“Adrift”
They had no control over the ship’s steering since the collision. If more crew would have been on board for this journey, they may have had the talent to repair her. However, it seemed at this point they were headed towards the unknown.
Captain Montgomery had known of Lieutenant Porter since their Academy days. Rivals from different graduating classes, they were now in a situation they never had expected, one where they would have to rely solely on each other. When chosen for this service they both had a true zeal for exploration and adventure. It seems they had a bigger dose of that now than either ever wanted.
Porter had been on watch when they hit the rock. Its coordinates were not recorded anywhere on their charts. With the speed they were traveling at the time of the collision there was little that could have been done to avoid it.
They had been without control of the ship for two weeks now. Their food and water supplies had been exhausted over 3 days ago. The planned schedule had them arriving home well before this type of situation would develop, but they had experienced no communication with anyone since the collision.
“Do you know when a ship is not a ship?” Porter asked.
“No”, said Montgomery.
“When it’s adrift!” said Porter.
Both men smiled out of courtesy to each other, but neither found their present situation humorous.
The Captain had not spoken much to his Lieutenant since their situation turned. There was not much desire to speak since the weakness from a lack of hydration had started to take over their bodies.
Montgomery thought of the past. An idealistic script of how his career would progress. His ambition to make this position in life a priority over having a family. The long schooling he had endured to prepare for this life that few would experience.
“You remember all those star charts we had to study in the Academy?” asked Porter. “Fat lot of good they are to us now. Wasted so many nights studying when all my friends were out experiencing life.”
“I recall”, said Montgomery, regretting how he had shunned Porter in the past. “I remember having blurred vision from numerous nights quietly studying by the light of a single dim lamp. Now I fear I’m having that same experience from lack of water.”
Talking about the past did not resolve their situation.
Porter shifted onto his side and leaned against the bulkhead. His weakness was more evident by the minute.
Montgomery looked out of the ship’s window. The skies which had guided them before seemed to now be so foreign. So dark and unforgiving, like spilling ink over a master’s canvas.
After a long silence Montgomery decided to say something. “Porter, I would like to put our past behind us. I know I am not a very considerate person, but I do wish I would have let others be a part of my life. If I had it to do over again I wish you would have considered me as one of your friends.”
Silence.
“Porter?”
Stillness.
As Montgomery realized that Porter would not respond ever again, he turned his head away.
Looking out the mist covered window he felt a single tear roll down his cheek. Far off in the distance, past the broken antenna mast, his blurred vision could barely make out the last faint blue glow of Earth as it disappeared into the inky blackness. His eyes closed and quietly embraced the silence of his oxygen supply running out.
