The Final Expedition

Day Thirty

I had been peddling for nearly an hour and my legs were starting to ache. I had the Destiny lab to myself for the moment. An exercise bike was set up in the middle of the module, so I had decided to get some exercise. The muscles in my thighs were starting to burn so I began to slow down.

“It’s the pain barrier! Fight through it!” Aki emerged into the Destiny lab and pulled herself towards me. I put on one final burst for show before stopping to catch my breath.

“I don’t often see you on this machine.” She remarked.

“Flynn’s usually in here, but he’s working in the Columbus module today, so I thought I’d make the most of it and get some exercise on the bike without him glaring at me from start to finish.”

“So, what’s the deal with you and Flynn?” Aki dropped her voice, checking to ensure we were alone.

“You tell me.” I shrugged. “He seems strangely immune to my charm, wit and general charisma.”

“Impossible.” Aki exclaimed with mock surprise.

“I know!” I smiled. “Seriously though, we definitely seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot. Maybe he doesn’t like tourists…”

“Well, you can rest assured that he’s in the minority.” Aki replied. “The rest of us think you’re a good guy. Particularly one of our cosmonauts who certainly seems to have taken a shine to you…” She added with a hint of mischief on her face.

“I really hope you’re not talking about Karpov.” I grinned.

“You know exactly who I’m talking about.” Aki replied. “And don’t think I haven’t spotted you shamelessly flirting with her either. This is a small station you know!” I felt my face flush, causing her to smile.

“How are you coping?” I asked Aki, trying to change the subject.

“I’m just trying not to think about it.” She said sadly. “I try to focus on my experiments, but sometimes I find myself wondering what the point is. Do you think this is the end of everything?”

“I don’t think so.” I said after a moment, slowly shaking my head. “I think people will survive. Maybe not many and it will probably be brutally hard, but people will survive. There will be nuclear shelters which withstood the onslaught and people in countries that weren’t hit directly. No doubt the radiation will kill a lot of survivors. Without clean food and water and medical supplies dwindling, maybe other diseases will take a terrible toll, but surely not enough to wipe out every last human being.” I moved over to one of the windows and gazed down at the Earth below us, a dark smudge covering most of the landmasses in the northern hemisphere.

“Most of Africa and South America have hardly been hit.” I commented. “In a strange way, those so-called third world countries may well be better prepared to survive. They are already used to surviving day to day and their bodies will already have built up a greater resistance against disease.”

“You’re certainly an optimist.” Aki smiled. “I’ve heard projections that a nuclear winter will last for many years, the ash filling the sky and blocking out the sun, quickly killing all plant life. Temperatures will fall several degrees. Anyone left alive will either freeze to death, or if they are lucky enough to be nearer the equator, die of starvation.”

“That could equally be true.” I conceded. “But I like my version better.”

“So do I.” Aki smiled. “Maybe hope, even if it’s false hope, is better for the soul than no hope at all.”