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(Page 2 of 2) Learning Curve by Jim Washburn
 (10 ratings)
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He did not envy Rick with his fancy backpack, at
least for him if something went wrong there was still a lifeline to climb back into the
shuttle bay with.
Suddenly he was no longer holding onth the module, in fact the end seemed to be
moving away from it's intended target. There was no vibration in his feet so it was not
the arm moving him, it had to be the laboratory itself, or Rick causing this.
"Damn, what the hell was that?" Rick shouted almost simultaneously, startling
Lucian even more. "Something flashed by and almost hit me. It struck the lab and started
it spinning. I see a mark on the side, a dent or even a puncture. Maybe a micrometoroid
or some uncharted debris struck it." You could hear Rick's labored breathing as he
spoke, this definetly scared him. He turned on the backpack but did not seem to be
catching up with his end, or not catching up fast enough. Lucian heard more curses from Rick
as he desperatly tried to do something.
A babble of other voices began to fill his helmet as the crews of both vehicles began
asking questions and offering suggestions on what to do. He could see several faces lookin
out different ports. Rick's end was slowly spining in Lucian's direction but more
ominiously it was also taking direct aim at the body of the station's crew quarters.
Quickly checking his teather Lucian launched from the robotic arm and got between the
station and the rogue module. His judgement was right and with a twist he got his feet
planted on the side of the crew quarters without bouncing off. He extended his arms to catch the lab as it bore slowly down on him. It was not moving that fast and it weighed next
to nothing so he should be able to stop it easily.
"Do you think they will be able to recover his body?" A scientist asked as the
somber group of people gathered in the space station. Nobody said anything for a few
moments. "He sacrificed himself to save the station. That thing would have torn a huge
hole in the side and the air escaping might have sent us into a fatal spin if his body hadn't
acted as a cushion" The scientist continued. "It's not right to just let him orbit, or
burn up in the atmosphere. He is a hero."
"I'm not sure he planned to be a hero. I'm certain of it." Rick said quietly holding
his head in his hands. The others turned to look at him. "It was a mistake, Lucian was just
trying to stop it. In haste and adrenalin he forgot that there is a big difference between
weight and mass. A fatal difference in space."
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