A lone figure stood looking out one of the viewing windows in the sleeping/living quarters. With a final glance toward the burnt umber surface of the world below, he turned and strode toward the prep area.
The clang of the lockers and rustle of jumpsuit fabric made him smile. Going into space? YOU? That had been all his mother could say. Surely you can't be that crazy. Grinning even wider, he collected the radar fob that would connect his suit to the tracking system within the ship. Don't you know you could get lost out there? He stepped into the jumpsuit that would keep his body heat circulating within inches of his skin during his time on the surface, then pulled it over his arms, reaching down to waist-level to zip the material all the way to his neck. You study rocks, son! Erosion and soil patterns! What possible use could they have for someone like you?
At this, he laughed out loud. A young brunette he'd been eyeing all during training gave him a quizzical look, half-smiled, and then went back to her own preparation when he simply winked and shook his head. She'd probably never understand what was going on inside his head. Heavens knew his mother didn't.
Still, Ma's concerns weren't without merit. He knew that the trip was dangerous...but so was life planetside these days. Water supplies were running low, pollution had gotten out of hand, and mankind had reached his fingers into other galaxies in an attempt to find a similarly-built world we could repopulate and slowly destroy. Then they'd found Body X213. Not exactly the typical planet, as its more oblong shape made it seem almost egg-like, instead of spheroid like your typical planetary object. Then they'd found the canyons. Winding, meandering canyons with almost perfectly-smooth walls. The scientists monitoring the planetary drone that had gone to canvass the planet's surface had nearly wet themselves. A new potential source of freshwater?
And so he found himself here. A geologist chosen to accompany a team of astronauts to the surface of the planet so that he could gauge the likelihood of finding a true aquifer on the dusty planetoid above which they currently hovered in orbit.
"Sir?" The voice startled him. "Mr. Jackson?"
Looking up, he saw the brunette looking at him. With a glance down, he noted her nametag: Shaw. "Yes, Miss Shaw?"
She smiled. "You seemed lost in your own little world, there for a second. Come on. They're ready to get us locked into our suits for the descent to the surface. Grab your gear!" She grinned and grabbed his arm, dragging him along with her. He laughed, caught off-guard a bit by her obvious enthusiasm. Moments later, they were secured in their spacesuits and plummeting toward Body X213.
It was only then that his mind began to whisper its doubts. Was this really a good idea? What if they didn't make it back? What if this was for nothing? No water, no harvest-worthy mineral deposits...nothing? He gazed out the viewing pane toward the steadily-approaching skin of X213, catching his breath in wonder at the barren beauty of the landscape as the craft broke through cloud cover. It reminded him of a painting he'd seen in a museum once, just before everything went digital. Man, he thought to himself, what was that guy's name? Dali. Yeah...Dali! Fellow had some crazy ideas in his head! As the rover slowed and began its pre-programmed landing sequence, Jackson's doubts began to grow quieter, drowned out as his mind took in the almost post-apocalyptic-fantasy feel of the planetoid's surface.
When the rover touched the planet, kicking up four small, red clouds of dust, he knew he'd made the right decision. The same synthesized voice he'd heard on the ship spoke from the speakers in the rover. "Touchdown achieved. All systems nominal. Atmospheric pressure levels similar to earth, but gravitational effect is increased. Necessary countermeasures have been built into your suits. Atmosphere is almost equal parts nitrogen and sulphuric gases. Human respiration impossible. Doctors Shaw and Jackson, you will proceed onto the surface of X213. Specialist Dyer will remain within the rover to monitor your progress and report any anomalies. You have one hour of surface time in which to gather your necessary information and additional hour of travel. Two hours of surface time. Maximum. Prepare to exit the craft."
Jackson looked at Specialist Dyer, a man he'd initially thought looked somewhat like a weasel. Dyer had proven a more-than-capable pilot and a fantastic navigator, though. He was a great comfort to have around, really. With a nearly-imperceptible nod, Dyer acknowledged him. He grinned and nodded back, stepping into the open airlock with Shaw. "We'll be back soon, Dyer!" he called as the door whooshed to a close. Through the communicator in his suit, Jackson heard Dyer's response as though he were standing right next to the man.
"You'd better be, Jackson. You'd better be."
