Chapter 6 Fungus Among Us

• Consider LV3457, an asteroid on a collision course with Sigma Cygni II. Just another one of the many planets colonized by humans after escaping the gravity well of their home star. An extinction-level event is not as terrifying as it once was. The sense of urgency and fear that once gripped us at the thought of losing an entire planet has now been replaced by a sense of detachment as if the fate of one world among many is not significant.
• But what about the weight of one life? Lila Patel, captain of the mission to save half a million lives on Sigma Cygni II, grapples with this question. Thirty-seven lives weigh heavy on her shoulder. What is that compared to the weight of the world? It is a daunting responsibility, and it makes us wonder: what is the significance of our choices in the greater context of the universe?
• As the old Terran saying goes, "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Imagine, if you will, an alien archaeologist, digging in our small corner of the Milky Way Galaxy. What would be the story they would tell about us, as a species? Perhaps we will be talked about as a powerful, galaxy-spanning civilization. Or perhaps, we could be a mere footnote in the history of our universe. It is difficult to imagine a time when we're just not there anymore.
• Join Lila Patel as she faces a choice that will challenge her beliefs, test her courage, and change the course of history. Will she choose the greater good, or will she succumb to the weight of her past?
• #
• Act I: A Blast from the Past
• Captain Lila Patel sat in her bunk, enjoying the privacy of her cabin on the Hammerhead. Being a captain had its perks, but was a lot of work. Doing paperwork was the least favorite part of it. Even though humans stopped using paper centuries ago, the name ironically stuck.
• “Begin recording. Captain's log, day 456,” she spoke into the mic. “Today we matched speed with the asteroid and went on the float. Landing the shuttle was more difficult than anticipated, but we managed to pull it off. Can't say I'm sad to have my feet on solid ground again.”
• Lila paused for a moment before continuing, “It's been 15 months cooped up in this glorified tin can with my crew. I wonder if I'll ever get the smell of Santiago's feet out of my nostrils. And don't even get me started on Li leaving her mess in the galley or Doc Drexler leaving the toilet seat up in the head. I at least hope he washes his hands. Don't get me wrong. I'd trust anyone of them with my life. Except for Dr. Watts. That guy just creeps me out.” She shook her head, “Stop recording. Delete that last paragraph.”
• “Continue recording,” Lila said, after a brief pause. “We managed to place most of the charges on the near side of the asteroid. It took a bit longer, as we had to work around Watts, as he was conducting his surveys.”
• Lila took a deep breath and continued, “He reports discoveing something quite peculiar on this asteroid. A strange mold growing all around the surface. Initial tests indicate it's a sort of anaerobic fungal lifeform He says he couldn't find anything like it in any of the major xenobiological databases and seems getting excited about it being a major discovery. Too excited, if you ask me. The man got sloppy and inhaled some of the spores. He's running a slight fever, but insists on continuing his analysis.”
• Lila shook her head in disbelief. “That man never follows safety protocol. He's been working with us long enough to know better. One day I'm sure he'll forget to seal the airlock and we'll all get a healthy dose of hard vacuum.
• “Tomorrow, I'll head to the far side of the asteroid to place the final charges with Peer Fusco. Dr. Watts insists on tagging along, to get some more rock samples and deep scans. As long as the good doctor clears him, it's ok by me. Stop recording and save log.”
• Lila turned down the lights and settled into her bunk. She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, but soon found herself back in the command deck of Mining Transport 367, watching the chaos unfold on the monitors in front of her. Intermittent flashes of red light made the cramped space even smaller. The robotic voice on the speaker called out the imminent reactor breach. Lila tried to stay calm and collected as she barked out orders at the crew running around. It was too late. All she could do now was limit the casualties.
• The sound of the skiff's metal frame buckling filled her ears and she knew what had to be done. The words were on the tip of her tongue. The all eyes on the command deck were on her. Lila sank into the captain's chair.
• Lila's mind raced with the weight of the decision she had to make. The thought of losing so many lives sounded unbearable. She held off, trying to give a fighting chance to as many as possible. The lump in her throat grew larger. She couldn't breathe. Just say the words.
• “Eject reactor core,” Lila said.
• As soon as the words left her mouth, she found herself in the vacuum of space. Without a vac suit, she felt the air being sucked out of her lungs. Thirty seven bodies floated around her. She remember all of their faces. Each and every one stared back at her, their eyes filled with pain and betrayal. Every cell in her body was screaming out for oxygen. Her blood was boiling in her veins. She wished for it all to be over, but the moment stretched out for what seemed an eternity. Like being stuck at the moment of death, but never crossing the threshhold.
• Lila woke up screaming, her heart pounding in her chest. Cold sweat ran chills down her spine as she struggled to catch her breath. She couldn't shake the feeling of guilt and despair that had settled over her like a thick fog. Their ghostly faces would haunt her for the rest of her life, a constant reminder of the terrible price of her decisions.
• Lila spent the rest of the night staring at the ceiling, going over the casualty reports in her head, remembering every name and face. She knew that she had done everything in her power to save as many lives as possible, but it didn't make the loss any easier to bear. The weight of the decision she had made still hung over her like a dark cloud, threatening to consume her at any moment. It was what drove her to take on the command of this mission.