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Blip C has been detected. Blip D has been detected.
The Hail Mary’s automated voice echoed as you hurried around the metallic testament to science.
At first the large vessel had felt intimidating to move through, but living on the ship had attuned you to the constant hum of machinery.
All of the various nooks and crannies were beginning to feel like home.
Usually, you could even forget where you were, but it was too hard to focus with a certain crew mate trailing behind you.
“Hey, I’m uh begging you not to do this. Please.”
“I have no choice in the matter.”
“Oh, yes you do. I can think of several other rational choices you have. Want me to list them?”
“Grace, this is literally what I was trained to do. Besides, we've already agreed we need to take action."
“You were trained to do a spacewalk to retrieve some kind of flying alien tech that might kill you? What page is that in the ship's handbook?”
You stopped walking and turned to look at him with a heavy sigh.
Ryland moved to stand closer to you in response and towered over you as he went on about reasons why you shouldn't do this. He might've seemed intimidating if not for his panicked demeanor and overall soft nature.
You could never forgive your genetics for allowing him to be taller than you.
"Hey, are you listening to me? I'm trying to get through to you. This is a bad idea!"
Ryland’s foot tapped on the ground repeatedly while he chewed on his pink bottom lip. The glasses placed precariously on the edge of his nose couldn’t conceal the worry that burned in those blue eyes.
Your gaze dropped to the cold floor, fingers wrung together as you took a step back.
“It could be critical to our mission of saving all life on Earth. My safety is not relevant here – only the mission.”
Ryland let out a breathless huff and threw his hands in the air before storming off.
Every step seemed to smack against the ship's metal flooring until only silence was left.
You shook your head, eyes closing as you tried to forget the pained – almost betrayed look on his face.
You hadn't meant to hurt him or make this situation worse.
Ever since the alien vessel had started following the Hail Mary, his demeanor had completely changed.
Grace wouldn't leave you alone. He was either hovering over you or pacing the ship with anxious muttering.
And he seemed to need to touch you every other minute whether it was brushing his arm against yours or leaning against you.
He would catch himself almost instantly though and mutter an apology.
The logical part of your brain said your crew member was just anxious whilst the other found his touch safe — comforting.
Still, you didn't follow him. There was no more time to delay.
You headed towards the equipment bay that held the space gear and kept your gaze averted from the massive window on the rear wall.
Whatever was outside the ship made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It appeared otherworldly and was the last thing you had expected to see on this mission.
Now it was hurtling foreign objects at the Hail Mary. The speed of its movement was unsettling, and you had no idea what lurked inside.
It caused a tightness in your chest and a quickening of your heartbeat.
You didn't want to go out into space, but you had to. For the sake of the mission and that neurotic crew member of yours.
Shuffling into your red space suit, you carefully donned it layer by layer before starting status checks. It was critical to make sure everything was properly in place as the slightest error could be fatal in space.
Thankfully, you had done a million mock check ups before and each step had been drilled into your mind.
“All systems are nominal, I'm good to go,” you whispered to yourself.
If only you could feel that way inside.
Taking a deep breath, you picked up your shiny red helmet and prepared yourself to step out to the airlock.
It was time.
Or it would have been if Ryland hadn't picked that moment to come running around the corner.
He looked even more frantic than before and was already muttering to himself before his eyes locked with yours.
Something about actually seeing you prepared to venture into space seemed to set him off and he began to ramble.
“Listen, I’ve run the numbers and statistically the odds of this ending in total disaster are uh high. Plus, procedurally the safety of the crew is the highest priority and this anomaly is too unpredictable–”
“Grace!”
Ryland’s eyes widened and he stopped speaking mid-sentence at your interruption.
Truthfully, the outburst wasn't like you, but he had to stop. If Ryland went on for any longer… he might just convince you with his logic.
You couldn't allow that.
“I know you're worried. I know you're scared, but I must do this.” Your voice brimmed with confidence, but slowly faltered. “Don't you believe in me?”
