No dominion

 

In this epoch of starlight, Captain Alex Jordan and Engineer Sam Carter orbited Proxima Centauri b, their bio-suits the only barrier between them and the infinite cosmos. The station's power had faltered, and with it, the station's embrace—a mechanical womb turned cold and unyielding.

Hand in hand, they floated, untethered from the space station. They had cut their life lines deliberately when they realized their fate was sealed, choosing to embrace their final moments together in the vast expanse of space. "I can't believe it's unfixable," Alex murmured, his voice heavy with frustration. "Every system, every backup, completely fried. It's as if the station just gave up."

Sam sighed, her voice tinged with resignation. "We tried everything, Alex. Rebooting, manual overrides, even the emergency protocols. Nothing responded. It's like the station decided to take a nap and never wake up."

The space around them was a breathtaking expanse of black, dotted with distant stars that shimmered like diamonds. Below them, Proxima Centauri b rotated slowly, its surface a mesmerizing blend of blues and greens. The planet, so tantalizingly close, seemed to mock their plight.

Alex looked at Sam, his eyes reflecting the cosmos. "Remember our first spacewalk?" he asked, a wistful smile tugging at his lips. "You were so excited, you couldn't stop talking about the stars."

Sam chuckled softly, "And you were the one who kept reminding me to focus on the mission. Guess some things never change." Her smile faded, replaced by a somber look. "I wanted to see our children playing under those skies, Alex. I wanted to be the new Eve, to build a life with you on that planet."

Alex squeezed her hand, understanding her unspoken grief. "Others will take our place, love. Our dream doesn't end with us. We'll always be part of this journey, even if we don't see it through."

Alex's mind drifted to the dreams they had shared. He had always been the pragmatic one, dreaming of a future where humanity thrived among the stars. He envisioned cities floating above alien landscapes, his descendants exploring new worlds, their lives intertwined with the cosmos. His fear wasn't for himself, but for the lost potential, the future that now seemed just out of reach. He found solace in the belief that others would continue their legacy, that humanity's quest for the stars would not end with them.

Sam, on the other hand, had always dreamed of the family they would build together. She imagined their children playing under alien skies, growing up with the wonder of new worlds as their playground. Her hopes were personal, rooted in the life and love she wanted to share with Alex and their future generations. Her fear was a deep, aching void, the loss of the life they had planned together. But she found strength in Alex's resolve, in their shared love, knowing that their bond was unbreakable, even in the face of the unknown.

As the minutes turned to hours, they ceased their futile attempts to reenter the station. Instead, they chose to embrace the beauty of their surroundings. The planet below, a swirl of blues and greens, seemed so close yet untouchable. The vastness of space, once a symbol of their mission's grandeur, now reflected the intimacy of their bond.

In those final moments, they found peace. Alex's voice, calm and reassuring, broke the silence, "Worrying won't change our fate. Let's cherish this view, together." Sam's lips curved into a faint smile, tears hidden behind her visor. "Together," she agreed.

They held hands, their hearts synchronized in the stillness of the cosmos. The stars, ancient witnesses of countless stories, now bore silent testament to their love. As they drifted through the infinite expanse, they realized that true love needed no dominion; it simply thrived, unbounded and eternal.

The universe stretched before them, an endless canvas of possibilities. And in that boundless void, Captain Alex Jordan and Engineer Sam Carter found their place, united in love, forever etched in the tapestry of the stars.