Metafire

"That's crazy. What are you going to do?"

"I can't do much of anything except let them die. I did sent urgent email up the chain to recommend they get their wish. I have to go in tomorrow morning to see if I got permission to route immediate provisions to them. But it'll still take twelve hours, and their life-support runs out Monday."

"So that's the plan? You have to go in tomorrow to see if they'll let you save these people's lives?"

"Yea. I don't know what else to do, Jack. Do you?"

"Fine." He didn't know what to do either. He decided to change the subject. "You know, I can't believe this. Just three days ago nothing good was happening. Now we seem to be in the middle of a lot of important events," Jack smiled.

Erisa smiled back. "Yea. It feels good. But I hope it goes OK for USSS 26. I guess I'll just approve the provisions unless they tell me I can't."

"Yea." While they cleaned up the kitchen, they touched. Jack was feeling guilt about a secret that he kept. He had to say something, but he did not dare tell her why he didn't want to hear about these people in space. He grabbed her and said, "Erisa, I lost my last girlfriend to a tragic mistake. I don't intend to lose you. I think I love you." It was another good night.