by Sean Clark
“You’re a special case, Cecil.” He continues. “We try our best to keep our men out of multiple concurrent terms of freezing. However, with the development of your brain tumor, on top of the injuries from the accident, we had no choice but to bring you home like that.”
“And what about everyone else?” Cecil shakes his head furiously. “Are you going to tell them about the possible side effects? Are you going to make sure people coming into the program know what risks are involved?”
“Cecil, this is a different time. We have to maintain a certain amount of, well, confidentiality. The times of NASA are over. Back in those days, it was about showing off for the people here on Earth. Neil Armstrong taking his first steps on the moon. Live video feeds of astronauts on the old International Space Station. It was largely for spectacle, and not much more.
In the nineteenth century, the United States had its space race with, at the time, the Soviet Union. Like a real race, it’s nice to watch but… often haste makes waste. Remember, there will always be a winner and a loser as well. We can’t do that anymore. We’re all on the same team… as humans.”
Cecil scowls. Atreo’s dissembling grin grows wide as he continues. “When the Mars initiative was started, we pooled our efforts in order to put our best foot forward in the direction of the planet. The Mars Development Project was formed shortly after. Before then, any expeditions there were… lackluster, at best.
We became the head of operations here, and with it, we also became the scapegoat for anything that goes wrong up there. A lot of investors in a lot of places are spending money so that they can benefit from humanity’s future on a different planet. If we have problems up there, that makes people want to put their money in other places.
As long as things are still progressing, then there’s no harm done. We’re not technically lying to anybody. Besides, you people know what you signed up for.” Atreo gives a brief nod. Cecil stands up, knocking the chair backwards on to the ground with a hollow metallic clatter. His arms shake, held out by his sides.
“We’re not done, Cecil.” Atreo shakes his head. “You haven’t contributed your part yet.”
Lia places her hands on Cecil’s shoulders. Her small grip holds tight. Cecil can feel the tension in his shoulders. Carefully, he bends down up the chair to sit it right, retaking his place. Cecil looks up to meet with Atreo’s discriminating look.
“Everything you need to know is in that letter I sent.” Cecil says through gritted teeth. “Everyone up there could be at risk.”
“The astronaut you’re thinking of… Qaseem Saïd, am I correct?” Atreo squints at Cecil who nods silently in confirmation. “That was before my time, but not much has changed you see. While it was indeed kept quiet, the program did everything that was necessary under protocol, including notifying his parents and sending a certificate of death. His folks properly received his pension and insurance money as per what was agreed upon. The same would still be provided today for whoever might require it.”
Lia steps away, grabbing a binder off the back desk. She brings it back up to Cecil, opening it to a page that displays a photocopied document bearing the astronaut’s name. “Is that supposed to make me feel better about this?” Cecil skims through it, before glaring back up at Atreo.
“I could care less. In any case, he died up there and his body was left unrecoverable. Mars took its first, and so far, only victim.”
“That you know of.” Cecil quips. Atreo looks up at him, continuing.
“It was unconfirmed whether or not he was suffering from meningitis, but we can assume that his death was a result of some sickness of Earth origin. In your letter, you assumed that the bacteria are still present up there on Mars.”
“That’s right.” Cecil purses his lips, still staring in hopes that Atreo would continue.
“You say you contracted the malady… meningitis when you were there?” Atreo fixates, waiting for Cecil to do the same.
“I would have to assume it was during the accident, on that mission.” Cecil can feel himself sweating underneath the layers of the big jacket as he proceeds to explain. “We found that pool down there, and it started to… react to us being there. My mask ended up breaking, and I fell into the pool. I probably inhaled some water, and it got inside my suit as well.”
Behind them, Lia fiddles with more papers. She produces another document and passed it over to Atreo.