Ryland’s fists balled at his sides as he shook his head.
“You know I do. I saw the rigorous training Stratt put you through.”
“Exactly. So I know you care about me as a crewmate, but you must put the mission first.”
“No, you don't understand. I-If you do this and something happens to you… something hurts you. It's just us together in this void.”
It touched your heart that he cared so much, but you had to keep him focused.
“Nobody else survived the journey, Grace. Who else can do this?”
Ryland ran a hand through his mop of dirty blonde hair, his eyes opening and closing in thought.
You could almost hear the gears in his brain turning.
Until, finally his eyes lit up and he put a hand over his chest.
“I can.”
You blinked.
“What?”
“I'd rather risk my life getting the damn blip than have you do it.”
You gasped in disbelief.
“Grace, you are literally the brains of this mission. Stopping astrophage from destroying our planet and what we must find here… It would make no sense to send you out there over me.”
“You're saying you're not as important as me?”
I'm saying that you are everything to me.
Was what you wanted to say, but instead you kept it mission oriented.
“Please, you are paramount to the mission. I can't prioritize my safety over yours, I can't even fathom that.”
Ryland’s shoulders hunched at that, the corners of his lips turning downward.
He took a deep breath before moving closer to you and taking the helmet out of your hands.
“Don't you understand? You must realize this is about more than you being my crewmate, you must've noticed the way I looked at you back on Earth right?”
Butterflies erupted in your stomach as heat flared beneath your cheeks. Only Ryland Grace would think right now was an appropriate time to make this confession.
Yes, you had noticed the lingering gazes and the way he seemed to forget how to function when you walked into a room.
You had also been strictly warned by Stratt not to be a distraction to the guy who might save the world.
“Grace, don't.”
But he couldn't stop.
Ryland placed both hands on your shoulders, imploring you to look into his endless blue eyes.
“I can't stand the thought of being on this dead-end ship without you. Not because you're my crewmate, but because of how I feel about you. It might not be logical, but it is true."
You tried hard to etch this moment into your brain, memorizing the curve of his lips to the desperation in his eyes.
He was devastatingly handsome.
“But, I’m not going to be able to change your mind, am I?”
“You were sent on this mission because everyone in the world is counting on you to save them. I was sent to help you do that."
“Can't we say screw the world?"
“Definitely not in the mission objectives.”
Ryland opened his mouth, no doubt having already thought of a rebuttal.
You decided a kiss sounded better. You could at least screw Stratt’s warnings.
The meeting of your lips was soft, but firm as you reveled in his presence. He tasted sweet – like vanilla that you could drink on.
The stiff suit prevented you from getting any closer to him, but there would be a next time.
And after weeks of being trapped in confined living quarters the amount of tension one kiss released was palpable.
This was only the beginning and you didn't want it to end.
Touching him set your skin ablaze like a solar flare that threatened to consume you.
But you had to be strong.
Ryland was caught off guard which allowed you to dominate the kiss before quickly ending it.
You didn't miss a beat as you pushed him back before bending down to grab your helmet.
He called out for you, but it was too late.
You stepped out into the airlock and secured your helmet into place.
The door shut behind you with a finality that echoed through the ship and Ryland’s heart.
The Hail Mary started the depressurization process with a loud humming. The ship came to life as you issued orders and let your training take over.
Ryland began yelling behind you, banging on the door and demanding you to stop.
“No! Don't do this!”
It was hard to ignore his pleading, but you forced yourself to ignore it.
Something about him made you think of a bright future of possibilities despite the vast space that surrounded you.
You would choose to let that feeling help you find a way to save the planet.
And maybe the two of you as well.
You did one final check to make sure systems were perfect before setting up the tether and finally opening the airlock.
It was time to see what this alien ship wanted so bad.
Once you got back on the ship, you would talk to Ryland about all these feelings. You could figure it all out and complete the mission.
You would see him again.
With that thought you stepped into the endless darkness.