Tevun Krus #127 - Best of 2024

Titanic II - A Story by @jinnis

Titanic II

By jinnis

Prompt: Naming the newest starship "Titanic" seemed a bad idea to some. But it's just a name. What possibly could go wrong? (prompted by wdhenning).

After I signed for the Colony project, I went down to Pete's bar to celebrate. The owner greeted me with a nod and reached for a tall glass.

"No, Pete, today it must be something fancy."

He raised one of his bushy brows. "And what would the reason be? I know it's not your birthday."

"As good as. I'm joining the Titan expedition."

The other brow joined its companion. "Big news for sure. What shall it be, then?"

"One of your fancy drinks, please. Something with fresh fruit in it. I won't be able to enjoy that for years to come."

With a knowing grin, he mixed me a colourful cocktail decorated with a slice of lemon and pieces of pineapple floating in it. "Here you go, Cel. Enjoy."

I lifted my glass. "Thanks—and cheers."

"To your health. When do you leave?"

I sipped my drink and pulled a face. It was potent and too sweet for my taste. "Tomorrow."

"A bit on short notice, isn't it?"

It was, but I had slept over the decision twice. In fact, I had signed up at the last possible moment. I shrugged. "Guess I'm lucky they took me in so late. In the end, it depended on a medical examination. I've never been scanned so thoroughly before."

Pete gave me a lopsided grin. "If you think it's good for you, then I wish you all the best. We will miss you around here."

It was nice of him to say that, but I knew I wouldn't be missed by anyone. Since Will's departure, I had been a loner. Another sip of the fruity sweetness, the alcohol hitting my empty stomach hard. It wouldn't do to turn up for embarkation wasted. I turned the glass in my hands, let my fingers feel the smooth surface. This was it, my last drink on Mother Earth. I should have ordered my usual beer. Why did I tell Pete I was leaving? It would have been better to slip away. While he served another customer, I slid a bill on the counter, weighed it down with the half empty glass, and left.

🚀

The next morning, my head was clear, and I felt a sense of purpose while I stuffed my essentials into a duffel bag. Since I wouldn't return, there was no need to clean the tiny apartment or take precautions against theft. To the contrary—I left the door open and walked away into my new and hopefully better life.

🚀

"A beautiful sight, isn't it?" The female voice was soft, warm, and had an accent I couldn't place.

I nodded, without taking my gaze from the shiny bulk of the spaceship hanging in front of the space elevator's window. "It is—and huge. Is this the ship that's going to take us to Titan?"

"It must be. The others aren't big enough to house the four thousand of us for the next two years—and carry all the equipment we need to build the colony. To be honest, it can't be big and safe enough for me."

"Reckon you're right." I turned my head to get an impression of my conversation partner. About my age, with dark skin and laughing brown eyes, she had her black curls braided and adorned with colourful beads.

"Hey, I'm Amani." She reached out a hand.

"Celine, nice to meet you. You're also a colonist?"

"Yes, I am a pilot."