Predicting the Storm

2: Someone's demise

"Williams." I muttered without much thought of him. I was busy thinking of my own demise whenever it would be. I imagined what nonexistence meant and felt my heart getting heavier as I got stuck on the thought.

"Williams?" I repeated his surname again, trying to forcefully change my trail of thoughts to focus on the search. He had often spoken of a possible failure with the Alpha Centauri mission and when it occurs he just so happens to not be present. It was beyond strange.

Long ago at university we had discussed the necessity of another civilization beyond the solar system. He had held a lengthy speech about how humans historically had prophesied space colonization.

'What type of planet do you want to inhabit?' I had asked him curiously.

'A lonely planet, somewhere far away.' He had replied shortly which I remember not questioning.

Where were you now?

I carefully listened to the familiar sound of my footsteps against the metal flooring.

This ship which we had spent centuries asleep in was named Apogonos, or Apog shortened. It was the very first of its kind. Never before had so many resources and so much time been spent on a single space vessel.

"Williams?" I was in a narrow white corridor which split to the left and right.

Memories of university came back to me in vivid images. I didn't think I would miss Earth so much or feel jealousy of the people that are both born and die there.

As I turned right a window to another department of Apog faced me and I saw a clear reflection of myself. Technically I hadn't seen my face for over 500 years and unsurprisingly I had aged slightly. Not by much but maybe by five years, making me look like I was in my mid-thirties. Cryogenic sleep was still not perfectly developed to completely prevent aging. Something else was different than just a more mature face. My eyes stuck on my shirt pocket. Something resembling a lighter made an outline in the white fabric.

I reached for it with a slightly frowned expression. Had I completely forgotten placing it there? As I picked it up I discovered it was a data chip for Cor-screens, the control and local transmission screens scattered around Apog. I glanced at its bluish metal casing before connecting it to the nearest Cor-screen which was only a couple steps further down the corridor.

"Williams...?" A whisper was all I could utter, as Joseph Williams name appeared before continuing past the login menu. A text document was all that was present in the profile data folder, where there should also be such as profile information and mission logs. I felt my hands shivering as I clicked on the touch screen. A rather short text note appeared and before reading I took a deep breath and ran my hands down my face.

'Don't take me for a fool. This is the first thing I must tell you. I have been trying to come up with a solution and an excuse for over ten years now...

Small mistakes have lead to a huge consequence. Do you understand now why I tried telling you not to join the Proxima b mission?

I should have explained to you the exact reasons why I saw Apog as a mistake. You like the rest of them were so proud of humanity. That pride blinded you and I guess it blinded me temporarily too. Unlike Mars no one had the patience to wait for a successful drone mission before sending humans.

I think people expected us to die. Nothing mattered.

Thinking of them being proven fools someday brings me some joy. But it's not enough.

I will have data stored at the central control panel, there you will find everything else I will have to offer. I don't want to risk making promises for now. If you wish to know more go there. Use my log in.

God ... I never thought I'd refer to God again. But by God, I wish death upon the people who funded Apog and Proxima b mission. A very painful death.'