out?”
Karl nodded. “It could have happened that way.”
But Holly wasn’t satisfied. “And the fact that she was naked when we found her?”
Karl shot her a questioning look. “She told us that she spilled something on her clothes and removed them. Just what are you driving at?”
“I don’t know myself,” said Holly. “Look, Karl, run through the tests and let me know what you find out. By the way, when do you think you’ll be able to get to do an autopsy on the creature?”
“Not before tomorrow. With Kate and Sandy, and getting the lab back in a semblance of order as my priorities, it may not be for a while.”
The laboratory was indeed a shambles. During the creature’s attempt to break out, some key data had been destroyed and a couple of pieces of valuable equipment damaged, though still repairable.
It was then that Mark returned. “You intend to keep the mission going?” the sub-commander queried in astonishment.
“Of course,” Holly replied quickly. “Any reason why I shouldn’t?” She didn’t like to be second-guessed. Especially by Mark. From the start he hadn’t concealed his resentment that she’d been given the command post over him.
“Yeah, I have a couple of reasons. First of all we don’t have the personnel available to do a creditable job any longer. Between the explosion and what’s happened today, well, we’re not equipped to handle emergencies. And we don’t know how many more of these creatures may still be out there.”
Holly wasn’t moved. “I reject both arguments. We’re staying. However, because we do have a shortage of personnel, we shall each be forced to take on additional duties. I’ll work that out tonight and let you know what they are tomorrow.” She turned her attention back to Karl. “Let me know as soon as you find something out about Sandy.”
CHAPTER
FIVE
S haron was just finishing the repairs to the smashed lab door with Gary working next to her. Behind them was Kate, just as good as dead. And the strange creature from this strange lifeless world, a place with two suns but no heat.
“It’s crazy. This was supposed to be a simple archaeology expedition,” Gary remarked. “Instead it’s a disaster. I figured we’d dig up a few rocks and go back to the space station.”
“You never know what you’re going to find when you touch down in another world, Gary.”
“But to die like this? It’s such a waste.”
“Does it matter how we die? One thing science won’t ever be able to achieve is eternal life. If we’ve got to go, one way is as good as another.”
Gary turned to Sharon. “You are a damn hard person! Kate was your closest friend!”
“Gary, haven’t you learned yet we have no friends when we’re out here? We do our jobs. We eat, sleep, write reports and fuck. We gave up friends and families and all that other bullshit when we chose this life. Don’t ever think for a minute that Kate on that machine or Dean or Ricky or Gail in the freezer ever really expected to grow old in this business. And if you think you’ll ever collect your pension you’re fooling yourself.”
“I don’t see it that way. Sure it’s dangerous but that’s the kick of it. I’m not ready to cash in. It’s still exciting for me.”
“You’ll get over it,” Sharon promised him. “We all do.”
Mitch approached Holly slowly. She was deep in thought and he wondered whether he should disturb her.
“Commander, are you busy?” he finally said.
The words broke her trance and she turned around. “Oh Mitch, it’s you. I was thinking about what a hell of a couple of days it’s been.”
“Yes, it really has been hell,” he agreed.
“What is it?” Holly wasn’t one to beat about the bush. “What have you got on your mind?”
“Holly, words are useless to express the way I feel. I now see it was foolish to try to dope the creature. It was me who convinced you to use the tranquilizer gun. I’m sorry.”
“Mitch, I’m the
Karl nodded. “It could have happened that way.”
But Holly wasn’t satisfied. “And the fact that she was naked when we found her?”
Karl shot her a questioning look. “She told us that she spilled something on her clothes and removed them. Just what are you driving at?”
“I don’t know myself,” said Holly. “Look, Karl, run through the tests and let me know what you find out. By the way, when do you think you’ll be able to get to do an autopsy on the creature?”
“Not before tomorrow. With Kate and Sandy, and getting the lab back in a semblance of order as my priorities, it may not be for a while.”
The laboratory was indeed a shambles. During the creature’s attempt to break out, some key data had been destroyed and a couple of pieces of valuable equipment damaged, though still repairable.
It was then that Mark returned. “You intend to keep the mission going?” the sub-commander queried in astonishment.
“Of course,” Holly replied quickly. “Any reason why I shouldn’t?” She didn’t like to be second-guessed. Especially by Mark. From the start he hadn’t concealed his resentment that she’d been given the command post over him.
“Yeah, I have a couple of reasons. First of all we don’t have the personnel available to do a creditable job any longer. Between the explosion and what’s happened today, well, we’re not equipped to handle emergencies. And we don’t know how many more of these creatures may still be out there.”
Holly wasn’t moved. “I reject both arguments. We’re staying. However, because we do have a shortage of personnel, we shall each be forced to take on additional duties. I’ll work that out tonight and let you know what they are tomorrow.” She turned her attention back to Karl. “Let me know as soon as you find something out about Sandy.”
CHAPTER
FIVE
S haron was just finishing the repairs to the smashed lab door with Gary working next to her. Behind them was Kate, just as good as dead. And the strange creature from this strange lifeless world, a place with two suns but no heat.
“It’s crazy. This was supposed to be a simple archaeology expedition,” Gary remarked. “Instead it’s a disaster. I figured we’d dig up a few rocks and go back to the space station.”
“You never know what you’re going to find when you touch down in another world, Gary.”
“But to die like this? It’s such a waste.”
“Does it matter how we die? One thing science won’t ever be able to achieve is eternal life. If we’ve got to go, one way is as good as another.”
Gary turned to Sharon. “You are a damn hard person! Kate was your closest friend!”
“Gary, haven’t you learned yet we have no friends when we’re out here? We do our jobs. We eat, sleep, write reports and fuck. We gave up friends and families and all that other bullshit when we chose this life. Don’t ever think for a minute that Kate on that machine or Dean or Ricky or Gail in the freezer ever really expected to grow old in this business. And if you think you’ll ever collect your pension you’re fooling yourself.”
“I don’t see it that way. Sure it’s dangerous but that’s the kick of it. I’m not ready to cash in. It’s still exciting for me.”
“You’ll get over it,” Sharon promised him. “We all do.”
Mitch approached Holly slowly. She was deep in thought and he wondered whether he should disturb her.
“Commander, are you busy?” he finally said.
The words broke her trance and she turned around. “Oh Mitch, it’s you. I was thinking about what a hell of a couple of days it’s been.”
“Yes, it really has been hell,” he agreed.
“What is it?” Holly wasn’t one to beat about the bush. “What have you got on your mind?”
“Holly, words are useless to express the way I feel. I now see it was foolish to try to dope the creature. It was me who convinced you to use the tranquilizer gun. I’m sorry.”
“Mitch, I’m the
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