‘Dear passengers,
right now “The Starlight” is leaving Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte! Say goodbye to your home and cheers for dazzling Andromeda! All drinks are available in B8 and B12 sectors. Enjoy your journey and remember “The Starlight is wherever the spark of joy needed!” All rights belong to United Intergalactic Group.’ The shiny hologram of cheerful three-eyed lady in UIG uniform faded away with soft crackle.
‘Dazzling Andromeda’ muttered Aloïse, drinking glass of lemon lava all at once ‘cheers to the darkest shithole in the universe.’
Her discontent was understandable. Intergalactic journeys was always too long, too boring and too exhausting. Especially when you’re travelling on such a tin can as “The Starlight”, which was much more appropriate for wild satellite parties then for a long distance trip. Especially when you are leaving your precious WLM to get away with the crime you never did.
Aloïse gazed into the endless darkness of the borders of the galaxy through the tiny illuminator. Some vintage romantic song played in the nearest cabin, giving Aloïse melancholic mood.
‘... When you're sad and when you're lonely. And you haven't got a friend. Just remember that death is not the end….’
She’d rather took some huge cruiser for this trip. With gorgeous picture windows and opportunity to get lost in millions of travellers. But after the collapse of “White Flame”, the biggest UIG ship, the company was forced to transfer all kinds of vessels on intergalactic transportation. So Aloïse and a dozen of unfortunates crossed the border of galaxies on a tiny party ship with one android instead of a crew.
‘... When you're standing on the crossroads. That you cannot comprehend. Just remember that death is not the end…’
A deafening clap thrown Aloïse from her alcoholic melancholy. Then she heard the sound of falling body. The music continued playing. There could not be a mistake. Aloïse jumped to her feet and runned to the A5.
A5 was a personal cabin. One bed, one table, standard neon design. Only couple of things distinguished it from every other cabin: old-fashioned music player and dead body on the floor with a horror frozen on his face. Aloïse caught her breath. She needed to make a decision. She had to do something immediately.
Finally, she started to examine body. It was her job, even though she was not obliged to do it anymore. The deadman was obese old humanoid, who’d clearly die few years later by himself. His skin was green, few tones darker than Aloïse’s due to blood loss. A ragged wound was in the middle of chest, just where the heart should be. He had no chance. There was a lazurite coin, which allows to enter the building of Senate of Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte, in the inside pocket of his velvet jacket. Aloïse was lucky to find a dead senator.
‘Daddy!’ Young lady screamed behind the Aloïse, scaring her to death. Aloïse cursed to herself.
‘Ma’am, your father is dead. I am the representative of WLM protection force.’
She hoped this blef played well for shocked girl. ‘I assume it was murder and I am obliged to start an investigation. Please, help me to bring all the passengers and crew together to B8.’
Young lady nodded and burst into tears.
‘And, please, turn the bloody music off.’
In fifteen minutes all nine space travellers was near the bar, every single one was disturbed, scared or frustrated. Aloïse looked at two identical men from Nebula, the android servant, heartbroken daughter, smoking women, whose face was hidden and a family with three screaming kiddos. The tenth passenger lay in A5. Aloïse decided to start talking before anyone else did.
‘We all are here ‘cause one of the passengers were murdered. I am the officer, that’s why I need to be sure everyone will remain safe. Now please, stay here, stay calm, keep an eye on each other.’ Oh, they will, she scared them enough. Now the android.
‘Captain, I would ask you to assist me in crew’s cabin.’
Aloïse grabbed the hand of terrified robot and left the room with him.
‘I’m not a captain, ma’am. The ship is on autopilot. I just look for the bar and food...’
‘Yes, I am aware.’ Aloïse had no time for that. ‘Shut up and show me the records.’
‘The records, ma’am? I don’t get it.’
‘Don’t play a fool, dear. There’s a wiretap in every cabin. It’s bloody UIG, they built a fortune overhearing their passengers. Now, show it to me.’
‘It’s a corporate secret, ma’am.’
‘What’s your name dear?’
‘Anthony, ma’am.’
‘Good. Anthony, dear, I don’t give a shit on your corporation. The senator is dead. Turn on the records or they’ll do a wash machine out of you.’
Anthony sighed and started tapping on the screen. The scratching changed on the clear sound of voices and they started to listen.
***
‘ Good afternoon, gentlemen. So nice you join me in this trip.’
‘We are also pleased, senator Kenna. Now let’s talk a business.’
Senator laughed softly.
‘I talk business exclusively, gentlemen. And as I already told your boss, I have a firm position on the question, you interested in. Nobody should know about the accident on “White Flame”’
‘Do you have an idea, what could this information do with our nation, senator?’
‘Unfortunately, I’m aware. That’s why I never let your boss hear it. Remind him
that blame of these deaths are on us all. Now, gentlemen, I’d like to have a dinner, excuse
me.’ Then the door clanged.
‘Let’s try another way.’ said one Nebulian to other softly.
***
‘That’s humiliating, Farron. I’m not your secretary girl to behave with me like that.’
‘I know, my love. I’m so sorry. I did not plan to take Lucia on board. She will never forgive me cheating on her mother.’
‘How dare you tell me things like that? Do you think there’s much joy in being senator’s whore?’
‘Oh dear, oh love, please do not. I’ll fix everything soon. And we’ll be together, I promise.’
‘I don’t believe your single word.’
Then the voices changed with moans.
Anthony winced and switched to the next record.
***
‘You cannot change anything, dad! I love Anthony and we gonna be together.’
‘That’s ridiculous! He’s a bunch of mechanisms.’
‘So am I.’ Lucia was furious. ‘I’m not here to ask your permission. You never asked mine while sleeping with this horrible women.’
‘Lucia, that’s not the point.’
‘I’ll not be disappointed when she cut your throat to take your fortune.’
‘What a nonsense. You’ll better apologise. And stop that whatever you call it with the robot. It’s unhealthy to fall for things.’
‘Me and Anthony will marry soon and I’ll never see you again, you and old bastard!’
‘Over my dead body, Lucia.’
Anthony looked in Aloïse with challenge. ‘Yes, I’m in love with real human. Judge me,’ he wanted to say. But Aloïse just showed to turn on the next record silently.
***
There was only rattle for a long time. And then a gasp. A murmuring. Someone did not let senator speak. Or something.
‘Farron Kenna, you’ll die very soon,’ beasty voice granted. ‘Be ready, because white flame will burn you down.’
Few minutes there was complete silence. Then the senator gasped. He woke up from a nightmare, he was sure.
‘What was that?’ Aloïse turned to the android. ‘This voice. Was that a passenger?’
‘I… I don’t know ma.am. I’m afraid it’s not registered.’
‘We should find it now.’
‘But…’
‘Now, Anthony!’
Before they reached the door the electricity went down and “The Starlight” turned into darkness.
‘Oh no, Lucia,’ gasped Anthony.
There was no sound in endless silence of the space. Only flash of light reported about the collapse of “The Starlight”. The goal was achieved.
No comments:
Post a Comment