The Final Expedition

Day Two

Propelling myself through the Unity Node, I was about to enter the Destiny Lab when I heard heated voices within. Grasping a blue handle to slow myself, I paused for a moment and listened. It sounded like Morrison and Flynn.

“You keep those thoughts to yourself!” Morrison growled. “Jesus, you’ve been working with both of them for three months. They are our friends!”

“I don’t trust them.” Flynn retorted. “You mark my words, this is Russia’s doing.”

“We don’t know who started it down there.” Morrison said. “I don’t need to remind you that it has been over thirty years since the cold war ended! It could have been China, North Korea, Iran or any of the other nuclear powers. For God’s sake Chuck, for all we know, it might have been us that launched the first missiles!”

“How do we know that Karpov isn’t in communication with Moscow as soon as our backs are turned?” Flynn insisted. “They’re probably launching a Soyuz rocket right now with armed Cosmonauts with orders to throw you, me, Carter and Takako out of the nearest airlock!”

“Do you remember the mushroom clouds over Moscow, or the rest of Russia for that matter?” Morrison replied, exasperated. “Can you hear how paranoid you sound?” He paused, sighing deeply. “Do I need to be concerned about you, Chuck?”

“No. It’s just…”

“Look, we’re all feeling the pressure.” Morrison’s tone altered to a patient one. “I’m scared not knowing what’s happened down there, if my wife and kids are still alive or what’s going to happen to us, stranded up here. Hell, I woke up last night, my clothes dripping with sweat from nightmares about it all, but we’ve got to keep it together. We need each other more than ever. We’ve got to trust each other. Speculation on who did or didn’t start the war down there isn’t going to help and the last thing we need is for you to go Section 8 on us. Okay?” I could have heard a pin drop in the uncomfortable silence that followed.

“Okay.” Flynn reluctantly replied.

I waited a moment before pulling myself through into the module.

“Carter.” Flynn nodded, acknowledging my presence before pulling himself past me in the direction of the Russian segment.

“Hey Carter.” Morrison smiled brightly, his intense conversation of moments earlier effortlessly forgotten. “How are you?”

“Surviving.” I deadpanned.

“Yeah, well, keep hanging in there. We’ll all be okay.” I nodded, wondering if Morrison’s constant air of optimism in the face of adversity, whether sincere or not, was to be admired or derided.