Flare

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. It was agony. Pure unbridled agony. Up here all alone. Not a soul for lightyears. Well none living. Not anymore. And soon I would join their demise.

I don't know why I survived the first wave of the sun flare. The radiation poisoning had killed half the crew almost instantly. The other half had slowly gone mad. My friend and co captain got them all into the air lock as I pounded on the door as he smiled sadly mouthing good luck Kassidy before hitting the button releasing them into space. I heard the screams of pain. I shouldn't have been able to but I did. I saw one explode from the vacuum change and jumped back as their head ended up against the airlock door window. Cami. A crew member from below deck kept the ship running and taught me everything she knew. I returned to the captain's quarters passing a few forgotten bodies along the way. There was no response from NASA since it happened. They may assume we all died in that first wave. I wouldn't blame them for leaving us up here, but now I was alone and had no way to get home.

~

Day 30

“It's been 30 days since the flare hit the ship. I have taken the deceased that died from the flare first down the infirmary and used my very limited knowledge to perform an autopsy. I have gotten lots of practice and luckily Mr. Scratch brought a ton of textbooks with me so I'm learning on the job I guess. So far I haven't seen much that is worth note except that it seems their blood was boiled. Which I guess could make sense but I don't know enough about solar flares. That wasn't my specialty. Maybe if Liam was here.”

I sigh, staring at the camera on the laptop thinking of my co captain.

“That's all for today.”

I turn off the camera and lean back in the chair looking around the room. I had set up in the cafeteria of the ship. It allowed more room and it was one of the few places not covered in blood and vomit. It was just after lights out when the flare hit so most were in their quarters or in my case. In the cockpit.

I still have no idea why I was the only one unaffected by the flare. I had taken blood test tissue samples and compared them with the dead but nothing came as odd.

I grab a bag of chips from the cupboard.

“The plus size is there are enough rations to last a crew of 30 for a year on this ship so I wont die from starvation anytime soon.” My voice echoes around the cafeteria.

I sigh and put the chips down. And go to the cockpit. The door opens and I step in and sit in my seat. I ignore the seat next to me where Liam should be sitting and look out the windows. The ship has drifted quite a way from where we were originally hit. It had power but I could use the thrusters or anything to get the ship moving in the right direction. Back towards earth. I look at and I see Mars approaching in the distance. I really did go far. I may not have to worry about starving to death. If I can't start the ship before I hit the asteroid belt it will tear the ship apart and I would die like my crew.

Maybe that would be for the best. NASA has no idea what has happened and even if they did they may not be able to ever help. I will die up here.

I look at the dashboard. I either get this ship running or I die with it.

You know what to do Kass.

I hear Cami’s voice.

“I do know Cami. I am going home.”

I stand up going back to the cafeteria to eat before starting work on the ship.

I will get home if not for me then for my crew so I can find out what happened to them and why I wasn't affected.