Asteroidea: A Story from the Alteruvium Expanse by Lynn Sheridan

Author:Lynn Sheridan [Sheridan, Lynn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: No World Press
Published: 2018-06-10T22:00:00+00:00

7. Don’t Open that Door

Jane slipped her feet into the legs of the wetsuit. The fabric clung to her skin as she wiggled her toes to the end.

“It’s not the easiest thing to get on.” She stumbled forwards, landing on a bunk with her bum in the air.

“No. It really isn’t.” Brandon leant against a locker, staring at her bottom.

Ruth glared at him. “How about you turn around? I think you’ve seen enough.” She waved her ice hammer at him.

Jane rolled onto her back and inched the wetsuit up her legs. She hopped to her feet, lifted it away from her skin, and pulled. It snapped back, slapping against her belly.

“Do you need a hand?” Brandon’s voice bounced off the lockers.

“If she does, I’ll help her.” Ruth prodded him in the back.

“No. It’s fine. I think I’ve got it now.” Jane slid one arm in and then the other. “Could someone zip me up?”

Brandon turned to move, only for Ruth’s hammer to push him back against the lockers.

“I’ve got this.” Ruth shook her head as she moved across the room.

ZIIIIIP.

“Oh, wow. This already feels warmer and not restrictive at all.” Jane rolled her arms and twisted her body, testing the limits of the wetsuit. “Ruth, you should get one of these.”

Brandon snorted. “Sorry, that’s the last one.”

“I’ll be fine with this suit. It may not keep me warm but it’s pretty much waterproof.” Ruth sneered at Brandon. “So, how about we get out of here?”

“Fine.” Brandon stepped into the corridor. He scanned both directions before looking back at them. “It’s this way.”

Jane took Ruth’s hand and smiled. “I didn’t properly thank you.”

“Don’t worry about it. You can thank me when we’re safely off this ice cube.” She squeezed Jane’s hand. “We’re going to make it.”

Jane nodded and then followed Brandon. Icy water sloshed around her ankles, but her feet remained warm. Ruth walked a step or two behind, her hammer ready to strike. It was abnormally quiet. There was no sign of the starfish or anyone else.

“How many people are stationed here?” Jane peered down the staircase, watching the water cascade down the steps.

“There are fifteen technicians, ten support staff, another two engineers, one chef and Ervin. So, about thirty.” He stopped beside a closed door.

Ruth sighed. “That’s exactly thirty.”

Brandon gave her a brief glare before turning back to Jane. “Why do you ask?”

She held her hands out. “Where is everybody?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe they’ve left already.” He grabbed the door handle and turned.

“What’s in there?” Jane stepped back.

“This is the main plant. We have to go through here. The stairs to the platform are on the far side.”

A fine jet of water sprayed into the air, arcing over Brandon’s head.

Jane stepped back further. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Brandon laughed and shook his head. “I think I know what I’m doing.”

The door burst open, throwing Brandon back across the corridor. A barrage of water gushed through the doorway, pinning him to the wall.

Jane turned to run as the wave crashed into her back, lifting her off the ground.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.