Author: Maria S. Picone

Efforts to save the spaceship Visioning failed. “We might as well see what’s out there,” the First Mate said. Xir rainbow head tilted towards the viewing port. “Find help, maybe.”

The Captain crossed his arms. “I will stay with the ship.”

The crew’s glowing eyes, fiery eyes, even cactopod eyes looked liquid, human. “We are the ship.

He patted her control console—so much flight time—and whispered goodbye.

They donned spacewalk suits. The First Mate stuffed xir pockets with candy; the Captain saved the Thalarcis meteorite. Then they opened the gate and activated their jets into the wild dark.