(… continuing)

A chime sounded through out the rig, followed by an automated message. “Brace for zero gravity.”
Dukk killed the power to the DMD. He set his toes firmly into his boots. He felt the boots grip the floor. He waited as the DMD let go of it’s mass. His limbs lightened.
“The DMD is now paused. I have also disabled the rig’s proximity alert system. I am going to initiate the port door opening sequence,” Dukk announced to Marr and Bazzer.
Dukk pressed the buttons on the schematic of the rig.

Marr looked around. The floating sensation was unsettling. She pressed her toes into her boots and felt them lock down to the floor.
The lighting in the hold airlock was now flashing orange.
“Airlock depressurised. Rig integrity holding at 100%. Opening the port door now,” Dukk announced.
Marr watched as the door swung inwards and tucked itself neatly out of the way. Blackness now filled the opening.
“Deploying drones,” Dukk continued.
The drones lifted up off the floor and shot out the open doorway.

“Everything ok?” Bazzer asked.
“Yep. A little nervous.”
“You’ll be fine. I read in your BIO that you have had zero-g training.”
"Some, it was a while ago.”
“I’d suggest taking it easy today. I am going to follow these drones and keep an eye on them. You can move around in here and once you feel up for it, make your way to the doorway and signal me. I’ll then bring you out to join me.”
“Sounds good.”

Bazzer turned and pulled himself towards the doorway. Once clear, he engaged the propulsion and disappeared.
Marr used the handles to pull herself around and rotate slowly within the airlock. She repeated the process a few more times before manoeuvring herself to the doorway.
Marr looked out. The planet could be seen racing below them. Beyond was darkness.
She caught her breath and counted. “I got this,” she said to herself.
Bazzer could be seen floating several metres above the port wing. The two drones could be seen zooming across the wing in a crisscrossing pattern.
“I’m ready,” she said into the comms.
Bazzer turned in her direction.
“Great. Let go of the doorway and I will engage your pack.”
Marr let go and floated in the opening as her pack trembled momentarily. The propulsion engaged. She relaxed as her pack brought her out of the doorway and moved her swiftly towards Bazzer.

Side by side, Bazzer and Marr floated along as the drones surveyed the rig.
They had to back track a few times to get their long tethers out of the path of the drones.
When the drones had finished their survey, they zoomed back into the port door and came to rest on the floor in the exact spot they had been before.
“Time to get back inside. We can’t leave the DMD off too long. Zero gravity makes life on the rig uncomfortable,” Bazzer said as he manoeuvred them both back towards the open doorway.
“That’s a pity. It is so peaceful out here,” Marr replied.

Dukk watched Bazzer and Marr on the video feeds as they returned back into the hold airlock.
“Closing the door and pressuring the airlock, stand by,” he announced as they brought themselves back down on the bridge.
Dukk interacted with the rig schematic again.
The tingling sensation washed over them as Dukk brought the DMD back online. Their limbs went heavy again.
Dukk then locked the console and headed to the hallway. He opened the internal door to the airlock.
“What do you think?” Dukk asked as Marr removed her helmet.
“Easy with Bazzer in the driver’s seat,” Marr answered making her way into the g-suit locker.
“She was a natural. And, the rig look pretty good. If the drones haven’t picked up any major repairs, there will be another opportunity for a walk before we depart this system. And there will be more opportunities once we are in Maple Tower. You’ll be a pro in no time,” Bazzer added.
“Thank you. It must be your guidance,” Marr answered.
“Absolutely, I am the best there is. Right, Captain?”
“Yes, Bazzer you are the best,” laughed Dukk.
“Now that we’ve done the hard part, you can do your sanity check and give our apprentice a taste of EVA.”
“Exactly. You good to help Marr manage the DMD and airlock process?”
“Yep, leave it with me,” Bazzer answered.
“Speaking of Luna, she should have been down here by now,” Dukk said as he helped them get their packs back on the racks.

(to be continued...)

[Rule of Twelve, Double Take, Chapter 15 - EVA (Passage 4 of 5)]

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