Blur

Chapter One: Headed Straight for Earth

I put my letter away in my jacket’s pocket after folding it several times. I look up at the massive spaceship before me and smile knowing that I will be commanding it towards Earth. My four colleagues walk up and stand next to me, each staring up at the ship with anxiety and eagerness. I look at each of them, studying their faces closely and their emotions mixed within them.            

"Well, here we are.” I say, taking in a breath and letting it out loudly.                                

They each nod in reply, not one actually saying a word, each probably too filled up with anxiety to talk.

“We should probably go now; it’s going to be a very long journey just to get there.” I continue and they nod in agreement to our departure.

I yell at the workers to ready the ship’s controls and walk in as the doors open with my colleagues behind me. I stare in awe as I look at all the controls in the ship’s cockpit and notice that there are six chairs total in the room. Since there are only five of us going on this voyage, there will be an empty seat.

“Well look at this!” One of the two females in our group exclaims gleefully. “This is spectacular, absolutely stunning!” I think her name is Bird or something along those lines but I’m not too sure. She turns to me with a big grin on her face. “Hi, I’m Blue Jay, you must be Commander Blur.” 

“That I am, it’s a pleasure to have you on board Ms. Blue Jay. You should get to your seat now, we will be launching shortly.” I reply coolly, trying to keep my excitement contained. As I sit in my own seat I am met with two others who are sitting on either side as me. I introduce myself to the other girl sitting to my left.

She states her name in reply. “I’m Eavesdrop; it’s good to finally meet you Commander. I should hope you will lead us to our destination without any trouble?”

“Yes, hopefully indeed.”                                                                          

A hand is brought to my face and I look up from my seat to meet the black pits of one of the two boys. “Shifter, at your service Commander.”

“Well I’m glad to see that you’re ready Shifter. If you’ll please take your seat then we should be leaving in a moment.” I politely reply while shaking his hand then going back to my business as he leaves.

“Well, well, well, we meet again Blur.” The voice came from none other than my close friend Vision.

“That’s Commander Blur to you now, unless you want to get kicked off the ship!” I reply trying to keep the smile from creeping on my lips.

“Oh, pardon my rudeness Commander, but it would be very appreciated if you would start the damn ship now!” Vision laughs and begins to turn several knobs.

 “Oh, right, yes. We will begin our mission now people!” I yell over at the other three as I flick a switch and prepare my index finger to push the button that will launch us into space. “Do you all have your host’s letter with you?”

They all nod in reply showing their envelopes containing their letter. “Well I trust that you keep those in a safe place because I will not be held responsible for your items lost.” I look down at the workers through the windshield and they give me the sign that it’s safe to launch. I yell out that we’re launching now and push the red button, instantly feeling the ship driving at maximum speed into the infinite oblivion called space.

* * *

 After several months of nonstop driving through empty space I finally see it in the distance: Earth. I immediately alert the others that we have found it. I twist a few knobs to slow the speed down and turn on the radio, speaking into the microphone to whoever is listening on the other line. “Hello? Is anybody down there, hello?”