Orbiting Titan …


    Captain Sarah Merrick and her crew prepared for their ‘first’ mission beyond the solar system.


    General Powers called from Titan HQ.


    "Captain, your top priority is to search for life on Proxima Centauri b and immediately signal back."


    "Yes, General …"


    "Captain, since the ship will use the new bubble-drive engine, it''ll get you there in a few centuries. Nevertheless, we''ll be long gone before receiving your report. When you return, you''ll be in contact with another generation of colonists."


    "Understood, sir. It''s been a pleasure serving under your command."


    If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    "We honor your life and your legacy, Sarah."


    "My legacy? Oh, right, thank you, sir."


    — — — —


    Sarah and her crew ''awoke from stasis'' while orbiting the exoplanet.


    "Captain, something''s unusual," said the chief medical officer, Frank Yang.


    "What is it, Frank?"


    "Well, ma''am, we should feel disoriented and groggy—space sick—when waking from stasis."


    "Hmm … that is unusual. Perhaps it''s due to folding space?"


    "Maybe, but …"


    "But what?"


    "Well, our vital signs are normal, but I feel ghostly. Unreal. As if …"


    "As if what, Frank?"


    "As if we''re dead."


    "Don''t be ridiculous, Frank. Obviously, we''re not dead. We''re alive!"


    "Captain, captain!" an engineer yelled over the intercom.


    "Yes?"


    "Ma''am, the ship''s experiencing a major power outage. It looks like by folding space, we''ve damaged too many fuel cells."


    Frank began to flicker, pixelate, and then vanished.


    "What the heck?" Sarah passed her hand through where Frank had stood.


    "Ship: What''s happening?"


    The ship''s AI responded:


    "Power conservation protocols commencing. All holograms shall re-enter digital stasis."


    "Holograms?" Sarah watched her hands and arms fade into nothingness.