Page 70 (2/2)
“Three, two, one, go!” Bobbie shouted, hoping enough sound would travel up Clarissa’s arm She launched herself out the outer airlock door by releasing her grip on it, and was shooting off into the void at 33 meters per second
The ular structure of the netic grapple into it as she passed If the grapple failed to connect, they’d keep flying off into the empty space of the slow zone until they ran out of air and their lifeless bodies eventually flew into the eerie curtain of black at the edge of the alien space Dangerous, but nofree climb back on Mars She didn’t even think about it Her eye spotted the place she wanted the grapple to go, her hand and arrapple landed less than half aa bike
The grappling line and the leash that connected the grappling gun to her suit snapped taut and pulled her in a fast arc around theClarissa helplessly behind Bobbie started up the winch, pulling them closer as the speed of their arc increased Just before i boots The landing was going to hurt a bit
She hit the metal surface of thecracked, and let the impact fold her knees up into her abdomen Clarissa sla of cement on her fro the decking with her hands to activate the gloveon
A few punishing seconds later, they were on the side of the one, having been converted into lightly sprained knees and a collection of bruises
“Ouch,” Bobbie said, and floated motionless for a few seconds, tethered to the shaft by only one gloved hand
“Yeah,” Clarissa replied, faintly, through the helainst Bobbie’s back
Bobbie pushed her hel cliht You up for this?”
Clarissa answered by unhooking the tether, and pulling herself up the flat gray wall of the shaft
“Alrighty, then,” Bobbie said, and followed
Two hours and an O2 bottle change later, they floated near thecluster of antennae, dishes, and radio broadcast towers, and at its heart sat a laser powerful enough to send ht-years away It had never been used
“I remember when that al her faceplate to Bobbie’s “It doesn’t look so scary now”
“I’ve heard that story,” Bobbie replied “Wish I’d been here to back you guys up in that fight”
Clarissa shrugged “The story’s more fun than the actual experience was You didn’t miss much”
Clarissa pulled herself over the rigging of the co to a stop next to an oversized receiver dish She pointed at an access panel below it, then flashed the Belter sign for This one