The Return – Part 10

Serenity was parked amid the devastation of Melbourne, Australia’s airport, the once city of millions now a ghost town with the only signs of life Serenity’s crew and the accompanying scientists from Moonbase Armstrong. Three of the scientists were gathering data on radiation and meteorological patterns from several pieces of equipment that none on Serenity’s crew had seen before or could easily understand. Wash came down the cargo bay ramp toward the three scientists and their instruments. They were standing and gazing at the sky and the sun, breathing deeply, not even looking at their equipment.

“Nice day, isn’t it?” Wash said nonchalantly.

“Our first in more than two years,” said Christine and Wash could feel the emotions from her and the others as they enjoyed this rare moment.

“Three years for me,” Fred added.

“It’s so clear and fresh,” Miller said. “It’s...unbelievable.”

Wash just nodded. “Pollution I’m taking it. Know all about that. I grew up on a place with lots of pollution, factories, burning stuff all the time. It wasn’t very pretty.”

“And now it’s…gone,” Christine said in awe.

“Not entirely, I’m afraid,” Miller commented as he looked toward the dead. “What are we going to do about them?”

“Nothing to do,” Fred said somberly. “There’s just too many. In time, if we return to stay, we will deal with it.”

“Will you return to stay?” Wash asked. “Seems to be on your commander’s mind from what we have heard and learned so far.”

“It’s our hope. Some of us,” said Miller and then his face turned a touch angry. “Others wanted to follow that fool off to the stars.”

“The wormhole works,” said Christine defensively and the good mood of a moment ago was disappearing. “And without that ‘fool' Serenity would have never come here and we wouldn’t be able to return to Earth.”

“But the cost. Six more dead,” Fred said sadly.

They were silent for a moment. “Commander Jackson wants you to make a report before we lose radio contact,” Wash told them.

“Yes, I’ll