The Final Expedition

Day Fourteen

“It’s been two weeks now since we witnessed the destruction on the surface.” I commentated from inside the Cupola as I shot footage of the Earth below. “As you can see, the soot and smoke from the nuclear strikes has filled the skies above North America, Europe and Asia. We can hardly see any landmasses in the northern hemisphere, though the soot seems to be creeping southwards, spreading like a cancer into the unaffected areas of the southern hemisphere. When we pass the night side of the Earth, the surface is pitch black. Before the nuclear strikes, the lights of the cities used to be visible. Now all we can see is darkness. There must surely be people alive down there, particularly in countries which were mostly left alone, like parts of South America and Africa, but at times it feels like we’re orbiting a dead planet.” With a sigh, I switched off the camera.

“Thank God for that.” Natalya murmured as she joined me in the Cupola. ”I don’t think I could take much more of that morbid train of thought!”

“Sorry.” I replied. “Just trying to keep busy. I thought I’d keep documenting the state of the planet and keep out from under everyone’s feet.”

“I know.” Natalya replied. “It seems strange just to continue with our schedule, almost as though nothing has happened.”

“This was supposed to be my last day you know.” I told Natalya. She nodded.

“Yes the next Soyuz capsule was supposed to be bringing the final member of Expedition 79, while you were due to return to Earth.”

“They would have arrived a few hours ago.” I mused, looking sadly at the blackened surface of the Earth beneath us. “My replacement’s probably dead.”

“It was a Frenchman wasn’t it?” Natalya looked at me.

“Yes.” I furrowed my brow. “What was his name, Marceau, Moreau, shit I can’t even remember the poor bastard’s name.”

“It’s not your fault.” Natalya gently squeezed my hand, perhaps intuitively knowing I was feeling the pangs of survivor’s guilt. If not for my millions, my replacement would already have been on the station and I would be dead in his place. “You just happened to be fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time.”

“Thanks.” I smiled at her, appreciating the feel of her hand on mine. “Sorry, I’m supposed to be changing the subject. Let’s talk about the past rather than the present. Tell me about you. How did you become a Cosmonaut?”

“My father bought me a telescope for my ninth birthday.” She began, smiling as she recalled the moment. “I loved it, gazing up at the night sky and trying to spot Venus or Mars. I dreamed of becoming a Cosmonaut for a time, but as I grew older I concentrated on a more likely career as a doctor. I studied hard and graduated from the First Moscow State Medical University, finishing top of my class. I had buried my Cosmonaut dreams deeply since my childhood, but they were still there in my heart. One day, I decided to apply for Cosmonaut training. I guess similarly to you setting up your website, I did it more in hope than expectation. I was stunned when I was invited to the training facility in Star City.” She smiled, her eyes lighting up as she recalled the memory. “I expected to be thrown out at any minute, but was surprised again and again as I progressed through the interview stage, was selected for the Cosmonaut program, qualified and then selected for Expeditions 78 and 79 on the International Space Station. I remember on the day of the launch, sitting there on the launch pad and not believing my luck, half expecting someone to haul me out of the capsule at any moment, telling me there had been a big mistake.”

“Living the dream, eh.” I smiled.

“Yes, living the dream.” She returned my smile and just for a moment, basking in her reminisces, the scorched planet beneath us was forgotten. Then, like waking from a pleasant dream, only to come crashing back to reality, the moment shattered into a thousand pieces as we caught sight of the Earth and our smiles faded.

“It will all be okay.” I said, gently squeezing her hand as she had done to mine.

“Will it?” She looked up at me, her blue eyes bright and teary. “Sometimes it feels so hopeless. We’re all stranded up here waiting for our supplies to dwindle and run out, hoping and praying that Mission Control by some miracle is still in one piece and will contact us. Are we just delaying the inevitable?”

“We’ve just got to stay positive and have a little faith.” I reassured her, though her words echoed my own thoughts in my darker moments since the attack. Natalya seemed to gather herself together.

“You’re right.” She sighed before forcing a smile. “Sorry. It’s just my natural Russian pessimism.” I returned her smile and turned to leave. “Max?” She said quietly. I turned back to her, trying to remember if she had called me by my first name before. “Thanks. I feel much better for talking about it. Incidentally, I once met Patrice Mineau.” I immediately recognised the name of the Astronaut due to replace me. “I am sad he’s probably dead, but for the record he was a very arrogant man and I, for one, am glad you’re here with us instead.”