Ch 6
Jake’s COM pinged.
“About time.” He said.
“What’s that?” Bogs asked. “Secret note from Dr. Lauren?”
“Ha, ha.” Jake said unenthused. “It’s data from yesterday. Though I doubt I’d be able to send secret messages even if I wanted to. Control monitors so much, I don’t even think I could get away with muttering to myself. No doubt they screen all of our COM messages. We’re always watched here.”
“Not unless you’re dead.” Bogs said. Jake raised an eyebrow. “That’s the only time Control will stop monitoring your COM, is when you’re dead.”
Jake gave a shrug of agreement.
“Well even though I’m sure I wouldn’t have died from a little excursion outside, Control made us use a drone. This is the imaging data and measurements we got back. At least part of it. Lots of these readings are censored.”
“What’s there to censor when taking pictures of a wall?” Bogs asked.
“I don’t’ know. But every time the feed looks as if it will lead out to the open, it get’s cut off.”
“So you aren’t missing any data you are actually using then?”
“No. It doesn’t look like it. Though I really would have liked to have more. I can extrapolate whet I need to, but it will take longer than just having it in the first place.”
“I’d bet they did it to save memory. You aren’t the only one who needs Control resources you know. I doubt they are trying to hide something from us.”
“I’m not saying they are making soylent green out there or something. I’m just curious as to what’s with all the trouble.”
“Well, if you’d like. I can try to sneak myself out on my next shift and take a looksy for you.”
“No don’t do that. I don’t want to get you in trouble.”
“Oh please, what are they gonna do? Shoot me? Honestly, it’ll be no trouble. I’ve got an evening shift coming up in a couple of hours. It’ll break up a bit of the monotony.”
“Haven’t you just come back from the job? Why are you going out again in a couple hours?”
“Probably because I have about 170 miles of nano-wiring to go over.”
“Sheesh, that sound horrendous. Honestly I think I’d rather drink molten lead then-“
Jake saw his roommate’s unenthused face. “Sorry. But hey, at least you got the luck of the Irish, right?”
“I’m a Scottsman, you muddle oaf! Honestly, a grown man like yourself ought to know the difference by now-“
Bogs noticed the subtle smirk on Jake’s face. “Aye, you’re just trying to push my buttons now, aren’t ya?”
YOU ARE READING
The Oasis
Science FictionJake Summers knew he would be taking the ride of his life when he became part of the Ares VII mission to complete the colonization of the red planet, but things take a turn for the worst as curiosity gets the better of him, and Jake begins looking f...
