Title: Year 2510 III
Prompt: (09:00/9AM) "Assistance for others, focusing on concrete matters."
1. October 2480
"How's it going?"
"Terribly, next silly question."
Space Cherry, that's what they called individuals who've never had the luxury of being accustomed to the environment of space. Particularly, zero gravity atmosphere. Gabe had no real control over his body the first time he entered a zero gravity area on the USG Lilandra. Sure, his feet were on the ground, but the almost no-strings-attached sensation he experienced whenever he lifted his foot was nauseating. There were four corners of a room surrounding him, yet he was scared of floating off and never coming back down. An experimental push sent him 'flying' through the air until he collided with the poor engineer minding his business, he wasn't very happy with the flying squirrel that called itself a soldier trespassing on his personal space.
"C'mon, Gabe, it's not that bad."
"Speak for yourself, boy wonder. I haven't gotten my stomach to quit talking since this damn ship left the planet."
"Weller, it's been six weeks, you can't still be suffering from Space Sickness."
"Not according to the doc."
On the ship itself, the idea of nothing but the hull between hisself and a vacuum combined with the unexpected shudder of the ship at the oddest time, never kept him far from the bathrooms. One look at the vastness of space, the morality of his place in the world, the massive size of a planet as it fell farther and farther away from view, until the final safety net that would allow him to depart from the ship with little pride intact, snapped. Gabe was either "flying" for the bathroom or sitting on the floor with his eyes closed, trying to get a hold of his internal systems. "Space Sickness" was apparently a real thing according to the Senior Medical Officer. Closely related to motion sickness, Gabe was advised to either ride it out or use the medication provided. Gabe chose the meds.
"Maybe you should just ask for a sabbatical; we're still pretty far from Scorpio and I'm sure command will understand."
"McNeill, you know I can't do that, I've still duties to attend to."
"What about the meds? Have they worked?"
"Somewhat, but they make me drowsy."
"Then just go to sleep, I'll cover you."
No amount of training on Earth could prepare him to getting used to his new environment. No, that would take time, time he didn't think he wanted to spend adjusting to. Scorpio 6 better be worth all this misery.
2. October 2510
Space Walks were her absolute least favorite thing about her job. For whatever reason, Miranda thought it would be a lovely final initiation into her promotion to third level surveyor on the station and at nine in the morning of all hours!
The shard, the last remnant of Titan was typically off limits to anyone who didn't work in the Government Sector or operated with an experienced Engineers license. Miranda, however, knew her way around the "red tape" of the highly monitored sector "like the back of her hand". Lexine thought to question what she meant by that, her mind moving the first gutter-related thought that sprung to mind. Instead, Miranda's trusty pair of scissors was a security officer who kept quiet and looped footage prior to her arrival, allowing her a clean entrance and exit without incident.
"Are you sure this alright, Miranda?" Lexine inquired.
"Positive, Frankie knows how to keep a good watch, we'll have plenty of time before anyone suspects anything," Miranda assured her assistant.
Twenty minutes seemed plenty of time to get caught, Lexine thought so anyway. Still, as she slipped into her spacesuit she couldn't help but allow her anticipation to cloud her caution. How times was it that she was given the opportunity to observe the outside of the space station atop of a broken moon shard? Never, that's how many times. The elevator ascended up into the tube, Lexine's suit locked tight as they emerged from the darkness of the cylinder shaft, greeted by the clarity of the compression tube that allowed them observe the Saturn and her ring. When the lift stopped, they made a final double check on their suits and opened the door. "Entering vacuum," Relayed the computerized voice.
"Alright, follow me, Lexie and be amazed," Miranda marched out of the lift with the vigor of the experienced walker, her gravity boots keeping her firmly on the ground. Lexine did as she told, her head spinning about in an attempt to take in the open environment surrounding her.
Lexine hurried forward as fast as she could, her feet still not accustomed to the weight that combated the constant pull that wanted to pull her into open space. It was enough to make her wish she had a tether to use, but the environment was gorgeous. The dilute sepia tones of their environment did little to diminish the cold splendor the planet and the light reflected upon the station. The exterior of the Sprawl, however sharp in its sterile appearance, was something to behold beyond. "Lexie, isn't it amazing?!" Miranda called over her shoulder.
"It's beautiful," Lexine replied, not really answering Miranda.