10 Minute Tales, Part 2

Aug 7 - Starhouse

The ship sailed silently through the black nothingness, adrift in the grand void.

"Sleep cycle number... dunno." the captain grumbled. He hadn't shaved in a long time, and stared blankly across the void. "Still no fuel. Wish didn't go through, then. There are enough stars out there, you'd think one would respond." he sighed and stood up, stretching a little. "Least the blockmaker's working. We have all the food we could want. Pity we're only set to have about four more days of clean air." he looked to the door, frowning in thought. "Haven't had the heart to tell her yet. Probably figured it out for herself anyway, she's a smart kid." he shrugged, looking up. "The pet's had its batteries removed. Her idea, believe it or not, she wanted to make sure she could bring it back when we're rescued. Doubt we will be out here..." he sighed, resting against the console before him. "Too far from Laconda to turn back, too far from Honshu to rely on drifting there. We're doomed." he sighed, then shook his head quickly. He only had one duty at a time like this. Help his crew reach safety. He flicked the emergency broadcast switch and spoke out loud. "This is Captain Tida of the trader vessel Azure Cresent. Our fuel had to be ejected due to a major engine malfunction that we are unable to repair. Requesting any aid possible. I repeat..." and he did repeat the message, two more times. It hadn't worked for nearly a month. Why assume this time would be any different? He sighed as the message ended, flicking the radio back to emergency receive. Why hadn't he sprung for the distress signal autolooper? The door slid open, revealing his colleague. He hadn't met Tatiana before this flight, but now he felt... bad. She was stuck and it was his fault.

"Any word yet, captain?" she asked, smiling hopefully.

"Nothing yet." he replied, trying to cheer up a little for her sake. Her optimism was the only reason he hadn't given up yet. "I've sent today's message out."

"It is exciting, isn't it?" she giggled, heading over to the cockpit and staring out into space. "I mean, it's like a thriller, isn't it?"

"What do you mean?" he frowned a little, confused.

"Well, think about it! Here we are, two lonely souls, set adrift by the seemingly-cruel hand of fate to know each other as intimately as we can without a single touch, just waiting for society to find us again - not as workmates but as partners!"

"I'm... not convinced by any of that, won't lie." he sighed. She was losing it after all. "I mean, look out there. What do you see?"

"I see the lighthouses of old, waiting to bring us home!"

"... lighthouses, huh?" he looked out again. There were so many stars, he couldn't hope to place them all - if any. He always relied on the onboard navigator program to steer him straight, but now he looked at them... he could see why the pre-space humans were fascinated by them. "All of 'em waiting to bring us home?"

"Every single one." she smiled, glancing over at him.

"Maybe so."