Moonbase Crisis: Star Challengers Book 1 by Kevin J. Anderson, Rebecca Moesta, June Scobee Rodgers
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and we would have had to start all over on this batch.” She gave Song-Ye a hard look. “I thought you cadets were here to help. Telling me that everything is ‘fine, I guess,’ is completely irresponsible. Our lives depend on even the smallest actions here.”
Song-Ye wasn’t used to being spoken to like that. She was a straight A student, and always did whatever was necessary to get good grades. She wanted her parents to be proud of her, even though they were too busy to notice—unless her grades went down.
But school wasn’t exactly a life-or-death situation, and Song-Ye was used to thinking that nothing she did really mattered. In fact, she tried not to care about things or people. She didn’t make friends easily. Her father’s ever-changing diplomatic assignments moved the family to a different city every time she got close to anyone, and Song-Ye had stopped trying to find friends. She had begged her parents for a dog, cat, or ferret, as a companion to take with her from place to place. But they had said it was too much trouble.
“Sorry,” she muttered to Dr. Romero. “I didn’t mean to ruin your plants. I promise to pay attention.”
Together, the doctor and Song-Ye cleared the nutrient lines to the stacked planters. For hours, the two concentrated on the tedious—and, she realized, relaxing— work that kept the plants alive. They started a new planter of strawberries. Song-Ye liked knowing that what she was doing was useful for a change.
After they were finished with the routine, Dr. Romero smiled and said, “Thank you for your help, Cadet Park. That was excellent work. Now, let me show you one of my favorite parts of the ag bubble.” She led Song-Ye to a clear box the size of a small aquarium. The top and sides were perforated with breathing holes. From inside, a plump brown-and-white hamster stared out at Song-Ye, its tiny paws clasped together as if begging to be played with.
Song-Ye caught her breath. “Oh, it’s so cute! May I hold it? I didn’t know you were allowed to have pets on the moonbase.”
Dr. Romero grinned. “Newton is officially a science experiment, not a pet. But I think he might like to be held for awhile.”
Song-Ye held the hamster gently, petting him while she talked playfully. He cuddled right into her palms and up against her chest. She beamed at the doctor. “I’ve never met a space hamster before. What does Newton’s spacesuit look like?”
“He doesn’t have one really, so he can’t go outside,” Dr. Romero said with a chuckle. “But on the trip here from the ISSC, I kept him in a clear exercise sphere. Sometimes—just for scientific research, of course—I let him float weightless in the supply ship. He looked so cute rolling around inside his ball in midair.”
Song-Ye wished she could have seen the little hamster in zero-g. She giggled as Newton ran up the sleeve of her flight suit to perch on her shoulder. The little creature nuzzled her neck, and before she knew it, had climbed into her suit collar and wriggled downward, tickling as he went.
Dr. Romero opened the door and passed through to the connecting corridor, on her way to make a daily report to Chief Ansari. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “You can play with Newton for a few more minutes, Cadet Park, then put him back in his tank.”
“I can’t put him away,” Song-Ye laughed. “He’s in my suit, going down my back!” She squirmed as Newton began to crawl down her leg.
“Well, you’d better catch him before—” Dr. Romero began, but it was too late. Newton emerged from the bottom of Song-Ye’s flightsuit leg and scurried toward the door of the ag bubble.
Song-Ye watched with dismay as Newton scampered through the door to make his escape, and bolted between the surprised doctor’s legs. Song-Ye dashed after the fugitive hamster.
***
Twelve
An exhausted Chief Ansari stood in the MCC, regarding Dyl with mixed feelings. “If we followed the schedule, my shift would
Song-Ye wasn’t used to being spoken to like that. She was a straight A student, and always did whatever was necessary to get good grades. She wanted her parents to be proud of her, even though they were too busy to notice—unless her grades went down.
But school wasn’t exactly a life-or-death situation, and Song-Ye was used to thinking that nothing she did really mattered. In fact, she tried not to care about things or people. She didn’t make friends easily. Her father’s ever-changing diplomatic assignments moved the family to a different city every time she got close to anyone, and Song-Ye had stopped trying to find friends. She had begged her parents for a dog, cat, or ferret, as a companion to take with her from place to place. But they had said it was too much trouble.
“Sorry,” she muttered to Dr. Romero. “I didn’t mean to ruin your plants. I promise to pay attention.”
Together, the doctor and Song-Ye cleared the nutrient lines to the stacked planters. For hours, the two concentrated on the tedious—and, she realized, relaxing— work that kept the plants alive. They started a new planter of strawberries. Song-Ye liked knowing that what she was doing was useful for a change.
After they were finished with the routine, Dr. Romero smiled and said, “Thank you for your help, Cadet Park. That was excellent work. Now, let me show you one of my favorite parts of the ag bubble.” She led Song-Ye to a clear box the size of a small aquarium. The top and sides were perforated with breathing holes. From inside, a plump brown-and-white hamster stared out at Song-Ye, its tiny paws clasped together as if begging to be played with.
Song-Ye caught her breath. “Oh, it’s so cute! May I hold it? I didn’t know you were allowed to have pets on the moonbase.”
Dr. Romero grinned. “Newton is officially a science experiment, not a pet. But I think he might like to be held for awhile.”
Song-Ye held the hamster gently, petting him while she talked playfully. He cuddled right into her palms and up against her chest. She beamed at the doctor. “I’ve never met a space hamster before. What does Newton’s spacesuit look like?”
“He doesn’t have one really, so he can’t go outside,” Dr. Romero said with a chuckle. “But on the trip here from the ISSC, I kept him in a clear exercise sphere. Sometimes—just for scientific research, of course—I let him float weightless in the supply ship. He looked so cute rolling around inside his ball in midair.”
Song-Ye wished she could have seen the little hamster in zero-g. She giggled as Newton ran up the sleeve of her flight suit to perch on her shoulder. The little creature nuzzled her neck, and before she knew it, had climbed into her suit collar and wriggled downward, tickling as he went.
Dr. Romero opened the door and passed through to the connecting corridor, on her way to make a daily report to Chief Ansari. Looking over her shoulder, she said, “You can play with Newton for a few more minutes, Cadet Park, then put him back in his tank.”
“I can’t put him away,” Song-Ye laughed. “He’s in my suit, going down my back!” She squirmed as Newton began to crawl down her leg.
“Well, you’d better catch him before—” Dr. Romero began, but it was too late. Newton emerged from the bottom of Song-Ye’s flightsuit leg and scurried toward the door of the ag bubble.
Song-Ye watched with dismay as Newton scampered through the door to make his escape, and bolted between the surprised doctor’s legs. Song-Ye dashed after the fugitive hamster.
***
Twelve
An exhausted Chief Ansari stood in the MCC, regarding Dyl with mixed feelings. “If we followed the schedule, my shift would
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