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As the heartbeat clock ticks in Maxus' chest death feels closer and closer.

The room he and Harrison stood in was strobed with flashing red light as a warning came across the large screen.
Inner System Malfunction

"Looks like we won't be having a nice landing."
Harrison claimed, shaking his head.

Maxus felt more angry than scared, though really he was just channeling that fear into anger. He slammed his fist into the control board, causing a metallic echo through the large room.

The man caught himself thinking of whether his death would be slow or instant. He didn't know which he would prefer.

When something happens to the ship, without the outer layer the oxygen will give out, and when it does...is it like the snap of a finger or is it more like molasses dripping down a counter, taking its time, but not savouring last moments? No- feeling the stinging pain of not being able to breathe but not being able to stop breathing.

And for a moment I forget that I'm not dying, I forgets that I can breathe and I can see and I can speak. And Maxus Maddox can live, because I am alive, I'm awake and all around me is the light of stars, beautiful gifts from God.

At least, I think, in my last moments I can be with the stars, because no matter how many times I see them fly by they are always going to make me feel. And I doesn't always know what. Sadness, joy, hope, fear, life.

"Hopefully I'll see you again in Heaven one day." Maxus said, turning to Harrison. It isn't a hopeless statement. In fact it means a lot...

"Hopefully?" Harrison raised an eyebrow, at first he assumed Maxus was implying he wouldn't get there but...

"If I get there. I've been a real pain for...gosh, like ten years..." Maxus ran a hand through his dyed blonde hair.

Harrison leaned down and put a hand on Maxus' shoulder.
"You already said sorry. You already said it, it's okay..."

Maxus lifted his head to look Harrison in the eye.
"And the whole time....I thought you were the bad guy-"
Maxus half laughed, half coughed.
"I didn't think you were a person."

Harrison didn't respond to this. Just nodded slowly as if he understood, which he could never.
"Maddox, we're nearing the blue planet's atmosphere."

Maxus nodded, shaking away his thoughts.
He suddenly had a realization he was ashamed he hadn't before.
"Harrison- the atmosphere will destroy the ship."

Harrison looked like he had just seen a ghost, no, much, much worse.

Harrison James clamped a hand over his mouth and sunk to the floor.
As his hand slowly slid off his face and hit the floor like a ragdoll Harrison looked, searching Maxus' eyes for something, something that just wasn't there.

Maxus was expecting the man to tell him it was his fault, and maybe it was, somehow...somehow it had to be Maxus' fault.

It was Maxus' turn to comfort Harrison -not comfort- save.
"Harrison, it's too late to turn the ship around because of the malfunctioning systems...but it's not to late for the emergency pods. Go to the back of the ship and get into one, there's enough emergency food to last a few months if you use it sparingly."

Harrison actually looked upset by this suggestion.
"Maddox..." his tone of voice now sounded a lot more like the Harrison James that Maxus was used to hearing.

Somehow, Maxus missed that. Because when Harrison sounded like Harrison he didn't sound dependant on Maxus, he didn't sound desperate.

"You're suggesting we choose which crew members live and which ones die. Leave that to God. Maddox..."

Harrison looked Maxus dead in the eye, causing a chill to run through him.
"You are not obliged to sacrifice human blood."

"I know. It will be voluntary. But you're going, you're going back to Earth." Maxus said.

Harrison raised his eyebrow.
"And you?"

After a long pause, Maxus spoke. He had made the decision already.
"...I'm staying."

"What?"

"I'm staying. Someone has to, I'm the captain. I-It's my job to keep you safe, right?"

Harrison stayed almost glued in his place until Maxus pointed him towards the exit.
"What are you waiting for!? Go!"

Harrison pulled himself up off the floor and started running as Maxus made an announcement on the PA.
"This is your captain speaking...technical difficulties have accumulated and we're set on a crash course for a planet that may be dangerous. There are twenty of us, only ten escape pods. We may be able to fit two people in some of them...and staying is voluntary...but..."

Maxus readied himself to say words he had been denying in his head since the incident began.
"I can't save everyone."

He paused, letting the words sink in. The man could hear his own shaky breathing.
"If you're staying on this suicide mission I expect to see you in my office at the helm for at least a few minutes."

Maxus stood up from his desk and headed towards the pods, to see everyone off.
When he got there he saw exactly thirteen crew members standing near the pods, across from them six others -the ones who were staying. They were all crying.

Something told Maxus that they weren't crying for themselves, their own bloodshed, but for their families, waiting for their return, waiting to feel their warm arms around them and to hear their laughs.

Of the thirteen wishing to live two fights had broken out.
Jackson Emmets and Troy Smith were engaged in a violent fistfight, Jackson at an immense advantage. He landed a powerful kick against Troy, who hit the floor hard, now coughing.

"Emmets!" Maxus scolded, grabbing the larger man by his jacket.
A part of him wanted to force him across the room to stay, but those weren't his true feelings.
Maxus wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

He helped Troy up and made sure he was okay. He directed the young man into a pod with an a petite crew member.
"That leaves one pod and three people, correct?"

Jackson Emmets' face didn't show any amusement. Just anger.
"Something tells me you should have that pod to yourself." Maxus instructed to the man.

"Lest cannibalism become a problem." Snickered a woman from the 'suicide side'

Maxus snapped his fingers and smirked.
"Exactly."

The last two left had been engaged in a fight but stopped as soon as they saw Maxus.

One was able to get into a pod with another person, but there was no room for the other. Maxus easily knew his crew by name, this man was Bennett West. But it was strange to see their faces in a way he had never seen before.

Twisted with fear and sadness, the prospect of death looming over their minds, and Maxus wanted anything but to turn down a man's request to live.

Bennett knew what was happening, and he spared Maxus the words.
"I'll stay. It's fine."

Maxus grabbed Bennett's hand and tightly squeezed it.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry..."

Bennett gave a small smile as he let his hand slip away.
"Ain't nothin' your fault, Max."

No, Maxus was the one who suggested they go to a planet without thinking at all. He made a stupid decision in a moment of fear and didn't realize his logic until it was too late. If anyone else wore his uniform, had anyone else been captain, they would have used common sense, people wouldn't have to die.

"Thank you, Bennett." Maxus bowed slightly before straightening and announcing to everyone in the pods.
"Leave when you're ready. Set a course for Earth and...live out your lives."

There were solemn nods from everyone.
"My last order to you as your captain is that you tell our families what happened, in person. Don't keep them waiting."

Troy and a few others gave a firm salute.
"Sir, yes sir!"

"It's been a pleasure...goodbye." And with that, Captain Maxus Maddox turned and led his group of seven to the helm to try to change fate.