52
POP!
Eddie exploded into space and his oxygen funneled fresh air into his helmet.
The white light dissipated and the team floated in space.
“Everyone here?” Eddie asked.
“Here,” Michiko said.
Everyone spoke.
Eddie sighed with relief.
“Emergency beacons in our suits are activated,” Grayson said.
“At least we’re all okay,” Keltie said.
“Florian’s dead,” Devika said.
“He’s gone,” Smoke said. “And I'm glad to see the bastard go.”
They floated in silence for a while.
“He touched each of our lives in a not-so-special way,” Michiko said, “but he was still human. He made a really big mistake.”
“Try several hundred,” Smoke said.
“The point is that he was no different than any of us,” Michiko said. “He kind of tried to redeem himself at the end. That bit about his auntie—so sad.”
