Emmet Solisqueen, Field Researcher
Specimen identification Team 6
Planet: Hypatia
Day 15, 0700 hours:
The rest of the launch & installation team departed from Hypatia this morning, leaving Captain Twist and I alone on this beautiful, wild planet. Our task, to identify all notable specimens on the planet will be an immense one—there’s so much this planet is hiding. Captain Twist is similarly mysterious. I often catch his dark, brooding eyes staring off into the distance.
Day 18, 1430 hours:
The work has been physically grueling so far. Our days are filled with hours of trekking through fungal jungles and when we return, at night we’re both drenched in sweat. We’ve identified one specimen of flora that grows in large airtight spheres and produces oxygen. Captain Twist and I accidentally got caught inside of one today. Despite his charm as a leader he is still quiet. For some reason when he looks at me, my stomach churns. It must be the atmosphere on this planet.
Day 27, 2030 hours:
The work continues. We’ve catalogued almost 50,000 species in just a few weeks. Captain Twist says that we’ve been doing great work here, and that he’s glad I am with him. When he said that I felt a very scientific joy. I think. In other news we discovered a fungus that carries electricity more efficiently than a superconductor, and apparently it’s going to revolutionize human technology. There’s just something about Captain Twist’s broad, elegant shoulders, his intelligent, watchful eyes & his beautiful mind. I guess I want to be him.
Day 61, 1300 hours:
We did it! Captain Twist looked at me with his beautiful eyes and hugged me as we finished cataloguing almost a 10 million species into the Megacore database. I don’t know what possessed me, but for some reason, I couldn’t let go of him. There was something about his warm, yoked biceps wrapped around my shoulders that almost brought me to tears. Twisty is just such. a. good. platonic. companion. Captain Twist just laughed and whispered in my ear “what, are you that bacteria-573a that we discovered the other day? You won’t let go until pressure is applied to your thoraxus?” It is this researcher’s field report that a tickle fight ensued.
Day 63, the end of the world:
Given that our work is almost at an end, Captain Twist has been recalled. Today is when we say goodbye. Nothing matters anymore, I only live to look deep into Twist’s eyes one last time. I am overcome by some strange grief.
Day 64:
I’m gay, aren’t I?
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