New Hope: Book 1

When lieutenant Lassiter arrived at the heavy, metal door, he felt his heart pounding in his chest. He was sweating profusely now and the thought that they should have turned back when they still had a chance was running through his mind more and more. Now he was seriously wondering whether he’ll be able to endure these conditions for long enough to tell anybody about it, mostly Ellie. Ellie. The lieutenant caught himself thinking about the Doctor more and more frequently. Indeed, he was responsible for apprehending and having her shot on board New Hope, but since then many months have passed, and their cooperation during this time has been solely spectacular. The Doctor quickly got over the fact that she regularly sees the person who once had a firearm aimed at her, and she had forgiven him. The circumstances were what they were, and orders must be obeyed. Ellie, who had once worked for the American Space Agency, understood very well that certain things couldn’t be overcome. The lieutenant also noticed, when training or simply spending time with the young doctor, they both catch each other’s glances and hold their stolen gazes for longer than necessary in the given situation.

He also had the utmost respect and a liking for Dr. Johnson: for her knowledge and experience, for her confidence, for how she carried herself, her skill for coping in difficult and unexpected situations. However, John Lassiter was aware that they weren’t the only reasons for daydreaming about the moments he spent with Ellie alone. He felt a magnetic attraction to her. This did not come as much of a surprise. The Doctor was not only an attractive woman, though perhaps not in a classic way, but also practical and resourceful. She had something that made him want to go to the ends of the earth for her. Ehh... thought lieutenant Lassiter. Snap out of it, man! You’ve got more important and more pressing work than thinking about a girl. As he thought this, he reached out his hand to help Julius, who had just tripped on the last stretch toward the door.

Julius, breathing heavily, seized his younger colleague’s helpful hand and tried to calm his breathing. Unfortunately, his efforts were futile.

“I know those jibes about my age seemed funny but I gotta tell you, John, now I finally feel as old as Ellie’s been suggesting I look,” he panted. “God, it’s so hot here! It’s not normal, don’t you think? The temperature seems to be growing exponentially. I think I know how bacteria feel in a body that starts working at top speed to fight them off,” he huffed and puffed. “I think I’m starting to feel like an intruder here.”

“Well, Julius, I admit you’re not alone in this,” replied Lassiter. “I don’t remember when I’ve ever been this tired. I have the sense that we’re being observed and these increases in temperature and the strange feeling of gravity are not circumstantial,” he said, remembering how quickly the other two commandos had to turn back and return to the entrance. The fact that none of them had returned to them in a suit suggested that the soldiers had either encountered some other problem along the way or despite having put on the suits, they weren’t able to get through the heat barrier.

Lieutenant John, hoping Julius, like himself, decides to go to the end regardless of the serious health problems, turned to the metal door, studied them up close, and decided to press the flat panel located at the side of the door frame. Nothing happened when he touched it.

“Well, I guess that’s not the way,” said Julius, resigned and disappointed. He didn’t want to suggest it was time to go back, especially after the previous situation on the Moon when he was forced to leave Ellie to the mercy of the aliens, but the thought appeared in his mind involuntarily from time to time.

“John...” the Captain started saying when he suddenly felt something strange.

“Julius, did you feel that?” asked John in surprise. “A gust of cooler air. And the heat... It’s subsiding?” he added.

“You’re right! I feel a cool breeze!” said Julius, overjoyed, “It’s getter cooler and the heavy feeling in my chest is gone. I almost started to fear my heart isn’t in as good a condition as they told me in ESA during tests, but now everything’s returning to normal and I’m starting to feel much better!” he added.

John Lassiter looked at the thermometer attached to one of his sleeves. “86 degrees Fahrenheit and falling. Quick!” he shouted enthusiastically. “77... 71.6... 64.4... Sixty-four degrees Fahrenheit and stable,” said the lieutenant.

“Interesting that the temperature stopped at the optimal level for humans, isn’t it?” said Julius out loud, though the question was obviously rhetorical and he wasn’t expecting an answer from anybody.

“I’m not interested in explanations, pal, I’m just happy it happened,” said the lieutenant. “A minute longer and we’d probably be found dead here by anyone returning to the lunar lander,” he said.

“What now?” asked Julius. “Maybe try the button at the door again?” he added.

John didn’t need much persuading. He turned to the metal door and pressed the flat plate across from it. The door opened with a heavy, metallic sound. A few seconds later, they fanned open to the sides, uncovering an illuminated bridge leading to a vast room with a round platform in the middle.

The men looked at each other, and then, one after the other, they crossed the threshold and headed toward the center of the room.