Earthrise

Posted on Mon May 4th, 2020 @ 1:16pm by Lieutenant JG Shaille Levine & Warrant Officer Koh Ottasu

Mission: Around The World in 8 Days
Location: Luna

The shuttle ride had been uneventful, albeit longer than expected as they travelled from Earth to Luna. Despite the shuttle already stopping at three different locations, each time the doors opened, Shaille rested a hand lightly on Koh's arm and shook her head, her smile unfaltering, until finally they were the only two that remained.

Slipping out of her seat, Shaille moved to the front of the craft and picked up a duffle she'd brought aboard earlier, setting it on the seat next to him. "I got your EV suit from the Astraea," she said with a smile, pulling her own out before handing the bag to him. "We'll be arriving in a few minutes, so you'd better be quick," she finished with a grin.

Koh gave a smirk, "Always prepared, aren't you? And here I thought I'd just have to hold my breath." he joked, knowing that was a terrible idea. The EVA suits were designed to be put on quickly, and he didn't have much difficulty putting his on in the timeframe she gave him. Plenty of head room, with space in the back of the helmet for his ears to fold back. Uncomfortable, probably, but it beat exposure to vacuum.

He checked the seals, then moved over to check the seals on her suit, almost out of muscle memory. "All blue. Wait, you use green lights for good. All green."

She smiled as he checked her suit. It was one of the many small things that he did without thinking that showed her he cared. "This isn't really a public area as such, more a... sshh, we won't look and you won't tell kind of arrangement." she said as she felt the shuttle bump down onto the surface. "We're being dropped off, and the shuttle will be back in about 30 minutes to pick us up and drop us back to one of the colonies. Ready?"

He gave her a nod, "Oh, I understand. This is something that never happened, and no questions." he said with a chuckle. As she asked his readiness, he gave another nod, "Oh yes, very much so."

"You must visit your home moon often."

"Almost never," Shaille admitted quietly as they disembarked the shuttle and cleared the area before the shuttle departed, leaving them alone. "Most of this part of the moon was never colonised. Just a few miles that way," she said, pointing, "was the original site for the first moon landing."

"A pity, but I've heard that Earth doesn't hold her moon in as high regard as we do, which is perfectly alright." he said, reassuring, as he knelt down to run his suited hand along the surface of the moon. Just beneath his feet. He looked over in the direction where she pointed, but made no motion to travel there. "Sacred ground, then. The moment when humanity, still an infant in space, reached out to their closest celestial neighbor and took that first step. I can't even imagine what that must have felt like. That first step onto your moon, must have felt like a step you all took together. Still, it's a beautiful moon. Silent, an observer, a partner in the trip through the heavens. Always there, though not the kind of partner to remind you of their presence." he turned to look at Shaille, and he gave a smile. Seeing a Ts'usugi smile was a rare sight, but for her, he shared his emotions without hesitation.

"We hold our moons in high regard. We live on them, and our homeworld Ts'usu hangs overhead. A silent reminder of the jewel we had, and the promise of a return." a pause, "If you believe the stories, I mean. Ts'usu is wherever you are. Every rock, every tree, every river, all of those can be Ts'usu." a pause, "I think the same can be true of Earth, if you let it. I see the Earth in you. Her shining moments, her flaws, her beauty." and he brought a hand up to caress her EVA suit. The moment spoiled by the thinnest of barriers.

Shaille smiled and stepped in closer to him, pulling one arm around her, her hand covering his from within her suit, her other hand pointing to the half circular Earth on the horizon.

"That is something you can only really see from this part of the moon. It's called Earthrise," She said quietly, her voice lowering despite the fact that there was no one around to hear them.

The sight was breathtaking. The crystal blue Earth rising over the battered grey lunar surface almost appeared small and delicate, a magnificent spot of color in the vast inky darkness of space.

Koh was mesmerized. It was such a fantastic view, of such a magnificent location. "It's so beautiful." he said in a hush. "I can't even imagine what those first explorers thought when the landed here, turned, and saw that."

"Your homeworld is precious, dear. Though I don't think I'm telling you anything you don't already know." he said with a smirk. "Thank you, for sharing this, and indulging the moon dreams of a Son of Ts'usu."

Shaille turned in the arm that was still around her until she could face him, their EV suits between them. "There is no one else in the universe I would rather share it with," she said with a soft smile. "And I wouldn't have it any other way."

Turning back to face the Earth again, her hands closing over his hand just below her ribs, holding her against him. She leaned back against him, watching the earth, her head against his. "I love you," she murmured softly in the silence.

And Koh held her close, as close as the EVA suits would allow, and he watched the Earth with her. Her home. While just beneath his boots, the dust and rock of a dead moon carried them. A moon, a location somewhat more familiar for him. This moment was their moment. Separated by just enough material that their touch was muffled, but distant touches were par for the course for Ts'usugi culture. "Dalacar gave me the courage to say those words to you." he admitted, "But they came from my heart. I love you, Shaille Levine."

He gave that re-dedication the silence and time it needed, that it deserved... "So, when's that shuttle coming back?" he asked, a teasing tone to his voice.

Shaille laughed and leaned against him. "Any minute, so enjoy the view while you can."

With that, he turned from the Earth to face her.