(Author's Note: written for the The_Weekend_Write-In prompt for the week, light. A drabble this time, and a spin off from a longer story I wrote called "To Boldly Go...")
The white light streaming from the starlock hurt her eyes. Anil blinked once, increasing her optical filters one more level as the huge space ship drew ever nearer to the 'lock. She blinked again
Her first starlock, portal to the universe. The all-female crew was settling into their transfer positions, bracing for the mind-twisting experience that loomed ahead. Everyone knew that only women could travel through a starlock and come out sane... mostly.
Why had she let her lover talk her into this trip?
Sensing her fear, Ulura reached across and clasped Anil's hand. She grinned.
"Forward. Into the light!"