Voices from Heaven (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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driftfleet2015-10-20 10:06 am
thespaceopera) wrote in driftfleet2015-10-20 10:06 am
Entry tags:
Sweet dreams are made of these...
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[he doesn't move from his place along the wall, folding his hands over in front of each other with his shoulder square. he can't imagine how much it would have taken out of clay to hear something like this.]
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[Clay's standing now, because it feels wrong to keep sitting. This is too serious, and everything he ever knew about the HAT-1 Miracle was a cover-up. Can it even be considered a "miracle" in that case? The look in his eyes seems betrayed, but also full of concern at the gravity of the situation.
Thankfully, the Captain doesn't tell Clay to sit down again. Instead, he shuts his eyes, then pulls the phone on the side of the table to the center instead.]
Seven years ago, a man was arrested for the murder of Cykes. And yet, just yesterday, I received this phone call.
[He hits the play button on the phone, and it plays back a message for the only the ones in the office to hear. The caller's obviously using something to warp its voice, resulting in no way to tell who it is. There doesn't seem to be any emotional infliction in its voice, either.]
I know you're going to launch another shuttle, Mr. Cosmos. Do you remember what happened last time? The bomb on the ship, the missing moon rock... the murder? You tried so hard to cover it up. I've seen that pretty little movie of yours about the "miracle" of the flight.
I know the truth, Mr. Cosmos.
And I think it's rather silly of you to try again.
... You don't want things to go like they did seven years ago, do you?
Call it off. Or else the same thing will happen again.
[The message ends. There's a long pause, and the color in Clay's face has gone pale. Then, he takes a step forward to slam both hands on the Captain's desk, looking bound and determined to put a stop to all this.]
Captain, you have to call off the launch! If the spy's going to sabotage it again, our entire team will be in danger!
You think I haven't tried that already?!
[The outburst makes both men straighten up, surprised and thrown off entirely by it, before Clay sits heavily in his chair again, hunched forward, arms resting on his legs. The Captain turns, back to Clay, head bowed down low.]
I tried to call off the launch. My first priority is you and the rest of the team. But, again, the government wouldn't let me! [He whips an arm out, as if he were mimicking what he was told in a rather dramatic fashion.] "We don't give in to the likes of terrorists! We must proceed for our country's honor!"
[He turns back around to Clay, who lifts his head as he hears the segway move again.]
There's no way to stop this spy, Terran. No matter what we do, they'll find a way.
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[there's a sense of dread here; clay hasn't told him something big, here. he's afraid of where this might lead.]
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[He sounds a little lost here, like he's being swept up in something that's far too big for him to handle. But, after that, he shuts his eyes tightly, shakes his head, then sits back up with a frown on his face.]
I mean - Sir, what are we supposed to do? We can't just launch the ship, right?
[Cosmos gives another nod, leaning forward a bit so that he can place both hands on the desk. And he's still on the stupid segway somehow.]
You're absolutely right, Terran, and that's why I've formulated a plan to work around this. And I'll need your help to do it.
[Clay leans forward at that, ready to hear the plan. There's still a frown on his face, and he looks determined... but his hands are still clenched into his knees.]
We're going to pretend to launch the team into space. But, in reality, it'll only be you and Starbuck, and the two of you won't be on the real HAT-2.
[He takes a paper from the side of the desk, and if Orion looks, it'll look a lot like this.]
You two will be in the Space Museum, here. [He points to where it says "Space Museum", and Clay's frown deepens at that, like he's not sure where he's getting at.] I'll sneak in the night before the launch and switch the launch pads so that the Space Museum will be connected to Boarding Lounge 1. This way, it'll appear like you and Starbuck are entering Launch Pad 1. I'll put a "Closed for Repairs" sign in Boarding Lounge 2 so that regular visitors won't be there when this happens. This way...
[Clay seems to understand now, as the confused frown turns into a more determined one instead.]
We'll be in the room with the model ship, not the real one.
Precisely! I'm certain the bombs will go off no matter what we do, but I'll make sure that you and Starbuck are nowhere near it. This, I promise you, Terran. But...
