The Lone Survivor

Chapter Three: The Melancholy Star

"It's also our job to send our camera robots into the center of this galaxy to see if it's actually a black hole in the center."
Christopher explains.
"Aye aye Captain."
Amelia says with a goofy salute.
"No."
Christopher points at her.
"Don't even try. At ease."
Amelia tenses, lowering her hand to her side.
"Yes sir.." She says meekly.
"Excuse me Christopher...."
Violet steps forward.
"Where exactly in the galaxy are we going to be in?"
Christopher gave Violet a stern look.
"Were you not listening before we left?"
Violet swallowed hard, beads of cold sweat forming on her forehead and temples.
"We're gonna be in a solar system about like ours at home. We received a radio broadcast to all surrounding galaxies a few years back. We have tracked the location of said broadcast and we are going to that solar system." 
Christopher explained in the exact words of leader back at NASA, pacing back and forth in front of us.
We stood shoulder to shoulder, stiff and scared to make sudden movements. We were all scared to Christopher because he was just so bold and intense and intimidating.
Mostly because he used to be in the military. He got sent home after having his leg severed. That's why he wears pants all the time.
He hates to see the ugly prosthetic and hates to see the hideous scar even more.
Christopher hates it when anyone talks about Vietnam or Afghanistan. He still has nightmares about it. I honestly feel bad for the man.
"And mission control will be with us the whole mission. They've been monitoring us the whole time."
I glanced out the window and saw we were passing one of the coolest stars in the next solar system over from ours.
"Melancholy..."
I mumbled to myself.
Christopher glared at me with extreme intensity.
"Something to say, Miss Clementine?"
I snapped from my daze.
"We passed, uh, M-Melancholy..."
I stampered.
"Melancholy?"
Stuart asked and turned to me. "Yes, uh, when I was still a junior in college, I would look up at... At this one star in the sky when I would, uh, walk to my dorm that I named Melancholy."
I told him, blushing and scared he'd think it was childish.
"Awesome! I actually think I studied that star back home!" Stuart said, flashing me a smile.
"Soldiers."
Christopher's voice boomed as Stuart and I straightened, standing shoulder to shoulder once again.
"Is everything understood?" Christopher asked sternly.
"Yes sir." We all said.
"Dismissed!"
Christopher anounced.

We all scurried off to do our own thing. Christopher went to the command deck to fly the shuttle. Amelia skipped off to the living quarters to nap. Stuart scurried to the bathroom, apparently the morning mug of coffee was getting to him. Violet sat in the secondary pilot's seat to flirt with Christopher. Alexander waited impatiently outside the bathroom for Stuart.
"Hurry it up you blue banged Brit!!"
Alexander barked.
"I'm not going to able to hold it much longer!"
I sat in my seat, sketch pad out as I sketched out a detailed portrait of my dearest, Melancholy.
I sketched and erased and coloured for hours until I was awoken from my drawing paradise by Violet.
"You gonna come eat?" She asked, a strand of hair falling from behind her ear.
"Oh yeah..."
I said, clearing my throat.
"Alright, well your little boyfriend Stuart was looking for you."
She teased.
"Shut up..." I mumbled as I stood up, sitting my sketch pad and coloured pencils down in the seat and followed Violet to the living quarters where the whole team was sitting in a circle in the center of the room, dining on some astronaut food.

I took a seat beside Stuart and Violet flashed me an evil smirk as Stuart handed me a food packet. I felt my cheeks heat up as I scooted an inch away from Stuart. He glanced at me and shrugged, eating. I sighed, only eating half my food. Amelia snatched my packet from my hands, inhaling the food.
"Sure, you can have it." I said in a sarcastic tone and made everyone laugh.
"Well it would be too late to say I couldn't have it!"
Amelia said with a large smile. Stuart got up, making his hand brush against my short, curly hair on purpose.

I looked down, Violet whistling at me.
"I, uh, I'm going to finish drawing...." I sniffled as I staggered to my feet and scurried off the seating deck,  where I quickly picked up where I left off on my drawing and becoming numb to the world once more.