Far and beyond

Two moons

It was Monday on Nova Nadez, the 11th colony of the Slavic confederation. The air was misty and wet, a typical autumn morning on the tidally locked planet. A belt of around 600 kilometers was the only inhabitable surface between the volcanic hell that was west and the frozen deserts to the east. Humanity has come across numerous planets capable of sustaining life since the great space exploration of 2412, and Nova Nadez was one of them. As the two moons were still hovering in the sky, the pink tongue of a Belgian Shepard pup slid across the face of a sleeping man repeatedly. 

- Mona, your dog is not letting me sleep again. - said Stephen with a rough morning voice filled with a mixture of annoyance and anger.

- It's not "my" dog, it's "our" Steph. You wanted to get Margarita as much as I did. - replied Monsa with a calm voice, already awake, with a coffee bag in one hand and a spoon in the other. - Anyways, the sun is up, I'm making coffee, the day has begun, so you might as well just get up. I'm guessing you would like a cup of black? 

- That star is still not the sun, and yes, please, thank you. I'm gonna go wash up.

- Well, I am still going to be calling it "sun". Red Dwarf Gliese 667 Cc doesn't quite roll of the tongue as easily.

 Steph rolled out of bed and went into the bathroom. Another morning of not being able to enjoy his dreams until that unescapable alarm bell wakes him. What was the dream anyway, he pondered. It had something to do with music. And a brick wall building, a pub probably. He oddly missed brick walls. He missed the coarse texture they possessed. He missed the feeling of stability he had when he was leaning against them. He missed how they made him feel grounded. He missed them because they reminded him of Earth, and he missed Earth. His family, his friends. He missed them all. On the new world everything was thin and light. Nothing had the weight he was used to while growing up in the Balkan federation. There everything was heavy, everything was filled with stuff, not shallow like here. But Monsa was here. She was his anchor, his rock, holding his feet solid on the ground. She made him want to be more than what he is. 

Stephen looked at himself in the mirror. His hair was a mess, his pupils were bloody, he had been brushing his teeth while his mind was wondering, lingering on the dream he had. He quickly washed his face and did the best he could with his hair before walking out.

- My head f*****g hurts. I feel like someone had hit me with a crowbar. - he hugged Monsa from the back. Putting his hands around her stomach, and then pulling them back towards her thighs. - Can my wifey give me a kiss?

Monsa turned around, hung her hands loosely around his neck and passionately kissed him while embracing him. She felt the warmth of his body against his, and the freshness of her breath as his tongue met hers halfway.

- I love that you brushed thoroughly, gin doesn't do your breath any favors in the morning after.

They laughed, and continued kissing. Monsa was a biologist. She had a free spirit, always on the lookout for a new adventure. She loved the fact that their home was under two moons. She loved the fact that the gravity was slightly weaker than Earths. She was the one that named their new dog Margarita. Everyone thinks that she named her after a flower, but she actually named her after her, at the time, favorite cocktail. She was loved on Earth, but her desire to explore the universe for something that could help the human kind kept drawing her to the stars. When the opportunity to be a field researcher on a newly discovered planet was presented, she grabbed it without hesitation. She loved the fact that their house was at the exact spot where a forest ends and a beach begins. She loved to swim in the cold lake water in the morning, something that she could not convince Steph to do no matter how hard she tried. She loved Steph. He was her canary, keeping her from going too far.

- I knew that my efforts wouldn't go unnoticed. And my breath isn't the only thing gins isn't kind to, my stomach is not very fond of it as well, oh, as well as my legs. - just as the words were leaving his mouth, he heard Margarita bark and the sound echoed in his ears, causing him to wince. - Oh god, I swear if this dog wasn't as cute as it is...

- Your head, your stomach, your legs... I swear for someone who has been in the special forces, you're the biggest baby.  

- Hey, I was in the engineering corpse. I never was into that phew phew phew, bang bang bang stuff.

- Still, how did you ever get passed basic training with that attitude. Everything hurts you.

- Oh yeah? Well how about I go take a shower and than we do some training together. 

- No. - said Monsa pushing him away from her. 

- No? 

- No. I am not going to be just standing here waiting for you to take a shower. 

- Um, sorry, I didn't think you would mind. - said Steph with a confused look in his eyes and a missing understanding of what had just transpired. - I just wanted to freshen up a bit. Hangovers aren't getting more tolerable with age you know...

