Transplant by D. B. Reynolds-Moreton

interested, there is a large mass of rock, probably part of the remains of a broken-up planet, approaching from the rear end of the ship. It is in no danger of hitting the ship, but should be a spectacular sight for those of you interested in stellar activities.  That is all, have a pleasant evening.’ The click of the audio system cutting off seemed all the louder in the ensuing silence.
    ‘I for one, want to have a look at that.’ Arki looked around to see if anyone else was interested. Glyn was the only one who responded with a ‘Me too.’ and wondered why no one else had joined in.
    The group broke up, some going to the games room, some flexing their muscles indicating that the exercise equipment was going to get a working over, while a small group of the females gathered around Mia and were deep in conversation, probably about the child she was now carrying.
    Glyn and Arki made their way to the observation room which was situated near the front end of the ship, both of them unable to understand why no one else had shown an interest in such an unusual event.
    ‘You know, I sometimes wonder if the rest of them are getting a little too introverted in their own self importance to the exclusion of the overall reason for this expedition, and the tremendous technical achievement of those who built the ship.’ Glyn was at last venting some of the repressed feeling he had been aware of for some time, and Arki was just about the only person he felt safe to voice his opinions to.
    ‘I’ve thought the same for some time,’ replied Arki, ‘we are sustained and surrounded by man’s greatest technical achievements, and most of us just take it for granted. Seems a pity to me.’
    They had now reached the observation chamber door and it opened obediently to their presence, silently closing to leave them cocooned in the small blister of transparent material which comprised the observation room. Four chairs, firmly secured to the floor, faced outwards, affording those seated upon them an unrestricted view of the star field outside the ship, and giving the observer the feeling of being isolated in space.
    ‘I don’t see any sign of an asteroid.’ said Arki, scanning the star field which almost surrounded them, ‘but then the Captain didn’t say when it would appear.’
    ‘It must be soon, I should think, or he would have mentioned a specific time.’ replied Glyn, trying to locate the piece of space debris.
    They passed a pleasant half hour or so, enjoying each others company and the fact that they both held similar views on most of the things which mattered in their world.
    Glyn was just about to suggest that they return to the others, when out of the corner of his eye he saw a few stars suddenly wink out of existence.
    ‘I think our visitor is about to make its presence felt, look back there.’ he nodded his head indicating the section of the dome which was nearest the rear of the ship.
    Arki strained forward, as if getting as near as possible to the transparent shield of the dome would increase his depth of vision.
    ‘Yes, I see it now. My God it’s big. Hope the Captain is right when he said it will pass us by.’
    Slowly, the huge mass of what was once part of a planet, crept up to the ship, blocking out the stars as if a giant black curtain had been drawn across the heavens.
    The sheer size of the asteroid made it look much closer to the ship than it actually was, and both observers in the dome shrank back instinctively, and then chuckled at their involuntary reaction to the spectacle before them.
    The asteroid had blocked out the star light facing the dome, while light from the other side of the ship lit up the surface of the dark space traveller, allowing some detail of its surface to be seen and casting a shadow of the ship on its surface.
    ‘Now that’s interesting,’ commented Glyn, ‘it’s the first time since the ship’s been sent on its voyage that any of its inhabitants have had a chance to see its