Aubade: Chapter 13
The Seventh Layer Problem
What’s it all about?
You just woke up and find yourself onboard the spaceship Aubade escaping Earth. Forever. Last thing you remember is going to bed. On Earth.
When she woke up to the sound of her notebook alerting her of a call, she was thankful that it was a sign that she had at least slept for a few minutes. It was Sirta who gave her orders to take Henley back to the Defense station. Today. She had below thirty minutes to get ready.
Due to her insomnia she was unable to ask why it had to be today, or more importantly why she had to be the one taking him back, especially since they both recently had been in a severe accident while trying to reach the other station. What was Sirta thinking? She was also unable to even muster up anger or fear. She just obeyed and stood ready at the port at the scheduled time.
The assigned shuttle stood ready and steaming. Jack was escorted to the port by Paulon, who looked as bewildered as Sara. Peter's brother was all she could think. I am looking straight at my brother in law! Pandora's uncle!
"What the hell is going on?" he wheezed out between his teeth.
"No idea," she replied while checking her suit, "but I know enough not to argue with Sirta. But do I think it's insane? Yes. Will we both die another blasted death? Probably. Will I complain to our sorry wimp Captain when he finally graces us with his presence? Yes. In the meantime I will just do what I'm told." She looked up at Paulon's surprised face.
"Sara, you're barely awake and all this anger... You can't go! It's suicide!" Paulon was genuinely worried.
"What, don't you trust Sirta's careful calculations?" she whispered before stepping into the shuttle. Jack was quiet. She wondered if they'd given him a shot of something. He was too quiet.
Great, she would have to drive by herself. She couldn't wait to hear what had caused Vince to demand them present so quickly. In fact, this thought woke her up just enough to allow some adrenaline to kick start her. She was overcome with a sharp sensation of focus, and without having to exert herself she acted more or less by intuition. The port crew were giving her a checklist, which she followed.
Jack was quietly following his orders as well, which made Sara more puzzled over his state. She thought he might be nervous but at the same time lethargic. Some form of reverse reaction. No wonder, he was still recovering and his lungs probably would not like the strenuous ride. She took a break in her check routine and reached over to him.
"Jack, they gave us enough oxygen to last us four hours."
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