- Out There from Out There
Soft music played in the background. An electric piano. Simple mostly. A passive white noise. Lighting was soft; not dark, not especially bright. The room was sleek and empty save for three people divided on opposite sides. Circular, smooth tables with rounded, smooth benches sat randomly around the room. The room was very clean.
Two men sat at a table near the door on the inside corner of the room. They shuffled their drinks while talking softly and slowly about something of little consequence. On the other side of the room, near the wide, tall windows, another man sat. His back was to the table; he faced the windows, looking out, his face showing no emotion. His drink sat behind him.
Outside glowed the distant lights of the Milky Way. The galaxy revolved slowly, the stars shining steadily. Space in between the Observatory and the spread of suns was empty and clear.
It was the year 2199; the Observatory was alone in the universe.
A soft voice spoke some announcement to the room. None of the three took any notice of it, and continued their own business...
thinking, mumbling, watching.