“This is tragic,” Finch said. “The entire reason for the ARCs was to save lives.”
“People did live,” Tucker replied. “They just didn’t think this was the place to be. Maybe it was dangerous or they found a better place and made a pilgrimage there. We know people left.”
“You have the answers.” Rey pointed to the book Finch still held.
“I think there are a lot of answers other than this book, too,” Finch said. “I also think it’ll take a lot more time to search than just a few hours. Anyone up for staying one more day?”
“I’m game,” Sam said. “There are things we can salvage from here too. I want to check out the medical bay. ARCs kept medical items in storage tanks to preserve shelf life.”
“I’d like to also get the hard drives from the navigation and scanning system,” Nate said. “They’ll have temporary files on them that will give us a clue what they scanned for when they were in space.”
“Then we stay.” Finch looked out to the graves. “It’s the least we can do for these people. Find out why they lost their lives. But I want to set up camp by the ship. Just in case, because you never know if we’ll need to get out.”
The crew agreed.
There was so much to see on the ARC, so much to learn, but ironically without knowing how much longer the Androski would be open, they didn’t have all the time in the world to do it.
TWENTY-SIX
“Okay, just to be clear.” Tucker faced Nate and set a plastic box on a counter—a box they’d use to carry items they found on the ARC. “This is the last thing for today.”
“Yes,” Nate said.
“’Cause if you want to piss around with that navigation drive, you need to get it installed as soon as we get back.”
“I know. I know.” Nate pointed to a line of monitors. “This is it.”
“You sure?”
“Yep.”
“Not like the time when you and Sam had me remove the vault block that he was certain was meds and ended up being condoms.”
“No, I’m sure, this is it,” Nate said. “On a side note. Those condoms could expire.”
“Don’t understand the need for them.” Tucker looked under the counter. “Aw, this is trickier. It’s under here. I have to remove the panel.”
“Want me to do it?”
“No, something tells me you aren’t as fast with a screwdriver as I am.”
“Probably not.”
Tucker crouched down, paused, and stood back up. “Here.” He took off his bag, lifting the strap over his head. “Hold this.”
“I can’t believe you carry a purse.”
“It’s a gear bag,” Tucker said. “And I am carrying everything else.” He cocked an eyebrow.
“Then I’ll carry your purse.”
“Gear bag.”
Nate laughed and placed the strap over his shoulder. “Do you think we can remove one of these ARC monitors? They’re really nice.”
“Think they’re touch screen?”
“Without a doubt.”
“Then we’ll find a way. Let me get this hard drive.” Screwdriver in hand, Tucker climbed under the counter. “All dusty and shit under here.”
“Nate, Tucker, come in,” Finch called.
“Answer that,” Tucker said. “My hands are full.”
Nate grabbed the radio. “What’s up, Finch?”
“It’s almost four o’clock, wrap it up, we want to set up camp for the evening.”
“Tell him fifteen minutes we’ll be down,” Tucker said.
Nate spoke into the radio. “Roger that, Finch. We’re grabbing the hard drive. Give us fifteen.”
“Sounds good. Out,” Finch replied.
Nate put the radio in his pocket. “Is it really gonna take fifteen minutes?”
“No. But you want that monitor, don’t you?”
“I do. You…keep doing that. I’m just gonna…” Nate moved about. “See what else is here that we can grab.”
Tucker groaned, but he continued working.
<><><><>
“Desperation,” Finch said. He flipped a page in the logbook. Rey was sitting next to him, sharing the view of the book as they sat at an old picnic table outside the ARC. “Total desperation, ramblings.”
“Looks like he lost it a good week before he took his life,” Rey said. “At least he kept writing. What does ‘Pinhead ate the worm’ even mean?” she asked. “Seriously. Makes me want to jump ahead and watch the deterioration. Something triggered it.”
“Without a doubt. All these storage drives. I’m curious what they are.”
“Hopefully they’ll work with our system,” Rey said.
“Sam said he grabbed something already to ensure it.”
“So many entries. Years. I mean, is there another book?”
“There might be.”
“We should read from this together every night. Make it a routine,” Rey suggested. “Like a bedtime story. The tales of the lost ARC.”
“My, my.” Finch chuckled. “Didn’t know there was a romantic side of you.”
Rey laughed.
“What’s funny?” Sam asked, arms full as he walked by.
Finch looked up. “Nothing in the book. Rey, she’s making a joke.”
“I wasn’t joking,” Rey said. “I suggested he and I read from this nightly like a book.”
“Bedtime stories?” Sam asked. “Sounds like a nice romantic idea.”
“What the hell, guys?” Rey asked. “I’m sure parents didn’t look at it that way when they shared a book with their child.”
“Oh, so now I’m a father figure?” Finch joked.
Rey, with a smile, shook her head.
“I’m headed to the ship now,” Sam said. “I think I have everything I need. I’ll check tonight and can come back in the morning before we take off.”
“You want this dolly?” Rey pointed to the small, portable dolly by her.
“Nah, leave it for Tucker. I think he has a bunch of stuff.”
“We’re right behind you,” Finch told him. “Just waiting on Tucker and Nate.”
Sam nodded and walked off.
Rey had been thumbing through the pages. “Hey, Finch. Look at this.”
“What?”
“It’s dated two years ago,” she said and read aloud. “What have they become? When did it all turn? My head is still reeling from—”
“Hey, guys!” Tucker called out. “Sorry. We’re ready now.”
Finch turned around. Tucker was carrying not only a box but a large monitor as they walked toward them. “What the hell did you get?”
Tucker pointed to Nate. “It’s like he shopped at a thrift store or something. But he can’t even carry
