Shallow Space

Greedy and Scared (#3)

My name is Collins Faraday. It has been some time since i made an audio log. About 370 days since we landed here as settlers. Things didn't turn out so well for us. Our first casualty was Sarah, a high ranking pilot. And as weeks passed and the rains started. Corroding everything our bots built on the surface.And then even the bots. We were forced to live underground, and scrap for resources. Project Underworld. Maybe not as desirable as our contractors planned, but it was something. So naturally, our contractors pulled out before we had the chance to be self sufficient. Such is greed. Stranding 100 settlers for a few bucks. Man at its worse. Im only making this log out of solidarity. Our power will run out in days. This is the last message from GammaEpilen-2a. We did our best, and It wasn't enough. If we knew that we would pay with our lifes for it. "Everything is planned out, and will be smooth sailing" said to me some executive name Rogers before I gave my signature as a sign me up. I don't know how this was even legal? People are smarter than sending Countil Renoved staff, pilots and settlers to die on planets like this. Is there something i don't see? No. No matter. There is only a few of us left. Some killed themself because "we all will die here". A few, still hopeful that there is a rescue ship or resources. I don't belive fairy tales. With the ammount of acid rain, im suprised the other layers of the underworld is still intact. With the seismic activity we recorded, a few earthquakes will flat out this undercity. And we haven't talked about the creatures here. GammaEpilen-2a is not habitable, and should never be concidered as such. We have given up.

I clicked the voice recording. Sending it to the council.

-Have you done it? - asked Jefrey

-Yes. It will reach home in a year.

- We are all going to die someday. Does it really matter where and when?

- It does. I'll never though I'd leave my family to die in a shithole like this.

- My Pa was just like you are now. He ended up dying on his own terms. He sailed to a sandy islands. Years later, that island became so green and full of life,flowers and beauty

- May god save us.

- Im sure he will. - He smiled. Which bothered me.

I ran down from the communications center to the power station.

- Im really busy - She said, rustleing with some bolts and tightening a few screws on this giant machine

- Leah, One question.

- Speak - She exclaimed as bits of sparks started flying from the machine she was working on.

- How much time do we have power-wise?

- I estimate days. Well, at least a week and a half if this works. I connected the rocket's fuel tank to the emergency generator. Its unstable and needs constant care, but it may just work for a bit.

I had enough of this uncertanty. I stepped out fron the power station and took a deep breath. And slowly walked to the clinic.

- Natasha. Hi.

- Im running low on everything. Do you need anything Cal?

- Col. Im Collins.

- Oh, sorry.

I grabbed a tray from the drawer that was closest to the door and based the camera above the door.

- What are you doing?

- You, me talk now. - I walked up to her, she took a step back

- Im not here to hurt you. Bring me to the medpods.

She was shook, who wouldn't be. This situation have already been a lot to handle for everyone. A lot of her friends killed themselfs. She cautiously opened the door behind her, not looking away from a single second from me. I followed her down the stairs.

- What do you really want? - she asked, her eyes wide and teary

- Im really sorry for this.

I pulled out my gun, and shot her in her lower torso.

- Where are the cryopods?

She was silent. Bleeding and slipping out of contiousness. But she pointed at the back of the room towards a few carp-covered caskets. So naturally, i walked towards her. Hugged her deeply and waiter for her to bleed out. When she finally did, I leaned her against the medpod. But its perfect. I dropped the gun next to where her bloodtrail started. It looks like she wanted to kill herself, shot herself in the lower chest, threw away the gun, and decided in her last moments against it and crawled next to the medpod.

Saying a last prayer, I opened a cryptosleep casket. Without setting a date, this is the same as suicide. But I heared the Backup powerline jolting and losing power. Days left on it? I don't think so. And so, I drifted off to cryptosleep, with the last though being that Im a murderer. A fitting ending for a spy who's goal was the sabotage the viability of this colony. Which was easy as head of communications. Now I only wish that my family will no longer struggle financially due to my sacrafice.

And then, nothing.
Nobody woke me up.
I never knew if my wife got the money I earned for her.
But she never had to learn what horrible things i had to do for her.