AlexMcGilvery Array - Nano Bytes

Cedric laughed. It was hollow and bitter and it made me cringe. He turned around and walked back to the control room. I followed him and stood next to the desk. «See that?» he pointed to one of the screens. I saw Earth, turning slowly. «That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. They chose me to protect it. If we stayed on Earth, we would've let it burn. We would've burned it for the heat it produced and at the same time poisoned ourselves with the fumes. We would've eradicated everything so that we would be the last to go… And then we would go. We would go so horribly, suffering right up until the last minute, desperately trying to catch onto some form of hope. And the last people would've died on the empty planet that could have been so full of life.»

Cedric turned to me, his dark eyes glittering.

«They chose me to protect Earth, all the animals and the plants and the water and the rocks, and they chose the right person to do it, because I will sacrifice," he was still staring at me, «anything for that planet. They didn't put much effort into appearances for the first leavings. This one, however, OH, you know us humans. We want to go out with a bang. You want to know where the first Leavings went? Here, boy, I'll show you firsthand.»

There was a moment of calm and then there was chaos. I saw him lunge towards me, stretching his hands out. I grabbed for the half–empty glass bottle on the table and swung it through the air. He was staring a bit to my left, a manic smile on his face. My hands were clenched around the bottle neck and I saw his head snap to the side a split second before I heard the smash. The cold glow from the screens made the glass shine blue as it scattered in the air and droplets of red accompanied it. I closed my eyes as a thump sounded, the sound of a body hitting a metal surface. Exhaustion ran through me as breaths tore in and out of my chest. I opened my eyes and saw what he had been aiming for.

A large button stood out obnoxiously on the plain metal surface, small white lettering printed neatly on the black plastic. A key stood upright, stabbed into the keyhole that opened the covering of the button. The lettering read, 'Self Destruct.» I turned my head and almost looked at the heap on the floor. I couldn't. The air smelled like copper and salt. I believed him. Just like that, everything went dull and I was numb. The room was blurry. My hands were blurry. I wasn't aware of the piece of glass still held in my pressure–whitened grasp. My chest lifted up and down and I shook. I didn't notice the irony, that I was in the same condition in which he had been when I first entered the room. We had nowhere, we had nothing. My future was replaced by a black hole, a void, and I stood and tried to comprehend the mass of emotion that everyone on this ship would never feel. I realised that my mother and father were gone. Floating in space.

I closed my eyes. I was alone. I didn't allow myself to sink to the floor and cry. I had too much adrenaline. He had been about to kill us all. And now I was about to do the same thing. His speech made far too much sense and I knew that I had to do it, and I wished for the human in me to go away so that I could be a robot and be strong enough not to weep when I did it. I stepped forward and placed my hands on the metal surface near the button. I leaned on it, head bent over. Get this over with before you chicken out. The black button stared at me like Cedric's eyes, intimidating. I moved my hand above it, and in a small, crisp movement, I pressed downwards.

As the sound of destruction ripped and tore and sliced through the air, I thought of Europa, our haven.

Europa by ELImstsuj is the winner of Challenge 6 on the ScienceFiction profile.

«Are you hurt, Bradford Thomas?»

«No, but it’s a mess back here. That was a nasty crash. What the hell happened during re–entry?»

«Mechanical error.»

«Doesn’t surprise me with the tin can they gave us. Why’d you take so long to answer, Ecks? You hurt?»

«Not hurt.»

«Good. Let me check the supplies, clean up a bit, and then I’ll come up and join you.»

«No, Bradford Thomas. Much damage.»

«No shit. My head still hurts from the impact. Maybe I can help.»

«Dangerous. Stay, Bradford Thomas.»

«Is it hull damage? Should I suit up?

«Fixable.»

«Well, that’s good, because I just realized the suits are up with you.»

«Stay.»

«Sounds like a plan. Are you sure you’re not hurt? Your voice is a little raspy.»

«Not hurt.»

«Okay. I’ll get everything in order down here and check back in a bit.»

«Ecks, you there?»

«Busy.»

«No problem. Just wanted to let you know that things are cleaned up and stable down here.»

«Good.»

«Should I still stay put?»

«Stay.»

«Ecks, I may be hurt more than I thought. I’m feeling a little woozy.»

«You there, Ecks?»

«Busy.»

«Something isn’t right. I feel light–headed.»

«Stay.»

«I didn’t say I was coming, dammit. I just said I’m a little dizzy. Maybe I hit my head.»

«Fixable.»

«What are you talking about? I said I think I may have hit my head.»

«Stay. Sit.»

«I am sitting. Got any other genius advice?»

«Ecks, I think I blacked out there for a bit. Do you know what’s happening?»

«Air unit damaged. Fixable.»

«Oh God. No wonder I can barely stand. I’m suffocating, Ecks. You have to fix this now!»

«Fixable. Will direct air to Bradford Thomas.»

«You were keeping the air for yourself? You bastard. Send it to me!»

«Not much.»

«I don’t care. Send it all to me. I’m dying!»

«You locked the door on me, you alien bastard? Don’t deny it. You are locking me in here so that you can have all the air! Dammit. I told them this would happen. Put me on a ship with a cockroach pilot? Sure, first thing he’ll do is stab me in the back. You hear that, Ecks? I’m going to get through the door, and then we’ll see who has all the air.»

«No break door. Fixable. Bradford Thomas has air.»

«Screw you! I don’t have crap. I can barely stand. You have so much air I can hear you coughing on it. Let me out!»

«Wait, Bradford Thomas.»

«Ecks. I can’t move. I’m dying.»

«I’m not breathing as hard. Did you fix it?»

«Not fixed. Gave all air.»

«I wish you would have done that before. It’s not like we can save it. It recycles, you know?»

«Yes.»

«Sorry. I still can’t stand, and I have a headache.»

«Are you there, Ecks?»

«Here.»

«Almost done?»

«Soon. Fixed.»

«You don’t sound too good.»

«Not hurt.»

«I’m not sure I believe you, buddy.»

«Rest, Bradford Thomas. Fixable.»

«You did it! I just heard the fans hit, and the air is blowing hard. God, I never thought I’d love the taste of filtered air this much.»

«Still have a headache, though.»

«Ecks, you there? Look, I understand if you’re mad. I was out of line. It’s just that I wasn’t thinking clearly. Not enough oxygen makes you paranoid. So unlock the door, and let’s be friends again.»

«Damn, I didn’t know aliens could pout. I get it. You saved our lives, and I said some things I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I still have a headache. Oh, and I’m guessing a rescue ship is, what, six hours out? When it gets here, I’ll recommend you for a commendation or whatever they give you guys.»