Gemma stepped out of the pressurizing chamber and into the cargo bay. Immediately snapping
her restraint in place, she glanced out to see the Earth hanging in the sky. "Wow," she breathed
softly. "Gemma Bale, reporting in," she stated, then giggled at the thought of it. Oh Christian,
my fair Christian, where on Earth are you?' she whispered softly.
"Now Leelee, I want you to make sure the RMS arm is unlocked and double check everything,
okay?" Jade instructed.
"Jade," Kara said, waiting for Jade's attention then continued, "radio check is okay."
"Wait a sec," Selah interjected. "What about these doors over here?"
"No, it's okay. They have to be able to get back in," Kara replied.
"Okay Gemma. Get strapped into the RMS and Leelee will swing you over to Datalys," Jade
said.
"Roger," she responded, looking over the side to see Datalys so far below them. Gasping in
horror, she freaked. "No way!" she exclaimed, making her way back toward the portal. "Let me
in! I changed my mind!" she screamed, beating her fists against the outer wall. "Lemme in
please? Lemme in, lemme in!"
"Gemma, you've got to help Andie," Jade replied calmly as she could under the circumstances.
"No, lemme in. Please let me in?" she shrieked.
"Gemma," Selah stated, trying to think of something to play out this hand in their favor.
"Gemma, if you don't go you'll die. If you die, then you'll miss next week's Buffy episode where
Giles sings..." she said soothingly.
Gemma's cries fell silent. ASH was her idol now, oh and she couldn't miss that, could she? All
those sound clips she downloaded, the video she downloaded... lost because she was chicken.
Did it matter though? Was she fool enough to endanger her life like this for ASH?
"Yeah, Gemma. We know you're into him," Kara added, trying to help.
"What about Christian?" Jade added softly. "Can you take not seeing Christian's next movie?"
"Or drooling over that hot bod of his?" Leelee added with a wicked grin.
"You won't even get to see the end of Spidey's fic. You're little rompfest with Jaden will be no
more," Selah added.
"Look," Leelee said.
"Go Gem," Selah whispered.
They watched Gemma's retreating form, cheering her along as she strapped into the RMS. As
she started across the distance on the end of the RMS, she couldn't believe she was actually doing
it. Suddenly the arm jerked slight making Gemma scream in fright. "AHHH!!!
LEEEELEEEEE!!!!"
"Uh, sorry Germ," Leelee responded, controlling the arm with every shred of professionalism she
had. She had learned the mechanics of it quickly, but that didn't mean she couldn't make
mistakes.
_______________
Andie tried again, reaching with all her might but to no avail. She couldn't help them get back,
and now she couldn't bring herself to the ultimate realization that she couldn't do a thing.
Sighing softly, she turned around slowly and screamed.
"It's me! Gemma!" Gemma stated quickly, trying to ease her fright at seeing someone out there
with her in the midst of open space. "I'm small enough to reach the oxygen."
Andie recovered from the shock and smiled. "Oh....yeah," she responded. Helping Gemma past
her, she talked her through the process. "That's the way Gem, now unstrap the tank and pass it
over to me," Andie said, watching Gemma do what she couldn't.
____________
"Only one minute left," Jade stated softly as the beeping continued to haunt their minds.
____________
"Alright Gem, I'm going to take this back to the ship. The sooner you get that second tank, the
sooner we can go home." Andie told her.
"I'm hurrying Andie, honest," Gemma replied, her fingers wrapped around the cord.
"I know you are," Andie replied, before heading back to the ship.
____________
"Leelee, please keep that arm steady, please," Jade said.
"Jade, she's doing the best that she can," Selah interjected.
"I know, but she is trying to load the canister," Jade stated, her voice showing the vaguest hint of
fear.
"Could you guys argue without talking?" Kara responded.
A single beep permeated their thoughts before the continuous beeping started. Selah reached out
to shut it off. "Well, that's it campers. All we have left is the air in the cabin," she stated,
wondering just how long it would last.
_____________
Gemma pulled on the cord, but that silly little tank just wouldn't come free. Not pleased with the
prospect of staying up here much longer, she gave it the ultimate tug. The tank broke free and
pulled Gemma from the safety of the bars.
As she flew through the open space, she reached out for anything she could. Grasping the outside
of an information dish, she thought she was stopped until it suddenly broke off in her hand. "Oh
my God!" she gasped, then cried out in terror. "Andie!"
Andie turned around to see Gemma floating past. "Ah....Gem," she said softly, as the small
woman flew away from the shuttle. Instituting the jet pack, Andie followed her.
"Save me! I can't stop!" Gemma screamed.
Looking out the window, Leelee gasped. "Gemma," she uttered, making the others look as well.
