Star Rider

Alcon's Journal # 21 - Lovebirds

DSF@b6b80aebc3d1eda9e9b588e481e3b6b5

The day of Ami's impending departure drew near, and preparations were underway for her journey on the spaceship DSF-4177. Essential systems had been supplied. I requested Mars and Ami's AI Anguirus to negotiate a secret key for encrypting our private communication channel, Additionally, I reached out to Mars, requesting a modification to my upcoming mission and vacation plans so that I could embark on my vacation alongside Ami.

As the day of Ami's departure finally arrived, we clung to each other tightly at the port. As the boarding time commenced its countdown, Ami reluctantly released my hand and took a step back. With a trembling hand, she retrieved the diamond necklace from her spacesuit collar, holding it delicately within her palm. Tearful eyes met mine as she kissed me. Then, she stepped into the corridor, disappearing from view as the airlock sealed shut.

Attempting to steady my emotions, I composed myself and opened the voice channel that had been established for us by Mars and Anguirus. The line crackled to life, but Ami remained silent. Amidst the sound of sniffles and bustling background noises, I realized she was amidst the final preparations for takeoff. Gradually, a hushed silence fell on the other end of the line, broken only by the sound of Ami's choked-up voice, "Alcon, goodbye..."

"Goodbye, Ami, I'll be waiting for you in Schiaparelli..."

(Note: Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli, an Italian astronomer, is known for naming the first human space habitat on Mars Schiaparelli #1.)

Through the many layers of airlock glass walls at the port, I watched 4177 release its fixed hinges and move away along the tangent of Galileo#1. I heard Ami's voice in my ear, "Alcon, I miss you..."

"Ami, I miss you too. Stay safe, I'll be here waiting..." I pressed my hand against the unforgiving glass wall, longing for a connection that could not be. With each passing moment, as Ami's spaceship dwindled into a tiny speck, an overwhelming sense of emptiness washed over me.

I waited anxiously for DSF to modify my exploration schedule, feeling like each day was dragging on forever. During this time, Ami and I continued to exchange video messages. I would go alone to the observation deck and gaze at the vast expanse of stars and space, while Ami's spacecraft had already blended into the background of the asteroid belt. I knew she was there, but I couldn't reach her.

When Mars gave me the news that the exploration plan was all set and approved, I wasted no time and hurriedly made my way to the dock. Mars explained that due to the specific requirements of my KU-2 interstellar engine, Galileo#1 couldn't provide us with all the necessary resources. As a result, our first destination would be a sizable supply station situated on Amalthea, one of Jupiter's moons.

After departing from Galileo#1, we reached the Amalthea supply station—an advanced space platform located on Amalthea itself. This station had a unique feature: a long collection tube that extended into the atmosphere of Jupiter. It was connected to a modified asteroid at Lagrange point L2 of Amalthea, serving as the station's gateway and flight control center. This supply station played a crucial role as the primary hub for humans venturing towards the outer regions of our solar system. In the future, with the establishment of the Uranus supply station, it was expected that humans would embark on exploring and potentially traversing the outer Oort Cloud.

After refueling our propellant and fusion engine, I eagerly set a course back towards the asteroid belt, utilizing the powerful KU-2 exploration engine. In just under a month, Mars and I ventured into the asteroid belt, albeit in a different exploration sector than Ami. Nevertheless, we were now in close proximity, and I could sense Ami's presence. Despite a considerable distance of at least one astronomical unit (around 150 million kilometers, assuming no maneuvers or obstacles, and a continuous maximum speed for approximately 9 days) separating our survey sectors, the feeling of being within reach was palpable.

Ami and I granted each other access to our AIs, so I often heard Mars greet me with Ami's voice when I woke up, or he would say, "Alcon, Ami wants me to remind you to eat something." Then, after I ate and rested according to my schedule, Mars would even use Ami's voice to compliment me: "Alcon is so obedient!" I also tried to grant similar voice authorization to Ami's AI, Anguirus, and she would record their conversations and put them into videos showing me her daily life. During this exploration mission, Ami even discovered a small asteroid that was worth mining. When she landed, she brought a small piece of cloth with her, and Anguirus sent me a picture of Ami wearing her EVA suit, standing on the asteroid and holding up the cloth with "Ami & Alcon" written on it.

Reflecting on that profound moment, I recognize the significance of Ami and I, amidst the vast and unforgiving void of space, finding solace and companionship. Despite the indifferent nature of the cosmos, we managed to ignite a flame of warmth within each other's hearts, soaring together for nearly 300 million kilometers...