An Un-singed Flower

Chapter 4 - Glasses

"Ben we need you back inside!" Reed yells through the radio.

Ben glances back at the shuttle, "I ain't done arranging your flowers, egghead."

"Ben.. turn around." Janey mumbles, Ben sees Johnny pointing behind him. Ben turns to see the cosmic storm, rumbling towards the station. Not close, but not far, and this get's Ben's attention.

"Roger that, I'm on my way." He turns back towards the ship, the storm growing closer.

''''''

Victor rushes into the room, looks at the monitors. Sees the others near the airlock on one screen, and the approaching cloud on another. Anxiety creeps across his face.

"Event threshold in two minutes." The automatic voice tells him.

''''''

Reed, Janey, and Johnny stand by the airlock, waiting for Ben. Each of them hear the automatic voice, sending worry and panic in the two siblings.

"Come on Ben, come one.. please." Janey begs, her hands pressed against the window.

"Reed, we're running out of time." Victor's voice echoes over the radio.

A turbulence of clouds hit Ben, making it harder to maneuver, as the cloud's tendrils snake towards him.

They can all see Ben outside the window, still twenty yards away. The entire hallway quakes, the lights flickering on and off, Janey stares at Ben in worry, helplessly.

''''''

Sue stares at the monitor, also helpless, "Reed.... Johnny... Janey...." Victor, annoyed by the indecisiveness, marches right up to Sue. Practically shoves her aside as he hits the intercom.

"Reed, you need to get up here so we can close the shields! Now!" Sue glares at him, his lack of compassion shocking her.

"Not until Ben is back inside!", but instead of Reed's voice through the intercom, Janey's yells through.

"It's too late for him, and soon it'll be too late for all of us." Victor doesn't even bother waiting for a response, he takes over the console punching keys.

"What are you doing?" Sue demands.

"Raising the shields."

"You can't leave them out there!", Sue snaps. She glares with as much contempt as her face can muster.

"Watch me. Reed had his chance. You can't help them any more than I can."

She takes a step towards the door, quite unsure what to do, "I can try!" With one final glare she bolts from the room.

'''''

"Victor's right, Johnny, Janey, get to the command center. Close the shields." Reed commands.

"What about you?" Janey questions, grabbing Johnny's hand so he doesn't move. One look from Reed and they could tell that he won't leave without Ben. Johnny eyes Ben, steels his courage. Janey stood, not moving.

"Come on big guy, you can do it!", Janey was surprised by Johnny's voice encouraging Ben to continue.

The exterior air lock door slides open. In agonizing, weightless slow motion Ben reaches to haul himself inside. The leading edge of the cloud hits: Ben is pelted by a hissing mass of space dust, splattering his suit with orange stains. Larger particles, small pellets, pepper him. Ben hauls himself in the last few feet by pulling on his tether.

Johnny punches controls to close the exterior airlock door. Reed opens a first aid kit, grabs a thermo-elastic blanket. Janey, hugging Ben tight.

Sue rounds a corner, seeing the four. "Johnny! Reed! Janey! Ben!"