Capsule

Chapter 8

"Synth, Yonge, it is time to start the day," Epsilon says curtly.

Synth and Yonge rustle in their sleep. But they do not wake up. Epsilon starts playing calming music and slowly increases the volume. Synth yawns as he awakens from a deep sleep.

"Okay, okay, Epsilon, damn." He says.

He sits up, holding a pelt to his chest and kicks Yonge's side.

"Good morning to you too," Yonge says, waking without stirring.

Both have intense throbbing headaches.

"Ugh... did we get into that whiskey last night?" Synth asks, closing his eyes and rubbing his forehead.

Yonge sits up slides another pelt down to his waist, nearly knocking the bottle over. He catches it before it falls. He holds it up to the natural light coming in through the doorway.

"Well, that explains the headache." He says. "We drank half the damn bottle."

"I guess that also explains why my throat feels like a forest fire, and my mouth tastes like varnish." Synth comments.

"If you two would not mind, my battery is at five percent, and your newly collected water is evaporating by the minute," Epsilon says loudly and frustratedly. "Now eat today's ration of stale canned peaches and get moving."

"Damn Epsilon, when did you start being so pushy?" Yonge asks.

"When you got drunk and tried to urinate on me last night," Epsilon replies curtly.

Synth and Yonge chuckle as they get up and put their jumpsuits back on. They walk over to the milk-crate of canned food they found at the outpost and grab a can of peaches.

"So, what are we doing today before we leave?" Yonge asks.

"I would recommend you survey the route, scavenge for resources, and leave," Epsilon suggests.

Synth and Yonge continue eating, not stirring from their seats.

"My apologies, I did not realize the plan was to die of old age before getting ready," Epsilon says.

They begrudgingly get up and take Epsilon back to the car. The tank is almost full again. Yonge lights the firebox and gets the engine running while Synth collects the bottles. They get Epsilon to show them the route one more time before getting on their bikes to explore the town. The two men have trouble balancing at first but eventually find their way. The solid wheels grip the grassy streets. Synth sits low on the sport bike while Yonge hunches over on his road bike.

"I think you're supposed to stand while riding that." Yonge comments.

"I think you're supposed to be wearing a skin-tight suit while riding yours." Synth retorts.

"I'd look sexy in a skin-tight suit."

"Maybe... maybe not."

"Hey!" Yonge says, offended. "... I think Epsilon wanted us to turn here."

Synth and Yonge turn the corner and see a figure hunched over near the end of the street. They slow down as they approach. They hear grunting and smacking as they get closer to the furry figure. They soon realize that they are looking at a bear eating a fallen deer. The bear hears the bikes' squeaking wheels and turns around. Synth and Yonge turn around and bike back towards another street where they were supposed to turn and continue onwards.

"We should've killed that thing," Yonge says. "It would've extended our rations by a few weeks."

"Are you dumb?" Synth counters. "That thing would have shredded us like parmesan cheese if we came at it."