The Mechanisms

WARNING.  COMPLETE FUEL CELL DEPLETION IMMINENT.  ADVISE IMMEDIATE REFUELLING. WARNING.

Jonny threw his hands up in despair.  “I don’t care what you say, Nastya, this ship is deliberately trying to drive me fucking crazy.”

Nastya’s eyes darkened.  Ashes stepped in before she could drive Jonny into drawing his pistol.  Again.  Or worse, turning to the also depleting whisky.  “At least she’s telling us before we actually run out,” she said.  “Now, floating in deep space for centuries would definitely drive you crazy.”

“Like him!”  Ivy pointed at the man sitting in the corner.  He looked up.

“It wasn’t the deep space that drove me crazy,” he said, his voice low, calm and polite.  “It was the sudden realisation that I was entirely responsible for the destruction of my entire civilisation, and happy for it.”

Everyone looked uncertainly at him for a moment.  Then Jonny nodded.  “I guess I see what you mean.  Where’s the nearest planet?  And when can we get there?”

“Oxford,” Ivy said.

“Which will take us just under a month.”  added Brian.  “I’ll see to it.”

WARNING.  COMPLETE FUEL CELL DEPLETION IMMINENT.  ADVISE IMMEDIATE REFUELLING. WARNING.

“ETA: September 17th, landing at Folly Bridge Inn, 7 in the evening local time.”

“Fuck this machine.”