Second scene for “They Return to Earth”
Breakfast the next morning was a groggy, gloomy affair. Neither of them had slept well. Friste had tossed and turned, and Adelka woke with each of his movements, worried about him and ready to talk if he wanted to talk. But he didn’t, and he didn’t talk through breakfast either. He just read the news on his pad, without comment, without retort. This morning, Adelka gave him space and let him have his silence. They dressed for their workshifts, she in her gray and blue uniform of the Protectors and he in his green and gray coveralls of Restoration. They did manage a kiss before they departed, and Friste uttered a promise to pick up dinner. This disappointed Adelka as it meant not socializing with others this evening.
Friste went to his section office to get his work list and pick up the appropriate tools and supplies. Rigel, the Restoration section chief, was surprised to seem him. “Friste, good morning and condolences. I didn’t expect to see you this Cycle. I take it you didn’t see my message.”
“Good morning, Rigel. No, I didn’t read my messages this morning.”
“I suppose that’s reasonable, all things considered. I saw your mother’s obituary and wrote to tell you that you could have what ever time off you needed.”
Friste frowned and shook his head. “No, I don’t need any time off. I’d just like my work list.”
“Ah,” Rigel said, “you’ll have to give me a moment. I really didn’t expect to see you this Cycle. Give me a hectoSecond.” He went into his office.
Friste gathered up his basic utility belt while others came in to get their assignments and things. Most just nodded to him but a few came by to offer condolences. Friste replied with “It’s OK” or “I’m fine” but never with a simple “Thank you.” Then Shadar came in and went straight to Friste. “Oh, Friste, I’m so sorry for your loss. Revati and I missed the two of you at dinner. Adelka messaged us to let us know about your mother. Do let us know if there’s anything we can do.”
Friste stood, considering his best friend for a minute, gathering his thoughts and keeping his emotions at bay. “That’s nice of you to say, Shadar. I’m good. Everything is taken care of. Adelka and I got a quiet table at the Basil Bistro last evening. Their new menu is worth checking out. I thought the pesto tortellini salad was quite good.”
Shadar held Friste by the shoulders, looking him straight in the eye and gave a wry smile. “Good thing you have Adelka to look after you. You take care. I’ll see you at lunch?” Friste gave a nod and Shadar went off to check out his work list and prepare for his assignments.
After longer than a hectoSecond, Rigel came back out with Friste’s work list. “Here you go, Friste. This should keep you busy.” Friste looked over the list. It was mostly simple repairs on Levels 3 and 4 that an apprentice could do. But it was in the agricultural and food processing areas, so Friste didn’t complain. He gathered some specialty tools and a bunch of spare parts and got to work.
He took a lift inward to Level 4 to start his work list. The lower gravity felt good, and he thought about retirement. He’d been considering retirement for a while now. He didn’t actually like the thought of it; he liked fixing things and, therefore, liked his job. He imagined living on the retirement level and keeping his utility belt and tools with him. Then he could work outward a few levels without having to go as far outward as the main level. His bones would appreciate the consistent lower gravity. Of course, Phoebe was a kiloCycle younger than he and didn’t want to retire yet. Maybe in another kiloCycle. Then, Friste recalled, he would be the same age Mother was when she retired.
The lift doors slid open to Level 4, but Friste found his feet frozen to the floor and his chest constricted. He took a couple deep breaths to shake off the emotional blast that the memory of Mother had triggered. Only then did he step off the lift. He read over his work list and walked down the corridor to his first task. Once occupied with work, Friste found it easy to concentrate on what was in front of him and didn’t have another triggering moment. He was disappointed when he finished fixing a water condenser in the hydroponics bay as it was the last thing on his work list. But then he checked his chronometer and smiled. Between Rigel and the computer algorithm for assigning tasks, he had completed his tasks with just enough time to return his utility belt and tools to the section office and finish his workshift in the allotted two deciCycles.
Friste dropped off his work things at the section house and went to his suite to change for exercise. During this Cycle, his scheduled routine was cardio. When he walked in the gym, there was a stationary bike open among the row of them and all the riders were busily chatting away. That was Friste’s preferred cardio activity, but he suddenly didn’t feel like it. He spotted an open stair climber without a buzz of socializing around it and claimed that. Not doing stairs often, he found it quite challenging and exhausting, but he felt good for doing it. Afterward, he went back to his suite to change and shower, and then went off to the commissary for lunch.
