The Triton Disaster: Hard Science Fiction by Brandon Q. Morris

Author:Brandon Q. Morris [Morris, Brandon Q.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hard-SF.com
Published: 2020-04-19T16:00:00+00:00

“Where are we?” Oscar asked.

Nick called up the map display in the helmet. The program was unable to determine their position. “The suit has no idea,” he said.

“The computer has shut down. Apparently it has also affected the batteries. I’m glad I’m not in the computer anymore!”

“What would have happened to you?”

“A reset to the time you transferred me from the robot to the ship.”

“So you would have been reborn younger?”

“I would have lost all the data I’ve collected since then. Horrifying! Speaking of data, we need to know where we are so that we can make a plan.”

“We can figure that out. The suit can calculate our position based on the sun and Neptune, I believe.”

“There’s no GPS system here yet.”

“Exactly.”

Nick edged toward the hatch and the capsule wobbled. Walking was difficult enough for him anyway, due to Triton’s low gravity. Only 6 of his 80 kilograms remained. Outside, however, this would be an advantage. He couldn’t shake the feeling that they’d have to tackle more than one of these impressive ice walls. Nick bent down and reached for the hatch handle. The capsule didn’t have an airlock. All the air would escape when the door opened, but there were enough reserves to replenish it several times over.

He turned the handle, but nothing happened. “Jammed,” he said.

Oscar rolled across to the recliner seat, pulled out the metal bar that had pierced the screen, and carried it to Nick. “You’re losing lubricating fluid,” he said.

“What?”

“You’re bleeding. It’s dripping down your forehead. I can tell because radar reflects blood differently than skin.”

“You’re using radar to look through my helmet?”

“A little. It depends on the wavelength. Here’s a lever for the hatch.”

Nick wanted to touch his forehead, but the helmet was in the way. There was probably nothing he could do anyway, and it couldn’t be too much or he’d have felt it. He could only hope the bleeding would stop on its own. After all, they’d survived the crash. It looked like they were stranded on Triton. But he was alive, and he was going to find a way to get back home.

He reached for the lever and positioned it on the hatch handle. Then he looked for secure footing. He pushed and the hatch was blown outward. Okay, there had still been a fair amount of air pressure inside.

Nick bent down. The hatch was round and measured about a meter. Beyond it, there was darkness. He reached for the improvised lever again and used it to feel outside. About a meter below the hatch he felt solid ground. “Should we get out?” he asked.

“There’s nothing to keep us here,” replied Oscar.

Nick ventured with his left leg first, feeling for something on which to stand. Then he threaded his right leg through the hatch. Hips and abdomen followed, then his torso.

“You’re doing it like a contortionist,” Oscar said. “Wait, I’m coming, too.”

Nick straightened up and his surroundings lit up with the light from his helmet. He winced when he saw that the ice wall he’d admired was behind him.

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.