EROS Shuttle ──── ✶☄

[opaquii]

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EROS Shuttle ──── ✶☄

various little lore chapters of my two wermz Astro and EROS!
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[opaquii]

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15/12/2024 ©️

Gargantua
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The creaking under Astro’s paws no longer caught his attention, a slow, quiet rhythm as the ship moved to face Gargantua. The sight was unbelievable, the black hole spanning way further out than his windows would go, just how close was he now? He didn’t let himself glance down at his screen to find out, eyes trained right at the darkness. Was it even darkness at this point? It was just…

Nothing.

“And we’re here because…?” EROS’ voice droned behind him and shook him awake, not even bothering to pay attention to the dying planet. Their metal paws stood straight and unwavering, even when the ship tilted to the side to stabilize.

Astro let out a sigh, perhaps a bit pained. “I uh- I’m not sure.” He forced himself to lean back a bit, flexing his sweaty paws on the controls. He felt embarrassed to be caught, even though EROS was the only tactical robot, or *being*, that he’d see in a while. “It’s on route, figured we could have a detour.”

“Is it now? You strayed from the route 7 kilometers back. I called your name multiple times, but you seemed to ignore me.” There was a bit of amusement in their voice, something that grated him immensely.

Astro huffed, “I was focused.”

A louder creaking appeared as Astro forced the ship to sharply turn to the side, banking to the right and flying out of Gargantua’s zone as the boosters worked overtime. They could still make it in time to the checkup point.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” Astro replied, fighting the urge to glance back at the darkness. It was something he kept seeing in his dreams, slowly getting closer and closer to the void until he’d gasp awake in the dead of the night. EROS never commented on it.

Hopefully they never would.

[opaquii]

xxx

17/12/2024 ©️

Indifference
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Astro wouldn’t be caught dead staring at EROS, exactly why each time he did it, he was discrete. Quick glances here and there, maybe a longer one if they were looking the other direction. Stuff like that.

It’s not like his coworker was anything special, EROS was a regular hunk of metal like the rest of the robots. Humour setting at 75%, and honesty at 90%, just how it should be.

Except it didn’t feel that way sometimes. Astro had to admit that they unnerved him, code processing across their screen in real time as they talked, looked, did anything. Why couldn’t he have had a normal partner during the missions? Someone alive, with original thoughts and feelings. Not a program.

“I did consider brushing this off again, but you have been eyeing me an awful lot.”

Great.

Maybe he wasn’t as discrete then. Astro looked away, busying himself with the data written on his side console. “You look a little rusty, are the space particles getting to you?” He replied in a mumble, eyes glazing over at the sheer amount of useless information. Uninhabitable planet in one, dying star in the other.

EROS did a quick scan of their body before answering, “I do not present any sort of rust. Maybe the space particles are getting to you.” He hated how there wasn’t any sort of physical indication of their tone when they spoke, if this was someone else he’d imagine them tilt their head to the side with a smirk.

But all EROS did was stand stiffly, a reminder that technically Astro was alone out here, even if the robot had to repeat time and time again that they were able to give him support. But he didn’t want it. Not from some hunk of metal.

[opaquii]

xxx

10/1/2025 ©️

Nightmares
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The cold gripped onto him, tendrils of ice that creeped into his brain and made his dreams morph back into a nightmare. There was no escape, no matter what, he would be back in this same spot. Overlooking the thing that kept sucking up any life on its path, an ink blot on paper.

Gargantua.

EROS’ figure stood at the doorway of Astro’s room, scanning for their partner with mild concern. A blue glow from the planet they were orbiting served as a light, letting them find the werm in the corner. The nightmares were nothing new, practically a nightly occurrence at this point, although usually Astro would spring up from them without assistance. This time he did not. “Astro.” The robot called out to the dark, when they weren’t answered, they took a step in.

Astro was curled in his bed, muscles tense and fur sweaty. His suit was hung up somewhere in the room, blankets overturned and long forgotten on the floor. EROS paid no mind to it, leaning over the werm to shake him awake. It was only then Astro gasped and jerked up, eyes falling onto EROS in surprise.

“Your vitals showed a high increase in heartbeat. I assumed you’d prefer to be awake at those moments.”

“Er. Yes.” Astro replied dumbly, still shaken and half asleep. He shifted to face EROS fully, paw swiping off the beads of sweat on his forehead. “Thanks… you can go now.”

That was not a response EROS expected, a bunch of code processing on their screen until they spoke, “Are you sure? I’m supposed to provide comfort and or advice after this-”

“No.” Astro shook his head sharply, “I don’t need that. I’d rather we move on from this.” His tone was bitter, but not necessarily aimed at the robot. Shifting again, he laid down on the mattress and faced the wall. EROS had hoped tonight would have been more productive, but a part of them knew it was impossible to get anything out of the astronaut.

They took a step back, turning to exit. “As you wish.” They muttered as they manoeuvred perfectly around stray papers and books on the floor. Right as they passed the doorway, a sound stopped them.

“I was a pilot for a previous team years ago until we had an incident. It was before you were even made, probably.”

“Do you see them?” EROS glanced back.

“No… just what took them.”