“Open the Deck-7 Airlock!” • by Jason Burnham

Domiciliary Deck-7 had powered down its daylights for the station’s simulated evening. Pam was watching a favorite movie when something knocked at her starboard viewport.

The viewport abutted the vacuum of space—she must have been hearing things.

The knock came again.

“Pam! I know you’re in there.”

She didn’t recognize the tinny voice coming from the person with their spacesuit helmet pressed against her viewport.

“It’s Dave! Let me in!”

She’d never known a Dave. Thanks to the movie she’d been watching, she blurted the first thing that came to mind.

“I’m sorry Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

Dave had never heard of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

“What are you talking about?” cried Dave. “I’m dying! Open the Deck-7 airlock for me!”

A security bot appeared suddenly and disintegrated “Dave” with a laser. Burned tentacles erupted from the spacesuit.

Pam decided she’d watched enough creepy movies for the night and went to bed.

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Jason P. Burnham loves to spend time with his wife, children, and dog. Find him on Twitter at @AndGalen.

This week’s Pete Wood Challenge was to write a 150-word or less story that includes the line, “[character] had never heard of [name of a movie].” To see the previous winners of previous challenges, click this link. 

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