Part 1 - Four Hundred Twenty-Seven Days

“But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars.”

—Unknown

***

Day 0

At 15:04 Earth Eastern Standard Time, the S.S. Theseus received a transmission from Science Officer Blaine Anderson.

“Captain! My ship has sustained damage from pursuing the entity. I’m attempting to repair the external damage now.”

“Leave it, Anderson. We’re locking onto your signal to transport you back to your ship.”

“Yes, Captain. I—”

There was a scrambled static noise over the com.

“Anderson, what was that?”

“The ship is deteriorating, Captain. I only—”

“Just hang on, Anderson. We’re locking onto your signal right now. Countdown in nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two—”

Anderson’s signal was lost. 

“Anderson? Anderson, do you copy?”

There was only static on the other side of the com. 

Day 1

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Day 2

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Day 3

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Day 4

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Day 5

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Day 6

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Day 7

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Day 8

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Day 9

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Day 10

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Day 11

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Day 12

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Day 13

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Day 14

“…”

Day 15

“…”

Day 16

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. This is a transmission for the Starship Theseus. Theseus, if you copy, I have been unconscious for the past sixteen days and do not know where I am, other than I’ve drifted into the Pollux Quadrant in pursuit of the entity that I had been observing. Please send help.”

Day 17

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. This is a transmission for the Starship Theseus. Please copy.”

Day 18

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. This is a transmission for the Starship Theseus. Please copy.”

Day 19

“God fucking dammit! Copy, Lopez! Copy, Karofsky! Copy, Fabray! Does anyone copy, please!”

Day 20

“But…why?”

Day 21

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Good to know that the calming exercises given in training do indeed work.”

Day 22

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. The Pollux Quadrant is vast and full of various star clusters from what I can observe. There are several dust clouds that offer an array of patterns and colors.”

Day 23

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 23 from what I can tell. I have nearly two years of life left within this suit, though it is unconfirmed as to how long that time translates in deep space. We’ll see.”

“I’ll, I mean.”

“I’ll see.”

Day 24

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 24. The Pollux Quadrant, though seemingly identical to the Castor Quadrant is in reality vastly different in terms of celestial bodies.”

Day 25

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 25. It is impossible to determine the size of the Pollux Quadrant, but internally it appears to actually be bigger than the Castor Quadrant.

Day 26

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 26. Nothing new to report.”

Day 27

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 27. Nothing new to report.”

Day 28

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 28. Nothing new to report.”

Day 29

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 29. Nothing new to report.”

Day 30

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 30. Nothing new to report.”

Day 31

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 31. Nothing new to report.”

Day 32

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 32. Nothing new to report.”

Day 33

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 33. Nothing new to report.”

Day 34

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 34. The life support systems all seem fully functional.”

Day 35

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 35. Nothing new to report.”

Day 36

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 36. Nothing new to report.”

Day 37

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 37. Nothing new to report.”

Day 38

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 38. Nothing new to report.”

Day 39

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 39. Nothing new to report.”

Day 40

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 40. Nothing new to report.”

Day 41

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 41. Nothing new to report.”

Day 42

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 42. Nothing new to report.”

Day 43

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 43. Nothing new to report.”

Day 44

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 44. Truly, there is not much to report. Everything looks the exact same.”

Day 45 

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 45. Nothing new to report.”

Day 46

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 46. Nothing new to report.”

Day 47

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 47. Nothing new to report.”

Day 48

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 48. Nothing new to report.”

Day 49

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 49. Nothing new to report.”

Day 50

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 50. Nothing new to report.”

Day 51

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 51. Nothing new to report.”

Day 52

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 52. Nothing new to report.”

Day 53

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 53. Nothing new to report.”

Day 54

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 54. Nothing new to report.”

Day 55

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 55. Nothing new to report.”

Day 56

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 56. Nothing new to report.”

Day 57

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 57. Nothing new to report.”

Day 58

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 58. Nothing new to report.”

Day 59

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 59. Nothing new to report.”

Day 60

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 60. Nothing new to report.”

Day 61

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 61. Nothing new to report.”

Day 62

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 62. Nothing new to report.”

Day 63

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 63. Nothing new to report.”

Day 64

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 64. The entity I had been chasing. It was like a rainbow. Or a kaleidoscope. The best way I can describe it is that it was like a burst of light and energy, flying across the stars in the blink of an eye. I wasn’t able to observe more.”

