"Veering 3.6/2.8 Degrees off course," The nasal computer voice cackled to me.
"Blasted stabilizer," I cursed. I gently eased the steering wheel to adjust my space-ship, the S.S. Dolphin, back on course. One of the Omega Stabilizers of my ship was busted and kept steering me off-course. I grabbed a cool canister of vitamin-enhanced water and took several sips, calming myself. I hated flaws. Even the smallest, most discrete errors can drive me insane like that one spot on your back that you can never seem to reach when it itches. I however, always keep a back-scratcher handy, so such has yet to be a problem to me. But moving on.
I took a quick glance at my radar and several other gauges and meters to make sure everything was as it should be. Neatness soothes my nerves, though I should've loosened up, especially since I was off on sabbatical. If my family were with me, they would certainly not have approved of me being so nit-picky during a vacation.
Well, I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Olimar. Captain Olimar if you will. I am from the planet of Hocotate, and work for the renowned Hocotate Freight, a powerful shipping company. After working for several years as employee of the month and Chief-Executive Delivery-man under the iron fist of my dictator-of-a-boss, my family demanded- er, requested a vacation for myself.
The labor laws of Hocotate note that any who works for as long and as hard as me are allowed a week-long vacation, so the Company President had no choice but to allow me such a luxury. And now I was off to a tropical planet that was a popular get-away for overworked and over-stressed people such as myself. But to tell the truth, I almost don't want to go. I lost myself gazing into the starry abyss of space. I love the natural beauty we see in nature. I actually love to lose myself on deliveries and road-trips with the family. A night spent stargazing was much "cooler", as the kids say, than a night spent organizing my book collection.
I began to find and name different constellations, and even make up some of my own. I also have two constellations named after my son and daughter. I always recognize those first.
Several long, complicated names of constellations and stars consumed my mind, which was usually out of character for me. I normally never let anything but organization and work consume my brain. But the natural world just does it for me. Ah. Sweet bliss.
I was almost unaware of the warning siren blaring from my Guard Satellite. I looked to my control panel and heard the computer mention an "oncoming asteroid cluster." I felt myself slowly sliding off my seat. I tried to scoot back up, but my descent continued. I flailed my arms to save myself, but I fell directly on the thrust switch and managed to jam the handle into high speed.
Brilliant. Just Brilliant.
The Dolphin made a sudden lurch forward, and began to rapidly pick up speed. The Engine Room was roaring behind me, and my Guard Alarm was blasting a loud, irritating siren. I put on my helmet as a safety precaution to keep my head from shattering against something and attempted to clamber to my seat, which was made much harder than normal, as the Dolphin was gaining velocity.
I reached my hands out and met the steering wheel, which I firmly grasped. I made fast and instinctive swerves in between the asteroids, panicked and frightened. I tried to slow the thrust, but it was firmly jammed into it's position. And during that split-second I looked away, a large meteor must have collided with my dear ship, just inches from my cockpit. I blacked out after that.