"Gemma, I'm right behind you," Andie said.
"I can't stop!" she replied.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to let you get away from me," Andie responded. "I'm getting
closer."
"I can't stop, come on!" Gemma urged. Frightened like never before, she couldn't take much
more of this.
"Hold steady," Andie replied, reaching out to her. "Reach your hand out."
"I'm trying to. I can't reach," Gemma retorted.
"I'm gonna get you," she said, just missing Gemma's fingers, but nudging them enough to send
her floating on ahead. Andie remained persistent, nearing Gemma once again. "I'm almost
there," she said reaching out again. "I've got your foot!" she stated happily, pulling her back to
her. Holding Gemma in front of her, their helmets bumped and she could see just how scared
Gemma was. "You think you're scared now? Wait until your parents get the bill for breaking
Datalys," Andie teased, making her laugh softly before towing Gemma back to the ship.
_______________
"Forty minutes to re-entry," Zach stated, his arms crossed.
"Look at this," Bob spoke up, pointing at the monitor in front of him. "They're cradling the
arm."
"Let's hope there's oxygen on the end of it," Zach responded.
______________
Leelee leaned on her station, a book poised directly in front of her. Scared beyond reason, she
tried desperately to keep her mind on her detail and not on the opposing death that seemed to
close at hand now. Looking through the small window, she could see Andie and Gemma standing
in the cargo bay with two tanks of oxygen.
"Andie," Leelee started, looking down at her book. "Connect the ah..." she started, running a
finger along the diagnostics before continuing. "Tank hose cap to the ah... blue valve," Leelee
said, scared out of her mind.
Andie looked across the valves then glanced up toward the window. "Which one?" she asked.
"There are two. Leelee, remember this is pure oxygen. We make the wrong connection we're
going to be sitting in the middle of a fireball. You must get it right." Andie stated, the seriousness
in her tone reaching every one of them.
Leelee looked back to her book. She was certain she could do this. "It's the blue valve next to
the green," she said.
"There is no blue one next to a green," Andie replied, looking across the valves.
"No no no no," Leelee interrupted. "Not green, I meant yellow," she corrected.
"Leelee we're all going to be dead before you make up your mind," Jade interjected, swiping the
book from Leelee's grasp. Looking at it, she flipped the comm switch. "Andie, it's the blue valve
next to the red."
"That's the wrong hose," Leelee stated.
"It is not, it's the red one," Jade retorted.
"Will somebody please make a decision?" Andie's voice cut through.
"Andie," Jade said, her voice faltering a bit before she continued. "It's the red one Andie."
"I'm telling you it's the yellow. Now I've been studying this damn book since I came to camp,"
Leelee retorted heatedly. "Now I know I'm right. Believe me!"
Jade shook her head.
"Do it Andie," Leelee said sternly. "It's the blue valve next to the yellow valve."
Andie worked the valves, readying them for the tank. Securing the tank hose on the valve, she
glanced at Gemma standing there staring wide eyed back at her. She could see her fear. Feeling
her own fear, her breaths were shallow. With her hand on the valve, she whispered one word, as
though it would make everything alright again. "Please." With a deep breath, she pushed the
valve open. The sudden whoosh sound made her smile as relief set in.
Air filtered in through the vents of the shuttle. Selah laughed as Kara got up next to the vent,
soaking up the air.
"Oh, good job Leelee," Andie's voice called across the communicator.
Jade stood still in shock. They could have all died because of her. Guilt and grief filled her at that
moment like never before. She wasn't sure of anything anymore.
________________
The monitor sprung to life as the men in the control room monitored the progress.
"Alright," Zach said.
"Oh, that was cutting it close," another said.
"They got air!" Zach called through the room, breaking it out into cheers. "Put em on auto and
bring em on home!" Zach commanded happily.
________________
"Okay Gem, I have it now. You can go in the airlock," Andie said, pulling the second tank up.
"And Gem?" she called. "Thanks."
Gemma smiled back at her, then headed toward the airlock as Andie had said.
Andie hooked the second tank up and flipped the valve. As the oxygen started to flow, it
exploded from a faulty valve, pushing Andie clear across the cargo bay.
Gemma turned around to see Andie flying away and there wasn't anything she could do about it.
"Andie!" she screamed as she witnessed the tank smacking her with such force against the wall
that she lost consciousness. "Andie?" she called softly, as she saw Andie floating upward.
Gemma stepped back into the cargo bay, grasping Andie's safety. Pulling on it, she slowly pulled
Andie back toward the cargo bay, all the while wondering if she was still alive. All of a sudden,
Gemma noticed something peculiar; something that shouldn't be. "Oh no," she whispered.
"What's happening?!" she yelled to the others.
________________
"Status check?" Zach stated, walking along the room.
