[ WP ] After Astronaut Capt . Scott Kelly returns to earth following a 340-day stretch at the ISS , NASA receives a distress signal from the ISS ... from Capt . Scott Kelly .

It started with an email. Helen opened it quickly. The subject was simple, but the ugrent symol glowed. She did n't eat breakfast - it must still be sitting on the counter going cold. Maybe Jim would throw it out before he left. 
 
 The message was from Christchurch. Willy opened with the usual greeting. Thrn he had typed `` need to discuss the package from outside get nancy''. 
 
 It was too rushed. Too informal. Helen paused a moment then picked up the phone. 
 
 ** 
 
 Kelly had lost a lot of weight. McCartney did n't like the way his joints moved. His reflexes were stiff. Blood pressure was dropping like a rock and yet Kelly was still standing. 
 
 `` How do you feel, Scott?'' 
 
 The astronaut shrugged. `` Fine.'' 
 
 The would always be an astronaut, McCarthy reaslized. He had gone and seen something few people ever would, regardless what Asimov or Musk thought. Space was too far for most. Kelly was staring at his reflection in the paper towel dispenser. 
 
 `` Are you alright?'' 
 
 Kelly blinked. His hands trembled. He would get shuffled into psych soon enough. Most people think that after the pod hits the water the family is already in a waiting room like their loved one in flying in from Ohio. That shithole. In reality Kelly's family is waiting at his mother's house. They'll get the call after he's cleared. 
 
 
 The phone rings on the wall. One of the nurses is drawing blood. McCarthy picks up the line. 
 
 `` Hello?'' 
 
 The voice at the end is clear, with the hollow echo of long distance. McCarthy hand heard that tone in years. 
 
 `` Get the others out of the room. Leave Kelly. Jupiter.'' The message is repeated one more then disconnected. McCarthy sets the phone down. There is a moment of stillness. It lasts as he turns and like at Gigi and Fran. They as busy. Kelly is finally sitting on the examining table. 
 
 `` I need an endoscope and a 12 bore cath. And while you're out, pick up a rounded Jupiter syringe.'' 
 
 Gigi drops the file on the counter. `` On it.'' Fran takes a second to fumble out the door. They do n't lock it, thank God. McCarthy watches Kelly stare at nothing. The man does reached as McCarthy backsvout of the room. He can feel the cold thread of fear when he gets outside. 
 
 There's a full SWAT team waiting. They're wearing hazmat suits and the stink of fear and sterile plastic is heavy in the hallway. 
 
 `` Is he alone?'' One asks. McCarty nods. The figure moves in an awkward way. McCarthy realizes that it was a shrug. `` Then get back. We'll wait out here.'' 
 
 He's shuffled to the back of the group. Then the lights on the hall dim. 
 
 `` Is it a brownout?'' The question is very loud in the stillness. No one answers.