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[that's too dangerous. they shouldn't have anyone go anywhere. they should cancel the launch against orders.
[orion is finding himself angry at this situation, and it's not even actually happening.]
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... A what?
[Clay looks up with a raised eyebrow, looking thoroughly unimpressed and confused.]
With all due respect, sir...
Now, hear me out, Terran. The government will have all of our heads if we don't make them believe you two were actually inside the shuttle. We're already so low on funds - If we don't do this, the entire space center will have to shut down.
[And that's... true. But Clay still doesn't like this, so he crosses his arms and frowns off to the side, finger pressing to the middle of his forehead.]
You know Mr. Starbuck won't want to be part of this, Captain.
... Yes. I know. That's another reason why I need you for this... even though you won't like it.
[And, with that, he takes out the bottle of anxiety pills, the very same that Orion's holding in his hand.]
Starbuck has... a fear of space. He takes these to calm him down during training, though he'd never use them during the actual launch.
[And Clay... never knew this about his mentor, so he just stares with wide eyes at the bottle. All that time... He was scared of space? And that's why he'd freak out during training? He can... see why, but that just doesn't make sense to him. And he doesn't like where this is going.]
... Captain, what are you saying?
These pills... also make him drowsy. In order for him to go along with this -
[And that's where he's cut off by Clay, who stands up to slam his fists on the desk again, looking absolutely livid.]
No! I refuse to go along with that! Captain, you can't make me do this, that isn't fair to him!
[Cosmos doesn't shout back, and instead, he shuts his eyes and lowers his head again, as if he knew Clay would react like this.]
Terran, you know he's already been through enough. And he's the leader of the team, so he can't miss out on this. Also, you know that he can't lie to keep a secret.
But -
- And I know you can. You're honest, but when it comes to secrets, you won't tell a single soul. And I need you to not tell anyone.
Captain, I can't -
- Please, sit down and think about this, Terran.
[Finally, Clay sits down again, looking angry with this whole situation.]
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[orion had been asked to do the same kind of thing in the past, when there were spies--but those were the spies, and this is another situation entirely. this isn't okay.
[orion starts to step forward, but he hesitates. he wants to finish this out. clay looks miserable. he wishes he could help him, but he knows this is a memory.]
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I don't want to do this any more than you do. You know this. If I had another choice, I would've taken it, but... this is to keep you, Starbuck, and the rest of the GYAXA team safe.
I'll let you come to a decision on your own.
[And with that, he wheels out, and as soon as the door closes, Cosmos disappears.
For a moment, Clay just sits there, fingers pressed to his forehead again, a deep, dark expression on his face. He then looks at the medicine bottle, the anxiety pills, and reaches out to take it. He closes his fist tight around it and shuts his eyes in what looks like regret.
And then, the white light returns, and the microgravity of space slowly introduces itself to Orion again. When the light fades back in, Orion's in space once more, and Clay's floating upside-down in front of him. It's only when Orion gets his bearings again that Clay holds his hands up, and the bottle of pills is taken out of Orion's hand and is hovered between the two of them.]
I didn't want to do it. I really, really didn't want to do it.
[The item disappears, and Clay lowers his hands, shuts his eyes, and lowers his head as he starts to float away again.]
I didn't have a choice.
[The items rotate on.]
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... I know. I'm sorry, Clay.
[seeing his friend in pain is worse than anything he could wish on himself.
[but this time, he knows what he wants to grab.]
... I'm sorry for doing this. You can be mad at me later, if you want.
[I want to understand you.
[orion reaches for the bomb, and takes hold of it.]
1/2
The reaction is almost immediate. Where once Clay had been drifting, he's suddenly right in front of Orion and reaching out as if he was trying to stop him, trying to wrench the item from his hands.]
NO, DON'T -
2/2
Orion will find himself in the Space Museum that was outlined earlier. It's rather large and spacious, with all kinds of souvenirs and space memorabilia. At the end of the room is a large rocket, and it actually looks real... but since it's in the museum, it's probably a fake.
