Captain EO

By the third day, I could feel frostbite coating my fingers. My mind felt fuzzy, and my vision kept blacking out. The still metal body of Major Domo was nothing but a blur in the corner of my eye. My tongue felt swollen, I couldn’t speak. Then we heard it, the thumps of boots hitting the ground and gruff voices outside. It was Commander Bog and his team. I don’t remember much; I barely recall Commander Bog lifting me onto the stretcher and carrying my heavy body. By the time we were home, things seemed okay. But late at night when sleep escapes me I can't help but ask myself... Do I deserve to be Captain?

On the second day, the power on the spaceship went out. Frost had crystalized over our window, bathing everything in a pale light. The silence of the planet made my ears ring, and it never stopped. My crew still looked to me for hope, and I could do nothing but tell them help was coming. When? Idy and Ody asked. Soon, I replied. It was the only answer I could give. I was failing them already. Hours went by. It was always bright outside, no matter how much time passed. Suddenly Major Domo, our robotic security officer, turned his head to me and said "Captain, I feel... cold" before collapsing onto the floor.

Planet Boreas, a frozen wasteland deserted for over 100 years. My crew and I had crash-landed there for three days. The sail to our spaceship was frozen, meaning we were stranded until Commander Bog and his team found us. I remember the harsh winds pushing against the ship, causing the lights to flicker. Frost had formed around the window, the extreme cold forming delicate cracks into the glass. I could feel my crew was starting to worry, I told them “We’ll be fine, just stay close together.” But I won’t deny that the foreboding silence that surrounded us then didn’t make me nervous.