Novel: Bad press calls for desperate measures. For the Interstellar Forces, sending a small crew to Neptune was the bet they were willing to make - at the risk of losing what little respect they have left (and maybe some lives).
A roll of dice and a lack of options led to the selection of the Celestion-5’s crew, a collection of inexperienced astronauts ranging from space-loving dreamers to cynics only in it for the money.
It’s them against the universe, and their odds are a gamble at best. Learning how to live together can only help. Though with the crew’s pervasive personal problems, that might be the real journey.
New Chapter: Someone makes a confession.
Sample:
Leon made his exit, finally leaving the two of them alone so Emil could ask what the heck that was about. He decided to go for a more delicate approach in the hopes that she didn’t run from the conversation.
“Hey, uh, Roxie?” He pivoted toward her. “How’ve you been? I haven’t really seen you around before we all started searching together.”
Roxie gave him a 1000-watt smile, bright and artificial. Something about it seemed almost knowing. “I am well, but, waaaugh,” she yawned dramatically, “I’m so, so sweepy~”
“But it’s only 8:30.” Emil read from the microwave clock. As far as he knew, only Lorenzo was a good enough boy to go to bed before 9.
“Oh my! So close to my bedtime!” She backed away toward the hallway door. “I hear my pillow calling meeee~ It’s important not to disturb your circadian rhythm, you know. So I bid you a goodnighty-bye-bye!” With one last wave, Roxie disappeared into the hall.
“...’Night, Roxie.” He might as well have been talking to the door.
She ran away. Of course she ran away, he would’ve done the same a few months ago. So strange of her to reach out to him when burnout had him feeling down, only to not take a helping hand in return. That’s what he thought until he realized he also would’ve done that a few months ago. Maybe even now, depending on the circumstance.