Launch day

“Well... at least you’ve got your dignity.” Chloe said as Janice was strapped in behind her.

“Shut... UP...” Janice said

“Look... just don’t blame the kid.” Regina Porter, the crew’s geologist said “Maxie was not to pleased when he found out ether.”

“Why are men always soo...”

“So what...?” Charles asked as the pad crew helped him into the capsule.

“Never mind...”

“You know, I’m getting the feeling you girls don’t like me.”

“What was the first clue?” Janice muttered.

“The fuck is eating her?”

“Her wife filed for divorce...” Regina said

“Because of me?”

“No, because he wanted to take up deep sea bungee jumping and I said no...”

“I don’t see why me being here isn’t a problem... I don’t date people who reek of attitude so badly you can smell it through a pressure suit.”

Janice began to try to undo her straps, cursing like a sailor.

“ENOUGH!” Amanda yelled.

“Janice... as much as it pains me, your role in this mission is expendable, his isn’t, so you’re going to act this way, I can have the pad crew unload you.”

“Fine...” she huffed.

“First interplanetary crewed mission has its first first, first near fist fight on the launch pad...” another, Becca Wallace, said.

“Shut up.” The other four said.