Page 12 of Lunar Blackout

On the phone he at first tried to apologise, which was clearly not genuine, and because I wouldn’t accept it, he’s going nuclear on me. Something which I really don’t care for right now.

WINSTON: Fuck off, Justin.

I take a deep breath in, remember the mindfulness techniques Doctor Khan has taught me, and block the son of a bitch from my communications device.

“Right Captain, we shan’t be securing your helmet until you are about to enter the shuttle craft itself, so you are okay to go,” says the chief staff member of my team. I feel rude for not knowing any of these people’s names, but they were thrust into my prep room at command only an hour ago, and now here I am, suited and booted and destined for the Moon.

***

I can’t help but laugh at the fact that the song Fly Me to the Moon is seen as romantic, and here I am, sitting in a space shuttle with the man my heart has belonged to for the last ten years. I haven’t truly admitted that to myself before now, because I didn’t think there was any hope for us, but after yesterday, I think there might be. We’ve still got an hour or so until take off, but we are locked in and raring to go, and hopefully my last-minute request is onboard too.

The Spitfire shuttle is cosy, but slightly less claustrophobic than the simulation Spitfire back in London. That was a 75% scale replica, the reduced size created to add the extra claustrophobia they expect us to feel because of being in the vastness of space. That’s complete bullshit to me, I’ve never once felt anything negative from being in space, but we let the Earth-locked scientists have their fun torturing us, because at the end of the day, we are going to space and they’re not, and once we are safely in orbit, I’ll give them the space-gloved finger and blow a raspberry at them too for good measure. But not when Iolo can see what I am doing of course.

The command deck is big enough for just two, a third can be added but I can’t see why, every mission that has been planned with this shuttle is for two. The body of the shuttle is tall enough that we can stand, and there is enough space for two of us to work comfortably at the same time.

Like the American shuttle before it, the Spitfire shuttle has hatch doors over its main body, which, unlike the American shuttle, doesn’t open to a cargo bay, but when opens reveals a window, that will allow us to at first look down over Earth, and then re-open when we fly by the Moon in a few days’ time. Normally all I feel is awe when I look down from space to the Earth, but I predict, especially given my current company, that looking over the Moon will feel quite romantic.

The final section of the craft is at the back, the newest in hygiene technology. While the vacuum toilet hasn’t changed much over the last century, the new and improved Zero Gravity Hygiene Pouch, or “Bath Bag” as we call it, is a welcome addition. A carbon fibre sack that everything from your neck down gets sealed into, fills with warm water and soap, and allows you to clean yourself thoroughly. Gone are the days of the scent of stale sweat in space. Though the water is still reclaimed and filtered piss. You can’t win them all!

Iolo and I have hardly said a word to each other today, but there is no awkwardness between us. Actually it’s the opposite of awkward, its tranquil. We are both in our own world of mindfulness, and each time we glance at each other, we smile through the glass of our helmets.

***

Our bodies shake as the G-force increases. We’re shooting into the air at a higher speed than humans probably should ever travel and I am exhilarated! This is what I love, this is why I do this job, this thrill, this excitement, this adrenaline. Nothing can top this feeling.

I feel something on my leg and I look down and see Iolo has placed his hand on me. Okay, maybe something can top how I was feeling milliseconds ago, cause I’ve gone from 10 to 100. This trip is going to be epic.

The four boosters separate from the body of the rocket, followed by the core stage. Everything is going as planned, everything is going as rehearsed, and before we know it, we are in high earth orbit, with little old earth above our hearts, a giant blue marble in the sky. Our home has never looked more beautiful.

***

“Systems check complete, Captain we are good to go.” He sounds so sexy when he talks mission statement to me.

“Roger that, Control this is Captain Smith, system checks are showing as a-okay up here, do we have clearance to initiate lunar trajectory?” I hold my breath as I ask this. While Iolo completed checks up here, so did his counterpart at ground control, and they could have found issues that we didn’t spot. It’s rare, but it can happen.

“They are being too quiet.” He’s overthinking again, but at least this time it’s not about me. I smile at Iolo to comfort him, but he’s right. It’s been too long.

“Control this is Captain Smith, do you read me?” Again, silence. But then I spot something that makes me cackle so much that my eyes tear up, which is an inconvenience and a half up here in space! My tears cloud my vision, and that makes me laugh even more. Iolo rushes to get me a tissue from the hygiene quarters and he helps me dry my eyes while looking at me funny.

I point down to the cause of my hysterics and it makes him giggle too. I reach over and actually activate the comms system. “Ground Control,” I say, still a little giggle coming from my voice, “our system checks are a-okay, requesting authorisation to commence preparation for translunar injection.”

Command confirms we are okay to go, and before we know it, we are heading on our four-day journey to the Moon.

***

Iolo and I both have our own assignments as we head to the Moon, testing new systems, doing radiation scans of the vacuum outside our shuttle now that we have exited the Van Allen radiation belts. My favourite task so far has been holding the camera while Iolo teaches a science class via video connection. While I don’t understand a word of the Welsh language, hearing him light up as he speaks his native language, talking to young kids about the marvels of the universe and space travel, truly makes my heart swell.

When I was in school, I thought only America went to space, and now the kids of today can dream of going to the stars themselves, no matter where they’re from. If they become scientists, of course.

As always, it’s taken me no time at all to get used to zero gravity, but I have decided to pretend to be struggling, just a little bit, so I can use that as an excuse for bumping into Iolo constantly, and it’s worth it for the eye-roll and the smile I get every time.

Totally worth it.

***

“I can’t believe we’re here.” Iolo’s voice is full of wonderment and awe as we look out of the command deck windows at the grey sphere that is slowly getting bigger and bigger. The four days to get here have flown by, and I share Iolo’s sentiment. I can’t believe we’re here either. After years of training and hoping to being selected, I am about to see the Moon up close with my own eyes.

“I can’t believe I am here, with you.” I share a soft smile with Iolo, taking in his face, which, while it’s cringe to say, I find more beautiful than the view outside of my window. A month ago, if you’d asked me what the highlight of this mission was going to be, I would have said seeing the lunar surface of course, but now, now I’m actually living it, the best part has been spending four mostly uninterrupted days with Iolo. And God, I hope he feels the same way, but I won’t have to wonder for long.