Captain’s Log

Stardate 1354.18

Wow! What a day it was today? We just went past Saturn’s moon, Titan!

Lala wanted to test if our ship could withstand a long trip, so we took a tour around the Solar system. First, we went towards the inner planets visiting Venus and Mercury. Lala made sure that our ship were protected with shields, so the intense light from the sun wouldn’t totally frying it. Still, the big ball of hot plasma was overwhelming to see up close, even compared to how we usually saw it on Earth.

I can still picture it as I stood behind her on that bridge, how the sun completely blinded us so much so that Lala just had to shield the entire view screen with dark curtains.

I remember how Lala sat in the Captain’s chair. She looked totally like a Queen on her throne commanding the people around her. In front of her were Yami at the helm and Mea helping with the navigation. Meanwhile behind us were Tearju-Sensei, Zastin, and Momo and Nana, all of whom were working at their stations, monitoring shipwide status, maintaining communication channels,’and tending to internal and external security. Lala told me that our ship wasn’t built for battle, but it could handle some firefight long enough to retreat. I don’t know what to think about that. War in space is something I’ve never contemplated.

That captain chair was something else though. It’s amazingly comfortable, and the armrests are just crammed full of buttons and screens. I’m beginning to learn what they are now, but I still insisted that I shouldn’t be the one to direct a freakin starship anywhere. I mean, yes, that does sound fun, but I just wasn’t ready to such a burden. I was just freaking out about making terrible choices and crashing the Astro Boy into a planet.

That’s why as soon as we got going, I begged Lala to take my place. Thankfully, she said yes, but only if I would stick around to learn from her. So now, I am less anxious, and finally able to actually enjoy this trip.

I went downstairs to the lower deck, where most of Lala’s bodyguards. Strangely enough, they’ve all now changed into red shirts with highlighted stripes on their cuffs. It’s a bit disconcerting when you had gotten used to their normal shirt and tie. I’ve gotten quite friendly with some of them. Most were natives of Deviluke, but the others came from more exotic worlds. There was this one guy that I found fascinating. He had some very heavy eyebrows, elf-like ears, and a bowl cut that tapered at his nape. When I greeted him, he spread his hand into this V shape and told me to live well and prosper. It’s really strange to see all these beings together, reminding me that our little blue marble wasn’t alone, and there were many worlds out there filled with strange new life.

I’m finally understanding why people go out into the world and into the universe. There’s just so much to learn out their that it just makes you feel small.

Mikan is really expanding her culinary prowess. When I passed through the kitchen, I could just smell all the delicious experiments she cooks up every day. Today, she’s combining some Vulcan herbs with Romulan spices. I can’t wait to see what she makes tonight.

Tomorrow, we will be going to warp for the first time. I hope we will make it safely to Deviluke in time.

This is Rito, signing off.