My name is Michael Hicks. I'm an airman in the United States Airforce, and today is my twenty-first birthday. Instead of going out with my friends to the NCO club to have a few beers, I'm stuck in a remote outpost by myself for a week. I guess you could say it is my fault. My father is a defense contractor, and I had him pull a few strings to get me assigned to the space division. I really wanted to go to Mars, but I ended up on the moon. Not what I would consider a high profile job, but since I was drafted, instead on joining up, I'm lucky to even be here. Mars is neat, they already have a colony of fifty thousand. Here on the moon, the population is under a thousand, and all of the equipment is old. Even the newest V.R. game is dated 2057. Lets be real here, it's 2061, lets spend some money and get with the times.
This old station was the main outpost on the Earth's moon, until 2010 when Iraq, deployed a satellite with laser technology that all but destroyed this old sweatbox. It was the height of the Middle East War, and they were getting the place ready for the ribbon cutting ceremony. >From what I read, they were going to cut the ribbon here, and have the party on Earth. Sounds like politics hasn't changed in the last fifty years.
I can't imagine how they lived back then. For the last fifty years, this place has only been used a few times. After Iraq destroyed this place, the Airforce only fixed the leaks in the two rooms that were not destroyed. That is why I am here. I get to clean up this mess, and work on this old computer, so the politicians' back on Earth can celebrate fifty years on the moon. I work, they party.
The solar panels and batteries seem to be working fine. There is hundred percent power and the oxygen generators are still working ok. I brought new oxygen generators with me, because they should have died years ago. I located the main computer, which is slow and works by the way of keyboard, and mouse. A new hand held computer was to expensive for this celebration, so instead I got an old paper manual. After a couple of hours a reading, and playing with this old thing, I was starting to have fun. I remember as a kid, my grandfather telling me about when he saw a computer for the first time.
I got to the database part of the electrical system where there is a daily log. I stared at the screen in disbelief. I try to raise command on the portable video link with no luck. I look out the window at the ATV to make sure I put up the repeater antenna, when I notice on the other side of the building a light in a room that was partly destroyed. I really did care since I'm the one that turned on the lights, but as I was watching, a shadow moves pass the window in the room. The repeater antenna is up on the ATV, so I now am desperately trying to reach my CO, or anyone who will answer. There is nothing but static.
My eyes turn to the computer screen, the log has updated to show that the lights are now turned off in that section. I look out the window, and see the light still on. I look back at the computer screen, then back out the window. The light turns off. I hope I remember how to use a mouse. The keyboard is no problem, but I haven't had to use a mouse since grade school. I sit down at the console and start to scroll backwards on the database. The dates go from today, back five days, then jumps ahead to tomorrow, over and over. I sat there with my head in my hands trying to figure out what was going on. I thought of just putting on my suit and leaving, but knowing my luck, I would receive a court marital.
I stare at the dates before my eyes. It has the month, day and time, but no year, just a slash before the month. I open up the date field on the last entry which is the one where the lights go out. The month and day are correct, but the date shows 2010. I spend the next ten minutes randomly going through the entry logs. All of them show 2010. For the ones dated for tomorrow, the latest one is 03:46 hours, a final check of the water supply, and the sub terrain pump, the log was not completed. Back in the late 1990's, a government scientist believed he found ice, which later proved to be true. That was one of the main reasons for building the station here. The log does not say what happened. Did the final test pass or fail?
The power supply alarm started to hum, bringing me out of deep thought. I look up at the gauge to see that the station was at fifty- percent power. The batteries aren't as good as I thought they were. I powered down the computer, and as soon as the hard drive light went out, the video link to the base started operating.
I look at the video screen, and some airforce operator was calling for me. "Airman Hicks, are you there?"
"Yes, I'm here. Were have you guys been?"
"We've been trying to reach you for a couple of hours. What's going on?"
"I've been here. I tried to call you over and over, but all I got was static."
"Hold on, Captain Hillard wants to talk to you."
I waited on hold, seeing the military generic flashing hold, very annoying. At least on earth when you are on hold, you get a music video.
"Airman Hicks!"
"Yes sir."
"What the hell is going on there?"
"Sir, for some unknown reason, the video link would not work until just now."
"We'll send you a new one tomorrow morning. Is everything working?"
"As well as can be expected for old stuff sir. The computer does work, there is plenty of oxygen, but the batteries from the solar panels drain fast."
"Well send you new ones. Make sure everything is ready. The ceremony takes place at 13:00 hours. The original blueprints called for all the clocks to be set at Washington time so see if they are still working. Also see if the log files are there. Some scientist wants to look at them."
"May I ask why sir?"
"They say it has something to do with what happened during the Middle East war, when the station was attacked. I don't know. Sounds like to me a waste of time and money we could use for other things. Make sure it is all ready."
"Sir, I looked at the event logs, and it seems to be running."
"What do you mean?"
"On the other side of the building, a light came on, and went off, and it was in the log." I didn't dare tell him about the shadow I think I saw. I really don't want a section eight.
"What does the log say?"
"It starts off a few days ago, and goes to tomorrows date fifty years ago."
"Sound like to me the program is stuck in an infinite loop. Maybe that is what kept everything alive there for so long. Make sure you put it in your report."
"Yes sir..." The captain hung up before I could finish. He is a novice in computers, but he thinks he knows everything. Perhaps he is right, and the shadow is a piece of furniture, piece of equipment, or a suit that is floating around in there. A suit would make sense since an airlock is right there.
