This is a Sunday Photo Fictionstory. I wanted to get away from the format I used last week but this idea just took hold. Normal service should be resumed next week. Apologies for the title; I could have spent all night thinking of a better pun. The photo is apparently of the Beagle 2 probe. Sadly, I can’t see who took it but it was a lovely prompt so thanks
-So what is it?
-A probe.
-A what?…They didn’t mention anything about that on the job spec.
-Why should they?
-Because it’s a liberty, that’s why. First thing I do when I get back, we’re going to have a word with our union rep.
-But, Chip…
-Aldrin wouldn’t have stood for this, I can tell you.
-Listen, Chip…It’s not for us. It’s a lunar probe.
-What’s that when it’s at home, Buck?
-It’s to take samples of rock.
-But…why?
-Dunno… It’s science, isn’t it? If we know what the moon’s made of we can…er…
-But I thought we all knew it was made of cheese.
-Chip?
-Yeah?
-Was that a joke?
-Er…yeah…So, Buck, we’ve come all the way to the moon…to collect bits of rock?
-That’s right, Chip.
-What a waste of everybody’s time.
-What is?
-This. I mean, why bother?
-Seriously?
-It’s a hell of a journey to collect rock samples.
-But, it’s like…important that we know what space is made out of. It’s like Teflon.
-What about Teflon?
-They discovered that because they went to space.
-How?
-…Dunno. But can you imagine washing up in zero gravity? I expect they thought it’d save time.
-But, is this where you thought you’d end up doing when you started astronaut school?
-I guess so…You?
-I thought I’d be shooting aliens and that. Maybe, that comes later.
-Maybe…But I think it’s mainly about collecting rock samples.
-Bugger…I knew I should’ve paid more attention in school….Let’s have a look at this probe.
-I dunno, Captain Anstruther said I’d to look after it.
-Just give it over
-I…
-I’ll tell Anstruther you tried his spacesuit on if you don’t.
-Alright, then.
-It’s rubbish, is this. Like one of those automatic Hoover things.
-I suppose.
-What’s this wire hanging out the back?
-It’s a plug.
-A plug?
-Yeah, Chip. How do you think we’re going to get it going?
-But Buck…What are we going to plug it into?
-….
-Houston, we have a problem.
The Inevitable Asterisk 
Haha that is brilliant 😀 I didn’t see that coming at the end. I thought they were going to break it lol This is better Fantastic
Thank you. I was intrigued by the wire and once I’d seen that, I couldn’t get past it. Not sure if this was your photo, but if it was, great prompt.
I believe that’s the part that would scoop soil samples. There was a complete display with loads of different pieces. I wanted to go back with my daughter, but she wasn’t interested. Too busy thinking about shops lol
Thank you :-). All the photos in the SPF are ones that I have taken myself 🙂
Interesting.
Have a similar problem if I want to take my girls to Jodrell Bank, though I can usually bribe them with a promise of twenty minutes on the black hole simulator.
Haha that sounds like it could be fun 🙂 In the Space centre, there is a 4D trip through space narrated my Luke Skywalker – well that was what I told my son. It’s Mark Hammill so same thing 😉 Although my daughter does want to go to the Natural History Museum in London for her 16th birthday 🙂
I’m chuckling at the last line, the dialogue in this works so well and the characters bounce off one another brilliantly.
Thank you. I really appreciate it.
This is great etienne, loved it, made me laugh, excellent and a very witty ending. I seem to be reading a lot of dialogue on this prompt. Great isn’t it?
Thank you. Just been enjoying yours. It’s fascinating how many of us were inspired to write dialogue-driven pieces with so little overlap. It was a deceptively great prompt, I agree.
This was great! Loved the dialogue! Can soo hear that conversation 🙂
Thank you.