Marsiana 2-10
CHAPTER 10
It was their first flight into the space but both kept courageously and bravely endured the inconvenience during the launch and flight into the orbit. Weightlessness both incredibly surprised and they, like the children a few minutes were doing various stunts, tumbling and flying around the station. Flying with them the astronauts watched them with a smile and only warned not to make any sudden movements.
‘Weightlessness is good, but if you hit your head on the appliance and the wall, the pain can be felt quite like on Earth,’ explained the radio operator and programmer Vadim Koloskov. ‘Thank you for the warning,’ Lena said, enjoying a free flight. ‘How cool!’ she exclaimed. ‘So hang and do not fall!’ After docking the spacecraft with the orbital station all newcomers that arrived went into the main compartment and began to get acquainted. On the space station constantly worked five astronauts. Among them was an FSB officer Pavel Sobolev. He already knew about Stakhov mission, and he met him as his old friend, even though previously they had never met. It was also at the station a woman, the physician and biologist concurrently Tatiana Bobrova. Station Commander Nikolai Sedov warmly welcomed newcomers and began to ask how everything in the world. The cosmonaut Valentin Avdeyev replied him, who accompanied Kirill and Lena into the orbit. Besides him arrived also Komarnicki Andrew the role of who was unknown to everyone. He introduced himself as the scientist. He intended to test his new experimental device in the open space. When everyone got acquainted, and little accustomed, Kirill addressed a question to the commander of the space station: ‘Nicolai Dmitrievich, where now the Americans?’ he asked bluntly. ‘They just entered the Earth's shadow,’ Sedov answered. Their station flies slightly above our own.’ ‘There is any communication with them?’ ‘Of course. We constantly consult with them on various issues. In space except us there is no one else.’ ‘If let’s God protect us we or they get some problems no one can help us but ourselves. We are constantly in touch in spite of the political differences at the bottom.’ ‘"At the bottom"? Do you mean on the Earth?’ Kirill guessed. ‘Yes, on the Earth,’ Commander Sedov answered affirmative. ‘I see,’ Kirill looked out the window. Unprecedented spectacle never earlier seen before made him forget for a moment about his mission. The Earth from space was very beautiful. A little looked around Stakhov immediately took up the task assigned to him. To admire the scenery of space he will be later, when report to the Center will about successful execution of the mission. ‘Aleksey Nikolayevich,’ he said to the captain of the ship. ‘Contact with the Americans and tell them that you have on board emergency, and you urgently need to link up with their station.’ Sedov nodded to Koloskov. The wireless operator immediately began to call the Americans. After a moment he turned and shook his head. ‘They denied, Comrade Commander,’ he said. ‘How denied?’ Sedov surprised genuinely. ‘It can not be. We have the same implicit contract with them.’ Koloskov winced ‘They’ve got quarantine on the station. Unless absolutely necessary, they refuse to let us into their station.’ Stakhov and Sedov looked at each other. ‘We can not force them to dock with us,’ as if apologizing said Sedov. Stakhov was silent reflecting on the unexpected turn of events. He was sure and not only he that the Americans will go to the contact and allow them to dock both stations. Nothing unusual in that it was not. ‘Probably because of the events on the Moon,’ Sedov suggested. ‘Perhaps,’ Stakhov agreed with him reflecting on how he carries out the task. To come back to Earth with nothing he couldn’t. ‘Salyut,’ Lena Gushchina said and smiled knowingly. Stakhov looked at her with admiring glance. ‘You are good girl, Gushchina,’ he praised her. ‘We’ll arrange for Americans a little show. Alexei Nikolayevich,’ he said to Sedov. ‘Can you allow me a spacewalk? It is necessary to install one device.’ ‘Do you have experience? Sedov asked. ‘Although what I’m I talking about what kind of experience. It's your first flight.’ ‘I'll go with him,’ Gushchina said firmly. ‘But you’ll cover us.’ ‘Do not fear?’ Sedov asked curiously. ‘Not everyone dare to look into the face of the abyss.’ ‘I dare, Kirill,’ she said simply. ‘You just instruct me what to do.’ ‘Good. Tumanov we’ll go with you too. Alone I can not let you. It would be against all rules and regulations.’ ‘We do not mind,’ Gushchina agreed immediately. ‘After all we are new in the cosmos. With us your astronaut will be much calmer.’ ‘Excellent. Put on your space suits. Forty minutes later, the Americans will be over us.’ Stakhov and Gushchina accompanied by cosmonaut Oleg Tumanov begun to prepare for spacewalk. The venture has been very simple. Arrange on a surface of station the simulation of explosion that’s the Americans decided that they really in trouble. Not very fair to their overseas counterparts, but nothing else Stakhov could not think. He decided for now to implement the idea which told him Gushchina. “Cunning and clever girl,” he thought, putting on his head the transparent helmet. ‘Any one can go with her on raid without hesitation. Well, it’s good I took her with me.” When all was ready and repeatedly checked up all three of them went into an airlock. The first went into the space Tumanov after him was Stakhov and Gushchina was the last one. The feeling that overwhelmed them when they left the narrow walls of the station was hard do describe by common words. A black emptiness filled with bright stars and a huge blue Earth below. ‘Beautiful!’ Lena exclaimed delightedly who couldn’t retrained herself, trying to sort out the tangle of continents. ‘Where are we flying now?’ she asked. ‘Kamchatka,’ Tumanov said. ‘I understand,’ Lena waved her hand to the Earth and looked with a smile at Stakhov. ‘We are in outer space, Kirill,’ she cried. ‘Keep watching your fixing ropes,’ Tumanov recalled. ‘It will be very bad if something happen with it.’ ‘Can they cut short?’ Lena asked. ‘Theoretically, yes. In practice, so far it has not happened yet. Thanks to Lord. Well, where is your device?’ Tumanov asked. ‘We shouldn’t be to long in the outer space. You never know what can happen. We astronauts prefer to admire the beauty of the space through the station’s windows. So is much safer and calmer.’ ‘Here,’ Stakhov raised above his head a small container. ‘Where are your auxiliary engines?’ ‘There,’ Tumanov pointed. ‘Need some help?’ ‘I do not mind. I can loose ma way here,’ Stakhov joked. He tried not to look around, and as soon as possible to establish a container with explosives. The abyss underfoot of one hundred kilometers depressed him and provoked an irresistible urge to hide inside the station. He knew that he will not fall, but could do nothing with his emotions. He approached the engines trying all the time to hold for something with his hands. Path to the place where was located right supplementary engine took them at least ten minutes. Preoccupied with his thoughts and feelings, Stakhov briefly lost sight of Lena Gushchina, whom, being close to the hatch, admired cosmic landscapes. Lena wasn’t scared space anymore, and she even began to think, may be it would be better to quit the service in the intelligence service and become the astronaut. ‘Lena, are you all right?’ she heard a voice of Stakhov in her headphones. ‘Yes. How are you? How long yet?’ ‘Just started. I think it will be in time till approaching our visitors.’ ‘Excellent. Come back soon.’ Lena suddenly felt that some one was watching her. She turned her head and cried. Next to her was some ugly creature. ‘Kirill!’ she cried, slowly sail from being to the full length of the rope. Being raised its left arm with a single finger and made a negative gesture. At this point, Lena was very sorry that she was unarmed. But who could have foreseen that they would meet with the aliens. She kept her eyes with a stranger. Externally, the creature looked like a human. At least, it got the head, though split into two parts and Lena saw its blue pulsing brain. Being’s eyes moved around its face and stood out on the skin in one or the other places. The creature was terrible and caused Lena not only disgusted but just some animal, inexplicable fear. ‘Kirill, here,’ she whispered, trying to free herself from the hypnotizing sight of stranger. Stakhov and Tumanov who were busy installing the explosive was noticed nothing. Lena just seemed that she had called. In fact, she only in her thought said his name. Stakhov in his headphones heard only her participation breath. ‘We are not long. Be patient,’ he said and turned around. ‘Damn! Tumanov, what is it?’ he said, snatching the weapon. ‘I do not know,’ Tumanov from surprise opened his thick gloves and a device that they did not have time fix began to move away from the station. Stakhov didn’t care any more about the explosives. ‘Lenka, do not move!’ he shouted, making the shot. The clot of plasma passed by the stranger, but burned the rope, and seems hurt the girl. She cried out and tumbled, beginning to move away from the station. Stakhov froze in horror and rushed after her. After flying a few meters, he stopped, and did not immediately realize that ended his safety rope. Cursing, swearing, he unbuttoned his safety rope, pushed off with his feet by the receiving antenna and flew after the girl. Lena was removed from the station. Tumanov something was shouting to Stakhov, but Kirill did not listen to him. He had just noticed that the creature disappeared. Only a few seconds later, Kirill realized that Tumanov shouts him about some air engine and a red button. Kirill looked at the sleeves of his suit. He found and activated the engine that runs on compressed air. Lena began to approach. But she said nothing and did not move. Stakhov was alarmed. ‘Lena doesn’t be afraid. Now I will catch you,’ he concentrated and grabbed her with his hand, hugged her, and began to fly back to the station. ‘Lena, how are you doing? Why are you silent?’ he turned the girl and saw that Lena’s helmet’s protective glass is melted, and the girl's face was covered with frost already. She was dead. Stakhov did not believe his eyes. It turned out that he burned with his shot the glass of protective helmet of her spacesuit and killed the girl. In desperation, he clenched his teeth, groaned and felt the tears flowed from his eyes. ‘How it could be so? It’s impossible. No, no I can’t believe it!’ he repeated frantically, unable to believe that Lena is really dead. Everything happened so quickly that he did not even have time to understand and analyze what happened. Just the three of them left the station, and now Lena is dead, and his own fate is unknown until the end. The glowing triangular object was approaching the orbit station. ‘Stakhov quickly come back!’ he heard in the headphones the worried voice of Tumanov, and saw how the astronaut dives into the airlock hatch. Realizing that with Lena he could not make it, he let go her lifeless body and rushed to the space