Just Out of Jupiter’s Reach

Book 4 of the Far Reach collection

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In this short story, humanity has figured out an organic way to create space-faring vessels that are suited to a single person’s DNA.

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After seven of these specially-chosen individuals are fitted with their own Miri spacecraft, they are sent to Jupiter (for no discernible reason).

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From what I was told, I was the first of the seven choices to attempt an imprint. This was a moment of truth.

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I entered the chamber and stood about four hundred meters from the ship. I could see the door on the Miri’s side. Circular and right on the bottom, outlined in the bioluminescent blue of a deep-sea creature. His red flesh was soft, but tough. I’d been fascinated by this when I’d first touched him. Interesting how we tend to associate strength with something hard like diamond, tungsten, stone. Never with something that is flesh, something that yields. Touching the Miri had changed this for me.

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“Just go pet it,” Adeyemi said in my ear mic. “Like a cat or dog, some animal you’re friendly with. It’ll be a greeting.”

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Not allowed to meet or communicate with the other individuals in the mission before they take off and while they are on their way to Jupiter, the seven astronauts are allowed to hang out with each other for one week once they arrive to Jupiter.

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The description of the various space crafts and what happens when the seven people meet up is super interesting and really fires up the imagination.

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This would make a great graphic novel.

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