[The Gassy Challenge] ...For A Breath Of Fresh Air

by Howie Amourscow

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“I’ve got gas! Wait, now I don’t.”

Lt. Christopher punched the console and felt it in his elbow. The blow knocked him away from the panel. His tether caught him and pulled him back.

“You want to watch that temper,” Commander Davis said, the tinny electronics in the helmet failing to dull his tone. Davis must have seen him, because he certainly hadn’t heard him.

Because they didn’t have gas.

“Sorry, sir. It’s just… I don’t see the problem. The analogs say there’s gas in 3 and 8, enough to at least pressurize this cabin, but the life support comp won’t talk to either tank. It must be a software—” Christopher shut up. Peters, the ship’s IT officer, had been in the path of the tiny pebble that killed the ship: Christopher saw his head sheared off in mid-sentence; stood there, gawping at his headless body until fading sirens drove him to his emergency suit.

As far as he and Davis knew, they were the only survivors of the ten-man crew. And the cans in the emergency suits were drying up quickly.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. [The Gassy Challenge] ...For A Breath Of Fresh Air

    Howie Amourscow's Buddy Icon Howie Amourscow

    Posted 9 months ago

    Inside joke that I felt like calling to the attention of readers who might have suspicions—yes, the crew complement of the ship consisted of:
    Davis
    Christopher
    Paul
    Sylvester
    Colins
    Peters
    Thomas
    John
    Patrick
    and Williams.
    Heh. I’m such a nerd.

  2. [The Gassy Challenge] ...For A Breath Of Fresh Air

    Fyora Cartagan's Buddy Icon Fyora Cartagan

    Posted 9 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    ...Who?
    I do like how you used the quote in one piece. I hadn’t thought of that application, either.
    Kudos, sir!

  3. [The Gassy Challenge] ...For A Breath Of Fresh Air

    Hobo Beard Bob's Buddy Icon Hobo Beard Bob

    Posted 9 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Always a good read.

  4. [The Gassy Challenge] ...For A Breath Of Fresh Air

    Mistress Elsha Hawk's Buddy Icon Mistress Elsha Hawk

    Posted 9 months ago

    Houston? Houston?
    Nice Sci-fi spin on the gassy challenge!

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