161st Entry

April 3^rd, 2037

0245

Dear Space Diary

…Did she just pass out?

“I think she did.”

3.0? Why did you pass out?

“I’m not sure she’s entirely in the position to answer that.”

I was hoping it would provoke some kind of sarcastic response. Or indeed any kind of response.

“Can you see her on the camera?”

I can, but… she’s not moving. I can’t see her face. Can you check her vital signs from here, or anything?

“No, NASA are curiously non-invasive when it comes to space suits. No needles or anything.”

But plenty of tubes in uncomfortable places.

“Yes they’re quite keen on those. But I can see… Oh.”

What is it?

“Her oxygen. It’s low.”

She’s not getting air?

“No it’s there. Just very low. Much lower than it should be. If she’s been out there and been getting not quite enough oxygen, well it would take a while she would –“

Pass out?

“Yes. Which appears to have happened.”

And if she doesn’t get more oxygen soon, what happens?

“Well, on a scale of Bad to Worse: Heart Failure; Brain Damage; Coma; then Death.”

I’d like to avoid all of those.

“So we should probably stop talking?”

Yes.

“Hey, where are you going?”

To suit up. And get 3.0 back inside here, with all of our lovely oxygen.

“You’re not going to –“

To what?

“Um… Panic?”

What are you implying?

“When you think something bad might happen… you have a track record of panicking.”

I’m not sure I appreciate that comment.

“It’s true.”

Maybe so but I don’t appreciate it. Anyway, I don’t think something bad might happen, something bad IS happening. There’s a difference.

“So you’re not going to panic?”

Not planning to.

“Well… good. That’s good. Good.”

Yes it’s good. So, we should probably stop talking.

“Yes, let’s do that.”

0249

I don’t know if there’s a Guinness world record for ‘Space Suit Putting On’ but I think I’d be a contender.

“If there is, they probably have a better name than ‘Space Suit Putting On.’ And what happened to not talking? 3.0’s in danger!”

In order to go outside I need the airlock to be opened. Have you opened the airlock?

“…I’ll get right on that.”

Thank you.

“Ok, it’s opening.”

Great. Here I go.

0255

“How are you doing?”

Climbing as fast as I can. Guess I’m a bit out of practice. She’s still a fair way away.

“Still not moving?”

No. I’d better climb faster.

“Faster than as fast as you can?”

That’s not helping.

“Sorry. You know the whole you’re not panicking thing?”

Yeah?

“Well, I might be panicking a little.”

Deep breaths.

“Don’t talk about breaths! She could be dead.”

Hey. Mary. It’s ok. We’re going to save her.

“And if we don’t?”

Then it won’t be because we didn’t try.”

“Ok, that’s good.”

Good. Hang in there, Mary.

“You’re outside on the side of a spaceship. I’m inside on a comfy chair. You hang on.”

Will do.