The driving tool floats weightlessly where you left it, shoulder height and only inches from your gloved and smoldering hand. You eye Patrick, wreathed in flames, his miner’s suit doing its best to protect him from the volatile chemical fire caused by the powder. It's called Bitrite. It's one of the most efficient fuel sources in the known galaxy. The process of extracting it spreads fine-dust particles onto literally everything in the immediate area, frequently igniting whatever it lands on for a few seconds before burning off. It isn’t particularly dangerous unless you breath it and with the proper equipment the flame is pretty harmless. Inevitably everyone on the ground team catches fire at some point, often the whole team is ablaze in orange-blue flame. The effect can actually be quite beautiful.

Patrick pats out the fire in his hand long enough to grab his driver and fasten the last bolt on the rig. He then waves to you to confirm that the job is done and you flash your headlamp twice in acknowledgement. You would normally Voice him but you are pretty sure he’s blasting the new Angelica album and wouldn’t have heard you anyway. With all the bolts sealed there isn’t much else for you to do but wait for pick-up. You double check that your carabiner is clipped to the stake drilled in the rock, lean back, take a deep breath of the stale, filtered air and look out on the great, expansive, emptiness of space.

Six months on this asteroid, six months away from your family and friends, and it hasn’t been made real clear when the job will be done. You find time, moments you can steal for yourself. It is against regulations to use a Vidchip of any kind while deployed. “You must stay alert!” the taskmaster always repeats during the briefing, but you pretty much always sneak one. This particular recorded memory is of you and your one and only, your soulmate, your Starlight. It has always been your favorite despite there being nothing particularly special about it. As you close your eyes and drift off into the dream, the incessant humming and beeping of your suit fades into the background.