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Captain’s Log. Day 1831.

We are quickly running out of fuel. We wasted more time than we could. Aleksandr found a way to get us home, but… The chances of surviving the deep sleep for close to 6 years with the fuel efficacy solution he has brought up are low.

I am afraid that we are going to die.

What would you do if you knew you were going to die?

much of the crew have fallen into utter despair.

I am afraid that I will never see her again.

—

“Miss Solace?”

Came out the soft voice.

Her young secretary- His name was Ilya, a good 20 years younger than her- came up to her.

Ophelia turned to face him.

The expressionless woman looked down at the young man, one hand in her pocket, the other holding the mug she’d gotten for her 42nd birthday(#1 Captain!, it read).

She raised an eyebrow, urging him to talk.

“Yes, Volkov?”

She asked, moving past him, out of the break room.

“I have an urgent message from NASA HQ.”

“The one orbiting Saturn?”

”yes. Miss Solace, t-there’s only one NASA HQ.”

“Get on with it.”

“They’ve found a ship. It’s a human model, dating to about… 22 years ago.”

Ophelia paused.

“Say that again?”

—

Captain’s log. Day 1531

Aleksandr has found a problem with our Fuel.

We have enough fuel to last us maybe another year. We are not currently capable of returning home in less than a year.

We aren’t sure what happened. NASA assured us that we had enough fuel to last us the round trip and 5 extra years, if needed.

I have assigned Aleksandr and Xuanji to investigating. They’re both intelligent. I’m sure they'll find a way to sustain us from the trip home.

—

“Tell me exactly what’s happening.”

Ophelia said, sipping from her mug as she walked as fast as she could to the command center.

“W-well, Miss Solace, it’s as I said before. NASA has spotted a ship drifting in space.”

Ophelia’s breath caught in her throat.

“OKay.”

“A ship of similar model to those used in the Apostle missions, ma’am. Specifically, Apostle 7. Where, um…”

Opehlia nodded silently.

“I know.”

“Ma’am, there’s a very low chance-”

“It doesn’t matter, Iliya. It was over 20 years ago.”

“It would have been less than 6 for the crew.”

“I know.”

Ophelia burst into the command center. IMmediately, someone handed her a headset, and she slipped it on.

“The Director of Nasa, Ma’am.”

SOmeone said.

A brown-haired man popped on the large screen, glasses slightly askew.

“Satou.”

Ophelia said.

“Solace.”

“What happened to the ship?”

“We’ve sent a crew to rescue whoever is within the ship.”

“Is it…”

She trailed off, expressionless mask cracking for a moment, as her voice cracked.

“her?”

Satou shook his head.

“There’s no way of knowing yet. It might just be one of their expedition ships that found its way back, somehow. The crew is still presumed dead. I’ll keep you updated.”

–

Captain’s Log. Day 1129.

If I were on earth, it would be our 5th Anniversary.

By the time I return, you will be older than I. TIme dilation is a bitch. But I hope you still love me then, like you do now.

No empty expanse of space will truly come between us.

I love you.

–

There was something oddly nerve wracking as she saw the ships slowly pull into the space station.

Ophelia quietly watched from behind the protective window.

Watched as an all-too familiar ship was brought in.

She brought her radio up to her lips.

“...What's the situation?”

She murmured.

She waited a moment.

Then two.

Then on the third, a response was returned to her.

”All six members of the Apostle 7 have been ID’d and confirmed. All are in Cryostasis.”

Her heart leapt into her throat.

That meant…

But she managed to calm herself.

“Understood.”

She said, somewhat shakily.

“...Move the stasis pods to the stasis croom. Be careful.”

She said, closing her eyes, before turning off her radio, and letting out a soft sigh.

–
Captain’s Log. Day 826.

Life on the Apostle 7 is going better than I expected.

It’s a bit over two years in. It’s still… somewhat lonely without her. But I’m managing.

Still. I knew what I was going to lose.

–

Ophelia slowly walked through the Crystasis room.

This place had about 300 people in it- those on ice as they were being treated for some dangerous illness, elderly folk on ice as they were being transferred to other stations, etc.

But tat the very end of the room, were 6 pods.

Her hand rested on the glass of the one right in the middle.

She wiped away the fog gathering on the pod.

Her breath caught, as she saw the beautiful face of her lover for the first time in 22 years.

She paused, before turning away, hand lingering for a moment longer.

She’d come back later.

–

Log. Day 1.

Her eyes fluttered open to the sound of low, constant beeping.

Her head hurt. It also felt really foggy.

Probably some sort of drug pumped into her system.

Also, it was really bright.

Feeling slowly filled her body again.

She felt someone squeezing her hand, a soft voice in the corner of her mind, that slowly got more prominent.

“-ixin. Huixin. Huixin. Are you awake?”


Came a soft voice.

She knew that voice.

Over 6 years in space, and she hadn’t forgotten it for a moment.

She slowly shifted, her head turning to the side, where Ophelia sat.

She looked… older.

More tired.

Ophelia smiled softly, emotionless facade broken.

“Hi, Huixin. Welcome back.”