"JULIA!"
Alonzo Solace's eyes burst open in terror, a dry scream broke free from his throat. At first disorientated, he sat straight up in his cot, the sheet clinging to his sweat slicked chest. His erratic breathing slowly returned to normal, calming the almost painful beating of his heart.
Looking around him, the pilot realised his surroundings. He was lying in his hospital room, the sterile white walls staring back at him. The diagnostic equipment still sat beside his bed, their use imperative not long ago when he had been in a critical medical condition. The only hint of colour in this stark environment was his leather flight jacket, which hung from a peg on the door. It was still stained with blood.
Alonzo released a pent up sigh of frustration and pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes. Partly to rid himself of the horrendous images that had invaded his sleep, and partly to stop the flow of tears that threatened to fall.
The pilot started as the door to his room flew open. A young nurse ran in, concern on her face. "Mr Solace are you alright?" She asked breathlessly. "I thought I heard a scream."
With his face still hidden from view, he nodded. "I'm fine."
"Are you having trouble sleeping? I could give you a sedative."
"No!" He shook his head fiercely. "No, I don't want to sleep. I have dreams." Pulling his hands away, he looked up her with pleading eyes. "I don't want to dream."
Not sure of how to respond to the obviously distraught man, the nurse simply nodded her head. "Okay no sleepaids, but I'll be right outside if you need me." She told him, and then left closing the door behind her.
Alonzo was left alone with his thoughts once more, which was something he wasn't entirely happy with. All he could think about was the dream he had just awakened from. A dream that had just about scared him out of his wits, and as most people knew Alonzo didn't scare easily.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How are you doing today Alonzo?"
The pilot was drawn out of the particularly taxing staring contest he was waging with the ceiling, by the deep baritones of Yale. Shifting himself into a sitting position, he gave the cyborg a smile - albeit a false one, the pilot wasn't really in a smiling mood. "Not too bad. Although I must admit, I've felt better."
Yale smiled knowingly. "Well you look better at least."
In an attempt to change the subject from what he believed would be thirty minutes of idle questions about his health, Alonzo asked. "How are things going out there? Danz came by yesterday and told me they had nearly finished the mess building."
"Eatery." Yale corrected with amusement. "Bess will be very annoyed if she hears you calling it a mess."
"Bess?"
"Yes, Mrs Martin has appointed herself head of the culinary division. Who better? She is the best cook on G889."
"Here, here." Alonzo laughed but it quickly metamorphisised into a yawn.
Yale regarded the pilot with a frown. "Not sleeping well?"
Alonzo shrugged, he was a little hesitant to tell Yale why he hadn't got a lot of sleep last night. The pilot wasn't known for sharing his problems with others, he preferred to work things out on his own. Perhaps in this instance though, it would help to tell someone. Another interpretation of what he had seen, might make it seem not quite so bad. "I've been dreaming a lot just lately. I wake up afterwards and can't get back to sleep."
"Terrian dreams?" Yale asked, in an almost reflex reaction.
The temptation to say nothing more was very strong, but he pushed it away. "No, I've been having dreams about..." A lump rose in his throat, as the dream flashed back to him. He took a breath. "...Julia."
"Oh." The old tutor's face instantly softened. "It's understandable that you would dream of Julia. She meant a lot to you. You miss her."
Alonzo could see the pity in Yale's eyes and it made him uncomfortable to be the focus of this emotion. He also immediately noted Yale's use of past tense. 'She *meant* a lot to you' he had said. These words confirmed Alonzo's fears, the others didn't think that Julia was going to pull out of her coma. They thought she was just going to fade away to nothingness. Well they may have given up on her, he sure as hell hadn't. "Yes, she *does* mean a lot to me, I miss her so much it hurts. But the dreams Yale, they aren't pleasant - in fact they're downright scary."
"How so?"
"You know what, I'd rather not talk about it." Alonzo told him with a deep sigh. "I thought it would help to tell someone, but it hasn't."
Yale smiled kindly at the pilot. "Alonzo, it always helps to talk with others about the things that hurt, believe me. If you don't feel ready though, I shall respect that. Just remember, I'm always here if you need me."
"I know and I appreciate that. Maybe I'll be able to take you up on your offer, but not right now okay. I'd like to think about it on my own a bit first."
"As you wish." Yale responded softly, as he stood and pushed his chair back against the wall where he'd found it. "By the way, Devon asked me to tell you that she'll be dropping by to see you this afternoon. She'll probably bring Ulysses with her was well, to see how you're doing." He added over his shoulder as he walked to the door.
"Oh okay, tell her I look forward to seeing them. And Yale..."
The cyborg turned away from the door, his hand resting on the handle. His attention back with the pilot.
"Thanks."
Yale nodded his head once, then left.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A gnarled forest full of old dying trees. Beyond lay a graveyard, its gravestones strewn haphazardly across the ground like rotting teeth. As hard as he tried Alonzo could not read the words on the stones, weather and moss obscured the lettering. All except one that is, at the far end of the cemetary one stone stands alone. Its bright white marble drew him near.
He read the large black letters.
JULIA HELLER M.D.
