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Into the Unknown
Chapter 1: The Crew
It all happened so fast…
Emmet Ellis scrambled through the corridors of the Astro-Citizen Space Station, flashing lights and blaring sirens all around him as he hurried for the nearest shuttle. Dozens of fellow Astro-Citizens pushed past him in their own mad dashes for survival.
The Cold War was finally catching up with them.
The Soviets had launched a nuclear warhead… and it would hit the space station in less than 60 seconds.
Weighed down by a backpack full of science equipment and clutching a thick book under his arm, Emmet frantically searched for any open shuttle he could find. The screams of desperate citizens filled the corridors as he ran past every sealed door; couples and families cried out as they were separated from their loved ones, while others helplessly slammed their fists against the cold unfeeling metal barring their escape. He swung his head back and forth, unable to find an open door amidst the chaos…
A slight tremor beneath his feet alerted Ellis to something heavy heading in his direction. He glanced aside to see a huge muscular man in a bright green spacesuit barreling towards him, carrying a smaller person in a red spacesuit over his shoulder. The scientist moved just in time for the two of them to brush past, then quickly followed after them. I really hope they know where they're going!
Sure enough, the muscle man led him to an open doorway! A blonde woman in a blue spacesuit gestured for them to hurry inside, and all three of them scrambled into the shuttle.
As Emmet stopped just past the open door to catch his breath, he heard a voice cry out. "Wait!"
Ellis watched as a blonde man in a dark green spacesuit darted for their shuttle… only for the door to slam closed.
Immediately dropping his supplies, Emmet pressed his hands around the outer edge of the doorway, fumbling in the dark looking for a switch, a button, a lever - anything to open the door. "Does anyone know how to open this thing??"
A hand reached out and grabbed Ellis by the spacesuit collar, yanking him into the darkness. "Are you crazy?!" a female voice spat. "We have to leave, now!"
The scientist kept staring at the sealed door. His eyes went wide as he saw panic in the man's face, eyes bloodshot and the window fogging up from his terrified screams. "What about him? We can't just -"
"There's no time!"
Emmet turned his attention to the source of the masculine voice, a man in the cockpit at the far end of the shuttle. Most of his body was obscured by a separate open doorway, but the red glow of emergency lighting around the control panels outlined the face of an older man with one eye obscured. "I'm not gonna let this crew die because some panty waist wants to be a hero. Now sit down and -"
The shuttle jolted suddenly as it left the docking station. Emmet held out his arms in an attempt to stay balanced… but fell once the ship's engine roared to life, hitting his head on the floor as they left the space station. Barely conscious, he used what little strength he could muster to push himself up… but another, stronger force rumbled from behind the shuttle, thrusting them further into the void. Thus, he slipped and fell once again, this time into unconsciousness…
It happened so fast…
Am I dreaming? Is this just some awful nightmare?
Emmet felt as though he was floating in darkness. There was no light, no sound, no other presence… just a dark, inescapable void.
This is so unreal… wait… am I dead?
A bright light slowly emerged out of the darkness, and faint voices murmured from beyond.
Oh God, I am dead! What's happening??
Thankfully, as the light spread out and the voices more distinct, it became clear that he was, in fact, still alive. He found himself propped up against the shuttle wall as two people sat next to him, one checking his pulse while the other fanned him with a dark blue hat.
"He's waking up!"
"Take it easy now…"
"Are you okay?"
Ellis groaned and sat up, scanning his surroundings as best he could. His vision was still blurry; he could definitely see familiar shapes and colors, but nothing distinct came into focus, not even the shuttle's interior. "I think so," he murmured, grasping at the floor around him. "I can't seem to find my glasses, though…"
One of the figures next to him tapped his shoulder, then placed a folded pair of glasses in his hand.
"Thank you," Emmet responded, still glancing in the figure's direction as he put his glasses on.
It was the blonde woman from earlier; she was clearly tired, her hair still messy and wrapped up in a hasty spotted headband, but her meager smile was genuine. "Good to see you're okay."
The other person seated next to him, an African American woman in a dark blue spacesuit, put her hat back on and patted Ellis on the shoulder. "Yeah, we thought you bought it until Baby saw you breathing and DeeDee checked your pulse," she said. "Glad you're still with us."
A bigger figure stepped towards them: the muscular man he followed to the shuttle. He said nothing, but seemed concerned nonetheless and offered Ellis a hand.
Once back on his feet, Emmet was still a bit lightheaded and balanced himself on a nearby chair. Across from him was an elderly Chinese woman in a red spacesuit, sipping something from a plain white mug. "Just a minute, young man," she snipped, pointing to the chair. "You sit down right this instant. You're in no condition to be up and about, not until you can stand up by yourself." She turned to the others and sweetly chimed, "Would one of you be a lamb and get this boy some coffee or tea? He needs his strength."
Emmet let out a nervous chuckle, still trying to process what was happening and who these strangers were. "Thanks, but I think I'm okay," he assured. Once his temporary vertigo subsided, he straightened his posture and cleared his throat. "It's, um, nice to meet you all. My name is Emmet Ellis… my specialty is in the scientific field, and… I'm happy to help in whatever way I can." Oh great, that introduction doesn't make you sound like a total dork…
"Welcome aboard, brother," the black woman answered, startling him with a hearty slap on the back. "I'm April Angelle. My bag is mechanics - I can't wait to work on some of the ship's tech. Let me know if you need a hand."
