Brilliant Man/Vir Clarissimus (Latin)

Chapter 3 Crossing Boundaries

With each new era of scientific history, there marks a gradual, steady stride to the idea that the Asteroid Belt was a mistake. Originally meant to be the ninth cardinal planet in our System, astronomers theorized that under the orbiting pressure of its adjacent Mars and Jupiter, the would-be dwarf was crushed while in accretion, forever lost to the world.

In its New Testament, this story – and its protagonist – perform drastic change; after millennia, its material formed into a bulky, alien lane of rock and gas we know today as the Asteroid Belt. Thousands of ships, cruises, vessels, ad infinitum cross the border daily, and with its phenomenal height, to actually buckle down and top the rocky road is nearly impossible.

~

Eventually, the silhouette of this broken lane had entered their route. Since leaving Ceres, their vehicle was 'parked' on Neptune's Road, its benefit doubled as no riders – in other words, potential traffic or aerial trouble – were in sight and they saved gas; that was a deal.

When purchasing Spirit, Ozwald was surprised to meet a hybrid of cyber-truck – its sturdy material was that used to protect Albus Smirkings, the current President of Jupiter - and a downsized rocket. His vehicle boasted the expensive support of Mach, referring to a top-speed which crossed the Apollo barrier – Apollo 11's average of 5,900 mph when flying to the Moon. Spirit's was 6,500 mph speed.

Spirit also came equipped with wings – enabling earth flight – and in exterior openings, was alloyed with chronium, onyx, and nickel for added protection against Space.

Repeating these fortifications in his head, Ozwald looked ahead into the asteroids. A torpid cluster of the rocky anomalies came swinging in their direction, deceiving them with their apparent lack of speed while nearing 20 kilometers a second. Praying they wouldn't cross paths with any rocks, Ozwald returned to the safety of Neptune's road. Silk wove and slipped past these orbiting adversaries, drifting them away from the dark.

~

Continuing on their journey, a familiar ship with strong, chronium embellishments cut its hull through the sea of asteroids. The beautiful vessel - built to resemble one of the conquistadors' - was slightly rocked by the pulse of rocks who knocked on its sleek, crystalline deck.

"What's up, whiz?" asked Alicia, woken from her snooze, beginning to smile. Ozwald broke from the steering wheel, automatically parking them as he stopped to watch.

"That," he mumbled silently, his focus kept on the mechanical pterodactyl.

Alicia nodded, gazing out from her window-side. Cutting through the Asteroid Belt was the ship they'd seen briefly while in traffic. She humored Ozwald in her describing it "a block of feta shaped into an old pirate ship reinforced with chronium alloy." Its openings produced lots of steam, likely onyx fuel in excess. Whoever manned the vessel was wealthy, their character stretching to Man's overall waste.

~

The gravitation of Neptune's road carried them into the furthest stretches of the Universe. Creamy white, purple, and green Sharpie were scribbled onto Space, everything bleeding into each other and forming a thick, rich flamboyance.

Alicia had begun tape-recording her thought-monologues since the day they'd exited Ceres. Ozwald bought her the recorder at the energy shop, giving her the prompt "describe us." Although meant as a joke, he'd never forget her response:

"This cosmic world stretches out infinitely.. mapped by asteroids and the constellations once visible to Eartheans. As my astute comrade, Ozwald, and I - the beautiful Alicia - embark on this cosmic quest, we return hopeful that the next generation shall look upon their ancestors with the brilliance lost after our renaissance. So, to whoever wakes one day gifted with this monologue, I wish you a life-lasting infinity. Ad Astra!"