Time to grab some shuteye. I walk over to the cot and fall face first. "Damn this thing is hard." Like any one can hear me. It only took a few minutes for me to fall asleep.
I was in a deep sleep when I suddenly awoke. Something, or someone was watching me, I could feel it. I turn to the window and there it was, clear as day. It wasn't a shadow, it was a spacesuit. I slowly get up and walk over to the window. I know it sounds strange, but I could actually hear the respirator. The suit was old, it was definitely an American spacesuit because it has an American flag, a flag with I think 50 states instead of the 53, and NASA patch. NASA was replaced forty years ago by the Earth Space Agency, what's going on?
The computer turned it self on. I quickly turn my head to look at the screen, then back at the window. The space suit was still there. The computer started to beep, so I walk over to the console.
The screen has "Help" on it repeatedly.
The cursor is blinking, waiting for me to type. I pull the keypad over to me and start to type, "how?"
I wait a few seconds, then "Let me die, let me finally die."
I have no idea if this is a bad dream or what. I reach and turn on the Video link, nothing but static, the computer is what is interfering with the connection. The computer screen starts flashing "help me."
"How?" I type in, "How do I let you die? Who are you?"
The computer screen starts going haywire, I try to block the bright flashes with my hand, then a picture of five astronauts, Three guys and a two women. The caption says these are the first inhabitants of Lunar Space station Kennedy, named after the old president. That was the original name of this station. I look out the window and the suit was still there. A single picture pops up on the computer screen, it was a picture of Commander William Cox.
Next, video came on the screen, it's video from what was one of the outside cameras before the station was destroyed. Wow, look at this place, it looks new. The data log popped up, logging the last entry to check the water. I look out the window to make sure the suit was still there, it was. The video shows a space suit coming out of the air lock, it looks like the same place where the light was on yesterday. The suit walks out of sight of the camera, a few seconds later, the screen shows a very bright light, and then it goes blank.
"Let me die."
I turn and yell at the window "How? How about telling me! Your dead!" It can't hear me. I turn to the keyboard and start typing, "your dead, you are buried with the others at Arlington." I wait a few seconds.
"Dead, no, I'm here, they did not take me."
This is crazy, ok pal, I'll play along. This has to be a dream, a ghost that only communicates through computers. "Why didn't they take you"?
"I have to finish."
"You have to finish what?"
"I have to finish."
"I know that, what do you have to finish?. Wait, are you talking about your log?" "I have to finish."
"Tell me what." Ok, I say it's the log. I look at my watch, it is 03:57, I hope you can finish in eleven minutes because your done. I pull up the log and type in Water ok, pumps ok, and click on the close button. The hard drive runs and makes some odd noises, and then the log comes back. The status now shows closed.
I turn to the window, and the space suit is gone. Good, I turn to go back to bed when I notice the video link is active, and the computer is still on. I don't care, I'm tired, even in this weird dream.
06:00 rolls around, and I hear a bang at the air lock. I hope I'm awake his time because if this is another dream, I am putting in for a section eight. I walk over and turn on the intercom to the air lock. "Who's there?"
"Mike it's me Dan. I got the batteries you need, plus some real eggs."
I open the airlock, and there is my friend Dan. He brings in the supplies and some real eggs from the hatchery.
"Happy belated birthday Michael."
"Thanks Dan. I hope your going to stick around and help me with these batteries?"
"Yup."
"Where do they go anyway?"
"Out in the mechanical shed in the crater, same place where the water pump is. We need to check that too." Dan puts the eggs in the microwave.
"Why?"
"To see if it works. Command wants to rebuild this place."
We gobble down the food, and prepare the batteries. Dan can tell I am hesitant about going outside, but we go anyway.
We make our way to the shed in the crater that houses the mechanical room. The door was hard to open and it takes the both of us to open it. As soon as we open it, a space suit falls out, and drops to the ground. Dan jumps back, where I just stand there. For some reason, I knew this was going to happen. Dan tries to run back towards the station, but only manages a fast walk. I follow him. Back inside, he calls command and tells them what happened.
We were told to stay inside, and do nothing. An hour later, a bunch of Airpolice show up. We could see them at the shed. Captain Hillard enters the Airlock. I walk over and open the inner door. He only removes his helmet.
"As far as you two are concerned, this never happened."
"Sir, who was that?"
"None of your business Hicks."
"Is it Commander Cox?" The captain looks at me confused. Since there was no name on the suit, how would I know. "Sir, that suit is from NASA, that would explain it being Commander Cox. He was not inside when this building was destroyed, but outside in the shed."
"Yes your right, he was. They never found his body, so they buried an empty casket. Now, you two will never talk about this again." The Captain puts on his helmet, and walks back into the air lock, and leaves.
A week later, I was back in my quarters in lunar base Alpha. The celebration went well. Dan and I were invited back for its rededication. Well, at least the upper brass decided to buy my silence, after three days of R & R, I go to Mars. The talk of the week was that we found an alien skeleton, ha. Maybe on Mars, but not here. I decided to take a walk. I ended up at the observation deck of the space dock. They were loading a casket bound for earth. I walked over for a closer look, The name plate said Commander William Cox. It looks like after fifty years, he is finally going home.
Bio: I am a married, 35 year old computer engineer, living in Metro Atlanta. My wife Nancy and I are expecting our first child this fall, and we are very excited. I have just recently finished a novel, and I hope to have it published.
E-mail: mmancini.home@mailexcite.com
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