Chapter 9: Hopelessness.
AN: I'm really proud of how quickly I got this chapter up *beams*
Sorry to Dryden fans, again feel free to flame, like I said I can take it.
Van: *cough yeahright cough*
Me: 0.o how'd you get here????
Van: *shrugs* I dunno
Me: *.*;; er- OK then. *sighs* on with the fic......
Location: HAB wreckage-
All four remaining team-mates walked towards the wreckage in silence. There was nothing in sight but odd piles of grey rubble. The only part of HAB left standing was the basic metal framework. Small fires still raged in some places.
Allen sighed after walking over a piece of mental that had once been part of HAB's exterior wall. ''It's all chewed up.''
''What happened here?'' Dilandau asked, still trying to come to terms with the simple fact that they were as good as dead.
''No storm could have done this.'' Van mused, surveying their surroundings.
''No way,'' Dryden said, finding his voice, ''HAB stood up to an F5 in Tornado Valley, this isn't weather related.'' He finished, looking towards Van.
''OK, so what are we going to do?'' Dilandau asked, looking at his companions.
''Start looking for O2.'' Dryden ordered. Everyone scattered.
~~~~~
Location: Mars 1-
Hitomi finally settled herself down and activated the ships exterior communicators. She could do this.
''Huston, this is Mars 1. We have experienced a massive proton field upset, sequel to a solar flare. Mars 1 systems are below 70% orbital path degraded by fire control air purge. Engine function is zero.'' She laughed bitterly despite herself. ''I could use some help.''
Hitomi had to breath deeply several times before she could continue.
''Pod launched with a crew of five. I have a visual on crash site and can see one man down. I have absolutely no radio contact with them.'' More deep breaths, why couldn't she calm down? ''Visuals also confirm that HAB is, tango uniform, I repeat HAB has been destroyed. Even if the rest of the crew is alive, they have no way to survive. I'm uploading telemetry and video data to you now.''
Hitomi leaned over in her chair to touch a nearby panel and did as she said, transmitted all the information she had on Mars back to Earth.
''Data unit relayed.'' Merle confirmed.
~~~~~
Location: HAB wreckage-
''I don't see anything.'' Allen admitted.
''No food, no air, no water.'' Van confirmed, his voice finally losing its cocky tone.
Dilandau looked at his to team-mates. ''Well what, what are we going to do now?'' He asked, unsure of whether or not to want an answer.
''Nothing we can do.'' Allen replied. ''We're out of time.''
''Out of time and out of air.'' Dryden confirmed, walking past the three and into the opposite direction.
Allen ignored Dryden, who pushed past him and left the immediate vicinity. He looked down at the air timer on his right arm. ''16 minutes of air left.'' He sighed, ''How about you?'' He asked, looking up at Van.
''A little less.'' Van replied, looking past Allen to Dilandau, who had just walked off in the same direction as Dryden.
~~~~~
Location: Mars 1-
Hitomi walked through the corridors until she came to the dinning area. Sitting down on one of the chairs that surrounded the table she didn't take her eyes off the specs that where in her hands. Huston had sent her instructions on how to get the engines back on line.
Placing the specs down she frowned slightly at the mess on the table and, absent mindingly, used the back of her hand to brush away some of the mess. She was rewarded with a sharp pain shooting up her arm as pieces of smashed glass cut her hand and wrist.
Minutes later she was standing in front of the nearest sink, using tweezers to get the glass out of the cut. She stared into the mirror as the tap automatically came on to wash the blood down the sink. She was alone. And she hated it.
~~~~~
Location: HAB wreckage-
Van and Allen had seated themselves against the side of a section of relatively undamaged framework. If they where going to die they weren't about to do it standing.
Van cast his eyes to the sky. ''I hope Hitomi made it.'' He sighed.
''You know,'' Allen started, his breathing becoming shallow due to the depleting oxygen; ''I had a thing for her, right from the start.''
''Really?'' Van replied, ''I hadn't noticed.''
Allen looked down to the clock on his suit once again. Ten minutes of oxygen left. ''Short time to live, '' He started, more to himself then Van, ''Long time to die.''
