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One of the perks about being a Star-human was that you could withstand the harsh radiation of the Sun– a much-needed trait if you’re doing fieldwork on a celestial body with an atmosphere thinner and lighter than a feather. Of course, you were still expected to wear PPE. It was required, especially for Ganymede University students who liked to fuck up valuable moon rocks after collecting them, whether intentionally or unintentionally.
It was sort of like a rite of passage for students on the Planetary Geosciences track: that is, finally venturing past the Tros Crater into the Perrine Regio for their first official field mission, and most students were wholly unenthused, kicking rocks and generally dicking around instead of collecting sample data like they were supposed to. They didn’t want to monitor Ganymede– it was boring and gray and they had seen it a gazillion times, so what’s there to monitor? No, they wanted to travel to one of the other Galilean moons. Maybe to Io or Europa or Callisto– or even father out to a Saturnian moon like Triton or Titan.
They didn’t seem to understand that they couldn’t come in guns blazing, no matter how many field studies they conducted in small, more local craters in the Barnard Regio or how many papers they published on the composition of Ganymede’s icy rocks.
Which is exactly why Jordan Li was not-so-gentle parenting a particularly pesky field crew for Brinkerhoff. For the 4th day of the week. And the mission was to last 2 weeks.
And, holy shit, she was tired.
Jordan has to force herself to finally hit the CALL button on their microphone. When she does, she shifts, hoping that their masculine voice will carry more authority.
BEGINNING OF TRANSMISSION - [08:01 AM] [10-21-1996]
[04:08:01] J. LI - Lisa, where do you think you’re going?
[04:08:01] L. HENNING - Ssshhhit!
[04:08:01] J. LI - Did you seriously think I wasn’t going to find out? I’m literally monitoring everyone’s locations right now. Fucking dumbass.
[04:08:02] L. HENNING - Jordan I’m DYING of boredom. Dying. DYING!!! I’ve literally made articles about papers on the melting point of several igneous Ganymedian rocks. Why am I here?
[04:08:03] J. LI - You haven’t even been to the Marius Regio and I’m betting that this is your first time outside of Tros. Calm the fuck down and look at rocks before I drop your grade by half a letter.
[04:08:03] L. HENNING - Fuck. You.
END - [08:04] [10-21-1996]
Jordan sighs and covers his face with their hands, shifting to their feminine form as their back hits the chair. She turned off all of the lights in the control room to lessen their stress-induced migraine, but the darkness seems to press against her eyeballs just as hard as bright fluorescent white light would.
Somewhere, there’s a knocking sound.
“Go the fuck away!” Jordan answers, voice more shrill than she intended.
“Jordan, it’s me,” someone– Cate?– replies. “I have some breakfast, if you want some. If you don’t, well– you should, like, definitely eat, ‘cause I know you haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
Jordan feels bad but doesn’t have the energy to say sorry. She groans apologetically instead.
Cate chuckles, the airy, light sound muffled by the door. “Okay, I’m coming in now… Don’t murder me, okay?” Cate presses a button, which beeps a quiet mid-tone. The door hisses and steams as it opens, sliding to the right.
The light from the outside hallway is faint, but still jarring. Somehow in the cold, dark air, Cate notices Jordan’s slight wince and closes the door before sitting down beside them, holding a tray of three coffees, and a bag with four bacon egg & cheese sandwiches, and a cheese danish. It immediately hits Jordan that she can’t remember when she last ate, her stomach twisting and contorting at the smell of actual food.
“You’re very hangry right now,” Cate teases. “This will help, though.” She hands Jordan a breakfast sandwich.
She grunts in gratitude, then takes a very large, greedy bite of the sandwich. Cate brings a gloved hand to her mouth, muttering ‘oh my’.
Jordan groans. It sort of resembles the bellowing of an elephant seal more than an actual human noise.
