Firstclass Pov -

“Panel J-9 is replaced, Commander. Thermal readings nominal.”

I’m First Class Engineer Saito, serial number 7783-K. I’m thirty-two thousand kilometers above the Pacific, and I’m supposed to be replacing a thermal coupling on Panel J-9. But I’ve been staring at my wrench for three minutes now, watching it float in front of my visor, because I’ve run out of reasons to turn it. firstclass pov

That was six years ago.

I unstick my glove from the hull. “On my way, Commander.” “Panel J-9 is replaced, Commander

“Copy.”

The first time I saw Earth from up here, I cried. Not the delicate, single-tear kind of crying they write about in poems. I mean the ugly, heaving, snot-and-saltwater kind. My helmet fogged up so badly the proximity alarms went off. I had to explain to Mission Control that I was fine, just—overwhelmed. They laughed. Told me to get it together, rookie. But I’ve been staring at my wrench for