As I sat there looking up into space. As me and my partner’s shuttle’s systems began to shut down and his suit’s oxygen ran out from the hole in the tank where she had landed particularly hard on the edge of the console, I couldn’t bring myself to be afraid. I could only stare out into space and lookout on what was meant to be our objective, the moon. But I reminded myself that only one of us had to die and that one was going to be me, for my partner had a family who were thinking that she was going to be coming home. And I needed to make that happen.
“Hey Sarah, I want you to know something. Your husband and kids, they are going to see their mom again, don’t you worry now. But what I am going to do will require you not to freak out, do you understand?” I asked her and could just barely make out her nodding behind the polarized glass of her LES suit.
“That is good, my friend. Now I am going to lean you forward and switch our tanks. This will take a couple of moments, but don’t worry you will soon have oxygen again.” I said to her before doing exactly as I said which took a couple of minutes. And after I had finished I could feel my oxygen already running out.
“Ivan you idiot, why would you give me your only hope of getting out of this shuttle alive?” She asked moving towards where I had moved to lay against the back of the shuttle and gripped the helmet of my Krechet Space Suit. And when I moved my head enough to look at her but still conserve my oxygen long enough to at least see that she gets to re-entry, she had tears running down the inside of her visor.
“I did it so that you could see your family again. You have so much to look forward to. you're only twenty five. You are filled with such youth and energy that I haven’t seen in over forty years. And I have nothing waiting for me back in Russia, no family, no friends, and not even a job. This was my last launch as a member of RFSA. I want you to experience the wonders and joys of life. And you need too get back to those kids and husband of yours. And it looks like I won’t be able to make it to your daughter’s birthday party after all.” I explained and after that, we just sat looking out of the window as Earth slowly came into view and the solar radio I forgot was placed in the shuttle pod activated.
*Static* “This is the President, please if anyone is alive up there answer the radio. I repeat if anyone is alive up there answer the radio.” *Static* President Eisenhower said and seeing as Sarah didn’t know where it specifically was I pointed under my seat at the front of the shuttle and could only watch as she patched the radio into her suits comms.
“This is Sarah Jane, co-pilot aboard Gemini 20. Mister President, we have lost power to everything except the heating and that is slowing losing power as well and my friend has no more oxygen. Please tell me there’s a way to get the oxygen systems back online? I can’t lose him, not now, not here.” She begged.
“I am so very sorry Sarah, but the scientist here have already told me that there is no possible way to get any of the systems back online with out making it impossible for you to safely land and the chance of that happening already are very slim. There’s just no way, I’m sorry I really am.” The President explained and somehow I could see him and everyone in the NASA command room looking down in sadness, and knowing that I was on the last of my oxygen I had to get somethings done. And so I to patched myself into the radio.
“Mr President *cough cough*, this is Ivan Gurlukovich pilot of Gemini 20. And I need to know, if I use my body as a cushion will it soften the impact for her enough to increase her odds of survival?” I ask with a spark of hope as I hear the chatter of the people in the command room running the calculations. And after a few minutes I received my answer.
“The calculations just came back and they say yes. Your body would cushion the impact for Mrs. Jane enough that she would live, but your body would take most of the impact from her and it would guarantee your death. Son I don’t know what you have planned, but I have an idea and I just want to say. It’s been nice talking with you, and Sarah make sure that you get out of this alive. This is President Eisenhower and NASA signing out.” The President said before the radio went silent. And I began moving to cover Sarah’s body with my own after moving her to her seat.
“Ivan, what the hell do you think you are doing? There is no way in hell I am going to let you do whatever it is you're doing.” She protested
“What makes you think that you have any choice in the matter?” I said as I clicked the seat belts buckles into place, securing my body and hers’ to the seat making sure that hers’ was covered as much as possible. And just in time as we began to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere and I asked one last question.
“Sarah, will anyone care about me when I am gone?” I ask, fearful for what the answer I recieve might be.
*Sniff* “Of course people will. Because I know me and my family will always care about you my friend.” She said giving me a hug before I faded into unconsciousness and felt the heat shield barely holding back the heat as my body absorbed most of it.
