Something else was wrong, too. He had been doing his controlled breathing, but suddenly he felt as if he was sucking the last of his reserve. The gauge showed his tank at over fifty percent full, but his CO2 meter proved him right, the level was too high. He must have been breathing CO2 for quite a while to reach that mark. A sense of nausea started to grow from the pit of his stomach.

“Joe, my suit is not working properly. I'm getting dizzy. Which is the fastest way to the door?”

Joe Dyles’ voice came after a second. “Right on, partner. Let me see…Okay, turn to your left and go as fast as you can. I'm heading down to the chamber to help you get in.”

Karl followed his partner’s direction but found himself facing the rear of a thruster. He saw a gleam of pure white light growing into a flame right in the center of the hollow exhaust. An invisible forced pressed his chest hurling him away from the station.

Confused and dizzy, he tried desperately to grab one of the handles but he was a millisecond too late: the station was whirling away!