4 Andromeda
“Now on approach to Asteroid Station Armidale.”
“Finally!” Andromeda Zimmerman stated. The journey had
taken too long in her opinion. “Five days!” That had included a brief layover
at the first Station and an overnight stay at the Lunar Station.
“Please remain seated for docking.”
Andromeda grumbled.
Station Director Beryl Davies waited for the student to
emerge from the ship after docking. She wondered why Andromeda had been chosen.
She didn’t exactly have a good reputation. The door opened, allowing said
student through. Her girly style looked out of place. ‘A suit with pink
accents, really?’ she asked herself.
“So, you’re going to show me around the station?”
Andromeda asked, with a twirl of one of her pigtails.
“Of course.”
“Good! I’d like to see what the fuss is all about. What
makes it better than the other two stations?”
Davies sighed. “The station’s facilities are state of the
art. The other stations were last upgraded five years ago.”
“There’s probably not much difference.”
“I agree that the overall design of this station is the
same as the first, but it has 20% more volume,” Davies said as they approached
the elevator.
“Doesn’t the Lunar station only have 10% more volume?” “I
would have included another 2%,” Andromeda said. The sameness only added
to her boredom. She was pleased to be the first student there, but she’d rather
be back on Earth, studying with her friends.
“That was considered, but it apparently was out of
scope,” Davies said. She pressed the button for the Concourse level.
Andromeda produced a short squeak. “Too expensive you
mean!”
Davies sighed, “Yes.”
Andromeda noticed that that they were now under some
gravity. ‘We’re getting closer to the torus,’ she thought, as she twirled a
pigtail. She let go of it, annoyed at the habit.
“Nervous?” Davies asked.
“What makes you think that?” Andromeda asked nervously.
“That you were chosen over others.”
“Yes! Just because my ancestors were first at the other
two!”
“You didn’t want to come?” Davies asked in surprise.
“No. What can be done here, can be done at the other
stations, or on Earth at the university.”
“That’s certainly true, but you’re having an experience.”
‘That’s will give me an advantage,’ Andromeda thought.
“That’s true.” The door opened, allowing the two of them out into the
Concourse. “It does look identical! Not even any difference in the colour
scheme!” she complained.
