Blunt

Before The Voyage Ends

"So are you single, cap'n?"

The man behind her smelled like a strong cup of espresso. She flipped a few switch and sighed.

"Yes."

"And you came from, what, Kansas?"

"Yes, Fred. Go back to your seat."

The digital screen in front of her whirred and showed a complicated equation. Her eyes skipped over the first few lines and settled on a row of numbers.

"Hate to break it to you, cap'n, but I'm single also. Let's match sometimes, eh?"

"For the hundredth time, no."

"Why not?"

"Just no."

"We're both interested in space. I bet not much guys who hit on you lile space."

"So?"

"You're alone. I'm alone. We're both in this expedition."

"..."

"It'll be fun, cap'n. Just sayin'."

"What if I give you only one chance?"

The words slithered out her mouth faster than she could respond to an incoming crash against a huge meteor. It surprised both of them, no doubt.

"I'll take that as a yes."

Damn him and his charming, annoying smile.

"It's a no."

A small planet - or a dwarf planet? - came into view. Its surface was pitch black, with white spots spluttered against the smooth substance. The screen flickered and confirmed that the mini planet was safe to land on.

"It's..."

"When this voyage ends, cap'n, I'll take the both of us out for a fancy dinner or a lunch. Whichever you prefer."

"Frederick Mason, I order you to go back to your assignated seat."

"I'll pick you up, cap'n."

He trotted to his seat, his light blond hair still reflected on the mirror in front of her forehead. She pushed a few buttons and pulled up a small lever next to her armseat.

The microphone buzzed. She hated the buzzing sound. Of any electronic device, actually.

"...GMF aero-265, landing on 167-81-086..."

They had told her they were looking for the Small Apple. She had been told that the Small Apple might be the answer to the big question the space institution had been asking for a few decades.

They had told them the Small Apple was there, around 167-81-086-150.

She agreed to lead the expedition for the sake of getting the first glimpse of the Small Apple. They told her it was nothing special, much like a dead star.

The spaceship lowered itself as the rocket boosts stabilized their trajectories to smoothen the landing. It felt as if all the stress limped back into her veins, multiplying the burdens on her shoulders.

"...300, 250, 200..."

Around them, dusts and pebbles flew in chaos. She glanced and caught sight of something weird.

"...100, 50..."

Shining white rocks, in sizes smaller than that of a marble ball, joined the aerial mayhem, once in while propelling themselves up and crashing against dark grey dirts.

"...landing successful."

The machine beeped and clicked before releasing a confirming cry. She tapped on the small screen and turned off the safety belts. "GMF aero-265 crews to land on surface. Earth time 08:56."

She signalled the rest of her crews to get into their space suits. Another thing she hates. Cramped, hot, heavy space suits.

"Cap'n, we're ready to go."

She nodded. "GMF aero-265 crews ready to land."

The door of the ship clicked and opened itself up. She took the first place in front of her comrades and stepped out.

"Holy..."

The Small Apple looked like a dead star, they had said. It was nothing special, but it was special for them.

"I can think out a romantic scene right here, cap'n."

She jabbed her elbow backwards.

"No."

It was either they landed on the Small Apple, or that they landed on a completely different dwarf planet.

It was no dead star. It was more like a dead planet, with masses of small, extremely tiny stars attracted to it, pommeled on the ground, glowing white hot light.

A few miles from them, a cluster of violet pond glowed. Purple and violet and all shades of pink radiated on the surface, the same white stones lay inside on the concaving surface.

The crews was too stunned to speak.

She immediately reached out for her microphone.

"Boston? This is no Small Apple."