The Icarus Program (Chapter 20 - Part 4)

[Drethon]

Chapter 20 - Part 4
 
    “OK, first loosen shoulder straps,” Lizfal instructed herself aloud, her brow furrowed in concentration. She tugged at the harness straps over her shoulders. “Urf, okay, loose. Next, turn central release clockwise and push…” Lizfal grunted as her fingers slipped while trying to turn. “Come on… push… no wait, turn counterclockwise and push.”
    The shoulder straps popped loose with a satisfying click, but Lizfal was still firmly held to the seat by leg straps. “Locate leg release tabs…” Lizfal muttered, her tongue poking out slightly as she concentrated. “They are… somewhere… yes, there!” She fumbled for a moment before realizing her mistake. “Oh, right. Loosen the leg straps before releasing.” With a pop, the leg straps came free and Lizfal jumped up from the seat with a triumphant grin.

    “Twenty five seconds,” said Bill, looking at his stopwatch with a crooked smile.
    “Unacceptable,” Bob stood with his arms crossed, looking unsatisfied. “In case of a fire, passengers need to be able to exit the harness in no more than ten seconds,” Bob shook his head. “Preferably less.” Bob turned on his heel and walked off. “Bill, figure out how to make a harness release easier to use.”
    After Bob had walked off, Lizfal dusted herself off, and Bill handed her a one hundred credit note. “That was some very fine acting there, Lizfal.” Bill winked at Lizfal and tipped an imaginary hat.
    “Thanks,” smiled Lizfal. “That harness is really a simple set of logical steps, a lot like a Kiburs Cube. I could’ve gotten out in under ten seconds if I wanted to, but I wouldn’t want to see a panicked civilian passenger trying to release that harness in an emergency.” Lizfal glanced at the note and frowned. “You didn’t have to pay me though, I was happy to help.”
    “It ain’t a bribe or nothing,” chuckled Bill. “You just saved me days of arguing with Bob. That’s worth every credit.” Bill leaned against the wall with a conspiratorial expression. “See, I’ve been tinkering on a squeeze release mechanism for the harness. Simple as pie, yet hard to trigger by accident. It’d release the whole harness with one easy motion. Bob, though…” Bill glanced off in the direction Bob had walked off, shaking his head. “He took one look at my diagrams, declared it ‘insecure’, and went off and designed that mess.” Bill waved at the harness dismissively.
    “And now you are free to finish your own design,” Lizfal’s smile took on a mischievous tint.
    “Exactly!” Bill chuckled. “Thanks to your fine performance, Bob ain’t gonna be breathing down my neck.
    “Always glad to help,” Lizfal finally folded up the note and tucked it away. “Make sure to let me know when the new harness needs testing, I’d like to see how much better your work is.”
    “You’re the first on my list,” Bill grinned.

Edited Thursday at 12:20 PM by Drethon