Fear

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space.

Or so they say.

Those were the last 10 words on the mission debriefing from NASA.

"Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space."

They sent me to the ISS on a solo mission to fix the onboard AI systems. Apparently, the computer spurt out a series of random numbers before going dark.

No man has been to the ISS in 50 years. Ever since Elon Musk sold his Tesla AI package to NASA, they implemented it on the station and there hasn't been any need to have man on board. Space-X has taken over all space experiments, all of which happen on Moon Base 4, except the rare few that are on Moon Orbit 6. Mars 1 is also piloted by AI systems and we are expecting the first human touchdown by the end of next year.

One of the last hurdles before "Mission: Mars Transit" is fixing the ISS.

My rocket craft, Orbit 12, will be entering the area in T-5 minutes. I need to keep a sharp mind for what lies ahead. I look back at my mission debriefing folder.

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space.

Why would they feel the need to include those words? Why do they make me feel like this is dangerous or that I'm going to end up twirling through space screaming?

I'm a 3-time astronaut, physicist, and aerospace engineer. I know damn well no one is gonna hear me scream. If it came to that. Which it won’t..

I approach system docking. The ISS is dark -- bad sign. Normally there are blinking lights on the docking station. The power must be out. That would make sense given the AI disappearance. Shouldn't be a hard fix, just need to investigate the solar array.

Except, no power means no docking.

I’m going to have to spacewalk this.

And if I want to enter the space station, I won't be able to use a space tether. Otherwise, I'll run out of rope. No, scratch that. I'm not falling for that. I'll use a space tether to get there, and then detach once I've arrived at the ISS.

Ok, halting Orbit 12. Thruster engaging. Reducing speed. Approaching ISS. Orbit 12 halted. Systems online. Space suit operational.

Ok. I can do this. Easy peasy.

Spacewalks always make me nervous. Considering I'm alone here, it's more of a space jump. Or, I guess, space... leap of faith.

Alright. Tether online. Engaging airlock. Disengaging cargo door.

Deep breaths. In, and out.

And I leap

...

The universe is really quite quiet. Up here, above the earth, there's no traffic or car horns. No bustle of the city or chatter of TV. There's only me and the universe. The galaxy and the stars. It's peaceful.

...

Approaching ISS.

I catch the door. I remember to exhale. I have 30 minutes of air in my suit. I've reached the station now I just need a way inside. I slide my fingers into the door and it opens. No resistance. No weight.

Easier than I thought.

I'm inside the ISS. Closing door. Removing tether. Tether removed. I'm in the ISS and there's no way back to Orbit 12 until I get the AI operational. Approaching airlock, it's cracked open. I float inside.

The hallway is dark. The ISS was designed in the 60s, so the schematics don't make much sense. It's kinda like a labyrinth in here. Fortunately, this is my second time on the ISS, so I know where I'm going.

I move down the hallway, past my old bunk, past the kitchen, through the gym and laboratory, and into the bridge. The door is sealed shut. That's odd. I should be able to open it...

The door opens, I go inside and it closes behind me. The lights are on, a woman's voice comes over the intercom. "I've been waiting."

No one is in the room but me, but I recognize the voice.

It's the AI System.

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space.

Or so they say...