Rei's Spacewalk - Part 2 of 10

Five years before the events that were described in Rome's Evolution, Rei and Rome had left the Tabit system and were just starting out on their one-year trip to Deucado. At the time, they didn't know it would only take a year, they were planning on more like two-plus years. However, Rei had a burst of inspiration that allowed them to ultimately double their speed. This is a little vignette about Rei's spacewalk which facilitated a vastly shortened journey. This is part 2 of 10:

      “There’s a magneto,” Rei answered. He saw Rome’s confusion with the term. “It’s a charging device,” he said, “built into each section. There’s a permanent magnet and you just crank it around and it charges up a capacitor. When there’s enough charge, you let it loose and the chemicals explode.”
     “You are going to make an explosion?” Rome asked. Now she was genuinely worried.
     “No, no, no, nothing like that,” Rei said. “It’s more like a strip that sizzles. When it’s done, the sections separate.”
     “I would like to remind you that your ship is almost 1400 years old. Do you really believe that the thermite reaction would still be viable after such a long period of time?” MINIMCOM asked.
     “Yeah,” Rei said. “In theory, it would work after 10,000 years. As long as the permanent magnet and magneto can crank up a charge.”
     “Rei, this worries me,” Rome said, her breath catching.
     “It’ll be OK,” Rei said. “We have everything we need. Come on, Rome. It means we could get to Deucado in… how long, MINIMCOM?”
     “It should reduce our travel time to well under one year,” replied the autopilot computer installed on the other tug.
     “Rome, it’s worth it, don’t you think?” Rei asked plaintively.
     “I do not know,” Rome said. “Space-walks are inherently dangerous.”
     “There’s nothing to it,” Rei said. “I just go out, crank a handle, press a button and I come back.”
     Rome lowered her head and looked at Rei through the top part of her eyes. Her very demeanor shouted skepticism but her words undermined it.
     “If it will save us that much time, then I agree it is worth it,” she said hesitantly. “Very well.”
     “Great,” Rei said. He unbuckled the high-g harness and jumped up. “Come on and get me ready.”
     “What do you mean get you ready?” Rome asked as she unbuckled. “I am coming with you,” she said as she stood up.
     “No,” Rei said. “You can’t. You have to stay onboard the ship.”
     “Why?” Rome asked, fear seeping into her voice again.
     “Because,” Rei said. “We can’t both be in space at the same time. If something happens to me…”
     “What!” Rome exclaimed. “What are you saying?”
     “Nothing,” Rei said, trying to defuse the steadily growing tension. “It’s just that we don’t need to endanger…” As soon as he said the word, he knew it was a mistake. Rome leaped over at him and grabbed him around the neck.

Uh-oh. Rei put his foot in his mouth big time. How will he get back on track? Tomorrow.