Lost in Space

Chapter 10: The Dangerous Path to Home

Yet another escape from 5G-189 was made. How many is that now? It first happened when we escaped Gliese 581g, then again when 5G-189 caught sight of our ship, then on Kepler 62e where we found Hyle Gerald, then when Stephen and I jumped out of 5G-189's mothership, then again just now. That makes five times where we made dangerous escapes from 5G-189. I fear that there may be a time where 5G-189 may finally get her chance to kill us. I do not want that to happen.

"So... 1C-178, do you have any ideas where that ship is?" 3A-932 wants to know where we are. They are working extremely hard to get 5G-189 to kill us.

"Not yet, but it should pop up in a few moments."

"We need to know where they are, but I am not pushing you too hard. I sure hope I am not."

"No, you're not. It's fine. I am already working harder than almost everybody else on 5G-189's ship. I actually like doing this job, since I am an expert navigator."

"Good to know that. It is always good to have somebody who actually knows where we are going."

"Thank you. Anyways—oh wait, the radar map picked up something."

"What is it?"

"I believe it is that ship. It is around 500 miles northeast of where we are."

"I will get 5G-189." 3A-932 runs to 5G-189. "5G-189, 1C-178 needs you in the map room."

"What is it? Did 1C-178 catch the location of the ship again?"

"Certainly so. We believe it has a similar signature as the ship we have been chasing."

"Let's go then. Any idea where they are?"

"1C-178 said that they are around 500 miles northeast of where we are."

5G-189 had an exhalation in relief, but that means bad news for us. "Excellent. They better be prepared for what is about to happen."

It has been quite a while since anything out of the ordinary has happened. I felt like I had to say something to pass time. "So... we are stuck here."

Stephen looked to me like he really did not care. "Okay, what else is new?"

"I... umm... I actually... don't... know what to talk about."

"What do you want us to talk about?"

"I really do not know. Maybe, we could talk a bit on how our usual lives went before we got those letters."

Stephen started first. "Well, I actually was doing a little project for something I was working on for months prior to receiving my letter."

"What was that little project for?"

"Okay, I am a computer engineer. I am not much of an electrical engineer, but I try to dabble with it a bit. My love for computer engineering is similar to Ashley's love for astronomy. I, too, want to become famous for my work. The project I was working on was going to be a computer that you can not only touch, but you can also modify how the computer behaves. Now, before you ask anything, I am making it to where you can modify both the keyboard and the screen, along with pretty much anything else inside the computer, but many computers already have the ability for their internal components to be modified. I am hoping for the average period of time that the computer is that 'main computer' for the consumer to increase with this computer, thanks to my project. A normal computer only lasts less than a year for somebody who wants the latest stuff, which is very senseless. A normal person keeps their computer for at least 5 years, to even over 20 years of using the same computer for quite a few people. My computer will hope to stay with the person for over 30 years. It can be modified to fit all of its latest components, and also future components for succeeding generations if I can make it to that."