The Missing [Log 6]
08 Sep 2022Content2541
\\\> Open Log Recorder
<c:\Ship\Pioneer\Logs\Log Recorder\Log_Recorder.exe\> Open - Log Recorder Initiated
> Create New Log Entry
<c:\Ship\Pioneer\Logs\Log Recorder\Log_Recorder.exe\> Initiate - [Recording ◉]
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LOG - 006
________
The habitation rooms had no lock, it merely opened with the press of a button. The inside was dimly lit and in front of me lay a hallway of doors, the first one was open, so I walked inside to take a look around.
It must have been the captain’s, even after the crash it was still neatly aligned, logbooks stacked neatly on a small shelf, a ceremonial gun lay in a display case, papers lay sprawled on the desk with a well-worn pencil on top of them. The desk light flickered softly. I walked my way to the ceremonial gun, lifted it out of the glass case it was in, and slid its sling over my back. I walked over to some of the log books, most water damaged, but some still somewhat readable.
“EXPEDITION LOG 3- COLON~~
Made ou- -eresting disco- Marking for -urthu-
-search.”
I sighed, looking inside his desk. There I found postcards of Sol, and his family relaxing on Mars. I smiled, I thought of myself in his position. Family, friends, children…
The man was younger than he was now, but I squinted hard at the lady, she must be his wife… she was younger too back then, wish it had a date. A child was in between them, and each of the parent's hands lay upon her shoulder.
I put the card into a nearby bag and scoured the rest of the room for anything. Nothing much was interesting. He was a plain man.
I moved out into the hall and into the next room, it was the woman’s. The walls were decorated with complex art and little trinkets. Small warm lights hung from the ceiling, it almost seemed this room was untouched in the crash, even the ensuing fireball didn’t seem to touch it. Everything seemed perfectly where it was. I gathered what seemed interesting and walked out.
As I entered the hallway I turned to leave but I saw a third room. I walked in and looked around. It seemed to be a room for a couple, a large bed lay welded together, likely so the family could sleep together. But then it clicked on me. A sudden flow of realization… That woman’s room was a child’s room. There was still someone here I needed to find. I walked outside of the room and quickly slid between hallways to find the escape pods.
There was a line of them, and at the very back, one was missing.
I got a sudden chill and dropped the bag of trinkets, I ran for the cargo hatch and flung myself into the mud, I quickly got up and looked around frantically. I was looking for anything, anything at all, and that’s when I saw a distant green light. I ran at full speed toward the light, praying, hoping, begging for it to be occupied.
I stumbled onto it, half buried in the mud. I dropped to my knees and began wiping the mud off the viewport, I saw a girl inside…
Slowly I leaned back, crossed my fingers, and swiped the mud and water from the vitals screen. She was alive.
I felt a tear run down my cheek. I shuffled a little closer and hugged the escape pod, I closed my eyes and smiled- even as the rain poured down, lighting rippled across the sky, and the thunder shook my body…
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> End Log Entry <c:\Ship\Pioneer\Logs\Log Recorder\Log_Recorder.exe\> End Recording- Recording Ended
> Close Log Recorder
<c:\Ship\Pioneer\Logs\Log Recorder\Log_Recorder.exe\> Close - Closing
> Log Saved, Goodbye Commander
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