Eternal Sunshine

Almost Is Never Enough

The sleek, black Tesla pulled to a stop in the parking lot of the Mars Desert Research Station. It's once gleaming paint now coated with a fine layer of red dust from the Utah desert. Even before the Model X's door had completely opened, Elon Musk stepped out, ducking under the falcon wing as it rose towards the cloudless sky. His shoes, which also started out shiny and black, were likewise soon covered in red dust as he strode towards the station.

Elon loved it. It felt so right. This place, remote by most standards, felt all the more alien compared to the sprawling expanse of San Francisco, which he had left that morning. He looked up at the sky, the blue so much more intense at this high elevation and relative lack of humidity. The blue set off an incredible contrast with the vast expanse of red desert. Bizarre hoodoos and rock formations dotted the horizon, the quintessential picture when humans think about Mars. Southern Utah felt so right. He felt at home here. Elon grinned, the irony was not lost on him.

A line of MDRS crew gathered outside the main building of the station. As Elon strode forward to meet them he could see awestruck faces in the group. He felt like a foreign dignitary, and although he appreciated the admiration, he certainly hoped his fame would not interfere with the crew approaching him with their ideas or concerns. Fame could be a double-edged sword.

After introductions were made the MDRS Director bounced over to share the latest finding of the station. His whole body was quivering in anticipation. He reminded Elon of those small dogs that shiver when they get excited. Hopefully he wouldn't pee on the ground. Good thing they were outside. Elon snapped out of his intrusive thoughts as the director began to speak.

"Mr. Musk, thank you again for visiting us and for your most generous donation. It means everything to the crew and myself. The reason we asked you to visit is that we have some very exciting news!"

He paused for dramatic effect, still quivering. Elon couldn't resist the urge to check the ground for urine.

"We've discovered a solution to mitigate the perchlorate concentrations in the soil!"

Elon's eyes snapped up and focused on the director. The guy was still shaking like a leaf, but Elon could understand his excitement.

"Show me."

For the rest of the day, the MDRS crew showed Elon their findings as well as other research projects and data from the station. It was an inspiring day, filled with a crew who shared his excitement and hope for the future. As the sun set in a dazzling red and gold haze in the West, Elon bade the crew farewell. Although dining and places to stay were limited in this remote area, he had decided to stay the night and leave the next morning. His SpaceX facility in Texas could wait while he took a rare indulgence of time for himself.

XxXxXxXxX

Elon Musk stared up at the night sky. Space stared back. The vast expanse resplendent with glittering stars and the thin crescent of a waxing moon. The Milky Way was a glorious display of light arching across the southern horizon. As he stared, a few shooting stars raced across the sky. His heart soared as though connected to the meteors as they burned up in Earth's atmosphere. He shivered, not so much from the cold but from the sheer beauty before him. It was like the chills you get from listening to music. Transcendent.

Having lived for so long in big cities, Elon missed seeing the clear night sky. No smog, no light pollution, just intense darkness and the light of countless stars. It was fortunate that he was visiting when the moon was so small, just a silver crescent that did little to impact the darkness. He smiled at the moon. She was a beautiful satellite. He knew his own Starlink satellites were orbiting earth, miles overhead, offering some rare connectivity to this remote Utah desert.