When the airlock door opened onto the surface of the planet, Shaw stepped out first, attaching a pulley line to her suit. Once finished, she attached a second to the "belt" on Jackson's suit. "Well, at least we'll find our way back, yeah? Two-and-a-half miles of super-strength, remarkably thin cable. Longest leash ever."
Jackson could hear the grin in her voice. Her enthusiasm was contagious. He chuckled in response, then withdrew a small, heavily-shielded electronic device from the pack attached to the waist of his suit. His movements were sluggish and somewhat slowed, but nothing like the water-based gravity training they'd put him through after his selection for this mission. His muscles had ached for days after that mess. Though, for all he knew, they'd ache for days after this, too. The device made a series of beeping noises that the two of them could hear through their communicators, then fell silent. A steady, pulsing light sent waves out from the center of the device's screen periodically, with a significant pause between each. Jackson stared at it for a moment, then looked up and shrugged--as much as his suit would let him--exaggeratedly.
"Good news is, we're here." he said with a smile.
"And the bad news?"
"We've got a bit of a hike ahead of us. We're nowhere near anything even remotely like water."
They set off, with Jackson periodically checking the sonic device for any signs of water even though he knew it would begin to signal with a repetitive beep when anything was picked up. They'd been walking for fifteen or twenty minutes when a wind began to kick up the dust, making their progress even more labored. After a time the winds died back, and with a cry of shock, Jackson realized that the tracker had begun a slow, rhythmic pulse. Beep...beep...beep...
"You hear that, Shaw?" he said excitedly. "Hear that?" His excitement was nearly tangible. Water! Here! Granted, there was no guarantee that it would be potable, at least not at first...but it was a start! Jackson's eyes scanned the readout on the machine. He knew it would change a bit as they moved, but the source of the feedback was almost directly ahead of them. Judging by the time between the pulses of sound, it was still a good way off, but blast it all, they'd found it!
He saw her nod, and knew that she was nearly as excited as he was. Setting his eyes forward, he continued his stride, now fully aware of the monumental nature of what was about to take place. He looked back to see Shaw standing still, her head inclined skyward. Concerned, he covered the distance between them as quickly as he dared. She was standing, eyes closed, as if enjoying a gentle summer breeze. Jackson waved a hand slowly (it was really all he was capable of in the suit) in front of her helmet. "Shaw?" he queried, his voice steady only through sheer force of will.
She blinked for a moment, then looked at him. His face must have been a mask of shock and fear, because she recoiled slightly. "Jackson? Are you alright?" She looked down at the hand gripping her suit--a hand that Jackson didn't even remember extending. Shrugging it off, she gave him a raised eyebrow. "You okay? Sorry if I freaked you out a bit. I was just imagining what this place might be like, y'know...someday...if we're able to make it inhabitable. A place without the poisons and the overcrowding and the constant fear. Guess I kinda lost myself a bit."
Jackson chuckled again, though this one was noticeably less mirthful. "Yeah, I understand. I guess I just don't think about it, really. It won't happen in my lifetime, in all likelihood, so daydreaming about it only makes me feel a little sad that I'll never see it." Better keep your opinions to yourself as to the odds of this place ever being inhabitable, Connor. He gave Shaw a smile he hoped was convincing, and added, "but it's sure a beautiful thought, isn't it?"
They walked on in silence for a few minutes, and Jackson began to believe that he'd somehow upset Shaw. He was about to open his mouth to speak when Shaw herself broke the lull.
"So...Jackson. Like in 'Andrew,' the President?"
At this, Jackson laughed aloud. Loudly enough that it echoed from Shaw's speakers and reverberated back through his own communicator. "Well, actually, it's 'Connor,'" he responded. "Connor Jackson. I was named for my parents. Connor is my mother's maiden name. She died delivering me." His voice trailed off, mildly nostalgic. He'd heard the story of his mother's heroic delivery. Against all odds, she'd held on as disease ravaged her body. Upon his entry into the world, doctors informed Connor's father that the sickness that had claimed his mother showed no trace of having been transferred to the child she'd borne. His dad had always claimed that she'd fought it off for him...refusing to let the illness that would destroy her touch her child.
Mistaking his silence for hurt, Shaw apologized. "I'm sorry, Jackson, I didn't realize that it--"
He cut her off. "No, no. It's not bad. Not at all. Just made me a little reminiscent, I guess."
She nodded, but he could tell she wasn't convinced. So he changed tactics. "How about you? What's the first name of the enigmatic Shaw?"
