The Other Dead Man
Reis surveys extensive damage to his starship and relays his observations to Centcomp. He returns to the airlock, where he is greeted by Jan. Reis asks after Hap and whether Dawson is making progress repairing the medical bay, but Jan avoids answering.
Jan and Reis visit with Dawson and Paula, standing watch over their pallid and unconscious captain, Hap. Reis reports finding no other survivors elsewhere on the ship. Paula identifies Reis as the commanding officer, but he denies the authority so long as Hap remains alive. Dawson describes the damage sustained by the medical pod and questions whether to put Hap inside. With Hap on the verge of death, Reis decides to place the captain into Centcomp’s care.
Recognizing their dire situation, Jan supposes the crew will die in space. Reis offers reassurance, sets a return course for Earth, and dispatches Dawson to begin repair work on the engines.
Reis lies awake in his sleep pod, thinking of the struggling ship and its crew. He dwells on the imperative of keeping the starcraft functioning until they are rescued. Paula knocks at Reis’s chamber and informs him of Hap’s passing. A Centcomp display notes that resuscitation attempts remain ongoing, but Reis confirms Hap’s nonexistent vitals. Reis orders the computer to stop working on Hap, but his command is disregarded. Paula confides in Reis that she had been married to Hap. Reis laments losing his closest friend.
Promising to soon relieve Paula from her watch, Reis passes through the airlock to continue his inspection of the ship. Reis regards the distant Sun and reflects on its influence on humankind.
Reis examines a drone operated by Centcomp at work welding closed a gash in the ship’s hull. He drifts inside the exposed compartment – Section Three – and encounters the floating corpse of fallen crewmember Nell. Checking the time, Reis decides to return indoors and stand watch for Paula.
Irritated that Centcomp continues its work on Hap, Reis demands that revival efforts cease. The computer disregards the command, explaining that it is operating under captain’s orders. To no result, Reis reminds Centcomp that he holds command now that Hap has died.
Reis dons a headset and visits a virtual representation of Centcomp’s mainframe. To his surprise, he is greeted there by Hap. Reis informs his friend of his death. Hap explains that he ordered Centcomp not to allow any member of the crew to die during their mission. The captain complains that a Lieutenant Reis is attempting mutiny. Before Reis can protest, Hap disappears. Stumbling in the simulation, Reis feels a searing pain.
Regaining consciousness, Reis spots Dawson standing over him and sees globules of his own blood drifting across the cabin.
Reis wakes in a medical pod and asks Centcomp about his condition. The computer reports that he is recovering well from a lesion between his ribs. Jan retrieves Reis from the medical bay and asks that he join her in his sleeping pod.
