The UV-resistant suit was stiff, and hard to maneuver, but I had done this before. I'd done it in VR at least 1,000 times. I kept working, moving the parts. I grabbed a new hydrolic from the repair module and replaced it with the old one.

A voice crackles into my ear, "Kapa, Kaneda, Icarus has just taken over our manual control. She's returning the ship into its original position."

A drop of sweat runs down my temple. I take a deep breath, and continue working.

"Kapa, go back to the loading dock. " I say.

"This is a two man job, I can do it" He says. I can hear his shuddered breaths.

"Kapa. . . Go."

There's only the sound of our breath, the constant noise of computer modules. I see Kapa lumber back in his golden suit, a huge golden robot, departing from the broken shield panels.

I keep working on the last panel.

"Percent of shield covered by sun: 40 " Icarus says.

"Kaneda, you can still make it if you go now!" Kapa pleads. He's almost to the edge, he stops.

My mind stays focused on my hands, huge and stubby, trying to place the equipment.

"Its too late, Kapa. There's too much distance to cover, get in here now!" says someone from the inside.

I can't tell who it is. Everyone's voice sounds the same on the Com system.

Percent of shield covered by sun: 65, Icarus says.

I put the last piece in, and activate the closing mechanism.

"Final panel, done."

Kapa keeps moving towards the edge.

85 , says Icarus.

The energy is blasting over the edge of shield, cracking huge lines of solar power like a whip.

93

The lights too bright, I squint my eyes. My body heats up.

A wave of energy flies at me. I see light. Its all just light.

I close my eyes.

"Kaneda! What do you see?!?!" Someone screams on the Com.

My squint my eyes open again and see the wave getting closer.

"KANEDA!! WHAT DO YOU SEE?!?!"

I light surrounds me, I'm engulfed in the heat, the energy. I scream and thrust my body wildly inside the suit. My skin is being burned off. I feel pure, untainted, pain.

The light gets brighter, there's no more darkness.

"KANEDA!"

I am the light.