Singularity

Archive Log: 09

"And that is?" Walter smiled and slipped away from the door. "Walter? Walter!" Onora exclaimed and followed after him. "Where are we going?"

"You shall have to trust me." Walter looked over his shoulder at her, much like she did earlier and just smirked. Onora frowned at him, not liking being kept in the dark at all. Walter just looked forwards again, he knew everything which was at and on this base; there wasn't really anything he didn't know, so for him to just remember the destination he had in mind, he couldn't help but shake his head.

"A surprise, Walter?"

"I suppose." He nodded and put his hands back in his pockets as they continued along the corridor. They were in a completely different part of the base, nowhere even remotely close to where the others were no doubt passed out in bed. It had often become just them two being awake while everyone slept. Even with her only being here a short amount of time in comparison to everyone else, it still just remained at the end of the day him and her.

Walter double took as Onora clapped her hands suddenly and grinned up at him. He just smiled, he presumed that was a good response. So he continued on, leading her down the corridor. The lights illuminated the way brightly, their shadows trailed up the walls as they went silent and stopped suddenly at a door. Walter looked at the number pad near the door before looking at her, Onora rolled her eyes with a smile before putting her hands over her eyes. Walter just continued to look at her when she peeked out through her fingers. Lifting up his other hand, he placed it over hers and her eyes. Onora laughed and tried to shuffle away, only for him to press his palm against her skin.

Hearing a beep though, Onora's sense of vision came back when he removed his hand and took hers down with it. He held the door open and just nodded at her, she looked from him before peeking around. She couldn't help but gasp, she put a hand to her mouth and shuffled to his side fully. She stood in the doorway with him, he just stood and looked down at her, watching her reaction. Her surprise pleased him, "If you can't go outside, then the outside can come to you." Onora looked up at him, startled a little because they were standing in utter silence. Walter nodded to the side and looked along the rows of plants and trees which were within the large room. These would be transferred to the ship when the time was needed. She was a biologist, here were living things which she had spent time studying at some point in her life.

"A garden." Onora walked forwards and looked over the rows of planted vegetation. They were all here incase their new home wasn't exactly suitable for planting straight away. There was enough in stores and supplies to keep them going. The lights were brighter in here to impersonate the sun and its warm rays of light. Onora had to squint a little, it did hurt, but the brightness was needed for these things to thrive. She hadn't come across something quite like this before. From ferns, to vegetables, simple flowers, it seemed to all be stashed away in here. Hearing the door shut, she glanced quickly at Walter as he stood beside her. He nodded, he didn't need to vocalise a response, because it was clearly evident they were in a garden. Sure, not a conventional one, but one nonetheless. "Thank you, Walter!"

Walter's eyes widened as he was suddenly bundled into, regardless of his arms being behind his back, Onora still wrapped her arms around his body and held on tightly. Her head leaned against his chest for a few moments before she leaned away and looked over her shoulder. He looked wide before blinking and watching her run off. It was interesting to watch, she'd divert from plant to plant, crouch down to check on the water supply which was trickling through a system, then get up and move on. Walter remained motionless, she looked happy. Like, truly happy. Being around alive things, caused this happiness to appear on her face. That wasn't to say she wasn't happy around the crew. But it was clear her true happiness lied with being surrounded by plants and flowers.

With a quiet sigh, Walter stepped forwards, he had lost sight of her. She was near the trees, and she had got lost within the branches and leaves. "I quite like this place," he stopped and looked down, Onora was sitting on the floor with her legs stretched out. She had managed to clamber over the fencing around the contained roots of the tree, and actually took to sitting on the roots. She was looking upwards at the leaves above her, Walter frowned, he wasn't pleased about her climbing over safety precautions, but at least she wasn't climbing up the tree. Walter looked around, not that anyone came here really, everything was monitored by computers, and climbed over to sit beside her. Onora glanced at him before looking upwards. "It's almost like being outside." She said, which was true. There was better air conditioning in here to simulate the outside world for the sake of the rooms occupants. "Thanks," she bumped her shoulder against his.

"I thought you would like it." Walter leaned his head back against the trunk of the tree.

"I do! Can I come here again?"

"I don't see why not." Walter mused, as long as everyone else didn't want to jump on the bandwagon and come here too. He sighed, "We should get back." Walter decided they had intruded for long enough, being seated under the tree for several quiet minutes, Walter looked downwards. Onora's head tilted to the side, her eyes shut and breathing levelled out. It was calming in here, he could understand why she'd drift off to sleep. But did she had to drift off to sleep while using branches and roots as temporary bedding? Walter stood, he turned and picked her up easily enough and managed to avoid tripping on roots to walk along the rows to get to the door. He managed to shoulder it open, kick it gently closed and then turned and walked back along the corridor.