hello all! well, i've finally gotten off my lazy butt and started my 2001: A space odyssey story! this story will be based on the brilliant Stanley Kubrick movie, as i have not yet read the novel(but i hope to soon). i hope that you enjoy this story, and i also apologize for the short length of this first chapter. future chappies will be longer, i swear.

DISCLAIMER: i do not own 2001: ASO or any of it's characters. i only own Valerie Clarke

She didn't know why she was nervous. She had no reason to be. She'd taken the courses, passed all the tests, she'd been psyching herself up for weeks.

"I can handle this" Valerie Clarke thought, nervously tugging on a strand of her long red hair.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to her best friend, David Bowman, who was standing beside her, smiling. "Everything ok Val?"

Valerie nodded. "Oh yes Dave, everything's fine" she smiled slightly.

"Nervous Val?" that was Frank Poole, Valerie's other best friend. He came up on the other side of her, smiling. He took her hand. "It'll be ok Valerie"

the young woman sighed. The three best friends were about to begin the greatest adventure of their lives, the journey that they had strived for ever since they were kids. In fact, their joint interest in space and the unknown was what initially sparked their friendship. Valerie had known Dave since she was 10 and he was 12, and they had met Frank in middle school.

And now they were about to live their dream.

Valerie looked back and forth between Dave and Frank. "Ready?"

Frank smiled. "As I'll ever be"

Dave nodded. "Yes"

the three of them slowly entered the Discovery One spaceship, which was just moments away from launch. Valerie sighed.

"Good afternoon"

Valerie smiled, her heart beating fast at the sound of the familiar, soft voice. "Well hello HAL!"

"How's it going HAL?" Frank asked as they took their seats.

"Everything is going fine" HAL said. "Are the three of you ready for the mission?"

Valerie sighed, her breath a little uneven. "I... I'm fine"

"Val's just a little nervous" Frank said, putting his hand over hers.

"I don't understand why though!" Valerie said.

"No shame in it Valerie" Dave said reassuringly. "To be honest, I'm a little nervous too"

"there is nothing to worry about" HAL said. "I have complete confidence in the three of you and in the mission. Everything will be fine" Valerie nodded.

"Discovery One, this is mission control" a voice said, crackling to life over the intercom. "We're ready for launch in T minus 20 seconds"

"liftoff in 20... 19... 18..." HAL started counting down in his soft, monotone voice.

"This is it" Valerie thought. "This is really it" her grip on Frank's hand tightened as anticipation coursed through her.

"...3... 2... 1... Liftoff"

as Discovery One lifted off and began it's decent into space, Valerie knew in her heart that this was only the beginning.

yes, i know, aside from being short, this chapter is also a bit weak. not to worry though, i'm hoping to update soon and have a longer, more interesting chapter for ya. until then, i hope you enjoyed, and PLEASE review! reviews are love :D

-FreddysNightmare1984