Chapter 36

21

There were no seasons in space.

Fall was a special time back home, full of festivals and cloudless blue skies. Pumpkin pie appeared at social gatherings along with hot apple cider. Nature painted vibrant colors across the landscape, trees morphed from green to orange and red overnight. It was a time of long drives through winding mountain roads not too far from the concrete suburban world. Fall was a time of escape and relaxation. Of course, fall also used to mean school, but it was still a wonderful season.

Instead of the brilliant fall colors of South Georgia, only the red and purple hue coming off the nebula–what Josh had called the “dark cloud”–in the blackness of space provided any color. Nothing signified the passage of time except classes, sim time, drills, and formation flying arou……