Into the black
24 Jun 2018Tharrn
Sometimes it takes a while for important realizations to strike you. This is one of those times.I am an explorer.
Don't get me wrong. I am not new to the deep space business. Severall times to the Formidine Rift, center of the galaxy, about ten trips to Colonia and half a round along the outer arm. Celeste says it's been over 600.000 ly. And yet... took me several months in the bubble again until that realization struck me like a sledgehammer while ferrying some random goods from the arse end of the wood to some godforsaken place. I AM an explorer.
All these politics, schemes and powerplay. Whatever you do, you take sides. Did some science work with Canonn, hoping we could find a way to peacefully coexist with the Thargoids. Now they shoot 'em up. You haul water to some backwater station - someone will write it onto the flag of his little faction to gain a seat in the local senate. You run couriers from A to B - someone will die as the message was a corporate plot to expose a mole. The list goes on and on. Forces pulling on you from all sides. Everyone wants to use you as a pawn in their games.
I am an explorer. I long for the darkness, the terrifying, cold and utterly silent darkness. I just want to go where no one has been before. Just me and billions of diamons sparkling in the vast sea of blackness. See the wonders of a ringed earth-like high above the galactic plane. Watch the dance of a black hole and an orbiting neutron star. Just a small blip, leaving no trace. There and off again.
Once more I had to be the pawn. Ferrying couriers, not thinking about their contents or the consequences for someone else. A Cutter it is now. Fully equipped, badly engineered. I just cannot stand "civilization" any longer.
To Colonia we go again. A nice base of operations and with less politics. Most of the factions that went there with the CEI have been all but abandoned. Empty names with noone supporting them. If you happen to be there, stranger, ask Jaques to save a mug of his best for me. I'll be there in a while - unless something catches my attention on the way or if the darkness finally gets me.