Day 65

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 65. Nothing new to report.”

Day 66

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 66. Nothing new to report.”

Day 67

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 67. Nothing new to report.”

Day 68

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 68. Nothing new to report.”

Day 69

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 69. Nothing new to report.”

Day 70

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 70. Nothing new to report.”

Day 71

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 71. Nothing new to report.”

Day 72

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 72. Nothing new to report.”

Day 73

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 73. Nothing new to report.”

Day 74

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 74. Nothing new to report.”

Day 75

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 75. Nothing new to report.”

Day 76

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 76. Nothing new to report.”

Day 77 

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 77. Nothing new to report.”

Day 78

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 78. Nothing new to report.”

Day 79

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 79. Nothing new to report.”

Day 80

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 80. Nothing new to report.”

Day 81

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 81. Nothing new to report.”

Day 82

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 82. Nothing new to report.”

Day 83

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 83. Nothing new to report.”

Day 84

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 84. Nothing new to report.”

Day 85

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 85. Nothing new to report.”

Day 86

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 86. Nothing new to report.”

Day 87

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 87. Nothing new to report.”

Day 88

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 88. Nothing new to report.”

Day 89

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 89. Nothing new to report.”

Day 90

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 90. Nothing new to report.”

Day 91

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 91. Nothing new to report.”

Day 92

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 92. Nothing new to report.”

Day 93

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 93. Nothing new to report.”

Day 94

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 94. Nothing new to report.”

Day 95

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 95. Nothing new to report.”

Day 96

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 96. Nothing new to report.”

Day 97

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 97. Nothing new to report.”

Day 98

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 98. Nothing new to report.”

Day 99

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 99. Nothing new to report.”

Day 100

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 100. After one hundred days in deep space, my limbs have an odd feeling of suspension and locking, so if I am to ever return to the S.S. Theseus, extensive physical therapy appears to be mandatory.”

Day 101

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 101. Nothing new to report.”

Day 102

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 102. Nothing new to report.”

Day 103

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 103. Nothing new to report.”

Day 104

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 104. Nothing new to report.”

Day 105

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 105. Nothing new to report.”

Day 106

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 106. Nothing new to report.”

Day 107

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 107. Nothing new to report.”

Day 108

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 108. Nothing new to report.”

Day 109

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 109. Nothing new to report.”

Day 110

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 110. Nothing new to report.”

Day 111

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 111. Nothing new to report.”

Day 112

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 112. Nothing new to report.”

Day 113

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 113. Nothing new to report.”

Day 114

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 114. Nothing new to report.”

Day 115

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 115. Nothing new to report.”

Day 116

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 116. In an attempt to increase productivity, I’ve found that this will be an excellent opportunity to test out Dr. Berry’s cognitive practices and their relation to music. I only have five complete music loops in the suit, all from various times, but I should like to test it with them.”

“Holst - The Planets.”

“The Supercilious Glassblowers - Comic Sheets and Starry Quilts.”

“Starburst - Once Upon A Time In 2399.”

“Wicked - The Original Broadway Soundtrack.”

“The Killers - The Complete Works.”

“We’ll see.”

Well, I’ll see.”

Day 117

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 117. Holst’s  Planets are quite interesting, especially since the first three are out of order and Earth isn’t even included. I’ll have to listen to more.”

Day 118

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 118. Mars is delightful. An instant favorite. But it doesn’t really fit the atmosphere.”

Day 119

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 119. Venus is lovely as well, but it doesn’t really fit the depth of space that I’m observing right now. It’s too soft and…flowery almost. It reminds me significantly of the lovers’ theme in Prokofiev’s Romeo et Juliet. 

Day 120

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 120. Mercury is too lively. Everything here is so slow and lethargic.” 

Day 121

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 121. I wish I could feel as bombastic as Jupiter.”

Day 122

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 122. Saturn hits the spot. Finally a piece that can capture the stillness and monotony of space and yet still make it vibrant.”

Day 123

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 123. Uranus is interesting. I appreciate it and it may yet be my favorite, but the only part that fits is the end.

Day 124

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 124. Neptune. My experience right now is definitely Neptune.”

Day 125

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 125. Onto The Supercilious Glassblowers. Apparently they were a big hit in the 2240s, but they’re not as appealing as I’d priorly thought.”