“Oh God,” somebody–Cate?– says outside of the door. “Jordan, was that you? Hold on, I’m coming in with food! Stay put.” Cate presses a button, which beeps a quiet mid-tone. The door hisses and steams as it opens, sliding to the right.
The light from the outside hallway is faint, but still jarring. Somehow in the cold, dark air, Cate notices Jordan’s slight wince and closes the door before sitting down beside them, holding a tray of three coffees, and a bag with four bacon egg & cheese sandwiches, and a cheese danish. It immediately hits Jordan that she can’t remember when she last ate, her stomach twisting and contorting at the smell of actual food.
“You still like your coffees with a gazillion teaspoons of sugar?” Cate says, handing Jordan a caramel macchiato with at least 1,000 shoots of vanilla.
“Yes,” Jordan mumbles. She immediately takes a long, healthy gulp of hot, sickeningly sweet coffee. Cate giggles at her greediness.
“What? I’m a working woman, Cate.”
“I didn’t say anything…” Cate says, but then she giggles like she was thinking several things. “Okay, tell me what’s up.”
Jordan sighs. “It’s just this year’s first field work crew. Nothing but a group of fucking troublemakers. Like, hooooly shit. I don’t remember my group being this bad!”
She groans again. “I’m sick of this shit, Cate! I’m 2 seconds away from flying to the Perrine Regio and dealing with this field crew myself.”
“Aww, give them a little grace. It’s their first time.”
“They should know better!”
“Well, they don’t, so you’re going to have to teach them.”
“Whatever…” Jordan trails off. “Who are the other two coffees for?”
“They’re all for you. I can’t drink coffee; it messes with my powers,” Cate says. “And I got two sandwiches for you. The rest are for Luke & Andre. Whenever they wake up. ‘Cause, you know, it’s basically nighttime for Andre, and… Luke had a busy day yesterday.”
“Oh…” Jordan blinks, eyes round, brown almonds. “...Thank you. Wait– what are you gonna eat?”
She wiggles her cheese danish. “I’m all covered, don’t worry.” She then glances at the monitor in front of them, which is displaying a rough map of Perrine Regio, several small red dots on the Ganymedian landscape. “Mind if I help you out?”
“What? No, I got this,” Jordan says immediately, but then she reaches for her CALL button and misses. Cate snorts.
“Okay, how does this work?” she asks, putting on a pair of headphones.
Jordan sighs begrudgingly, chewing on breakfast sandwich. “All right, so on this screen, all you’re gonna see is numbers,” They begin, pointing at a tiny screen in front of Cate, “which correspond to the people in the field crew, which is up here.” She points to the bigger monitor, and beside the map is a list of names and numbers. “And if you wanna call everyone, you just tune in to the shared transmission signal. But I do not suggest doing that.”
Cate nods. “M’kay, noted. Oh, there’s Marie! I wanna say hi!” She purses her lips. “...How do I do that?”
“Turn the dial to Marie’s number, then hit the CALL button,” Jordan explains. “Pretty simple stuff.”
“All right…” Cate carefully turns the dial….
BEGINNING OF TRANSMISSION - [8:19 AM] [10-21-1996]
[04:08:19] R. BRINKERHOFF - Hi, Marie! Aww, your dot is just SOOO cute!
[04:08:19] M. MOREAU - Cate, is that you?
[04:08:19] M. MOREAU - Oh my God, I thought you were Brink! Fuck, I thought I was in trouble or something…
[04:08:20] R. BRINKERHOFF - Why would you be in trouble? Are you… Misbehaving? (She gasps) Ma-rie! You’re supposed to be a good girl, what’s gotten into you?
[04:08:20] M. MOREAU - No! No! I’m the last person anyone needs to worry about, trust me. I’m so lawful.
[04:08:20] J. LI - Bullshit. If you weren’t doing anything wrong, why would you think that you were in trouble?
[04:08:20] M. MOREAU - Ugh, who invited you? Last time I checked this was an A and B conversation, so you should C yourself out.
