"The purest treasure mortal times afford is spotless reputation."
Mowbray to Richard (Shakespeare's Richard l)
November 20th 1955. Pittsburgh Institute Of Aeronautics. PA, USA
One can say that space outside of our planet is just blackness ready to swallow up any life that dares itself to leap towards the darkness. Not so much in the case of those who see more than just rock and the never-ending dark expanse of space and time.
Standing alone in a well-sunlit lecture hall, a man in his mid to late 40s was intently staring into a manila folder that had the note 'Research from Field' plastered on the cover. His dull grey eyes held a deep knowing of the contents inside the folder, although he knew what it contained could also unravel all that is known by his community or his workspace. He also saw his name 'Professor Henry Sullivan' under the note. He sighs in a very exhausted manner, Henry starts to make his way towards the office of a particular man who can approve of the information and be the only authority figure to disclose any information found by this building's employees.
"But if it doesn't get out...what can?" Henry thought in self-doubt, as he sees the name plaque 'Professor Richard L. Hughes' on an exquisite stained glass window framed by an expensive wood door that suited its' occupant well. He grabs the cool metal door handle, seizing up the worked-up confidence Henry had before he got here and trying his best not to let self-doubt get to his mind. He can smell the strong coffee beans and cigarette smoke from behind the door, which was not surprising to him from all the years he worked under Richard Hughes. He pushed open the door with a forced feel of confidence, as he was greeted by the man he was looking for.
Richard Hughes was the man everyone in the faculty went to for anything involving the Institute or the current surge of space exploration conquests. His fiery green eyes can pierce through even the most stoic of men and there was no doubt he could easily decide continued workmanship or termination at any given moment.
He was the head of the Aviation Technology department along with being the head of its PR department. And with his perfectly tailored tan business suit and the flawless blue tie, he certainly wins over people with his overwhelmingly immaculate appearance. But not to people like Henry who has seen his violent mood swings behind heavily closed doors or the eloquent smirks Richard has.
"Ah, Professor Sullivan. I wondered when you were coming back to my office again. It's been a long time since the last time, Henry." Richard spoke, sounding like he was glad to see him. Henry knew it in his mind that wasn't the case with him. He knew how Richard behaved around people he dislikes for reasons many people are mystified about. But Henry knew Richard hated him personally because of their different social lives.
"I'm not here for a visit on old times, Richard."
"Then why are you here, Professor?" Richard asked as Henry placed the folder in front of him in a disgruntled manner.
"I'm here for the approval on those papers," He answered, as Richard started to read through each piece of evidence collected personally by him. As he continued to read, the more unreadable his face became. Henry started to feel the very real tension of the eerie silence it caused.
"Along with the required funding for this project," Henry added, adjusting his greying brown hair. Richard then glanced towards Henry in a carefully faceted glare.
"You can't be serious about this, Henry."
"What's that?"
"Look at what you have, it's not even believable to me."
"Why should it be believable?"
"How can anyone think that psychopaths are seeing Saturn as alive as this planet?" Richard spat, tossing the folder and its contents to the ornate wooden desk he resided on, glaring at it like a lion displeased with its prey.
"But it is backed up with real footage, sir. How can you decide whether or not life can flourish there?!" Henry responded with a firm tone, Richard taken aback by this side of a man he had stood over for years, never expected this quiet and inquisitive man to be able to show his conviction right now.
"And how are you going to do that? Huh? You think you can convince the public that Saturn is a real planet? You have people who're in a psych ward, for Christ's sake!" Richard swore, smugly smirking as if he knew that Henry would lose. Henry already knew this, as he watched Richard pick up the files again, seeing him still smirking, his perfect whites shining while his perfect pale skin creased with dimples.
"What're you doing, Richard?" Henry firmly asked, seeing him over by the paper shredder. Richard, smirking like the red-haired devil he truly is, dropped the documents into the machine, as all of Henry's research went up in shreds.
"You fucking coward!" Henry shouted angrily, as he tried to tackle Richard, but he simply kicked him in his abdomen, knocking the wind out of him. As Richard started to walk away, Henry hooked his left foot to his leg, and he crashed to the floor, breaking his nose; fresh deep red blood poured out.
"Henry, do you have any idea how crazy your little theory is?" Richard spoke with a grunt, blood sputtering out due to a few broken teeth.
"Richard Hughes, it could've been a breakthrough! And you went ahead and destroyed that!" Henry responded with hate, gripping his abdomen in pain, slowly getting himself back up from the stone-hard floor with slight difficulty.
"Get a grip, Henry! Admit that you're crazy, just as much as the rest of those bastards!" Richard shouted, as Henry angrily slammed the door behind him, leaving a slightly injured man with a bruised ego in his wake.
"Fuck! That bastard got my nose!" He grumbled in disdain, holding his nose and trying to reach for a towel on his desk.
{...}
"I fucked it up this time, didn't I?" Henry thought with frustration, glancing at the night sky that illuminated his quiet and very empty university apartment. He stretched out his slightly overweight body, seeing the abdomen bruised angrily at his abdomen.
"That is nasty," He thought as he touched and flinched with sharp pain, doubling over his stomach in response.
"It doesn't help that I got terminated.." He added, seeing all the boxes packed full in the tiny kitchen.
He sighs in complete frustration, finding a lighter on the kitchen counter and lighting a Lorillard cigarette. He breathes in the smoke, he glances towards the door, and sees a rather familiar face.
"Kathleen? What're you doing here?" He asked, turning his full attention to the person at the door. The person walks up to him, as the moonlight captures the person in their full figure.
"Jesus Kathleen, you'll be the death of me," Henry sighs in a relaxed manner.
Kathleen Delia Boyd was incredibly thin compared to him, and was a head shorter than his 5'9 stature. At their first encounter, he would've almost intimidated her, but considering her curly blonde hair and those beautiful black starry eyes he was easily won over by her natural persona. And they shared so much in common, he generally enjoyed her company. But there was a very obvious problem. She is currently a patient from a nearby psychiatric hospital he frequents for study.
"Henry, what happened? Did you get the funding?" Kathleen asked, seeing the huge bruise and giving him a sympathetic expression.
"Well, Richard screwed us over, and he thinks I'm crazy," Henry responded with a defeated sigh, as he smoked more of his cigarette.
"He thinks you're crazy? If that's the case, then I must be insane," She spoke, fiddling with a strand of sun coloured hair. It didn't help much considering she was in the psych ward for murdering her father and uncle in a broken state of mind. He didn't blame her, though. As he sees it, they deserved it in the end after what they had done to her in the past.
"And I got terminated. So we're screwed for cash." He adds, sitting on the bare balcony while watching the full moon, as well as keeping a watchful eye on Saturn.
"What are we going to do then?" Kathleen asked him, as a cold breeze went by and weaved through her long hair.
"We're getting out of this shithole," Henry started, still smoking his nearly finished cigarette and watching the ringed planet.
"And we are going somewhere far from those high-standing idiots" he finished, as his cigarette slightly singed his short but neatly trimmed beard.
"Careful, you don't want that handsome beard of yours burn out," Kathleen spoke with a mischievous glint in her eyes, as she stole a quick peek at his cheek.
"But that is a great idea. But where are we heading?" She adds.
"We're going to Italy, my dear Kathleen," Henry spoke earnestly, stealing a kiss from his endearing love of his life...