Prologue - Just One More Sip....

Space... It is endlessly large. A captivating, all encompassing mystery that has brought mankind to tears for thousands of years...

But no one noticed, or rather, they didn't seem to care at all. Their small minds were elsewhere... The gorgeous light of a dying star shined through the heavily tinted glass of the small spacecraft. But no passenger of the small bus turned to look.

Neither did they bat an eyelid at the breathtaking asteroid belt.. or the seven moons of the Globular 9 system...

The driver kept his eyes on the... well, nothing really. What was there to see out in the vacuum of space? Some road sign saying 'Vegas 10 miles ahead' ??? No... only a few panels and a set of holograms that kept him and the passengers from colliding with a small planet at 100,000 mi/s... Not that it would be a bad way to go... The pestering of the Gloglon to his rear certainly made the driver consider it.

"Hey buddy... could you pick up the pace?" The green faced, three eyed businessman asked for the 12th time... The driver had just picked up his cup of joe to get a drink. There was a brief flash as they passed the third sun of the trip... with a sigh he put it back down...

"Sir, as I've said. I am going as fast as regulation permits..." the middle aged human gave his best 'Wish I could do more' smile before turning back to the wheel.

"Hmph" the Gloglon scoffed, "Yeah right... This meeting is worth more than you will make in your life"

He wasn't wrong. The driver knew that, but it didn't make it any less irritating. He took an eye off the guidance hologram for a second, looking down at the small metal cup. Steam rose amidst the chatter of the 30 or so passengers on board. It was a warming sight, a slight comfort.. Life is all about the little things: a cat nap, or a new pair of shoes.. A meal with a friend or, in the driver's case, a single cup of coffee...

Not that he really enjoyed the taste. It was bitter.. But nothing could have made him happier in that moment than taking a sip. Well... maybe ejecting the Gloglon into the vacuum of space... But sadly the 'GreyStar Bus Co. Inc. LLC & associates' didn't add ejection seats to their list of 'comforts and amenities'..

He reached for the coffee, but a beep interrupted him.. he quickly shot his hand back to the wheel and made a slight adjustment, narrowly avoiding a car sized asteroid... Then another... and another...

He furrowed his brow and focused on driving. The asteroid cluster didn't seem to have an end in sight. So he turned his thoughts elsewhere.. away from the bleak majesty of space, or the musty smell of recycled air and the noisy passengers to his rear... and sadly... away even from the aromatic cup of joe at his side... Back to a simpler time...

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