Hyperspace

The Awakening

The blaring of the alarm was something that one never got used to even after 6 months. The boys rolled groggily out of bed, and pulled on their uniforms with a quiet exhaustion. Holden felt the rough material of his uniform run over his tender skin, he winced before seeing the tear stained faces of the other boys.

The boys cleaned their faces and filed into the dining hall where they would be served their last meal on Earth. The children had hoped against all hope that when they walked into the hall they would find the sound of bacon frying, the smell of orange juice, that they would see a pancake or perhaps if they dared to dream a doughnut. Alas as Holden walked into the hall he saw the children's faces falling one by one. The same bland oatmeal and lukewarm milk greeted them and Holden tried to suppress the feeling of disappointment. Surely if they were doing humanity such a favor, he thought, they could at give them some eggs, or at very least a glass of juice.

The bleary eyed boys watched as the girls stared forlornly into their oatmeal. Holden pushed away his bowl and lay his head onto the table. An instructor noticed and promptly rapped him on the knuckles for his behavior. Dismissed from breakfast, the boys were sent to collect what few belongings they had and head for the launch station. As Holden picked up his suitcase a stray photograph feel from a pocket, he  saw that it was the picture from the first time his parents had taken Bethany to the zoo. Realizing once again where he was, Holden looked at the time Holden slid the picture into his uniform pocket and headed for the launch station. The media and all of the commanding officers were by the ship that they would call home until a habitable planet could be found.

One by one the children filed into the ship, the commanding officers would salute them, and The Director would hand the children the letter from their parents. The news crew talked quietly about moving TV, and a ratings boost. Holden couldn't help but feel annoyed, here he was giving up his entire life so that these people could have theirs and all they could say was that it would boost their ratings. As Holden approached the commanding officers a sense of overwhelming panic overcame him. He tried to control it, but by the time The Director was handing him his letter he nearly begun to cry.

The inside of the ship was dark, but there were lit arrows on the floor. Holden followed the arrows and found what he guessed to be the sleeping chambers. There were indentations in the wall, inside each was a mattress and a shelving unit. Holden sighed, it was barren, no personal touch. Holden could tell which cots had been taken, a wall had slide down from the top of the compartments that had been taken. He looked up and down the hall and scaled the ladder that was built into the wall. Cautiously he rolled into the topmost bunk and he began to panic as the door began to descend. A calm voice began to speak. "In order for optimal travel all passengers shall be placed under hypersleep until destination is reached, for your safety please attach these IV's, and fasten yourself into your compartment," the voice commanded.

Various wires and tubes descended from the ceiling and Holden began to attach them as quickly as he could when buckles ascended from the sides. When he was completely fastened in he waited for the sleep to come. Out of the corner of his eye he barely saw a needle approaching, his neck slowly. He tried to twist away but he was fastened in too well. Holden felt a sharp pain in his neck, before he turned and saw the needle. He struggled until the darkness overtook him.

Holden sat up suddenly smacking his head on the ceiling, that wasn't long at all he thought as he rubbed the bump on his head. Holden grasped at the door handle and struggled with it in the dark, eventually he managed to raise the door. Forgetting that he had selected the top compartment Holden started to roll of his mattress, stopping as soon as he saw the drop. Rethinking his objective he cautiously reached for the ladder at the side of his compartment. As he dropped to the ground he found the other kids standing aimlessly around the room. There seemed to be no one in charge so Holden fought to the exit and saw the arrows were directing him to a new area in the ship.