Day 126

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 126. Lilac and Sea-Streaked Flowers sort of compliments the jaggedness of space, but the psychedelic elements don’t really apply.”

Day 127

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 127. Hot Sea Foam Sunglasses is…no. Just no.

Day 128

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 128. Petrichor on a Recycled Wallet reminds me of my mother, oddly enough.”

Day 129

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 129. Stockings On Hardwood. I feel like there’s a sexual joke I’m not getting here.”

Day 130

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 130. Faux Gold Pillow Blossoms could potentially apply to the stars if I squinted, I guess.”

Day 131

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 131. Wine White Ramen evokes the dust and—okay, I can’t even say that without laughing.”

Day 132

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 132. Fold Upon Fold Upon Dethroned Amphibian. That’s it, that’s all I need to say.” 

Day 133

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 133. Kitty Girl Has Claws. Powerful, but it hurt.” 

Day 134

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 134. Bark. I cried listening to it.”

Day 135

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 135. Five Co-eds and a Laundry Basket of Art. The music is becoming less about space to me and more about my enjoyment of it. In this case, I enjoyed Five Co-eds and a Laundry Basket of Art. It felt cuddly.”

Day 136

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 136. Moving on to Once Upon A Time In 2399 with the lovely Starbursts. This album came out twenty years ago, when I was five. I remember my older brother being obsessed with it and playing it all around the house. Time to delve back into childhood…”

Day 137

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 137. Inky Penn Station. Sort of nostalgic.”

Day 138

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 138. Black Rose Bouquet. A tad too remorse for my tastes.”

Day 139

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 139. That Headband. It reminds me of that one song Dr. Berry once tried to compose.”

Day 140

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 140. I Want To Fuck His Cheekbones. I…can sympathize.”

Day 141

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 141. Violet Leaf Bottle. Pretty but obsolete.”

Day 142

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 142. Next album is the Wicked Soundtrack, which Dr. Berry highly recommended.”

Day 143

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 143. No One Mourns The Wicked through What Is This Feeling. A promising start with strong vocals.”

Day 144

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 144. Something Bad through Popular. Amusing and sentimental.” 

Day 145

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 145. I’m Not That Girl through A Sentimental Man. Bright but somewhat dull.”

Day 146

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 146. Defying Gravity. Wow. This…I love this. Sometimes out here, I pretend that I’m flying rather than falling.”

Day 147

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 147. Thank Goodness through As Long As You’re Mine. Sweet. And they hurt too.”

Day 148

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 148. No Good Deed through Finale. Dr. Berry was right. These are fantastic.”

Day 149

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 149. And lastly, select works from The Complete Works of The Killers. And then I’ll move onto singles.”

Day 150 

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 150. Spaceman. Well…it’s highly applicable. And sometimes I do wonder if this is all in my mind.”

Day 151

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 151. Read My Mind. Interesting imagery.”

Day 152

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 152. Mr. Brightside. Fun, if repetitive.” 

Day 153

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 153. The World We Live In. Sort of…morose.”

Day 154

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 154. Bones. Fun and light. It’s appreciated.”

Day 155

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 155. This River Is Wild. I like the fast pace.”

Day 156 

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 156. Andy You’re A Star. Not the same star.”

Day 157

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 157. Why Do I Keep Counting. Well it’s—urgh! What’s the point of all this anyways?”

Day 158

“…”

Day 159

“…”

Day 160

“…”

Day 161

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Day 162

“…”

Day 163

“…”

Day 164

“…”

Day 165

“…”

Day 166

“…”

Day 167

“…”

Day 168

“…”

Day 169

“…”

Day 170

“…”

Day 171

“…”

Day 172

“…”

Day 173

“…”

Day 174

“…”

Day 175

“…”

Day 176

“…”

Day 177

“…”

Day 178

“…”

Day 179

“…”

Day 180

“…”

Day 181

“…”

Day 182

“…”

Day 183

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 183. I’m back after a period of silence. Nothing new to report.”

Day 184

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 184. Nothing new to report.”

Day 185

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 185. Nothing new to report.”

Day 186

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 186. Nothing new to report.”

Day 187

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 187. Nothing new to report.”

Day 188

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 188. Nothing new to report.”

Day 189

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 189. Nothing new to report.”

Day 190

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 190. Nothing new to report.”

Day 191

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 191. Nothing new to report.”

Day 192

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 192. Nothing new to report.”