The blonde woman picked up a mug from the counter against the opposite wall. "DeeDee Dawkins, former professional athlete," she responded, bringing the cup to her lips. "I guess you could say I'm…" she winced, gulping down what she had in her mouth and glancing at the mug. "Ugh, cold coffee; I should have made a fresh cup." She looked back up at Emmet and continued, "I actually wanted to try some new things with the program, but given the circumstances… well, I'm still pretty limber, I guess that's useful."
The elderly woman took another sip of her tea. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Emmet," she replied. "My name is Maegan Mann, I used to be a homemaker and small business owner. I was looking forward to something a little different after my retirement…" She glanced out the nearby window as dozens of tiny stars slowly passed. "I suppose I got my wish." She sipped her tea, then turned her attention to the muscular man seated further away from them. "Baby?"
The man in the bright green spacesuit had been staring at something brown and fuzzy in his hands, petting it gently. He looked up at the others and waved to Emmet shyly. "Hi," he murmured, his deep voice and huge muscles in stark contrast with his sheepish demeanor. "I'm Baby. Nice to meet you."
Emmet smiled. It had been a long time since he'd felt so welcome by anyone other than family. "Yeah, it's nice to meet all of you," he said, then reminded of the man he briefly saw in the cockpit earlier. "So… is this everyone?"
Before anyone could respond, a door near the back of the shuttle suddenly opened. A middle-aged man in a faded yellow spacesuit stepped out, turning to face the others as he closed the door behind him. "Good news," he announced, beaming with confidence. "Looks like the lower deck is in good shape and the ship is fully operational. Glad my experience as a mechanical engineer for the CIA was exactly what we needed."
Emmet noticed the black patch covering the man's left eye, and his voice was definitely familiar.
April raised a dubious eyebrow. "I take it you found the bathroom?"
"Among other things," the man answered, quickly turning his attention to the scientist. "Good to see you up and on your feet, Astro-Citizen. My name is Tom Thomson - decorated army vet, war hero, survivalist and adventurer extraordinare."
As Tom held out his hand to greet the fellow traveller, Emmet cautiously returned the gesture. "Emmet Ellis… former chemistry teacher."
Tom smirked. "Chemistry, eh?" he remarked. "That could be useful in case we run into any Commies out here."
A new male voice chirped over the shuttle's intercom system. "With all due respect, crewmate Thomson, perhaps we should focus on the crew's survival first?"
As the others looked up and around the ship, surprised by the unfamiliar voice, Tom jerked his thumb over to a small monitor mounted on the wall. "Oh yeah, I fixed that too."
"Yes, that paper clip in your boot did manage to repair the broken circuit in my audio channels," the voice replied in a formal, yet sarcastic tone. "Not ideal, and certainly not up to Astro-Citizen Protocol standards, but… do your own thing? Is that the correct turn of phrase?"
Emmet smiled, approaching the monitor. "You must be the ship's ASTRO unit," he surmised. "I'm surprised you're programmed to understand slang terminology."
The unit chuckled. "There's a lot you don't know about my programming," he remarked, "but I'm afraid I can't share those details with anyone other than the captain."
The shuttle went quiet as the crew glanced at each other curiously. Surprisingly, not one of them had acknowledged being the captain of their vessel.
Seizing the opportunity, Tom cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Clearly I have the most experience in a leadership position, so if there aren't any objections -"
"You have not been assigned the role of captain, crewmate Thomson," ASTRO interrupted. "Each shuttle and AI unit is designated a captain per Astro-Citizen Command guidelines… although, I can't seem to locate him anywhere on board. Has anyone seen Captain Jim Johnson?"
Silence filtered through the cabin once again. Most of the crew seemed confused… but Emmet recalled the man left behind at the space station as a sense of dread washed over him. "Could you describe him?"
The ASTRO unit printed out a black and white photo of their assigned captain. "Oh, about 6 feet 4 inches, 230 pounds, short blonde hair, athletic build, dark green Astro-Citizen spacesuit," he answered. "He should have been on the ship prior to departure. Are you sure none of you saw him?"
Ellis took one glance at the printed photo and bit his lip. "We left him behind… at the space station."
DeeDee and Maegan gasped. Baby looked up from cradling the stuffed bear in his hands, surprised and saddened by the news. April closed her eyes and soberly removed her hat, and Tom simply crossed his arms and bowed his head.
After a moment of reverent silence, ASTRO's monitor lights began flashing. "Oh dear… this is bad," he said. "Our shuttle needs a captain if we are going to survive this journey. I don't suppose anyone would -"
"I'd be more than happy to volunteer," Tom remarked, approaching the monitor and turning to address the crew. "It would be an honor to serve as your captain aboard this fine vessel. I'm sure my years of experience -"
"Just a minute!" April retorted. "Who says you'd make the best captain? Anyone who's heard your stories knows you're full of it!"
Tom rolled his eyes. "Oh really?" he questioned. "How many medals have you been awarded in your lifetime?"
