." the Skinnie responded.
„Yeah! But now let's get to work, shall we?" asked Sgt. Hotshot.
„Sure we can." they all went and started off the wireing of the corridor consoles, which they were working on since 4 days, since their arrival. The other parts of the Outpost were done well and Dr. da Ponte and her assistents were doing the medical installments. If the „Toolkit" finnishes the corridor today, the mess hall will come on the next day. Luckily for them, it was the oldest part of the base. 2 years ago, the first squad here made it. They still used it as a cafeteria+kitchen+mess hall and briefing room.
Today the Intel bunch occupied it, together with the 6 air traffic coordinators. It seemed that Maj. Zelda Rawens of the Intel had a problem with the CO of the coordinators.
„Don't tell me you couldn't arrange that! What did you learn at basic training anyway?" she yelled.
„I'm sorry, Ma'am, but it's impossible to install a radio telescope in a crater. And that was not said in basic, it was tought in geography lessons in highschool!"
„Don't you dare yell at me again, or else…"
„Or else?"
„Or else I'll send you back to Earth!"
„Yeah, right. And who's gonna do the telescope for ya?"
I wish they just stop this shouting! I can't take it anymore. My head hurts pretty heavily already, even without this quarrel. I sense a brain bug somewhere near, or at least a control bug, but I just can't concentrate in such a noise. – Carl thought as he sat down in a dark blue armchair. He leant on his elbows and held his head in his hands. He was in deep thinking when he felt that somebody was watching him. It was Amy.
„What's the matter? Are ya OK?" she asked. Carl looked up, he had a distant look in his eyes.
„I'm sorry, what did ya say?"
„I wanted to know how you were, that's all."
„Oh, I'm not quite well."
„What's the matter?"
„My head hurts like hell, that's all, but it's just another psychic-thing."
„I feel sorry for you. Don't you mind if I sit here for lunchbreak?"
„Don't mention the word „mind" again!"
„Ha! Man, you can be really funny sometimes, ya know that?"
„Yet, that you were so kind to tell me."
„What if I go and hold your lunch too?"
„I'm not hungry. And besides, who gave you the permission to sit here? I wanna be alone! Is it so hard to understand?"
„Ya mean I'm disturbing your splendid isolation? You're not making any sense!"
„Sorry, it happens sometimes, but I really need to be alone now. Would you please leave."
He looked up at her with a pleading look in his eyes. Amy understood it well and went away but after a few minutes came back with 2 trays, one in each hand.
Anyway, please eat something. It'll make things better. – she said and left with a soft smile on her face.
But Carl hardly even touched the food. He looked over at Amy's direction: the girl was joking 'roung with her fellow troopers rather loudly. But Carl knew, she was loud all the time. She loved to laugh, to listen to music – she was a real music expert, she could say which song was on a few seconds after it started. She seemed to be the opposite of Carl, but Jenkins knew, that she was a sensitive young girl, fresh out of highschool on the inside. She was talkative, becouse she REALLY had things to say, and she was extrovert, just like Johnny used to be as a child. She told her feelings freely, if she couldn't bare to keep them to herself anymore. After he finished eating – if beating food into molecules can be colled eating – Carl took back his plate. As he sat back he felt a warm hand touching his, he turned to face Amy again. She held a piece of chocolate in her hand:
„I was saveing this for Christmas Eve, but it'll do good to your condition. Take it!"
„Thank's." He tried to smile but failed. Amy noticed that.
„Tell me the truth, Carl! What's wrong with you?"
„None of your concern!"
He stood up and made his way to the corridor, with Amy following close behind. When they were out of the hall she asked him again:
„Please, tell me what's wrong! Maybe I could help."
Her brownish green eyes looked questioningly into his cold blue ones.
„Well, actually, I sensed this right after we arrived." – he began slowly.
He realised, Amy'll believe him. He felt how she cared about him, even if he was mean to her all the time. But he felt, people were far away from him. This time he opened up just a bit and let Amy take a look inside. His looks softened as he turned back to the girl, who asked:
„Sensed what Carl?" – she never bothered calling him „Sir" or Lt. or Jenkins.
„It's like a voice in the back of my head. I hear thoughts, which are not mine but not the others' either. Can you understand that?"
„Yeah. It' s quite clear, never been a psy though."
„Beleive me, never become one. I didn't ask for this."
„Ya know what that voice is?" – asked Amy suspiciously.
„I guess it's a brain bug. It has to be near and it's moving closer each day."
„Wha', a brain? Please, don't let it get me!" – Amy cried out and squeezed Jenkins' left arm.
„Outch, that hurts."
„Sorry."
„It' OK. I wont let such a disgusting thing get you."
„Whatch out, enveloping movement!" – yelled Amy and wrapped her arms round Carl. The special talent was surprised, and then pushed her away. Get your hands off of me! You don't have any idea, who you're messing with! Amy was rather hurt. Tears started to fill her eyes and blur her view. Carl was surprised to see this. He reached out and wiped her tears away from her cheeks. I'm so sorry, Amy. It's just, that I don't know who to trust.
„It's OK, Carl. Forget it, I'll get… „ - but she was interrupted.
„Well, what do we have here? Lt. Jenkins, this time you should have a good story to clear this thing up." – Carl and Amy snapped to attention. It was Col. Carl Feders of Intel.
„I believe you're dismissed Bredston! Go back to your squad!" – Amy left immediately. „So Jenkins, what was that I've seen recently?"
„I told Pvt. Bredston, that there's a brain bug."
„Brain bug? I don't see any of them 'round here. You better explain it!"
„I can hear it, Sir."
„Not again, Jenkins. I thought, we talked this over in my office yesterday. Rest assured and I suggest, you should go and see Dr. da Ponte about these voices."
„But Sir. There are…"
„Dismissed Jenkins, and I don't wanna hear this stuff anymore! Und'stand? If you're wires are crossed, fix 'em!"
„Yes Sir." – he hissed and left to McCormick's ward.
Amy went back to her squad too, but she was immediately attacked by Peterson:
„Whoo! Now what exactly was that thing with the brainboy?"
„Fuck off, Danny!"
„Guys, take it easy! No more fighting, OK?" – Sweetheart said. And they actually gave the fighting up this time. But Sparco and T'hezdra was curious too.
„Mind if I ask what's the relationship between you and psychic dude?"
„He's got a name, Sparco and it's Carl Jenkins. I suggest, you should call him that way."
„OK, OK, easy girl! No offense! So, is Carl an aquintence of yours?"
„Yes. He brought me back from my coma. He's a very nice person, when he's not actin' so coldly."
„Of course he's cold, he's a psy."
„Yeah T'hezdra, but he's an outcast. Me and Dr. da Ponte are the only 2 who talk to him and not just order him around. And he's actually very alone. I believe, there are times, when he needs to feel, that there are some who care about him."
„I guess, this was a time out of those „sometimes"?"
„Yeah, it was."
„But how could you tell, if he needs care, 'cos he seems to be very distant all the time?"
„Now that's not allways true!"
„Ya know wha', sometimes I feel sorry for this Jenkins guy too. But get back to work!"
„Yes Hotshot!"
„I belive I'm a sargent. So?"
„Yes Sir!"
„That's much better! Keep workin'!"