She shook her head, then fixed a coy expression on him. "Oh, no. It's just Shaw. To everybody."
He feigned offense. "Oh, come ON now! We're about to make history together!"
Shaw slowly pantomimed pulling an imaginary zipper across her face. In the spacesuit and overlarge helmet, the effect was almost absurdly comical. Another burst of laughter escaped Jackson, and was cut off mid-guffaw by the voice of Dyer from the rover breaking in over the communicator.
"Jackson? Shaw? Can you read me?" his voice was clear, but Jackson could sense something beneath it--not panic, but something close. "Please, one of you, callback for me."
The two looked at each other. Shaw nodded to Jackson, who spoke up. "Yeah, Dyer, we're here. What's got you so worked up, man?"
The specialist exhaled audibly. "There's a sandstorm coming. Big one. Shouldn't last too long--maybe a half-hour or so at most. You've got a little more than an hour in your suits. You need to find a place to hunker down and let this thing blow over--"
"Pun intended?" quipped Shaw.
"--dammit, Shaw, I'm serious!" barked Dyer in response. "I'm gonna flip the grav switches on your suits...it'll compensate beyond the average gravitational settings and allow you to move a bit more freely...but you've got to be careful. No trying stupid acrobatic crap simply because the suit is doing most of the work. Get yourselves to someplace you'll be out of the brunt of the dust storm and stay there. You got it?"
"Yes," said Shaw and Jackson, in unison.
"Good. Move it. NOW."
A crackle of static and he was gone. Jackson and Shaw paused for a moment, looking at each other uncertainly. A moment later, they could hear the roar of the approaching sandstorm even through their helmets. Dust was beginning to whirl along the ground around them. Time was growing shorter by the moment, obviously. Gesturing with a hand, Jackson began to hustle in the same direction they'd been traveling. "Well, we've not passed anything that would've served as shelter thus far. We chose the landing space because it was wide and open, and even if we miscalculated or overcorrected on the landing, we'd be pretty much assured of landing in a flat plane. So we've got to find a spot, and our best bet is just to keep moving. If there IS water here, we still need to find it. Two birds, right?"
Shaw nodded, but said nothing. Jackson could feel that she was afraid. He was too...but right now, fear was an unaffordable distraction. He began to move as quickly as he could. The winds were picking up quickly, if the movement of the dust around them was any indication. He had to find them some shelter...and soon. The storm was minutes away, if that...and they'd never survive it in the open. He glanced down at the tracker, noting that the readout indicated that the source of feedback was a mere few hundred yards away. Squinting, he examined the expanse before him...there were shadows, tall ones, in the ever-growing tumult of blowing dust and sand. He pointed, turning to Shaw. "Come on! We'll find some place to hole up over there!"
Another nod. Two minutes later, they found themselves between two large rock formations that seemed to end on the edge of a rather steep canyon. They'd been walking in peace for the last minute or so: the rocks had begun about fifty yards behind them, and forced the sand and the winds upward, creating a calm on the surface of the planet, some ten or twenty stories below. Gazing up at the orange-tinted sky, Jackson was fascinated by the absolute chaos he saw. Shaw spoke, ending her prolonged silence. "That's amazing."
"You know it," replied Jackson. "It's nearly darkened the entire sky. You can see chunks of rock up there, Shaw! Can you imagine how powerful those winds must be?"
Shaw's response was hushed, almost whispered. "I don't want to think about it. We were almost caught in that."
Jackson understood her fear. But they were safe now, the natural wall of stone would keep out--
A billow of dust blew around them, moving through the pass, toward the canyon. Jackson watched it, seeing the dust and small stones whirling around in patterns reminiscent of ballerinas in a dance. Wow, he thought, that's absolutely beautiful in a rather mundane way. The thought made him chuckle, though it was unsettling, and he wasn't sure--
The winds are changing direction. It's coming.
"Shaw, run!" he screamed. A quick glance back the direction they'd come confirmed his suspicions: the dust was beginning to whip into the pass. It was coming. He pushed Shaw to get her moving as she stood gaping back toward the whirling storm.
The two of them began to move; not nearly fast enough, but as quickly as they could. Jackson could see the end of the pass, the edge of the canyon as they approached it. Coming to a halt a few seconds later, he found himself gazing into not a canyon, but an abyss. A crater in the face of X213.
"Not good." He muttered.
