EVA
By Medeve. Filed in Scarab |
Darkness surrounds me. Scattered throughout the endless black are countless pinpricks of light reminding me of my insignificance.
I take a deep breath. I hate EVAs.
I slowly turn myself around and face the ship. Another breath and I grab a one of the ladder’s rungs next to the airlock’s door. I pull myself up to the topside of the ship.
“I’ll be damned,” I mutter to myself. A quick flick of my wrist and my com device turns on.
“Control, this is Peters. I see the problem.”
“We read you Peters. What do you see?”
“Its a nest egg.”
200 feet ahead of me, right in the middle of the ship, is a large honeycomb-like structure.
“That can’t be. They’ve never been seen this far. Are you sure Peters?”
“I’m looking right at the damn thing. I’m pretty sure.”
“Shit. Did it breach the hull at all? Our sensors are still down.”
“I’m not sure. I’d have to get closer to tell. It looks like it hit right above Cargo Bay 3.”
“We’ll get it sealed then. Do you see any movement?”
“Negative.” Something catches my eye. A glob of sickly gray ooze floats away from the egg, hitting the hull of the ship and slowly dissolving the metal.
“Hold that command. It looks like its oozing.”
“We don’t have time for a burn then. Peters, get back inside.”
“What about the egg?”
“We’re working on a plan.”
I hear the click of the com channel being closed. I stare at the egg a moment.
I don’t want to die like this.
I climb back down the ladder back to the airlock. I flick my wrist again.
“Sasha, open the lock.”
The airlock door slowly slides open. I grit my teeth and make the small leap from the ladder to the open airlock. Past the glass panel separating me from the rest of the ship I can see Sasha’s small form operating the controls that will let me back in.
I don’t want her to die like this.
I’m snapped out of my daze by the faint hiss of air filling the airlock, muffled by my suit. Sasha looks up at me and smiles as glass doors slide open. I walk through them and start to unhook the suit’s bulky helmet. Sasha is quickly at my side to help.
“You got back quick. What was it?” she ask once the helmet is off.
I stop and think a moment. They didn’t tell me not to say anything. On the other hand it almost goes without saying in these types of situations. Standard procedure and all that bullshit.
“Sam? Is everything O.K.?” I can’t escape her eyes.
“Sasha, it’s bad. We got hit by a nest egg.”
Sasha’s pretty face twists in fear. “What? No.”
“Sasha… I’m sorry.” I can’t find anything else to say. How I wish I was better with words.
“I…I don’t want to die Sam. Not like that.”
“I won’t let them touch you. I swear.”
The irritating buzz of the com summons Sasha back to her controls.
“This is Control. Has Peters returned?”
“Control, this is Airlock 3. Peters has returned and is removing his suit.”
“Copy that. Tell Peters he’s to come up to the command deck as soon as he’s done there.”
“Will do Control. Airlock 3 out.” Sasha’s gaze returns to me. “Sam…”
“I meant it Sasha. They won’t touch you. You understand?”
Sasha timidly nods her head, fear all over her face.
“Listen Sasha. You can’t tell anyone until the Captain says something. O.K?”
Sasha nods her head again.
“Good. Now help me out of this suit. We can’t have Command waiting around all day, can we?”