- Yes, but, you can't shower. Not alone at least. - she smirked seductively, with a devilish smile and a piercing look in her eyes. It was obvious that Steph needed a moment to understand but hope flooded his eyes when his mind was able to unravel the great mystery she burdened it with. His eyes were not the only thing that were filling up though, his shorts also had a significant, and distinctly noticeable uprising. 

- Oh, I like the way you are able to word your desires. Very subtle. - the confusion was now all gone and a playful smile took it's place on Stephs' face. He loved the way Monsa was able to say the right things at the right time. He loved how she managed to control her facial expressions so uniquely. It was like she had total control over every cell in her body and she moved them about effortlessly. 

As they were exchanging seductive looks the coffee spilled over the brewer. Margarita ran out the door instantly, like a bullet fired from a gun. Everything frightened her, and boiling coffee was no exception. Despite this, she was a kindred spirit of Monsa. She loved exploring the surroundings around the house, she even tried to swim, before the waves scared her back to shore of course. 

Monsa quickly grabbed a paper towel and started her effort of containing the spillage. As she did that Steph moved back, knowing that she strongly disliked when someone is interfering in her actions. A few years ago he would have tried to help her instantly. His efforts would be met with a sigh and a not so polite "get out of my way" request. Now he knows better. He knew that if she wanted his help she would not be shy in asking for it, he just needs to be standing by and be ready to act instantly and competently. And this is exactly what happened. 

- Could you please move the brewer off the fire? Oh, and after that get the mop, I think some of this will spill on the floor. - she said, grabbing paper towel after paper towel in an effort to stop the hot coffee from spreading any further across the counter top made of stone. 

After the coffee disaster had been avoided. They both looked at each other and smiled. They were looking forward to address their previously established desires. However, it was not to be. An phone rang. Mona answered. Her face lit up. After a short conversation she hung up. 

- We must go. - She said as she hastily started grabbing things and putting her in her backpack. The mostly gray, waterproof backpack, with a yellow and red amulet woven into one of the side pockets went wherever she went.

- What? Now? Can't we have 10 minutes to ourselves first? - Steph was vividly not sharing the same enthusiasm. 

- Yes. Now. No, we don't have 10 minutes. Hurry, if we leave now we can catch the next hypertrain. 

- Or we could take the car instead and not have to run to the station with all our gear? - Steph was now also gathering things and putting it into a black backpack with the same amulet. 

- No, hypertrain is faster. And besides, you could use the exercise. Afraid of a little run, are we? 

- Fear has nothing to do with it.

- Oh, come on mister super solider, you're afraid a girl may beat you to the station. - were the last words out of Mona as she ran through the front door, leaving it wide open.

- You're so done. - He yelled running after her, closing the door without bothering to lock it. Their house was isolated, and there was nothing in it worth stealing anyways. They never locked it. Margarita was somewhere playing with something or chasing something only to turn to flight once she actually comes close to catching it.

After a 10 minute run, Mona was the first to arrive on the station where they were supposed to wait for the hypertrain. Steph came in second, only by a few seconds, but still second.

- Told ya I'd win.

- Yeah, yeah. You're lucky I'm hangover and my backpack is way heavier than yours. - He knew that this had nothing to do with it. He might have been an engineer in the special forces years ago, but now he is just and engineer. Maintaining the power grid operational isn't exactly the most physically demanding task when you have all the technology doing the job for you. He still loved his job thought. He loved the feeling he got when he visited some remote village. He knew that the children there really appreciated what he did. You could see their face instantly changing from sad to joyful knowing that they can once again be afforded the luxury of playing video games while their parents are at work. 

- Look, it's coming, we made it just in time. 

Steph didn't have the chance to ask Mona what the call was about. He assumed it was some grand adventure. That is what usually makes her act like this. Mona was ecstatic. She was hopping as the train approached and slowed down. Last night they shared a bottle of gin under the moonlight. They were supposed to have that pleasure on Saturday so that they can spend the Sunday in bed, recovering. However, Mona came back late on Saturday because she had to file some report that she had been putting off for some time and was too tired for it. Steph was still trying to wake up and Mona looked like she had not had a single drop. She was always a mystery to him. She drank the same as him, possibly even more than him. He was a dead man walking, his face was pale and deprived of blood, his knees were weak. She was jumping and running. She probably swam in the lake before he woke up as well. 

