>>16240548Amelia Watson looked out the gondola, a dome of reinforced glass that afforded her a view of Earth's limb in all its glory. The spinning centrifuge cast ever-shifting shadows on the walls of the curved hallway and the horizon spun around in sync to the speed of the shadow's recession and return like tides. They were accelerating, slowly but surely, the pellets of fuel being incinerated by sheer wattage of lasers provided that push. On a nearby display monitor, the light for airlock 2 flickered on.
Kiara's voice came over the intercom. "The holocrew EVA excursion module is set and ready!" she said as her hands danced over the controls.
"Kiara, are you sure you can get this done in time?" Amelia said.
"Of course I'm sure. We can probably do this in the time it takes you to eat a sandwich and take a leak."
"That's probably true," Amelia said, amused.
"Aye, it's true alright." Her laughter was a warm and loving, and Amelia decided she liked her. There was something honest and unforced about it.
A green light flashed. The inner door opened. The door's hinges and seals hissed, then it was quiet as air left. Kiara gave a start, but Amelia said, "Don't worry, you don't have to worry. It'll be alright."
"I know," Kiara said, "but there's a part of me that's always going to worry."
Amelia nodded. "I know.
