by Rod Kennedy

Created on: June 07, 2008

Oh Bury Me Not...

Astronaut Casey Britt watched as Bill Richardson's body quit moving fifty feet below among the rust colored rocks of the ravine. Pale Martian sunlight glinted off the shattered shards of his helmet's faceplate. She was surprised how quickly it had happened, but then Bill hadn't expected anything had he? Why would he, he was as ignorant of the depths of her feelings for him as he was what had just happened to him.

The radio beep in helmet was getting insistent. She had to think quick.
"Base one to Pioneer one come in; Damn it Casey come in." it was Michael Foster, the mission engineer. Casey made a snap decision. She trotted back to the rover and got it started. They were a little less than a kilometer East of the habitat, if she got back quick enough she might be able toto what? Foster called frantically for another thirty seconds before she responded. She adjusted her oxygen back a little, to keep from hyperventilating.
"Pioneer one, I'm inbound to the habitat, condition critical."
"What happened." Foster's voice sounded concerned but the frantic tone was gone.
"I'll Explain when I arrive, Commander Richardson is down."
"Down? Where? Casey what is going on."
Britt adjusted the frequency of her transmitter a fraction, static blared on the open chanel as she adjusted it back. "Full report when I arrive. Pioneer one out."
Back at the habitat Foster put down the headset. His puzzlement must have been evident, because Denise Broghan said "Something isn't right."
At first Foster just shook his head. Finally "Casey says Bill is down and she's on the way back in."
"Down as in injured'? And she's coming in without him? What the hell is she thinking? If a sand storm comes up he'll be without shelter or assistance, we'll lose him for sure." Denise Broghan was the mission doctor. Sandstorms on Mars scared her almost as much as one of the crew coming down with some kind of virus.
"Let's see when she gets here. There isn't anything on the radar is there?"
"No but conditions change fast here."
"I think we'll be okay." Mike tried to convince himself that he believed that was so, but what did an engineer know about predicting the weather? His job was to make sure their machinery did what it was supposed to and get them back to earth in one piece.
The air lock alarm sounded. Casey was back. Foster went to equalize the pressure and let her in. Denise was there too, tapping her foot in a gesture that here husband back home associated with a woman who wanted answers and

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