Milo and the Moon-Station Visitor

Milo kicked off his heavy moon boots and wiggled his toes in the warm air of the lunar station. Cluttered stacks of star charts covered his bunk. Across the room, Sprocket, a three-wheeled repair robot, polished the glowing instrument panels with copper arms. "Save some chores for tomorrow, buddy!" Milo called out, pulling up his blanket. Sprocket flashed a single blue eye and whirred a quiet bedtime tune.

Milo sank into his soft hammock and closed his eyes. Suddenly, a rhythmic *tap-tap-tap* cut through the quiet cabin. Sprocket froze mid-tune, blue eye blinking fast. The sound came from the thick glass viewport facing the dark, empty crater. "Did a space rock hit us?" Milo asked, sitting straight up. Sprocket rolled backward with a frightened squeak. Nothing on the Moon was supposed to tap back.

Milo pulled his blanket up to his chin. Outside the viewport, dark shapes danced across the pale crater floor. They swirled like stormy shadows, blocking out the bright stars. Sprocket whirled in frantic circles, rubber wheels squeaking against the metal floor. Their single blue eye flashed a rapid red alarm. "What is out there?" Milo whispered. Sprocket chirped a frantic warning and aimed a copper arm toward the dark glass.

Sprocket rolled forward, tires humming against the deck. The robot locked onto the dark window and flashed a bright yellow beam across the glass. The beam sliced into the blackness outside. Something fluttered in the light! A startled shadow snapped backward and melted into the crater's deep shadow. "Whoa!" Milo shouted, swinging his legs out of bed. "That wasn't a space rock!"

Milo scrambled up the ladder to the high catwalk. He pressed his face against the glass and stared into the vast blackness. The empty lunar void stretched on forever. Were gigantic space beasts lurking just beyond the light? Could monster-sized shadows be hunting out there? High above the station deck, Milo felt as tiny as a speck of dust. "Sprocket, what if something massive is out there?"

Milo wasn't going to hide under his blanket all night. "We're space explorers, not scaredy-cats!" He slid down the ladder and jammed his feet into his heavy moon boots. Click-clack! The magnetic seals locked tight. He snatched a heavy flashlight off the tool rack. "Come on, Sprocket," Milo said, testing the bright white beam, "let's go find our visitor."

Milo inched right up to the giant viewport. Sprocket rolled close beside him, wheels humming. Milo leaned forward until his helmet pressed flat against the thick, reinforced glass. "Keep your eye peeled," Milo whispered. He held his flashlight tight against the window and clicked the button. A beam of bright white light punched straight into the swirling dark outside.

The bright circle of light showed a tiny metal creature with fluttery solar wings. The stray solar-drone was no bigger than a teacup, shivering against the glass. Its panels went tap-tap-tap as it pressed close for warmth. "It’s not a monster!" Milo said. "It’s just lost and cold!" Sprocket chirped a happy tune and pressed a warm sensor against the window. There was nothing to fear in the dark after all.

Milo reached for the control panel beside the viewport. "Hold on, little guy," he said, flipping the switch for the external glass heater. Warmth hummed through the glass, melting away the lunar frost. Outside, the tiny drone folded its solar wings and snuggled against the warm pane. "There you go," Milo whispered. "Safe and warm." Sprocket beeped a soft lullaby and dimmed their glowing blue eye.

Milo climbed back into bed and pulled the blanket to his chin. Outside, the little drone rested safely in the warm glow. High above the crater, Earth shone bright and blue, spilling light through his window. Milo grinned, showing his wide gap-toothed smile. "Goodnight, space visitor," he whispered, closing his eyes. Sprocket powered down with a soft, peaceful click. Tomorrow would bring another great moon adventure.