"The Ballad of Arson Dave (An Interstellar Crime Novel)"

 

Sugarcoating for the psyche.

When Magnesium reactions beckon the universe to cease, to slowly tear the cosmos apart. That is where the horizon line is. That is where elements come crashing into silent, absolute frozen bliss. Horrific scenes beheld from the safer side of our spacesuits.

Captain says we'll all be dead by morning. His baritone voice so soft now. Those askew silver hairs in his beard heavy with sweat, tears, blood & sorrow. He'd lost crew members. Not a whole fucking crew.

Through the blaring sirens and flashing caution markers I see medics running to help...or for help...it's not even discernible at this point. The vessel is a mangled wreck collapsing in on itself. Our's is a fate worse than death.

Faster and faster the people crowd into the safety lines of the cargo center. Imagine that, a bunch of shmucks gathered in panic around all the crap they couldn't live without. Irony finds it's way into the furthest reaches to smile at us bleeding out.

That's what we've all been waiting for. That sound.

That there...that's the sound of dying about to happen. I drag the last of my cigarettes out of the pack with my teeth, let the pack clap to the floor. I lift my lighter up, draw back the wheels and spark that coffin nail.

...Ladies & Gentlemen: Welcome to Strangeland...