(… continuing)

Marr arrived on the mezzanine level to find all the internal doors open.
She closed the forward shaft door and looked around.
Through the door immediately opposite, she could see the g-suit locker with the suits and support and propulsion backpacks hanging on the walls.
She poked her head through the door on the right. Dukk was at the console. He was flicking panels and lining up the external camera video feeds.
She turned around to face the hall to the left of the ladder shaft. She paused, confused. She headed in that direction. She had hardly noticed the door on the other side of the base of the stairs to the accommodation level. It was now open. She knew the hold airlock was adjacent to the stairs, but the mezzanine was two and a half metres higher than the floor of the airlock where they had all been playing wall ball. When she got to the door, she found there was now a platform that extended from the hall door across to the port external door. It created a bridge across the hold airlock.
“Cool,” she said out loud.
“Isn’t it,” came Bazzer’s voice from behind her.
Bazzer was carrying two tether lanyard rolls. He walked over the bridge and placed them on the floor near two drones. He attached one end of each of the tethers to padeyes in the floor near the door.
“I’ve put everything we need in here before we put on the backpacks. They are quite a load when the DMD is running. Let’s check with Dukk before we put the backpacks on.”

Marr followed Bazzer back towards the starboard airlock.
“We are ready when you are,” Bazzer announced to Dukk.
“Nearly there. Ann just messaged me to say the passengers are settled,” Dukk replied.
“Excellent. We’ll get the packs on and get into the airlock before you pause the DMD.”
“Sound.”

Bazzer led the way back to the locker.
“I’m going to help you with your backpack first so you can get a sense of the weight in near zero-g.”
“Cool,” answered Marr.
“I’ve checked these two packs just now. First attach your gloves and helmet to your thigh clips so they are within arms reach. Okay, now come over here, bend your knees slightly and back up to this pack.”
Marr did as instructed.
“Now insert your arms into the straps. Reach between your legs and find the groin strap.
Great. Now reach around and grab the waist belt. Connect it all up.”
Bazzer watched as Marr sorted the straps.
“Perfect. Okay, now put your hands up over your shoulders and grab the shoulder apparatus. Pull it up and over your head.”
Marr felt for the straps and tugged gently. A frame swung up and over her head. It rested on her shoulders.
“Doing well. Now take those connections at the front and clip them to the shoulder straps.”
Marr connected the straps.
“Right. Now you are ready for your helmet and gloves. Let’s go onto comms so we can communicate. Let’s bring Dukk in too.”
Bazzer interacted with his comms.
“Everyone connected?” Bazzer asked.
“Yep,” answered Marr.
“Loud and clear,” Dukk added.
“Awesome. Now grab the helmet off your thigh clip and put it on as normal.”
Marr put her helmet on. When it clicked into place on her g-suit, the connections on the shoulder apparatus married perfectly to the attachments on the rim of the helmet.
“Cool,” Marr exclaimed as her heads-up display now included a panel for the backpack.
“Yes, the pack is integrated fully with your helmet and comms now. Access the power controls and bring the pack online.”
Marr followed the instructions. A slight vibration could be felt as the systems in the backpack came online.
“Right. Now put your gloves on and let’s do a systems check,” Bazzer instructed.
“Done, what now?” Marr asked once her gloves were on.
”Now lean back and push up to take the pack off it’s wall brackets.”
Marr did as instructed.
“Excellent. How does that feel?”
“Heavy!” laughed Marr.
Bazzer laughed.
“Get a sense of it as I get my pack on.”

When they were both ready, Bazzer led the way back to the hold airlock and closed the door.
“Okay, let’s bring the suit atmosphere online before we go any further. Use the controls and activate ‘suit atmosphere’.”
Marr did as instructed. Immediately her suit inflated slightly. It became a little more rigid too.
“That’s interesting,” Marr commented as she got used to the sensation of the inflated suit against her inner layer.
“Check the status,” Bazzer asked.
“Showing 100%.”
“Great. Now let’s buddy up. I’ll send you a request.”
“Got it. Accepted.”
“Cool. I can see your vitals. You should also be able to see mine along side yours.”
“Yep, got that too.”
“I am now sending you a request to control your propulsion. Until you get more practice, it will be me doing the driving.”
“No problem. Done.”
“Time to get the tethers attached,” Bazzer said as he attached the other ends of the tethers to their harnesses. “We are ready, Dukk.”
“I can see. Smile for the camera,” Dukk answered.

(to be continued...)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 15 - EVA (Passage 3 of 5)]

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