ALONE

T-plus 216 hours, 20 minutes, and 5 seconds.

Valerie woke up suddenly, heart racing. She reached out, reached up, and could almost feel the smooth visor against her fingers. Then the fabric of her sleeping bag pulled tight across her chest, breaking the spell, and her hand drifted back to her side.

The dreams always left her shaking. For a long moment, she didn't move. 121 days left. 121 days alone. She pushed away the thought, unzipping herself. She blinked twice, and her eyescreen flickered to life.

DAILY SCHEDULE: 14/6/2048

1600 - E. BECERRA, V. SUMMERS - MEAL 1

Time to eat, she guessed. Valerie pushed off, floating into the centre of the ship. Her fingers curled around a handhold, and her eyes caught on the contrast, her dark skin against the white rubber. She pulled herself into motion, gliding through the empty corridors.

T-minus 3 hours, 4 minutes, and 0 seconds.

They were a month away from home. Ellie and Valerie were eating, making faces at each other over the sludge.

"I swear this stuff tastes worse every day," Ellie sighed, lip curling.

"We don't exactly have any other option right now," Valerie said. "Another few months till we get to Mars, then we gotta match speed with the IMS, then-" Ellie pushed off her handhold and span upside-down, groaning. Valerie laughed, spinning to join her.

"I would literally die for a burger right now," Ellie sighed. Valerie forced down another mouthful, privately agreeing. But, they were in space, on their way to live in orbit around Mars for a year, so she could deal with eating sludge for a while.

"128 days more, then we can grow some lettuce." Commander Chaput looked down from her screen at them, smiling.

Ellie pouted, and Valerie elbowed her gently. Ellie rolled her eyes. "I can't wa-" The ship jolted.

T-plus 216 hours, 25 minutes, and 41 seconds.

Valerie reached for the fridge, and it slid open. Two packets floated there. Valerie took the leftmost packet, ignoring the other. An alert popped onto the corner of her vision.

REMINDER: TO MAINTAIN RECOMMENDED CALORIC INTAKE, MEAL 1 MUST BE CONSUMED BY ALL OCCUPANTS. PROCEED? Y/N

The package of her meal crinkled in her grip. She should reprogram the ship's systems for a single occupant. She selected Y, and the fridge slid shut. 121 days. 362 meals. The time yawned in front of her, empty hours and useless minutes and- She didn't think about it.

She ate instead. The sludge tasted like dust.

T-minus 3 hours, 0 minutes, 15 seconds.

Valerie grabbed onto a loose strap, friction burning her palm. Ellie crashed into the opposite wall, head banging against the metal.

"What was that?" Lin called, gliding in and over to Ellie.

"Minor impact on front-starboard hull," Commander Chaput answered, eyescreen flickering. She hauled herself back into position. "Probably a meteoroid. This area's full of them."

"Anyone else hurt?" Lin said. He glanced back at Commander Chaput. "Ayesha?"

"I'm fine," She said, glaring at Lin. "Any damage to the ship?"

Valerie tugged her way to her station, fingers darting across the screen. She started with the good news. "Hull reporting slight buckling, but no loss in pressure." Commander Chaput sighed in relief. Alexei pulled his way into the main body of the ship, heading for his station. "Main comms array is down."