"How fast you think SID travels?" I asked Agnes just after star rise. We'd been watchin' little Flash and SID talkin' up a storm with flashes of color too numerous to name.

"There is evidence to suggest that SID travels thoughtspeed, Shaula."

"Thoughtspeed? You think SID could just think us onto a new planet? Like we could just hold hands and jump before we could say 'pink grass'?"

"Something like that, Shaula." Agnes smiled.

"It sure would be nice if SID could just think us home?" I looked out the port window at SID, tryin' not to sigh too loud. Visions of the magenta star I named after my momma were all aglow in my mind. I couldn't help but wonder how much longer it'd be before we saw the Noreen star. It marked the entrance to The Gate swingin' between the Lotus and Milky Way galaxy.

"I will conduct extensive research, Shaula. The probability is high. Are you forgetting something?"

Agnes looked right comical with her hands on her hips. Typical woman, I thought, still marvelin' at how she came to be.

"I give up. Is it our anniversary or somethin'? Were we plannin' an outin' with little Flash?"

"No, Shaula, we are still in the process of exploring and mapping out this galaxy."

"So, you're saying that the pink grass will have to wait?"

Agnes nodded, then leaned closer to little Flash. A broad grin appeared on her face. She handed little Flash to me.

"Hey there little Flash. Got somethin' to say?"

Flash had been a light orange hue while Agnes was holdin' him. Now, he started flashin' an entire palette of pink-includin' vermillion! It was quite the sight.

"We'll I'll be! I've got my fill of pink right here. Thank you, Flash!"

Our baby rock beamed his pleasure with molten gold.

"We've got lots of explorin' still to do. Maybe you've got an inklin' where we could go next?"

SID, who'd been followin' beside us shot out a bolt of emerald green lightnin' that had me startled. Flash responded with a green glow.

"SID has sent us coordinates. I am adding them to our updated chart." Agnus pulled up several layers of charts. I got dizzy just lookin' at them turnin' and shiftin'. How she kept them all straight in her mind was beyond my ken.

"How far to the planet?" I asked Angus, wonderin' if I had time to get a little shut-eye. I hadn't been sleepin' too good again, but I wasn't complainin' 'cause Agnus had updated her romance protocols. It's not like a man could sleep through that!

"SID has 'taken our hand' as you said. We are breaching their air space."

We settled into sand just past an incredible ocean! I wasn't sure if LADY could travel underwater, but we had divin' equipment if need be. Flash was glowin' all happy-and so was SID. It seems there's somethin' in the water here, something tasty both of them want.

Agnus and I set to explorin' with Flash nestled into a pouch I slung over my shoulder. Needed to have my hands ready just in case we needed to scramble over rocks or whatnot.

The air was breathable. A light breeze ruffled my hair, and the sand was composed of fine grains. I took off my boots and walked barefoot along the shore. Maybe we'd stay here for a bit, I remember thinkin', until Agnus took my hand and led me toward a cave not more than a few meters in front of us. That cave was emanatin' emerald green.

"Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" I asked Agnus.

She nodded and pulled me up the rocks to the openin'. Flash was pressin' up against his pouch and wobblin' somethin' fierce. I picked him up and handed him to Agnus, 'cause my skin was startin' to get that tingly feelin' again, just like it did on that minin' planet where we first found little Flash.

Just before duckin' to enter the cave, I scanned the sky for SID. Where'd he go? I nearly jumped out of my skin?

SID was right on the beach, a munchin' on the sand!

We might be seein' you sooner than you think! Shaula Randolf, Star Pilot 3rd Class, Agnus, Flash & SID

pilot

unexplored galaxy
translating color arrays
into star charts

warm metal
melting inside me
giving thanks

go for a ride?
gogogogogo
blue is for impatience