A quick note about my free fiction: this is raw draft with little editing. I don’t know where the story is going, or if it’ll even get completed on the blog. But it’s fun to do.

The clips from this story stay up for a limited time and then they will turn back into a pumpkin. Those available at the time I’m writing this are:

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Let’s proceed, shall we?

Deep Space Omega (#7)

by Dawn Blair

Mouse must have sensed her hesitation. “No one’s here. You fixed their shuttle, so they went out to take closer readings of the nebula. They were so excited.” She gave a little roll of her eyes as she spoke.

The door before them slid open, revealing that Mouse had spoken truthfully. The Astrolab was empty.

“Whatever you did to get it up and running, thank you!” Mouse said.

“I… replaced… the AR Coil. That was all.

“Yes, but it got them out of here and let us enjoy this!” Mouse walked in among the beeping machines and pressed a button. On the other side of the room, large metal plating slid away from a window, revealing a colorful nebula beyond. It was like looking at a sunset in space.

Jadz shook her head as she walked. If all the astronomers needed was an AR Coil replacement and none of them knew how to do it, maybe she had arrived just in time. With all the repairs that were needed on the station, obviously no one here knew how to handle anything mechanical. Thank goodness they’d never lost life support. She’d have to remember to tell United how helpless they were out here and ask for a raise.

Mouse headed toward one of the old-fashioned telescopes on a tripod and she rested her hand on it. “My husband used to bring me here and we’d spend hours watching the nebula and the other stars as we turned. Some of the other guys gave him a hard time about it, but he shrugged it off. It was our special thing. There is still romance out there. You just have to believe in it.” She ducked her head as if embarrassed that she was telling this story now, or maybe she worried about being heavy-handed with the moral. Then she recovered and began to make adjustment on the telescope while looking through it. “Come on over here and let’s see if we can find the shuttle. Oh! There it is!”

She stepped away, bouncing on her feet while indicating for Jadz to have a look.

Jadz peered through the telescope, spotting the shuttle flying toward the nebula. 

“Adjust it using the knob to the right. Go ahead and take a look at the nebula.”

Jadz lifted her head to see Mouse going closer to the window and taking a seat on the metal floor. She placed her elbows on the knees of her crossed legs and leaned forward with her head in her hands. Jadz just knew that Mouse was wistfully staring away knowing her husband was out there in the shuttle somewhere. It brought a warm glow to Jadz’s chest. Yes, she hoped romance was still alive out there. Maybe even for her.

Deep Space Omega – copyright ©2020 Dawn Blair * Published by Morning Sky Studios

https://books2read.com/lets-make-a-deal/