Flash Fiction - Remote Control

REMOTE CONTROL

“I am so glad that you were all able to make the meeting today,” Mire told the onlooking group of the Bullseye adventurers.  They sat in a cavern carved from the blue-gray rock on the largest asteroid in the field.  In the bottom of the cavern was where the amphitheater was dug out of the porous nitrogen/oxygen rich lava like substance, everyone sat in apt report.  At the completion of the cavern and amphitheater, it only took six hours for the cavern to fill with the life sustaining gas coupled with a modicum of technology to reduce leakage out of the mouth of the cavern.  So, long as the shaker cam was active atmosphere filled the cavern.  

“Bullseyers, the day will consist of several venues for you to pick from, the agendas are transmitted to your personal companion pads.  First, we will have a report and lecture from Master Joten about the new sun darting techniques,” Mire’s voice rose with excitement.  Mire looked at the teleprompter hovering just to his left.  “There is a new sublight acceleration and speed run lecture.   That is in the seventh hour.”  Mire grinned and spoke in hushed terms that came through companion pads clearly, “They figured a way to vent their cabin air that gives a tremendous boost.”

A few ahs, emitted from some of the onlookers.

Mire continued, “There are some break-throughs in skid plating.  You can skip on meteors at eighty-gees with no damage to the exoskeleton of the ship.  That’s the third hour.”

#

 Notjim strode up on the rocks guided by the red Bullseye circles on the back of Karjen’s jacket.  “Wow, I can’t wait to try the air venting trick.  What did you think?”  Reaching her, he sat down to gaze out at the asteroid field.

“I don’t know?  There’s a lot of retrofitting needed for getting the doors to open right on our class Jaunter.  We’re not really made to spring from a standing start.”

Notjim pursed his lips in a retort, “Yeah, but once we’ve moved to a tenth of light we soar.”

“That’s true.  We already have the record for flybys.  It would be nice to compete in the standings.”  She looked up at the Universe.  “That is so pretty out there.”

Smiling, Notjim agreed, “Yes, it’s gorgeous.  Is it okay for us to retro the doors?  I think the air vent will boost us to a tenth.”  He clapped his hands.

Karjen turned to see the joy on Notjim’s face as he stood.  “Okay.  Let’s get going.  Feel the ground.”

“What?”

She rolled her eyes.  “Men.  What do you feel?”

“I don’t feel anything.”

“Exactly, you dote.  The shaker cam has stopped.”  She grabbed him by the jacket sleeve as her foot slipped on the rock.

“Oh, yeah.  You’re right.  We better go. There will only be air for a couple more hours.”  He turned and looked back in the dark cavern.  “Gee, everyone’s gone.”  He reached into his pocket and pulled out his kabob and pointed it up at the asteroids.  Nothing happened.

“Well, you going to call the shuttle down?”

“I’m trying.  I think the battery in my remote is going bad.”  He beat it on the palm of his hand and tried again.  Again, nothing.

“Let me see that.”  Karjen took the remote from him and pried off the back with her thumbnail.  She looked up at him.  “Why isn’t there a battery in it?”

“Oh my gosh.  I knew it was getting low,” he told her with a crestfallen face.  “I took it out so I would have it when we made planet fall; you know so I get the right one.”

“Notjim.”  She handed it back to him.  “You’ll be the death of us yet.”