The Awakening
01 Nov 2017Kodeyne
Jerked out of sleep straight into cold, clammy bedding....ugh. Must have been having nightmares again.I crawl out of the chill embrace and perch like a shivering gargoyle on the edge of the sleep-cell, digging fingernails hard into flesh to restore some semblance of sanity. The lighting is still dim as my eyes come to rest on a grey heap in the corridor. The hell is that....?
Still disorientated, I slowly reach towards the thing, pawing for the light control. Eyes and mind focus. It's my Remlok suit, discarded in the rush to get some sleep.
"I should take better care of this," I mutter, "might save my life one day."
A long shuddering breath as I make myself squeeze into the shower pod, needing to clean the night's sweat away and warm up.
Great gods below, I can't wait to get a bigger ship. Oh, yes there's things like a longer jump range, better cargo capacity and so on but I also really want a bed where I don't hit my elbows when I roll over, and a means to bathe which isn't like climbing into a bloody coffin.
Clean and dry. I grab the Remlok's under-suit and pull it on, having a sensuous moment as the soft, silky material slides over my skin. I haul the Remlok itself off the floor, grinning at the mechanical clicks and hums as it falls into place. Then something clunks to the floor, my better mood evaporates. Please tell me I haven't broken it? Damn damn damn!
There. Something small, oval and sparkly. Keeping the suit held in the air, I squat and carefully pick the thing up. Open my hand. It's a little sculpture of a sleeping cat, curled up and with a beatific smile on its face. Polished grey granite, maybe an inch and half long.
And I remember. Ali. Her parting gift. Clenching my jaw and trying not to let tears come to my eyes. Pull yourself together! What am I, a woman or a stereotype?
Breathe. Breathe! Carefully put the cat-stone on the edge of the sleep-cell and slide my legs into the Remlok. Lean forward, arms into the sleeves and pull it all up. Wrist panel. Activate. The whine of micro-servos as it closes up. Remember the first time you donned your Remlok? That brief moments of fear as it fastens together and you think it's going to carry on and squish you like a rotten fruit.....
Clickclickclick. Hisssssss. We are suited, booted and ready to go. Pick up the cat-stone and put it in back in the belt pouch, making sure it's properly closed. Guess I should go make some money.