The prison ship

I went to bed at 11pm,was a little later than usual due to my work deadline, you know how those things can be,I set the clock to go forward at 12,just what I needed with a full day of editing in front of me, less sleep, I settled down, my eyes flitting In and out of sleep, my brain not really wanting to shut down, something woke me with a sudden thump,I couldn't quite understand it, I felt like I had only just dozed off, but there out side,the sun shone and the birds sang,I rubbed my eyes trying to focus,I looked at the clock beside my bed, the time said 7am,ok I thought may have been a restless night ,but let's get up and shower and face the day,at this point my brain hadn't quite woken up,so I did the things I always did, but a part of me had a feeling that something wasn't quite right,as I walked into the bathroom scrambling for my toothpaste and toothbrush,a strange buzzing happened in my ears,thinking it must just be my shower playing up as it does occasionally I took no notice,but as I looked into the mirror I stood back in shock,what had happened? this wasn't my bathroom? That was not me looking back at myself,yet as I looked down, there I was holding my toothpaste and toothbrush in my hands,I looked back up into the mirror and saw a robot, yes a robot staring back at me, but how did that happen? who pulled this prank? I hurried out of the bathroom in a blind panic,everything around me started to crumble and in its place stood a metal box,no windows just a TV screen,sounds of birds were being played from speakers in the courner,I turned to go downstairs to where I left my phone next to my computer,but there was no door, no stairs, "can someone help me" I screamed,the sound of birds halted,a buzzing occured over the speakers then a voice appears "do not worry Simon,you are safe,we apologize for this disruption,we intend to restore the program as soon as we can, please take a seat,your meal will be with you shortly" "but where am I?" "you are on board the SS Sampson,a survivor ship,for survivers of the great war" "what war? It's march 2020 there is no war," "much time has passed sir,the year is 2200",I collapsed on the bed,my hands on my head,"what about my face? What happened to me?" "Please stand by sir, all programs will return to normal,as soon as we can locate the problem" with that the sounds of birds resumed,I lay on my bed not being able to take any of this in,when the tapping that woke me in the first place began again, along with the strange buzzing I had heard earlier,yet this time the sounds made sense to me,the tapping was actually coming from beside my bed,from the wall next to me, the buzzing was a voice asking if anyone was there,I tried to answer but all that I could manage was a mechanical buzzing,why couldn't I speak,I wanted to cry,I wanted to scream, I needed to be able to reach out to someone,but nothing just buzzing and banging,I raised my hand to the wall and banged back hoping that the person would understand,

" It's ok Simon I know this confusing,but promise me once they fix the problem you won't remember any of this" I banged again

"My name is Cassy, you are one of the last to board this ship,woow I can't believe I'm actually talking to some that went through it,although you can't remember,I was only just born"

I tried to speak again,this time a little sound like a sequel erupted.

"Hey don't try to speak for now,your circuits are going to be a little rusty,they found you lying there amongst the ash they were looking for survivers,sadly this old girl is going the same way,she's been cruising for quite a while now"

I banged on the wall twice in recognition of her explanation,I so badly wanted to ask,how did I become a robot? When yesterday I was typing up a report on global affairs and doing sceduals for next week,

"Look I tell you what how about I ask the questions that I think you want answers to and you reply with one bang for yes two for no,will that work? Ok I may not have the answers to everything but I'll try my best ok?"

I bang twice,

"ok first question,when did the war begin?"

I bang once

"Not the right questions,hmm ok,let's think,ooh wait listing to that annocement you have just woke up right?"

I bang twice,

"Ooh no,ok I get you,you can't understand why you look different am I right?"

I knock twice

"Ok this is gonna take some explanation,it's gonna blow your circuits,sit comfortably I'll begin"

I hear a clearing of a throat,then a sigh then she begins in a sad tone.

"If I remember from my history lessons or what my mother told me,visitors came to earth around April 2020,from where no one's knows,there was a mass panic,strange lights fell from the sky,people started getting sick and fell in the streets,some people survived the first wave grouped together in caves,discussing what to do next,many months later, starvation kicked in,the skies turned red, many more died, then around December of that year hope came in the form of the SS Sampson,aboard this ships were more visitors from a different world,they rescued those that were clinging onto life,fed them,clothed them,they decided to help with the shock that they would develop a program to restore some form.of normality for these people,of what they had before,they gave them quarters and laid them.into a deep sleep,they repaired those that were injured with parts they could find,and created a hologram program around them,when the people woke up,they all felt it was a bad dream and went about there buissnes as usual,they did a cool thing,I think pretty wacky, but still cool,many years passed,births,deaths,all the same as before no one knowing the reality,well not until now anyway,the ships hit a bit of a stumbling block,and well here you are,your true self,I guess you must of been one of the soilders, one of the last down there,lucky they found you really, as for why you've just woken up surprised me though,they said the program.didnt work on those below,I guess they were wrong."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing,me a solider? how could I be,I was a reporter that's all,a consultant in my spare time nothing special,but wait ,if that was the case how was I having dreams about space ship,and astaroids,I thought it was because I watched to much syfy on my telly,after having to much wine and falling asleep during films,what if that wasn't the case,what if it was a glitch in the program and reality was reaching out to me,I banged on the wall twice to thank her.

"It's alright,gives you a bit to think about till your circuits work again,heads up foods coming"

A hatch opens up in the wall a tray of oil,nuts and bolts arrive and then closes again,I can't eat that I thought, but for one small second,in front of me I could see steak mushrooms and a glass of wine, suddenly ravinous I ate it all,I felt suddenly tired, I lay back on my bunk,all of what Cassy ringing in my head thinking I must never forget repeating it over and over to myself until I closed my eyes.

I woke up to the sounds of birds singing,the sun shinning through my curtains,I look at the clock it says 7am,best get up and face the day I thought,I looked into the mirror,tooth brush and toothpaste in my hands,I had a strange feeling in my stomach as I brushed,I showered and went downstairs,picked up my phone,there was over twenty messages, I checked them,each one telling me to get under cover, something was out there, something was coming,I grabbed my armour,drank my coffee, picked up my gun and went about my daily buissnes,ready to fight.