Paphos

Thank you for reading this chapter of the Paphos Series

Chapter 1

Austin was gnawing on his lower lip, there was something about planet entry that always set his nerves ablaze.  From the look of things, his eleven year old daughter was nervous too.  Or she was mad.  He couldn’t really tell, and she wouldn’t tell him.  She didn’t have anything to be mad about, so she must be nervous, like he was.  Well, he could at least not look nervous in front of her.  “Don’t be nervous,” he told her.  Austin really wanted to think of something more reassuring than that, but somehow, that was all he could come up with.

His eleven year old daughter, Carolina, glared at the bulkhead next to him.

“It’s not so bad, landing is really easy, almost fun,” he said, trying to sound convincing.  Still she glared.  Maybe he was wrong, maybe she really was upset about something.  He hated guessing these things.  Her mom never had to guess, she just knew the answer, always.  Without a better option, he decided to get her water and if nothing else, keep her from being thirsty.  Austin filled a cup of water from the spout and brought it to her, sloshing the tiniest bit.  They both needed a break, and that wouldn’t happen until after this planet entry, until after finally touching down on Paphos.  This was cabin fever, that’s all.

“You should drink this, might be awhile, in case you get thirsty,” Austin said.  Carolina ignored him.  Austin exhaled, a long and slow deliberate move that kept him from getting upset.  Her mother would know what to say.  “Don’t princesses like water?”

“Ugh,” Carolina rolled her eyes.  Frustration swelled.  Didn’t she like princesses?  She used to, he knew that much.  Austin rubbed his head, this would only be for a few months, he could handle it.  He had to handle it.  At the end of the calendar summer, he and his research team would pack and head home, and her mother would be well enough to take her back.  And as soon as he thought it, he regretted it.  He wanted this time with her, he wasn’t as involved as he should be, and this was his chance to make up for it.  He swallowed the water and stowed the cup.

“Everyone finish strapping in, the first part is choppy, lot’s of stratospheric wind,” their pilot and team leader Dmitry said over the intercom.  The cruiser they were in was much smaller than the deep space Orbiter that brought them here, which would circle above them until they returned.  Carolina did look nervous.  Personally, he hated re-entry too. 

“We better get buckled,” he said fussing with her belts and latches.  He carefully slipped the helmet on over her head and secured it, being certain not to pinch her neck or yank her long chocolate hair.  As soon as he was done with her he strapped himself in and felt the first wave of nervousness.

“I’m thirsty,” Carolina said.

Austin gripped his armrests.  “It’s a little too late for that now honey,” Austin said.

“But I wasn’t thirsty until right now,” she pleaded.

“Wait until we land.”

“Please?”

“I said no!”

The cabin grew very quiet, and when he stole a look from the corner of his eye she looked hurt, even through the helmet.  With a grunt he unlatched himself.  Artificial gravity hadn’t kicked off yet, he could do this.  He filled another cup of water.

Fumbling with her helmet he ignored the countdown, but he felt it in the back of his mind as he wrestled with her visor.  He thrust the water at her and just as she was about to drink she made a sour face.

“There’s a floaty.” 

“Drink it anyways.”

“I’m not thirsty,” she said as she crossed her arms.