The comm speaker crackled to life as Sarah walked across the bottom of the War Angel’s outer hull. “I cannot believe,” she muttered, aggravation flowing from her voice, “that we have been doing this shit for two weeks.” The heavy space suit and magnetic boots made the walk slow-going, but they held her in place as she stared down at her feet. “First rule of not vomiting,” Jack told her, “is to look down and not out at the stars and lack of a horizon.”
It had proven to be good advice.
“Oh, come on,” Jack’s voice came back to her, hissing and popping through the speaker in her helmet. “You can’t tell me this hasn’t been fun.”
Sarah stopped in place and turned to face him. Jack was making his way from the other side of cannon four, their work finally completed. “There is absolutely not a single place in the universe where this would be considered ‘fun’, Jack.”
He snorted. “You are such a spoilsport! How many other college students are walking around doing E.V.A. right now? We’re lucky!”
“None. Not a single one. And you know why? Because they’re having fun you big jerk! They’re partying and having a good time! While we’re stuck… here.”
“You are sucking all the joy out of life, Sarah,” Jack said, walking up beside her. “We’re on the moon, woman! And soon we’ll be at the edge of the solar system. If that doesn’t qualify as awesome, I’m not sure what does.”
She held up a gloved hand and began counting on her fingers as she spoke. “Hot showers. Cold beer. Sitting on a beach and watching the sunset. A nap in the middle of the day. Discovering that you have more money than you thought. An ice cream sundae with extra whipped cream. Sex that leaves your body quivering. Those things, Jack,” she said, sarcasm rising up, “qualify as awesome. Scrubbing laser cannons clean and rebuilding their wiring systems while everyone is having fun do not. Period.”
Jack let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. Hey, look on the bright side- we’re basically done. All we have to do is check the relay systems along the hull and if they’re working, then we go hit the bar. Okay?”
“Let’s just get it over and done with,” she said, staring down at her feet again. “And we’re walking…”
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