VALUED FRIEND & PHYSICIAN TO EDEN PROJECT
The words didn't scare him as they had the night before. They just puzzled him. Julia wasn't dead, so why this marker? This is a dream though he reasoned, dreams almost never make sense. His dreams did though. The dreams Alonzo has have a purpose, in his dreams the Terrians show him the way - Past, Present & Future. Was this one of them? Was he having a premonition? Was this gravestone the future?
"I hope to god it isn't." Alonzo stated out loud. Even though he was standing in a flat open place, his words still echoed back to him.
He knelt down at the graveside, but jumped back up again as something sharp dug into his knee. Reaching down, he swept a hand through the dew dampened grass. Drawing his hand back, Alonzo's eyes widened in surprise, he was holding a tarnished dog-tag. Turning them over he realised they were his. It saddened him to think of them here abandoned. He had given them to Julia months ago. They were his most prized possession, the only link to his past life. He had wanted Julia to have them, she was his future. He had even carved an inscription on the reverse side - Forever.
He placed one hand against the cool marble, tracing the indentations made by the carved out lettering. "Forever Julia, do you remember? We promised each other forever." He held up the dog-tag, pointing the one- word inscription at the block of stone, as if it could somehow read it.
Alonzo buried his face in his hands. Why was he here, he didn't want to dream of things like this.
It was deadly silent around him, no birds could be heard, the leaves in the trees were still. But then he heard a voice, quiet at first but slowly getting louder.
"It wasn't me that broke our promise Alonzo."
Julia. That was Julia's voice, of that he had no doubt. Jumping up he spun around in the direction the voice had come, he was disappointed to find no one there. He had suspected there wouldn't be, his mind was playing with him. "Julia, where are you?!"
"JULIA!"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So is he getting better?" Ulysses Adair asked his mother, as they neared the hospital.
"Yes Uly, Dr Vasquez thinks he'll be released from Hospital next week." She replied brightly. Devon was aware her son had been very withdrawn since Alonzo had gotten sick, she was not surprised by this however. The two had formed a strong bond, their Terrian connections drawing them together.
"Good, because there are some things I have to show him. The Terrians have taught me lots."
"They have?" She asked, this was news to Devon. It was times like these that she was incredibly jealous of their pilot. Her son should be sharing these things with her, his mother not a man he barely knew.
"Uh-huh." He nodded, and then promptly ended the conversation.
Of course Devon was disappointed by this, but to be honest she was getting used to it. Uly hardly ever mentioned the Terrians any more, and would never offer further information if prompted. "What have you got there?" She asked instead, pointing to a block of wood the boy held under his arm.
At this he had no problem with answering, a huge smile broke free from his lips as he responded. "Its a baseball bat. Its dead neat mom, Mr Danziger made it for me, Yale showed him how. They said that Alonzo may know how to play, you know with him being a kid so long ago and all."
Devon eyed the object critically. A club, John and Yale had given him a club?! She would have to have a quiet word with them later. "Oh, I don't know about that honey. Alonzo may not feel quite up to playing with you just yet. His wounds have healed, but he still doesn't feel too good." She told him slowly, not quite sure how to phrase it.
She needed had bothered though, because her son was more perceptive than she gave him credit for. "You mean cuz of Julia?"
"Well, yes." Devon replied suddenly uncomfortable with this conversation. She realised her son should know about these things but it was still difficult to discuss such an adult subject with the person she thought of as her 'baby boy'.
They carried on to the pilot's room in silence, on reaching it Devon knocked on the door once and then let herself in. Once again she was shocked by Alonzo's appearance, he had lost a lot of weight, and his muscle definition wasn't quite as distinct as it used to be. Despite Dr Vasquez assurance that Alonzo's condition was improving fast he looked just as bad as the day he had collapsed.
Pushing past his mother, Uly ran to Alonzo's bedside, holding his baseball bat proudly. He stopped with a frown though when he realised the pilot was fast asleep.
"He's asleep?" Devon asked from the doorway.
"He's dreaming."
"How do you know that."
His mother expected the usual half cocked Terrian mumbo jumbo, but instead Uly merely replied. "Look his eyes are moving. Doesn't that mean he's dreaming? R.E.M. or something."
Devon nodded her head, slightly chagrined. "Maybe we should come back later, I think he needs the sleep." She had just stepped away from the pilot's bed, when he cried out, startling both the Adairs.
"Julia, where are you?!"
Her maternal instinct kicking in, Devon crossed back over to the pilot and laid a hand gently on his arm. The desperation in his voice caused her considerable worry, especially after what Yale had told her earlier. "Alonzo, you're just dreaming its all right."
"JULIA!"
His flesh was hot to the touch, a sheen of sweat covered his face and upper torso. Devon was starting to get a little concerned. Was he delirious? She knew you weren't exactly supposed to wake a person during this type of sleep distress, but this time she felt it was the right thing to do. Gripping his arm a bit tighter, Devon shook the pilot. "Alonzo, I think you should wake up now."
Devon started as the pilot suddenly grabbed her hand. His eyes opened wide, but they didn't seem to see her. "Julia?" A chill coursed through her body as Alonzo continued to look straight through her.