"We are closing the cargo bay doors," Bob replied.
"Prepare for de-orbit burn," Zach responded.
______________________
"What's going on?" Jade asked, trying to change their course. "Nothing's responding."
"I know," Leelee agreed.
"Who's closing the cargo bay doors?" Selah asked.
____________________
"Help me! Andie's not in yet!" Gemma begged, pulling at the safety cord. "Come on Andie.
Please?" Gemma pleaded softly. "Andie."
____________________
"It's NASA, they're bringing us down on auto," Jade stated.
"Well make them stop!" Kara shouted, her voice laced with fear.
__________________
"Come on," Gemma said, pulling as best she could against the cumbersome doors that were
closing in on her too quickly. "I don't have her! Stop the doors! She's not in!"
_________________
Kara watched helplessly out the window. "Oh. Look at Andie," she whined, her emotions
running wild. Scared and full of dread, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the floating form.
"Andie do you hear us?" Jade spoke, hearing nothing but breathing coming from Andie, that was
a good sign....right? "Andie, come in. Andie can you read us?"
________________
Gemma stood in the cargo bay, holding Andie's life line when the cargo bay doors closed tightly,
and the bay was illuminated in the eerie golden light. Standing there in shock, her body seemed to
go numb, as her mind boiled over in fear. She lost Andie. Her hands still holding tightly to the
last thread of hope that Andie would somehow miraculously make it back.
The sound of the doors coming together set her on edge. That would be a sound she would
remember forever. It still echoed in her ears as she looked back toward the window to see Kara
looking out.
________________
"Andie?" Jade said again, knowing just how serious the situation was. Andie had to be floating
outside the shuttle, and with NASA brining them in on Auto, she'd burn up. Looking to the
others, she didn't know what to do.
Kara held her hand to the glass and matched Gemma's on the other side. So much pain and
agony they had all suffered, wasn't it enough? Must they go through this as well? She noticed
the faces of the others and knew they felt just as bad, that their fear was consuming them as well.
_______________
"T minus twenty three minutes for re-entry window."
"Prepare for RCS burn. Let's turn them around for deceleration," Zach stated, watching his men
do their jobs.
_______________
"There's a manual override switch here," Jade said, sitting in the pilot's seat. "I saw it," she
added, nervousness seeping into every ounce of her being. "Oh where is it?" she asked, panic
invading her voice as her eyes flew across the console. "Oh," she breathed softly, flipping the
cover up. "Here it is."
"Wait a minute,"Selah interjected. "If you override NASA now, we'll miss the window. We've
gotta go now."
"We can't leave Andie, she'll die!" Kara retorted hastily.
Jade sat in the seat taking in everything. Not ready to give up Andie, she was evenly scared to
miss the window. It would be their only chance.
__________________
"Manuever complete."
"Standby for ohms burn," Zach directed.
_________________
"Jade, take the window," Andie's tired voice transmitted through the system. "It's your only
chance."
________________
"Prepare for de-orbit burn," Zach stated.
"Ready for countdown," Bob replied.
"10..." Zach started.
________________
"Nine seconds," Jade said. She couldn't do a thing as she watched the numbers disintegrate.
"Five," she uttered, her hand above the switch.
"Do something Jade," Leelee pleaded. "Two seconds."
Kara's breath caught in her throat. Everything was going by so fast.
Jade was paralyzed with fear. She didn't know what to do. All the time she kept telling herself
she'd make the perfect Shuttle Commander, yet here she was scared to make a decision. How
could she?
Selah's hand hit the switch at the last moment. Turning around, she had a job to do and not a lot
of time to waste. "Alright, Leelee open the cargo bay doors," she said, then continued. "Kara
unstow the medical kit. Gemma..." she started, then hit the communicator and continued.
"Gemma?"
"Yeah?" she replied.
"Can you copy? Alright, now listen. We're going to open the doors. Bring Andie in. This time
use the foot restraints okay? Hang in there Gem," Selah said. Glancing around to make sure
everyone was okay, she turned her attention back to the cargo bay. "Okay Leelee, do it."
"Now?" she asked. Opening the doors, she felt overwhelmed at the sight of Andie floating just
outside.
________
"Come on Andie," Gemma whispered, pulling her in slowly.
________
Selah sat down in the commander's chair, pulling a book out and looking over the instruments.
"Jade," she said, handing the book to her. "Jade, help me run a check on the manual systems."
Jade took the book and stared at it, trying to get back into the groove of things.
_______
Gemma finally got Andie within reach. "Come on Andie," she said, noticing how little she was
moving. "Let's get you inside."
The hatch opened after depressurizing, and the crew was there waiting patiently. "Okay Gem, let
her go," Leelee said, grasping hold of Andie's arm. Selah took a hold of the other as they
cautiously lifted her out.
