CRACKED: An Anthology of Eggsellent Chicken Stories by J. Posthumus (read after txt) 📕

to do next. They had agreed to live together for another two years. NASA depended on them to keep their word. If the relationship went poorly…

A red light flashed on the dashboard. The first battery cell was almost depleted. Time to head back.

He had to check the gray water tank and the water collection unit. After that, he’d head back in. He tapped the shifter on the console to his right and eased the yoke to the left, guiding the Rover down over the edge of the hill he’d been on for the last fifteen. He decided to work outward from Harmony Settlement.

First, he checked the gray water tank. Closest to the compound and about half the size of the water collection tank, it held their wastewater until Aashi could use it in her greenhouse or he could use it in the ag module. Long, flexible tubes were buried in a shallow trench and connected to the sprinkler system. He checked the tank for leaks or anything else that might indicate a malfunction. It would be a huge loss if they couldn’t reuse their gray water. Large solar panels collected energy and fed it into backup battery packs. Cynthia would clean them that afternoon.

He circled the water collection tank, checking the hoses. The rear of the tank was set several feet higher than the front. Inside the water tanks, hydrogen and oxygen were separated out of the melted permafrost to later be used as fuel for the transport. The tanks were primed to maximum.

As the two elements separated, they were kept under pressure in adjacent tanks for the arrival of the transport. Once the transport re-fueled for its return trip, the tanks would be empty. It was always most dangerous right before the arrival of a transport. Water for heating of the station moved downward and collected at the front of the tank where it was stored until it was called for inside the station.

That can’t be good.

Oxidization had built up around the polymer relief valve. Rust circled it. NASA tried to use plastics any time they could. It must have a metal fastener of some kind on the inside. The ground wasn’t wet, but small circles resembling the aftermath of raindrops covered the ground. In the event of an emergency, the relief valve was meant to slowly leach the gasses into the atmosphere, in an effort to save the large tank. Replacement tanks of hydrogen and oxygen were stored inside. They also had a whole section of storage filled with backup water, but the preservation of the water collection tank would be critical to the continuation of their long-term mission.

“Salvador to Control Center.” A light flashed inside his helmet, in the lower right corner of the HUD, indicating that the suit transmitted his words. He was close enough to Harmony that he didn’t bother relaying through the Rover.

“I read you, Sal. What’s up?” John’s voice came in loud over the earbud speaker.

“I’ve got some oxidation on the relief valve on the water collection unit. Looking like it’s leaking, too. We should probably check that.”

“That’s sooner than the bigwigs projected. I’ll note it in the records and let Mission Control know.” The line clicked. John wouldn’t schedule a repair walk until he had the go-ahead from Houston. Until then, he could wait inside. He had to get ready for the latest arrivals.

He climbed back into the Rover and started toward Harmony.

“Hey, farmer,” Aashi’s voice came soft in his ear. “We’ve got chickens inbound. They’re lining up for their approach.” She had a smile in her voice. “Bring the Batmobile back to the Batcave.”

“We can’t call it that. Copyright infringement.” Nevertheless, he couldn’t contain his laughter as he pictured himself in an Astronaut Batman suit. He wasn’t sure he could fabricate one, but he needed a new social media gag. The moisture from his breath and his wide-open mouth fogged his face shield. Moments later, the suit wicked it away.

“It’ll take them fifteen minutes to figure out I said it.” Radio communications did take a while to get between the two planets.

“Be home in ten, Alfred.” He never should have told her that the Rover reminded him of his favorite childhood toy.

“Besides, communications between the Rover and the base aren’t broadcasted to Mission Control,” she said.

“Good point.” And one he should have thought of himself. He shifted into the highest gear, bouncing over the uneven surface of the red planet.

“Thought you’d like that,” she murmured.

“ETA on the poultry?” Sallie wasn’t sure if his heartrate had increased because the last component of his mission had finally arrived or if it was Aashi whispering in his ear.

“A couple of hours. I’ll be starting some seeds in the greenhouse. Come see me when you get in.”

“Roger.”

Ten minutes later, Sallie parked the Rover on the sunniest side of the compound, next to their solar-powered carts and a four-wheeler. He slipped through the first door of the airlock. When it sealed, the second one opened into the storage portion of the exterior circle.

When he lifted his helmet off his head, Aashi was there, her dark hair tied in a low ponytail and tucked into her exo. She laced her fingers together, not quite wringing them. “I’m only getting gray water to my sprinklers. I managed to start the kale seeds, but I can’t soak the fodder.”

“That’s not good.” Sallie tucked his helmet beneath his arm. Bugs didn’t exist on Mars. Her fodder system was a part of how they planned to add variety and protein to the diet of the inbound chickens.

“I’m trying to start a few kale seeds and sprouting some fodder since our agricultural staff will be here soon.” Her mouth was tight when she said it, the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. She was worried about it.

The crewmen knew how volatile the water tanks could be right before the arrival of the transport. They ignored it mostly, but there was a reason it was five hundred yards away.

“I was just there. There