Read Transmission Lost for Free Online

it.”
    “Uh...huh...,” Jack said slowly. He looked up, as though deep in thought. “Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and say I'm not gonna do that.”
    “Oh?” Aria said. She peered at him, tilting her head to one side. “Why not?”
    “Why not?” Jack asked, incredulous. “Why not? I'll tell you why not! Because you've spent literally the entire time I've had the misfortune of being acquainted with you trying to blow me out of space, trying to shoot me down on an uninhabited planet, threatening to shoot me with a rifle, or tying me up. Because you've been talking to me like I'm some sort of servant or something. And because I just plain don't want to.” Jack looked away from her. “Give me one good reason why I should help you.”
    Aria stood back up. “You want a reason?”
    Jack rolled his eyes. “Yeah, I want a reason.”
    “Alright.” Aria returned to her spot on the other side of the fire. “If we go alone, nobody to watch our backs. Predators, environmental hazards, nobody to help us through. Neither of us know this planet. Only way to survive is if we go together.” She raised a hand. “Easier.”
    Jack rolled his eyes again. “Yeah, whatever.” But she made a good point.
    “Sleep on it,” Aria suggested. She stood up, walking to his tent. “Plenty of time to decide in morning. I ready for answer then.” She pushed aside the entrance flap.
    “Wait a minute!” Jack called, struggling against his bonds again. “You just want me to sleep out here? I got no way to defend myself! What if some animal comes along and tries to make me its next meal.”
    The Ailian looked back at him. “You still prisoner, remember?” She shrugged. “If anything come, you yell. I wake up, probably.” She pushed her way into the tent, zipping it up behind her.
    “Probably? Bitch...” Jack sighed, looking around at his campsite, and the now-dying fire. “Not the way to convince me to partner up...” He settled in as best he could with his arms and legs tied behind him, and tried to sleep.
     
    ******
     
    When Jack woke up, the planet's sun was shining down on him. Sometime during the night he'd slumped over, and he was lying on his side. He blinked, feeling a tremendous itch on his head. As his eyes opened wider, he realized that a ten-legged bug creature about the size of a drink coaster was crawling across his face, spiny legs pricking his skin.
    “Gah, motherfucker!” he screamed, jerking upright and shaking his head back and forth wildly, trying to dislodge the bug. With every shake, its legs dug in tighter, stubbornly resisting. In desperation, Jack bit at the creature, and his teeth crunched it in half. The thing trembled, its legs tightening again before relaxing, and both halves fell down onto the ground.
    Jack spat, trying to get the bitter taste out of his mouth and hoping to God that whatever he'd just bitten wasn't poisonous. His heart still pounding, he leaned back, trying not to look at the thing he'd basically started to eat for breakfast. His jaw clenched as that familiar headache starting to throb again.
    Just once...I mean, it's not that much to ask, is it? he thought to himself. Can I wake up one time without being in pain?
    He took a few deep breaths, looking around the clearing. Everything seemed just as it had been the night before, except the fire was nothing but a pile of ashes. Just as he was considering yelling again, to try to wake up Aria, the tent opened up and she emerged. As Jack watched, she settled down on all fours, arching her back just like a cat would do after waking up. She stretched herself in this fashion for several minutes before standing and walking over to him.
    “'You yell, I wake up'!” Jack snapped at her. He was feeling justifiably grumpy this particular morning. “Remember? You said that. Glad I wasn't dying out here. Some fucking help you are.”
    Aria shrugged, looking vaguely apologetic. “Tired,” she said simply. She sat down next to him. “Sleep