Chapter 1
John stared across the small box like room, towards Feodore, who was staring at him as well. However to themselves, the other was upside down, as this was due to the artificial gravity was turned off to reserve power.
“So.” Feodore spoke in his surprisingly light accent, “How long till the power runs out?” He asked slightly nervous.
“Approximately 2 years.” John spoke in his thick British accent.
“And the Oxygen?” Feodore asked once more.
“With how much you talk? 4 years.” He said sarcastically.
“So 5 years if I be quiet?” The Russian man asked relieved.
“I don’t know why you’re so worried about the energy and oxygen.” John said turning his head away annoyed at the man in the room with him.
“Well then why did we turn the gravity off?” He snapped back.
“When the giant bloom’n space rock hit us, we had to turn off energy in that battery to properly fix it.” John explained annoyed.
“But if it happens again-!”
“It won’t!” John snapped at the man who recoiled back and sat in a small ball obediently. John sighed. “Look, it won’t happen again. I know you’re worried, I am too, but we’ll make it to Saturn soon okay? We have plenty ’nough of everything for the trip.”
“I know, I just can’t help but be worried, my little girls are back on Earth with their mama and I’m here in a floating buoy heading towards Saturn!” Feodore placed his hand on his forehead and leaned in on himself. John grew sympathetic.
“Don’t worry, Feodore. You’ll see your girls again.” John reassured.
“I hope so.” The Russian man spoke softly.
The two men spent the next few hours monitoring the progress of the electrical box’s repairs. Meanwhile, Feodore was humming an orchestral song both men were familiar with.
“Having a grand time there buddy?” John asked turning to the man who was loudly humming.
“Sure am.” Feodore said happily.
“Well could you keep it down? You’re being very loud.” John said annoyed.
“You and your Pet Peeves.” Feodore said dismissively, he waved his hand behind him to show John he did not care all that much about John’s irrational annoyance of things, a little quirk Feodore’s had to put up with for 6 years now.
That was their job after all. Practically living on a space shuttle going from one planet to another delivering energy, supplies, and other necessities. The space shuttle they had been accustomed too over the years, was named the ‘Piping Plover’, had been in service of the Saturn Government for 13 years. It was severely out of date but considering the company who had made the space shuttle had gone out of business, it made the shuttle a very cheap service to run, and cheap transport meant profit in the eyes of Saturn.
It was also kept in business due to it not being tasked with any difficult tasks. It was a scavenger vessel, hence its name of ‘Piping Plover’. The bird back on earth known for scavaging off of the teeth of Crocodiles. This was John’s and Feodore’s job description. They awaited for mining crews on planets to finish their jobs and then they’d pick up what was left. Whether that be equipment or any materials not collected. This only left little scraps, but in the age of space, every little piece counted.
This routine had persisted over the next few days, those days turned into weeks, and after a month or so past, Saturn was finally in their view. Feodore smiled brightly when he saw the ringed planet. John just huffed and prepared for landing.
“Saturn’s 56: coming in, over.” John spoke in the radio that he connected to the base’s signal.
“Piping Plover: You’re all set for landing, over.” The man with the American accent spoke as he proceeded to cut the signal.
The two men rushed to strap themselves in, the artificial ozone layer wasn’t too far away from their position.
The shuttle broke through the fake dome shaped sheild filled with imported oxygen. The shuttle had to land in front of what was a ginormous grey dome with an even taller tower in the center of it’s mass. It was owned by the Saturn Mining Company, or S.M.C, and acted as their H.Q. The two men saw the large structure out the windows as they awaited for the automated system to land the ship itself.
It was a smoothe landing, all things considered. It was rocky for sure, but they landed on the three feet of the shuttle with ease and undid their shuttle belts with slight dizziness. Feodore was first to walk out. He shook his head out of its state of dizziness and jumped out of the shuttle, enjoying the somewhat fresh air and warm, magnified sunshine.
He did not enjoy, however, the glares of prejudice he got from those around him. He was from Earth, a fact the people of Saturn did not like. Heck, not even before the war. When John walked out he wasn’t given nearly as harsh of a glare as his Earth friend. It was still there, but for a long time Neptune and Saturn had been allies. Still, the two stood before people they dare not talk to. They stood before an Empty crowd.
