The human torch's flame

Chapter 5

"Hello Susan. Do you know where Reed is?" You asked as you arrived in the lab.

"He's in the next room over, I think." Susan answered without looking up from her book. You would think if you were in space you would be looking at everything on the outside rather than read a book. But she seemed to be so hooked to the book she didn't even look up when I left the room.

"Hey Reed. Where are the statistics you showed. For the storm, that is."

Reed's eyes lit up. A smile crossed his face as he reached for a blue folder under his computer. He opened the folder and took out a sheet of paper with coffee stains on it. He scowled. Obviously not happy with the state of the paper. He stood up and gave it to you.

"Here are my calculations." You skimmed the paper. Your eyes racing across statistics and calculations. Then your eyes fell upon something.

"That can't be right. See this." You pointed around the middle of the second page. Reed looked at you confused. He looked at the string of numbers that would mean nothing to the average human brain. But then the average human brain would not be able to go in space.

"Do you mind if I borrow this to make some calculations. It might be nothing. I'll just check."

Reed looked at you, slightly worried then said: "Warn me if it's something."

"I will. I'll land us on the platform." You said, Reed nodded. You examined the sheet of paper as you made your way past the laboratory. Victor was in the corridor. You would have attempted to walk past him without talking, unfortunately he was blocking your path.

"(y/n)?" Victor asked

"Yes." You said coldly, clearly showing you were not enjoying your little talks. But you liked them much better when you had a knife in your sleeve. 

"I was hoping you could get Johnny to stay put. To occupy him. I'm going to talk to his sister and I would rather not be interrupted."

"I am not making an promises but I will do it."

Victor walked off without so much as a thank you. You just wanted to walk back there and punch him in the jaw but it might not be a good idea to punch your boss. You hadn't realised you had crumpled the sheet of paper before you calmed down. You evened it out and left for the pilot room. You closed the door behind you by pressing once again on the button. 

"Anything happened when I was gone?"

"I avoided space debris but nothing important." Johnny said from his seat.

You took a place next to him and took a pen out of a draw and started calculating.

"What are you doing?"

"I think Reed made a fake assumption. I am trying to see if I am right."

"Come on, I thought you were cool."

"So it's cool to get blasted into pieces by a storm?" You lifted your head and Johnny shook his. "I thought so..."

"We're getting near the platform. We need two pilots. Help me, beautiful?"

You nodded, ignoring his new found nick name for you. Although a warm sensation did spread through your body as you were complimented. Then you remember you were wearing a skin-tight  suit and V neck. Of course Johnny would compliment you. I mean you were showing so much curves, if Johnny would not have commented on it the sun would stop burning in a second.

You placed the paper to the side. And opened the microphone.

"Guys, We're about to cling on to the platform so please cling on to something."

You attached your seatbelt and a click signalled Johnny did the same. Johnny actually started piloting probably because he had to. A few switches and two levers after, you were locked on to the platform. Then something happened. The ship groaned. You suddenly realised the fourth doors wasn't on the right mode for log in. Something you should have done before.

You gave Johnny a worried look but before he could stop you. You unhooked your seat belt and stood up. Immediately, the force of the shuttle drifted you across the room. 

You slid and almost fell but by some miracle you stayed on your feet. You lifted your hand and just managed to open a panel. The force of the shuttle forced your hand to dig unto the panel. A trickle of blood slipped through your fingers. 

You quickly pressed the button '4th door'. The ship stopped groaning and you were pulled back and fell on the ground.  

Johnny stood up and helped you to your feet. He didn't let go of your hands once you were standing. His eyes were on yours and didn't budge. You pulled your hand away and wiped the blood on your jacket. 

"You're bleeding." He noted.

You smiled: "Well, thanks genius."

"You should ask Reed to check your hand out."

"It's a cut. Do you thing my immune system can't handle a cut? I mean, this whole space has been sterilised and it's not like I can't put a bandage on myself." You said as you bit your lip.

He shrugged. You stepped towards and pressed a few buttons, putting the ship on lock down.  You walked past him ready to head on the platform when a hand wrapped around your arm. You turned to see Johnny. He had a puzzled look on his face.

"Look, I don't know what I did to offend you but I really don't understand why you hate me so much."

The question took you aback. You slowly unwrapped his hand around your arm and said: "I don't hate you. It's just that I'm not that into you. I don't like being a fling. And that's what you are trying to make me. But unlike all the other girls you fool around with. This one." You pointed to yourself. "has a brain."

You walked out of the room, grabbing the sheet of paper and headed towards the platform that could mean the death of all of you if your calculations were correct.