Home Planet // Joshler

Part 4

Two updates in one day because I'm not joking when I say I have no life so here you go.

The next leg of the journey was a lot less gruelling with Josh to keep him company.

Tyler timed Josh's sleeping patterns so he knew when Josh would wake. It was eight hours exactly every time. Josh would say goodbye to Tyler and eight hours later he would say hello.

He slept in short increments and when Josh woke they would talk until he couldn't hold a connection anymore.

Josh told Tyler all about Earth and the creatures that lived there. He said they were very robotic in a way. That everyone automatically smiled and said hello even if they didn't know someone. Josh said they were interesting but Tyler didn't see how. They sounded fake.

Josh explained to Tyler that the things they used to do as kids played a huge part in the culture of the people of Earth. He told Tyler that a group of people that could make 'music' were idolized and that some of them even made noises like Josh used to with the sticks he found.

Tyler liked listening to Josh talk about it. He was so excited and intrigued and it made Tyler happy that Josh wasn't in a prison after all. He didn't deserve that. He was too radiant and positive to be in a dark cold prison.

Tyler steered his vessel through the cosmos and finally the day had come. The day they had both been anticipating. Tyler jumped up from his chair and switched off the warp speed. The ship slowed to a halt and then began crawling forward slowly.

"Josh I think I'm here!" Tyler cheered.
"I see the planet. The big striped one. What's its name again?"

Oh that's umm.. Jupiter! They call it Jupiter. It was named after a mystical being in one of their stories. What else do you see?

Tyler squinted as the ship passed the giant planet. He powered forward until he could see the small red planet that reminded him of Josh's hair. He smiled
"I see the red one Josh. It reminds me of the color of your hair." Tyler giggled.

That's Mars. You're so close Ty. Earth is blue. Well mostly. It's got bits of green and brown too and some white.

Tyler flew the ship for a while longer until the planet Josh had described was in view.
"Josh I see it! I'm going to scan the planet to find a place to land. Do you know the name of where you are? Maybe the Portable Viewer can identify it."

Yeah it's called uh Ohio I think. Yeah that's it Ohio. Columbus, Ohio.

These creatures had a strange language. Tyler turned to the Portable Viewer and typed in a few codes. A layout of the planet ahead appeared on the screen. Tyler spoke into the transmitter.
"Columbus, Ohio"

The layout shifted and zoomed in on a small shape in the center of what looked like a very large island to Tyler. So strange. Tyler typed fast, fingers dancing across the keyboard. He had to find an open place to land. Somewhere that was scarcely inhabited.

Did you find it?

Josh's voice came back after a while. Tyler's eyebrows knitted together in concentration as he scanned the screen.
"Ah ha! I've got it! There is a large field. It's empty. I can land there."

I know where that is! It's the only empty field around here. I-I can meet you there. Tyler. I didn't think this would ever happen.

Tyler smiled holding back tears.
"Me either Josh. I'm gunna prepare for landing now. I'll see you soon okay? Look for me."

I will. See you soon Tyler.

"See you soon Josh."

His voice was gone and Tyler jumped out of his chair and danced all around the cockpit of the ship cheering. He was so happy he couldn't contain himself. For seven years he had felt down on himself and hopeless and now finally it was all going to be okay.