"Careful Leelee," Selah mentioned, knowing they shouldn't move her too much yet. "Alright
guys, lets get this thing off of her," she said, gently pulling at the helmet. "Andie? Andie??"
"I'll get her gloves," Jade commented, pulling gently. "Lets get her out of the EMU."
"Good idea," Leelee replied. "Lets move her to a sleep station for more support."
"Kara!" Selah called, hearing the clicking of the switch she'd been working. "Anything?" she
asked with slight hope.
"No, nothing," she answered regrettably.
_______________________
"I don't get it. Why would she override auto?" Bob asked.
"They missed the window," Stan spoke up. "How much oxygen did they buy?"
"Not enough to make it to the next window at Everts," another mentioned.
"Why?" Zach said to nobody in particular. "She missed the last chance. What the hell else is
going wrong up there?"
_______________________
Zipping Andie into the sleep station, they all wondered what they would do next. They knew that
they had missed their only chance to get home safely.
"How is she?" Kara asked softly.
"I think she's hurt her arm and a few broken ribs. I don't know really," Selah replied.
"So Selah, what the hell do we do?" Leelee asked straight out.
"Leelee," Selah snapped. "I don't know."
"Well we have got to do something," Kara stated.
"Geez, I'm not a doctor! I don't know what to do!" Selah exclaimed, feeling the pressure that
came with the job. "Look, guys. Just get back to your stations, and I'll stay here with Andie."
"I want to stay with Andie," Gemma piped up.
"I'll sta..." Selah started, trying to control her emotions. "I'll stay with Andie, okay? You just
get back to your stations."
They fell silent, filing out of the room slowly. Jade reached the door and glanced back at Selah.
She looked pained, and that bothered Jade. Moving back towards her, she wanted to make sure
Selah was alright.
***
"I guess we just keep doing what we're doing, right?" Leelee asked.
Kara took to the switches again. Not even thinking that NASA would hear them after all this
time, she had to keep trying. Just having something to do to take her mind off of everything was
enough for now.
***
"We missed the window," Selah stated, her nerves were shot. She just doomed the entire crew to
death.
"I know," Jade replied softly.
"And we don't have enough oxygen to last the primary for Edwards," Selah continued.
"You did the right thing," Jade replied.
"Yeah?" she asked. "Right. Really think so?"
"Andie's part of the crew. You took responsibility for her. Somebody had to," Jade replied. As
hard as it was, she had to go on. She had to show Selah that her decision was the only acceptable
one, no matter what the cost. "That's what makes a good flight commander," she said, pausing
slightly. Biting her lip, she continued. "I'm a good pilot...but I'm no commander. My mom
always says that being boss, and being bossy isn't the same," Jade said, realizing everything she
was going to lose. "I'm never going to see her again, am I?" she asked, her lower lip trembling as
she tried not to cry.
"Oh come on," Selah replied. "Of course you are. We all are. And I for one want to see my
mom, and my kitty," she went on. "We'll think of something."
__________________
"No, sir there's nothing new here. Yes sir, we'll stay in touch. Goodbye Mr. President."
Hanging up the phone, the man turned around to shoot Zach a look before heading out of the
control room.
"We're missing something," Zach muttered, a nagging feeling tugging at the back of his mind.
"What we're missing is a miracle," Bob shot back.
There not far from where he stood, a single red button blinked bleakly for anyone to
acknowledge.
__________________
"I got an idea," Leelee said.
Kara was still working the switch. "Well let's hear it," she replied.
"Come here," Leelee stated, heading back to where Selah was. Peeking in through the door, she
wasn't sure how to go about it. "Hey ah, guys?"
"Yeah?" Selah responded.
"I have a question. I was looking outside and wondering. Is Edwards the only place we can land
this thing?" Leelee asked.
"I don't know, is it?" Selah replied.
"I don't know," Jade added.
"I mean it seems I remember reading something about the shuttle landing in White Plains or
something," Leelee explained.
"White Plains? Leelee come on, that's in the middle of New York," Selah countered.
"White Sands," Jade grinned. "White Sands, New Mexico. Columbia of 82 landed there because
the strip at Edwards was too wet. It was a big emergency!" she explained excitedly.
"So if we can make the window to White Sands?" Kara said.
"We can land there," Jade replied.
"Kara, get going," Selah stated.
"Make them hear us," Jade added.
"Alright," Kara grinned, heading back out to her switch again with a new hope.
"Leelee, I love you. Check out the coordinates okay?" Selah said.
"You got it," Leelee responded, disappearing quickly.
"Gemma, you take care of Andie for me?" Selah asked. "Let's see if we can navigate this bird
ourselves!"