[04:08:21] J. LI - That’s so fucking corny. I’m not gonna respond to that.
[04:08:21] R. BRINKERHOFF - (Whispering) Hey, Marie. Jordan’s smiling.
[04:08:21] J. LI - No I’m not!
[04:08:21] M. MOREAU - You’re so full of shit, Jordan. (She laughs).
[04:08:22] C. DUNLAP - OK, I think I fixed it?
[04:08:22] M. MOREAU - Yay. Now I can tell my brain to stop shitting itself.
[04:08:22] J. LI - Don’t forget to change it before you leave. You’re authorized to access these, of course, but technically I’m supposed to be monitoring by myself right now.
[04:08:23] C. DUNLAP - OK! You got it!
Cate gestures a salute to Jordan.
[04:08:23] C. DUNLAP - I just gave a salute to Jordan, by the way.
[04:08:23] J. LI - Why are you telling her that?
[04:08:23] C. DUNLAP - I feel bad ‘cause she’s not physically here with us. She deserves to be clued in!
[04:08:23] M. MOREAU - Thanks, I appreciate it, Cate!
Even though Marie was auditing junior-year level classes on the Planetary Geosciences track, she was still required to go on the freshman field mission to the Perrine Regio. Instead of feeling unenthused, however, Marie was ecstatic, seemingly elated for a chance to explore Ganymede's gray, drab landscape.
Marie’s dot had traveled a very long distance as well. She must be enjoying herself a lot.
[4:08:23] J. LI - Enjoying yourself, Moreau?
[4:08:23] M. MOREAU - Yes, actually.
[04:08:23] M. MOREAU - I’ve been on a spaceship travelling to Ganymede for pretty much half of my life. And now I get to actually explore it!
[04:08:24] J. LI - Ohhhh. So that’s why you were so excited about it.
[04:08:24] C. DUNLAP - Hmmm?
[04:08:24] J. LI - Don’t look at me like that! It was obvious.
[04:08:24] C. DUNLAP - I… Didn’t even say anything.
Cate giggles. If it wasn’t so dark, they were sure that smoke could be seen coming out of their ears.
Luckily, Marie seems to be oblivious.
[04:08:24] M. MOREAU - I’d like to major in the origins of life on celestial bodies. That’s why I’m so curious about Ganymede. I read a bunch of books that said Ganymede could support life in his oceans. Apparently water and rocks interacting has something to do with it– I think it’s really interesting.
[04:08:24] M. MOREAU - Uhh, what’s it called..? Oh my God, I’m blanking so fucking hard right now.
[04:08:24] J. LI - Astral-Abiogenesis is what you’re thinking of. Study of Astral-Abiogenesis.
[04:08:25] M. MOREAU - Yes. That. Thank you.
[04:08:25] M. MOREAU - I had this thought that like, maybe Ganymede would be the perfect place to study that sort of thing. Either Ganymede or Europa.
[04:08:25] M. MOREAU - Though Europa would be better, I guess. Since she has geothermal vents and stuff, there's more evidence that she would be able to support life. But… That’s such an Earth-centric way of looking at it, since that’s kinda how life formed on Earth. What about Ganymede?
[04:08:25] C. DUNLAP - Well, Ganymede is very nice. Europa is nice, too, especially if you wanna go there for research. Callisto as well. Can’t vouch for Io, though. I’ve never been.
[04:08:25] J. LI - Yeah, if you wanna go to Io you gotta time it just right so you aren’t totally fucked in the ass by the sulfur and volcanic activity, which is fucking impossible. But I’m definitely going after I graduate.
[04:08:26] M. MOREAU - Is that your idea of a fun vacation? Sulfur and volcanic explosions?
[04:08:26] J. LI - Oh, 100%. And you’re crazy if you don’t agree.
[04:08:26] M. MOREAU - I must be the fucking Joker, then.
[04:08:26] J. LI - (She laughs) Damn right you are.
