Episode 22: Space Walk

You’re in outer space?

Krate Azimuth glanced out the porthole toward Earth and noticed that something was wrong. The ship’s grappling arm was in the wrong position, and appeared to be caught on the external ladder.

Ash! Check the grappling arm Krate called out. This malfunction was potentially serious.

Ash went to the computer and attempted to manipulate the robotic arm. it didn’t budge. The two men assessed the situation visually and determined that a space walk was necessary. Col. Lander outranked Azimuth, so it would be his call as to who would be going outside. Rather than pull rank on his friend, however, Lander decided to draw straws. The job fell to Lander.

He suited up and entered the air-lock while Krate monitored his oxygen and other conditions in the suit. While Krate kept visual tabs on Ash, the men communicated over their radios.

From his new perspective outside the ship, Ash quickly spotted and corrected the problem.

Raising the radio to his mouth to report the repair, it slipped from his grip and drifted away. Instinctively, Lander reached for his transmitter and in so doing, lost his grip on the ladder.

Ash Lander was floating free in space.

MEANWHILE…

Crystal Weightless may have been somewhat cloistered in her chamber, but she was not cut off from the universe. Crystal was aware of all the local ships and received signals from deep space as well. Even faint static which would be overlooked by the casual listener, held messages for Crystal who, throughout her life had sought information… about who she was, where she came from. At times, she imagined the transmissions she heard originated from Nebula X. As the weeks passed, Crystal’s paranoia subsided and her desire to explore returned. What harm could it do to cautiously look around? She needed to get out of the school.

MEANWHILE…

Flash talked to the voice on his radio.

This is Flash Meridian he repeated

OK, Flash. Where are you?

Flash was relieved that his signal was finally being received and verified. This was the first human voice he had heard other than his own since long before Pluto.