The First Ones There

by Steven Wolff

  On the computer screen flashes a warning alert animation – Abandon Ship!”

  “Oh this ain’t good…” Josh says to himself.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Offline

  “What’s going on?” Howard asks seeing all the console warning lights blinking and flashing.

  “The compression coil on our port-side blew!”

  “What the hell is a compression coil?!!” Howard asks in frustration.

  “How am I supposed to know? We all got the same amount of training so I know just as much as you do.” Josh says frantically checking different systems.

  April comes floating forward and answers, “The compression coil is the thing that keeps us alive by pumping oxygen into the cabin. Something happened to it and if we don’t fix it we’re about to turn blue like the smurfs.”

  “If it’s offline then what are we breathing?” Josh asks.

  April answers, “Whatever oxygen was pumped into the air before the explosion.”

  Howard asks, “Do we have enough O2 to at least make it to the asteroid?”

  “I doubt it. Maybe a couple of hours at best… might even survive up to eight hours with our suits on. Of course that’s assuming no one’s yammerin’ and wasting precious air. Hint hint.”

  “Can you fix it?”

  “Well, if I don’t, then we all die – so no pressure there. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to get ready for a spacewalk outside the ship.”

  Whitfield asks, “Can’t you duct tape it or something?”

  April looks at him like she’s about to clock him again, causing him to flinch and retract his question.

  Chantal helps April get into the bulky white suit and then says, “I’m coming with you.”

  “No you’re not. You’re staying right here.”

  “You need me… what if something happens to you out there? What if … you get hurt?”

  “Sweetie, stop. I’m going to be alright. The more time we spend arguing, the less oxygen we have.”

  “That’s just not fair! I want to go with you.” Chantal whines in her French accent.

  “Life’s not fair and I know you do. I’m going to be okay. I promise. You are my reason to stay alive and fix this. If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.”

  “What about me?” Josh asks.

  “Not as important as Chantal. No offense.”

  “Pffftt. I guess if you fix it I will forgive you.”

  “Gee thanks.” April says sealing her helmet. After the crew suits up, April is able to grab the steel door handle and open it – causing air to howl violently through the door crack before soon all is silent. Chantal touches April until she moves out of reach, watching her with great concern for her safety.

  Outside the ship, she grabs the handlebars and slowly pulls herself towards the compression coil. She attaches her safety clip to the hull and examines the damage done from the explosion. Sharp copper tubing points outward, spewing both liquid and gasses into space.

  April presses the talk button on her suit and reports back, “Commander, it’s worse than I thought. The Catalyzer on the compression coil is blown worse than I thought and we’re leaking precious water out into space.”

  Whitfield overhears the conversation and asks, “Water? That’s it? I thought it was something more important, like fuel or oxygen.”

  Howard turns around and answers, “It is fuel and oxygen and it is important for us to breathe.”

  “What are you talking about? We’re not fish… we don’t breathe water. Sure as heck can’t use water to run a car.” Whitfield argues.

  Howard shakes his head left and right, “I take it your military training hasn’t taught you a thing about science.”

  “The only science I need is a well-oiled M-16 rifle and an objective. The rest kinda of works itself out. If I need any more science, then I call in a $1.2 million dollar airstrike on the enemy… works every time! Besides, science is all fake and made up… if you ask me.”

  “Really?!?” Howard says sarcastically.

  “It’s true! You can’t trust scientists – they wanna trick you into believing the Earth is warming.”

  “You are flying in a space craft built by the finest scientific minds and engineers on the planet – hurling through space at unimaginable speeds. The air you breathe, and the fuel we use… all uses water and science to keep us alive.”

  “Why don’t you humor me Mr. Science guy. How is that possible?” Whitfield challenges.

  “You really want to know? Fine! I’ll tell you.”

  “Uh oh.” Josh says, knowing where this is going.

