text | calling across the cosmos

[genice]

There's quite a few of us who are new arrivals, yeah? I'm told we should make ourselves comfortable and get to know our neighbors. It's been eight months since I last really moved anywhere, so hello! My name is Victor Nikiforov. If any one of you feels like discussing our new location or occupations or anything else, please join me for a drink!

[ He even includes a ping for the bar he's at. Conversations up to this point have been anything but promising. So here he is. In space. Surrounded by space people. Talking to other "we did not want to end up in space, probably" people. ]

Also, three questions! Who is fond of dogs, is there anything like Instagram on these, and who knows anything about figure skating?

Comments

[genice]

[ Ah, congratulations, the first reply he gets is a picture of Victor holding Makkachin up and giving a peace sign while a monitor showing S P A C E is behind them. ]

Instagram would be where you post pictures like this, and add hashtags! I'd probably use #poodleinspace for this one.

Ah, thank you for answering. Figure skating doesn't appear to be much of anything here. Not surprising, it's not what I would think of as being a space friendly sport. About dogs, would you ever be up for dog-sitting or dog-walking, if it was needed? I don't think that it will be, but you never know.

[andreios]

Oh. We had something like that where I'm from.

No. Wasn't much of a sport on the last ship I served on either. But yeah, sure. If you need someone to watch your dog, I can do it. Name's Sam.

[genice]

Good. Maybe if it was there, it'll be here in some form too! I feel like I'll miss it, for some reason.

You've served on spaceships before in the past? I admit this is all a first time experience for me and Makkachin. Not that Russia doesn't send her fair share of people into space, but that wasn't any program I'd ever signed up for.

Nice to meet you Sam. My dog as seen in that photo is Makkachin. He's a good boy, even if he's too fond of things like steamed buns. Thanks for being willing to keep an eye on him.

[andreios]

Well, there are pictures here, right? That's a start.

Yeah. A few times. You could say I just came from one.

Russia. Where is that?

No problem. He looks like a nice dog and it's been a long time since I saw one.

[genice]

Posting them here would probably just be considered spam, on the other hand...

How would you say this ship compares to the ones in your experience? I'll guess it had a more conventional way to take on new passengers.

Russia is the Russian Federation, a country on the European continent of Earth.

Oh? No pets on the last few ships you were on?

[andreios]

There weren't many passengers. Just a few survivors from the war. We didn't have these anomalies, though. That's pretty unconventional.

Earth? I don't recall a country called Russia. Do you mean the new Earth?

I believe one of the passengers had a dog. Not many were fortunate enough to save their pets when they fled the Colonies.

[genice]

Good to know that not every star ship manages to disturb people's lives by taking them from their homes when it activates. This all feels like it's out of a science fiction movie.

I don't think I do? At least I don't know about an old Earth. It's possible the Russian Federation... wait, new Earth? What happened to Earth?

( Thus is he also distracted from talking about or thinking on the difficulties that refugees face... or what it is to be in recovery following war. )

[andreios]

It was destroyed thousands of years ago. There was a war that ripped it apart. What was left of humanity found another planet, called it Earth, and to my knowledge, settled there.

[genice]

What?! That's crazy! It's not that I don't believe you're saying what you know to be true, that's just... what?

[andreios]

It's difficult to take in. I know. Believe me.

[genice]

Okay, but what year did this happen? In the Gregorian calendar. You're from the future? We're all in the future as far as I know... how many worlds have humans on them?!

[andreios]

Sorry, what calendar?

As far as I know, only Earth has humans now. The other planets were destroyed by nuclear attacks.

[genice]

I guess that's my answer. The Gregorian calendar is an internationally used calendar from when I'm from. Not the only valid calendar system around, but the most common one.

Okay, there were multiple planets and they were all destroyed with nuclear warfare. Now only New Earth is left.

You're not joking.

[andreios]

We didn't have anything like that.

Yeah. Fourteen of them.

I wish I was.

[genice]

Time sure changes everything. Did you have any kind of calendar system?

That's horrifying. I don't know what else to say.

[andreios]

Yeah. Even in space.

Don't worry about it. If you didn't experience any of it, that's a good thing.

[genice]

Then I suppose I'll have to get used to whatever one they have on ship.

Not much of an easy future to think about if that's where the world's heading, but I guess we never know for sure, do we?

[andreios]

Actually, the world might be heading toward a better future. If I'd have to wager a guess from the things you've said, I'd say you're from many years ahead of me, not behind.

[genice]

Really?! That's amazing!

Also confusing, but with this many time differences, that's not surprising. I like your perspective either way. Humanity moving forward would be nice compared to the alternative. Good surprises over harrowing ones.

[andreios]

Me too. I've had enough of the harrowing ones to last me several lifetimes.

[genice]

I'll drink to that!

( Victor you're already drinking )