Written by Michael Landolfi – “Ground Control to Major Tom. Ground Control to Major Tom.”  “This is Major Tom. Ground Control go ahead.”

“Major Tom, you will be docking with the space station in thirteen minutes, prepare to execute R-bar pitch maneuver. Engage aft thruster #2…. in three, two, one, now.”

Psshhh.

“Ground … maneuver underway. Take a close look at my underside, gentlemen. Let’s make sure those heat shield tiles are in good shape. Don’t want any trouble during re-entry.”

Through his sleeve Major Tom rubbed his good luck charm, a Disney character wrist watch with his four-year old daughter’s favorite dog, Pluto.

“Ten-four Majo……”

The overhead speakers rattled with ear-piercing audio interference.

“…. Major Tom? Major Tom? Ground to Major Tom, come in please….”

“Director Kranz? Sir, my instruments show this interference is due to a massive solar flare. All of Major Tom’s systems are off line. He can’t control the capsule. With his present trajectory he will collide with the space station in approximately six hours and thirteen minutes.”

“Ground Control to Major Tom, you’re circuit’s dead. Something’s wrong. Can you hear me Major Tom? Can you hear me Major Tom?”

A distressing ten second silence was finally broken.

“Major Tom to Ground Control. I lost ya there for a couple of minutes. Not sure if you can hear me now. Life support and communication systems have green lights. All other systems are dead. Do you copy Ground?”

“Ground to Major Tom, we copy and we’re working on a fix. We detected a massive solar flare. All systems aboard the space station are also disabled. Implement emergency sequence EMP 6. Please stand by, Major Tom.”

“Roger that.”

After ten minutes of frantic work: “Ground Control to Major Tom.”

“Go ahead.”

“Sir, we are unable to reboot your systems. The same goes for the space station. Major Tom, in six hours you will collide with the space station if we cannot repair your system and obtain thrust.”

“Copy that.”

Through the craft’s portal he watched as the scene spun from tranquil blue ocean and clouds to limitless space, brilliant orbs, and the space station which traveled slightly slower than his vessel. The hope for mankind’s salvation floated a kilometer away, but in six hours it would be the vehicle of death for Major Tom and four other astronauts. Major Tom closed his eyes and composed a farewell letter to his wife and children.

“Ground Control to Major Tom.”

“Hello, Director.”

“Tom, I know it’s been an agonizing four hours, sorry. Your propulsion system is back on line. Let’s get you outta there.”

“Roger that.”

“Please activate starboard thruster AJ One, for two point two seconds. On my mark, three, two, one. Now, Major Tom.”

The audio speakers rattled again as they relayed the sound of an incredible explosion.

“Major Tom to Ground … AJ One did not fire, the main thruster exploded! I’ve rocketed past the space station, trajectory unknown. All fuel cells are empty.”

“Roger that. Major Tom, please stand by. Director, calculations indicate Tom is on the same path as the New Horizon space probe. Without a course correction he will intersect Pluto … in nine years.”

“I heard that,” replied Tom.

In Greek mythology, Pluto ruled the underworld. His Roman name is Hades. He receives souls in the afterlife. In 1930, astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered a tiny, icy ball orbiting our sun nearly four billion miles away, a ninth planet. One month later, a young girl in England suggested the name Pluto. The god was pleased; finally he had obtained a status similar to his brothers, Jupiter and Neptune. In August 2006, Pluto’s status was downgraded to a dwarf planet and the Greek god vowed revenge. For millennia he’d collected billions of souls; now, he demanded flesh.

Major Tom thought himself lucky to be the first human to visit Pluto – even though he’d be dead.

* A few words were borrowed from “Space Oddity” by David Bowie.

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Asheville native, Michael Landolfi survived Catholic school, the 70s and the Marine Corps. He lives an untamed life in Bent Creek, is on the trails daily and writes wild stories for those with short attention spans. His tales will tickle your funny bone, pinch your heart and twist your gut. Imagination run wild. Find out for yourself. His new book, 5-Minute Short Stories: A Bathroom Book, containing 35, 5 minute stories, is available on Amazon.