Ice Moon 3 The Titan Probe by Brandon Q Morris

Author:Brandon Q Morris [Morris, Brandon Q]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: hard-sf.com
Published: 2019-01-29T06:00:00+00:00

January 1, 2047, Titan

Martin nodded toward Hayato. The German astronaut was still wearing his LCVG, so it was quicker for him to step into his spacesuit than for his fellow astronaut to prepare for leaving the lander. How many times had he already done this today? He glanced at the screen while putting on the lower part of the suit.

Francesca looked strange, appearing as if she wore a bizarre Mardi Gras costume resembling a short, fat caterpillar with butterfly wings. Hayato checked to make sure Martin had not forgotten anything and gave him the ‘go’ command. Time to go out for some more fresh air... again, Martin thought, as he quickly headed to the airlock.

Francesca was leaning against the lander, trying somehow to get her Batgirl cape off her spacesuit.

“Careful,” Martin said. “The lander is only resting on a few blocks of ice. Better not shake it.”

Francesca flinched at hearing this.

“Nice to have you back here, though,” Martin said. “We missed you… and we should take off as fast as possible.”

“What is going on?”

“Let’s first solve your problem and then go back into the airlock. There I can explain the rest to you.”

“Okay,” Francesca said, turning her back toward him. “I glued the tent poles to my suit and attached the tarp to them. As wings, you understand?”

“No, I don’t right now, but never mind,” Martin said. “We have to get them off or you won’t fit into the airlock.”

Martin shook the pole that appeared to be glued to Francesca’s left arm. How did she manage to do this? He did not succeed in getting it to come off.

“It’s totally stuck. I might rip a hole in your suit if I pull too strongly,” he said as he abruptly halted his unproductive effort.

“It’s a great adhesive, yes?” asked Francesca, with a touch of satisfaction. “I cut the tarp into a wing shape with the multitool.”

Martin reached into his tool bag and found the instrument.

“Well, then I am going to try to cut off the fabric now.”

He folded out the tip of the multitool, which looked like a pair of scissors, and placed it against the fabric. First the right arm, he thought. The material was tough, but he managed to get through it. The cut got larger.

“Damn,” Martin gasped, “with gloves on, it is hard to get my strength behind it. I wish I could take them off.”

“Not a good idea,” he heard Hayato say via the helmet radio. “I am sorry to tell you, but we really have to hurry.”

“I understand,” Martin said, “but I can’t work miracles here, either. The fabric is pretty tough.” Francesca used her left arm to get out her own multitool and tried to help him. Yet she could not reach the right wing without pulling the material away from Martin, and she could not work on the left side as long as she held the scissors in her left hand.

“Hold still,” Martin ordered.

Slightly annoyed, Francesca briskly replied, “Excuse me. I just wanted...”

“The wall,” Hayato said from the lander, “it seems to be closing above our heads.

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