“Subject: Cecil Ruiz.” The stern man begins to read. “Patient arrived with severe burns, mild liquid inhalation, minor cuts and bruises. Suit compromised. Removed suit and returned breathing to normal. Covered burns; medical staff introduced anesthetic and painkillers. Prognosis: prolonged anesthetic during the treatment process.”
Cecil remains silent, and Atreo speaks puts the paper down on the desk in front of him. “I looked into all this before you came, kid. They tested the liquid inside of your suit, and later down in that cave. With their tests, they found nothing. We even received a sample here. It came back on the same ship as you, in fact. It was perfectly preserved, frozen and hermetically sealed. It had trace biological specimens in it, but nothing that would ever cause any alarm.” Atreo explains confidently. “I know you’ve gone through a lot of conjecture trying to put together this harebrained theory, but we have actual scientists and researchers on this. We even gave them the go ahead to use that water for their hydroponics up there, as you may know.”
Cecil shifts in his chair, flustered. “I was found recently be to a carrier of the bacteria. Can you explain that, then?”
“All that means is that you picked it up somewhere else. It also means that you would be disqualified for any further space missions because it represents a danger to your crew mates. Lia, make sure we get his up to date medical records that explain that.” Atreo nods back to the girl.
“Yes sir.”
Cecil stands up, fists once again at his sides. “There’s no need. I won’t ever be returning to space.” He kicks the chair backwards, ramming it into the desk behind him. “Tell me, did that letter ever make it up there, to Agrippa?”
“No. Something like that can cause undue panic in a place like that. It won’t be going out at all.” Atreo slides his chair out neatly, coming back to Cecil’s level.
“Then, you don’t need me anymore, do you?” Cecil shakes his head, turning around before another response can come his way. Atreo’s gaze breaks away from him, not uttering another word.
As Cecil passes through the doors, he hears the quick tapping of heels following him. Out of the corner of his eye, he can see Lia following him. She stumbles on her heels, dropping a few papers on the ground. “Wait.” She calls out.
Cecil continues walking, out through the doors on the opposite side of the mission control room and into the long hallway. Eyes directed at the floor, he nearly rams into another person trying to pass though the hallway. His gaze moves upward, spotting the driver from before. The man’s scowling face leers back at him.
“What, you’re leaving so soon?” The man sneers. “After they sent me out there to drive like a madman to pick you up?” His breath smells faintly like smoke and breath mints as he talks down at Cecil. In the background, the doors slam open again and the ticking of long heels echoed in the hallway.
“Cecil. I have some explanations for you. Linus, I need you to drive us somewhere.”
The driver stops, shaking his head in disbelief. He fiddles with his rolled-up sleeves as he turns around in the hallway, returning from where he had come. Cecil follows, helpless to get by.
Chapter 21
“Atreo wanted to intimidate you.” Lia explains, sitting in the back seat of the car with Cecil. Linus continues to drive, passing the gates of the space center and in the direction of town.
“Why would he want to intimidate me? Why would he need to intimidate me?” Cecil exclaims, fiddling with the seat belt.
“They don’t want you to tell anyone what you’ve… found out, obviously. Even if you were to
come out about your injuries… your accident up there… that would cause a huge PR issue for them. I mean, imagine going on the news, looking like you do. That would spark something terrible.”
Cecil can’t find a way to respond, his heart sinking down in his chest. Avoiding her gaze, he turns to look out the window.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.” Lia apologizes, tugging at his shoulder.
“Why would they be so concerned trying to cover up my findings if they couldn’t be proven?” Cecil mumbles, ignoring Lia.
“Cecil, I shouldn’t be telling you this…” She hesitates, removing off her glasses to rub the bridge of her nose. “They found Qaseem’s body.”
“What!” Cecil exclaims, causing Linus to jump in surprise. The driver taps on the brakes and swerves slightly. “Where did they find him? How?”
“You probably know they drained that pool underground.” Lai continues, pushing the glasses back up on her face. “They were digging through the silt and mud at the bottom, trying to find any hints about the pool’s origins… even though it was deep down in that cavern, there apparently was a shaft leading up to the planet’s surface.”
