Chapter Text
Monday, March 29, 2010
3:42 PM
After weeks of applying for jobs, I have found one that would actually take me!
Finally, people clearly understand how wonderful it would be to have someone like me work for them. I have great qualities.
Mom said this was good for me. A new start. Away from the mess that was Eltingville, Staten Island, NY.
So I packed my bags, loaded myself onto the bus and headed towards the satellite station.
Im on my own now...
- Captain Dickey Out
———
Bill looked over his shoulder as he watched the bus disappear into the distance.
So this was it. Being left in the middle of nowhere. Himself and nature. Gross. Not the place he really wanted to be, but this was the only job accepting him. So he had to suck it up.
The company needed someone to help run a couple satellites out in the woods. Only reason he even got the job was because he lied and said he was qualified for the position. And because nobody else seemed interested in applying.
He watched plenty of space movies, this should be a piece of cake to him. Right?
At least he wouldn’t have to hear the nagging voice of his mother anymore. Guess that was a bonus.
Looking down at the printed letter of his employment, instructions written in tiny letters, Bill let out a dramatic sigh. “Couldn’t have dropped me off any closer. Fucking great…”
Lifting his duffel bag over his shoulder, he set off down the dirt path, getting a lay of the land as he walked towards the station.
Tree. Tree. More trees. Dirt path. Fence. This had quickly become boring to him.
He had brought only his essential items. Comics, books, extra clothes, blanket and pillow.’ Just like camping with dad.’ He thought. ‘Hope they have food there, I’m starving.’
By the time it reached the two hour mark on the hike to the station, Bill had sweat through his favorite flannel, which he pulled off and tied around his waist. “Jesus Christ…how much longer do I gotta hike, this is fucking impossible.”
Leaning against a nearby tree, Bill set down his two bags, digging through his backpack for a bottle of water, chugging down half with a grunt. Relief.
They, the company, hadn’t explained much to him about his job, just that he would help maintain the satellites and send data back to them. Seemed easy enough. He hoped it stayed that way.
Putting the water bottle back into his bag, he zipped everything up and continued his hike, determined to see this through. The pay was supposed to be really good, so it would be worth it in the end. More money towards his collection of fandom merchandise.
———
Reaching the satellite station, it was almost 7pm. No light on. The place looked practically abandoned.
Bill ran a hand this hair, tugging at the strands with a frustrated growl. “Are you serious!? After walking all this way, this is what I’m greeted with?! They have to be pulling my leg…” He climbed the steps, pushing open the door of what he could assume was the entrance, being greeted with the stench of earthy decay, making him gag.
“Fuck this shit…gonna be the next horror movie victim.” Walking the rest of the way into the building, he made his way to where he assumed was the living quarters on the station, which was equally a mess.
There was cloth and broken crates, a few bunk bed frames, some tipped over, and old food rations covering the floor. ‘What the hell happened here?’
He didn’t really wanna think about that, not when the sun was going down and this place didn’t have any power going.
Dropping his bags, he dug out an old flashlight, taking it with him as he ventured back into the main area of the station, following the advice from the letter he received weeks earlier when he accepted the job, and headed into the basement.
As expected, it was just a normal basement, in similar conditions as the living quarters. The basement was small, the main generator close to the stairs for easy access, he didn’t have to travel far for it.
Flipping a few switches, the whole building powered to life, the lights flickering on above him, whirring noises filling the once still air. “There we have it…” Bill murmured aloud, wiping his hands on his pants, looking around the basement now that he could actually see.
There looked to be a side room, a walk in freezer, which looked to be filled with…cows? Dead cows obviously. But it was still a weird sight to see, making Bill slightly uneasy and paranoid about living here now for the next couple of months. ‘Whats that for?’
A, what looked to be a massive furnace of some kind, had taken up residence on the far right corner of the basement. It looked good for disposing of things. He’d keep that in mind.
Now that getting the power back on was out of the way, Bill headed back upstairs, checking each room to make sure everything was running smoothly for now. Not like there were many rooms to check, just the main work room, garage, living quarters, bathroom, kitchen, etc…
He needed to clean this place up, not now, but definitely soon. Made him wonder why this place was in such a bad state. What the previous guy stationed here went through. Not like it actually mattered to him, but it kept his brain occupied while he tidied up the living space for his own sake and sanity.
After a few hours, the clock now reading 9:46 pm, almost 10pm. Bill had cleaned up a majority of the garbage covering the floor, tossing everything in trash bags, shoving them out into the hallway for him to take out in the morning.
He even rearranged the room, dismantling one of the bunk beds for his own need, and tossing the rest of the pieces into the trash. Even got himself a desk, which he pushed up against the wall in front of the window, giving himself a view while he wrote down random thoughts in this journal his mom gave him. Incase he got lonely, that’s what his mom said when she gave it to him.
“Whatever…” Bill grumbled as he sat on the bed, looking out at the vast woods surrounding the station. He was mentally preparing himself for what to expect from the kitchen, not sure he was ready enough to clean it, let alone even go near it. But he had to if he wanted food.
Speaking of food, he had found packs of unexpired MREs. Not the most delicious thing, but it’ll work for now until he could get proper food sent here. It was dry, tasted like cardboard. He should have packed more snacks for him, maybe rationed them out better during the hike. But no, he just had to take multiple breaks just to stuff his face. Typical.
He didn’t have the strength in him anymore to clean, so the kitchen can come tomorrow. For now, he really wanted to just close his eyes and try to get a good nights sleep.
Laying down, Bill looked at the ceiling, tracing random patterns with his eyes, making mental notes on what he needs to accomplish tomorrow. He only had one more free day to do whatever he wanted before the company would start expecting signals from him. So he had to spend it right.
As his eye lids grew heavier and his breathing slowed, he turned over onto his side, pulling the blanket further up his body, curling up with a yawn.
‘Tomorrow morning should be better.’