The tin can drifted through the black waves of silence. Every once in a while a small creak or crack would have the audacity to disturb the peace that surrounded it. Aboard the Entrada the crew slept for now, only for a short time longer however.
The journey began a century before when leading scientists claimed they had made contact with an alien civilization, this being only the second intelligent life form ever encountered.
A thousand high pitched whooshes were made as the lids to the now decompressed stasis hibernation chambers opened in unison. Steam flooded the main halls of the ship. They'd arrived.
The scientists and new world government had set out to create a task force that would traverse the near endless distance between the two planets, and eventually make first physical contact.
Groans and quiet murmurs echoed off the inside of the metal hull. Ven rolled over sleepily and then to his surprise onto the cold floor with a fleshy thud, the kind only a limp body can make, which was followed by yet another, albeit a more aware groan.
The lights were still on low to give their eyes time to remember their sight. Ven stood up slowly while rubbing his eyes and regaining his balance and began to wobble toward the galley. He was starved having not eaten in one hundred years. Walking would be difficult for the next few days. Any and all recuperation would be slow. He’d heard that this new planet orbited a single star which was far brighter than his own. Just the thought of more light made his head hurt.
“Good ta see ya Ven,” A booming voice called from just over his shoulder, “how was ya sleep?”
“Sickening,” Ven replied without halting his strange dance toward breakfast to turn his head to see who it was. The voice of his long time friend Mehmood was unmistakable in that there always seemed to be a moment of perfect silence after he spoke. “I had the most terrible dream. I woke up and found everyone else was gone. The pods were already opened and everyone was already down on the new planet but me.”
“I dreamt the most delicious gaurum and kaki I’d eva seen were always just outa my reach. Then I woke up and saw ya stumblin' toward the kitchen like ya just had a pile of pombe tubes so I figured I should follow ya ta…”
Ven didn’t hear the rest because by this time he had reached the galley and was face down in the gaurum and kaki Mehmood had described, and he was right Ven thought, this was the best kaki and gaurum he’d ever had.
“…so when we get down on the planet lata this week we can trade the kaki for some a their stuff if it looks any good, eh Ven?”
“Sure Mehmood,” said Ven with a passive tone “I just can’t wait to see what their people and planet are like. I hear that water covers most of it, it’s a wonder they survive, not to mention all the light.”
A monotone voice clipped over the speaker system, the captain was speaking, “Attention, we’ve made first visual contact!” a hologram flickered up in the corner of Ven’s eye. He turned quickly to behold a tall slender being with wavy projections coming from the top of its head.
“Hello.” it said, “Welcome to Earth”
. And now it's time for my critique!
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