Kino Vision Number 16
The kino floated above the gateroom. For the first time in a long time, Destiny was silent. The crew-because that's what they had become rather than just passengers-were in stasis and the kino was alone. Well, nearly alone, because, as Rush had put it to the kino, there had been no room at the inn. Bentham, he said, sipping some of Brody's paint thinner, one of the stasis pods was broken and it was unlikely to be fixable. He said, I volunteered, Bentham, but Colonel Young said no. History, Bentham, history. The kino agreed. They'd been getting along so well, too. The choice had been Young or Eli so it was no choice at all really. Eli stayed and Young got frozen. The kino had watched each person as they entered the stasis pods. Most were accepting, some pretended to be cheerful, others just hid their fear. Most closed their eyes, as if they were sleeping.
Destiny was dark, only the most basic life support was on. The kino turned and followed as Eli made his way past the gate and down the corridors through to the control room. Eli wasn't as good a conversationalist as Rush but the kino didn't have much of a choice at the moment and decided to give Eli a chance. It hovered but it took a while for Eli to notice.
“Oh, hey,” Eli said eventually realizing he wasn't alone. “Where did you spring from?”
The kino did a little twirl, facing its camera towards the gateroom. Eli frowned at it.
“Wait,” he said. “I know you. The dent. I bet that was Greer.”
The kino bobbed in answer.
“You recorded … that thing I said,” Eli said. “After the Colonel, you know ...”
After Young left Rush on the planet. The kino didn't bob, made no response, but Eli got the message anyway.
“Oh look, what did you expect me to do?” he demanded. “It's okay now, anyway. They're getting along really well.”
If the kino had an eyebrow it would be raised and Eli got that, too.
“I'm smarter than Rush,” he said sourly. “I've just got a better chance of fixing the stasis pod, okay? I told the Colonel that Rush would wake everyone up. Man likes the sound of his own voice.”
This, the kino considered, was true.
“And look at dinner,” Eli insisted. “Rush came to dinner. The crazy uncle. The ...” Eli bit his lip. “He was nice, you know, encouraging. I told him he'd been consistent.” Eli gave a little sniff. “Consistent.” He looked up at the kino silently hovering. “I don't know, man. I stepped up; what the hell do you want from me?”
Nothing, the kino said to itself. It didn't want Eli; it had no interest in Eli.
The kino floated away to the stasis pods and settled itself up on the ceiling where it had a good view of Nicholas Rush.
Bentham put itself into sleep mode and waited for Rush to wake up.
FINIS
Note: a very happy birthday to LadyPredator!