[04:08:26] C. DUNLAP - Oh, by the way, Marie, before I switched to Aerospace Engineering, I was actually an Astrophysiology major. For like 2 weeks though, but still! It’s nowhere near close to the same but, like, if you need any help…
[04:08:27] M. MOREAU - Thanks, I’ll consider it!
[04:08:27] J. LI - I can also help out too, you know. Considering I’m also on the Planetary Geosciences track? Majoring in Astrogeomorphology? And I’m pretty smart, if you didn’t know that already.
[04:08:27] M. MOREAU - …You’ve done enough, Jordan.
Cate whispers ‘rejected…’, low enough so that Marie wouldn’t hear it, but audible enough for Jordan to hear. Jordan flips the bird in response, saying, ‘don’t even have a crush, fuck off.’
[04:08:28] C. DUNLAP - You can’t hear it, but Jordan’s being really pissy right now.
[04:08:28] M. MOREAU - (She laughs) What’s new?
[04:08:28] M. MOREAU - ...I’m joking, by the way. I wouldn’t mind your help. I’ve read a few of your papers. You do really good, thorough research.
[04:08:28] J. LI - …Whatever.
But Jordan’s smiling, flustered, covering her face with a hand even though it’s dim in the control room. She’s thankful for the lack of light because if Cate could see their blush, they wouldn’t hear the end of it.
…She should really change the subject.
[04:08:28] J. LI - Cate, didn’t we go see the aurorae on Ganymede’s dark side once?
[04:08:29] C. DUNLAP - With me, you, Luke, and Andre, right? Yeah, that was so pretty, wasn’t it? We should totally go back one day. Maybe bring Sam too. Marie, would you wanna go with us?
[04:08:29] M. MOREAU - Uh, me?
[04:08:29] J. LI - Yes, you? Who the fuck else.
[04:08:29] C. DUNLAP - It wouldn’t take too long. We’d be there and back before a full revolution. [AN: Ganymede takes roughly 7.155 Earth Days to orbit Jupiter.]
[04:08:30] M. MOREAU - So.. a roadtrip? Uh… Sure, I’m down!
[04:08:30] J. LI - What’s the hold-up? You sound unsure.
[04:08:30] M. MOREAU - …Would there be room for one more? My roommate, Emma.
[04:08:30] J. LI - Don’t know who that is, but she might have to go on the roof. Sorry.
[04:08:30] C. DUNLAP - Jordan! Ugh. (She groans)
[04:08:30] C. DUNLAP - We can figure something out. Jordan, you can drive, right?
[04:08:30] J. LI - Yeah?
[04:08:31] C. DUNLAP - OK! Problem solved!
[04:08:31] J. LI - Hey! You can’t just— (She pauses) Okay, whatever, fine. I hate driving long distances, but I’ll do it, I guess.
[04:08:28] J. LI - You know, apparently Earth is supposed to be extra visible in the sky later. Albedo will be at a clean 33%. Visibility at 62%.
[04:08:28] C. DUNLAP - That’s so surreal.
[04:08:28] J. LI - Yeah…
[04:08:29] C. DUNLAP - All of humanity. So distant, but so visible in our eternal night sky. That’s home, and we can never go back. Only outward, to other planets.
[04:08:29] C. DUNLAP - Sorry, that was depressing.
[04:08:29] J. LI - Yeah. Don’t get me wrong, I love Ganymede, and I know a ton of Earth astronauts would kill to be here, but... Can’t help but miss it. Mourn it, even.
[04:08:30] C. DUNLAP - Don’t we all?
[04:08:30] J. LI - Never gonna be able to experience having a pet. Or trees. Or eating actual food and not imitation space bullshit…
[04:08:30] J. LI - Wouldn’t trade logging Galilean moons for the world though. I love it so fucking much. I’m trying to get to 5 fully published, peer-reviewed papers by the end of the Earth year.
[04:08:30] M. MOREAU - Wow. You’re such a nerd.
