Space Case: Chapters 4–6

On earth she probably would have had a massive, imposing desk and several couches.

Since there’s no atmosphere on the moon to diffuse the sun’s light, the sky was dark and filled with stars.

There are cameras in all public spaces at MBA. We’d been told they were there for our safety—to monitor our health and the integrity of the base—although Roddy always claimed the real reason for them was to spy on us.

I don’t want to sound callous here, but Dr. Holtz’s actions this morning have caused NASA and me a great deal of trouble.

“There is no murderer!” Nina shouted. For a moment she seemed as surprised as I was that she’d lost control of her emotions. Then she took a deep breath and calmed herself down. “I was only being rhetorical..."

"...Plus we have the social ramifications to deal with.” Nina began listing points on her fingers. “Do we do an autopsy? How do we deal with Dr. Holtz’s children and grandchildren back on earth? Do we return the body there, or do we keep it here? And if we keep it here, what do we do with it?..."

“I’ve got a game saved on level upsilon where I’ve procured a Whipsaw WarpFighter with prion eliminators. You can be my secondary. I’m gonna SynBlast the Heisenbok Ice Fields.”

You'll be able to sit back and relax as you race to our base in a mere fifty-three hours. True, that's over two days, but in the expansive Raptor 12 space cabin it'll seem more like only two hours!

You'll have your own personal seat, specially contoured to your body with ComforFoam, plenty to eat and drink, and more than ten thousand channels of entertainment to choose from—if you can pry your eyes from the incredible display of the earth dropping away just outside your window.

Be advised that some amenities may not be available on the Gagarin.

He must still have been in the bathroom, covertly leading raids on virtual moons from the toilet stall.

All his favorite scientists’ likenesses are inked on his skin—Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Niels Bohr, Isaac Newton—but they’re all drawn as superheroes, clad in spandex, battling enemies like Hitler and Godzilla.

All his favorite scientists’ likenesses are inked on his skin—Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Niels Bohr, Isaac Newton—but they’re all drawn as superheroes, clad in spandex, battling enemies like Hitler and Godzilla.

Almost everybody feels motion sick the first time they go into space. It takes a while to adjust to being weightless. Some people manage to do this quickly. Others spend the trip on very intimate terms with the zero-g toilet.

Dad shrugged. “I’ve got a hunch. Some of these stoic guys turn out to have the weakest stomachs.”

Commander Katya King was at the helm. Not only was she the best pilot at NASA, but she’d done this run so many times it was probably routine to her by now.

He didn’t seem to be either amazed or disappointed. His gaze was very clinical, like he was studying the place.

Kira tentatively gave it another go—and still used too much force. She sailed high in the air and then crashed back to the floor.

“The trick is to barely even use your muscles. Pretend like you’re walking on eggshells.”
“All right.” Kira gingerly took a step.

From the moment I tore off the first bit of tangerine peel, I inhaled deeply, relishing the smell.

Then I ate one section at a time, resting it on my tongue, slowly sucking the juice out of it, and finally methodically chewing the pulp.

Kira frowned. I could recognize the disillusionment setting in again. I’d felt it myself after my first tour. “That’s it? It’s a lot smaller than I expected.”

I liked Kira a lot. It was nice to have someone my own age around who wasn’t a veeyar freak like Roddy. Someone operating on the same wavelength as me.

I reflexively locked the door and asked, “How did you get in here?”

And I don’t have any authority to investigate crimes here. That’s Nina’s jurisdiction.

Living at this base was his dream, the culmination of his life’s work.

And there were no indications that he was losing his mind. In fact, according to his most recent medical reports Dr. Holtz was in complete control of his mental faculties.

And since they were responsible for vetting the Moonies, they don’t think it’s possible that one of you committed murder.

“My official orders are, if anything, to make sure that there isn’t an investigation. I’m to quash any suggestion that there was a murder.”

“No. Those are my official orders. But as a member of the security division, I feel it’d be a dereliction of duty to not look into this matter.”

“That’s why I’ve been forced to make the...well, let’s say ‘unorthodox’ decision to come to you for help, rather than anyone else. I suspect NASA is far less likely to be monitoring your computer activity than that of any adult.”

You’ve never disobeyed her before. Your reputation around here is sterling.

And though our guests are not official employees of NASA or their families, remember: They still have undergone a rigorous selection process and extensive training for their visit, just like you.

To that end, please do not:
•Bother, harass or pester the visitors in any way

•Ask the visitors for money or employment after your stint at MBA ends

•Enter the visitors' quarters without their express permission

•Spread gossip, rumors, or idle hearsay about the visitors