Where is he? Have you lost him?

Still blinking, Flash released the cryo-tube’s transparent housing. As he did this, he heard a sound coming from his computer. Static… but not the repeating sequences that he normally heard. Adjusting the fine tuning, the irregular garble sharpened to the sound of a human voice.

Identify yourself was the basic message conveyed to him. A scan of the signal pinpointed it’s origin. Earth. North America. Florida. Cape Canaveral.

Flash responded to the command Trans-Neptunian Interloper 87 23113170

The voice repeated his transmission to verify his identity. This was followed by a pause of a minute or two which seemed an eternity to Flash.

Ash Lander’s heart raced as he copied this exchange, in a state of shocked disbelief. Can we get a visual? he asked.

Cor Epsilon, the Space Traffic Controller who had received the response from Flash, flipped switches which illuminated the huge video screen facing the room. The wall was filled with static, and Ash glanced back and forth between Cor and the screen, not daring to believe that Meridian was alive and returning to Earth.

Where is he? Have you lost him? Ash asked. Do you read me? Cor asked into his microphone.

I read you… Flash replied, when suddenly his voice was obliterated by static. Just as suddenly, the wall revealed a video feed of Flash Meridian’s face. The picture was accompanied by the sound of his voice. This is Flash Meridian

A cheer went up from all stations in the theater-like room. With Krate Azimuth by his side, Ash picked up a microphone and said Welcome home, Flash. It’s good to see you

I copy that Flash said as his own screen revealed the video feed from Alpha Control.