Callisto 2.0 by Susan English (e novels to read online .txt) 📕

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Hadley and I were ready to get started building the second prototype, or rather, modifying the original one. We had found and corrected what we hoped were our only errors in the first trial, and our expectations were high for trial number two. As before, we worked closely with engineering, dividing our time between the two labs.

One afternoon, Hadley and I were sitting on the couch together in the engineering lab, going over the schematic for the warp drive ring. Andrea and Rika were at the conference table, and Marta was working at her console.

“Excuse me, Hadley,” said Andrea, “can you please send me the plans for the ring?”

“It would be my pleasure, Andrea,” said Hadley. She tapped her computer tablet, and Andrea’s tablet chimed.

“Thank you, Hadley.”

“You’re welcome, Andrea.”

I stared at Hadley. What was going on with her? She never talked like that.

Later, when we were all gathered around the conference table, examining the holographic projection of the modified prototype, Hadley said, “Andrea, would you be so kind as to explain how the warp drive will be attached to the prototype?”

“Of course, Hadley.” She pointed at the image hovering in front of us. “Here we have—”

“Okay, okay, wait a minute!” interrupted Rika. “Why are you two acting so weird?”

“Weird?” asked Marta. “In my opinion they are being very professional.” She scowled at Rika and me, “Unlike some people.”

“Calli, you are so unprofessional,” Rika said, trying to suppress a giggle.

“Rika, if you would be so kind, can you please refrain from addressing me in such an informal manner?”

“But of course, Callisto, it would be my pleasure.”

I caught a glimpse of Hadley out of the corner of my eye—her face was turning red.

I looked back at Rika, who was desperately trying to keep a straight face, and bit my tongue to keep from laughing. I didn’t want to embarrass Hadley, but it was just too funny.

“Can … we … please …” said Marta, emphasizing each word, “concentrate on our work?” She glared at us.

Rika and I looked at each other sheepishly. Andrea was studying a document on the surface of the conference table, head bowed. Hadley was very busy with her computer tablet.

“That’s better,” said Marta. “Now, let’s look at these plans for the warp rings.”

◆◆◆

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When I stopped by Naomi’s lab on the way to work the following morning, Andrea and Naomi were sitting on the couch, talking intently.

“Sorry, don’t mean to interrupt.” I hesitated at the entrance.

“No, don’t worry, come in, Calli,” said Andrea.

I looked at Naomi, and she nodded. I allowed the door to shut behind me and went over to the couch. “Everything okay?” I asked.

“No,” said Andrea, chewing on her bottom lip.

“What happened?” I sat down on one end of the couch, with Andrea between Naomi and me.

“I shouldn’t say anything. Calli, you work with Hadley.”

Naomi touched Andrea’s arm. “Andrea, you must speak with Hadley, and you can trust Calli one hundred percent.”

“I can leave if you want. I don’t mind.”

“No, it’s okay, stay,” said Andrea. “I’d like your input.”

Naomi caught my eye. “Relationship troubles.”

“Ah,” I said.

“I was just telling Naomi I feel a little overwhelmed with Hadley.”

“In what way?”

“We went on that trip to Earth together, and we had a fabulous time, really, we did.

But then I was thinking once we got back home and settled in, we would have some breathing room.”

I cocked my head and raised an eyebrow.

“We were together twenty-four/seven when we were on the Earth, and since we got back, we’ve been spending every night together. Don’t get me wrong—I’m crazy about her. But now, we’re working together on the modifications of the prototype ….” Her voice trailed off.

“Do you need time for yourself?”

“Exactly! I feel like I’m drowning, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”

“Talk to her,” said Naomi.

“I know, I know. I keep thinking it’s my problem, I need to get used to being in a relationship again, but back when I lived on Earth it was never so, I don’t know, intense.

The station is small, and we are so few. In my past relationships, I always had other things going on besides work. I don’t know if I’m even making sense. I don’t want to break up with her or anything.” Andrea shook her head. “But I’ve been irritable with her lately.”

