It was very late at night, it was hot, when their friend entered their quarters. Their friend had been told they were welcome any time. Yet again, the cooling systems had gone down and their friend couldn't sleep. Supplies, including spare parts, wouldn't be in until next week.
"You were right, the jury-rig didn't work. I thought I could just bodge it together to save us some time on spares that last supply run."
"Didn't work, did it?"
"Now what do we do?"
"I TOLD you we always need to keep at least two more spares! You're lucky I, at least, prepare!" -- Anon Guest
Planetside on a world with a breathable atmosphere and little to no airborne pathogens that counted[1] had some welcome differences. For example, not having to be sure your habitat was hermetically sealed with a scrubber airlock system attached.
On the downside, this world was a bit warm. Which meant the environment controls had some work to do to make the new inhabitants comfortable at night.
Such is life at three in the morning at Explorer Base Camp, Planet Toasty. With Dean once more knocking on the door for Burh's personal quarters. Burh was so used to this by now that she was already awake before the first rap sounded. She opened the door to see Dean in their Skins, just about dripping with perspiration.
"Damnit, Dean."
"Yeah I busted it again. The kludge didn't work. You told me so. Can I park under your breeze again?"
"Tomorrow," vowed Burh. "We are re-orienting the passive air intake for your quarters and flakk the aesthetic you cherish so darn much. Have we had enough of a pretty habitat that doesn't do what it's supposed to do?"
"...yes, powers damnit..." Dean groaned as they flopped onto the very strategically-placed mattress. "Ugly but works is the new beautiful."
"Good. And now I go use the spares that I ordered because I knew you didn't. What's the golden rule?"
"One in, one in repairs, and one for emergencies," grated Dean. "I get it, I get it. Stop using the hammer."
It was a good thing one of them was organised enough to plan for emergencies like this one. The heat was 'tolerable', but there was only so much that Humans like them were willing to tolerate.
Burh strapped on her repair tools, and got out the spare unit to fix the cooling system in Dean's quarters. They still wouldn't hear the end of it for at least another Standard Month[2].
[1] There are always airborne pathogens, whether or not they can do anything to you is the crux of the matter.
[2] Which, it must be noted, is forty days long.
[AN: ENORMOUS thankyou to Sarah Burhman, who has become the competent Burh in today's tale. My kittycats thank you for their next soft food supply ;) ]
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / sirylok]
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