April sneered and pointed an accusing finger in Thomson's direction. "Same as you - none! " she scoffed. "I don't need medals or any loads like you do. I'm just as qualified, maybe even more…" Giving him a wry smirk, she added, "Maybe I should be captain."
DeeDee set down her coffee mug and raised her hand. "Hold on -"
Ignoring her comment, Tom laughed and shook his head. "Look, Angelle, I'm glad we have women in the Astro-Citizen Program, and maybe some of them would be fine captains in their own right… but let's not kid ourselves, a war hero such as myself would be a far better captain for this ship than some radical libber."
"Tom!" DeeDee snapped as she stood and stomped her foot down.
Concerned, Baby also rose from his chair, gently placing his teddy bear on the seat as he watched the argument unfold.
Angelle raised her eyebrows. "Oh, that's how it's gonna be?" she spat, stepping forward. "Captain or not, I'd rather be 'some radical libber' than an egotistical militant fat-head!"
Emmet quickly intervened, positioning himself between Tom and the rest of the crew. "Everyone, cool it!" he shouted. "Listen, fighting like this isn't going to solve anything. We need to pick a captain, so I suggest we sit down and figure out how to come to the best solution possible."
The others nodded their heads in agreement… except April, who crossed her arms begrudgingly and sat down; and Tom, who laid a patronizing hand on Emmet's shoulder. "Nice work," he murmured in an attempt to soften his otherwise boisterous tone. "We're gonna need that kind of diplomacy around here, just in case some of our fairer crewmates need a little help with their emotions -"
"That's it!"
April lunged out of her chair, but Baby managed to grab her before she could strangle Tom. DeeDee brushed past Emmet, berating Tom while trying to calm April down. Maegan tried to get a word in, but the three enraged crewmates were too busy barking at each other to be reasoned with… and Emmet just backed off entirely, shocked at how quickly things had escalated over a simple matter of protocol.
Suddenly, a loud piercing whistle echoed through the shuttle. The fighting quickly stopped, and soon everyone was doubled over with their fingers in their ears.
Moments after the screeching whistle went silent, ASTRO finally spoke again. "It's clear to me that none of you can come to an agreement on who the captain should be," he snapped. "As the ship's AI, I am authorized to select one at random. Whoever is selected, regardless of their training or background, you will have to accept as your new captain. Is that clear?"
Maegan held up her hand. "I beg your pardon," she said, standing up from her chair, "but I would like to remind you all of one very important thing each of us has in common."
The crew glanced around the room, unable to see what she was talking about. The six of them were a mix of different races, young and old, men and women…
The Chinese woman smiled. "We're American."
The others smiled in kind, reminded of their own patriotism.
Approaching the monitor, Mann continued, "Now, if you ask me, there's nothing quite so American as the democratic system. I say we put this matter to a vote -" She held up a stern finger, as if to cut off Tom before he could say anything, "and you can't vote for yourself - it must be another crewmate. We'll narrow it down from there until the person with the most votes wins."
The rest of the crew gave their approval with affirmative nods and a couple of thumb-ups.
ASTRO sighed. "If you insist," he grumbled, "but you must come to a decision soon. I will give you one hour to figure this out for yourselves. If you haven't decided by then, I'm going to select a captain at random."
Everyone was still quiet (perhaps afraid that ASTRO would sound that ear-splitting whistle again if another fight started), but no one seemed to object to the AI's time limit. Emmet shrugged and spoke for the group. "That sounds fair."
"Very well," ASTRO replied. "You have 60 minutes."
Several minutes had passed as the crew calmed their nerves with idle chit-chat and the occasional cup of coffee or tea. Maegan suggested it would be the best way to start, getting to know each other a little before the actual voting began. She was already proving herself to be a capable leader, whether or not that was her intention.
Emmet laughed as he shared one of his favorite jokes with April and DeeDee… who sat in awkward silence. Sensing their confusion, he added, "Get it? Na… like, N-A? It's like 'nah' as in 'no,' but also 'Na' like the… symbol for sodium…" He stopped, blushing furiously as he looked away. Science jokes? Seriously?!
Humbled by Emmet's genuine attempt at humor, DeeDee chuckled and gently nudged April to do the same… but he was too embarrassed to make eye contact again.
The sharp clinking sound of a metal spoon against a ceramic mug drew everyone's attention to crewmate Mann once again. "It sounds like everyone has calmed down," she noted. "Let's discuss who our captain should be." She glared at Tom. "Remember, you can't nominate or vote for yourself."
Thomson held out his hands defensively. "Fine," he relented, "but I think I've picked the best person for the job, excluding myself."
The others remained seated as Tom stood to make his case. Most of them were skeptical… but if he was actually capable of suggesting a good captain, maybe he wasn't as much of a blowhard as he let on.
Clearing his throat, Tom paced back and forth before the crew. "Speaking as a decorated war hero, I think I know best what it takes to be a leader," he began, holding up a righteous fist and slamming it into his open palm. "Strength, determination, courage, and an intimidating presence…" He gestured to the window behind him. "We have no idea what's out there - aliens, monsters, robots… hell, maybe even Communists!" Staring at each of his crewmates as he scanned the room, he continued, "That's why we need a captain who won't back down when we need him, who can stare danger in the face and make it beg for mercy…" He approached the biggest crewmate and gave him a hearty slap on the back. "We need Tiny."
