“Nothing good,” Clayton states.
Matthias swipes over the data pad once more.
“Wait. There’s more.”
We all pause, waiting with bated breath as a delicate voice whispers against the static.
“Give it here. I can make it louder.” Matherson snatches it from his hands, tapping across the screen. “There.”
“...is gone. I repeat. Do not look for us. Do not come for us. It’s not safe….THIS IS A RECORDED MESSAGE. MESSAGE HAS BEEN SET TO REPEAT. MESSAGE DATE 21/05/2027. MESSAGE WILL NOW REPEAT.”
I look down at my watch, the large hour hand ticking past the date in the background. Today is the 6th of April. 2025. “We left Earth days ago…” I breathe out. “How…?”
“Tiangong station must have arrived here before us,” Aiko answers calmly. I feel anything but calm.
“Long before us.” Matze’s mouth drops open. The whole crew stares in horror at the datapad.
“Two fucking years?” Yuri’s brows furrow. “Doing what?”
“Waiting. Surviving.” Pesquet offers.
“Pfft. Not well.” Yuri scoffs, directing our attention back to the grainy image of the station. A single light flashes orange on the far left airlock door.
“How is this possible?” Matherson asks, tapping the datapad again.
The message repeats in Chinese.
“It’s not,” Clayton assures, resting one palm on Matherson’s shoulder.
“It most assuredly is.” Reiter pipes up, a look of delight alighting his usually shrewd features. He immediately turns to Matthias. “I knew it”.
“Come now, Artur, this is hardly conclusive proof.” Matthias retorts.
He thrusts his finger in Matthias’ face. “Mark my words.”
“It is what we all have been thinking.” Reiter reaches for his datapad. “This is proof.”
“Proof of what?” Matherson asks.
“Time dilation.Natürlich.”
Clayton pats Matthias’ back. “How does that help us get back?”
“It doesn’t.” He sighs.
Clayton nods at me. “Without a better idea, I guess we’ll be taking thelong way home.”
???
The crew with return in
BLOOD IN THE AIR
Readon for a preview
CALLIE
CHAPTER ONE