  “Anyone who knows what water is knows that water is made up of two hydrogen atoms – attached to a single oxygen atom. If you apply electricity to the water, you split the H2O into hydrogen and oxygen respectively into separate elements. The O2 then goes into the air we breathe and the hydrogen goes into the fuel tanks that we use to move us forward. The machine that separates the two is broken. Without water, we don’t breathe and we don’t have fuel to run the engines. It doesn’t get any more science than that! Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to help April fix our ship.” Howard says pressing the intercom button.

  “Sorry for the delay in responding. Do you know if we have any replacement parts on board the ship?” Howard asks while looking around the cabin.

  April responds, “A compression coil isn’t something you normally carry on board in your tool box. It’s not like a spark plug or a fuse.”

  “Bring it back inside the ship and we’ll take a look at it. Josh, cut the thrusters. We need to stop the hemorrhaging of water asap.”

  “Copy that.” April says, pulling herself back to the door of the ship. Once safely inside, she shows Howard the blown Catalyzer.

  “See this long pipe – how it opens up like flower? That’s what blew. All the duct tape or super glue in the world isn’t going to fix this.”

  “Can we recycle or cannibalize any part of our ship?” Howard asks while looking around the cabin.

  “If you can find a twenty inch barrel that’s not critical to life support, that would be lovely.”

  Josh jokes, “If only Amazon delivered out here in space.”

  “What about the Russians?” Chantal asks. “Maybe they will help us? We can call them for help!”

  Josh replies, “There’s just one problem. The only guy on board who spoke Russian died.”

  “I’ll be damned if I ask the Russians for help!” Whitfield says, grabbing his M-16 rifle defensively.

  April’s eyes widen.

  “What?” Whitfield asks in concern.

  “Commander, I think we have our solution!” April says with her eyes fixed on Whitfield. Howard floats over to April and sees what she’s seeing. Whitfield moves uneasy, “What, what is it?”

  Howard replies, “You’re not going to like this, but I’m going to need your M-16 rifle.”

  He grips it tighter, “Over my dead body! This is my weapon – we need it in case someone attacks us!”

  Josh chimes in, “Who’s going to attack us out here in space?”

  “You know, maybe the aliens!”

  “I’m not asking.” Howard says with a stern voice.

  “The hell I’m…”

  *WHACK*

  Whitfield slumps over unconscious. Next to him Jenkins stands there holding a metal fire extinguisher tightly in her grip.

  “Oops! It slipped my hands!”

  April smiles and says, “You’re so awesome.”

  Chantal smiles and says “I’ve got to use the ladies room, I might be a while.” She says excusing herself from helping Whitfield.

  April takes the rifle and presses a button on the side, causing it to come apart into pieces. She grabs the twenty inch barrel and then floats over to the tool box, grabbing a long wrench.

  “Wish me luck!” April says, preparing to go out the door. Chantal floats over and holds her hand, “Be careful, please.”

  “I will.�
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  Then both lean forward so their helmets touch, then April opens the cabin door. She floats her body along the outside of the ship, hanging onto the metal handrails with one hand while holding the barrel and wrench with the other. Carefully, she makes her way to the backside of the ship, where she clips on.

  “Josh, give it a little gas on the thrusters, but go slowly.” April says with a focused-calm in her voice.

  “I see you on the monitor. Just out of curiosity, what are you doing?” Josh asks.

  “Roasting hotdogs on a stick... What do you think I’m doing?” April responds sarcastically.

  “Oh. I thought it was marshmallows. Never mind. Firing up thrusters on the lowest setting…”

  Blue flames shoot out from behind the ship, propelling it slowly forward as April hangs on with one hand. Using the long wrench, she positions the barrel inside the blue flame – heating it up until it’s glowing red and orange. Very carefully, she uses the hull of the ship to bend the pipe into a U shape before carrying it back to the compression coils. She places one end of the pipe into the exposed hole and tries to line up the other piece, but it’s a few inches off.

  “Damn it.”