“I know. I was there. I came across it all myself.” Cecil declares, biting his lip.
“Right, right. Pardon me. Though, saying you were first...” Cecil’s eyes go wide as Lia continues to explain. “Well, there were layers and layers of sand and silt that had settled at the bottom, being deposited from all the shifting sand on the surface. Eventually buried deep down, they found something.”
“Saïd…” Cecil mouths.
“They found a space suit to begin with. Of course, it didn’t resemble any suits used up there currently… probably looked like some old design that should have been in a museum. We confirmed it after they sent some pictures our way, but nobody knew what to make of it… we didn’t even trace it back to that original mission decades ago. It was hardly recognizable after all. It was promptly removed from Secundus and taken to the main base for, well… autopsy, if you can call it that.”
“What did they find?” Cecil squints at her.
“What do you think they found? Inside the suit… well, it was a waterlogged skeleton with a nasty garnish of biological goop. The seals on the suit had degraded over time, and water finally leeched in, finally getting at it from the inside out. It was without a doubt leeching back into the water too. I heard it was pretty gross overall.” Lia wrinkles her nose.
“And?” Cecil adds impatiently.
“You know where this is going. They found his dog tags… Qaseem Saïd, just as you somehow guessed for yourself. Nobody up there knew who that was of course. That was decades ago, that expedition. It wasn’t exactly widespread knowledge, either.”
“How do you think he ended up there? In the pool?”
“Who knows?” Lia shrugs. “Most likely, his body just joined the shifting sands of Mars and was swept there slowly over time.”
The conversation is interrupted as Linus brakes the car hard, turning into a parking lot. Cecil looks out the window to see the restaurant he had gone to before with Alika. Lia leans forward, peering into the rear-view mirror to give Linus a funny look.
“What, did you want me to just drive around all morning?” He stares back through the mirror. “I’m tired and hungry.” Linus leans back to look at the two in the back seat.
Inside, the hostess arrives to seat them. “Three? Follow me.” Say says, briefly stopping to meet Cecil’s eyes. She quickly breaks contact, taking a brisk step towards the table. As soon as they sit down, a waitress dashes up to the table.
“Would you like the breakfast menu or the lunch menu?” She asks pleasantly, sorting through her handful of laminated sheets.
“Breakfast, please.” Cecil says under his breath. The girl gives him a funny look, passing around the others their menus.
“And some coffee- please.” Linus half-shouts at her. Replying with a quick ‘yes, right away,’ she runs off.
In the booth, Cecil finds himself against the wall, barred in the seat by Linus who had been running his fingers back over his scalp. Cecil catches Lia studying his face. “It seems like they know you here, Cecil.”
“I’m not often out in public, but… Well, it makes me self-conscious.” Cecil leans against his hand, elbow on the table, staring at the wall of the booth. Lia averts her gaze. “There aren’t many restaurants nearby here.”
Lia leans in across the table and begins speaking to the two men in a whisper. “When Atreo brought you in…. it was partially out of curiosity. He wanted to know what you had found out on your own. I mean, nobody knows about the situation up there really, besides us.”
The waitress stops by again, holding a carafe of coffee in each hand. Lia stops, mouth still agape, moving back to rest against the back of the booth. “Regular or Decaf?” Linus glares at her in response. The waitress gives a single nod before quickly pouring from the dark carafe, going around to each cup. Cecil catches sight of her face, eyes fixated on the coffee alone. Cups full, she runs off again without a word.
Linus pulls the steaming mug towards himself and begins sipping the coffee, black, while Lia had cupped her hands around the mug. She begins speaking again. “As far as we know right now… the people up there aren’t in danger, but at the same time, they don’t really know either the threat that they could be facing.”
“To what extent is this threat, exactly?” Cecil asks, stirring his own coffee mindlessly.