Shaw spoke up. "Jackson. Over there!"
He looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a small opening in the face of the rock wall. Access to it was a narrow outcropping that faced the canyon itself. Great, thought Jackson, stuck huddling in that and looking out over some bottomless pit. Fantastic. At the same time, he heard a rumbling above them. Craning his head, Jackson saw rocks begin to tumble from the top of the pass. Shaw was already on her way to the tiny "cave." He followed, wincing as he heard the sound and felt the impact as stone began to strike earth behind him. Reaching the cave, Shaw turned and called out to him:
"Come on, Jackson! You're almost here! Get the lead out!"
Jackson smirked slightly, even though she'd never see it. Easier said than done, doll, he thought. I'm hoofin' it across the edge of a friggin' canyon with no bottom. Pardon me if I want to be a little less than reckless. Still, he picked up the pace as much as he dared. He was only a few yards from the opening when a huge piece of stone struck just behind him. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, throwing Jackson off his feet. As he tumbled to the ground, he had just enough time to take stock of the fallen rock all around him before he landed, his helmet striking a particularly jagged chunk. When the cracks appeared in his helmet, it didn't even register.
"Jackson? Jackson! Can you hear me?" Shaw's voice came through the communicator, and Jackson could tell she was fighting panic. "Jackson! Are you ok?"
Pulling himself to his feet, Jackson thanked the heavens that nothing else had collapsed on him. He covered the remaining distance to Shaw, ducking into the opening and giving the harrowed young woman a smile. "Fit as a fiddle."
Shaw's eyes widened in terror. "Jackson! Your helmet...oh, my god..."
Noticing the damage for the first time, he shook his head. "It's tougher than it looks. Hit it just right, I guess. It'll hold together until the storm passes and we get back to the ship. Don't worry."
Shaw looked unconvinced, but didn't argue further. She blinked every time the thud-crunch of impacting stone met her ears. Jackson felt sorry for her, but didn't know what to do, really. They were stuck here. He crawled forward slightly, enough to allow himself to look out and stare into the darkness of the pit below.
Oh, man, he thought to himself, Nietzsche would love this. He chuckled dryly.
"Jackson?" Shaw's voice pulled him away from the pit. "Do you think we'll make it? Really?"
Grinning mischievously, Jackson replied. "I dunno. Maybe not, if you don't tell me your first name."
The look of confusion, then of shock, on her face was priceless. "Connor Jackson! We are in a life or death situation here, and all you can think about is--"
The crack of earth stopped her mid-scold. Jackson listened, his body tensed. When the earth beneath his legs disappeared, he didn't even have a chance to scream. His body plunged downward, and his breath caught in his throat.
"Jackson!" Shaw's terrified scream echoed through his helmet. He saw her head appear at the edge of the abyss, eyes wide. Saw her grab the cable that was connected to his suit. Then she was gone as his body slowly turned in its descent. He continued to move downward, into the black, when suddenly his body jerked. The sensation of falling ceased, and he felt himself moving in the darkness. He had no idea where he was going, what might be nearb--
His foot touched something solid; he felt it. But he was still moving so fast. Instinctively, he drew breath and held it. Braced himself.
--CRACK--
The impact rippled through his shoulder, whipping his head to the side. He felt his helmet connect with the wall of the canyon. Heard the sound of the visor's cracks weakening, moving, and giving way. Then he felt the wind blowing on his skin. His helmet was shattered. Opening his eyes, he could once again see the mouth of the canyon, and the flame-orange sky of X213.
It's over. He thought to himself. Shaw's head appeared once again.
"Jackson? I've secured the guide cables around some rock formation up here. You ok?"
He knew he couldn't answer her. One breath, and he was dead.
"Jackson?"
As he watched, she methodically eased herself over the lip of the canyon and began to climb down toward him. His lungs began to ache from the effort of holding his breath. Seconds later, she was clinging to the wall a mere six feet above his head.
"Jackson?"
He turned his head upward, and even in the limited sunlight, she could see what had happened to his helmet. "Oh, god, Jackson...no. No, no no..."
Jackson forced a tightly-closed smile and shrugged. His lungs were burning now. Maybe 15-20 seconds left. If that.
"Come on, Jackson. Take my hand. Please. I can't leave you here like this." Kicking off the wall a bit, Shaw tried to reach him. He shook his head. "Dammit, Jackson! Don't be stubborn!"