_________________
her restraint in place, she glanced out to see the Earth hanging in the sky. "Wow," she breathed
softly. "Gemma Bale, reporting in," she stated, then giggled at the thought of it. Oh Christian,
my fair Christian, where on Earth are you?' she whispered softly.
"Now Leelee, I want you to make sure the RMS arm is unlocked and double check everything,
okay?" Jade instructed.
"Jade," Kara said, waiting for Jade's attention then continued, "radio check is okay."
"Wait a sec," Selah interjected. "What about these doors over here?"
"No, it's okay. They have to be able to get back in," Kara replied.
"Okay Gemma. Get strapped into the RMS and Leelee will swing you over to Datalys," Jade
said.
"Roger," she responded, looking over the side to see Datalys so far below them. Gasping in
horror, she freaked. "No way!" she exclaimed, making her way back toward the portal. "Let me
in! I changed my mind!" she screamed, beating her fists against the outer wall. "Lemme in
please? Lemme in, lemme in!"
"Gemma, you've got to help Andie," Jade replied calmly as she could under the circumstances.
"No, lemme in. Please let me in?" she shrieked.
"Gemma," Selah stated, trying to think of something to play out this hand in their favor.
"Gemma, if you don't go you'll die. If you die, then you'll miss next week's Buffy episode where
Giles sings..." she said soothingly.
Gemma's cries fell silent. ASH was her idol now, oh and she couldn't miss that, could she? All
those sound clips she downloaded, the video she downloaded... lost because she was chicken.
Did it matter though? Was she fool enough to endanger her life like this for ASH?
"Yeah, Gemma. We know you're into him," Kara added, trying to help.
"What about Christian?" Jade added softly. "Can you take not seeing Christian's next movie?"
"Or drooling over that hot bod of his?" Leelee added with a wicked grin.
"You won't even get to see the end of Spidey's fic. You're little rompfest with Jaden will be no
more," Selah added.
"Look," Leelee said.
"Go Gem," Selah whispered.
They watched Gemma's retreating form, cheering her along as she strapped into the RMS. As
she started across the distance on the end of the RMS, she couldn't believe she was actually doing
it. Suddenly the arm jerked slight making Gemma scream in fright. "AHHH!!!
LEEEELEEEEE!!!!"
"Uh, sorry Germ," Leelee responded, controlling the arm with every shred of professionalism she
had. She had learned the mechanics of it quickly, but that didn't mean she couldn't make
mistakes.
_______________
Andie tried again, reaching with all her might but to no avail. She couldn't help them get back,
and now she couldn't bring herself to the ultimate realization that she couldn't do a thing.
Sighing softly, she turned around slowly and screamed.
"It's me! Gemma!" Gemma stated quickly, trying to ease her fright at seeing someone out there
with her in the midst of open space. "I'm small enough to reach the oxygen."
Andie recovered from the shock and smiled. "Oh....yeah," she responded. Helping Gemma past
her, she talked her through the process. "That's the way Gem, now unstrap the tank and pass it
over to me," Andie said, watching Gemma do what she couldn't.
____________
"Only one minute left," Jade stated softly as the beeping continued to haunt their minds.
____________
"Alright Gem, I'm going to take this back to the ship. The sooner you get that second tank, the
sooner we can go home." Andie told her.
"I'm hurrying Andie, honest," Gemma replied, her fingers wrapped around the cord.
"I know you are," Andie replied, before heading back to the ship.
____________
"Leelee, please keep that arm steady, please," Jade said.
"Jade, she's doing the best that she can," Selah interjected.
"I know, but she is trying to load the canister," Jade stated, her voice showing the vaguest hint of
fear.
"Could you guys argue without talking?" Kara responded.
A single beep permeated their thoughts before the continuous beeping started. Selah reached out
to shut it off. "Well, that's it campers. All we have left is the air in the cabin," she stated,
wondering just how long it would last.
_____________
Gemma pulled on the cord, but that silly little tank just wouldn't come free. Not pleased with the
prospect of staying up here much longer, she gave it the ultimate tug. The tank broke free and
pulled Gemma from the safety of the bars.
As she flew through the open space, she reached out for anything she could. Grasping the outside
of an information dish, she thought she was stopped until it suddenly broke off in her hand. "Oh
my God!" she gasped, then cried out in terror. "Andie!"
Andie turned around to see Gemma floating past. "Ah....Gem," she said softly, as the small
woman flew away from the shuttle. Instituting the jet pack, Andie followed her.
"Save me! I can't stop!" Gemma screamed.
Looking out the window, Leelee gasped. "Gemma," she uttered, making the others look as well.
"Gemma, I'm right behind you," Andie said.
