As if the vacuum of space had invaded the ship, absolute silence filled the meeting room.

Baku's eyes were unfocused and all color had disappeared from his skin. The young man felt that joining the crew had been a pact and that finally, after a few happy months, the devil had come for his soul and dragged him to hell.

Years of experience had not given Lucy and Aurelia a better reaction, both were quiet and their faces clouded. But there were slight differences in their desperation. In the depths of Lucy's eyes you could see agreement with the captain, while the hologram seemed only to regret the decision.

- Well, that's what I'd like to say - the captain broke the silence. - But first, we need a plan. And a good one.

- We can't do that, Markus.

Markus wasn't surprised by Lucy's response, and he knew she wasn't saying it for herself. Lucy wasn't a coward, nor was she a rebellious subordinate, but she always put the safety of her comrades above all else, even if it meant going against the captain at times.

Baku was still as pale as paper.

- Lucy, what do you have planned for the future? - Markus didn't look at her directly, he was afraid of the words that would follow.

- My plans remain the same, Markus - there was firmness in his voice. - I will live until my last day in Cosmos. -The words didn't surprise Markus, but that didn't stop them from saddening him. Baku seemed to have come to his senses a little, his horror now having given way to confusion. His mind was spinning with Lucy's words, "Why does she want to stay in Cosmos?"

- I gave up, Lucy. My grandfather found his insignificance on the first expedition, my father lived his life for a mission that I inherited... - Markus' voice faltered before he continued. - And I failed to fulfill it. Now I've been pretending for years that I'm still going to achieve something, while everyone else has already given up. I just want to do this last big job and escape to the Hole.

- So that's it? An all-or-nothing job - Lucy didn't treat Markus as cordially as Baku, but this was the first time she had really treated the captain disrespectfully. The faithful companion's face drowned in an ocean of emotions, none of them friendly. Her nose wrinkled, her tone was one of disgust and disapproval, while her eyes revealed disbelief. - You don't give a damn about the crew, do you? You plan to sacrifice them all.

- No - Markus now looked deep into his companion's eyes. - I plan to save them from having a future like mine. - All the emotions drained out of Lucy, leaving only a sad silence. Of all people, she understood Markus the most. Most humans led their lives in the Hole and forgot about the existence of the distant Cosmos, but Markus and Lucy felt crushed by it. They felt powerless and worthless all the time.

Lucy now looked down in silence, the captain still staring at her.

- Is that true, Markus? - Lucy's voice lacked strength. - Do you promise?

- Yes - Markus didn't look away or blink.

Lucy took a deep breath and strengthened her voice again.

- Then I'll follow you - Lucy looked into the captain's eyes and placed her hand on his heart as a way of showing respect. - After all, I owe you more than just a life. - Markus smiled in response.

- Don't feel pressured, I owe you more than a lifetime too - the two companions toasted their mugs of coffee.

Baku looked at his veterans a little confused, trying to understand the situation, but soon straightened his posture, puffed out his chest, raised his chin and said almost shouting:

- I'll follow you too, Captain! Forever! - Markus held back his laughter, not wanting to belittle the boy's gesture of loyalty, but Lucy didn't have the same delicacy and burst into laughter.

The door to the room opened and a rather inelegant face appeared. It was a man with long brown hair licked to the end of his neck. His face began with large entrances that made his forehead an inch longer, and was followed by brown eyes bordered by heavy dark circles, a convex pointed nose, and a sparse, unkempt beard. However, like Markus, the man had a body that stood out from his sloppy face, with the well-trained muscles of an elite soldier.

- And that's where I present the plan," said the newcomer.

- Good morning, Mr. Paul," greeted Aurelia. - Did you hear the conversation?

 - How could she not? - he replied as he poured his coffee and joined the table. - First of all, I'd like to say that I'm with you on this one, Markus. One last mission and then escape to the Hole while the gods bite, and I have a plan.

Paul was probably the most intelligent person on the ship. He and Markus met almost two decades ago, when they were both cadets and, when the second human expedition into Cosmos failed, Markus made a point of bringing him on board as an Avis engineer. Despite being so "intimate" with Cosmos, he didn't have the exhaustion of Markus and Lucy, because for Paul it was enough to be involved with technology for his life to be satisfying.

- But for this plan to work, we'd have to ask for an exception - Lucy said thoughtfully after hearing Paul's plan. - Only one of the crew can receive the contract. Can we do that?

- I'll get in touch and ask for this exception," said Aurelia.

Communication with clients was carried out using dimensional radio technology, which sent wave signals through a specific dimension that the crew used for communication and disseminated only to potential contractors.

- This should take a while... - Paul was interrupted by Aurelia during his speech.

- They accepted. - The speed of the response and the flexibility of the conditions made the more experienced ones break out in a cold sweat. They were desperate for someone to do the job. How deep a hole were they putting themselves in?

- So Baku should get the contract - before hearing any protests, Markus continued. - That means he'll be the least involved in the plan and will be safe - everyone nodded in agreement.

-"Let them know that we've accepted the job and that we'll be going to Cosmos to collect the contract in three Earth days," Paul ordered the hologram. - "If they're so desperate for someone, they won't bother with this condition. We'll use those days to prepare.

- Well then, let's go to Mars!  - Markus said.

************

"Hole" is a part of the Universe where there is no magic. Human civilization lives in that space, it's also where the Earth and the whole Milky Way is, while no magical being can stay alive for more than a few minutes in it :p