The Last Sleep
Space travel will never be completely safe
“Systems set for hibernation?” Amie asked.
“We’re Earthbound. ETA six months.” Oscar stretched out his arms and yawned. “I could use a long sleep.” He surprised himself at how able a liar he was, but was grateful for this newfound skill. “Are the kids in stasis?”
“Yes. They’re beautiful.”
I’ll take one last look at them.
“I’m going to slip into my hiberpod, babe.” Her soft kiss lingered on Oscar’s lips. “See you in six.”
Oscar confirmed the bioscanner’s results for the hundredth time: They were all infected with an alien pathogen. He directed the spacecraft’s destination to the Sun.
The Last Sleep is a drabble, a story that’s exactly 100 words. I hope you enjoyed it. If you enjoyed this story, I think you’ll also like another 100-word story of mine, The Blanket War.
Loved it, and I don’t blame Oscar one bit. Great twist!
That’s tragic, but very noble of Oscar to do. It would have been so easy for him to give into self-preservation and to go back to earth, starting an alien pandemic.