The craft came in for a soundless landing. The astronaut descended clunkily and stepped foot on the moon. They’d taken care to avoid the old historical sector, now marked off by droids armed with lasers. This was a new day. In consequence of which, here he was, Nate Augustus Thompkins, astronaut of the new Benevolent and United Government of Earth, returning at last to the moon after so many long years of absence, war, and discord.
He paused, trying to think of something historical.
“I said you should have written something down,” his droid, an L-class Evacuation Vehicle/Extraterrestrial Robot commented.
“Shut up,” Nate said, first making sure his comlink back to Earth was switched off. “Just because you’re the first off the line or whatever you think you’re so smart. Turdbucket.”
Then he cleared his throat and turned his comlink on. “As I look out on this vast expanse of virgin soil, untouched by even an atom of life-”
He was wrong on two counts.
First, strictly speaking it wasn’t soil.
Second, and more important, there was life on the Moon, and plenty of it. It wasn’t the kind that particularly wanted to make friends with Nate, though.
The droid saw the attack coming just in time, skidded backwards, closed the hatches, and made a hasty exit. It didn’t have time to pick up the astronaut. A shame, it noted as it recorded the event on its log. Still: better Nate than the L-class Evacuation Vehicle/Extraterrestrial Robot.
This story was written based on a prompt from
: Go to Space.
Also, the ending line was inspired by this immortal story read by Scoot and shared on Sara Dietz' Cozy Fireside Tales:
It’s a classic, trust me.
Until next time,
Michael
DANGIT MICHAEL
I'M LITERALLY SHAKING.