Day 193

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 193. I’m going to listen to more music now.”

Day 194

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 194. This group Muse is fun. I like their songs.”

Day 195

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 195. Starlight is quite pretty.”

Day 196

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 196. ‘Glaciers melting in the dead of night and the superstars sucked into the supermassive.’ Nice. I like it. 

Day 197 

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 197. Time Is Running Out. Yeah, I think Muse might not be the answer right now…”

Day 198

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 198.  I listened to Coldplay. “Look at the stars, look how they shine for you.” Ha ha ha so funny.”

Day 199

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 199. Across The Universe. Well…it is accurate.” 

Day 200

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 200. There was a Killers lyric. ‘The stars are blazing like rebel diamonds cut out of the sun.’ It feels relevant right now.”

Day 201

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 201. Why are there so many star songs on here?”

Day 202

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 202. Starry Starry Night. I—”

Day 203

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 203. Music is depressing me. I think silence might just be better.”

Day 204

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 204. Nothing new to report.”

Day 205

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 205. Nothing new to report.”

Day 206

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 206. Nothing new to report.”

Day 207

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 207. This is probably too much information but it should be known that it is impossible to masturbate in these suits and I am going slightly insane because of that fact. That is all.”

Day 208

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 208. Nothing new to report.”

Day 209

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 209. Nothing new to report.”

Day 210

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 210. Nothing new to report.”

Day 211

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 211. Nothing new to report.”

Day 212

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 212. Nothing new to report.”

Day 213

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 213. Nothing new to report.”

Day 214

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 214. Nothing new to report.”

Day 215

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 215. Nothing new to report.”

Day 216

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 216. Nothing new to report.”

Day 217

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 217. Nothing new to report.”

Day 218

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 218. Nothing new to report.”

Day 219 

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 219. Nothing new to report.”

Day 220

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 220. Nothing new to report.”

Day 221

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 221. Nothing new to report.”

Day 222

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 222. Nothing new to report.”

Day 223

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 223. Nothing new to report.”

Day 224

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 224. Nothing new to report.”

Day 225

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 225. Nothing new to report.”

Day 226

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 226. Nothing new to report.”

Day 227

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 227. Nothing new to report.”

Day 228

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 228. Nothing new to report.”

Day 229

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 229. Nothing new to report.”

Day 230

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 230. Nothing new to report.”

Day 231

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 231. Nothing new to report.”

Day 232

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 232. Nothing new to report.”

Day 233

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 233. Nothing new to report.”

Day 234

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 234. Nothing new to report.”

Day 235

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 235. Nothing new to report.”

Day 236

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 236. Nothing new to report.”

Day 237

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 237. Nothing new to report.”

Day 238

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 238. Nothing new to report.”

Day 239

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 239. Nothing new to report.”

Day 240

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 240. Nothing new to report.”

Day 241

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 241. Nothing new to report.”

Day 242

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 242. Nothing new to report.”

Day 243

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 243. Nothing new to report.”

Day 244

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 244. Nothing new to report.”

Day 245

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 245. Nothing new to report.”

Day 246

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 246. Nothing new to report.”

Day 247

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 247. Nothing new to report.”

Day 248

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 248. Nothing new to report.”

Day 249

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 249. Nothing new to report.”

Day 250

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 250. Nothing new to report.”

Day 251

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 251. Nothing new to report.”

Day 252

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 252. Nothing new to report.”

Day 253

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 253. Nothing new to report.”

Day 254

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 254. Nothing new to report.”

Day 255

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 255. Nothing new to report.”

Day 256

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 256. Nothing new to report.”

Day 257

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 257. Nothing new to report.”

Day 258

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 258. Nothing new to report.”

Day 259

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 259. Nothing new to report.”

Day 260

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 260. Nothing new to report.”

Day 261

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 261. Nothing new to report.”

Day 262

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 262. Nothing new to report.”

Day 263

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 263. Nothing new to report.”

Day 264

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 264. Nothing new to report.”

Day 265

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 265. Nothing new to report.”

Day 266

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 266. Nothing new to report.”

Day 267

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 267. Nothing new to report.”

Day 268

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 268. Nothing new to report.”

Day 269

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 269. Nothing new to report.”

Day 270

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 270. Nothing new to report.”

Day 271

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 271. Nothing new to report.”

Day 272

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 272. Nothing new to report.”

Day 273

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 273. Nothing new to report.”

