Day 57
The food ran out. The following morning Nebula woke him, and the ship was silent. The power cells had died. Tony made peace at that very moment with the fact that he was going to die here.
“Not all of the power cells are dead, just the ones powering the propulsion systems,” Nebula explained as she lead Tony to the power cells of the ship. He ran his fingers through his greasy hair in frustration.
“So we are stuck?” He asked the question already knowing the answer.
“We’re stuck,” as the blue alien spoke the whole ship went black.
“Shit!” Nebula swore. She broke a flare. And took off down the hallway.
“What?” Tony demanded chasing after her. She slid stop at one of the control panels.
“No, no, no. NO!” She slammed her hands against one of the dials, “No! Please no.”
Tony stood in shocked silence as she descended into angry screams and beat on the control board, “Come on! No!”
“Nebula! What is the problem?” Tony demanded. She came to a stand still. Her shoulders drooped and she turned to face him. Tears sparkled in the light of the flare.
“I am so sorry Tony,” Her voice was broken, “Life support is gone.”
For some reason it didn't overly surprise him, or terrify him. He had known he eaten that last bite of food, that it would indeed be his last bite of food.
“It’s okay Nebula,” Tony replied slowly. He had already resigned himself to his fate. This just sealed it.
“No it’s not Tony!” Nebula sounded like she was about to shout, “You are going to die! That’s not okay with me!”
“Nebs, it was always going to happen,” Tony said shaking his head.
“Okay! So just like that? You’re mortal so you are okay with it happening when ever?” This time Nebula did shout, “That’s it??? Oh well I was always going to die so that makes it okay for me to die now. NO! Tony it doesn’t!”
“Nebula! We are out of food!” Tony couldn’t hold back his own frustrated shout, “We ran out of food two days ago! I am either going to suffocate, or I am going to starve to death. I knew two fucking days ago that I was going to die! This!” Tony pointed at the oxygen gauge, “This just speeds it up by what a day maybe two? And you know what? I am tired!" He could here his voice shake, I am SO. DAMN. TIRED. And I can't keep doing this. I give and I give, I don't have anything left. I got nothing Nebula. Zilch."
Nebula opened and closed her a few times. Tony sighed. He hadn't meant to shout, and he sure as hell hadn't meany to say all that.
“I’m sorry Nebs. I really I am.”
Nebula bowed her head in defeat. She had done it again. She had let herself care, and she was going to pay for it again.
“I just- Tony I can’t lose anymore…”
Strong arms wrapped around her in a firm hug. She had never like physical affection, but she leaned into Tony’s hug all the same. She didn't mind his hugs, as a matter of fact she loved them. They were like hugs from a father she hadn't ever had before now.
He pulled her head close to his chest, and held her like that. Deep down she had know too, she had watched him eat the last of the food, and she had known. She had known in that moment that she was going to lose again. The oxygen running out had just sealed the fate of the last person in the universe that she cared about.