~~~~~
Location: Mars surface-
Dryden looked out over the cliff he had arrived at. It was a long way down he observed. Unfortunately he didn't have long to debate the drop, as Dilandau came to a halt next to him and looked out.
''God it really is beautiful isn't it.'' He breathed. After a few seconds of silence he continued. ''You know I was planning on getting engaged when we got back.''
''Yeah well I'm gonna miss a lot of girls.'' Dryden replied. ''A lot of girls gonna miss me.''
Dilandau sniggered, then his face fell again. ''I was never supposed to be here.'' He started, eyes downcast. ''I was just the next luck guy on the list.''
''Well my flying ability isn't an issue now.'' Dryden changed the subject. ''With HAB destroyed, it doesn't matter where we landed.''
''You calculating excuses?''
''Nothing to excuse.'' Dryden stated.
''What about Folken?'' Dilandau asked, now looking towards the lieutenant.
''He would have died here anyway.''
''You really are amazing Dryden, your life is about to end and you still can't except defeat.'' Dilandau turned slightly, awaiting Dryden's reaction to such a statement.
''I come across as a hard ass, I know that but technically, I didn't fail.''
Dilandau sighed and turned back to the view again. ''Look, what's done is done. I came up here to forgive you.''
Dryden smirked. ''Yeah well screw you. I don't need forgiveness from a pussy like you.'' When Dilandau didn't move, just turned and stared at him Dryden got annoyed. ''Well get out of here.'' He said, rising his voice a little. ''Go away and die like a man, if you can.'' He finished.
In a second Dilandau had snapped, throwing a punch towards Dryden he cried out in anger. There was no way he was going to put up with that shit now, dying hour or not.
Dryden saw Dilandau's first on a collision course with his face and dodged clear, triumphant smirk on his face. It didn't last long.
The moment Dilandau realised what was happening he reached out and attempted to grab Dryden's hand, but he missed by miles and could only stand and watch as Dryden fell.
''Oh shit.''
AN: I'm really proud of how quickly I got this chapter up *beams*
Sorry to Dryden fans, again feel free to flame, like I said I can take it.
Van: *cough yeahright cough*
Me: 0.o how'd you get here????
Van: *shrugs* I dunno
Me: *.*;; er- OK then. *sighs* on with the fic......
Location: HAB wreckage-
All four remaining team-mates walked towards the wreckage in silence. There was nothing in sight but odd piles of grey rubble. The only part of HAB left standing was the basic metal framework. Small fires still raged in some places.
Allen sighed after walking over a piece of mental that had once been part of HAB's exterior wall. ''It's all chewed up.''
''What happened here?'' Dilandau asked, still trying to come to terms with the simple fact that they were as good as dead.
''No storm could have done this.'' Van mused, surveying their surroundings.
''No way,'' Dryden said, finding his voice, ''HAB stood up to an F5 in Tornado Valley, this isn't weather related.'' He finished, looking towards Van.
''OK, so what are we going to do?'' Dilandau asked, looking at his companions.
''Start looking for O2.'' Dryden ordered. Everyone scattered.
~~~~~
Location: Mars 1-
Hitomi finally settled herself down and activated the ships exterior communicators. She could do this.
''Huston, this is Mars 1. We have experienced a massive proton field upset, sequel to a solar flare. Mars 1 systems are below 70% orbital path degraded by fire control air purge. Engine function is zero.'' She laughed bitterly despite herself. ''I could use some help.''
Hitomi had to breath deeply several times before she could continue.
''Pod launched with a crew of five. I have a visual on crash site and can see one man down. I have absolutely no radio contact with them.'' More deep breaths, why couldn't she calm down? ''Visuals also confirm that HAB is, tango uniform, I repeat HAB has been destroyed. Even if the rest of the crew is alive, they have no way to survive. I'm uploading telemetry and video data to you now.''
Hitomi leaned over in her chair to touch a nearby panel and did as she said, transmitted all the information she had on Mars back to Earth.