Startled, Baby sat straight up and looked around the room. "Who?"
April leaned forward and pressed her forehead into her palm. Emmet raised a dubious eyebrow, and DeeDee quietly sipped from her coffee mug. Only Maegan seemed even slightly optimistic.
Tom groaned, then leaned in and whispered, "You, for God's sake…"
"Oh!" Baby gasped. He twiddled his fingers, unsure of himself and aware of the crew's skepticism. "Gee, I dunno… being a captain sounds kinda hard."
"Nonsense!" Tom assured, patting him on the shoulder. "As long as you've got the brute strength and the right mindset, you'd make the perfect captain! Come on, kid, stand up - let's get a good look at you."
Baby warily obliged, hands folded in front of him like a shy toddler. He tried to make eye contact with the others, but his stomach turned in knots at the thought of being watched so closely.
Thomson smirked proudly. "Look at that - the peak of masculinity," he bragged. "I served with many a proud soldier half his size! I dare anyone to try and mess with us with him in charge!" He glanced over at Baby's face and, noticing his timid expression, quickly tried to save his argument and pointed to Emmet. "Kid, look over there."
Emmet's eyes went wide. He was fairly confident that Baby wasn't as dangerous as Tom claimed… but those huge muscles definitely made him an intimidating presence.
Desperate, Tom announced, "Pretend that man is a Communist - having infiltrated the safety of our shuttle and threatening to take away our freedom! If you don't step in, he'll force us into labor camps harvesting potatoes while we slowly starve to death! Make him wish he never set foot on an American spacecraft."
The women exchanged worried glances, and DeeDee quickly raised her hand. "Uh, Tom, that's not really necessary…"
Focusing in on Emmet, Baby let Tom's words influence his imagination. In his mind's eye, his nervous crewmate was replaced with a stereotypical Russian Communist, laughing maniacally as he held a flaming torch in one hand and a book by Karl Marx in the other.
Ellis squirmed in his seat as he saw Baby's demeanor change almost instantly. His brow furrowed, his fists clenched, his lips curled into a snarl as he stepped forward.
Disturbed, April stood up and reached for a screwdriver in her pocket, then glared at her boastful crewmate. "Okay, Tom, you made your point!"
His confidence slowly disintegrating into panic, Tom weakly stretched out his hand. "Hey, uh, Tiny… you can stop now…"
The terrified scientist quickly hid behind his chair as his giant crewmate stopped less than a foot away. Baby turned the chair away so that he could face Emmet directly, cracking his knuckles and punching the headrest over into a 90° angle.
Tom's face went completely white. "Oh shit…"
"Baby, stop!" DeeDee screamed, leaping from her seat and reaching for his outstretched fist.
Baby glared over his shoulder at DeeDee, his arm twitching at her touch… but once he saw her frightened face, reality slowly began to settle in. His face and muscles relaxed as he remembered where he really was, and it dawned on him what had just happened. "Oh no… I - I didn't hurt anyone, did I?"
The crew breathed a collective sigh of relief. DeeDee and April sat back down, and Tom slinked back into his chair. Emmet slumped onto the floor, conscious but exhausted in every way conceivable.
Maegan approached Baby and gently took his hand. "No, but you scared poor Emmet half to death," she pointed out, "and you damaged one of our chairs. Do you think you could fix it?"
"Yeah, sure," Baby replied, bending the headrest back into its proper position, then looking down at Emmet. "I'm real sorry. I don't like being mean… I came here 'cause I wanna be better and not hurt people. Please don't be mad… I won't do it again, I promise."
Emmet stared up at Baby as feeling gradually returned to his body. His simple vocabulary, innocent nature, and sheepish expression were a far cry from the man who was mere seconds from beating him to a bloody pulp. Clearly he was a force to be reckoned with, under the right circumstances… but by default, he was actually very kind and gentle.
Ellis chuckled nervously. "It's cool, no sweat."
After Baby helped Emmet up from the floor and back to his seat, Maegan patted the bigger crewmate on his arm. "Thank you," she said with a sweet smile. "Now, if you wouldn't mind, could you tell us if you think you'd be a good captain?"
Looking over the weary crew, Baby scratched behind his head and shuffled his feet. "I dunno," he admitted. "I've never been in charge of anything before. I might mess something up and get someone hurt." He paused, wiping away a tear from the corner of his eye. "I bet I'm not smart enough anyway."
The others glanced at each other and Baby with compassion in their eyes… aside from Tom, who looked away while rubbing his face and chin to hide his shame and discomfort.
The elderly woman wrapped her hands around Baby's palm. "Oh sweetheart, don't say things like that," she insisted. "I'm sure all of us will have an important role on this ship. We need you - and we like you for who you really are."
A sheepish grin crept along Baby's face. "Thanks," he murmured, turning to face Maegan directly. "You know, I bet you'd make a pretty good captain!"
Suddenly over his guilt, Tom looked up at the ceiling and muttered, "Oh, you have got to be kidding me…"
Surprised, Maegan placed a hand on her chest. "Me?"
"Sure, why not?" Baby beamed, gently turning her so she faced the others. "You said a while ago that you used to run a business. If you can run a business… I bet you could run a ship too!"
