Callisto 2.0, Susan English [i love reading .TXT] 📗
- Author: Susan English
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Marta and her crew, more than happy to comply, had already completed the fabrication using the 3D printers, and bots were in the process of fitting the drives. The test was scheduled for Tuesday, November nineteenth, which would give the bots plenty of time to complete the job.
◆◆◆
On the morning of the test, Diana met the engineering team, Hadley, and me in the engineering lab, and Marta initiated the process via her computer console. The first step was disconnecting the hub corridor from the dock module, after sealing off the module and corridor (and triple-checking with Annie to make sure no crew member was in the corridor or the module). We couldn’t see what was happening from engineering, but we felt a slight tremor when the corridor and module decoupled. Then, she typed in the commands which would send the module to a location about five hundred kilometers from the Moon.
It wasn’t the first time I marveled at how amazing it was to have not one, but six space-faring vessels, each with its own propulsion system. Yes, Diana definitely liked to think big. Feeling a wave of fondness for this beautiful woman wash over me, I glanced over at her as we waited for the module to reach its launch position. I was shocked to see her expression—brows knitted together, jaw tightly clenched, the color draining from her face—as if the results of this experiment were of life-and-death importance.
Seeing her this way felt out of character, she was always so calm and self-possessed. But then again, it made sense she would be nervous. The module was huge, and the scale of what we were doing was incredible. I, for one, was feeling a little shaky.
“The module is in position,” said Marta, looking at Diana.
Diana’s expression quickly changed. Now this was the Diana we all knew, poised and self-assured, our fearless leader. “Go ahead, Marta.”
Marta entered a few more commands into her console. “It’s done,” she said.
219
We had programmed the drive to transport the module to the Alpha Centauri system, a mere 4.37 light-years away. A very conservative distance, to be sure, but Diana’s reasoning was if something happened and the module was unable to return, we would have an outpost that could serve humanity in the future. With conventional propulsion, a ship could theoretically reach the system in about a hundred years. The team had programmed the module to shut down after one week, to conserve energy and be ready for the arrival of any future generations. If it returned as planned, we would simply cancel the shutdown and reconnect the module. Now all we could do was wait. If all went well, the module would return in three hours.
“Marvelous work, everyone,” said Diana. “No matter what the outcome of this experiment is, I’m so proud of all of you, and it is such an honor to be surrounded by so many brilliant minds and exceptional human beings.”
“It’s all thanks to you, Diana,” said Andrea. We all nodded in agreement.
Diana gave us a luminous smile. “We have three hours. I’ll be in my office, but let’s meet here again for the return.” She headed out the door.
I followed Diana into the hallway. “Diana, wait,” I called as the door shut behind us.
She turned to face me. “Are you okay?”
“Thank you, Callisto, for your concern,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I have a lot on my mind lately.”
“Anything you want to talk about?” Must be the problems with the Foundation.
What in the Universe could be going on?
“Perhaps another time.” She brightened. “Right now, I’d rather think about this experiment with the module.”
I studied her face. Both she and Izumi had a habit of changing the subject when it didn’t suit them. When were they going to trust us the way we trusted them?
“Where are you heading, Calli?”
“I think I’ll spend the time in the park.” I gestured toward the entrance to the ops park across the hallway. “Care to join me?”
“No, thank you. I have some work to do in my office.”
“Okay. See you in a couple of hours.”
I spent the time sitting in the park. There was so much to think about: the warp drive, the mysterious problems with the Foundation, Naomi’s imminent absence, Pavani’s enchanting eyes, but I couldn’t concentrate on any of it. Instead, I sat quietly, observing as my thoughts flit from topic to topic, like bees going from flower to flower, but for some reason my mind didn’t attach itself to any one idea. I was aware of my body, my steady breathing, my heartbeat. I had never felt so present or so calm.
Several hours later I made my way back to the engineering lab, light-hearted and relaxed. Maybe this was what Tanya was talking about, with her meditation. Perhaps I would join them one Sunday after all.
When I entered the lab, everyone else was there waiting. I stole a peek at Diana. She seemed eager and relaxed. Maybe she had spent her time meditating as well. At the 220
three-hour mark, we were all staring at the main computer display, waiting for the data feed to show that the dock module was once again in our local space.
