Ascension

the act or process of ascending

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascension

Whip, crack… Dust rose, and scree tumbled, I kept looking at my insight hub computer, “Come on, Come on!” I repeated. Time, time, time! Just a few hours ago I had all the time in the galaxy, now I have only precious minutes. Falling over myself as I tumbled forward, managing to stay on my feet I pushed on. I struggled through the burning and cramping of my calves, my knees clicking as my stride lessened.

My labored breathing now echoing round the sodden Remlock, I could now see nothing but condensation before me, but in a quick minute that wouldn’t matter. “Suit Oxygen depleted” the computer crowed urgently. “Balls!”

I ejected my last and final power cell discarding it as I folded down onto my knees, a darkness fell.   

Startled by the roar of engines, an almighty thud and crashing of landing gear, the rush of valves stabilizing pressures. Using my last breaths, I clenched my eyes and pounced at the SRV bay lift. The clicking of the lift as it ascended and the clatter of the doors slamming closed behind, the rush of air pressurizing the space around me. Gasping and choking I fumbled the Remlock off, air, sweet recycled, purified air. The tension in my chest started to ease as I sobbed into the cargo bay floor, then I realized I’d have to go back for the SRV.  

I dragged my weak frame through the hold and into the crew cabin. Opening the top half of the Artemis suit I slipped my arm out, sat on the cot and pulled the med unit round, strapping it to my now bare arm. Everything went white and a chemical odor filled my nose and pallet, my face numbing.  Collapsing back onto the cot it felt like I was being enveloped in cloud as a numbing tingle ran through my body.

With shimmers of rainbow light my vision began to return, “I need to get that SRV” I thought. Bolt upright I tore the med unit away from my arm causing it to alarm and flash, a readout, bold red lettering, something about fluids and 24 hours. I needed that SRV before the drugs disorientated me enough to forget where it was, and this side of the planet was plunged into darkness thus making my search extremely difficult.

I dropped three energy cells into my backpack, another three I tied together with spare wire. Using longer lengths of wiring I formed a makeshift energy cell bandolier. I pulled my arm back into the suit and fastened it back up, mopped out the inside of my Remlock and attached it, checked my seals and I stepped out onto the planet’s surface once more.

Puttering back up the incline I had scrambled and skirted down earlier, I could see the yellow of the SRV glinting in the half light of the fading day. I would go down this side of the ridge, round small mound of rock and make my way over a small but aggressively rocky boulder field.

I unhooked the bandolier of spent energy cells, throwing them into the SRV’s cargo space I jumped into the cabin and started her up. 25% fuel shone the warning lights as the other instruments pipped and wheeped into life. Giving the throttle a slight nudge, we rolled forward towards the dying light. Now relying on the material scanner and poor night vision I crested the ridge and was once again looking down on the Hiraeth. With 5% fuel, more than enough to reach the ship I decided to play it safe and coasted the SRV down hillside, powering up only to manoeuvre into the loading position under the ship.

Stowing the SRV away in the vehicle hanger, I limped back towards the cabin, re attached the med unit and let it get to work.

I am not sure how many days had passed, but it was light again on the surface when I came around. It was time to continue on, Colonia was calling.