Finn Alexander
Finn Alexander is a current Rider undergraduate in the Musical Theatre Class of 2028. You might find him around campus performing or at home in Austin, Texas. A new writer, this is Finn’s first and only literary publication to date, and he’s deeply honored to be celebrating it with Venture.
Open server.
[INITIALIZING SYSTEM…]
Good Lord, if this process didn’t take so long, –
[OPENING SERVER 12A — 5992 RAMBLE GREEN TRAIL — UNCERTAINTY, TX]
[PASSWORD: ***************]
Please be up there, please be up there…
[ Γ — — — — — CONNECTION ESTABLISHED — — — — — Δ ]
Delta?
Delta, can you hear me?
It’s Gamma.
Delta?
Delta! Do you read me?
This is Gamma, contacting you through the-
Delta! I can–
Thank goodness!
That’s sure as hell true.
Hello?
This is Delta, I-
Hey, I can hear you!
Hahaha! Oh god,
what a day already.
No, not you, more the pile of crap you’re piloting.
Been giving me bad reads all morning, at one point
I thought you’d crashed, but no, you’re there
all the same.
Jesus, don’t tell me I’ve been trouble for
you down there.
It’d take more than some space rocks to take
me out, that’s for damn sure.
So, what do you see out there?
Well, that’s good, though. It’s more exciting to
have a grand reveal, I think.
Oh, come on now, that’s not true.
Do you remember how many tries it took me to get
this thing into planning?
Mmhmm.
I know, I know, but I sure felt wrong.
Dr. Dunman’s not somebody you can compel with
bad science, even if you go way back.
You are.
Yes, you are.
Well, just a lot of stars, so far. It’ll be a
while before my window turns enough that I
can see Earth.
Yeah?
You’re probably right. You usually are.
You-
Oooooh…
Yeah, I remember Dunman wasn’t too happy
with our scheme to begin with, but-
Wait, hey, that wasn’t you being wrong, that
was just-
You’ve gotta quit giving yourself a hard
time. I’m up here, am I not?
And I’m stuck down here…
Keeping you safe, I suppose.
No…
You’re more making the ‘small step for man’
on this one than me.
Mmhmm.
I know, I know, but I sure felt wrong.
Dr. Dunman’s not somebody you can compel with
bad science, even if you go way back.
You are.
Yes, you are.
Oooooh…
Yeah, I remember Dunman wasn’t too happy
with our scheme to begin with, but-
Wait, hey, that wasn’t you being wrong, that
was just-
You’ve gotta quit giving yourself a hard
time. I’m up here, am I not?
And I’m stuck down here…
Keeping you safe, I suppose.
You’re the important thing, though.
When I thought you’d crashed, I…
I couldn’t handle myself. You…
Well, you shouldn’t’ve seen me.
No…
You’re more making the ‘small step for man’
on this one than me.
You what?
Oh.
Delta, what’s your current rotation?
What?
What are you talking about?
Are you seriously seeing-
Delta! Come in! What’s happening out there?
Delta–
Oh Good Lord, you’ve gotta stop trying to scare
me. That was horrible.
You could’ve phrased better. How do you mean,
“I can see me out there?”
Not necessarily. I mean, you’ve always had some
confidence in your blood.I think that’s why we ended up being friends.
Or why I–
No, it was nothing important.
Delta, what’s your current rotation?
Ah. You should be able to see Earth soon.
Like we always wanted.
Yeah?
It’s nothing, Jamie, I–
Oh, eh, sorry… Delta.
Alright, we–
We don’t have to use ‘em.
No, that’s fine.
It’s enough that you get to see what’s up there.
Plus, even when…
Even if something were to happen,
You’ve got supplies enough to last you for a long
time, hopefully enough for you to hit the ISS and
get help.
Theoretically, you can. Worst case scenario, you
flip some of the levers on the wall until you feel
yourself start to move.
That’s alright, Jamie. I’m sorry.
Delta,
what’s your current rotation?
Can you see it now?
Jamie, I love you.
I’ve always loved you.
I’ve loved you since the moment you stepped into
my life, and it’s always hurt.
I just thought we’d have more time.
Every time you’re around me I feel spikes thrust
themselves into my mind, I feel the hummingbirds,
I feel cold in my calves and heat in my fingers and
I want nothing more than to make you feel.
Not necessarily feel for me, but feel for anything.
Feel at all. You’re so beautiful when you’re
hopeful, or snarky, or–
Your voice keeps me grounded. Your voice makes
the fire not feel so hot anymore.
I needed to keep you safe. Keep you alive.
Keep you feeling. I love you, Jamie.
I’m setting the system trajectory to get you help.
Maybe you’ll meet the other last humans alive.
You won’t have to steer at all.
195 degrees.
It’s still just stars out here. Maybe that’s the
moon coming into my window, I can’t really
tell. It’s dark enough that I can see me out
there, out in the darkness just outside the
ship.
Oh no. Oh god no. Holy shit! It saw me! It’s
coming after me!
Hahahahahahahahaha.
Gotcha…
Well, to be fair, you’re the one who got my
metaphor mixed.
I mean, when I look out the window, there’s
that faint reflection of my suit in the glass. I
look big. I should really feel small out here,
shouldn’t I?
It feels almost like the stars are speaking to me. Like I–
Oh– sorry, you were saying something. I
didn’t mean to–
Coming up on 230 now.
Oh good! That “best view in the universe”,
like we used to talk about.
It is really pretty out here.
Thank you.
For giving me this.
Hey, if you don’t wanna use the nicknames
we don’t need to use the nicknames.
But really, thanks.
I’m sorry I made you go through with this,
even though we couldn’t build this thing big
enough to fit you in it too.
What?
Oh, but that’s not gonna happen. No way.
Absolutely no way. Can I even steer this
thing?
Hey hey hey don’t talk about that please, I’m
the one in space here, I don’t want to have to
think about that until it’s absolutely
necessary.
Are you okay? I think I hear you crying.
Alex.
Alex, talk to me, please.
What? I–
I think I can see Earth! I can see–
No.
Oh my god oh my god no.
What the fuck is–
Is that fucking fire!?
No, I–
Alex, what are you doing?
I need to get back down there. Don’t you
fucking do this to me.
Alex, what is going on?
Alex, I’m–
Why didn’t you tell me this was going to
happen? I was with you there in Uncertainty
for weeks preparing, why didn’t you tell me?
Shit. Shit shit shit shit. I have to–
What can I do? I have to fix this. Please.
You knew. You knew! You asshole, you knew!
.
No. Stop. God, please.
Alex, you can’t just make me watch this.
I’m not gonna let you die, I can’t–
[TRAJECTORY SET — BACKUP — INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION]
Goodnight, Jamie.
I’m sorry.
This was so selfish.
I’m so, so
sorry.
Alex.
Alex, I love you too.
[ Γ -x- -x- -x- -x- -x- CONNECTION TERMINATED -x- -x- -x- -x- -x- Δ ]
Alex?
[ACTIVATING THRUSTERS]
Alex?
Alex, I love you too. Can you–
No, you can’t.
[ALIGNING FLIGHT PATH]
Fuck.
Am I–?
[ADJUSTING ORBIT]
I don’t feel big out here anymore. I’m alone.
Stay with me.
Oh, I can keep the recording!
I can keep the log!
I need your voice with me.
God, I can’t–
Oh, I need to turn this thing off first, don’t I?
Wish me luck, Alex
I…
I accept your apology.
[SHUTTING DOWN…]