The train pulled up. They jumped in. Well, Mona jumped in. Steph kind of dragged himself in. Sluggishly. A mostly empty hypertrain wagon gave the signal to the passengers to buckle down. The led lighting on the top of the cart turned from green to red. Steph took a deep breath. He always disliked this part. Mona looked at him. Knowing that Steph knew that she knows that he is not overly fond of the sudden burst of acceleration. She smiled and winked at him. He closed his mouth and prayed to God that he doesn't vomit. Usually Steph was an atheist, however, in moments like this, a prayer couldn't hurt. At least he hoped. 

Few hours later and they were in Capitol City. A booming 3 million strong, administrative, industrial and economic center of the planet. Once they were off the train. Steph had finally had the opportunity to ask Mona what the call was about. 

- I am going to the mountain above Nebograd. - She replied with a significant dose of excitement.

- What?? That's outside the inhabitable zone! You CAN'T go there!! It's too dangerous. I'm going to talk to Mathilda. No way. You're not going there. 

- Steph! Quit it! You're acting like a child! I know how to take care of myself!

- This isn't about that and you know it! This isn't just some place!! This is somewhere that you physically can't live!!

- Well, something can. Some miners saw something. Red flowers. Beneath the snow. 

- So why don't they bring them to you?

- The flower didn't make it. It died as soon as they took it out of the ground so I HAVE to go there.

- But why you? Why can't anyone else go? 

- Because. I'm the best they got. And don't worry. We are going to be 12 people. Besides, you go to remote places all the time. 

- That's different.

- How? Because you're a guy?

- No, because I go in places where you can breathe without an oxygen tank. And where you won't freeze to death in minutes.

- Not all the time you don't.

- Can't someone else go? - Steph knew that Mona would not relinquish the opportunity to go outside the habitable zone. He had to go twice. But he had no choice. Maybe she doesn't have a choice as well. Still, when he went, he despised it. He couldn't wait to get back. She was different. She couldn't wait to get there. That is what scared him.

- Are you two lovebirds fighting? I thought you never do that. - Michael met them at the exit of the station. - I was told you would be here. I am supposed to drive you two to the chief. 

- Both of us? - asked Steph.

- Yeah. Apparently, me and you also have a thing to do somewhere up there. 

Michael was also an electrical engineer. Him and Steph were a good team. It is because of that reason that they were usually sent together to places where a bigger problem was expected to need resolving. They were the most senior of the engineers available to the colony. The rest of their colleagues were a bunch of raw recruits, bookworm planners or mechanized. Having people behind computers was getting the job done for handling everyday problems inside of Capitol City, and the drones and bots and "just graduated" newly recruited helpers were more than capable in intervening and resolving the most common of things. However, when an anomaly occurred, there was only one way to solve it. Good old fashioned brain power and elbow grease still had no replacement. Stephen and Michael knew the grid better than anyone. Mostly because they helped plan and build it themselves.

- Did they say what it was we needed to do?

- Not really. I'm expecting it to be a overload that caused a fuse to burn out. 

- Fingers crossed you're right. What data did they give you?

- Nothing much really. They noticed some kind of spike followed by a instantaneous termination of flow. Like I said, most likely a fuse. By the way, my car is this way. - Michael pointed to a black field vehicle. It looked much like any pickup truck, except for the fact that it had the ability to raise it's ground clearance by 6 inches and was able to have a cover unfold over the back so that any equipment it carries can be sufficiently protected.

- It is nice to see you too Michael. - Mona added.

- Sorry Mona, you know how Steph is. He won't leave me alone until I give him a full briefing so I figured I would get that out of the way as soon as possible.

After about 20 minutes, they arrived at their destination. Operation coordination center, or Ops center as it was most frequently called was on the west side of the city. It was a large building, mostly made of metal and carbon which gave it a distinct and instantly recognizable look. That was probably the aim of it from the beginning. After a short walk trough a hallway and a DNA verification, they entered a large lobby. Cutting across the lobby they entered an elevator along with a few other people. An eerie silence haunted the elevator as Steph was visibly distressed and Mona was gave out a hostile energy. When Mona, Steph and Michael got out they walked for a while before having to split up.

Steph quickly grabbed Mona by the hand. Pulled her close and hugged her firmly. 

- Mona, please. Just be careful. You know how much I love you. Please, I can't loose you. - The tone of Stephs voice implied that he is deeply worried and concerned about the love of his life.

- Hey, you know me baby. I'm like lightning, nothing can catch me. - Mona tried to lift his spirit, but her quick remark didn't seem to have the desired effect.

- Oh lord, what am I going to do with you. Just don't be a hero okay? Remember Red Riding Hood. Take the long way, no shortcuts. Promise?

- I promise. Now go, Michael is getting impatient.