Telstar 4

Chapter 7.

Chapter 7.

In Med Bay Beth was obviously shocked at the extent of the burn Arno received from the plant.

"I've never seen a burn go quite as deep as this before," she said as she sprayed and dressed the wound. "I'll take a blood test and check for toxins but it will take a few days to get the results. Do you want full spec antibiotics and antivenom, Arno?"

"I don't know that it's going to help much but I guess I'll give it a go. Put in some pain shots too, okay."

"Sure, but it's all going to knock you out. Do you want to get someone else down to the lab? Thom, perhaps?"

"Yeah, send Thom and ask him to check out the soil sample. If we don't do it quickly it might disperse or weaken."

Beth flipped a switch and sent out the announcement before Arno could change his mind.

Sia was inspecting the Rangers, replacing depleted equipment so they could be ready to go out again at a moments notice. Riley, Tony and Harvey were also there. The two guests were quite happy to do the cleaning tasks that were assigned to them. The morning's trip, if anything, had increased their enthusiasm for the Colony.

"I'd give anything to stay up here, you know." Riley was clearly besotted with the place.

"Ever heard the saying 'Careful what you wish for......'"

Harvey cautioned.

"Or it might come true!" finished Tony with a laugh.

"Listen." Sia held a finger to her lips. "What the hell is that noise?"

In the now quiet vehicle bay a rapid drumming noise could be heard, getting both faster and louder by the second. Sia moved to the outer door and peered through the observation glass.

"Rain! Well, something like it anyway. It's torrential."

"Another first for Telstar 4. Looks like you guys have brought us some luck at last. Since this place has been established we haven't experienced either plants or rain until today." Harvey gave a big grin.

"I'd better get on to Med Bay, see if Arno has come round yet. He'll be real sick if he isn't one of the first to see this." Sia led the way out of the vehicle bay.

Arno was sitting up drinking some sort of foul looking concoction when Sia got to the Med Bay.

"Hey, Arno! How's the wrist?"

He held his arm out. "Sore, but nothing I can't put up with. What's brought you here, Sia? Or is this a social call....."

"Have you seen outside?" When Arno shook his head Sia continued. "Come on, then. I've got a surprise to show you."

There were no outside observation panels in Med Bay so Sia and Arno made their way up the corridor to the Ops Centre. There the outside observation panels were on three out of four walls. Even though she had some idea what to expect, the sight that greeted them took Sia's breath away. It looked as though the entire Colony was inside a giant car-wash. The water streamed down all three of the panels with equal force.

"That sure is some rain," Sia said.

"It certainly is. And if it keeps up like this for long it's going to mean trouble."

Sia gave Arno a questioning look.

"Have you seen any evidence of rivers? Or even lakes? Where the hell is all this water going to go?"

"You mean we're going to get flooded out?" Sia couldn't help noticing how alarmed she sounded.

"We shouldn't, not the way this place is constructed. But I just have no idea what is going to happen to all the water if it doesn't let up soon."