It is swift. There is no time to register, no time to scream.

#

Frank and Ivy Iverson gaze up and survey the ship with saucers for eyes. It looks like an office tower. N-O-V-U-S shimmers golden on each side. Ivy tries to fathom how enormous the letters must be in order to be legible from the ground.

"Welcome to Novus," Frank reads from the cruise brochure, "Earth's biggest atmoship, with a maximum passenger capacity of 25,000 and its own zoo, including a quarantine centre for new and unusual interplanetary creatures. The mesoliner's specially shielded observation decks allow unprecedented views of the southern lights, meteor showers, sprites, noctilucent clouds and the neo planets." Under his breath, he adds, "Whatever that means."

"Isn't it lovely?" says Ivy, hooking her arm into his.

The "Welcome to Novus" message repeats under the excited thrum of the guests on the gangway. Droids beam guests aboard from where they stand.

Frank and Ivy have joined the cruise to keep life interesting into retirement. Until yesterday, they were a butcher and a librarian who, according to their daughter, had no life.

It was Mystic Nevista who pushed them towards new adventures.

"It's a sign, Frankie!" Ivy had exclaimed after reading her horoscope.

"Okay," Frank had said with a smile.

"Okay, what?"

"It leaves in three hours. Plenty of time to pack and zap to the dock," he said, and they both beamed with the prospect of a holiday.

Now, waiting to board, Ivy pinches the skin of her forearms with opposite hands. It's a nervous habit.

"Cut that out, Ivy," Franks says. He smiles when he says it.

"It's like a dream, darling. If Annie could see us now..."

"Give her a call." He pats his wife's hand.

Ivy holds a hand to her temple and her daughter's face dances in front of them. "Annie!"

"Mum! How are you? I can't talk long. About to go into class."

Annie is studying for her Honours in Alien Morphology. Her parents don't understand what it is, but the idea of it makes them bloom with pride.

"Sweetheart, we're going into space!" Ivy voice is a quiver.

"You and Dad?" Her daughter's eyebrows fold. "I don't believe it."

"You'd better! We've signed up for everything. The zoo tour, space diving, planet-spotting, sing-along-a-Lady Gaga. On Novus, a mesoliner, for two weeks."

"Mum. The mesosphere? That's hardly space."

"It's certainly nowhere on Earth."

"You are off the planet. But it's Clayton's space travel, if you ask me."

"Oh, Annie. Be happy for us."

"I am happy for you." Annie luminesces with her smile. "Enjoy yourselves and call me when you get back. Love you."

"Love you too, sweetheart."

At the signal's close, Ivy and Frank teleport onto the ship. They are beamed next to a pair of newlyweds who introduce themselves, without looking away from each other's eyes.

The gangway tones reprise over the loudspeaker with, "Those on the two o'clock zoo tour, make your way to Deck 60..."

"That's us," says Frank.