To Each His Star

Four space‑bound men float through an endless blackness, their bulky pressure‑suits the only barrier between them and the void. After their ship is torn apart by a meteor, they cling together by a thin gravity‑rope, drifting toward a distant star rimmed in red that their grizzled leader, Dunbar, swears is a gateway to Paradise. The red‑rimmed sun hangs like a promise on the horizon, while the rest of the cosmos is a featureless sea of cold, unlit space. Their suits recycle air, power tiny thrusters, and even fire a “life‑gun” that can push them farther into the unknown.

The isolation gnaws at each crew member, especially Russell, who watches Dunbar’s confident stride with a mix of hope and growing resentment. As time blurs together, dwindling supplies and endless silence force the men to confront whether a sun can truly lead to salvation. Yet the promise of Paradise fuels a fragile camaraderie, and each burst from their life‑guns feels like a desperate prayer toward an unseen destination.