Day 274

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 274. Nothing new to report.”

Day 275

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 275. Nothing new to report.”

Day 276

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 276. Nothing new to report.”

Day 277

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 277. Nothing new to report.”

Day 278

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 278. Nothing new to report.”

Day 279

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 279. Nothing new to report.”

Day 280

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 280. Nothing new to report.”

Day 281

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 281. Nothing new to report.”

Day 282

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 282. Nothing new to report.”

Day 283

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 283. Nothing new to report.”

Day 284

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 284. Nothing new to report.”

Day 285

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 285. Nothing new to report.”

Day 286

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 286. Nothing new to report.”

Day 287 

“Science Officer Blaine Anderson. Day 287. Nothing new to—I—I don’t know why I keep making these. It’s clearly futile as it’s highly unlikely that I’ll ever escape the Castor Quadrant and I’ve already reported everything that I can. But it gives me some comfort, I suppose. The uniformity of it.”

“One of the most commonly recognized fears on the planet Earth is claustrophobia, or the fear of small and enclosed spaces. No one really talks much about its opposite though, agoraphobia. It’s the fear of wide open spaces. It’s more than that though. It usually has to do with a discomfort in public places due to feelings of embarrassment.”

“I’m trying to diagnose what I have. I am in a very wide open space.”

“But I don’t fear embarrassment or having to interact with other people. Because there are no other people here. There’s nothing else here.”

“It could be astrophobia. Or, more commonly, the fear of stars and space. Though that condition usually has to do with fear of extraterrestrial invasion, which I don’t fear at the moment. With something closer to my case, it’d also most likely linked with nyctophobia, a strong fear of the dark because of not having the knowledge of what it contains.”

“It reminds me of something my older brother Cooper once said—one of the few things out of his mouth that I’d actually go so far as to call wisdom. He said:”

“Blaine, people aren’t scared of the dark. They’re scared of the moment the light comes on.” 

“In any case, the foreseeable next year and a half that my life is sustained in this suit will be spent staring at the stars and the unfathomable darkness and eternity that surrounds me.”

“I don’t know the exact diagnosis for it.”

“But I know that I am scared.”

Day 288

“Blaine Anderson. Day 288. No need for formalities when I’m alone.”

Day 289

“Blaine Anderson. Day 289. I remember my first day of academy. I had a crush on Jeremiah Stones, my astrophysics teacher. He had the prettiest hair, like sunlight. My infatuation lasted about a month before I moved on. I’ve had dozens of flings and crushes, but I—”

“Sorry, I just had the oddest feeling that there was something behind me.”

“How silly.”

“That’s impossible.”

Day 290

“Blaine Anderson. Day 290. Nothing new to report.”

Day 291

“Blaine Anderson. Day 291. Nothing new to report.”

Day 292

“Blaine Anderson. Day 292. Nothing new to report.”

Day 293

“Blaine Anderson. Day 293. Nothing new to report.”

Day 294

“Blaine Anderson. Day 294. Nothing new to report.”

Day 295

“Blaine Anderson. Day 295. Nothing new to report.”

Day 296

“Blaine Anderson. Day 296. Nothing new to report.”

Day 297

“Blaine Anderson. Day 297. Nothing new to report.”

Day 298

“Blaine Anderson. Day 298. Nothing new to report.”

Day 299

“Blaine Anderson. Day 299. Nothing new to report.”

Day 300

“Day 300.”

“Half-way there.”

“In another 300 days, my tank will run out.”

“And I’ll die in the Pollux Quadrant of deep space.”

“If all of my days are numbered, then why do I keep counting?

Day 301

“But what’s the point anymore?”

Day 302

“…”

Day 303

“…”

Day 304

“Maybe I should just cut off my oxygen.”

Day 305

“…”

Day 306

“…”

Day 307

“…”

Day 308

“…”

Day 309

“…”

Day 310

“…”

Day 311

“It’s an inevitability anyways…”

Day 312

“…”

Day 313

“…”

Day 314

“…”

Day 315

“…”

Day 316

“…”

Day 317

“…”

Day 318

“Well, at least the scenery’s nice.”

Day 319

“…”

Day 320

“…”

Day 321

“…”

Day 322

“…”

Day 323

“…”

Day 324

“…”

Day 325

“…”

Day 326

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Day 327

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Day 328

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Day 329

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Day 330

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Day 331

“…”

Day 332

“Is this the real life?”

