The board gave the last warning. Blinking lights switched from yellow to red.
-Are you ready?
-Yeah.
-Ok, pull.
Straining with effort, Henry turned the wheel to a 32-degree angle. However, the intense pressure caused the controller to jam, and despite the man's full body weight pushing against the wheel, he was unable to maintain the 32-degree position.
-HENRY!
-I CAN'T KEEP IT STRAIGHT!
The sudden rotation of the wheel caused Henry's wrist bones to shudder violently, piercing through his skin. The sheer speed and force of the movement resulted in a spray of blood across the mainboard.
-Fuck!
-MY FUCKING WRISTS!
-HOLD IT!
-IT HURTS SO MUCH!
-FUCKING HOLD IT, HENRY!
"Warning! Warning! Imminent impact!
-WE'RE GONNA DIE!
-We are going to be fine! Keep pulling on the wheel, Henry.
-We're going to die…
Terrified, Henry lost control of his bladder as the approaching meteor loomed ever nearer.
-FUCKING SHIT!
"WARNING! WARNING! IMMINENT IMPACT!"
-I'M GONNA DIE COVERED IN PISS AND BLOOD! Fucking shit, Henry!
The red warning lights and the alarm went off in the entirety of the ship. "Warning! Warning! Imminent impact!"
-What the fuck! screamed Lancey.
-I-I saw Henry and Simon going into the cockpit!
-THOSE FUCKING IDIOTS! Sweetheart, sweetheart, look at me!
Alice glanced around, her heart racing with anticipation. Her hands trembled slightly, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, filled with dread. She seemed unaware of Lancey calling her, lost in thoughts of what might come next.
-ALICE, FUCKING LOOK AT ME!
The woman finally snapped out of it. She looked at Lancey.
-Do you see that metal box there? You are going to untie one of my hands and put that on my head. Then, you are going to hide under that table. You will not come out until the lights turn back to normal.
-What?…
-Alice, hurry! We don't have the time. If you don't fucking move now, neither of us is gonna eat that fucking cheesecake! Do you understand!?
Clutching the box, Alice hastily covered Lancey's head before hiding beneath the table. She drew her knees to her chest, trembling as she began to sob, but the blaring alarm drowned out both her cries and Lancey's cheering words.
In the kitchen, the alarm and light went off a moment before Teddy and Serena's lips touched.
-The cockpit.
-I SWEAR I'M GONNA KILL THOSE MOTHERFUCKERS.
-If we survive this…
-The kitchen table. Move!
The ship trembled, emitting a horrific groan. The impact caused the kitchen knife to slip from its holder and plunge into Serena's belly.
-Fuck.
-FUCK!
-Hey, hey, it's ok! You're ok.
-I HAVE A FUCKING KNIFE IN MY STOMACH! HOW THE FUCK IS THAT OK, TEDDY?!
-We… I… INFIRMARY! I NEED TO GET YOU TO THE INFIRMARY!
-WE ARE FUCKING CRASHING! You need to keep the knife from moving without putting pressure on it. If you pull it out now, I'll die from blood loss.
-I CAN'T!
-TEDDY, YOU BETTER GET A GRIP! IF YOU DON'T, I'LL BE ON THE MENU OF THE TOMMOROW'S FUCKING DINNER.
-I-I got it!
-Good. Now make sure you keep it in place even if the ship shakes.
-Serena?
-It's going to be fine.
-SERENA?
-WHAT?
-I think your water broke…
-Oh shit!
Simon grabbed the steering wheel and wrenched it to the side, trying desperately to avoid the oncoming meteor. Blood spattered everywhere as the sharp bone tore through Henry's skin, eliciting an agonized scream from the injured man. Despite Simon's efforts to angle the car away at 32 degrees, the impact was unavoidable.
He ran from the cockpit, leaving Henry behind. The ship was projected to fill any crack with foam in case of a coalition. Simon thought that he could blame it on Henry if he ended up foamed in there. One way or another, he was going to be the hero and regain his crew's respect.
-CAPTAIN! CAPTAIN, LET ME OUT!
-I'm sorry, Henry. You were right! Multiplying with two wasn't the right solution.
-SIR, PLEASE!
-You will make me a hero, Henry! And you'll be forever my hero!
-PLEASE, I DON'T WANT TO DIE!
-It would only take a moment, Henry. I promise. You were my best friend here! Thank you for your sacrifice!
-SIMON! SIMON, I BEG YOU! I WILL TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU LET ME OUT! PLEASE.
-I'm sorry, Henry. Die for me, please!
-SIMON…
-My hero.
Henry scanned the cockpit, fear gripping him tightly. Thoughts of dying filled his mind, drowning out his dreams of becoming a farmer. He had so much to lose, so many hopes and aspirations to fight for.
In a small closet, he discovered a repository for corporate documents and any new information arriving from Earth. Desperate, he frantically tossed them all out, howling in pain as the sharp bone fragments pierced deeper into his skin. He ripped the co-pilot chair and used it as a kind of door to the closet. As he hid inside he prayed for another chance. If he is going to survive this, he swears to make Simon pay.
As the meteor streaked through the atmosphere, it collided with the right wing of the ship with a tremendous force. The impact was jarring, causing the metal to groan under the strain. Portions of the wing fractured and splintered, sending shards of debris flying. The cockpit windows shattered violently, raining down shards of glass like lethal confetti. In an instant, the cabin was filled with chaos as the sudden rush of wind violently pulled everything that wasn't securely fastened to the floor into the gaping maw of open air.
Henry used his legs to keep the chair in place as foam started to cover the broken window. The suction that made it into the closet tore down Henry's skin from the wrist to near his elbows. It was a matter of seconds before the foam covered the window and half the room, including half of Henry's improvised door. He yelled in pain with his hands and arm broken, full of blood, and trapped inside the tiny space.