"I can't stop!" she replied.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to let you get away from me," Andie responded. "I'm getting
closer."
"I can't stop, come on!" Gemma urged. Frightened like never before, she couldn't take much
more of this.
"Hold steady," Andie replied, reaching out to her. "Reach your hand out."
"I'm trying to. I can't reach," Gemma retorted.
"I'm gonna get you," she said, just missing Gemma's fingers, but nudging them enough to send
her floating on ahead. Andie remained persistent, nearing Gemma once again. "I'm almost
there," she said reaching out again. "I've got your foot!" she stated happily, pulling her back to
her. Holding Gemma in front of her, their helmets bumped and she could see just how scared
Gemma was. "You think you're scared now? Wait until your parents get the bill for breaking
Datalys," Andie teased, making her laugh softly before towing Gemma back to the ship.
_______________
"Forty minutes to re-entry," Zach stated, his arms crossed.
"Look at this," Bob spoke up, pointing at the monitor in front of him. "They're cradling the
arm."
"Let's hope there's oxygen on the end of it," Zach responded.
______________
Leelee leaned on her station, a book poised directly in front of her. Scared beyond reason, she
tried desperately to keep her mind on her detail and not on the opposing death that seemed to
close at hand now. Looking through the small window, she could see Andie and Gemma standing
in the cargo bay with two tanks of oxygen.
"Andie," Leelee started, looking down at her book. "Connect the ah..." she started, running a
finger along the diagnostics before continuing. "Tank hose cap to the ah... blue valve," Leelee
said, scared out of her mind.
Andie looked across the valves then glanced up toward the window. "Which one?" she asked.
"There are two. Leelee, remember this is pure oxygen. We make the wrong connection we're
going to be sitting in the middle of a fireball. You must get it right." Andie stated, the seriousness
in her tone reaching every one of them.
Leelee looked back to her book. She was certain she could do this. "It's the blue valve next to
the green," she said.
"There is no blue one next to a green," Andie replied, looking across the valves.
"No no no no," Leelee interrupted. "Not green, I meant yellow," she corrected.
"Leelee we're all going to be dead before you make up your mind," Jade interjected, swiping the
book from Leelee's grasp. Looking at it, she flipped the comm switch. "Andie, it's the blue valve
next to the red."
"That's the wrong hose," Leelee stated.
"It is not, it's the red one," Jade retorted.
"Will somebody please make a decision?" Andie's voice cut through.
"Andie," Jade said, her voice faltering a bit before she continued. "It's the red one Andie."
"I'm telling you it's the yellow. Now I've been studying this damn book since I came to camp,"
Leelee retorted heatedly. "Now I know I'm right. Believe me!"
Jade shook her head.
"Do it Andie," Leelee said sternly. "It's the blue valve next to the yellow valve."
Andie worked the valves, readying them for the tank. Securing the tank hose on the valve, she
glanced at Gemma standing there staring wide eyed back at her. She could see her fear. Feeling
her own fear, her breaths were shallow. With her hand on the valve, she whispered one word, as
though it would make everything alright again. "Please." With a deep breath, she pushed the
valve open. The sudden whoosh sound made her smile as relief set in.
Air filtered in through the vents of the shuttle. Selah laughed as Kara got up next to the vent,
soaking up the air.
"Oh, good job Leelee," Andie's voice called across the communicator.
Jade stood still in shock. They could have all died because of her. Guilt and grief filled her at that
moment like never before. She wasn't sure of anything anymore.
________________
The monitor sprung to life as the men in the control room monitored the progress.
"Alright," Zach said.
"Oh, that was cutting it close," another said.
"They got air!" Zach called through the room, breaking it out into cheers. "Put em on auto and
bring em on home!" Zach commanded happily.
________________
"Okay Gem, I have it now. You can go in the airlock," Andie said, pulling the second tank up.
"And Gem?" she called. "Thanks."
Gemma smiled back at her, then headed toward the airlock as Andie had said.
Andie hooked the second tank up and flipped the valve. As the oxygen started to flow, it
exploded from a faulty valve, pushing Andie clear across the cargo bay.
Gemma turned around to see Andie flying away and there wasn't anything she could do about it.
"Andie!" she screamed as she witnessed the tank smacking her with such force against the wall
that she lost consciousness. "Andie?" she called softly, as she saw Andie floating upward.
Gemma stepped back into the cargo bay, grasping Andie's safety. Pulling on it, she slowly pulled
Andie back toward the cargo bay, all the while wondering if she was still alive. All of a sudden,
Gemma noticed something peculiar; something that shouldn't be. "Oh no," she whispered.
"What's happening?!" she yelled to the others.
________________
"Status check?" Zach stated, walking along the room.
"We are closing the cargo bay doors," Bob replied.