  April grabs it and floats to the back of the ship and heats up the metal again. Josh doesn’t notice but a wave signal starts to move up and down, indicating a radio signal. Outside the ship, a blinking red light catches the corner of April’s eye, causing her to look up into the dark-starry sky.

  “Commander…” She says with a concerned voice.

  “What’s up?” Howard asks.

  “I think we have company…”

  “The Russians?”

  “Yeah, I think they see us…”

  “What are they doing?”

  “They’re heading our direction.”

  Josh adds, “Maybe they want to help?”

  Jenkins chimes in, “Remember, they tried to kill me? I highly doubt it.”

  Chantal adds, “April, come inside where it’s safe.”

  “I can’t sweetie, I’m almost done heating this tube.”

  “I need you in here, please. Come back inside.”

  “Sweetie, I don’t have time for this. If I don’t fix this, we all die.”

  Howard turns to Josh who’s looking at his monitor, “Can you tell how far away they are?”

  “Several minutes away. I’m definitely picking up Russian chatter and I don’t think they’re talking about their wives cooking.”

  “April, did you copy that?” Howard asks.

  “Uh, yeah, I’ve got a good visual on them. Yes, they are several minutes away and fast approaching.”

  She grabs and pulls herself with one hand towards the top of the ship, with the wrench and glowing red barrel in the other. When she reaches the compression coils, she hovers her body over and inserts both ends of the barrel into the two holes – using the wrench to wedge them in tight.

  “There! That should do it!” April says with joy. She grabs the solar tape and wraps it tight.

  Josh powers on the Catalyzer and oxygen starts to flow back into the cabin. Everyone takes off their helmets and breathes in the fresh air, relieved it’s working again.

  “Hydrogen fuel levels are slowly rising.” Josh says monitoring the fuel gauge. Outside the ship, April notices the Russian ship is maneuvering awfully close and suddenly, it turns towards Serenity.

  April’s eyes widen as she warns, “They are going to collide with us!!!”

  “Josh, evasive maneuvers – get us out of here!”

  *BAM*

  The ship rocks violently as April’s body is thrown out into space and then snaps back hard against the side of the ship – still dangling from the safety clip she attached to the hull.

  “April, are you okay?!?” Yells Chantal in fear.

  “I’m okay, Ugh… just a little banged up.”

  “Report!” Howard says.

  “Hull integrity still intact!” Josh says as audible alarms are going off on several different panels.

  “What the hell?!? With all the room in outer space, why would they collide with us?” Howard asks confused.

  “Commander, the ship’s coming around for another hit!” April warns.

  Josh warns, “I think there’s your answer… They’re crashing into us deliberately. They’re trying to stop us from getting to the asteroid!”

  “Get inside, now!” Chantal demands.

  “I’m trying!!!”

  *BAM*

  The Russian ship jolts Serenity, denting the hull – but not breaching it.

  Audible alarms are going off as sparks are shooting down from broken junction boxes.

  “Warning… Auxiliary systems are failing, inertial dampers are offline…”

  “We can’t take another hit!” Josh warns.

  “Get us out of here! Pedal to the metal! Go! Go! Go!”

  “Full thrusters, hang on April!!!” Josh says accelerating the ship forward, narrowly missing another impact. Ten seconds pass and Howard asks, “Where are they?”

  “Behind us… but they’re catching up.”

  “Are we going as fast as we can?” Howard asks.

  “As fast as I can get this hunk of metal to go.”

  “April, you still hanging on?”

  No answer.

  “April, what’s your status?” Howard asks.

  Josh interrupts, “Brace for impact…”

  Seconds go by and nothing happens.

  “I thought you said brace for impact? What happened?”

  “I don’t know. They were right up on us…” Josh says in confusion.

  “It’s because of me, sir.” April says over the headset.

  “Huh?” Josh asks.

  “Come back inside.” Howard orders.

  “No can do… sir.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because I’m not onboard Serenity anymore.”

