Jump Seat

Jump Launch initialized, counting down ....

T-minus 10

How I got here, in this cockpit, aimed for Alpha Centari - it's not that interesting. Yes, Old Earth is on the outs, but lots of folks are staying - really most folks. Flights to the New Earths are expensive and risky, but I earned the money - and don't have anything to lose, not anymore.

T-minus 9

Ever heard of wormholes? Well, those Ruskies figured out how to jump through space. "ZIP into one end and POP out the other!" That's how the commercials go. Problem is there's only room for one in a jump and, realistically, only a 50/50 chance of making it through in one piece.

T-minus 8

Turned in my notice at work last week. Got some strange looks. Didn't tell anyone where I'd be headed, didn't want them to follow me. Looks like I should be able to find a job in Centari, if I make it.

T-minus 7

My girlfriend's pretty sad. She's still back in the states. I told her she could come with me, but first: she "isn't about to leave her family", and second: she "doesn't want to fucking die". That's why we're not physically together right now, I guess. She says I'm leaving her; I say I'll be back.

T-minus 6

My brother hasn't been very supportive, either. Says I got "shit for brains", that I have "an attitude problem", that what I really need to do is "grow the fuck up". He says I should tell the parents, at least. "Don't make me be the one to tell them," he says. I can't tell them.

T-minus 5

The ship is a real piece of work. The culmination of all man's scientific pursuit, wrapped up in a titanium tortilla with Ruskie sauce. They say the reason only one person can fly in it is cuz, when you jump, you get all flattened out. They say it's not possible to flatten and then unflatten a group of people at the same time, not yet anyway.

T-minus 4

Never thought of being hooked into a computer this way. Every place they could stick a wire, they stuck. I can see myself on the screen, all angles - didn't realize I had that ... shape. They shaved my head to make room for more wires, but that's ok. Never seen so many dials and meters, all reflecting my ... biometrics - I think that's what they said. They'd be monitoring this stuff from Old Earth and if my vitals "blinked out" they'd let my family know, that's all included in the package that I bought.

T-minus 3

Will I miss Old Earth? That's a funny question. Never thought about it before now, actually. Yeah, I think I will miss it. They don't have trees in the Centaris, not on the surfaces anyway - not real trees. I've also grown mighty accustomed to the sun here, just one sun - I'm a one sun kind of guy. Seen pictures of the two suns in Centari - binary stars or somethin'. Gonna take some gettin' use to, that.

T-minus 2

Woah, guess this is it. In a second I'll be ridin' a ray of light, flattening and unflattening - if I'm lucky. I never have been lucky, though, which is why I'm here in the first place. Send my regards to the genius Ruskie bastards that built this fuckin' thing. Tell 'em, if they ever make it out to the Centaris, Benji Jarvis might buy 'em vodka.

T-minus 1

ZIP