Love in the Time of Asteroids

[Varda]

A broken line. A space station accident. Laura died the way she’d lived: unattached and alone.

Obedient to inertia, her frozen form hurled through the infinite void. She flirted briefly with passing asteroids, but lacking mutual gravitational attraction, Laura spurned her heavenly suitors and pressed onward.

Finally she locked in orbit with a yellow star. Stray gases coalesced. She grew, accumulating mass, becoming a planet with a woman’s heart.

And after a billion years alone, she brought forth life: one cell. Alone, like her.

Laura wept inside. A billion years to create life. Only 3.6 billion more until love evolved.

[strawman]

Good Gaia-Origin story. Possible epilogue to The Cold Equations?

[Varda]

Good Gaia-Origin story. Possible epilogue to The Cold Equations?

Hmm, you're right: we've been ejecting a lot of women into space 'round here recently. Turning into something of an epidemic.

Wait a minute... Who's holding my tether?!

[MonsieurMoustache]

This is fantastic, one of your best yet. Emotional and full of delicious jargon.

[chemistryguy]

Very emotional. I liked this a lot.