TOMMY
I wake up more warm and comfortable than I have since, well, since I woke up in the hospital at least, the heavy and soft blanket I'd been wrapped in definitely doing its job to make me comfortable. Of course this only makes it harder to make myself get up.
Sitting up carefully, minding my ribs and pleased that there is only a little bit of pain, I unhappily push the blanket away, not wanting to really leave my warm bed but knowing I have to as I really need to go to the bathroom. The bathroom which I have no idea where it is.
Squirming in my spot, I bite my lip, unsure of what to do. Should I yell for someone? Try to find one myself? Wait it out? No that's definitely not going to work as I know I need to go and now. Finally an idea hits. "Um, computer?"
"Ready to receive command or inquiry." Okay, that's kinda cool.
"Where is the bathroom?" As a spotlight shines on a door next to the storage closet I breathe a sigh of relief and slide off the bed heading inside quickly, very glad I'm not dressed in any sort of pants that needed to be unbuttoned as that could take just a bit too long.
A few minutes later, I'm done and wide awake. Searching my memory, I realize that I still don't know the name of the man who saved me or anything about where I am. Well, okay so I know I'm in a space ship in space somewhere, but really that's not very helpful or comforting. The man did say he'd be back after he cleaned up and took a nap right? So will that be soon? How long have I been sleeping? Well only one way to find out.
"Computer how long have I been sleeping?"
"Previous rest period for Thomas Oliver, human has been three hours, twelve minutes and twenty eight seconds." Okay, then.
"Is the guy who saved me sleeping?"
"Inquiry not understood. Rephrase with specific information and repeat."
Frowning as I sort through the words and realize generally what it said, I in the end give up as I don't really know how to ask that question any other way. Never mind. Scratching my head I try to figure out just what to do as I'm definitely not sleepy anymore, nor do I want to just sit here waiting for him to come for me, but then on the other hand I don't want to make him mad, either. I can't win.
After a few minutes of standing around looking at nothing interesting, I finally decide that it's way too boring in this room and head for the door. Surprised as I don't even have to touch it, it slides open silently and I step out into the hallway beyond. Looking both ways, I finally decide and head to the right walking as quietly as I can and looking over my shoulder often. Don't want something sneaking up behind me; people or blood thirsty aliens. Though I guess it is kind of bland and brightly lit in this hall for any fifty foot monster creatures to jump out at me like in the movies.
Not passing anything interesting I'm starting to wonder if I should just go back when a minute later the hall splits again. This time I chose the left fork, ignoring the doors I pass which while labeled are not readable as they seem to be in some sort of backwards language. "Computer, what language are the door labels in?"
"The equivalent of Earthen English." Na uh! Stupid computer must have a glitch.
Not really in the mood to argue with it though I keep going frowning as this way dead ends at a door that slides open as I approach. I feel my eyes widen as much as they can as I stare at what must be the - what do they call it? - bridge of the ship.
Lights dance across the consoles while a huge screen takes up one end of it and I have a memory of watching Star Trek or some such thing, though this is way cooler. Pushing aside my annoyance at the computer over its mix up of the door labels I ask the first question that comes to mind. "Computer, how fast are we going?"
"Present speed is warp three."
Grinning for a minute and completely forgetting that I could get into trouble, I speak again. "Increase to warp seven. Engage."
There is a pause and a beep before it responds, "Voice command not accepted." Voice command? What voice command? I asked it to do other things before and it did. Why not this?
Aw, man. Thinking it over and deciding that maybe it is just that one command that won't work I try something else. "Change course back to Earth?"
The answer coming back quicker than before, it's apparently not happening. "Voice command not accepted."
Rats. Not fair. That hope of getting myself home now down the drain I heave a sigh as I realize that I'm still a prisoner, saved or not.
Deciding to try one more thing before giving up completely and going in search of a different room I swear this better work or I'm going to be mad. "Activate view screen."
The screen in front of me suddenly kicks to life and I stare in awe at the view before me.
