Almost Home

    “I’m going back.” Gunnen said, “I’m gonna stay long enough to refuel, then I’m going back. There’s nothing on Earth for me. No friends, no family- except for you, and you usually live in a different state than I do.”

    “That’s nuts” Yay told him, “You’ll die up there. You’ll run out of food and water and oxygen and die. You can’t live on an asteroid.”

    “I’ve thought about all that- But Old Jim lives up there- the Chronicler lives there, so why can’t I live there?”

    “Because you'll die.”

    “We didn’t need our suits while we were there! Remember that!”

    “Yes I remember that- what about it.”

    “I’ll tell you what about it- I mean, Old Jim had that chest of beer, so there’s got to be sustenance. Besides, if I’m gonna die a lonely old man I may as well be exploring the universe while I’m at it. Maybe I’ll go on from there, explore other worlds- Gannymede. Europa. Triton. Pluto. Charon. I’ll keep a record of everything I find- I’ll have a rocket ready for a timed launch back to Earth, Just in case anything should happen to me. I’ll set you up a phone app that’ll let you know when the rocket leaves, and GPS coordinates so you can find it when it lands.”

    “You can’t do this Gunnen, you’re my best friend. I’m ok with you living in a different state, but another planet? I don't think so. I need you here. We’re gonna land, and everything’s gonna be destroyed, and we just went on this crazy journey that I can’t talk to anyone else about, and you’re just gonna up and leave?”

Gunnen looked at his feet, he had nothing else to say.

    “We found life on another planet for Pete's sake. And you're gonna leave me alone with that?”

    “You could come too, ya know.”

    Yay went back into his room and would’ve slammed the door, if electronically assisted sliding doors could be slammed. He lay on his bed and fell fast asleep. They were less than three hours from landing.