“A giant red star. Larger than our sun.”
The rays are bright enough to tinge the planets and the Station in a crimson smear. The brilliant light is blinding, even despite the UV filters of my visor.
Slowly, my eyes adjust.
Its crimson body ebbs and flows as energy ripples out before splashing back in on itself.
Besides the Red Giant, small streams of flux tether it to a smaller body. A gleaming white pearl against the backdrop of night.
“A binary system.”
“Wow. Sisters.” Yuri laughs.
We must be the first humans to see such a sight.
I jolt, feeling a bump against my shoulder. “We definitely not in Kentucky no more,” Yuri says.
“Kansas.” Clayton’s deep voice mingles with static on the comms.
“Earth gone. Sister suns. Who gives a fuck?
“Kansans?” I offer. Coughing, I attempt to clear my dry throat. “Our main focus is still getting Alex out of there.”
“Head home. We can do some more sightseeing later.” Clayton adds.
I turn to my now silent companion, a rare occurrence for Yuri.
He nods, “Let’s go save yourgirlfriend.”
“Mywife.”
ALEX
CHAPTER TWELVE
A faint vibration through the wall echoes overloud in the quiet of the Columbus module. I open my resting eyes. All appears the same.
Chelenko is asleep or unconscious. I choose to believe it’s sleep.
Mathias is working away, judging by the muted sounds of tapping I can hear from behind the still sealed doorway behind me.
“Scheisse.”
“Matze?”
“Guess your boyfriend took his little spacewalk after all.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” I pause, listening for the vibration again. “Luca is outside?”
I move towards the damaged panel at the far side, wishing the Columbus Module had a window so I could see what is happening out there. I rest my head againstthe wall, the metal ice cold against my ear. Nothing but a muffled vibration that could be drilling or even welding.
My comms line crackles.“Knock, knock.”Yuri laughs.
“Alex?” A voice calls.
“Luca?” I say, “Are you outside?”
“Si, Fiore. How are you?” He replies.