station. An object approaching from the opposite side, and Stakhov had every chance to hide inside the station. ‘Forgive me, Lena,’ he said hoarsely, increasing the air speed of the motor. The girl's body, spinning slowly in the cold vacuum of space, was removed farther. Then she disappeared altogether. Trembling with excitement and shock hands Stakhov took off his helmet and went into the main compartment of the station. He met no one; no one helped remove the suit. Struck by the sudden loss of the girl, he did not pay attention to it. ‘Lena died,’ he said grimly, flying into the main compartment. No one answered him. Stakhov gasped and reached for weapons. But his weapon he left outside. Kirill realized that he had got big problems. The Creature, because of which died Lena was at the station. Stakhov thought he was crazy or that it is some stupid dream or a bad joke. ‘It cannot be!’ he exclaimed, looking with bewildered eyes at his comrades. They all huddled together in one corner of the compartment and looked at him with unblinking eyes. Their faces were pale and some sleepy. On Sedov the crew’s commander no one was looking at. The alien creature sliced Sedov in half, and he swam under the ceiling of compartment. Thicken blood like a big drop stuck to the wall of the compartment and looked like a surrealistic painting of a painter. One eye of Sedov constantly blinking, tears flowed from the second. The heart continued to beat, and all the astronauts tried not to look at the bodies of his commander, put up for public display. Stakhov though not once been to hot spots, felt that a little more and he’ll be sick. But he restrained himself by his will. The Creature began to talk: ‘Kare tek ye to arakuome Marsiana?’ in being’s voice could be heard clearly interrogative tone. The astronauts were silent and only Sobolev made a negative movement with his head. In Stakhov suddenly appeared crazy idea to attack a stranger, twist and try to bring back to Earth. He looked pointedly at Sobolev. He even if realized, which means his glance, but didn’t show it. He again shook his head. “As you wish,” Stakhov thought. ‘I’ll do all himself,” he began to wait for the right moment to attack. The creature spoke again: ‘Kare aka ora macaw teokuro, Marsiana?’ creature demanded again. As the answer was silent the being made a slight movement with its one finger hand. Station’s wall had disappeared, and stunned astronauts saw a little girl among the flowers. The girl stroked the flowers, talking to them, smiling pretty. Then the astronauts saw the same girl, but on some planet fighting with unknown creatures. Next to the girl shoulder to shoulder shot adult man. Stakhov looked closer and gasped in amazement. Yes, it was Michael Johnson! Astronaut from the American space station! Stakhov thought he was delirious. He did not understand anything. What it was a girl? Where the aliens know about her from, and what Johnson did with her, was a complete mystery to Stakhov. He grouped and jumped on the creature. The desire to capture the alien has not left Stakhov. The creature did not even move. Cracked, breaking hand of Stakhov. One after another cracked his ribs. Stakhov cried out in pain. An invisible force pressed his back against the wall of the station. Kirill's ears started to bleed. Hellish pain literally tore him to pieces. ‘Son of a bitch! What are you doing!’ he croaked. What happened to him next he did not remember. But well remembered Vadim Koloskov. The creature suddenly disappeared, and with it the picture of fighting girls. The vanished station’s wall came back to its original location. Then followed the emergency alarm signal. Koloskov looked at the data of devices and got numbed. The temperature inside the nuclear reactor grew rapidly. The cooling system disconnected. Run it in the automatic mode, the onboard computer failed. Realizing that before the explosion remains very little time Koloskov began to transfer their unfeeling fellows in the landing module. When inside the station left only cut into pieces the commander Sedov and Koloskov was pondering how in the best way to collect it and deliver it to the Earth, he suddenly with surprise saw that the commander took its former appearance and is unconscious. Delighted, Koloskov grabbed him and transferred to the rest of the crew, shut the door and started the program undock and lowering the landing module to the Earth. The nuclear reactor explosion of the space station caught the astronauts in the dense layers of the atmosphere. But for them it did not pose any threat. A little more and they will be at home. In safety. Only now Vadim Koloskov realized that on board of landing module there was not a doctor of the expedition Tatiana Bobrova. Where she has gone, he had no idea. Then, in time of emergency evacuation, he completely forgot about her. Vadim was convinced that all his comrades, including Bobrova are in landing module. ‘How could I forget about her?’ Vadim Koloskov said biting his lips. ‘What do I tell at hope?’ he felt despair and fear. But the next moment he acquitted himself in that he had not seen doctor Bobrova, and indeed he has forgotten about her. Everything happened as if in a dream, and not with him. He acted on full automatic. Explanation and justification was weak, but change nothing has been impossible. The space station has become a radioactive, red-hot cloud slowly dissipated in space. He could only monitor the status of their comrades and control stations slope. So far everything went fine.
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