65.

Saturday the eleventh of January and Simon has been back in the medical center and has been there since his recent collapse in the mess hall. Not only that but he was in a cordoned off area. The command team, along with Mandy, have come together in the strategy room to discuss what was happening with Simon. Mandy feeling a little agitated is the first to inquire as to Simon's condition.

'What is wrong with him? Why does he look like that?'

Mandy is referring to Simon's altered appearance. Something strange is happening to him and this began to become obvious from the very moment he had collapsed in Mandy's company. By this particular moment his skin has darkened, his eyes had become somewhat enlarged and his sensitivity to light has increased to the point that he now had to be kept in an almost complete and utter darkness.

'He is morphing, his physical appearance is being altered somehow' Aaron begins to explain not being quite sure how to put it to the others as to what is actually happening to Simon.

'Morphing? Into what? And how?' asked Maria.

'It appears that he is becoming something not all so unlike Dan.'

'Dan. What? You mean Dan the alien?'

Maria continues to press Aaron. It is clear that Aaron had a fair grasp of what is happening to Simon while being at a complete loss to explain it. Sylvia, the other doctor jointly running the medical facility, would continue on from here and tell the team what all this isn't.

'It is not a disease, or a virus and it is definitely not contagious, we are seriously at a loss to explain why or how it is happening. What is happening to Simon also seems to be more than something physical. Simon has moments of consciousness. He continues to have moments where he still insists that 'he' is coming, just who Simon is referring to, well we will just have to keep an eye on what is going on psychologically. There are other moments where Simon is fully aware; he knows who he is as well as where he is.'

'I would like to be kept informed about his condition if that is alright with everyone?' Maria asks.

For right at this point Maria feels like she is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She is on her way to becoming a grandmother. That would under regular or normal circumstances be a wonderful thing though 'regular' and 'normal' are two things which are most definitely difficult to come by. It was not the fact that Maria is only thirty-seven or even the fact that her daughter Cindy is just sixteen years old. What is eating away at her the most is the thought that a malevolent spirit may be possessing her unborn grandchild.

***

Mandy Anand came aboard The Pathfinder the day before it left Earth's orbit. She, like so many others, came aboard alone and knew no one else aboard the ship. Her intelligence and ability to pick up languages quickly along with her prowess in mathematics were what got her an invite to join the crew though at that too maybe fate has her exactly where she needs to be.

Her position officially was and is communications, off ship communications, whether that be with follow on ships for as long as that could occur or with any other situation which may need off ship communication.

She has her own station with which she could monitor any and all possible space transmissions which up to this point was zero as in there was nothing at all which needed to be monitored, especially since The Pathfinder got so far ahead of any follow-on ship that communication with any such follow-on ship is impossible.

Mostly Mandy kept to herself. She was and is as beautiful as she is petit. She is shy and quiet, shy, and quiet to the extent that she almost hides herself away. Yeah, it had seemed to her that no one even knew she was even aboard the ship until the night Simon sat with her in the mess hall. The first time they met of course was when Simon accidentally knocked her over and to her that moment was a good estimation of how she had been feeling.

So, when most other people in her position would forget about Simon and let their fear of what was happening to him move them so far away that they would not have anything else to do with said person, Mandy was going to stay and aid Simon in any way possible. There are whispers that she and only she hears.

Early on she had been sure she had heard someone call her name and when she attempted to investigate, she could not find the source of what or who could have called her name. Since then, what she hears has multiplied and become more frequent. The voice which has called her name now is multiple voices, whisper. What was only once early on, has become quite regular by this moment in time, multiple voices, multiple whispers calling out for her.

Sitting in darkness by Simon's side Mandy would speak to him. She would so love to have someone to tell of what she hears; she would love to tell Simon. As it is Simon is in no condition to take on such information. Aside from the whispering voices, in many ways Mandy feels confused, these are confusing times though at the same time she feels as if she could see things clearly. She feels as if she belongs, more so in recent times, as if she has a proper and real purpose. Her true purpose has just yet to reveal itself to her.

'Hey Simon, it is Mandy here. I don't know if you can hear me let alone understand anything I say, but I just want you to know that I am here for you. I have given up on that book you caught me reading in the mess hall. I had told you I had read it before and reading it a second time around did not do anything to improve it.'

She may have somewhat of a newfound purpose, a distraction from all else her world is but at this point Mandy is feeling a bit helpless and, in a way, hopeless too, a contradiction all to herself. If only she could know just how much this may be so.

'Oh, I don't even know why I am here. If the roles were reversed, would you be sitting here at my side? The truth is you are the only one who has even taken proper notice of me but that is not the reason why I like you. You are funny, you are a nice guy and I do get the impression that even though you have been so involved with the ships operations from way before we left Earth and with you being the chief pilot as well as being on the command team that somehow you see yourself as being alone.'

Simon begins to stir. His transformation is making it difficult for him to breathe.

'Who is there? Who is it?' he would snort rather than ask, for that is how it sounded to his companion.

'It is me, Mandy.'

'Mandy? I don't want you to see me like this.'

'It is fine, I have seen worse, it is dark so I can't see all that much anyway.'

Mandy only thought about what she had just said after she had said it. She had seen worse ... had she? Perhaps she has in some of those dreams she has had throughout her life but right now what she has said had just seemed like an appropriate thing to say, it just came out as if it was a reflex action but indeed it was just something she said. It is not like she could just rewind the conversation and erase those words.

'Why are you here?' asked Simon.

'I am here for you. If I were in your position, I'd like to think that someone would be here for me.'

'No, you wouldn't but I am glad you are here, thank you.'

Simon had a point. If Mandy was going through what he was then she would definitely rather be alone.

'How are you feeling?'

'Oh, I have been better' Simon tried to laugh but it didn't quite sound like a laugh.

'I just want you to know that I am here for you, anything you need, I am here, and all you have to do is to ask.'

'I know and I appreciate that and to be honest if you were anyone else, I would tell you to leave, but I want you here and I am actually happy you want to be here too.'

A couple of tears began to flow down Mandy's face. No matter what is happening, there is some connection between the two, something stronger than what should exist between two people who know each other as little as Simon and Mandy do each other.

'Hey, hey, don't cry, everything is going to be just fine. Actually, you know it should be you who is telling me that everything is gonna be OK.'

'I know, I know, I'm sorry' said Mandy sniffling.

'Hey, I know you're tired, how about you go get yourself some sleep and come back and visit me when you wake up.'

'You are right, maybe I should try to get some sleep.'

Mandy wiped her eyes, stood up and grabbed Simon's hand. She held it tight.

'Oh, and do me a favour too will you?'

'Yeah, what's that?'

'Stop by the library you were telling me about and pick out a decent book, will ya?'

Simon made Mandy laugh and it was a sound that made him feel good despite all of what was happening to him.

'I will see you soon, alright? Stay strong.'

Mandy began to walk away, and Simon called after her.

'And hey, remember as long as I am around, you will never be alone.'

'That goes both ways.'

Only moments after leaving Simon, Mandy once again hears those whispers of hers, whispers calling for her. She is in a corridor with no one else currently anywhere near her.

'Hello ...' she calls out. 'Someone looking for me?'

There is no immediate reply, so Mandy continues on her way. These whispers are nothing new, they may be driving her crazy though they have yet to cause her any harm. A few seconds pass when a single voice, not a whisper, calls her name. Mandy turns to see a lady approximately thirty feet away from her. It is a lady she does not know personally but does recognize all the same.

'Hi' Mandy hesitantly says. 'You are Sheila, right?'

'Yes ... yes I am ...'

'Is there something I can help you with?'

'Well Mandy ... we need to talk.'