.
Another capsule opened up with a characteristic click, and I recognized Lisa Small, our radio engineer and co-pilot, endowed with a bright appearance and equally brilliant mind.
“Lisa Small, there you are,” Thomas Stein greeted the girl, peering into a cluster of displays which, as I just noticed, was connected to our capsules.
“Where are we?” Lisa inquired, turning her petite nose in my direction.
“Something is probably wrong with the ship, so they must have postponed the flight,” I shrugged.
Two capsules opened at once, and we saw the surprised face of John Finn, our captain, and the dour expression belonging to our biologist and surgeon, Boris Leonov. Finn promptly climbed out of his capsule and got straight down to business.
“Why was the flight postponed?” he asked Dr. Stein.
“I'm only the doctor,” he replied, and I noticed his strange (possibly, German) accent again.
The door opened, and a small chestnut-haired woman with sharp facial features and attentive brown eyes entered the room.
“You'll get your answers later, but not from me,” the doctor continued. “Ah, this is my assistant, Sheila Hill, she'll show you to your rooms. Take a couple of hours' rest, then we'll get together again and have someone answer your questions. Excuse me, I have lots of data to process regarding your condition. Conservation is a complex and unconventional procedure.”
I got out of the capsule, Small and Cheng did the same. I felt quite normal now. Leonov was still sitting, he was clearly interested in Stein's equipment.
“What's this?” he asked. “Why was the Toshiba analyzer replaced?”
“I repeat, all questions will be answered later,” Thomas Stein replied. “I have work to do. Treat the situation professionally.”
“Boris, get up,” Finn said. “We’ll figure everything out soon enough.”
With an exaggerated grunt, Leonov got out of the capsule and joined the group.
“Please, follow me,” Sheila Hill pointed at the door.
Finn looked at us, then left the room. I made way for Lisa and Ji, then followed. Leonov hesitated, trying to take a closer look at the medical equipment.
There was nothing remarkable in the corridor, except for a huge blond man with short-cropped hair. He was standing against the wall, powerful arms crossed over his chest. The blond wore a uniform, but not an astronaut uniform. He was in khaki fatigues, and there was a holster on his belt.