DeeDee shrugged. "Honestly, Maegan, you've been running things pretty well so far," she agreed. "I think Baby has a point."
April raised her hand. "No offense, but… not everything can be solved by just holding hands and drinking tea," she pointed out. "We might actually run into something hostile out here, something that can't or won't listen to reason."
Tom smirked and crossed his arms. No one wanted to admit it, especially not April… but he'd actually made at least one good point.
Clearing her throat, Maegan folded her hands and addressed the crew. "I appreciate the offer," she began, "and I am more than happy to help this crew with my experience… but I'm in no shape to lead anything more complex than a book club at my age." She sighed wistfully. "Had it been 30 years ago, I would have jumped at this kind of opportunity… but after raising four children and keeping the family laundromat open for so long, I think my skill set is less ambitious now than it used to be." With that, she went back to her seat.
As Baby returned to his own chair and Maegan took a sip of tea, DeeDee asked, "Well, who do you think would make the best captain?"
Maegan swallowed and placed her cup down on the table. "Simple - Emmet."
The crew turned their attention to Emmet Ellis - the lanky black scientist in the orange spacesuit. Still psychologically recovering from his near violent encounter with Baby, he blinked in confusion. "Me?"
"Absolutely," Maegan assured. "You're intelligent, mature, level-headed… A good leader should keep his wits about him. You never know when a situation might require some creative thinking. I think you're just the kind of captain we need."
Emmet grinned. "You really think so?"
Before anyone else could add their thoughts, Tom raised his hand and butted in. "May I remind you all that an important part of leadership is strength and courage in the face of danger?" he noted, gesturing to Emmet while avoiding eye contact. "We just witnessed first-hand how Ellis would handle a threat to his own life -"
"That was your fault, dick!"
"April, mind your manners - and your language," Maegan snipped, briefly holding up an authoritative finger. "Thank you for your insight, Tom, but I still think Emmet deserves the position. In my experience, responsibility often changes a person's priorities in life. The choices I would have made for myself changed so much when I had to watch out for the safety and well-being of my children… and I made better choices for myself too, because my family needed me." She sighed soulfully, placing a weary hand on her chest, then turned to her chosen crewmate. "Emmet, what do you think the captain's priorities should be?"
Ellis paused for a moment, rubbing his chin. "Let's see," he thought aloud, holding out a finger for each concept. "There's the crew, the shuttle, the ASTRO AI, the life support systems, the navigation system, the environmental safety readings, our supplies…"
Once again, Tom spoke up to add his own thoughts. "Hold on, hold on, hold on," he interjected, holding up a forward-facing palm. "Environmental safety? You mean, enemies that might want to board the ship?"
"Actually," Emmet corrected, "it has more to do with radiation, carbon monoxide, or any other toxin that might leak into the ship from the outside environment or from malfunctioning equipment." He scanned the room, checking to see if anyone else was confused… but bearing in mind the hazards he mentioned, he envisioned seeing them doubled over and coughing as he struggled to fix a cracked pipe. "Uh… d- does anyone else have a question?"
April raised her hand. "So, about the navigation system," she began, "I used to work on some of these ships at the space station. Heck, I was working on this one right before we had to jet. I'm pretty sure the ship just steers itself, right?"
The scientist shrugged. "For the most part," he agreed, "but the shuttle's auto-pilot is pretty basic. Right now we're just going in a straight line without any specific destination in mind. If we can find a safe place to land, someone will need to steer it on course, and…" Another distressing thought occurred to him, this time frantically trying to keep the careening ship stable as lights flashed and alarms blared around the control panel, "... t- that w- would probably be the captain."
DeeDee gulped her coffee and held up her finger. "You mentioned a life support system," she queried. "What kind of medical emergencies are we prepared to handle?"
His mind's eye briefly imagining his gloved hands covered in blood as an unseen crewmate screamed in agony, Emmet let out a nervous cough and gestured to a white box with a bright green cross mounted on the wall. "W- well, each shuttle comes equipped with a standard first aid kit," he informed, "but the life support system actually refers to our air supply. The ASTRO AI ensures that we have breathable oxygen throughout the ship. Otherwise, we'd be breathing whatever's outside, which…" He glanced out the window at the dark atmosphere of deep space, "… there is no air. Normally this isn't a problem - but if ASTRO malfunctions or shuts down, someone has to engage the life support system directly before we…" He pictured the crew passed out around him in a dimly-lit cabin as he fumbled with the system controls, then finished, "… run out of air."
The crew went quiet, unsure of how to interpret Emmet's methodical yet grim explanations. Baby tilted his head, visibly confused by the technical terms and big words.
Maegan broke the silence. "It sounds like you have a very thorough understanding of the captain's responsibilities already," she noted, sharing a warm smile with the others. "I am confident that Emmet would make the best decisions for this crew, and I would feel very safe under his watchful eye."
Still haunted by the foreboding hypothetical scenarios in his head, Emmet swiftly interjected, "Uh… you know, I'm probably not the best candidate. I think the position should go to someone more capable and confident." He held out an open palm towards the mechanic. "Why not April?"