"No Alonzo, its Devon." She told him quietly.
His intense expression relaxed somewhat as he finally focused on her. "Oh." He replied, with obvious disappointment.
"Are you all right Alonzo?" Another voice asked from near the doorway.
Looking around Devon, Alonzo smiled at Uly. The young boy stood uncertainly in the doorway, his bat clutched awkwardly in his hands. "I'm fine champ." Alonzo assured him. "I just had a bad dream that's all."
"Would you like us to come back later?" Devon asked, feeling the pilot might be uncomfortable by what they had just witnessed.
"No, its okay I'm awake now." Pushing himself into a sitting position, he waved for Uly to come closer. "What have ya got there, big guy?" He asked, pointing to the baseball bat.
"Its a baseball bat, Mr Danziger and Yale made it for me. Do you know how to play?" Uly asked enthusiastically.
"Do I know how to play?!" The pilot mock-scoffed. "Hey, I'll have you know I was the best pitcher in the VR league when I was a kid. Why, do you want me to teach you and True how to play?"
"Yeah?! That'd be great, but True? She's a girl, she can't play baseball." Uly stated emphatically. Then as an afterthought he added. "Although I suppose we'll need someone to get the ball everytime, she can do that."
"I don't think she'd be too happy about that." Alonzo responded, casting an amused glance at Devon.
Devon rolled her eyes at the pilot in return. "Ulysses Adair, don't you dare exclude True. Baseball is a game for both sexes." She chastised.
"Yes mom." The young boy replied haughtily.
"Well, we only came over to see how you were doing. Dr Vasquez says you'll be ready to leave the hospital next week."
"Yeah he told me this morning. I don't know about that though Dev, I'm still feeling pretty drained." Truth be told though, he couldn't bare the thought of being around the others. Yes they're his friends but that made matters even worse, the sympathy and pity, it was unbearable.
"Oh." Devon was somewhat surprised by his response, she had thought he'd be pleased to leave the hospital, Alonzo had never been one stay in one place for long. She realised it was understandable though, she'd noticed that he was very withdrawn just lately. Julia's condition was probably responsible for this, the two had been very close. Alonzo was most likely also finding it very hard because he'd never actually formed such a close bond with anyone in his life, Julia was the first person he'd ever gotten close too.
Alonzo could see the look in Devon's eyes even now. The 'I'm sorry the person you were going to spend the rest of your life with is dying, but you'll get over it' look, it made him sick. "Well, thanks for stopping by." He said, forcing a smile. Then to Uly he added. "You get some batting practise in champ, then sometime I'll teach you how to play for real."
"Thanks Alonzo." The boy grinned and swung the bat in response, narrowly missing his mother.
"Be careful with that Ulysses." Devon cautioned, and under her breath added. "What were John and Yale thinking?" Turning her attention back to the pilot, she patted Alonzo on the arm and smiled. "You get better okay, we miss you around the campfire at nights." Seeing Alonzo's puzzled expression, she explained. "Magus and Bess sort of started a nightly tradition. They thought that now that we're actually at New Pacifica that we would all slowly drift apart, so Bess and Magus put their heads together and came up with the campfire. So now every night all of Eden Advance gathers around a campfire outside of the Martin's tent, for you know, a cup of coffee and to talk about what we've been up to."
Alonzo nodded and smiled for real this time. "That's nice, very Bess-like."
"Isn't it?" She laughed. "Bess says that once their house is finished, Morgan and herself would love for us all to visit there every night instead."
"And what does Morgan think about that?"
"Oh you know what Morgan's like, he huffs and puffs, but secretly I think he likes the idea. Anyway, I'll stop by again tomorrow. If I can drag Danziger away from those vehicles for two minutes I'll bring him along too. I'm sure he'll delight in telling you in gory detail about *all* the vehicles he's having to maintain now that the colony ship has brought all our provisions. The thing is he'd complain he was bored if they all ran perfectly. I tell you, you can't win with that man." She told him goodnaturedly. Then ushering Uly ahead, she left the room and shut the door behind her.
Story Notes:
I've finally finished the sequel to my first E2 story 'Contact'. It takes place a week or two after where Contact ended and hopefully will tie up most of the loose ends =)
Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated.
As you know, I don't own any of the characters (unfortunately), Amblin Entertainment and Universal Picture have those rights even though they have no idea what to do with them, if they'd just hand them over I'm sure I'd do a much better job of it...
Anyhoo, I digress. Enjoy!
Laura =)
(Contact can be found in zipped format on my webpage
Any and all comments would be greatly appreciated.
As you know, I don't own any of the characters (unfortunately), Amblin Entertainment and Universal Picture have those rights even though they have no idea what to do with them, if they'd just hand them over I'm sure I'd do a much better job of it...
Anyhoo, I digress. Enjoy!
Laura =)
(Contact can be found in zipped format on my webpage
Author's Chapter Notes:
Once again the dreamer dreamed. Although he didn't dream of unworldly creatures that lived beneath ground. He dreamed of his own kind.