[04:08:30] J. LI - Says the fucking one currently on the most boring field mission in the universe. And enjoying it.
[04:08:30] M. MOREAU - (She laughs) Whatever. I’ll let you have that one.
[04:08:31] J. LI - Oh, Marie, a part of the Perrine Regio is in Ganymede’s lunar terminator. You should definitely take pictures of Earth. And the other Galilean moons too.
[04:08:31] M. MOREAU - OK. I’ll do it if I remember.
[04:08:31] J. LI - I’ll remind you.
[04:08:31] M. MOREAU - If I remember.
[04:08:31] J. LI - Woooooww. OK.
[04:08:31] M. MOREAU - Hey! I’m just messing with you! (She laughs) OK, seriously, remind me though, I might forget.
[04:08:31] J. LI - Will do.
[04:08:32] C. DUNLAP - Yes, please do. And when you come back, show me! I wanna see the photos… The skies at Ganymede’s Lunar Terminator look so pretty.
[04:08:32] M. MOREAU - Have you been?
[04:08:32] C. DUNLAP - (She laughs) Of course I have! Just wish I could see it every day, is all.
[04:08:32] M. MOREAU - Yeah, it looks like a sunset on Earth, but different? It’s kind of nostalgic. Reminds me of home. Well— my old home, I guess.
[04:08:33] C. DUNLAP - Me too. In fact, my last memory of Earth was watching the sun set before we took off... God, you don’t know how much you miss a proper fucking day/night cycle until you move to a tidally locked moon.
[04:08:33] C. DUNLAP - I used to think that I would get used to it at some point. But I still haven’t.
[04:08:34] C. DUNLAP - …And clearly Jordan hasn’t, either.
[04:08:34] J. LI - Huh? That sounds like an insult. Was that an insult?
[04:08:34] C. DUNLAP - Only the truth.
[04:08:34] J. LI - Uh, not true.
[04:08:34] C. DUNLAP - Jordan… When was the last time you slept?
[04:08:35] J. LI - (She pauses) I plead the fifth.
[04:08:35] M. MOREAU - What? Jordan, go get some rest! That’s not healthy.
[04:08:35] J. LI - Unfortunately, Brink is forcing me to babysit his field crews. Therefore, I am booked and fucking busy... So, no. Not happening.
[04:08:36] M. MOREAU - Can’t spare 10 minutes?
[04:08:36] J. LI - Nope.
[4:08:36] M. MOREAU - 5?
[04:08:36] J. LI - Nah..
[04:08:37] M. MOREAU - Why are you being so contrarian about this?
[04:08:37] J. LI - Not being contrarian. It’s the truth.
[04:08:37] M. MOREAU - (She sighs) Just because you say something’s the truth doesn’t mean it is. What Brink doesn’t know won’t kill him.
[04:08:37] J. LI - That’s still wrong. He trusted me to do something. So I’m gonna do it.. I need to do it.
[04:08:37] M. MOREAU - You have too much respect for that man… But, OK.
[04:08:37] J. LI - If it makes you feel any better, talking to you is kind of like a break for me.
[04:08:37] M. MOREAU - …It is?
[04:08:38] C. DUNLAP - Awww, that’s one of the sweetest things I’ve ever heard Jordan say.
[04:08:38] J. LI - Can you—? Ugh. I can be kind, you know.
[04:08:38] M. MOREAU - Says the person who rejected me from Planet GeoSci 101 ‘cause I had “bullshit, unpublished papers” and “zero name-recognition”.
[04:08:38] J. LI - Hey! Imagine being in my shoes! Some nobody freshman comes waltzing into the course with nary a paper to her name— what would you do? Do you realize how that sounds?
[04:08:39] M. MOREAU - I don’t know, give her a chance? And, thankfully, Luke gave a good word to Brink. But you know who didn’t?
[04:08:39] M. MOREAU - All I wanted was a chance, Jordan.
