NOWHERE SPECIAL

by

John Micheal Kevin Mullarkey

‘Jeez, what are those bloody alarms?’ Jim said to himself.

‘I must find the source of that beep if it kills me.’ He reached out to the microphone on the wall panel and flicked the switch to the whole station.

‘If anyone knows where that beeping sound is coming from let me know, I’m on the ...’ for a second there he forgot where he was. ‘Observation deck.’ Coffee, he thought, that’s what I need.

He moved to the opening of the deck to where the passageway was, this time he forgot which way to go. ‘Big cup of coffee I think’ he said aloud to no-one but himself.

‘Ah! Left, that’s the way. Kitchen here I come.’

BEEP BEEP

‘Goddamn it! Where is that coming from?’

He made his way along the corridor towards the kitchen and found it to be empty. ‘There is always someone in the kitchen.’ He thought. ‘Hmm the rest of the crew must be aware of this annoying beeping noise.’

He put his empty cup down. ‘Hang on, when did I drink that? I do not even remember making it. Wow, space travel certainly has its quirks.’

He then realized he had not heard the beeping sound for a while. He let out a small sigh of relief.

Suddenly everything rocked from side to side. Jim grabbed the rail on the bulkhead to steady himself but slipped and hit his chest on it instead. He let out a cry of pain and held his chest.

‘Blimey what the hell was that?’

The ship steadied itself and Jim looked around.

BEEP BEEP.

Well, at least you are still there.’ Jim thought. ‘Hmm what did we hit?’

Jim picked up the microphone and again switched to whole station.

‘Anybody have any idea what that was?’ No answer

‘I say again, does anybody know what that was!’ He put his ear to the speaker. He was sure he could hear someone say, ‘not sure but its back.’

He called out again, ‘I can only just hear you, what’s back?” The shock must have taken the comms down or at least made it unpredictable. 'If anyone can hear me, make your way to the Observation deck as soon as possible. Something is not right.’

‘Ooo,’ Jim thought. ‘I’d better make my way there too as well.’

Jim left the kitchen and made his way towards the Observation deck, checking the bulkhead for any signs of damage. As he made his way past one of the microphone stations, he was sure he heard a voice coming through the speaker.

‘Are you sure?’ ‘Check it please.’

Jim immediately picked up the microphone, ‘What’s wrong?’ No reply

Then the speaker crackled.

‘We here for you Jim. Hold on.’

BEEP, BEEP.

Jim could not believe what he was hearing. Are his crew oblivious as to what is going on? He spoke into the microphone again.

‘Right listen, I know we are all here for each other so help me. I will meet you all on the observation deck. Be there in 10.’

Jim made his way to the observation deck with haste. For some reason he felt that he needed to be there quite soon. Call it a sixth sense if you will.

BEEP, BEEP

Instantly Jim was drawn back to that incessant beep. Where is that coming from? He thought.

The door swooshed open as he approached the observation deck. As he entered, a familiar smell hit his nose. ‘Ooo not smelled that for a while, Roses, if I’m not mistaken.’ This brought a smile to his face as a wonderful memory of his now long deceased Wife swept over him. A tear started to strain but he fought it back. The crew will be here soon, stiff upper lip and all that. He thought.

Suddenly, he was tossed from side to side again and this time fell on the arm of the chair next to the window console that powered the shutter of the observation deck. The motion threw him with such force that he was sure he broke a rib and in turn activated the window shutter to reveal what was outside.

He stood grimacing in pain and holding his chest. He looked out of the window and saw blackness with a small planet type object in front glowing as if it was a streetlamp. The image was blurry, and Jim shifted his gaze slightly away from the glare in front of him. He was sure it was getting bigger. He could not be sure. The ship rocked again with the same ferocity as last time. This time he was ready and steadied himself on the chair next to him. Strangely his chest started hurting again as if he had fallen on it. Maybe I did break a rib last time he thought to himself. The ship steadied itself and he reached for the Microphone.

BEEP BEEP

‘Where are you all? I said 10 minutes. You need to see something.’ Jim said

He left the speaker open for a while and heard no reply. He looked at the window to the bright star outside. It was confirmed in his mind that the planet shape in the window was indeed getting closer.

BEEP BEEP

The star seemed to shimmer and then got brighter. It was not hurtful to look at, and Jim felt a longing to be one with the star. It moved closer to the window and now the Observation deck was illuminated to every corner. Jim suddenly felt warm all over and he closed his eyes against the brightness.

BEEP BEEP

Jim was warm, comfortable and ALIVE. He slowly opened his eyes and as they began to focus he could see his family around him and a bright round light above him. He was lying down in a hospital bed. The door to the cubicle made a swoosh sound as the Doctor came in. Jim watched him approach the bed and adjusted a dial on some machinery.

BEEP BEEP

The doctor said, ‘There that’s more stable now.’

Jim looked and turned his head and saw his son and smiled.

BEEP BEEP

His teary-eyed Son said, ‘Hey Dad, you are safe now, we thought we lost you for a second there, where did you go?’

Jim said, ‘Nowhere special Son, nowhere special.’

The End