Spectrum of Home

— Almost 5 earth years cramming in this hole of a ship, and for what?!
— Dear, calm down, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Besides, we’ve hibernated for 4 and a half of them!
— That’s not the point! Don’t tease me! You know, we had at least something on Proxima 2! They are sleeping now in the cabin by the space lock, but what will you tell them when they ask you “daddy, when are we landing?…”
— Soon, I’ll say soon, the officials are checking some of the documents…
— Bullshit! Have you seen all the other ships orbiting?! I don’t even want to think how many there are altogether… It’ll take forever…
— No, no it won’t, you’ll see, darling. The offs must have realized how many ships are flocking long ago. They probably already have a plan underway. Everyone understands that their communication about the close-down came too late for us to change the ship’s course. I’m sure they’ll solve this real soon.
— The offs! When will you learn they don’t care about us? Remember how we were herded back home?! That gloomy ugly efficiency, dammit, that’s all they care about. Oh, and why did I think it would be any different here…
— Chloe, yes, yes, remember how amazing those videos were, right after they discovered the Alma world? Remember how we started watching them every evening, dreaming of coming here? This is real, we’re here! Look!
— Look yourself! It’s all clouds! I can’t see anything except the stupid clouds. What if there’s not even water on this stupid planet? If all is barren there? What if these videos were all fake, if this was all an elaborate media hoax to get rid of us unsatisfied gullible people?
— Don’t be stupid, dear. Clouds are water! I’m sure it’s every bit as beautiful as we saw!
— I’m not stupid! Maybe these are… sulfur clouds!
— But look at the spectroscope readout…
— Ok, ok…
— You’ll see!
— Stop it. God, Quentin, I’m so tired. This is all horrible. Let’s just sleep a bit, so I can not think about this.
— Yes, love, this is a great idea. Let’s sleep.

***

— Mom, mom, wake up, mom!
— Uh… What is it, honey?
— Come on, mom, float, now! Come, come here, yes, seeeee?
— Ok, ok, shhh, I’m unbuckling.
— Seeeee, mom, this is even better than what you and dad were showing us! Look at the crazy water color, isn’t it totally amazing?
— Yes, sweetie. It is totally amazing. I would say breathtaking. And there, do you notice these color patterns the rocks form on the edge of this continent here?
— Wow, mom! It’s so cool. I can’t wait. When are we landing?
— Well, darling, soon, soon. We can’t right away, because the officials are still checking some documents, but I’m sure it’ll be over soon. I can’t wait too.