Day 333

“…”

Day 334

“…”

Day 335

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Day 336

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Day 337

“…”

Day 338

“…”

Day 339

“…”

Day 340

“…”

Day 341

“…”

Day 342

“This is Dr. Blaine Anderson, keeping record for deep sea explorations. I’ve lost contact with the submarine, and everything down here is pitch black.”

“It is extremely lonely.”

“However, there is one thing that has been bugging me. Why my line snapped and released me into the deep abyss of the sea. I’d had it checked four days ago and it was in perfect condition.”

“So why would it break now?”

Day 343

“This is Dr. Blaine Anderson, keeping record for deep sea explorations. There seems to be a creature here that is swimming around. I’d say it’s a large fish, but it appears almost humanoid. It definitely is bioluminescent because it appears very quickly and out of nowhere for mere seconds at a time. Like a kaleidoscope. Or a rainbow.”

Day 344

“This is Dr. Blaine Anderson, keeping record for deep sea explorations. The creature was slower today. And stars above, if I didn’t know better, I’d say it was a…”

“…a mermaid.”

Day 345

“Merman. It’s close now and growing closer. So beautiful and shimmering and I’m trying to make out what exactly it is because it can’t be that, it just can’t be.”

Day 346

“My God! It’s full of stars!”

Day 347

“…”

Day 348

“…”

Day 349

“…”

Day 350

“…”

Day 351

“…”

Day 352

“…”

Day 353

“…”

Day 354

“…”

Day 355

“…”

Day 356

“…”

Day 357

“Is this just fantasy?”

“I’m losing my mind…”

Day 358

“…”

Day 359

“…”

Day 360

“…”

Day 361

“…”

Day 362

“…”

Day 363

“Losing my mind…”

Day 364

“…”

Day 365

“…”

Day 366

“…”

Day 367

“…”

Day 368

“…”

Day 369

“…”

Day 370

“…”

Day 371

“Losing control…”

Day 372

“…”

Day 373

“…”

Day 374

“…”

Day 375

“Twinkle.”

Day 376

“…”

Day 377

“…”

Day 378

“…”

Day 379

“Twinkle.”

Day 380

“…”

Day 381

“…”

Day 382

“…”

Day 383

“Little.”

Day 384

“…”

Day 385

“…”

Day 386

“Star.”

Day 387

“…”

Day 388

“…”

Day 389

“…”

Day 390

“…”

Day 391

“How.”

Day 392

“…”

Day 393

“…”

Day 394

“…”

Day 395

“I.”

Day 396

“…”

Day 397

“…”

Day 398

“…”

Day 399

“Wonder.”

Day 400

“…”

Day 401

“…”

Day 402

“…”

Day 403

“…”

Day 404

“…”

Day 405

“What.”

Day 406

“…”

Day 407

“…”

Day 408

“…”

Day 409

“…”

Day 410

“You are.”

Day 411

“…”

Day 412

“…”

Day 413

“…”

Day 414

“My connection to the S.S. Theseus was perfect. It had been perfect my entire six years of service.”

“So why did the connection break? I don’t understand.”

“Was I let go of? Karofsky never did like me.”

“Did he condemn me to this life alone amongst the stars?”

“To die in oblivion?”

Day 415

“…”

Day 416

“I could cut off my air supply. End it all.”

Day 417

“I’m going to die anyways. And it’s not like anyone would care.”

Day 418

“I just wish that there was…”

Day 419

“What in god’s name was that?”

Day 420

“…”

Day 421

“…”

Day 422

“…”

Day 423

“…”

Day 424

“…”

Day 425

“I’m not alone. Something’s watching me.”

Day 426

“I was wrong about fear. I didn’t know fear before.”

“Cooper was right though. It’s the moment that the light comes on that’s the most terrifying.”

“Like when you close your eyes because something’s scary. You don’t want to open your eyes because you know that you’ll experience that terror.”

“Like right now. I won’t open my eyes because I’m afraid of what I’ll see.”

“Because here in deep space in the Pollux Quadrant, I was woken up.”

“By something tapping on my helmet.”

Day 427

At 6:18 Earth Eastern Standard Time, the S.S. Theseus received it’s first transmission from Science Officer Blaine Anderson in over a year.

The message was overladen with static, but a few words could be made out.

“Oh…there…are…I’ve…looking…you forever.”