Another shrug. The pain in his chest was excruciating. He reached to his waist. Gripped the clasp that held the guide cable to his suit with one hand. With the other, he waved to Shaw.
"No, Jackson. Please." Her voice came through the speakers hoarse, and Jackson realized she was crying.
A distant rumbling echoed through the canyon, and they both looked upward. The rover craft, already a tiny speck in the atmosphere, had taken off. They'd been abandoned.
Shaw sobbed twice. Then, in a voice that Jackson would have sworn meant she was grinning, she simply whispered, "Jillian. My first name is Jillian."
He nodded, and then released the clasp. Shaw watched him fall, a strange smile on his face.
With a final glance toward the sky, her hands reached for her own guide-cable clasp. Release.
And then...darkness.
* * *
He saw her nod, and knew that she was nearly as excited as he was. Setting his eyes forward, he continued his stride, now fully aware of the monumental nature of what was about to take place. He looked back to see Shaw standing still, her head inclined skyward. Concerned, he covered the distance between them as quickly as he dared. She was standing, eyes closed, as if enjoying a gentle summer breeze. Jackson waved a hand slowly (it was really all he was capable of in the suit) in front of her helmet. "Shaw?" he queried, his voice steady only through sheer force of will.
She blinked for a moment, then looked at him. His face must have been a mask of shock and fear, because she recoiled slightly. "Jackson? Are you alright?" She looked down at the hand gripping her suit--a hand that Jackson didn't even remember extending. Shrugging it off, she gave him a raised eyebrow. "You okay? Sorry if I freaked you out a bit. I was just imagining what this place might be like, y'know...someday...if we're able to make it inhabitable. A place without the poisons and the overcrowding and the constant fear. Guess I kinda lost myself a bit."
Jackson chuckled again, though this one was noticeably less mirthful. "Yeah, I understand. I guess I just don't think about it, really. It won't happen in my lifetime, in all likelihood, so daydreaming about it only makes me feel a little sad that I'll never see it." Better keep your opinions to yourself as to the odds of this place ever being inhabitable, Connor. He gave Shaw a smile he hoped was convincing, and added, "but it's sure a beautiful thought, isn't it?"
They walked on in silence for a few minutes, and Jackson began to believe that he'd somehow upset Shaw. He was about to open his mouth to speak when Shaw herself broke the lull.
"So...Jackson. Like in 'Andrew,' the President?"
At this, Jackson laughed aloud. Loudly enough that it echoed from Shaw's speakers and reverberated back through his own communicator. "Well, actually, it's 'Connor,'" he responded. "Connor Jackson. I was named for my parents. Connor is my mother's maiden name. She died delivering me." His voice trailed off, mildly nostalgic. He'd heard the story of his mother's heroic delivery. Against all odds, she'd held on as disease ravaged her body. Upon his entry into the world, doctors informed Connor's father that the sickness that had claimed his mother showed no trace of having been transferred to the child she'd borne. His dad had always claimed that she'd fought it off for him...refusing to let the illness that would destroy her touch her child.
Mistaking his silence for hurt, Shaw apologized. "I'm sorry, Jackson, I didn't realize that it--"
He cut her off. "No, no. It's not bad. Not at all. Just made me a little reminiscent, I guess."
She nodded, but he could tell she wasn't convinced. So he changed tactics. "How about you? What's the first name of the enigmatic Shaw?"
She shook her head, then fixed a coy expression on him. "Oh, no. It's just Shaw. To everybody."
He feigned offense. "Oh, come ON now! We're about to make history together!"
Shaw slowly pantomimed pulling an imaginary zipper across her face. In the spacesuit and overlarge helmet, the effect was almost absurdly comical. Another burst of laughter escaped Jackson, and was cut off mid-guffaw by the voice of Dyer from the rover breaking in over the communicator.
"Jackson? Shaw? Can you read me?" his voice was clear, but Jackson could sense something beneath it--not panic, but something close. "Please, one of you, callback for me."
The two looked at each other. Shaw nodded to Jackson, who spoke up. "Yeah, Dyer, we're here. What's got you so worked up, man?"
The specialist exhaled audibly. "There's a sandstorm coming. Big one. Shouldn't last too long--maybe a half-hour or so at most. You've got a little more than an hour in your suits. You need to find a place to hunker down and let this thing blow over--"
"Pun intended?" quipped Shaw.