“I agree with Naomi, you have to talk to her. She adores you, Andrea, she’ll listen.”

“You don’t think she’ll be hurt and take it the wrong way, do you?” She looked at me, her eyes imploring.

“I have no idea how she’ll react, but she’s a smart woman, and you’re important to her. If you’re unhappy with how things are going, you have to be honest with her.”

“You’re right, you’re both right.” Andrea took a deep breath and got up off the 141

couch. “She’s in the physics lab, do you think?”

“I assume so,” I said.

“Okay, I’m going to do it.” She pushed herself toward the door.

“Good luck,” said Naomi.

When the door closed behind Andrea, I said, “Relationships are so complicated.

Aren’t you glad we’re both single?”

“Well ….” Naomi smiled sheepishly.

“What?” I turned toward her. “Naomi, spill it!”

“You know I’ve been trying the virtual dating thing.”

“Uh-huh.”

“It was quite terrible at first, but recently, I’ve met this man, Simon. He works in Sector One, at the lunar shipping and receiving station.”

“Yeah?”

“Oh Calli, he’s a darling!”

It had been a long time since I had seen her so excited. “Tell me all about him!”

“He isn’t the kind of man I’m used to dating, not a scientist. He’s got a PhD in philosophy, of all things.”

“That’s different.”

“Isn’t it? He’s thoughtful, and intelligent, and sweet.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And?”

“He’s gorgeous!” She laughed. “But that’s a stroke of luck. We’ve been chatting every single night for the past two weeks.”

“And you’re just telling me now?” I gave her a playful poke in the ribs.

She wiggled away from my finger. “I wasn’t sure. I didn’t want to say anything too soon.”

“But you like him?”

“Yeah.” Her eyes were sparkling.

“When will you meet him in person?”

“We’ve made plans for tomorrow, Saturday. I’ll be taking the shuttle to the Moon later tonight.” She bit her lip. “I’m so nervous.”

“It’ll be fine, you’ll see. I’m really happy for you.”

“Me too. I’ve got a good feeling about this one.”

◆◆◆

Hadley was humming to herself when I entered the lab the next morning. She looked up at me from her computer console and smiled. “Hi Calli!”

“Looks like you’re in a good mood, Hadley,” I said, pushing myself across the room to my desk.

“Yeah, I guess I am.” She glanced down at her keyboard, then back up at me.

“Andrea and I had a fight. That’s why I didn’t go to the social last night.”

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“Huh, I wouldn’t think that would be something to be happy about, exactly.”

Hadley laughed. “No, not that part, obviously, but we worked it out.”

“Come on then, give me the details.”

“I thought you’d never ask! You know how we’ve been spending loads of time together, like every night, then all those hours we spend in the engineering lab, working on the prototype.”

“Yeah, it’s a lot. Is that why you two were so weird and formal with each other the other day?”

“I don’t know, maybe.” She shrugged. “I was ready for a break, a night or two to myself, but I didn’t know how to tell Andrea. She’s so sweet, and really fun to be around.”

“And let me guess, she felt the same way?”

“How did you know? But yes, exactly! That was it. It took us a while to finally get to the heart of the matter. I think we were both nervous about disappointing the other person, and it was a little messy, but finally, when we realized we both want the same thing, we about died laughing.”

“So, you worked it out?”

“Yeah, we’re fine now. We’ll take a few nights off every week to do our own thing, which for me is probably going to bed early. I’m just relieved we could finally communicate.”

“That’s great, Hadley.”

“Yeah, I’m so happy.”

“You could have fooled me, with that long face.”

“Oh, stop.”

“The truth is you’re positively radiant.”

“Relationship woes solved, now I’m ready to tackle the easy problem.”

I laughed. “You mean the modifications for the warp drive? Yes, compared to relationships, it will be a piece of cake. Let me show you my new ideas.”

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