Personal Log 16.12.08 // And So This Is Christmas...
16 Dec 2022Gaz Ubermick
+// Log Entry Start+// [Date: 16.12.3308]
+// Location: Hutton Orbital, Alpha Centauri]
Well, this was a nice change of pace. I suppose.
Yesterday, renowned toymaker and all-round cringey media personality Sandra Corrs sent out a core-wide message asking for help delivering toys to some kids around the bubble. With Sandra's Workshop's fleet having been deployed to help with the evacuation efforts, deliveries were in danger of not happening, and we couldn't have that, could we?
Weary from war, I decided to sign up and help, loading up the Budgie with some goodies, and heading forth with the occasional grumbled "ho ho ho." I was tasked with delivering to six kids, and while the others were absolutely fine, I'm currently sitting at the bar on Hutton Orbital recovering from a quarter light year supercruise. Happy holidays, Ellie - hope you like it.
There you go. Selfie. Oof I look tired. Might need a progenitor cell booster.
I swore I'd never come here again, but now I'm glad I did. It's eerily jovial. The bar is playing old Earther holiday music, with one particular tune by a Mariah something or other, more or less on repeat. I admit to tapping my toes to it the first time I heard it, but now it makes me want to rip my ears off and space myself out of an airlock. I can only assume that she was at some point arrested for crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, other commanders are sitting around the bar laughing and swapping stories. One pilot with an accent is telling horrifically corny jokes that elicit as many groans as they do laughs. Laura, I think her name is. Someone had to be escorted out earlier, drunkenly demanding a free Anaconda which had everyone chuckling. All these years, and still can't believe pilots fresh out of the academy fall for that.
When I was a kid growing up, I read an old tale called "War of the Worlds" where old Earth was invaded by aliens (from Mars of all places!) Away from the chaos, life continued as normal with humanity completely oblivious to their potential fate. Sitting here, looking around... it brought back the memory of that book. “It seems to me now almost incredibly wonderful that, with that swift fate hanging over us, men could go about their petty concerns as they did.”
Meh. It's probably the Kongaa talking. Which I have to say, is a fairly good pint here and served in a copy of one of their famous mugs. Should probably buy a few while I'm here, and some of that gin too.
Anyway.
Suppose I should finish up and get moving again. Despite the rising urge to just stay here, in this remote outpost far away from everything, completely removed from the terror and calamity that's gripping the bubble. Just rest, sleep, and forget about it. But I know there's no forgetting about it. We just sit around, then Ellie and all the other kids might not see another Christmas. In the end, fighting for her and everyone else is the best present we can give her and the rest of them.
Yeah. Time to pay the bill and return to the fight.
+// Log Entry Ends