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Gloria continued to work on the electronics panel on the underside of the command bridge of the space station. She wanted to make sure everything was perfect before the shuttle docked with the station; her perfectionism was getting the best of her. As she worked, she couldn't help the feelings that were bubbling inside her. "You know better than to fall in love with your mission commander," she whispered to herself.
Despite her doubts about her relationship with Adrian, she couldn't help falling in love with him. Every time she told herself that it wouldn't work, her heart told her otherwise. There was something unique about Adrian Palmer. He was able to maintain his strong leadership, yet keep a quiet humility that everyone, with the exception of Donald Garrett, respected.
Her joy in thinking about Adrian was suddenly replaced with abhorrence for the man Adrian chose as his copilot for the mission. In spite of everyone else's opinion about Donald Garrett, Adrian still chose him to be the copilot. Donald reluctantly accepted even after being passed over as commander. He even vented to the press that the only reason Adrian was chosen to lead the mission was because Kevin Palmer helped design the new space shuttle.
"Gloria, we are on approach, so sit tight and don't get your panties in a bunch."
Gloria rolled her eyes at Donald's comment. He was a sexist pig, never showing her any respect, even though she could run circles around him, intellectually speaking. "Don't be a pig, Donald. Just don't crush me against the station with your bad piloting skills," she retorted.
She heard Donald grunt in anger on the other end of the comlink.
She finished her wiring job with her pliers, closed the panel, and placed the pliers back into the tool pocket of her spacesuit. She then turned and watched the silver shuttle slowly ascend to her position. Below the shuttle was Mars. She was enjoying the breathtaking scene for a few seconds, when she heard Scott Hauler's voice.
"Gloria, I'll extend the arm with the cable. Attach the cable to your belt, and I'll pull you into the payload-bay with the winch."
"Roger that," she replied.
She continued to watch as the payload-bay door opened. The large white satellite arm extended out toward her with the cable in tow. Once the arm reached her and let go of the cable, she grabbed it and attached it to the belt of her spacesuit. "Okay, Scott, ready when you are."