"Prepare for de-orbit burn," Zach responded.
______________________
"What's going on?" Jade asked, trying to change their course. "Nothing's responding."
"I know," Leelee agreed.
"Who's closing the cargo bay doors?" Selah asked.
____________________
"Help me! Andie's not in yet!" Gemma begged, pulling at the safety cord. "Come on Andie.
Please?" Gemma pleaded softly. "Andie."
____________________
"It's NASA, they're bringing us down on auto," Jade stated.
"Well make them stop!" Kara shouted, her voice laced with fear.
__________________
"Come on," Gemma said, pulling as best she could against the cumbersome doors that were
closing in on her too quickly. "I don't have her! Stop the doors! She's not in!"
_________________
Kara watched helplessly out the window. "Oh. Look at Andie," she whined, her emotions
running wild. Scared and full of dread, she couldn't tear her eyes away from the floating form.
"Andie do you hear us?" Jade spoke, hearing nothing but breathing coming from Andie, that was
a good sign....right? "Andie, come in. Andie can you read us?"
________________
Gemma stood in the cargo bay, holding Andie's life line when the cargo bay doors closed tightly,
and the bay was illuminated in the eerie golden light. Standing there in shock, her body seemed to
go numb, as her mind boiled over in fear. She lost Andie. Her hands still holding tightly to the
last thread of hope that Andie would somehow miraculously make it back.
The sound of the doors coming together set her on edge. That would be a sound she would
remember forever. It still echoed in her ears as she looked back toward the window to see Kara
looking out.
________________
"Andie?" Jade said again, knowing just how serious the situation was. Andie had to be floating
outside the shuttle, and with NASA brining them in on Auto, she'd burn up. Looking to the
others, she didn't know what to do.
Kara held her hand to the glass and matched Gemma's on the other side. So much pain and
agony they had all suffered, wasn't it enough? Must they go through this as well? She noticed
the faces of the others and knew they felt just as bad, that their fear was consuming them as well.
_______________
"T minus twenty three minutes for re-entry window."
"Prepare for RCS burn. Let's turn them around for deceleration," Zach stated, watching his men
do their jobs.
_______________
"There's a manual override switch here," Jade said, sitting in the pilot's seat. "I saw it," she
added, nervousness seeping into every ounce of her being. "Oh where is it?" she asked, panic
invading her voice as her eyes flew across the console. "Oh," she breathed softly, flipping the
cover up. "Here it is."
"Wait a minute,"Selah interjected. "If you override NASA now, we'll miss the window. We've
gotta go now."
"We can't leave Andie, she'll die!" Kara retorted hastily.
Jade sat in the seat taking in everything. Not ready to give up Andie, she was evenly scared to
miss the window. It would be their only chance.
__________________
"Manuever complete."
"Standby for ohms burn," Zach directed.
_________________
"Jade, take the window," Andie's tired voice transmitted through the system. "It's your only
chance."
________________
"Prepare for de-orbit burn," Zach stated.
"Ready for countdown," Bob replied.
"10..." Zach started.
________________
"Nine seconds," Jade said. She couldn't do a thing as she watched the numbers disintegrate.
"Five," she uttered, her hand above the switch.
"Do something Jade," Leelee pleaded. "Two seconds."
Kara's breath caught in her throat. Everything was going by so fast.
Jade was paralyzed with fear. She didn't know what to do. All the time she kept telling herself
she'd make the perfect Shuttle Commander, yet here she was scared to make a decision. How
could she?
Selah's hand hit the switch at the last moment. Turning around, she had a job to do and not a lot
of time to waste. "Alright, Leelee open the cargo bay doors," she said, then continued. "Kara
unstow the medical kit. Gemma..." she started, then hit the communicator and continued.
"Gemma?"
"Yeah?" she replied.
"Can you copy? Alright, now listen. We're going to open the doors. Bring Andie in. This time
use the foot restraints okay? Hang in there Gem," Selah said. Glancing around to make sure
everyone was okay, she turned her attention back to the cargo bay. "Okay Leelee, do it."
"Now?" she asked. Opening the doors, she felt overwhelmed at the sight of Andie floating just
outside.
________
"Come on Andie," Gemma whispered, pulling her in slowly.
________
Selah sat down in the commander's chair, pulling a book out and looking over the instruments.
"Jade," she said, handing the book to her. "Jade, help me run a check on the manual systems."
Jade took the book and stared at it, trying to get back into the groove of things.
_______
Gemma finally got Andie within reach. "Come on Andie," she said, noticing how little she was
moving. "Let's get you inside."
The hatch opened after depressurizing, and the crew was there waiting patiently. "Okay Gem, let
her go," Leelee said, grasping hold of Andie's arm. Selah took a hold of the other as they
cautiously lifted her out.
