space rocks

Once more you’re the last to wake up.  You’re alone in the infirmary and slowly make your way to the international station. For a moment you forgot about the last rock.  I need to find Professor Scot and Professor Jane, you think to yourself. Doctor Penner and Professor Jane is ruffling trough the American food section.

 

“I was starting to think you went into a coma,” says Doctor Lee as you enter the kitchen area.

 

“Ha, yeah, she’s not joking, Charlie.  Penner! Give me some of that, don’t eat it all yourself!”  Professor Jane launches towards the bag of ginger cookies in Doctor Penner’s hands.

 

“Ladies, please stop.  Where is Professor Scot?  Professor Jane, we need to talk.”  You’re still feeling dizzy and you are ruder than you intended to be, ashamed you look away from them.

 

“Sounds serious?  I saw him go to his sleep station, I’ll get him here.

Professor Scot!” Doctor Penner, still in high spirits, calls out to him at the top of her lounges.  Smirking she eats the rest of the cookies Professor Jane was asking for. “He’ll be here soon.”

 

Professor Scot enters through the tunnel.

 

“Why are you yelling like that? I was trying to pray in there.  What’s the matter, Penner?”  He rushes in frowning anxiously. 

 

“The kid said he needs to talk.” She points towards you as she looks at Professor Scot.

 

“Doctor Penner, would you give us a moment?”  You fold your hands together and try to smile but your hands are shaking and you end up frowning.

 

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure.” Doctor Penner’s shoulders droops and she floats idly towards her sleep station. 

 

“I lied about something,” you say as you turn to look to the two Professors.

 

“What, you’re not really from South Africa?  Figured.”  Professor Jane has been all smiles since you docked safely.  That won’t last long, you think to yourself.

 

“No.  I mean, yes.  I am from South Africa.  I mean no, that’s not it.  There was another rock up there.  It still is.  We need to check the graphs and maps to see if it’s going to hit earth.”  You point towards the laptop that is strapped to the wall behind Professor Jane.

 

“Excuse me?  Are you out of your puny little genius mind?  Why didn’t you tell me up there?” Her smile disappears and she slaps her hand against the wall.  Then waves her finger at you brutally.

 

“I believed it was the one that would miss earth, but they didn’t load the maps to the FTL-ship.  I couldn’t let anyone die for nothing.  I was almost entirely sure it is the one that will miss us.” Backing away you swing your hands to show how the rock would miss earth.

 

“Oh. Oh, no, Charlie.  I was ready to die. We need to check those maps.  Get Moorland on the line Jane, now!  NASA said nothing about any rock that will miss earth.  Kid, your information is wrong.”  Professor Scot reaches for the laptop and unlocks it frantically with shaking hands.