9 – The Big Jump

“I do not know, Celia.” Mike was apologetic once more. “I do not have enough information to work that out.”
“O.K. ” I took a deep breath and made a decision. “When I count to three dive through the door.”
“Certainly, Celia.” Mike paused then said, “The probe is broadcasting a warning that it will open fire if we move.”
“Do not respond to it, Mike,” I slowed my breathing and started to count. “One.”
The probe started to extend another arm.
“Two.”
And slowly swung it around to face me.
“Three.”
There was a blur of movement, a dull thud against my left leg and I was spinning free in space. The stars swept across my vision. Then the Earth. And then the sun, with the black shape of the station in front of it.
“Are we all right, Mike?” I whispered.
“The suit suffered an impact on the left leg.” Mike spoke slowly and calmly. “There is some damage to the motor units, through the suit was not holed.”
I watched the heavens rotate once more as I thought, “What are the chances of being picked up now?”
“If I broadcast a signal there is a good chance that someone at the station will pick it up and come to get us, or one of the thugs.”
“No.” I spoke sharply. “I don’t want to be caught once more, either by the stations owners or by their attackers.”
“We are small and inconspicuous,” Mike paused. “And there is quite a lot of debris around us. If we are lucky we will not be noticed.”
“How long can I stay alive in this suit?” I did not want to escape just so I could suffocate my self in deep space.
“On minimum power and use you can stay alive for about six months.”
“And what are the chances that we will be picked up within that time?” I became aware that I was spinning, helpless in orbit around Earth and that I was calmly discussing my chances of survival with a computer. My life on Earth, such a short time ago, seem so far away now.
“Once we are away from this general area we can start to broadcast a general SOS message. There is a good chance that someone will hear it before you die.”
I was beginning to learn that computers, no matter how they sound, are not human. There was no thought of self survival, just a calculation of how many times my air could be recycled. There was also no tact.
I let the heavens turn about me a few more times.
“Mike what type of orbit are we in?” I realised that I did not know much about the technicalities of orbits, but I hoped that Mike was programmed to explain things in English.
As we spoke I watched the sun slowly sink behind the Earth, the black of the station fading into the sky and its riding lights become a strange, multi-colored constellation.
“We are in a elliptical orbit, between one hundred thousand and twenty five thousand miles up from Earth, at about fifty seven degrees from the equatorial plane. With a minor adjustment to velocity and direction at apogee we can pass nearer to more densely populated orbits.” Mike paused. “We are unlikely to be spotted from the station now.” His voice tried to sound grave.
“Are we going near any areas where there are a lot of stations?” I did not quite know what I would do when I was picked up. I half hopped that Mike would know what to do, but I knew he would not. I would just have to play it by ear.
“It is unlikely that we will come close enough to a station for them to see us.” I began to notice the mechanical quality in Mike’s voice again. “However we will be able to send an distress single that should be received if we pass close to one.”
“Oh.” I yawned. “Yes, that is good.” I yawned again. “All this excitement has worn me out. Let me think for a while and see if I come up with something.”
I slowly watched the heavens orbit around me. The crescent of the Earth getting larger, as the sun and Earth moved further apart. The natural stars staying in the same place, as did most of the man made ones, but others had moved slightly at each turn, and all were out of my reach.
As I tumbled I slowly relaxed, the tension going as the danger receded. And I quietly drifted into deep sleep.

Chapter 10 – The Fix