"--dammit, Shaw, I'm serious!" barked Dyer in response. "I'm gonna flip the grav switches on your suits...it'll compensate beyond the average gravitational settings and allow you to move a bit more freely...but you've got to be careful. No trying stupid acrobatic crap simply because the suit is doing most of the work. Get yourselves to someplace you'll be out of the brunt of the dust storm and stay there. You got it?"
"Yes," said Shaw and Jackson, in unison.
"Good. Move it. NOW."
A crackle of static and he was gone. Jackson and Shaw paused for a moment, looking at each other uncertainly. A moment later, they could hear the roar of the approaching sandstorm even through their helmets. Dust was beginning to whirl along the ground around them. Time was growing shorter by the moment, obviously. Gesturing with a hand, Jackson began to hustle in the same direction they'd been traveling. "Well, we've not passed anything that would've served as shelter thus far. We chose the landing space because it was wide and open, and even if we miscalculated or overcorrected on the landing, we'd be pretty much assured of landing in a flat plane. So we've got to find a spot, and our best bet is just to keep moving. If there IS water here, we still need to find it. Two birds, right?"
Shaw nodded, but said nothing. Jackson could feel that she was afraid. He was too...but right now, fear was an unaffordable distraction. He began to move as quickly as he could. The winds were picking up quickly, if the movement of the dust around them was any indication. He had to find them some shelter...and soon. The storm was minutes away, if that...and they'd never survive it in the open. He glanced down at the tracker, noting that the readout indicated that the source of feedback was a mere few hundred yards away. Squinting, he examined the expanse before him...there were shadows, tall ones, in the ever-growing tumult of blowing dust and sand. He pointed, turning to Shaw. "Come on! We'll find some place to hole up over there!"
Another nod. Two minutes later, they found themselves between two large rock formations that seemed to end on the edge of a rather steep canyon. They'd been walking in peace for the last minute or so: the rocks had begun about fifty yards behind them, and forced the sand and the winds upward, creating a calm on the surface of the planet, some ten or twenty stories below. Gazing up at the orange-tinted sky, Jackson was fascinated by the absolute chaos he saw. Shaw spoke, ending her prolonged silence. "That's amazing."
"You know it," replied Jackson. "It's nearly darkened the entire sky. You can see chunks of rock up there, Shaw! Can you imagine how powerful those winds must be?"
Shaw's response was hushed, almost whispered. "I don't want to think about it. We were almost caught in that."
Jackson understood her fear. But they were safe now, the natural wall of stone would keep out--
A billow of dust blew around them, moving through the pass, toward the canyon. Jackson watched it, seeing the dust and small stones whirling around in patterns reminiscent of ballerinas in a dance. Wow, he thought, that's absolutely beautiful in a rather mundane way. The thought made him chuckle, though it was unsettling, and he wasn't sure--
The winds are changing direction. It's coming.
"Shaw, run!" he screamed. A quick glance back the direction they'd come confirmed his suspicions: the dust was beginning to whip into the pass. It was coming. He pushed Shaw to get her moving as she stood gaping back toward the whirling storm.
The two of them began to move; not nearly fast enough, but as quickly as they could. Jackson could see the end of the pass, the edge of the canyon as they approached it. Coming to a halt a few seconds later, he found himself gazing into not a canyon, but an abyss. A crater in the face of X213.
"Not good." He muttered.
Shaw spoke up. "Jackson. Over there!"
He looked in the direction she was pointing and saw a small opening in the face of the rock wall. Access to it was a narrow outcropping that faced the canyon itself. Great, thought Jackson, stuck huddling in that and looking out over some bottomless pit. Fantastic. At the same time, he heard a rumbling above them. Craning his head, Jackson saw rocks begin to tumble from the top of the pass. Shaw was already on her way to the tiny "cave." He followed, wincing as he heard the sound and felt the impact as stone began to strike earth behind him. Reaching the cave, Shaw turned and called out to him:
"Come on, Jackson! You're almost here! Get the lead out!"
Jackson smirked slightly, even though she'd never see it. Easier said than done, doll, he thought. I'm hoofin' it across the edge of a friggin' canyon with no bottom. Pardon me if I want to be a little less than reckless. Still, he picked up the pace as much as he dared. He was only a few yards from the opening when a huge piece of stone struck just behind him. The impact sent a shockwave through the ground, throwing Jackson off his feet. As he tumbled to the ground, he had just enough time to take stock of the fallen rock all around him before he landed, his helmet striking a particularly jagged chunk. When the cracks appeared in his helmet, it didn't even register.
