illphated
A #ShortStory by #ILLPHATED
NO CREDIT
Far, far away in the twinkling sea of stars, there was a small cargo spaceship named Zoomer. Zoomer wasn’t shiny like the big star cruisers or fast like the zippy scout ships. His hull was patched, his engines hummed a bit wobbly, and he carried boxes of supplies to distant colonies. But Zoomer had a big heart and a family waiting for him on the dusty planet of Novara.
Zoomer’s family—his pilot, Captain Lila, her little brother Pip, and their fluffy robot dog, Bolt—lived in a cozy dome on Novara. The colony was running low on food, blankets, and glow-bulbs to light their home. The Great Nebula Storm had blocked all the usual supply routes, and no ships could get through. Lila looked worried, Pip’s tummy grumbled, and Bolt’s tail stopped wagging.
“Don’t worry,” Zoomer beeped through his console. “I’ll get what we need. I’ll fly through the stars, no matter how far!”
Lila hugged Zoomer’s control panel. “It’s a long way, Zoomer. The Nebula’s dangerous, and you’re not built for storms.”
But Zoomer’s engines glowed with determination. “I’m small, but I’m tough. For my family, I’ll make it!”
With a rumble and a whoosh, Zoomer blasted off from Novara, his cargo hold empty but his spirit full. The journey was long—across the Glittering Galaxy, past the Singing Asteroids, and through the swirling clouds of the Great Nebula. The stars sparkled like friendly winks, but the Nebula loomed ahead, dark and stormy.
As Zoomer entered the Nebula, lightning crackled, and space-winds shook his frame. His antennas wobbled, and his lights flickered. “Keep going,” he told himself. “For Lila’s smile, Pip’s full tummy, and Bolt’s wagging tail!”
He dodged a spinning comet and weaved through clouds of cosmic dust. His engines groaned, but Zoomer sang a little tune to stay brave: “Chugga-chugga, zoom-zoom, I’ll bring the supplies home soon!”
At last, Zoomer reached the Supply Station, a glowing hub floating near a friendly blue star. The station robots loaded his hold with crates of food, soft blankets, and bright glow-bulbs. “You’re a brave little ship,” said the station chief. “Not many would cross the Nebula alone.”
Zoomer beeped proudly. “It’s for my family!”
But on the way back, something went wrong. Deep inside the Nebula, Zoomer’s fuel ran low. His engines sputtered, then stopped. He drifted in the glowing clouds, quiet and alone.
“I’m sorry, Lila,” Zoomer whispered. “I tried.”
Then, through the swirling stardust, he saw something—a small green-and-gold planet hidden behind the storms. With the last of his power, Zoomer glided down and landed gently on the surface.
It was peaceful and strange, filled with glowing plants, singing winds, and skies that shimmered in colors Zoomer had never seen.
“I guess… this is home now,” he said softly.
So Zoomer used his cargo to build something new: a bright little dome, solar panels, and cozy rooms for visitors. He planted the food, lit the glow-bulbs, and curled up under the stars.
And over time, other ships lost in the Nebula found him. Zoomer became a beacon of hope—a brave little freighter who turned a forgotten planet into a haven all by himself.
Under the strange and beautiful sky, Zoomer glowed with pride.
“I may be small,” he said, “but I can build a whole world—if I believe in myself.”