[04:08:39] J. LI - Okay, fuck, I…
A sudden, unexpected surge of emotion clogs her throat, and Jordan chokes on her words.
[04:08:40] J. LI - I’m sorry, all right? I’m fucking sorry.
Now she’s crying. She’s crying and it’s so, so fucking embarrassing. Hot globs of sadness slide pathetically down her cheek. Jordan takes off her headphones as Cate rushes to comfort her.
[04:08:41] M. MOREAU - Jordan?
[04:08:41] M. MOREAU - Jordan, are you there?
[04:08:41] C. DUNLAP - Jordan’s still here. I think the combination of stress and sleep deprivation made her break down. Words hit a little harder than she thought, maybe.
[04:08:42] M. MOREAU - Oh, fuck. I didn’t mean it in a harsh way, just…
[04:08:42] M. MOREAU - It— it breaks my heart, y’know? To see her suck up to Brink all the time, ‘cause she’s so fucking talented and driven and—and smarter than half of the people in this damn school. She doesn’t need to rely on Brink! At all!
[04:08:43] M. MOREAU - It’s not just about her rejecting me. He keeps using her like she’s a fucking tool, but she’s not! She’s… so much more than that.
[04:08:43] J. LI - …I don’t know how you can think so highly of me, Marie.
[04:08:44] M. MOREAU - Jordan?
[04:08:44] J. LI - (She sighs) You’re right. I just… Ignore it. I ignore it and suck it up because it’s easier than fucking facing it, but he’s working me like a fucking dog because he knows he can.
There’s a long, agonizing moment where Marie doesn’t say anything. Cate looks apologetic, almost pitying, as she rubs Jordan’s shoulder. It’s almost enough to make Jordan push her away, but they resist. They know she’s just trying to help.
[04:08:45] M. MOREAU - I think you should get some rest. Seriously.
[04:08:46] M. MOREAU - And so should I. God, I’m telling you to take a fucking break but I’ve been out here since 5:00. And it’s almost 9:00.
[04:08:46] J. LI - Yo, what the hell. Take a fucking break?
[04:08:46] M. MOREAU - Ohhh. Look who’s talking.
[04:08:47] J. LI - OK, whatever. Fucking whatever. (She laughs)
[04:08:47] M. MOREAU - I’ll take a break if you take a break. How about that?
[04:08:47] C. DUNLAP - I can take over, trust me. Like I said, I’m in Aerospace Engineering. I’m pretty much studying how to not make shit go left.
Cate lovingly glares at Jordan.
[04:08:48] J. LI - (She sighs) Alright. Fine. Since you guys are basically forcing me.
[04:08:48] M. MOREAU - And you’re still being contrarian! (She laughs) Go to sleep, Jordan.
[04:08:48] J. LI - You go to sleep, Moreau.
[04:08:48] M. MOREAU - Once I get back to Field Base, then yes.
[04:08:49] M. MOREAU - Sweet dreams.
[04:08:49] J. LI - No promises.
[04:08:49] M. MOREAU - Cate, can you make sure she goes to sleep?
[04:08:50] C. DUNLAP - I’ll make sure of it. Don’t worry. And make sure you get some rest too! You’ve earned it.
[04:08:50] M. MOREAU - Will do!
END - [8:50 AM] [10-21-1996]
Jordan begrudgingly takes off her headphones and flops on the desk, resting her head in her arms.
“This is so worthless. I’m getting zero work done. I could be doing so many things right now… I should be doing so many things right now… Instead, I’m… Instead I’m… Fuck this…” Jordan trails off, her slurred speech slowly shifting into sonorous snores.
Cate stifles a giggle, enjoying the absurd sight before turning to her monitor. “All right, let’s see what you cute little dots are up to…”
CONGRATS! You got the SLEEPY JORDAN ENDING..........! HOW CUTE!!!!
[04:08:25] M. MOREAU - Jordan. I can hear you chewing. It’s gross.
[04:08:25] J. LI - Fucking mute me then.
