The Earth Hypothesis (Part 1) by E.A. Lyons

Author:E.A. Lyons [Lyons, E.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-10-09T22:00:00+00:00

6.

Present day

Murt was coming down the hall as Jhilly limped around the corner to enter the lab. “I heard you had a breach. Let me see you.”

“I’m fine, Murt.” She was touched by his concern but brushed past him. “It was just a sensor malfunction.”

“Malfunctions don’t make you limp. Take off the suit; let me see.”

“It’s just a little scrape! Don’t smother me.” Jhilly waved her arms in a failed attempt to keep him from getting close. She’d been naked in front of him before, so it wasn’t shyness that made her push him away. She was disappointed with her visit to Earth. All that possibility, none of it realized. Maybe I can get one more trip in before—

“You can tell me, he said, “or I’ll get the story from our esteemed medical officer.”

Jhilly shook her head and sat down. “She couldn’t come at the last minute. She had an emergency call. One of the engineers splashed some sort of solvent in his eyes.” She sat down. “Help me with the suit, since you’re here.” As Murt knelt down, Jhilly told him about the three creatures and the leaves.

He tugged at the leggings. “That’s not much to go on. What else did you find?” She shrugged in response. Her other readings had been minimal; no reason to get Murt’s hopes up. “Jhilly,” his voice was slow and concerned, “you really did damage the suit. I’ll need a few days to patch this breach. Too bad really, that was probably you’re only chance to visit Earth before the incorp.”

“No! I have to—”

Murt started laughing. “So you did find something else. You weren’t trying to cut out your friend Murt, were you?” He clicked his tongue to show he was joking. “I know you won’t forget about the Vaal who keeps the products moving.” He stood up, waiting for Jhilly to hand him the skimsuit. “I’ll have it patched within the hour. You can be back on the surface after lunch.”

Before Jhilly could respond, Dantla came rushing into the lab. “Jhilly! I heard you had a brea—” She stopped short when she saw Murt. “I mean, can I assist? Were you injured?” Jhilly grabbed a sheet from her sleeping area and covered herself.

Murt touched the suit controls, and the fabric flowed into a disc. He tossed it lightly as he walked out. “I’ll get this repaired.” He wiggled the disc at Dantla and said, “Minor breach. I think your patient is going to live.”

Neither Jhilly nor Dantla spoke for a few moments. Then Dantla said, “I’m glad you’re alright.” At the same time Jhilly said, “I just hit my knee. A little bruised.” They both laughed.

“Last year,” Dantla said, “a soldier I knew had a full suit breach. We never recovered his body.” She looked at the floor.

“Nothing like that – nothing so dramatic. Just me being a little clumsy. But, please don’t tell the commander. He – I told him my sensors malfunctioned.”

“Well, since you didn’t come to the med bay, I guess I’m not bound to file a report.

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