"It's fucking massive," were the words which seemed to echo out over the room, everyone else sat around a large table, silent and staring at the hologram specifications in front of them. Tennessee was the one that spoke, and he spoke the truth. The USCSS Covenant was gigantic, positively huge, by far clearly the largest ship anyone had seen to date, especially Tennessee.
"What's the matter? Don't think you can pilot it?" Was Faris's quip as she smirked from over the lip of her cup. She just continued to smile as she drunk her coffee, she pulled the blanket over her shoulders more as Tennessee just glared across the table at her and her words.
"Trust me, darling, I ain't gonna struggle." He seemed rather sure, as he leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest, Faris just looked at him bluntly, yet a fond smile was still on her face. The couple couldn't help but tease each other, even as the finished plans for the ship came through.
"It has to be big," Oram, the voice of reason spoke from the end of the table, everyone turned and looked down at him. The room was rather dark, only the light of the hologram really lit up the room. A blueish hue coated everything, it hurt eyes after a small while, Onora for one pinched her eyes shut and rubbed at them a few times as different aspects were flicked through. Walter hadn't left yet, and he sat beside her, ramrod straight in his chair as ever. He was beside her and looked at her worriedly, she just smiled. The good thing about being in the dark, and everyone not really having the best visibility was that really, it allowed them to enjoy the smallest bit of contact before he left; much like a childhood romance, they were holding hands under the table, hiding it away from view.
"Yeah, yeah, I mean think of all the people which are going to be crammed on there." Was Jacob's more relaxed stance on it. Oram frowned over at him, not that the Captain saw because he was too busy grinning down at Daniels, who slapped him on the shoulder. Clearly they were all meant to be having an ounce of seriousness over seeing what they would be spending the foreseeable future on. It seemed no one got the memo about that though.
The meeting had started off rather well, seriously even, though it quickly faded and was replaced by childish comments and bickering. "And the equipment, some of the stuff we're packing is heavy duty." Daniels stated while running a hand through her hair as she looked at the still see-through picture. The other specifications that they had got sent were just bits and pieces, but this was a final thing. This was it, this was their ship; and yet again, Tennessee was right, though Daniels didn't openly voice an agreement she did smirk when he had spoke earlier.
"Not forgetting the botanical side of things," Karine glanced at Onora for this, she nodded slowly. They had the brilliant task of making sure all the plants and flowers which were present in this base, were able to be transported to the ship. This meant transferring the smaller plants into small biodomes. The bigger of the plants might have to be left, or something else would be figured out. Where they were going, there was already foliage, trees, they wouldn't necessarily need to take their own from their own planet.
"A whole wing will be taken over by plants, and the equipment needed to keep them going." Onora said while using her spare hand to casually wave at the ship. "Not forgetting places for us to test and store natural, and collected material and specimens."
"There will be more scientists in the colonists," Walter said firmly, Onora and Karine looked at him. He looked from one woman to the other, "Work places for each of you will be optional." Optional seemed to suggest and hint whether they wished to work side by side or not.
"See, and that's another reason the ships so massive!" Jacob said while drumming his hands on the table and then pointing a finger at no one in particular, though Tennessee did let out a short sigh. "There isn't just us on there...there's over two thousand passengers."
"We won't need to keep an eye on them, will we? While they're sleeping, I mean." Ricks decided to pipe up after just otherwise staying silent and watching everyone else.
"Mother and Walter will be working together to regulate checks." Oram cut in before anyone else even had the chance to reply. He looked towards the synthetic in the room, as if expecting Walter to disagree with him.
"I will." Walter replied and looked down when his hand was squeezed gently, he looked to Onora and she sadly smiled at him. If there was one person to make Walter appear to be just the onboard servant, it was Oram. "We will." He corrected, though really when it came to it, all Mother could do was flag up problems, he was the one who would have to be hands on. "We will be calibrating the last final tweaks before you are allowed onboard."
"Oh yeah," Jacob said while the hologram faded out and the overhead lights faded in. Everyone blinked and squinted, the sudden yellow white lights hurt more than the low blue of the hologram. It took everyone's eyes a few moments to adjust before they looked at each other and continued on. "Walter will be leaving us today." He leaned his chin against his fist as he rested against the table. His dark eyes just looked to Walter, he turned his head simply and nodded.
"I will," he said again, not really seeing what else he could say other than the obvious. Yet again his hand was clutched onto, and all he could do was hold back and run his thumb over Onora's knuckles. No one would miss his company more than her, and though he liked everyone, Walter was under no illusion that he would miss her the most. Of course he would, after everything that had happened between them so far...her being the first person to love him, of course he would miss her and then some.
"When?" Walter leaned forwards to see that it was Daniels who was talking to him. He registered she looked disheartened by him leaving too. The security team didn't seem to give much of a damn, but the crew, well, those which Walter spent the most time around, definitely showed some form of displeasure; unless your name was Oram, who seemed casual and nonchalant. It was business, Walter needed to go to get them prepared for the journey, end of.
"When this meeting is finished. I was unaware whether there would be anything I needed briefing on before going." Walter said simply, when really he doubted it. There was nothing new mentioned which he didn't already know, truthfully, it was an excuse to drag out leaving. The thought of isolation with AI as company didn't appeal to him, even though he knew full well that when everyone was in hypersleep, this would be the only company he'd have for years. The thought caused him to frown slightly before wrestling his hand free of Onora's. She looked at him sadly as he stood, he crossed his arms behind his back and smiled lightly, "I shall prepare the ship for our voyage, I will try and make it quick; but until then, goodbye to you all." He looked them all over and got smiles and farewells, even a casual wave, Onora sat twiddling her fingers tightly together. He frowned, she really had a massive tell of when she felt nervous. But considering he had sat in and listened to this meeting, he had said a brief bye, he turned on his heels and exited the room without looking back.
YOU ARE READING
Singularity
Fanfic"Everything that is alive, can love; it can feel. Even if you think you can't, doesn't actually mean you can't, Walter." Onora Price smiled from behind one of the many trees which were stashed away onboard the USCSS Covenant at the brunette syntheti...