[04:08:25] M. MOREAU - Why don’t you go focus on other people? Isn’t that your job?
[04:08:25] J. LI - Unfortunately, you’re the only one doing anything interesting. Plus, I feel like you need some assistance.
[04:08:25] M. MOREAU - And this assistance includes chewing in my ear?
[04:08:25] J. LI - Yes. In fact, would you like a bite of my sandwich?
[04:08:25] M. MOREAU - Fuck off! (She laughs)
[04:08:26] M. MOREAU - I would actually love one. Space food has never tasted so disgusting.
[04:08:26] J. LI - I’ll save a piece for you.
[04:08:26] M. MOREAU - For 10 days? God, no thanks.
[04:08:26] J. LI - I’m doing this out of the kindness of my heart, and this is what I get?
[04:08:26] M. MOREAU - Sounds like you’re trying to give me– woah, holy shit?
[04:08:26] J. LI - What is it? You OK, Moreau?
[04:08:26] M. MOREAU - Yeah I’m good, just some super steep precipice over a humongous fucking crater. Hey, Jordan, what’s your field of study again? Astrogeomorphology? Can you tell me what’s up with this?
[04:08:27] J. LI - Uhh, well, it sounds like a really intense meteor impact. No surprises there. The real mystery is discovering where the meteor is from and when it hit. Let me check where you are on the satellite map.
[04:08:27] J. LI - Woah, it’s… Actually not a normal crater… You’re standing right next to a crater chain. The Enki Catena crater chain, to be exact. That means it was a comet that split into several pieces before it hit Ganymede… Congrats, Moreau. Not a lot of people get to see those up-close on their first ever field mission.
[04:08:28] C. DUNLAP - Woo-hoo! Go Marie!
[04:08:28] C. DUNLAP - You’re not jealous, are you, Jordie?
[04:08:28] J. LI - No?
[04:08:28] C. DUNLAP - (She laughs) I don’t believe that. Do you, Marie?
[04:08:28] M. MOREAU - Not for a second.
[04:08:28] J. LI - Fuck off…
[04:08:28] M. MOREAU - (She laughs) OK, so what do I do? Should I try collecting samples?
[04:08:28] J. LI - I say no. It looks like it’s super high up. You could hurt yourself.
[04:08:29] M. MOREAU - Ummm, I’m going to do it anyway.
[04:08:29] J. LI - Wow, so just fuck me then?
[04:08:29] M. MOREAU - (She laughs) Don’t worry! I’ll be fine! Super careful. Promise.
[04:08:29] J. LI - Hmph. If you say so.
[04:08:28] J. LI - Uhhh… If you do go for it, please be very careful and use your discretion. I trust your judgement, and that you know what you’re doing. Just say the word and I’ll radio Field Health for you.
[04:08:29] M. MOREAU - I’ll be fine! Super careful. Promise.
[04:08:29] J. LI - You promise?
[04:08:29] M. MOREAU - Yes. Stop worrying.
[04:08:29] J. LI - (They pause) Alright. I trust you.
[04:08:30] J. LI - While you’re down there, can you collect an extra sample for me too?
[04:08:30] C. DUNLAP - You’re so greedy, Jordan.
[04:08:30] M. MOREAU - Yes. Literally so greedy.
[04:08:30] J. LI - Greedy for participating in the shared pursuit of knowledge? (They laugh) OK, I see how it is.
[04:08:30] M. MOREAU - OK, I’ll collect an extra sample, but you’re gonna owe me. I don’t know what, though.
[04:08:31] J. LI - That’s fine. I can take whatever you throw at me.
[04:08:31] J. LI - OK. Gonna log off so you can concentrate, all right?
[04:08:31] M. MOREAU - Roger that!
END - [8:31 AM] [10-21-1996]
Jordan appears calm, but they’re secretly watching Marie’s dot with clenched fists and bated breath as it inches towards the edge of the crater chain. All it would take is one slip, one small slip for Marie to go tumbling down. Even though all Star-humans have super durability, it would still fucking sting— they aren’t all the way indestructible. For some reason, they shift to their masculine form, having tensed up so much they switched without realizing.
