Four Stars Out of Five: A Small Scene

I waxed poetical about a song by the Arctic Monkeys last week on Twitter, talking about how I wanted to set a space opera scene to it. The song is called "Four Stars out of Five" and it's been in my head for weeks.

It's a beautiful song and, at least to me, evocative of some awesome sci-fi scenes. The one in my head I kept wanting was a crew of lovable rogues landing in a beautiful, rich city and watching it go by in awe. The scene stayed in my head so much that I finally had to write it.

This isn't connected to anything I'm currently writing. I just had to get it out of my head. Now I can finally be at peace.

I hope you enjoy this small scene.

They dropped into the atmosphere, the ship shaking a little as it went through re-entry. Stone braced himself, grimacing. Hopefully that wasn’t something that had to be repaired. They didn’t have the money. If this job didn’t come through, a broken stabilizer or two would be the least of their worries anyway. He looked back at his pilot, her tongue between her teeth in concentration as she brought them down to the spaceport on the outskirts of Clavius. Stone had never been here before but rumors of the city were all over the galaxy. The entire planet was like an exclusive, luxe club and Clavius was it’s glittering and most expensive jewel.

The cockpit door opened with a soft whoosh and Leith walked in, grinning ear to ear. His blonde hair was styled into something that defied gravity and he was wearing his nicest clothes; a white asymmetrical jacket and skinny pants that hugged his slender frame. He clapped a hand on Stone’s shoulder, looking out the window with an excited little noise. Alex laughed to herself at Stone’s deathglare, turning to watch her instruments when he turned that glare on her.

“Ah, it’s good to be home.” Leith said, somehow missing Stone’s look completely. Damn shame, it was a really good death stare too. Lesser men had gone running crying for their mothers when they saw it but Leith was an oblivious idiot, which is half the reason they were in this situation anyway. “Look, they redid Maisonette. I used to get SO wasted there. Best gin and tonics in this sector, I swear to you.”

“We aren’t here to have a drink.” Stone growled, shoving Leith’s hand off his shoulder. “You said you had contacts here. If we don’t pay back the Third Eye before the deadline-”

“Yes, yes, I know. Doom and gloom, etc etc. You’re so dramatic sometimes.”

“Oh my god,” Alex muttered to herself.

“May I remind you that it’s your fault we’re in this mess?” Stone said. “We should have left you back on Tonitrus. We should have given you to the Oracle. I wouldn’t have the fucking Third Eye breathing down my neck then.”

Leith put his hand over his heart and pretended to reel back as if he’d been struck. “Now now, captain! You can’t be serious!”

The cockpit door whooshed open again, admitting the final two members of the crew. Avender went right up to the window to watch the city go by, marveling at the bustling, glowing buildings. Neon signs advertised every kind of vice you could imagine. Girls, boys, gambling, liquor and drugs. His mouth dropped open as they drifted even closer, the people walking around coming into sharper view. Their wild hairstyles, their cutting edge fashion, throats and wrists dripping with precious metals and gems. Avender had grown up in the mines on his world and had never seen anything like Clavius before. Ofelia stood behind him, arms crossed, trying not to look impressed at the city and failing miserably.

Never one to let a chance to impress and show off go by, Leith slid in next to them and began to point out the best parts of the city, listing places he’d drank, roads he’d thrown up on, absurdly gorgeous apartments he’d spent nights in with beautiful companions.

“It’s getting gentrified now. I heard they made my old gambling hell into a taco place. Can you believe that? I once won ten thousand credits there. It was my lucky table.”

“Cheating. You probably won ten thousand credits cheating! Your cheating is why we’re in this mess!” Stone said, grabbing Leith by his collar and pulling him back. “Have you ever done anything honest in your entire life? Have you ever won a fair game of cards anywhere in the goddamn universe?”

“That’s a VERY personal question!” Leith shouted, trying to get out of Stone’s grasp. “You’re wrinkling my jacket! It’s Aramis silk!”

“We’re nearly at the spaceport, boss.” Alex said from the controls.

Stone dropped Leith and turned to storm out of the cockpit. “Everyone, get ready. And I mean READY. This isn’t a tourist visit.” He left the room, grumbling to himself, flexing his fingers like he wanted to punch something.

“Honestly, what is his problem?” Leith asked, smoothing his jacket down. Everyone turned to stare at him. “...What?”

Alex sighed to herself. “This job is going to suck, I just know it.”