Chapter Eighteen

A squat, bug-like work module sat near a large pool of bubbling lava. Several blackened metal pipes led from the work module to the pool. A much larger pipe led from the module to a large lava field. Globs of half liquid lava burped from this tube, leaving a mound of cooling leftovers from whatever processing was happening inside the module.

The air inside the portable mining rig was hot and oily. The smell of raw hydrocarbons burned the eyes and filled the nose and mouth with a bitter tang. The man hunched over a workstation did not seem to notice. In fact, his grimy clothes and blotchy skin made him almost seem like one more piece of neglected equipment.

“Cappy, we got a definite problem here.” The voice came from the dirty looking fellow hunched over a battered display console. The console was patchwork of scavenged parts and homemade doohickeys and it was a wonder that it worked at all. Everything about the room was worn and poorly maintained. It could only lead to one conclusion: that whoever did take care of this place did not take much pride in its appearance.

A burly, fearsome-looking man kicked open the door to the room, sending bits of trash and equipment flying. “What did you say Burgess? You know I don’t like bad news.”

“Sorry, Cappy, I just call em like I see em.” Burgess eyed Cappy, looking concerned, but not overly so.

“Well…what’s the problem. You got me out of the bathroom for this. It had better be good.”

Burgess let Cappy stew for a few more moments and then continued. “We got a problem with the ionization.”

“What problem, we knew it was gonna happen sooner or later. We got our ships shielded for when we gotta get out.” Cappy was irritated that he had been bothered with something that they knew was going to happen.

Burgess gave him a sly smile. “Oh, it ain’t the ions that’s got me concerned. It’s whoever is scanning em.”

“Scanning? What do you mean. Get to the point or I’ll dump you in one of the smelters.” Cappy was feeling particularly crusty today and didn’t have time for Burgess’ games.

“Scanning, sir. I mean to say that someone on the outside is scanning the atmosphere.” Burgess’s manners always improved with the mention of bodily harm. “We have guests out in the black, and they want to know why they can’t get in.”

Cappy cursed. Things just never did go right for him. Cappy Weiss was a survivor, but just barely. The universe always conspired to throw a wrench into his plans, no matter how careful he was. Of course that could have something to do with his tendency to cut corners and his irrational belief that he was the smartest person in the known universe.

Cappy harrumphed loudly, scratched his greasy head and nodded. There was nothing to be done but wrap up the operation and high-tail it off this rock before he got caught.

“Alright, Burgess, keep an eye on the scan and buzz me if they figure a way through. Meanwhile, tell the boys to be ready ta drop and burn if’n they do get through.” Cappy sighed sullenly and went back to the bathroom.