“It’s okay. She’s got this,” Cate reassures, placing a hand on Jordan’s back, and he relaxes, but only a little bit.
BEGINNING OF TRANSMISSION - [08:35] [10-21-1996]
[4:08:35] M. MOREAU - All right, made it.
“Oh thank God,” Jordan breathes, sighing in relief.
“See? What did I say?”
[04:08:35] M. MOREAU - It’s actually not as steep as I thought it was. Kinda disappointed.
[04:08:35] J. LI - Did you want it to be super fucking dangerous?
[04:08:35] M. MOREAU - Yes, actually.
[04:08:35] J. LI - You’re fucking crazy.
[04:08:36] M. MOREAU - All geniuses are! (She laughs)
[04:08:36] M. MOREAU - All right, I’m gonna head back to the Field Base now. I’ve been out here since 5:00 and it’s almost 9:00 now. I have to stop myself before I spend 4 more hours out here.
[04:08:36] C. DUNLAP - Yes! Go take a break, you’ve earned it.
[04:08:36] J. LI - Don’t forget: do your stretches, take pain relievers, and soak in a warm bath with salts. You do not want to wake up sore tomorrow, trust me.
[04:08:37] M. MOREAU - You got it.
[04:08:37] J. LI - And ping me when you get back to the Field Base.
[04:08:37] M. MOREAU - Got it.
[04:08:37] M. MOREAU - Hmm, I feel like I should say something cool here.
[04:08:37] M. MOREAU - Like, ‘This is Space Cadet Marie, signing off’! Or something like that.
[04:08:38] M. MOREAU - God that was lame as fuck.
[04:08:38] J. LI - Yeah that was lame as fuck.
[04:08:38] M. MOREAU - Glad we can agree.
[04:08:38] C. DUNLAP - (She gasps) What? I thought it was cool.
[04:08:39] M. MOREAU - (She laughs) I appreciate you, Cate. But it was lame.
Cate pouts.
[04:08:39] C. DUNLAP - I’m pouting. I hope you know that.
[04:08:39] J. LI - She is. Can confirm.
[04:08:39] M. MOREAU - Sorry, Cate! (She laughs) I’m gonna hop off now. Thanks for keeping me company, you two. See you later!
[04:08:40] M. MOREAU - And I WILL ping you, Jordan. Don’t worry.
[04:08:40] C. DUNLAP - Arrivederci, my lovely! I just blew kisses to your little dot.
[04:08:40] M. MOREAU - (She laughs) I got them!
[04:08:40] J. LI - Be safe, Marie. I…
[04:08:41] J. LI - Uh, watch out for... The rocks. Yeah.
[04:08:41] M. MOREAU - (She pauses) ….Will do!
END - [8:41 AM] [10-21-1996]
Cate immediately turns to Jordan. “Were you about to say I love you just then?”
“Shut up.”
“Why didn’t you?” Cate says, pouting. “You should’ve said it. I think she would’ve appreciated it.”
Jordan grumbles. “I don’t know. What if….” They trail off.
“It’s just three words. I love you.”
“What if she finds that weird. What if she thinks I’m clingy?”
Cate giggles, a little condescending. “Jordan, you’re such a dummy.” She shakes her head as if she can’t believe him. “She just put up with you talking in her ear for, like, what, 20 minutes straight? She must like you at least a little bit.”
Jordan becomes even more bashful, somehow, looking at the giant monitor with a smile on their face. They shift, feeling wholly and truly like a girl with a crush. “Do you think Marie would… Want to collaborate on an Astrogeological paper with me?”
Cate sighs. “Yes, Jordan,” she replies, resting her head in her palm. “Yes, I think she would love to.”
CONGRATS! You got the SILLY CRUSH ENDING!!
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