“As far as the body goes, as long as certified people are dealing with it and following protocol, it doesn’t really pose a threat. You can’t have any disease or infection going around in such a tight-knit population after all. Well, those guys know their stuff, so the remains aren’t a concern at least.”
“And what about the water they pulled from the pool?”
“Yes, yes. That’s what I’m getting to.” Lia takes a quick sip of the hot coffee. “The water was tested and sanitized under standard practices. It isn’t being used as drinkable water at the very least… it’s only used for hydroponics and the workings of the station. Cooling and such.”
“I don’t think it’s that easy.” Cecil stresses.
“Have y’all decided?” The waitress had arrived suddenly beside the table. The menus still lay untouched in front of them.
“Give me a short stack and a side of biscuits and gravy.” Linus orders with confidence. “And more coffee, please.” He adds pleasantly.
“I uh…” Cecil fumbles with the menu. “I can’t decide, what do you recommend?” He gives a quick smile up at the waitress.
“For you...” The girl says, leaning over the table, finger hovering over the menu, she points at something. “I recommend the chilaquiles, hon.”
“That’s sounds great, thank you.” Cecil feigns gratitude, turning away to roll his eyes.
“I’ll take the same, thank you.” Lia follows, gathering up the menus to pass them to the waitress.
Cecil watches from his peripheral vision to see her bounce off, before looking back at Lia. “As I was saying… the contaminate in the water… the bacteria that Qaseem was infected with… it isn’t just a simple strain of staph like the reports have said. However it came to be… it’s not something we would see here on Earth. If nobody has detected whatever is in that water, I can’t believe that the traditional ways of sanitizing it would make it safe. You know, I was infected with it, just like Saïd.”
“I find that hard to believe.” Lia shakes her head.
“During my accident… when I fell into the pool, I inhaled a good bit of the water. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was… sick.” Cecil explains, at a loss for words. “I had hallucinations up there of sorts, and other issues with my body. I think I was infected just as Saïd was.”
“And now?” Lia tilters her head skeptically.
“When I went to the doctor, I asked him to test me for staph. They found bacteria on me, they said, but it wasn’t anything they reco
gnized. I think that my cryo freezing had something to do with it, too.”
“And now you’re just a carrier.” Lia rolls her eyes. “How convenient.”
“Do you have a better explanation?” Cecil waves his arms, catching the attention of a few people around him.
Lia rubs her chin, before stretching back in the booth. “I really don’t know. I really don’t.”
Cecil sighs, and Linus continues to nurse his cup of coffee. Cecil moves for his own cup, but finds the liquid inside only tepid. Before he can speak again, the waitress slides up to the table, arms stacked with plates. “Flapjacks, Biscuits and Gravy, and two Chilaquiles.” The girl lists them off as she sets down each plate.
Cecil eyes the dish in front of him. “Enjoy.” The waitress calls hesitantly, as she backs away from the table. Unwrapping the fork and knife from the napkin, Cecil starts to dig in. The sound of scraping utensils fills the table.
Cecil sighs, causing Lia to look up at him from her plate. “What’s the matter?” She inquires.
“It’s kind of a mixture of nostalgia and disappointment.” Cecil plays around with the soggy corn chips on his plate. “I just remember the ones from my childhood, that were much better.” Cecil brings a small bite up to his mouth.
“Oh.” Lia looks down, knowingly. She takes one more bite, swallowing it down before continuing. “Cecil. I want to make sure of some things before we go on making more baseless guesses.”
Cecil’s heart leaps up into his throat, wondering what her question might be about. “That bacteria you’re carrying… We need to know what it really is, how it really reacts. I’m going to contact your doctor and see if we can’t get more out of those test results.”
Cecil lets out the breath he had been holding. “That’s funny… they said they couldn’t do any more until they got clearance to do so. Can you pull those strings?”
“How is everything? Is there anything else I can get you?” The waitress pops up again, interrupting before Lia can respond to Cecil.
