Flash Fiction Intergalactic road trip Authors Mary Zuelke Author ISTTU

ISTTU

by Mary Zuelke Author

200 words · 2 likes · Permalink

What’s happening? Why’ve we stopped?”
Hivor slammed his fist onto Bijor’s monitor, glaring.

Bijor kept working, eyes fixed on the console.

“Well?” Hivor persisted.

“It’s Xcel, he—“

“I’ve already recalibrated the flight path twice. We’re behind schedule!”

“It’s his mom. Said he needed to see her.”

“We’re on a 10-trillion-dollar mission and he wants to talk to mommy? What is the ITA coming to?”

“Xcel is the captain.”

“We have a schedule to uphold. I for one—"

“Concerns, Lieutenant?”

Hivor turned sharply. Xcel stood behind him.

He exhaled, then glanced at Bijor who never stopped working.

“What’s the reason we stopped?” His voice calmer.

Xcel tapped the COM, the blue screen set his eyes aglow.

“I didn’t realize I owed you an explanation,” he said evenly. “But I’m happy to share.”

He finished keying the command and looked up.

“We’re being equipped with the newest Inter-Space-Time-Travel-Unit, ISTTU.” Xcel’s smile grew. “Yesterday, Admiral Mines requested our presence at Tuenston Station. Work will be completed at nineteen hundred hours.”

Hivor’s mouth fell open.

“Be ready for training.” He tapped the COM again. “The unit’s integrated into the core system and you’ll be managing it…. Did I mention Admiral Mines is my mother?”

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