Just a little bit of blue R2.03

R2.03- A case of Sidra

Steven Woo had just arrived at the Emerald City and was running late. His boss had sent him to the Capital of the Outer Planets Federation to prepare the shipment of the last discovery by Corba Emporium's miners. His mutant mind now calculated the probabilities that this piece of technology from the long lost precursor empire was in actual working order, or, at least, in a state that allowed him to study it. The odds were in the region of one to the Billions. Even under the protection of the hardest zirconia shell in the Sol System and Ganimede's magnetosphere, the passage of time was sure to have damaged it.

(Image: World of Xpilar prompt)

Alfonso Iturría, the company's local Chief Engineer was in the Space Hub lobby, waiting to take him to the site, some twelve hundred clicks to the North, in the polar region. Iturría was tall and fat. Like all seventh generation Ganimedeans, his body was adapted to the local gravity. In his turn, Woo, had to use a pair of clunky lead boots to compensate for the quarter gravity less than the artificial point nine g he was used to at Coriolis. "-It's a great honour to finally meet you, Doctor Woo." Smiling broadly, he extended his huge hand for a handshake. -"Please, call me Steve, I dislike the distinction".- As he offered his hand in return. "-Pleased to meet you! Have you seen it yet? Does it work?"

Ever since mankind had successfully reverse engineered the magnetohydrodinamic drive from downed Centaury ships, in the early Twenty First Century of the last era, every human scientist's dream was to develop the technology to jump between the stars. All the theory was known and both diplomats and traders usually chartered the services of the Arcturians for their extra solar deplacements and parcels. Still, no Aliens would share it with Man. The secret for the Alcubierre Drive was still unreacheable. Discovering it would unleash mankind into the larger Universe. Also, Steve figured, if he worked it out, he could finally be released from his slavery bond to Demetrius Corba.

"-There is hope!"- said Iturría, again with his broad smile. "- The piece is untouched. Waiting for your appraisal." Good! Steve thought, considering the secrecy of it all had him leave his lab for an inhospitable Moon. Corba had decreed that given the case of any findings, only a short text with a couple of words was to be sent to Headquarters and he hadn't even seen any pictures yet. To his mind, came the number of times he had flown to Moons and Asteroids only to be faced with worthless pieces of junk. Again, his mind made calculations. Iturría look confident. Maybe he had a one out of twenty in his hands. He smiled back.

Having reached the company's airlock, the Ganimedean turned to Woo.- "We have to wait for a few minutes before boarding the surface transport." -"And why is that, may I ask?"- The boss has ordered that we bring a case of Sidra for the miners, as a prize for the finding. We are to wait for it's arrival." Woo said nothing, Knowing it was just Corba being Corba. The miners all descendend from Asturian colonists. It would be a cheap way to reward them for the greatest find mankind ever made. He calculated a one hundred percent probability of having to wait, at the least, for an extra hour.

- To be continued -
Link to Next Episode
Link to Novel beginning

20.02.25 - @hefestus

To find the other parts, that have been published in Freewriters, visit: https://steemit.com/created/justalittlebitofblue

This R2.03 chapter was excepcionally published in the World of Xpilar because the author found this contest's prompt suitable for use in the development of this story. @the-gorilla, I finally got to Xpilar... Lol.

Disclaimer:

"Just a little bit of blue" is a work of fiction. Every event, character, planet, continent, country, city, street, building, corporation, institution and product mentioned in this work is totally fictitious and has absolutely no relation to reality or real events, persons, planets, continents, countries, cities, streets, buildings, corporations or institutions. Everything is derived from the author's own imagination and no AI products were involved in the planning, writing or revision of this work. Additionally, the story happens in the future, in a time that has not yet come, so, any considerations about the possibility of the occurrence of facts or release of products mentioned herein, in the years to come, are due to mere coincidence and in no way derive from the author's inside or 3rd party knowledge of any country, organization or person's plans to implement actions or release said products into the market.

Just to be clear: All that's written here is fictional and originated by the author's own toughts about what may happen to come in the unknown future.