  “Then where are you?” Howard asks in concern.

  “I’m on the outside of the Russian ship.” She says in a weak voice. “I’ve crippled their navigation and life support systems… I think it’s safe to say they’re dead in the water.”

  “Hang tight, we’ll swing back around to come get you.”

  “Don’t…”

  “What do you mean don’t? I’m coming to get you.” Howard says with authority.

  “I’m severely injured… I’m not going to make it.”

  “What are you talking about?!?” Chantal asks in a worried tone.

  “My lower legs are crushed… I’m losing blood.”

  “Then let me fix you – I can save you!” Chantal yells with tears in her eyes.

  “Oh sweetie, you already did save me. You showed me what love is.”

  Chantal races over to Josh – nudging his arm repeatedly, “Hurry, we’ve got to get to her!!!”

  “It’s already too late.” April says in a sleepy voice. “I’m starting to pass out.”

  “No!!! Turn the ship around!” Chantal pleads.

  Josh looks to Howard for direction.

  “I’m sorry Chantal.”

  Tears stream down her eyes, “Sweetie, can you hear me. April? Sweetie, answer me!”

  “I can hear you my love…” April responds softly.

  “I love you!!!” Chantal says crying her eyes out.

  “I’ll wait for you my love – on the other side.” April says with her last breath of life.

  Howard lowers his head, “I’m so sorry Chantal.”

  Chantal quickly grabs Whitfield’s pistol out of his holster as Jenkins puts two and two together.

  “No!!!” Jenkins says while lunging towards Chantal, but it’s too late.

  *Bam*

  Chantal’s legs buckle beneath her as she collapses lifeless with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Jenkins cries out, “Noooooooo!!!” as her hands tremble uncontrollably. Howard grabs her and wraps his hands around her, comforting her as she sobs uncontrollably.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

>   Several Weeks Later

  Everyone is asleep in their berth, except Josh who’s flying the ship. The only sound heard is the rhythmic humming of the engines – and a few snores coming from the back. Josh rubs his sleepy eyes caused by staring out at the same monotonous view of the stars when he sees a faint glimmer in the distance. He blinks quickly and leans forward – looking out the window. His eyes widen as he smiles wide, “Guys, I think I see it!” He yells to wake everyone.

  Howard rolls out of his bunk and floats to Josh’s side, “Where?”

  “Second star on the left. Just past that violet cloud. Do you see it?”

  “I think so.”

  “It’s pulsating. It’s going to glow green again, any second.”

  Jenkins and Whitfield float to the front – trying to see what Josh sees.

  “There it is!” Josh says pointing with excitement.

  “I see it!” Howard says with a giant smile. “I see the giant asteroid.”

  “Me too!” Jenkins says, hugging Whitfield in a celebratory hug.

  “Distance?”

  “1200 meters and closing.” Josh says looking at his console.

  “Jenkins, grab me the binoculars, please.” Howard asks.

  “I’m on it.” She says with urgency.

  She hands it to him – as he quickly puts it up to his eyes.

  “I see the crashed alien ship… Hold on, the asteroid is rotating out of view.”

  Josh asks, “Any signs of the Titan ship?”

  “I don’t see the Titan or anyone else on the surface of the asteroid. Other than the alien ship and it appears to have a huge gash in the side hull, just like the pictures from the NASA probe.”

  “I’m going to need everyone to have a seat as I try to land this thing.” Josh orders, “Don’t forget to bring your seat to an upright position and lock your tray table in place.”

  Howard looks at Josh, “What?!?”

  Josh looks back at him with a silly smile, “I’ve always wanted to say that.”

  Howard shakes his head left and right before sitting down. Jenkins and Whitfield are buckled in.

  “You got this, right?” Howard asks from his seat.

  “I hope so.” Josh says with some uncertainty.

  “You better! That’s an order.”

  Whitfield adds, “This is it. This is how I’m going to die.” He says under his breath.