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Fading Stars

I blinked slowly as my consciousness transferred into my avatar, and the room became clear. My own vision was failing, becoming hazy and unfocused as my body gradually died. But when I was in my suit, every detail was sharp, unwavering. I saw the avatar storage bay on my ship, my home away from home for the past few years in high definition. Lights flashed brilliantly above each storage pod, and across the silvery floor and ceiling in pulsating, blue lines. Almost all of the pods were empty, which meant most of my crew was aboard and active.

I detached from my own pod and stretched my arms out. My mobility was limited these days, my human arms hooked up to IV's, and my legs all but useless in my bedridden state, but with my suit, I was free again. I checked myself in the mirror before I headed out, appreciating my strong, sleek appearance. The platinum coating on my arms and legs glinted under the lights, and the black of my faceplate contrasted beautifully. Behind the faceplate was a ghost image of my human features, artificially projected so that others could read my facial expressions, and I could still have them. Though at its core a machine, my avatar gave me life, where I otherwise would have none.

When I exited the storage bay, I was startled by a chorus of cheers, and felt my lips turn up. My whole crew was on board, Aimee, Brenton, Shandy, Trisha, Luther, Shawn... They were all here, all smiling in their own avatars, for me.

Someone must have told them this was my last time.

"Aw, guys, you didn't have to--" I protested, but was cut off by Brenton rushing forward to crush me into a clinky hug.

"Don't say a word about it," Luther scolded from behind him. "We wouldn't miss seeing a member of our crew off for anything."

"Who told you?" I wondered as Brenton released me. "Shandy?"

"Oh come on," she said. "You think I'd let you off the hook just because you said you didn't want to make a fuss about it?" The last bit she put in air quotes.

"I just didn't want to make anyone go out of their way," I said, and moved to sit amongst them in the common area. "You all have lives. Half of you wouldn't even be on at this time."

"And miss saying goodbye?" Aimee asked. "You're crazy as ever, Georgia."

"I'm too old to change now," I teased, but my heart sunk a little. Back on earth...

I didn't want to think about it. Not now, anyway.

"So what's on the books?" I asked, glancing around at my crew.

"Thought we'd take you for one last ride," Trisha said in her short, poppy voice. I'd always imagined her chewing bubble gum for some reason.

"Shawn fueled up before you got here," Shandy explained, "so we've got plenty to burn."

"You guys..." I placed a hand over where my heart would have been, and the rest of them followed suit. Our silent salute.

"Let's do this!" Brenton said after a moment, and the crew cheered again.

The eight of us headed to the front of the ship, taking our respective seats around the flight terminal. I sat in the co-pilot's seat, a spot that would be filled by Aimee after today, with Shawn to my left. The rest of the group sat behind us, with Trisha in docking, Brenton in backup controls, Luther monitoring the ship's vitals, and the others in passenger positions. In front of me was a curved window looking out into space, a sight I had enjoyed for nearly twenty years of my life across countless missions. Emotions welled up within me, but at the forefront, joy. I never grew tired of cruising through the stars.

"Let's take this baby for a joy ride," Shawn said, and we were off.

The crew worked like a well oiled machine, flipping switches, adjusting controls, plotting trajectories with almost no verbal communication. It allowed me to sit back and enjoy the wonders of space, the cloudless view of the stars and distant planets, the freedom of not being tied down to a planet, or a hospital bed. I wondered if my faceplate showed tears. Tears of joy, pain, happiness, and goodbyes.