The Final Expedition

Day One Hundred and Thirty-Eight

I entered the Zvezda module, where Karpov was standing before a mirror and shaving several days’ worth of stubble from his face.

“Carter.” Karpov acknowledged me, his reflection looking up at me. I nodded back at him. “You looking for Dr Varennikova?”

“I am.” I replied coolly.

“She’s in her sleeping compartment.” Karpov told me, gesturing towards the door at the far end of the module. I pulled myself towards the door and gently tapped on it.

“Hello?” Came the meek reply from within.

“It’s Max.” I gently replied. “Just wanted to see how you were doing and see if you needed anything?” The door opened and Natalya tried her best to smile and put on a brave face, but her eyes seemed sunken and moist with tears. She looked exhausted. I guessed she had had little sleep since the attack the previous day. I clenched my jaw not knowing whether I wanted to gather Natalya into my arms in a long embrace, or head to the Columbus Module, take a swing at Flynn and beat him like the animal he was. I decided on the former and reached for Natalya who had unstrapped herself from her compartment and allowed herself to be taken into my arms. We floated there for a moment before Natalya let herself go, her body trembling against me as she sobbed into my shoulder.

“Have you seen what Flynn has done to her, Karpov?!” I glared angrily at the big Russian, who had finished shaving and was putting his razor away. “And you think we can let bygones be bygones?”

“You forget yourself, Carter.” Karpov replied firmly. “Flynn will answer for what he did. If you bark at me one more time, I’ll find a module to confine you to too until you cool down.” I opened my mouth to retort, but Natalya pulled away from me and gazed into my eyes.

“Never mind that now.” She said, her moist, pink eyes imploring me. “Just hold me.” I wrapped my arms back around her and glowered at Karpov over her shoulder. He glared coolly back.

“Flynn won’t get away with this.” I told her earnestly. “I promise you, he will pay for what he did.”