DANCING ON THE MOON
(WARNING: This is a MUSICAL!) You have been warned!
June 3, 2089: Moon Base Hawking. A standard four spoked wheel station with work section domes at the joints and living quarters along the rim and spokes, lying partially below the surface. Outside the circle is the landing platform, vehicle access, emergency facilities, fuel storage and the like. At present a large interplanetary ship is on the platform, a smaller service vehicle sits off to one side. Out away from the base a Lunar Rover bounces along a ridge.
"We're leaving this hole in the moon. Off we go, into the void, away from here..."
Several people carrying bags and boxes hop-walked in unison down a gangway onto a long angular spacecraft singing to themselves. They stowed their belongings in rhythm in various compartments and lockers, then strapped into seats. The ones by the windows looked out at a row of windows of the base they were leaving.
"We're leaving this hole in the moon. You have to stay, we get to go. Away from you, and your hole in the moon."
The vessel shook to a low rumble of its engines, then the gangway retracted back into the body of the port facility. The ship shifted on the pad, then as the engines came to full life it lifted away from the surface and began a steep ascent into the black lunar sky.
"There they go."
"Good riddance."
The first speaker looked at the second one. "It's getting a little sparse around here, George."
"You're complaining?" George grumbled. "I'm not." He turned away from the observation window and walked down the arched passage of dingy metal and dirty glass.
The first speaker just shook his head and watched George bounce-walk.
George was mumbling a very out of tune song he was evidently making up as he walked along in the half-bounce gate everybody was forced to use here.
"Leave me alone on the moon. Leave me alone where I am. The Ocean of Storms is just fine for me. Send me all the little green men you can, just don't bring any more Earth men..."