''Data unit relayed.'' Merle confirmed.
~~~~~
Location: HAB wreckage-
''I don't see anything.'' Allen admitted.
''No food, no air, no water.'' Van confirmed, his voice finally losing its cocky tone.
Dilandau looked at his to team-mates. ''Well what, what are we going to do now?'' He asked, unsure of whether or not to want an answer.
''Nothing we can do.'' Allen replied. ''We're out of time.''
''Out of time and out of air.'' Dryden confirmed, walking past the three and into the opposite direction.
Allen ignored Dryden, who pushed past him and left the immediate vicinity. He looked down at the air timer on his right arm. ''16 minutes of air left.'' He sighed, ''How about you?'' He asked, looking up at Van.
''A little less.'' Van replied, looking past Allen to Dilandau, who had just walked off in the same direction as Dryden.
~~~~~
Location: Mars 1-
Hitomi walked through the corridors until she came to the dinning area. Sitting down on one of the chairs that surrounded the table she didn't take her eyes off the specs that where in her hands. Huston had sent her instructions on how to get the engines back on line.
Placing the specs down she frowned slightly at the mess on the table and, absent mindingly, used the back of her hand to brush away some of the mess. She was rewarded with a sharp pain shooting up her arm as pieces of smashed glass cut her hand and wrist.
Minutes later she was standing in front of the nearest sink, using tweezers to get the glass out of the cut. She stared into the mirror as the tap automatically came on to wash the blood down the sink. She was alone. And she hated it.
~~~~~
Location: HAB wreckage-
Van and Allen had seated themselves against the side of a section of relatively undamaged framework. If they where going to die they weren't about to do it standing.
Van cast his eyes to the sky. ''I hope Hitomi made it.'' He sighed.
''You know,'' Allen started, his breathing becoming shallow due to the depleting oxygen; ''I had a thing for her, right from the start.''
''Really?'' Van replied, ''I hadn't noticed.''
Allen looked down to the clock on his suit once again. Ten minutes of oxygen left. ''Short time to live, '' He started, more to himself then Van, ''Long time to die.''
~~~~~
Location: Mars surface-
Dryden looked out over the cliff he had arrived at. It was a long way down he observed. Unfortunately he didn't have long to debate the drop, as Dilandau came to a halt next to him and looked out.
''God it really is beautiful isn't it.'' He breathed. After a few seconds of silence he continued. ''You know I was planning on getting engaged when we got back.''
''Yeah well I'm gonna miss a lot of girls.'' Dryden replied. ''A lot of girls gonna miss me.''
Dilandau sniggered, then his face fell again. ''I was never supposed to be here.'' He started, eyes downcast. ''I was just the next luck guy on the list.''
''Well my flying ability isn't an issue now.'' Dryden changed the subject. ''With HAB destroyed, it doesn't matter where we landed.''
''You calculating excuses?''
''Nothing to excuse.'' Dryden stated.
''What about Folken?'' Dilandau asked, now looking towards the lieutenant.
''He would have died here anyway.''
''You really are amazing Dryden, your life is about to end and you still can't except defeat.'' Dilandau turned slightly, awaiting Dryden's reaction to such a statement.
''I come across as a hard ass, I know that but technically, I didn't fail.''
Dilandau sighed and turned back to the view again. ''Look, what's done is done. I came up here to forgive you.''
Dryden smirked. ''Yeah well screw you. I don't need forgiveness from a pussy like you.'' When Dilandau didn't move, just turned and stared at him Dryden got annoyed. ''Well get out of here.'' He said, rising his voice a little. ''Go away and die like a man, if you can.'' He finished.
In a second Dilandau had snapped, throwing a punch towards Dryden he cried out in anger. There was no way he was going to put up with that shit now, dying hour or not.
Dryden saw Dilandau's first on a collision course with his face and dodged clear, triumphant smirk on his face. It didn't last long.
The moment Dilandau realised what was happening he reached out and attempted to grab Dryden's hand, but he missed by miles and could only stand and watch as Dryden fell.
''Oh shit.''