Kerry Says

Jefferson stirred his coffee as the voice of a long-dead entertainer told complained that “it’s lonely out in space”.

No lonelier than anywhere else he thought staring out the observation panel into the darkness.

He would know, having spent the greater part of a decade moored in this station to the edge of a planet not unlike his own, but quite unwelcoming to the notion of permanent residents. The years of wealthy tourists lining up for a taste of “Life on Mars” were long since over It was now difficult to tempt even scientific minds to come and try a hand at turning the inhospitable red orb into a home.

No, after 40 years of circling its hostile borders, losing time, and lives and hope and, most importantly, money, the human race had decided to turn attention to saving the old tattered planet instead.

But still Jefferson came, begging funding from the few moneyed pessimists and doomsday prophets hedging their bets for survival. He had managed to keep his unrequited courtship with Mars hobbling along, though he was now a team of one, often left for months at a time in the crumbling station.

He’d wait until his very last crate of TANG (traditions must be respected) had been opened before requesting one of the sleek silver rockets now used primarily as pleasure cruisers providing tours of the outer orbit come to bring him back so he could restock supplies and recharge power sources.

He never stayed long.

Why?

Because, coward that he was, Jefferson found Mars was a less terrifying alternative to suicide and he felt he had no reason to stay on this Earth any longer.

Why?

A woman of course.

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, STAY TUNED