Chapter 15 - EVA

The alarm didn’t startle Dukk as much as the day before, but he still found it hard to get started.
“Clearly those power naps yesterday weren’t sufficient to shift my body clock enough,” Dukk thought as he swung his legs off the bed and started his morning routine.
The crew mess was dark and quiet when he left his cabin five minutes later.
He went over to the console and checked where the conn was centred. The engine room. He flicked up the video feeds for the engine room. Bazzer and Luna could be seen at the console, interacting with it and talking. He then checked the flight plan.
“Ninety minutes until traverse. All good. Exercise time,” Dukk said out loud.

As Dukk had hoped, Marr was already in the gym. She was dressed in a similar manner to the day before and looking to be thoroughly enjoying the intense workout.
“Good morning, Dukk. Sleep well?” she said between hard breathing.
“I did, thank you Marr. You?” Dukk responded, lingering a little, before starting his stretches.
Marr’s machine sounded to indicate it was going into the warm down stage.
“Yes, better than the night before. I guess I am getting accustom to all this.”
“That’s good. You didn’t sleep well the first night?”
“Nope. I tossed and turned. I guess I was nervous about what was ahead.”
“And you are not nervous now?”
“Well, still a little. But I have a better sense of how things are up here. And that has made it much easier.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, for starters everyone has been very helpful and kind. Also, you have shown yourself to be professional, organised and disciplined. These are traits that I admire. You also like to have a bit of fun. Humour is important to me too.”
“Interesting,” Dukk responded as he smiled up at Marr.
Marr blushed and then stumbled into more words.
“Yes, it makes it much easier to serve under someone who knows his stuff, but doesn’t take it too seriously.”
Dukk laughed. He sensed there was more than just a professional observation in her tone but now wasn’t the time.
“Well, I am glad you are getting more accustom to our ways. So, how are you feeling about the plan for today?”
Marr smiled too. She liked that they were both getting a sense of when to shift the subject.
“The inspection you mean?”
“Yes, and there is the opportunity to take a walk, extravehicular activity, EVA, if you feel up for it.”
“Absolutely.”
“It will have to be tandem to start with but, you’ll still get a sense of it.”

“How will it work?” Marr asked as she finished her treadmill time.
“All going well, the inspection should happen shortly after the traverse. We’ll get everyone settled then turn off the DMD. We will then launch the drones to inspect the outer hull. We’ll also use the downtime to run more detailed diagnostics of the engines and systems. We will analyse the data we get back. From the results we generate a to-do list of closer inspections or repairs.”
“That I know, but how does the tandem EVA fit in?”
“Bazzer will go out with the drones. He will monitor their activity. He can take you with him.”
“Wouldn’t he take Luna?”
“Actually, it is tradition that an apprentice’s first walk is with the captain. So, I will take Luna later. This tradition won’t apply to you. Whilst you are new to all this, technically you aren’t an apprentice. Besides, we can’t have both of the flight crew outside of the rig at the same time. That would go against the regulations. And, you know how I like to be professional.”
Dukk grinned after the last sentence. Marr smiled.
“Who says I’d like to take a walk with you?” Marr said provocatively.
Dukk laughed and raised his eyebrows. He stopped the stretch and stood up directly in front of her.
“Am I not good enough for you?” Dukk said in jest.
She also stopped stretching and stood up.
“Funny how things don’t stay professional for long,” Marr thought to herself.
“Undecided,” Marr answered as she looked him in the eye. She smiled. Dukk smiled back.
“So, I have to do my first walk with Bazzer?” Marr added as she leaned sideways into another stretch.
Dukk moved around her and climbed on the exercise bike.
“Well no, Annee or Mentor could take you too, but that might not happen today. It will depend on what repairs are needed. It is just an opportunity if you want to take it?”
“Bazzer it is then. What do I need to do?”
“Bazzer will take you through it once we are safely through the traverse.”
“Wait, won’t we be on watch?”
“Yes, that is another reason why one of us needs to remain on board.”

(to be continued...)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 15 - EVA (Passage 1 of 5)]

All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2021 BJ Allen