A/N: Hi. This sure took a while... I'll be honest a lot of this writing was completed back in October but I just got around to proofread/edit it. A gentle reminder I originally posted this story to AO3, around that same time frame, which explains why this chapter was completed before this story was even uploaded on here. The format that I'll be posting on here is also different from the format on AO3, and that means updates on here will be more "frequent" and will vary in length. I have a bunch of the "chapters" already written, I just need to proofread them. How will you know that this is the same story being uploaded both here and on AO3? Only time will tell. Until then, please enjoy what I can offer you now. Again, an immense thank you for reading.
Part I: Our Memories Become Stars
As Craig ventured into maturity, the belief that he would one day reach the stars firmly solidified. The 'when' and 'how' of such a purpose never posed an obstacle, as his heart always knew it was set in stone the second he was born. He would imagine himself soaring through the cosmos, taking hold of the many comets and galaxies composing the expansive universe they lived in. Perhaps he would even stumble upon alien life surviving on Mars, or a different planet for that matter, although such a concept never truly appealed to him. Fantasies of leaping across the milky way and skipping along various asteroid belts within his grasp made up everyday daydreams that provided the utmost solace to the boy throughout his mornings. Evenings consisted of lying awake in bed, gaze leisurely glossing over the plastic solar system that composed his bedroom ceiling. It was in instances like these that Craig Tucker would transform into the famous space cadet, known formally as Spaceman Craig, and continue his mission exploring outer space.
Meeting the sun proved a huge catalyst, as it triggered the sudden shift from his regular routine of sneakily spying on the stars that glittered in the night sky. Now, Spaceman Craig was in charge of bouncing from star to star, a mission consisting of logging whatever observations and discoveries he could find pertaining to the sun and its astronomical surroundings. Much to his surprise, the vast amount of constellations that blanketed the stratosphere provided the astronaut with a clear path to travel along during his exploration, some even serving as torches to illuminate the way. On occasion, the young explorer was able to reach out and latch onto a star, harvesting a new memory he shared with the sun each time he did so.