As Flash ventured away from Olo, he began picking up signals from somewhere. He had nearly forgotten about the music he had heard earlier through his radio.

It began faintly like before. So much so that, for quite a while, he couldn’t be sure whether he was only imagining it.

He was heading in another direction now, perpendicular to the course he took the first time he left Olo.

As he sped on into uncharted space, the signals grew stronger, the sounds grew louder. Soon, it was undeniable that someone was out there. But where? And who?

Flash was beginning to think he didn’t need anyone else in his life. He certainly didn’t need anyone to complete him.

Yes, he sometimes felt lonely on his journey through space, but he could be just as lonely in a crowded room. Of course he had Lem and the K. D. Head to keep him company.

He was comfortable in the mothership. His surroundings were so familiar. The ship felt almost like an extension of his body.

Every time he left it and returned again, he needed time to regroup. In solitude, he charged his batteries.

Excursions always seemed like such a good idea after being alone for a long period. The best part of any trip, no matter how interesting or beautiful, was settling back in his chair, burying his feet in the furry hide, sipping a hot beverage from his earthenware cup and leafing through the Ololian book. He was comforted by these familiar objects.

From this detached viewpoint, he listened to sounds of life picked up by his radio.

From what alien forms did these sounds emanate? He could only imagine.

Whoever, or whatever they were, they were a long way off, and Flash wasn’t sure he would be able to find them if he tried.

Flash Meridian felt at home aboard the mother ship. Sometimes it felt lonely and claustrophobic. He had Lem to keep him company, and he had the pod to take him on adventures. On a few occasions, he entertained the thought of making a permanent home elsewhere, but he always returned to his ship, where he could relax and think.

Even when faced with the sadness of leaving his family behind, he chose to return to the one place where he felt at home.

Flash looked out upon the immensity of space, knowing that what he could see was a tiny fraction of the whole. It was mind boggling to think of infinity, but the mother ship was manageable. He could comprehend this space, which was filled with familiar objects.

He was happy to be back, but tired from his ordeal. He reclined his chair, listening to the strange sounds, and with Lem by his side, fell into a deep sleep.