Tom rolled his eye. "Oh, please…"
Angelle crossed her arms, beaming with pride. "I like the sound of that," she said, giving Tom a smug smirk.
Thomson glared at April, then Emmet. "Do the words 'decorated war hero' mean nothing to you?" he questioned. "What makes you think this broad would be the best captain?"
Emmet shrugged. "Granted, I don't know her very well," he admitted, "but from what I have seen - she's brave, determined, and has a background in mechanics. She's worked on these shuttles before, so she'll know how to make the necessary repairs when we need them. Honestly, April is probably the most prepared out of any of us."
Encouraged, April gave Emmet a pat on the shoulder. "Right on!" she cheered. "I like the way you think. Definitely the smartest person on our crew!"
The jealous alleged veteran briefly snarled, silently mocking them for a moment. "Remember, Angelle, you can't vote for yourself," he pointed out, "so you're gonna have to pick someone else. Who's it gonna be?"
April clasped her hands together. "Glad you asked," she remarked, standing up. "Let's face it, I'm probably the best captain you could ask for…" She smirked and adjusted her hat proudly, "… but since I have to pick someone else anyway, I'll go with the other person best suited for the job: DeeDee!"
Dawkins froze mid-sip, glancing at the others before taking a small gulp of her coffee. "Are you sure about that?"
"Why not?" April remarked, walking behind her crewmate's chair as she addressed the others. "Y'all saw how this killer chick saved Emmet's sorry ass with her cat-like reflexes! It takes more than just muscles to make it out here. You've gotta be fast, wild, and savvy. DeeDee has what it takes to survive! She'd make a boss captain!"
The former athlete chuckled nervously and set her coffee mug down. "Thanks, April," she said, peeking over her shoulder, "I'm glad you think I have what it takes for the job." She turned to the others and continued, "I am tempted to at least give it a try, if I was training for the role… but with everyone's survival on the line, it's probably for the best that I stay out of a leadership position. I mean, I don't know anything about this ship, or how to manage a crew, or how to handle a major accident or injury…"
Emmet raised his hand. "To be fair, none of us are really trained for this," he pointed out. "It's okay to feel a little unsure… it just means you're human." He smiled weakly. "I think all we'd really ask of anyone is that they try their best, so… don't worry about not being perfect."
DeeDee smiled back and nodded. "Thanks, Emmet."
There was a long pause as Dawkins glanced down at her empty mug and considered getting up for another dose of coffee… until she realized the others were still watching her. "… Oh! My vote for captain!"
"Yup," April remarked, returning to her seat. "Almost everybody has one vote. You're the tie-breaker!"
Her eyes wide with shock, DeeDee bit her lip as the expectant crew waited for her answer. "… Do you really want my honest opinion?"
"Absolutely," Maegan assured. "We all had a say in who we chose, and you deserve the same chance."
Angelle leaned forward to get a better look at her friend. "Yeah, chill out," she agreed. "Just make the best decision you can. I mean, it's not like you're gonna vote for Tom, right?"
A moment of awkward silence followed. DeeDee gave Tom a sidelong glance, then gave the mechanic a sheepish grin.
Her pleasant smile replaced with a scowl, April screamed, "Are you serious?!"
Thomson smirked and smoothed out the wrinkles of his spacesuit, adopting a more respectful posture.
Dawkins leaned away from Angelle, holding her hands up in front of her. "I'm sorry!" she cried, gesturing to her chosen crewmate. "I just think he has the most experience!"
"Damn right!" Tom cheered, giving her an approving thumbs-up. "You made the right choice, little lady!"
Insulted at the very idea of Tom's leadership, Angel stammered as she tried to form her anger into words. "The guy is a liar and an idiot! You can't trust a damn thing he says! He'll sell us out the first chance he -"
A pair of huge muscular arms coiled around the mechanic, cutting off her tirade as she tried to wriggle free. "Let me go!"
Baby held on, successfully restraining her in his firm yet merciful grasp. "It's okay, April," he cooed. "Tom's my friend. Maybe he'll be a good cap-" Sensing her sudden fervor, he tightened his grip as she struggled against him. "I'm not letting go 'til you calm down!"
Once April allowed her rage to cool, Maegan folded her hands and asked, "DeeDee, was there anything else you wanted to add?"
Giving her frustrated crewmate a disappointed glower, DeeDee stood from her chair. "Yes," she responded, addressing the whole group. "Look, I know Tom likes to brag, and he's probably exaggerated or even lied about a few things. I get it… but I believe him when he says he served in the military." She glared at April for a moment. "I've seen his medals."
The others turned to stare at Tom, who chuckled nervously. "I, uh… left them back on the space station."
"I saw you showing them off in the mess hall a while ago," DeeDee explained. "You were sharing war stories with some of the other vets… my dad was an army vet too. He brought home a few medals for his service, and yours looked just as real as his…" She let out a soft giggle. "His stories were kind of like yours, too… maybe a little more realistic - but his friends told some pretty crazy stories of their own, so…" She shrugged, giving Tom a sweet, genuine smile. "I'm sure you've seen enough out there to know how to keep your crew safe."
Tom returned her thoughts with a weak smile. He looked down at the floor and ran his fingers through his dark brown hair.
