by Read, John
To compensate the residents for the recent incidents, Wong promised all of Harmony’s residents shares in the company. Not that the shares were worth much at the moment, but in time, we’d rebuild and the mining company would be onto its next great project. Maybe humanity’s first intergenerational starship. I can dream right?
He also promised that all corporate decisions would be run by Council, giving the colony’s residents some level of representation. “We’re all in this together,” he said. I guessed we’d find out.
After the drama at the medical station during the storm, Leeth was happy to be back at the clinic. Having seen his last patient for the day, he headed to the bar for a beer but was kicked out within minutes of arrival. Apparently, the bartender remembered him and was not in a forgiving mood, despite the circumstances of the day. Leeth had tried his best, telling the bartender, “Hey, man, I’m one of the heroes.”
“Maybe,” man said, nodding. “But you’re still an asshole. Out.”
Leeth had a dirty look on his face when he walked into Applebee’s. Kevin had been the first to arrive, reserving our usual table. Watson and I followed soon after.
“Hey, nurse!” I called, directing Leeth to our table.
“You’ve been busy, mate. And making some new friends, I see.”
“Leeth, this is Watson. Watson, meet Leeth,” I said. They shook hands and Leeth took a seat across from me at the table.
Leeth put a hand up, flagging down the waitress while Avro and Amelia walked in, arm in arm.
“Well!” Amelia exclaimed. “The gang’s all here!”
Leeth looked at Amelia and Avro. “So Amelia, you’re still heading back to Earth on the next transport?”
Amelia winked at Avro. “Nah, I think I’ll stick around,” she said as Avro pulled out a chair for her.
I looked to the holovisions, expecting to see a baseball game or football game from Earth. Instead, NewsFlash reports played on every screen.
“I guess our story’s getting around,” I said, nodding towards the nearest display. We watched a replay of Avro and me flying up the canyon with Amelia in tow.
“Can’t complain,” Avro said. “Mars could use a few celebrities. I just didn’t think it would be us.”
A hand clamped down on my shoulder. Captain Daniels stood behind me in a freshly pressed uniform.
“Hey, listen up!” shouted the Captain, looking around the bar, and then staring us down one at a time.
Leeth slouched in his seat, not sure what was going on. Several other police officers gathered around our table.
“From now on, gentlemen… and lady,” he said, looking at Amelia. “All your drinks are on us!”
The bar erupted into cheers and four pitchers of beer slammed down on our table. It was going to be a very good night.
John and Marie’s adventures continue in The Return of NASA.
Summer 2016
Shortly after receiving his wings as a Royal Canadian Air Cadet, John dropped out of Aerospace Engineering at Carleton University to pursue a degree (and career) in Corporate Finance. Struggling to scratch his itch for science, his wife bought him a twelve-inch Dobsonian Telescope for Christmas (Jennifer got leather boots, to be fair). A few months later, John joined the Mount Diablo Astronomical Society, volunteering as many as four nights per week under California’s cloudless skies. He soon began writing futurist essays for the club’s magazine, Diablo MoonWatch, and later published his first book, 50 Things to See with a Small Telescope. After doing a “What’s up” speech on reusable rockets in 2012, John got the idea for this book and immediately began writing The Martian Conspiracy.