VVVVVV Shorts (Dead)

Freefall

//////7 years ago, 2009//////

  The crew of seven huddled inside the cockpit, adjusting the controls. They were selected for a training program, so that they may one day explore the deep cosmos. But for now, it was this instead.

The smaller than normal spaceship was designed to exit the gravity tunnel quickly and efficiently, so that it could safely warp out of the dimension into the void. It was divided into 4 sections: the aft, which held the SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters), another that would also detach to propel the spacecraft, a third that would hold the engine and the fuselage needed for space travel along with the cockpit, which was detachable from the rest of the space shuttle, and the first with a warp drive.

  The night earlier had been unusually at freezing temperatures, and it was still cold, hence why the glass was fogged.

  "Mission control to 099, do you read?"

  "Loud and clear, sir," Vermilion responded, speaking into the ship's communicator, which also happened to be synched to the radios in their helmets. "Ready to proceed with launch."

  A pause. Viridian looked over his shoulder to see the other 5 members, who pulsed with either excitement, anxiety, or both. He knew he himself had the mixture. His best friend, on the other hand, was filled with rush and rush only.

  They tensed and waited when they heard the countdown begin.

  At 10, the 7 villi's breaths grew slow and deep to keep calm.

  At 9, the fire burning.

  8

  7

  Before 6, they heard the engines roar and come to life.

  5

  4

  3

  2

  1

  And at 0, they all closed their eyes except Vermilion, who was staring up. Even though he was fresh out of college (that's what he told them) and the youngest, he had a quick and brave mind. That and his fascination with space travel was why he was chosen.

  They felt the ship taking off, traveling at Mach 2, from what they were told earlier.

  "Hey Viridian," The red villi went, grinning. "Open your eyes and enjoy the view."

  He obeyed and looked out the window. "Yeah, I guess speeding through faster than the speed of sound is pretty fascinating." He said, somewhat disinterested. "You guys ok back there?"

  A chorus of nervous "yes"s responded, and he relaxed a bit, looking foreword to traveling space.

  The next thing he heard was ringing.

  He looked at the others, whose mouths were agape with wild eyes. When the ringing faded out, he heard screaming that quickly stopped.

  'Oh God,' the slate villi thought, finally noticing that the tiny pod was hurtling through the sky at an unfathomable speed, however the spinning didn't affect the clarity of their thoughts. "Guys, please don't tell me the ship blew up."

  "Yep." Vermilion confirmed. They all gazed around their coffin and out the window, which showed that they were headed straight for the ocean. "We're screwed."

  "Wait, can't we try to push open the door and dive out into the water?" Valtross, a white villi, asked. "It's better than being pinned down and smashed to pieces."