by Michael Raymond

Created on: July 03, 2010

Reason's Edge: The Last Gasp

"This outpost on the Edge of Reason is the last garrison before the plunge into deep space. As far as anybody knows, the place has never had a name, other than 'Out There' and sometimes 'Way Out There'. It has been, over the course of its occupation, well populated and at times, exceedingly sparse as any garrison in history."

The captain paused, waiting for a response but none was forthcoming.

Rushing on, words tumbled from his mouth; at least they may have been words. They may have been incoherent babblings, or desperate pleas for help, or mere vocal sounds of contentment or angst. Only the walls were present to hear him and though the walls may have ears, and eyes now in some quarters, they do not have mouths—mostly, anyway—and again, only silence greeted the pauses in his speech.

Too long away from reality, and the coffee pot, the captain was wandering the halls of Reason, looking for some touch-point of familiarity, some cornerstone of continuance to stand on. General Whitlock had ordered a shipload of beer delivered, but that had been ages ago and had somehow evaporated into the very atmosphere, thin as it was, that enveloped the place.

A long ago song from the band America rattled in the chambers of his dysfunctional mind. The captain made a half-hearted attempt to sing the words as he remembered them, but even the walls appeared to frown at the dissonant chords and dental drill harmonies that emanated from his throat.

"Everybody's a critic," he said to no one there.

"Computer, music!" he said to the listening walls. The strains of Pink Floyd's "Brain Damage" began to pulse through the speakers.

"The lunatic is on the grass. The lunatic is..."

"No, not that," said the captain, slicing the air with his hand in a cutting motion. "Something lighter."

"Up, up and awaaaaay, in my beautiful..."

"Stop! Very funny. Just what I need. A smart-ass computer program. What's the news for today."

"I read the news today, oh boy..."

"Enough! Never mind the music and the news. What's on the to do list for today? And so help me, if you start with 'Wake up, fall out of bed', or 'Wake up! Little Suzy' or anything else music related, I will unplug you and leave you unplugged."

There was no response.

"Computer?"

Still nothing.

"I'm sorry. I apologize for threatening to unplug you. Now, what's on the agenda for today?"

"Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it..."

"Will you stop that! Just tell me what we're supposed to be doing today."

"I have

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