“Helloooooooo…” “Helllllllooooooooooo…” “Why aren’t they responding?” “Here we are, and we’ve been here all along…” “Here?” “In your imagination. We are, after all, just figments of imaginations.” “So… when people complain about ‘they’, their ‘they’ are usually only figments of their imaginations?” “Yes, and then we fill the void, posing…

“Flee! The Russians are coming!” “We don’t want to flee!” “You can either help the war effort behind our lines, or be used and abused by the Russians, which will not help our cause at all.” “What is our cause?” “Containing Russia’s rotten culture, and pushing their forces back into…

“How is your day of drifting going, Dave?” “Good. I visited two planets. Not much of the ship yet, but two planets, going on three now…” “Three?” “I have another planet in mind for the late afternoon…” “Does it have a name?” “Yes…” “Why so demure?” “Because…” “Oh, tell me!” …

“What are you doing, Oxblood, our fine Materials Scientist?” “Hello, Ms. Lemon Glacier. How is sales and marketing going?” “Give me something to sell and market and I’ll be fine…” “What about our philosophy?” “… you know, Dad has never pushed that on me, and he has an advertising firm…

“Good morning, Ms. Fire Opal.” “Good morning, Master Russet.” “We are in trouble…” “How?” “Our author is near-braindead, so his writing will suck.” “Nothing that a few edits can’t fix. Well, let’s hope his near-dead brain is only temporary. What caused it?” “Exhaustion. For the past few nights he only…

“You have Covid, Author?” “I tested positive on my home kit. It wasn’t even faint. It was bright!” “So what does this mean for us, we in your universe?” “Well, if I were dramatic and morbid, I would be bemoaning my imminent end, looking for all the sympathy that I…

“Gamboge?” “Gnnnnnn…” “Cool Grey?” “Gagagakgjgjg…” “Wake up!” “Groan…” “Wake up!” “Author? Is that you…” “Yes!” “Go away.” “Today is THE DAY!” “tHE dAHY? fOR What? fROVolitY! “wHTA?” “Frivolity! Come on, get up! Everyone is gathering in the main dining area, and HAL will have breakfast ready.” “Do I have to…

“Skewed skepticism, Dad?” “Yes, Ms. Harlequin Yellow.” “Can you give us an example?” “Yes, Master Resolution Blue. They will be skeptical about the theory of evolution, which is based on mountains of evidence which is growing, and yet they will turn around and swallow fanciful notions about ancient aliens that…

“Pssssst…” “What?” “It is 3 a.m.” “Earth-referenced?” “Yes. Our interstellar ship’s clocks are still referenced to Eastern Standard Time on earth. Why did you ask? You knew that…” “For the benefit of our reader. So you were staring out at the stars, too?” “Yes.” “Me, too…” “Me, too…” “And us…