[ WP ] You are not the last human , but you are the last human on earth

[ First story here, so although criticism is welcome, please be nice. ] 
 
 When our ship touches down in the New Mexico desert, a hearty cheer goes up from the crew. It ’ s been six months since we left, and as exciting as recon missions are, I missed Earth more than I would have imagined. Happens as you get older, I think. I turn to Ben. “ We made it, and I can ’ t wait to eat a real burger. What ’ s the first thing you ’ re gon na do on Earth? ” He replies, all earnestness and serious eyes. “ I ’ m going to start by putting in a requisition for a new communications system. Our incoming transmissions were sporadic the whole time, and for the last month we haven ’ t been receiving anything at all, even though we can send without a problem. Do you know how dangerous that is? ” “ Well, we ’ re on the ground now. Let Control know we ’ ve landed, and that we ’ re sorry our comm system is a piece of shit. ” Walking through the cabin, I can ’ t help but smile. Our mission was a success, I ’ m back in New Mexico, and my copilot ’ s being responsible. 
 
 
 Ten minutes later, we ’ ve taxied to our customary spot and Ben is on the verge of tears. “ I can ’ t get anyone. Nobody from the AFB, nobody from Control– hell, I even tried to contact the government. Silence. Something ’ s wrong, Lee. ” The world outside is blue and brown and empty. I scan the horizon, looking for someone to welcome us home, and that ’ s when I see the first body. He is curled up outside one of the outbuildings, still wearing a neon vest. A brown halo of dried blood frames his head. Some force, perhaps a latent desire for heroism, drives me to a decision. “ Ben ”, I say calmly, “ I ’ m going outside. This situation might be the result of some sort of hostile takeover, and we need to know what ’ s happening. I don ’ t plan to do anything other than observe, but for the purposes of being discreet, I want everyone else to stay here for the time being. ” Ben shakes his head. “ A hostile takeover of New Mexico? Even if that was true, I don ’ t see why you need to go outside, and not one of us. I think it's a bad idea, Lee. ” “ Concerns noted, Ben. Be back soon. ” I step through the airlock into the hot brightness of a summer morning. 
 
 
 Up close, the dead man looks less peaceful. There are no wounds, no signs of a struggle, but dried blood stains the ground and the stink of decay fills the air. Carefully avoiding contact, I bend down to see crusted vomit around his mouth, and some sort of dried white foam. I contact Ben on the ancient walkie-talkies we kept around for some reason. “ Starship Oblivion, come in. ” Ben responds immediately. “ Captain Lee, please move away from the dead body and find a more secure position. You don ’ t know what killed him. It, or they, could still be around. ” “ We ’ re okay, Ben. No wounds, just blood and vomit, and some sort of foam. The poor guy died of a disease, or possibly something poisonous. I can check for a snakebite? ” Ben doesn ’ t respond for a long time, and I take his silence as assent, trying to move stiff pant legs. 
 
 Suddenly, the ship ’ s engine roars into operation. I whirl around, confused, just in time to see Ben ’ s face, tear-streaked as he speaks into the walkie-talkie for the last time. “ Captain Lee, from your observations we have determined that some sort of pathogen was responsible for the death. This pathogen has likely also infected those responsible for communication, leading us to infer that it is widespread and highly transmissible. The crew of the starship Oblivion has not been exposed to this pathogen, and as such, we plan to make for the base on Titan. Thank you for your leadership and… I ’ m so sorry, Lee. I want to take you onboard, but it's a gamble we ca n't make. ” As the silver ship takes off, I can only watch as it grows smaller, a shining speck in a cloudless sky. 