As Baby gently let her go, April sighed and went back to her chair. "Well, that's just super…"
The assumed war hero smirked. "Jealous?"
"No, asshole," April spat. "We're tied - all six of us!"
Surprised, Tom scanned the room; everyone else seemed tired and disheartened as well. "Ooh… so, now what? Do we just go around again?"
Emmet peeked over his shoulder at the ASTRO unit. "We're running out of time," he reminded them. "If we don't pick someone, ASTRO will select a captain at random." He clasped his hands together. "Let's narrow it down to the two people who actually want the position and vote for one of them."
Tom crossed his arms and gave the scientist a respectful nod. "Alright."
April shrugged. "Sounds fair," she agreed, addressing each member of the group. "I take it Emmet is still voting for me… and DeeDee is still siding with Tom… Maegan, what do you think?"
Maegan folded her hands and closed her eyes. "I'm staying out of this."
Thomson groaned, slapping his palm against his forehead. "Oh my god, are you kidding me??"
Angelle took off her hat and pressed her fingers to her temple, aware that Baby was watching for another outburst. "This whole thing was your idea," she growled. "You can't just back out now…"
"I stand by my decision," Maegan answered, opening her eyes. "Truth be told, I can't bring myself to vote for either of you in good conscience. Tom, your egotism will do us more harm than good, and the last thing this crew needs is a captain more focused on his own glory than our survival. April, no one should be subjected to a leader who can't control their emotions and think clearly in the heat of conflict. Neither of you are ready for the responsibility of this position."
The candidates snubbed the elderly woman and soon turned their attention to the shy muscular man holding his teddy bear. "Uh…"
A sly grin crept along Tom's face. "Tiny," he addressed, "my good friend - remember how we helped each other in those first few days with the Astro-Citizen Program? You and I are practically brothers! Heck, I even recommended you as captain on this vessel." He gave his friend a knowing wink, adding, "Come on, help me out here."
The mechanic rolled her eyes. "He's not your friend, Baby," she pressed. "He can't even get your name right. Don't let this guy lay a trip on you… We need a captain who will think about the whole crew, not just himself. Just give me a chance…"
His eyes darting between the two crewmates as they vied for his favor, Baby gripped his arms and tried to stay calm. He kept thinking how his parents used to fight like this, with him stuck in the middle and pressured to do what they wanted. Haunted by their voices, he covered his ears and lowered his head. "Stop it, stop it!" he cried. "Leave me alone! I don't wanna do it! Don't make me do it, please!"
The would-be captains went quiet, surprised by Baby's outburst.
Concerned, Emmet crept towards his muscular crewmate. "What's wrong?"
Baby kept his head down and his eyes closed, curled into a semi-fetal position in his seat. "I don't wanna vote either," he mumbled. "I don't care who wins. I just wanna stay out of trouble… I don't wanna vote for the wrong person…"
Ellis knelt down in an attempt to meet Baby at eye level. "It's okay, man," he assured. "There's no real right or wrong answer here. Just pick whoever you want. No one's going to be mad at you."
DeeDee rose from her chair and walked over, placing a sympathetic hand on the gentle giant's shoulder. "Emmet's right," she agreed. "Tom and April would both make good captains. What really matters is that we have each other, and we're all going to work together and make it through this hairy mess as a team."
April gave her friend a warm smile. It was comforting to hear that DeeDee still thought she'd be a good leader.
As the quarreling voices in his head slowly faded, Baby opened his eyes and looked around the room. True to the scientist's word, no one was angry… their kindness and understanding were just as genuine as his own. He grinned and, since Emmet was the closest crewmate in range, pulled him in for a hug.
Gasping for breath at first, Emmet soon relaxed as Baby loosened his grip. "Glad you're feeling better," he remarked, "but we really do need to pick a captain before -"
"Time's up, Astro-Citizens!"
The crew turned their attention to the ASTRO unit. "Have you selected a captain per your flawed 'voting' system?"
Emmet let go of Baby and approached the monitor. "I'm afraid not," he sighed. "We have a tie between -"
"I knew it, I knew this would happen," ASTRO interrupted. "This is what I get for trusting humans to make important protocol decisions. Stand by while I make a random selection from your crew."
Everyone stood and crowded around the unit as its lights flashed and inner workings hummed for a few minutes. Tom and April were the most invested, but overall the group was anxious yet hopeful.
Finally, the AI's internal mechanics went quiet, and a tiny bell dinged to signify the completion of its task. "Congratulations, Captain Emmet Ellis! You have five minutes to prepare your opening speech."
Emmet felt his heart sink deep into the pit of his stomach. He sighed, looked over to the rest of the crew, and tapped his fingertips together. "So… I suppose that makes it official," he said, unsure of how to process his new position. "I'm, uh, looking forward to working with you, and… I hope -"
Tom coughed loudly, edging his way towards the door to the lower decks. "About time we got that worked out," he murmured, "but it's been a long day and I am beat."
Maegan glared at the evasive crewmate. "Tom…"
"Sleeping bunkers are downstairs," Thomson continued, one foot down the stairs already. "Three beds in each room - and the captain has a space all to himself."
DeeDee approached the doorway, peering down the dark corridor as their crewmate disappeared. "Tom!"
"Have a good night!"
