Europa Mon Amour

Chapter 9

The shuttle engines roared to life and we were on our way back up to the ship. Fortunately, it was still where we parked it.

“Mission Control is going to think that we’re crazy,” Marie said.

“Why?”

“No one is going to believe that an intelligent species lives in Europa’s ocean. It’s improbable.”

“But, evidently not impossible,” I said. “Let them decide what to call it.”

The shuttle slowly moved into orbit to rendezvous with Delta-1. I sent a signal to the ship to make the shuttle bay door open and slowly maneuvered the shuttle in using the thrusters. After the shuttle bay door closed, the bay filled up with air, which meant that we could finally remove our suits. In fact, we had to remove everything and be subjected to a powerful mist and air shower to remove any traces of Europa from our bodies.

The trip back through the tunnel to the crew compartment was more interesting than the first time. After living in close proximity for months, both Marie and I had abandoned any attempts to preserve modesty but it felt weird to be floating in zero gravity while completely naked, and like the teens that we were, we giggled.

After climbing down the ladder from the forward tunnel hatch, we took turns taking another mist shower and then after we got into more comfortable outfits that consisted of a tee, shorts and flip-flops, we went to the command station.

I typed a command: COMA, INITIATE THE RETURN SEQUENCE AT THE FIRST POSSIBLE TIME.

COMA replied: RETURN SEQUENCE ALPHA-2 HAS BEEN INITIATED AND WILL COMMENCE AT 0820.

I typed: COMA, ORIENT THE MAIN ANTENNA FOR COMMUNICATION WITH MISSION CONTROL.

COMA replied: COM WILL BE POSSIBLE IN FIVE MINUTES.

“We won’t get an answer back for a couple of hours at this distance,” I said.

“We don’t have a heavy date,” she said, grinning.

“We have a perpetual date,” I said, returning her grin.

“Are you going to give them the news?” she asked.

“Yeah. I’ll do it because they won’t expect me to know what I’m talking about.”

She chuckled.

The red COM light lit indicating that communications was possible. I sat up straight and tried not to snicker or smile. “This is Delta-1 reporting. Everything is functioning within normal parameters and we are both in good health. We completed the mission to explore Europa’s hidden ocean and have initiated the return sequence. We did not find anything alive until we descended to a depth of two miles and then we found all sorts of living creatures. At a depth of three miles, we discovered a larger aquatic animal that we think is intelligent. We will send the raw data from the submersible excursion on Europa now.”

I typed: COMA, SEND THE RAW RECORDING DATA FROM THE SUBMERSIBLE.

COMA replied: DATA TRANSMISSION HAS COMMENCED.

I leaned back. “That should give them something to talk about.”

“They’ll be talking about it for a long time,” she said. “Discovery of life in Europa’s ocean will change everything. You and I have discovered alien life and that means that life is probably everywhere.”

“I’m just glad that we got out of there alive. What we did was extremely dangerous.”

“Yes, but we made it. Now we have to endure a boring trip back.”