Speck: Chapter 18 — Finding an Ally

While exploring Colony #7, I found several things about the station useful for a planned getaway. I initially volunteered in the program to escape a terrible death and go through a cryo state, which would be less painful. I had no thoughts about a future from that point on. Now with this change in my life, I have to reconsider my outcome and even though coming back to Earth may be a hero’s welcome, I’m not sure it will bring me to where I want to be. Yeah, I can be a world celebrity, but with restricted freedoms for my safety. A century in time of change might consolidate me into a confined state worse than when I was frozen. I am also concerned about Speck. I need an alternative plan. An escape, but what and how.

The normal exits from Building #3 are guarded. The emergency exits set off alarms that sound for one minute before they can open. I need a diversion for that amount of time to be important enough to force the crew away from the emergency exits at least for a sixty-second delay. The biggest problem is they assign an escort to me whenever I leave my quarters. To get away, I need to eliminate the escort. But how?

It’s been twenty-four hours since I contacted Speck. I wondered if I could think of a conversation with it. No sooner than I conceived the notion, I heard in my head, “Solomon, I read your thoughts. I may have a suggestion for you.”