IRON LUNG YAAAHH

(I hope you don't mind if I lightly modify the prompt to be on a space station instead (fairly sure Earth itself vanished in the Quiet Rapture))

These radio stations are usually for communication with the Consolidation's other space stations.
Not mystery people begging for their lives from God knows where.
The sudden noise nearly startles Stella right out of her shotty chair, though their supervisors would probably kill them if they actually damaged it.
Okay, maybe not that far, but they certainly wouldn't have a chair anymore. Only so many left in the universe now after all.

Either way, the chair gets abandoned when Stella shoots to their feet, tweaking the station to find the sound again.
"Hello?!"
They shout into the mic. What the hell is the protocol for this?
"Hello!? Can you hear me? Who are you? WHERE are you?"

They're shaking. They can't tell if it's from fear, excitement, both, some secret fourth option...

(Sorry I’m kind of dumb, I saw the movie once ((AMAZING BTW)) and kind of forgot. So ofc, tysm)

*the man immediately stops pleading. You can hear his heaving breaths crackling over the radio for a moment before he speaks*
Simon: “Is someone there?? You can hear me?! Oh thank god-“ *he sounds like he’s about to sob from relief* “My- My name is Simon. Im on some- a mission. In this stupid ocean-“

(yeah oh my God the movie was freaking spectacular and I will never recover)

"Yes, I can hear you! Okay!"

Stella planted their palms on the counter, trying to gather their own breath.

"Okay."

Simon... Did they know that name? It sounded familiar. Stella bit their lip. They couldn't place it.

"Okay..."

...
Ocean?
Stella knows of five oceans. One of them died with the Earth.
The other four...
Their stomach clenches

Stella looks up from the radio panel and looks around. Nobody else in this room to tell them this is not their jurisdiction. That they should NOT be talking to this man.

"M-my name is Stella."

What else can they tell him?

"I'm with the Coalition of Iron, but definitely not from whichever station sent you."

They swallow hard.

"Are you okay?"

A question Stella could guess the answer to. What person like *that* would be?

(It also has Markimoo in it 🙏)

Simon: “Stella.” *he repeated the name as if it was the last thing he had to hold on to* “I’m… I’m not okay.” *was he sobbing-?* “How do I explain this- this ocean it’s not- it’s not made of water.”

(And he did a spectacular job)

“I know! I- sorry. I know. Blood.”

Their fingers keep twitching so Stella balls their hands up into fists.
They flinch with each of his sobs. They don’t want to tell a grieving man it serves him right, the position he’s in now, after what he did.

That must be where they know that name from.

They almost don’t want to give this man their company at all.

…

“…Do you wanna talk?” Stella looks over their shoulder again. “I don’t… think I’m in any position to help you, but… I can do that.”

Simon: *his voice cracks* “Please- I’m begging you. Home base won’t respond- I’m hearing shit- it’s so f**king hot down here-“ *he stops, and takes a deep breath* “I know you think I’m a criminal but I’m not- it… it wasn’t my fault.”

“Okay, okay, I can- I can try to contact your station but I can’t promise they’ll do anything if they haven’t already.”

That and Stella could easily get in trouble for that.

They sucked air through their teeth.
“I only know what I was told. I wasn’t there.”
Stella looked around again. After almost every sentence.

“…What do you mean ‘hearing shit’? What are you hearing?”

Simon: “There’s this woman I… I keep hearing her-“ *he sighs* “She keeps telling me she’s close and that I should save her but I… I can’t even tell what’s real anymore I… the oxygen is almost gone-“

“Well, I’m fairly certain I’m real, so you can count on that.”

They snorted.

“There shouldn’t be anyone else down there with you. I haven’t gotten signals from anyone but the other stations and, well, you, in a while.”

If oxygen is low, maybe it’s deprivation making him see things. Or the isolation. Or a hundred other things in that coffin of a sub.

“I’m sorry.”

Simon: “Why would you be sorry?” *his voice was soft. Almost accepting* “You think I’m a criminal just like everyone else that says I deserve to die down here.”

“I- I don’t know.”

Stella stared down at the panel.

“I guess… I don’t like not being able to help. Regardless do what you *allegedly* did or didn’t do.”

They kicked at the ground.

“Obviously I don’t want any more of the few people who are left to die, can you blame me? And I mean, listening to *you* it’s… I don’t know.”

Simon: “I know. I… you don’t have to explain. They promised they’d bring me back up but-“
*his sigh crackled- then he coughed. He was struggling to catch his breath*
“I know I’m not alone down here. They just don’t believe me.”

“And I don’t blame them. What you’re explaining sounds like plain old psychosis, but…”

Stella's foot tapped.

“Honestly? In an ocean of blood? After planets and stars just up and vanished one day? Anything’s f**kin’ possible.”

They inhaled.

“Take a few deep breaths. I know it sounds counterproductive but staying calm is the best you can really do to conserve resources until something can be done.”

IF something can be done.

“I can see about getting in contact with your station. If they won’t listen to you they might listen to me. Do you want me to do that? Is there anything you want me to tell them?”