Read Online Deeper Into the Void by Mitchell A. Duncan - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mitchell A. Duncan
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As Lawrence hurriedly dodges the hanging debris in the shuttle as he makes his way forward, he stops suddenly upon entering the cockpit. In the copilot chair sits a pressure suit, presumably the suit has a body inside it. Ice crystals obscure the view through the helmet. As Lawrence attempts to move the suit, it becomes clear that there is indeed a body inside. The rigidity of the body suggests what is already quite apparent to them both, it is frozen.
After a short period, Lawrence raises his hand and brushes off the dust that covers the name patch, which simply reads “Winters” in large embroidered lettering. Lawrence’s breathing certainly changes and becomes more rapid and shallow, so much so that Doctor Mendez can hear it in her suit, over the radio. Resting his hand upon Winters’ shoulder, Lawrence firmly grasps a worn electronic tablet out of Winters’ right hand.
Mendez:
Do you know him?
Lawrence:
I think it could be said that I knew him, we served together.
Mendez:
I am sorry to hear that.
Lawrence:
Okay, well I figured we would probably find someone’s remains out here, but this is not exactly what I had expected…
For now, let’s get this tablet back to the dome and see if the contents can still be retrieved from it. I wonder what the pop-sickle was doing out here all by himself.
Mendez:
I have a confession to make.
Lawrence:
And what would that be?
Mendez:
I have been waiting for you to make a comment about Winters having a bad day or something like that.
Lawrence:
Too soon. Respect the dead. I was going to wait ‘till we got back outside before I dropped that jewel.
Mendez:
I guess I should have seen that one coming, huh? You know, you have an odd way of coping with your stress.
Lawrence:
Yeah, I get that a lot for some reason. I really don’t want to talk about it, let’s just get back to base with this thing already and leave it at that. That is unless you want to write all about my odd way in the case study that has my name on it.
Mendez:
Okay, I get that you aren’t particularly fond of psychologists; my only question for you is, why?
Lawrence:
You would ask that question, wouldn’t you?
Mendez:
Yeah, I just did.
Lawrence:
This is going to be a long mission out here. Anyway, you’re really bright, I am sure you can figure it all out on your own.
Chapter 6
W ithin the control room, Doctor Long has finally worked his way into a chair positioned in front of the main control panel. For no apparent reason Long is having a difficult time holding his hand still. He stares at the jerky motions produced by his once subservient limb. He takes his left hand and lays it on top of the right one to try and calm the convulsive annoyance. He then rests it upon the control panel to relax it. Blue light courses through the glass panel at lightning speed; buttons and controls are all illuminated brightly before him. The large glass pane hanging on the wall in front of him also begins to light up.
The power control system is the first system that appears on the large panel in front of him. A crude schematic of the solar panels, the power storage array and power-consuming devices is plainly displayed in silver light. The sun’s output is measured and is displayed next to the readout on consumed power. Similar displays for the water utility system, comprised of pumps and filters, are displayed on the overhead screen in dark blue. Atmospheric controls and measurements are displayed to the left of the water controls. Air temperature and pressure, as well as oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels, are all displayed in sky blue.
The display that really catches Long’s eye is the solar calendar, which is displayed as a diagram of the solar system. The alignment of all of the planets and relative dates are all displayed boldly, as to be read easily. Two planets rotate around the sun, in the same exact orbit, but on different sides of the sun. One of these planets
As Lawrence hurriedly dodges the hanging debris in the shuttle as he makes his way forward, he stops suddenly upon entering the cockpit. In the copilot chair sits a pressure suit, presumably the suit has a body inside it. Ice crystals obscure the view through the helmet. As Lawrence attempts to move the suit, it becomes clear that there is indeed a body inside. The rigidity of the body suggests what is already quite apparent to them both, it is frozen.
After a short period, Lawrence raises his hand and brushes off the dust that covers the name patch, which simply reads “Winters” in large embroidered lettering. Lawrence’s breathing certainly changes and becomes more rapid and shallow, so much so that Doctor Mendez can hear it in her suit, over the radio. Resting his hand upon Winters’ shoulder, Lawrence firmly grasps a worn electronic tablet out of Winters’ right hand.
Mendez:
Do you know him?
Lawrence:
I think it could be said that I knew him, we served together.
Mendez:
I am sorry to hear that.
Lawrence:
Okay, well I figured we would probably find someone’s remains out here, but this is not exactly what I had expected…
For now, let’s get this tablet back to the dome and see if the contents can still be retrieved from it. I wonder what the pop-sickle was doing out here all by himself.
Mendez:
I have a confession to make.
Lawrence:
And what would that be?
Mendez:
I have been waiting for you to make a comment about Winters having a bad day or something like that.
Lawrence:
Too soon. Respect the dead. I was going to wait ‘till we got back outside before I dropped that jewel.
Mendez:
I guess I should have seen that one coming, huh? You know, you have an odd way of coping with your stress.
Lawrence:
Yeah, I get that a lot for some reason. I really don’t want to talk about it, let’s just get back to base with this thing already and leave it at that. That is unless you want to write all about my odd way in the case study that has my name on it.
Mendez:
Okay, I get that you aren’t particularly fond of psychologists; my only question for you is, why?
Lawrence:
You would ask that question, wouldn’t you?
Mendez:
Yeah, I just did.
Lawrence:
This is going to be a long mission out here. Anyway, you’re really bright, I am sure you can figure it all out on your own.
Chapter 6
W ithin the control room, Doctor Long has finally worked his way into a chair positioned in front of the main control panel. For no apparent reason Long is having a difficult time holding his hand still. He stares at the jerky motions produced by his once subservient limb. He takes his left hand and lays it on top of the right one to try and calm the convulsive annoyance. He then rests it upon the control panel to relax it. Blue light courses through the glass panel at lightning speed; buttons and controls are all illuminated brightly before him. The large glass pane hanging on the wall in front of him also begins to light up.
The power control system is the first system that appears on the large panel in front of him. A crude schematic of the solar panels, the power storage array and power-consuming devices is plainly displayed in silver light. The sun’s output is measured and is displayed next to the readout on consumed power. Similar displays for the water utility system, comprised of pumps and filters, are displayed on the overhead screen in dark blue. Atmospheric controls and measurements are displayed to the left of the water controls. Air temperature and pressure, as well as oxygen levels and carbon dioxide levels, are all displayed in sky blue.
The display that really catches Long’s eye is the solar calendar, which is displayed as a diagram of the solar system. The alignment of all of the planets and relative dates are all displayed boldly, as to be read easily. Two planets rotate around the sun, in the same exact orbit, but on different sides of the sun. One of these planets
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