Prose:Fireline Travel Vignette

“Fireline… gosh, it’s such a beautiful city. Unlike anything I’ve ever seen here on Earth. I’d do anything to see it with my own eyes… even if just for a day.”

“Why can’t you?”

She sighed.

“Moutou’s 25 light years away. 25 back. And you can’t just get on a ship- it’s not about money, it’s not something you can buy. You need an approved colony placement.”

“Theoretically, anyone can apply. But the waiting list’s always millions long, and the reality of it is nobody’s even looking at your application unless you’re a serious high-achiever. Like you pioneered a whole new field of science. Something like that.”

“Say you do get fast tracked. Pass the interviews, the psych evals, the med panels. You’re looking at about 2-3 years of training. And then, once you’re in active reserve, you’ll have a chance to be picked for the next mission, which might be another 5 or 10 years down the line.”

Her friend chuckled.

“It’s weird how it’s easier for us to visit a different dimension than a star just a few systems over, isn’t it? I mean, even I know people who’ve been to Ikechol. If it weren’t for the week of quarantine, you’d even be there the very same day.”

She looked back over.

“It makes sense. With a different dimension, you’re still in the same physical location. Just a different instance of that location. Even if you went to Ikechol - you’re still exactly the same distance away from Moutou as you were before.”