And that's the point. At the base of the rocket... are two astronauts, and the helmets are so dark that Orion won't be able to tell who's who. Considering that one's standing with a capsule under one arm and one's slumped over with his back to the wall, it's probably obvious which one's which.
A moment passes, and then a male's voice sounds over the intercom.]
One hour remaining until launch. Please begin your final equipment check.
[The astronaut still standing pauses for a moment, then presses his free hand to a spot on his helmet before he responds. As soon as he speaks, it's obvious that it's Clay, and his voice goes over the intercom as well.]
Check complete. Everything's A-okay! We're ready here whenever you are!
[And then, just a few seconds after that, a large BOOM is heard. The entire place rocks, and Clay wavers on his feet from it. It's hard to lose balance when he has such a heavy suit on, but it's also hard to regain it if it's lost. A second explosion is heard, and not only does the surroundings rock further, but the lights cut out as well.
Looks like they were right about the sabotage.]
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[he knows that sound, and it clicks what's about to happen here.]
CLAY!!
[the lights go out.]
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Come in, HAT-2! Come in! Do you copy?!
[Orion's probably trying to find Clay, though, and he won't have to look far. As soon as the emergency lights come on, Clay's just a few feet from where he was before, capsule still under one arm, but now carrying Starbuck in the other. He's got the other man's arm over his shoulder, yes, but he can't support his weight with the other arm, so he's practically carrying all of his dead weight, plus the weight of the astronaut suit, with one arm.
And it's very, very heavy.
He walks past Orion, and the only sign of him having trouble with all the weight is the slow way he walks, and the little grunt that can be heard from under the helmet.]
[STATIC]
[Orion is suddenly in the hall.
Clay looks about the same as he did just a second ago, although he's suddenly down the hall rather than heading towards it. The lights continue to flicker, the alarms continue to blare.
He has to keep going.]
[static STATIC]
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[he wants to help, but he knows--he knows he won't be able to. he hasn't felt this level of fear in any recent memory. not even the night natasha left.
[he has to be okay. he has to make it out.
[orion tries to follow him.]
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[The end of the hall. Clay rocks on his feet from all the weight he's carrying and how damn exhausted he is. The door is right there. It's shut, and a large LOCKED sign hangs above the door.
Clay twists his body so that he can just barely hold out his left hand, arm still keeping the capsule tucked safely under it. He can't drop any of it. He isn't sure if he can take having to pick up anything else, and his mind is only focused on get out get out GET]
[STATIC]
[Outside the door, in the lounge, it's dark, Clay drops Starbuck to the floor as he falls for - ]
[STATIC]
[He lies on his back breathing heavily just trying to catch his breath the capsule is safe they're all safe]
[STATIC]
[darkness
a glint of light
no
a lighter
the glint of glasses behind them]
[STATIC]
2/2
The bomb appears in front of him, but Clay doesn't. He has nothing to say. The item disappears, just like the anxiety pills did.
The items rotate on.]
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[no.]
... Clay. Clay!
[he's yelling for him, wishing he would respond.]
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...
...]
Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun, effectively making a sort of greenhouse effect. Without this, Earth would be too cold for life to exist, although it's speculated that the cause for Venus' condition is a result of its greenhouse effect going out of control.
[Yeah, he's there. He's just behind Orion, back turned to him for now, and still far enough to be unreachable.]
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Clay! Come here! Dammit, don't ignore me!
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All right.
Clay suddenly floats in front of Orion, still out of reach, but at least looking at him now. He's upside-down again, arms crossed, expression... blank, like he's just waiting for him to talk.
Yes?]
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[he motions for him to come closer, what could have been mistaken for anger turning into a more frantic sadness.]
Say something.
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What am I supposed to say?
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[you didn't survive that, did you?]
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Of course I do. I'm going home someday.
[He slowly turns, letting himself be right-side up instead.]
There's too many things I haven't accomplished yet.
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Don't... ever scare me like that. You have to go home from here, and you have to be a great astronaut. You have to make history.
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