Read Online Deeper Into the Void by Mitchell A. Duncan - Free Book Online
Authors: Mitchell A. Duncan
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you are always asking questions. It is also harder to ignore you when there isn’t anyone else to talk to.
Mendez:
Alright, so you don’t like me. I will say that I like your honesty; you don’t seem shy about sharing your feelings. It gets stressful out here, so if you want someone to talk to I’ll be around. Don’t worry about what I think of you; you should just worry about what you have to do and everything else will work itself out okay.
Lawrence:
How much is that going to cost me? Are we on the clock right now? Okay, let’s talk. What happened here? Nobody is saying anything at all, but we are all thinking about the same thing. Sure, it is great that we finally made it here to Mars. What happened to the other team? I don’t know, and that bothers me. Until I know for sure, I am going to be a little edgy so you should just deal with that.
Mendez:
Alright, this is more like it; I just knew we would get along.
The outer airlock door releases with a faint yet distinct banging noise. As they walk out of the airlock, they both pause and look skyward. The golden sky above lends the rust-colored landscape an air of brilliance and wonder.
Lawrence:
You know what Doctor, at least the weather is nice here; not a cloud in sight. The sky is golden and the sun is shining. Oh, I am driving by the way.
Lawrence looks over to the place where he had parked the solar rover yesterday afternoon. The remaining trace of the solar rig is the tread marks left by the tires as they fade into the rolling sands along the path from whence they had come the day before.
Lawrence:
Wait a second! What happened to the solar rig? It was here last night. Maybe Long sat on the parking brake and it rolled away or something.
Mendez:
I have absolutely no idea where it may have gone, or who may have taken it. Maybe E.T. got tired of riding in a bicycle basket.
Lawrence:
You have a sense of humor; interesting. I am betting that Long is just playing with us. He probably parked it out back or something. Well, at least the large rig is still here, and it is plugged in. I guess I’ll get it ready.
Mendez:
That’ll work, I guess. One thing bothers me though; I thought it was solar powered. It was there last night, and it is still early right now; it can’t be far. I mean, how could the solar powered rover drive away in the dark of night? Think about it.
Lawrence:
Well, we’ll keep a weathered eye on the horizon for it. I don’t think that there are too many things on this planet that shine in the sun.
Mendez:
What’s the difference between a weathered eye and a regular eye?
Lawrence:
Smart remarks like that, well they’re my thing. Don’t suck the very life out of me by making any more of those.
The large, battery-powered rig has been plugged into the power of the dome via a long, heavy duty extension cord for years. Lawrence walks around the heavy rig, the large wheels stand about a meter high; there are a total of six wheels. The long red-painted body of the rig is lightly weathered by sun and sand-storms. Lawrence unplugs the rig, and walks over to the side of the rig. He extends a hand to Mendez, which she takes as she climbs up the rungs on the outside of the rig, from there she climbs into her seat.
Lawrence joins her from the other side of the rig. After being seated in front of the controls, he unplugs his air supply hose from his oxygen canister and locks it into the dashboard in front of him. A rush of air into his hose is the sound that he was hoping to hear; the oxygen tanks on board must still have enough pressure to extend their time outside.
Lawrence:
Okay, let’s see if it still works.
Mendez:
What happens if it doesn’t work? Do we have to walk there?
Lawrence:
Too far to walk without having to drag extra oxygen with us, it would just be a waste of time.
Lawrence brushes the dust off of the controls in front of him and presses the power control on the glass control panel. A strong humming
Mendez:
Alright, so you don’t like me. I will say that I like your honesty; you don’t seem shy about sharing your feelings. It gets stressful out here, so if you want someone to talk to I’ll be around. Don’t worry about what I think of you; you should just worry about what you have to do and everything else will work itself out okay.
Lawrence:
How much is that going to cost me? Are we on the clock right now? Okay, let’s talk. What happened here? Nobody is saying anything at all, but we are all thinking about the same thing. Sure, it is great that we finally made it here to Mars. What happened to the other team? I don’t know, and that bothers me. Until I know for sure, I am going to be a little edgy so you should just deal with that.
Mendez:
Alright, this is more like it; I just knew we would get along.
The outer airlock door releases with a faint yet distinct banging noise. As they walk out of the airlock, they both pause and look skyward. The golden sky above lends the rust-colored landscape an air of brilliance and wonder.
Lawrence:
You know what Doctor, at least the weather is nice here; not a cloud in sight. The sky is golden and the sun is shining. Oh, I am driving by the way.
Lawrence looks over to the place where he had parked the solar rover yesterday afternoon. The remaining trace of the solar rig is the tread marks left by the tires as they fade into the rolling sands along the path from whence they had come the day before.
Lawrence:
Wait a second! What happened to the solar rig? It was here last night. Maybe Long sat on the parking brake and it rolled away or something.
Mendez:
I have absolutely no idea where it may have gone, or who may have taken it. Maybe E.T. got tired of riding in a bicycle basket.
Lawrence:
You have a sense of humor; interesting. I am betting that Long is just playing with us. He probably parked it out back or something. Well, at least the large rig is still here, and it is plugged in. I guess I’ll get it ready.
Mendez:
That’ll work, I guess. One thing bothers me though; I thought it was solar powered. It was there last night, and it is still early right now; it can’t be far. I mean, how could the solar powered rover drive away in the dark of night? Think about it.
Lawrence:
Well, we’ll keep a weathered eye on the horizon for it. I don’t think that there are too many things on this planet that shine in the sun.
Mendez:
What’s the difference between a weathered eye and a regular eye?
Lawrence:
Smart remarks like that, well they’re my thing. Don’t suck the very life out of me by making any more of those.
The large, battery-powered rig has been plugged into the power of the dome via a long, heavy duty extension cord for years. Lawrence walks around the heavy rig, the large wheels stand about a meter high; there are a total of six wheels. The long red-painted body of the rig is lightly weathered by sun and sand-storms. Lawrence unplugs the rig, and walks over to the side of the rig. He extends a hand to Mendez, which she takes as she climbs up the rungs on the outside of the rig, from there she climbs into her seat.
Lawrence joins her from the other side of the rig. After being seated in front of the controls, he unplugs his air supply hose from his oxygen canister and locks it into the dashboard in front of him. A rush of air into his hose is the sound that he was hoping to hear; the oxygen tanks on board must still have enough pressure to extend their time outside.
Lawrence:
Okay, let’s see if it still works.
Mendez:
What happens if it doesn’t work? Do we have to walk there?
Lawrence:
Too far to walk without having to drag extra oxygen with us, it would just be a waste of time.
Lawrence brushes the dust off of the controls in front of him and presses the power control on the glass control panel. A strong humming
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