Terra by Turnbull Robert

Author:Turnbull, Robert [Turnbull, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: hawkslegend.com
Published: 2016-04-16T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 2.

‘DING!” a mellow ring sang out, pause, “DING!” another shorter pause, “Gil? Are you awake?”

“YEAH…yeah, sort of…What year is it, is the mission still a go? Wait…who are you?”

“You may refer to me as Val, Gil. Doctor Rand said I was to answer to Val. I am the…”

“Right, ok, let me wake up Val.” Gil opened his eyes as the convex cover over him slid back and the room’s lighting slowly increased as his eyes tried to adjust.

“I’m assuming that you are the computer that was in its final stages when Joe Parker and I were put into stasis?”

“Affirmative Gil, may I call you Gil? Dr. Rand told me to call everyone in project by their given names as it gave a sense of comradery.”

“Yeah, Gil’s fine Val.” Gilbert Wells rubbed his face as he tried to clear the fog from his mind. “So I’ve been asleep for five years already?” he chuckled still a bit groggy “Geezzz…this stasis crap the Brits and Aussies discovered actually worked…” he frowned as he squinted at the much too bright room lights.

“No side effects my ass, Val do you have something for a monster headache?”

“I am not a mobile unit Gil, you will have to get aspirin from the med bay down the hall. I am only programmed to monitor the stasis chambers and the actual complex functions. Unfortunately I cannot do anything but repair what I am able, and awaken you should there be any problems. I fear that you will have to get your own aspirin Major. ”

“That reminds me Val, you got me up. I am assuming we are ready to begin Project Zed?”

“Negative Gil, I am not aware of…”

“Say Val, where are the staff? I was told there was supposed to be some pretty nurses taking readings to make sure I was ok. Tell them to get me…”

“Since I and the main computer were brought on line most all staff was sent on to other bases Gil, or at least that is what Dr. Rand told me. Only a minimalist skeleton crew was kept here and…” for the first time Val was silent.

“Val something wrong?”

“I am sorry Gil, but I have only what information Dr. Rand told me from his control console in the control room or his personal office. The last he informed me of anything was when he had me awaken Joe, eleven years ago.”

“Why Joe he was an engineer, I was to be the pilot?” Gil’s half smile turned to horror “Christ! Did…you say…eleven years ago?”

“Affirmative, eleven years, six months, and twenty-one days ago. I can provide you with the hours, minutes, and seconds if you would like.”

Gil was stunned yet managed to slip off the horizontal and now fully uncovered stasis pod. There was a slight wobble as he stood and took a few test steps as his bare feet slapped on the floor. Somehow he made the wall of the narrow but long room and took one hand to run along the wall as he carefully stepped toward the door.

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