I made a new friend today. Alexander. I had just been to visit the Captain’s CryoTube for his fortnightly update. Not much to tell him, really. 'We're still on course' ... 'all systems operational' ... 'everyone's still frozen' ...
I hadn't seen Alexander before, but as I headed for the cargo bay exit, there he was. He had been a pilot before Evac, on leave after a round trip to Pluto. The colonists had been building to war for some time over this or that. They chose the day of his shuttle's arrival to get started. His return voyage had been hastily chartered, and within two cycles he was headed back to earth. He touched down in time to be granted passage and a CryoTube in the rapidly filling cargo bays. He always looks pissed off, but I guess that's just the way his face froze.
I have other friends in the cargo bay. Clark is a superhero. I had gone down there for a walk a while ago, as a last ditch attempt to stop myself from detonating the ship. I angrily shared my sinister plan with the rows of frozen faces. It was then that Clark pulled me to one side and confided in me his true identity. He told me that I was the only hope the human race had of survival. I had to be strong. He believed in me.
I also have regular conversations with Dr. Alexandra DuWitt. She invented the cure for obesity. Perhaps I should introduce her to Fat Sally? Farooq Sudduiqi is my only friend in Cargo Bay 06, and the only athlete to survive the long jump event in the Deep Space Olympics. They are very interesting people and I am lucky to know them.
The rest of the janitorial team are down there too. They could be considered heroes themselves. They assisted with the testing of the first installed CryoTubes on the ship, and have been the longest inhabitants of Cargo Bay 01.
Before entering his CryoTube, Dirty Harry was so dedicated to his field that he seldom had any time for himself. He never socialised, never watched motion pictures, read books, did any activities unless it involved maintaining the ship in some way. His dedication went so deep that he refused to use any of the ship's amenities such as the showers or bathrooms. Less use meant less cleaning.
Wendy is so thin and frail that on first meeting, most people mistook her for one of those plastic skeletons you decorate your house with at Halloween. On more than one occasion she has been thought to be dead, but it turned out that she was only sleeping, or standing still.
Handsome Jack (my improved intellect suggests to me that this name is purely ironic) is a ladies man. He was always hanging around the ladies changing rooms in case there was a janitorial emergency. He was very considerate and caring towards the female crew members. It is because of him that there is a women's only gym on B Deck.
Comments ()