"Jackson? Jackson! Can you hear me?" Shaw's voice came through the communicator, and Jackson could tell she was fighting panic. "Jackson! Are you ok?"
Pulling himself to his feet, Jackson thanked the heavens that nothing else had collapsed on him. He covered the remaining distance to Shaw, ducking into the opening and giving the harrowed young woman a smile. "Fit as a fiddle."
Shaw's eyes widened in terror. "Jackson! Your helmet...oh, my god..."
Noticing the damage for the first time, he shook his head. "It's tougher than it looks. Hit it just right, I guess. It'll hold together until the storm passes and we get back to the ship. Don't worry."
Shaw looked unconvinced, but didn't argue further. She blinked every time the thud-crunch of impacting stone met her ears. Jackson felt sorry for her, but didn't know what to do, really. They were stuck here. He crawled forward slightly, enough to allow himself to look out and stare into the darkness of the pit below.
Oh, man, he thought to himself, Nietzsche would love this. He chuckled dryly.
"Jackson?" Shaw's voice pulled him away from the pit. "Do you think we'll make it? Really?"
Grinning mischievously, Jackson replied. "I dunno. Maybe not, if you don't tell me your first name."
The look of confusion, then of shock, on her face was priceless. "Connor Jackson! We are in a life or death situation here, and all you can think about is--"
The crack of earth stopped her mid-scold. Jackson listened, his body tensed. When the earth beneath his legs disappeared, he didn't even have a chance to scream. His body plunged downward, and his breath caught in his throat.
"Jackson!" Shaw's terrified scream echoed through his helmet. He saw her head appear at the edge of the abyss, eyes wide. Saw her grab the cable that was connected to his suit. Then she was gone as his body slowly turned in its descent. He continued to move downward, into the black, when suddenly his body jerked. The sensation of falling ceased, and he felt himself moving in the darkness. He had no idea where he was going, what might be nearb--
His foot touched something solid; he felt it. But he was still moving so fast. Instinctively, he drew breath and held it. Braced himself.
--CRACK--
The impact rippled through his shoulder, whipping his head to the side. He felt his helmet connect with the wall of the canyon. Heard the sound of the visor's cracks weakening, moving, and giving way. Then he felt the wind blowing on his skin. His helmet was shattered. Opening his eyes, he could once again see the mouth of the canyon, and the flame-orange sky of X213.
It's over. He thought to himself. Shaw's head appeared once again.
"Jackson? I've secured the guide cables around some rock formation up here. You ok?"
He knew he couldn't answer her. One breath, and he was dead.
"Jackson?"
As he watched, she methodically eased herself over the lip of the canyon and began to climb down toward him. His lungs began to ache from the effort of holding his breath. Seconds later, she was clinging to the wall a mere six feet above his head.
"Jackson?"
He turned his head upward, and even in the limited sunlight, she could see what had happened to his helmet. "Oh, god, Jackson...no. No, no no..."
Jackson forced a tightly-closed smile and shrugged. His lungs were burning now. Maybe 15-20 seconds left. If that.
"Come on, Jackson. Take my hand. Please. I can't leave you here like this." Kicking off the wall a bit, Shaw tried to reach him. He shook his head. "Dammit, Jackson! Don't be stubborn!"
Another shrug. The pain in his chest was excruciating. He reached to his waist. Gripped the clasp that held the guide cable to his suit with one hand. With the other, he waved to Shaw.
"No, Jackson. Please." Her voice came through the speakers hoarse, and Jackson realized she was crying.
A distant rumbling echoed through the canyon, and they both looked upward. The rover craft, already a tiny speck in the atmosphere, had taken off. They'd been abandoned.
Shaw sobbed twice. Then, in a voice that Jackson would have sworn meant she was grinning, she simply whispered, "Jillian. My first name is Jillian."
He nodded, and then released the clasp. Shaw watched him fall, a strange smile on his face.
With a final glance toward the sky, her hands reached for her own guide-cable clasp. Release.
And then...darkness.
* * *
"Jack and Jill went up a hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
and Jill came tumbling after."
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
and Jill came tumbling after."