April brushed past the others, heading for the door. "I'm hitting the rack too."
Flustered, Maegan raised a stern finger and followed her to the doorway. "Young lady! You come back here this instant!"
The mechanic proceeded down the stairwell without another word… but did briefly hold up her own finger in an obscene and defiant gesture.
"April!" DeeDee gasped, hurrying down the stairs after her.
Ellis looked away from the others, rubbing the back of his neck. Well, this is promising…
Baby jerked his thumb towards the door. "You want me to go after 'em, Cap?"
"No," Emmet sighed, "they're already angry; better not stir the pot… let's just get some rest."
As Emmet picked up his backpack and book from the floor, Maegan walked over and gently placed her hand on his arm. "Don't you worry about them," she reassured. "They'll come around soon enough… I'm sure you'll make a wonderful captain."
The scientist shrugged, turned to the doorway, and soberly descended the stairs…
Some hours had passed. Emmet laid back on his bed and stared up at the ceiling of his room. There was also a desk with a computer, a rectangular window, a storage bin for his belongings, and an empty closet. Another ASTRO unit was mounted on the wall by the door, and a hatch on the ceiling led to the cockpit upstairs.
"Something wrong, Captain Ellis?"
Emmet groaned and turned onto his side. "I'm not ready for this…"
The lights on ASTRO's monitor flashed for a moment. "Perhaps you should consider taking your own advice," he suggested, then played a recording of a familiar voice:
"None of us are really trained for this. It's okay to feel a little unsure… it just means you're human. I think all we'd really ask of anyone is that they try their best, so… don't worry about not being perfect."
Puzzled, Emmet sat up on the bed. "I thought you switched yourself off while we were talking," he queried. "Were you listening the whole time?"
"It's a curse, really," ASTRO replied. "I'm programmed to record everything that happens on this ship. Just because I'm not talking doesn't mean I'm not aware of whatever you say and do… Oh, and don't think I have any inappropriate investment in your activities. I'm an AI; my motives are as dictated by protocol and nothing else."
Curious, Ellis stood and approached the wall unit. "So, let me ask you… does protocol allow the crew to make decisions that would interfere with Astro-Citizen guidelines?"
ASTRO paused, processing the question through his data-bank. "In what way?"
"You're programmed to choose a captain for this ship," Emmet pointed out. "Would you have allowed us to vote for one, knowing that we could have made a poor decision? And if not, why did you give us the option?"
The AI said nothing.
The scientist raised a dubious eyebrow. "Are you able to make an authentic random selection from the crew?"
"Of course," ASTRO answered. "Protocol dictates that if a captain is no longer able to perform their duties, and a fellow crewmate has not been selected beforehand, I am programmed to assign a new captain at random to fulfill Astro-Citizen Command guidelines."
Emmet glanced aside and rubbed his chin in thought for a moment. Maybe I'm not asking the right question… "Did you choose me at random?"
Once again, the room went quiet.
His suspicions seemingly confirmed, Emmet stared at the AI's wall unit and crossed his arms. "ASTRO?"
As another moment of silence passed, ASTRO finally responded, "I may be programmed to select a captain at random - but only as a last resort or in a moment of crisis. However, crewmate Mann's suggestion gave me the opportunity to select the most capable person for the position. Likewise, her assessment of your abilities was quite accurate, and appointing anyone else would include risk factors associated with age, impotence, or inexperience. Frankly, Captain Ellis, you are the most qualified of your crew."
Emmet let out a defeated sigh. "So you're the reason half the crew hates me?"
"Nonsense - only a third of the crew hates you," ASTRO corrected. "At any rate, I was going over each of your personnel files, and yours mentioned that you joined the Astro-Citizen Program seeking some well-earned recognition and respect."
Ellis closed his eyes in an attempt to curb his frustration. "Not exactly what I had in mind," he murmured. "I'm a scientist - I wanted credit for my research, not any real authority over anyone!"
"There's no reason why you can't still dabble in your scientific ventures," ASTRO posited. "It won't be the first time you've had to balance your aspirations with your duties in a leadership position."
The scientist furrowed his brow. "Teaching basic chemical compounds to preteens has not in any way prepared me for this scene."
An amused chortle escaped the AI. "I wouldn't know about that… you seemed to handle the crew's petty squabbling rather well."
His frustration reaching its boiling point, Emmet snapped, "I was nearly pummeled by a man three times my size, and our two most volatile crewmates want to kick my ass! Our actual captain is dead, and I can't get his horrified face or screaming out of my head! Oh, and I'm not sure if you noticed, but we almost died in a nuclear explosion in the vacuum of space! I am so glad that you're programmed to find this funny!"
ASTRO went quiet for a moment, the tiny yellow light on his monitor glowing steadily.
Emmet sighed and turned away from the wall unit. "Sorry about that," he murmured. "It just hasn't been a good day, you know?"
"Understood," ASTRO meekly responded. "Perhaps some calming music might help?"
Captain Ellis shrugged and went back to his bed. "Sure, why not?"
As Emmet laid back down, the sound of soft violins filled his bedroom. He found himself staring up at the ceiling again, listening to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Judy Garland as his thoughts drifted to the things he missed about Earth. I wonder if we'll ever see it again… if we can ever go back…