"Careful Leelee," Selah mentioned, knowing they shouldn't move her too much yet. "Alright
guys, lets get this thing off of her," she said, gently pulling at the helmet. "Andie? Andie??"
"I'll get her gloves," Jade commented, pulling gently. "Lets get her out of the EMU."
"Good idea," Leelee replied. "Lets move her to a sleep station for more support."
"Kara!" Selah called, hearing the clicking of the switch she'd been working. "Anything?" she
asked with slight hope.
"No, nothing," she answered regrettably.
_______________________
"I don't get it. Why would she override auto?" Bob asked.
"They missed the window," Stan spoke up. "How much oxygen did they buy?"
"Not enough to make it to the next window at Everts," another mentioned.
"Why?" Zach said to nobody in particular. "She missed the last chance. What the hell else is
going wrong up there?"
_______________________
Zipping Andie into the sleep station, they all wondered what they would do next. They knew that
they had missed their only chance to get home safely.
"How is she?" Kara asked softly.
"I think she's hurt her arm and a few broken ribs. I don't know really," Selah replied.
"So Selah, what the hell do we do?" Leelee asked straight out.
"Leelee," Selah snapped. "I don't know."
"Well we have got to do something," Kara stated.
"Geez, I'm not a doctor! I don't know what to do!" Selah exclaimed, feeling the pressure that
came with the job. "Look, guys. Just get back to your stations, and I'll stay here with Andie."
"I want to stay with Andie," Gemma piped up.
"I'll sta..." Selah started, trying to control her emotions. "I'll stay with Andie, okay? You just
get back to your stations."
They fell silent, filing out of the room slowly. Jade reached the door and glanced back at Selah.
She looked pained, and that bothered Jade. Moving back towards her, she wanted to make sure
Selah was alright.
***
"I guess we just keep doing what we're doing, right?" Leelee asked.
Kara took to the switches again. Not even thinking that NASA would hear them after all this
time, she had to keep trying. Just having something to do to take her mind off of everything was
enough for now.
***
"We missed the window," Selah stated, her nerves were shot. She just doomed the entire crew to
death.
"I know," Jade replied softly.
"And we don't have enough oxygen to last the primary for Edwards," Selah continued.
"You did the right thing," Jade replied.
"Yeah?" she asked. "Right. Really think so?"
"Andie's part of the crew. You took responsibility for her. Somebody had to," Jade replied. As
hard as it was, she had to go on. She had to show Selah that her decision was the only acceptable
one, no matter what the cost. "That's what makes a good flight commander," she said, pausing
slightly. Biting her lip, she continued. "I'm a good pilot...but I'm no commander. My mom
always says that being boss, and being bossy isn't the same," Jade said, realizing everything she
was going to lose. "I'm never going to see her again, am I?" she asked, her lower lip trembling as
she tried not to cry.
"Oh come on," Selah replied. "Of course you are. We all are. And I for one want to see my
mom, and my kitty," she went on. "We'll think of something."
__________________
"No, sir there's nothing new here. Yes sir, we'll stay in touch. Goodbye Mr. President."
Hanging up the phone, the man turned around to shoot Zach a look before heading out of the
control room.
"We're missing something," Zach muttered, a nagging feeling tugging at the back of his mind.
"What we're missing is a miracle," Bob shot back.
There not far from where he stood, a single red button blinked bleakly for anyone to
acknowledge.
__________________
"I got an idea," Leelee said.
Kara was still working the switch. "Well let's hear it," she replied.
"Come here," Leelee stated, heading back to where Selah was. Peeking in through the door, she
wasn't sure how to go about it. "Hey ah, guys?"
"Yeah?" Selah responded.
"I have a question. I was looking outside and wondering. Is Edwards the only place we can land
this thing?" Leelee asked.
"I don't know, is it?" Selah replied.
"I don't know," Jade added.
"I mean it seems I remember reading something about the shuttle landing in White Plains or
something," Leelee explained.
"White Plains? Leelee come on, that's in the middle of New York," Selah countered.
"White Sands," Jade grinned. "White Sands, New Mexico. Columbia of 82 landed there because
the strip at Edwards was too wet. It was a big emergency!" she explained excitedly.
"So if we can make the window to White Sands?" Kara said.
"We can land there," Jade replied.
"Kara, get going," Selah stated.
"Make them hear us," Jade added.
"Alright," Kara grinned, heading back out to her switch again with a new hope.
"Leelee, I love you. Check out the coordinates okay?" Selah said.
"You got it," Leelee responded, disappearing quickly.
"Gemma, you take care of Andie for me?" Selah asked. "Let's see if we can navigate this bird
ourselves!"
_________________