And then there it was! Long-range sensors indicated that the module had returned, appearing as if by magic. Tears stung my eyes as first Hadley, then Andrea, and even Marta gave me a hug. This was huge! We would need to confirm that the module had made the journey without any damage—that would be the focus of the engineering team for the next several days—but the fact the module had made it back was a major triumph.
“This calls for a celebration!” said Diana. “We’ll break out the champagne balls at the next social. I’m so thrilled!” And she looked it, too. Any trace of apprehension had disappeared from her face. “If you will all excuse me, I want to tell Izumi the big news!”
I watched as she hurried out the door. Everything was fine, everything was going perfectly. As for any issues, I was sure Diana and Izumi could handle them, and if not, I knew the entire crew of Shambhala would support them in any way possible, ready to help in whatever way we could.
221
On the following Sunday, Pavani was back. I didn’t get a chance to talk to her those first few days. She and Elena had struck up an immediate friendship, and, with Raven and Naomi eager to talk shop, it was impossible to find Pavani alone. Every time I saw her in the dining room, she was always sitting with other women, and though I felt perfectly comfortable with my crewmates, for some reason I was hesitant to interrupt, to insert myself in the conversations, even though I would be welcome. Not that it mattered. She was just an interesting person, and it was nice to have someone new on the station.
◆◆◆
“So, what’s up? Are you expecting somebody?” Naomi asked me during breakfast on Friday.
“Huh?”
“You keep glancing at the door every time someone comes in.” She leveled her eyes at me.
“Oh, do I?” I couldn’t explain it, but I had been waiting for Pavani. Lately, whenever I heard a door open, it felt like my heart stopped for a moment, and I would look to see who it was. I adored everyone on the station, and was happy to see any of my crewmates, but when I saw Pavani, I could relax.
“You seem absent-minded, or more so than usual, I should say.” She cocked her head, squinting. “I know you, Calli, You’ve got something on your mind.”
I picked up a ball of food, examining it carefully. How did they manage to make this innocent little blob taste like cinnamon toast?
“Well, when you work it out, let me know.”
With a little half shrug, I popped the ball of food in my mouth.
I spent the day in my lab, reading physics articles and not being particularly productive. At the staff meeting I sat next to Olivia, but was totally distracted. When the meeting ended, I went back to my quarters. I didn’t feel like eating dinner, so I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, until it was time for the social.
When I pushed my way through the observation deck door, I couldn’t believe my good fortune: Pavani was alone in the room, sitting next to the window. I went over to her. “Mind if I join you?”
“It would be my pleasure.”
I settled into the chair beside hers and looked out the window. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”
I glanced over at her, studying her profile.
“When I was young, I always dreamed about going into space, and on clear nights I would stare out my bedroom window at the Moon and the stars, wondering if I would 222
ever get the chance.”
I nodded, though I didn’t think she noticed. She was there beside me, but I could tell her thoughts were not on Shambhala.
We sat quietly for several minutes, then I asked, “So why biology?”
“I suppose it’s in my blood.” She gave me a crooked half smile.
I raised an eyebrow.
“Nature is a huge component of my culture, the Hopi.”
“Ah, so you’re from the Hopi Nation?”
“That’s correct.” That explained the accent. She smiled, a real smile this time. I felt a rush of adrenalin. From what I had observed so far, she seemed stoic, her usual expression neutral. But this smile, wow, her face was like a supernova, a burst of light.
“What is it about your blood, then?” I asked, suppressing the urge to reach out and touch her hand resting on the table. We barely knew each other, but that wasn’t the reason. The Foundation fostered a culture of warmth and connection, and no one, in my experience, held back any physical displays of amicable affection. After almost a year, I, too, tended to be very demonstrative, touching an arm or holding someone’s hand during a conversation, giving hugs. But with Pavani, it felt different, imbued with a deeper meaning. We hadn’t had any physical contact since the inadvertent brush of our hands on the metro train on the Moon, and my upper arm still felt tingly where she had held it that first day, when she was recovering from her space legs.
Pavani’s eyes
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