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The year was 2160 and it had been, without a doubt, the best year of her life. Danica Franklin, Dani to most of her friends, couldn't think of anywhere she would rather be than where she was right then, staring out one of the port views of the International Space station, hanging upside down in the zero gravity, looking out into space. At first, the sight of space had been slightly unnerving. Exciting, yes, but still a little unnerving. It was so... vast. It made you feel small and insignificant. Now though she was a little more used to it, she'd been up in the Station for nearly three months now, and had settled into life in space rather well she thought.
Once she was done with her stint up here, she'd return to the states ready to begin her training for the Mars expedition. She was one of the top candidates, her stay in the Station was more of a test than anything else. She still had a job to do of course, but she knew they were watching her to see how she handled herself, handled being in space, before she was selective for Earth's first venture to the red planet. Right now though, she was just a little annoyed.
Dani had been sent up here with a man from Italy named Eduardo Valencia, they'd worked well together. He had been middle-aged, married for some fifteen years, no threat to her as a woman, he'd almost been more like an older brother, maybe even a bit of a father. He'd been funny and easy going, she'd liked having him around. Now though, she was going to be getting a different partner. Eduardo had started complaining of stomach pain, and had then contracted a fever, and had stopped eating. After some evaluation, it was safely assumed he had appendicitis and had been sent back to Earth. His replacement was supposed to arrive today, a man from Russia named Xavier Petrov.
The Cold War might have been nearly a hundred years ago now, but she didn't think the rivalry between Russia and America would ever go away, and she wasn't really looking forward to having to deal with any animosity.
There was a soft ping, and the station's virtual intelligence came over, voice soft and perfectly modulated, “Space shuttle approaching station.” It informed her. Dani pushed off and navigated around to the other side of the station, which was facing that beautiful blue and green marble hanging in the void of space, Earth. She was a small woman, the top of her head just brushing 5'4”, slender and graceful in her build, with short black hair and moss green eyes and a proud, angular face. She was beautiful, but she'd honestly always hated that about herself. It only caused her problems in a field dominated by men.
Once she was done with her stint up here, she'd return to the states ready to begin her training for the Mars expedition. She was one of the top candidates, her stay in the Station was more of a test than anything else. She still had a job to do of course, but she knew they were watching her to see how she handled herself, handled being in space, before she was selective for Earth's first venture to the red planet. Right now though, she was just a little annoyed.
Dani had been sent up here with a man from Italy named Eduardo Valencia, they'd worked well together. He had been middle-aged, married for some fifteen years, no threat to her as a woman, he'd almost been more like an older brother, maybe even a bit of a father. He'd been funny and easy going, she'd liked having him around. Now though, she was going to be getting a different partner. Eduardo had started complaining of stomach pain, and had then contracted a fever, and had stopped eating. After some evaluation, it was safely assumed he had appendicitis and had been sent back to Earth. His replacement was supposed to arrive today, a man from Russia named Xavier Petrov.
The Cold War might have been nearly a hundred years ago now, but she didn't think the rivalry between Russia and America would ever go away, and she wasn't really looking forward to having to deal with any animosity.
There was a soft ping, and the station's virtual intelligence came over, voice soft and perfectly modulated, “Space shuttle approaching station.” It informed her. Dani pushed off and navigated around to the other side of the station, which was facing that beautiful blue and green marble hanging in the void of space, Earth. She was a small woman, the top of her head just brushing 5'4”, slender and graceful in her build, with short black hair and moss green eyes and a proud, angular face. She was beautiful, but she'd honestly always hated that about herself. It only caused her problems in a field dominated by men.