Another Life (Oc x reader)

Chapter 72 - Interview

Dillon, Jason, Bernie get together in the breakfast room where they are still being kept against their wishes. Dillon complains about USIC's new reintegration procedure. Jason tells them that they need to make it through the interviews they have to do. Zayn seems distracted, but says he's fine.

...

Ethan wakes up from a deep whooshing sound. He leans up in bed and looks at the door. "Yn? Richard?" Hearing nothing more, he lays back down and fall asleep again.

...

Mackenzie tells Erik that Ethan has been more than a competent Commander, until they encountered a magnetar. She mentions that Javier was left brain-dead after an unnecessary medical procedure. Erik defend his brother, reminding them that he was on the Achaian ring while that happened. They know, but say that Ethan hardly mention the injuries in his mission report.

They tell him they know the crew aren't telling them the truth. They ask him to do the interview, hoping they will be more open to the brother of their Commander. Erik refuses to do.

Seth asks Mackenzie for a moment alone with Erik. He tells Erik that he gets that he wants to be loyal to Ethan, but they are using him because they need to know what happened around the magnetar. He also insinuates that he can get the information by other means but doesn't want to resort to that.

...

Erik walks into the interrogation room, where Jason is already sitting. He tells him that he'll be conducting the interviews. He then asks why Javier came home brain dead. Dillon says that it was Sasha and his Achaian implant's fault. Zayn says that he took a chance with the surgery, which worked until they encountered the magnetar. Bernie says that while the implant was protecting Javier, it was being destroyed faster than it could be repaired.

Jason explains that the others didn't leave the magnetar because both Ethan and himself were still on the Achaian ring. The others thought it would be best to remove Javier's implant since it was deteriorating. Zayn says that they were not able to determine anything.

Erik says it doesn't make sense and he knows that something happened around that magnetar. He tells Jason that all he wants is to complete Ethan's mission by answering the questions. Jason tells him that they have all made sacrifices and asks to be excused.

...

Ethan wakes up and gets up from bed. Getting out into the corridor he meets Richard.

"Hey, why don't you get some sleep?"

"I will, I just.. last night was too much wine and I spoke out of turn."

"No. I asked what you thought, and you told me. Last thing I want is for you to censor yourself. So how did last night go?"

"No issues. Smooth sailing."

"Really? I thought when you stopped by my quarters that something had gone wrong."

"I wasn't near your quarters."

"But I saw you outside my door."

"And I'm telling you, it wasn't me. Maybe it was Yn?

He scoffs. "It definitely wasn't her. She's a hormonal freak show right now."

Richard frowns at him. "Geez. What happened with you two?"

Ethan just grumbles to himself as they walk.

"Ethan, Richard, come to the observation deck, please." You tell them through the speakers.

They get into the observation deck.

"You were outside my room then." Ethan points at you.

You frown at him. "No. Why?"

"I saw you."

You roll your eyes and shrug. "Maybe you dreamt it."

"I was-I was awake."

"Yeah, with a bottle and a half of wine in you."

He glares at you. "I wasn't the only one drinking last night."

"So, what? I was walking in my sleep?"

"I don't know. Maybe you were, Yn." He says walking past you to look at what you have pulled up on the screen.

You glare at the back of his head.

Ethan frowns at the screen. "That doesn't make any sense."

"Is there a problem?" Richard asks you.

"Our ETA jumped from ten days to 23." You tell them.

"Our oxygen supplies are insufficient."

"How did I screw that up? I mean, the sail is intact. My calculations were airtight." Ethan says and go to your workstation. "The only thing that would make any sense is if the.. laser output is diminished." He sighs.

"Okay. So we just pump them back up." Richard says.

"We don't have the power supply." Ethan tells him.

"Ethan-"

Ethan interrupts Richard by holding his hand up. "Richard, if you are about to say 'I told you so'. I can't."

"I'm not. Please, just listen.."

Ethan sighs and lean on the table.

"We do have enough oxygen."

"How?" You ask.

"If there's only two of us breathing."

Your eyes widen. "No."

"The fact this tin can's still moving is entirely because of you two." He tells you, then look at Ethan. "Ethan, you have a family. A niece and brother that needs you."

"Then it should be me." You say. "I don't have any family left. No one waiting for me. You're not doing this Richard."

He shakes his head. Ethan is just silently leaning on the table, looking thoughtful.

Richard turns to him. "All you have to do is open up an airlock with me in front of it and.. all your problems, solved."

Ethan doesn't say anything. You both look at him. He starts to lean harder against the table, then he starts to push it. You frown as he uses all his force against the table. He stops and turn to Richard.

"Get off your ass and help me push." He tells him and keeps pushing on the table

"Why?"

"Just grab this end."

"Why?"

"Richard, stop wasting oxygen and just help me!" He shouts at him.

Richard goes to the table and starts pushing. They get the table loose and the heavy table breaks apart from the floor and falls over. You back away from the electricity clattering with a confused frown. You and Richard look at Ethan confused.

"Trust me. I got a plan."

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