Where I Wasn't Going

Mike Blackhawk steps onto the gleaming exterior of U.N. Space Lab One, a 232‑foot wheel circling Earth every thirty‑six hours. As chief engineer, his first task is a meticulous inspection of the gold‑plated hull, tracing the alternating dark and bright squares that mark the structure he helped design. The laboratory hovers in a delicate balance, its spin ready to be engaged after months of assembly and a rotating crew of specialists. While the shuttle behind him fires its retro‑rockets, Mike feels the tug of a looming return to the planet he just left.

Below the outer walk, a network of thin, air‑rigid anchor tubes stretches for miles, linking the wheel to remote power pods and experimental satellites. These seemingly fragile cables bear the weight of thousands of pounds, keeping the smaller craft from drifting into the lab’s spinning skin. As Mike secures his safety line and prepares for the final check, the quiet hum of the station hints at the massive engineering feat about to be set in motion.