An Incident on Ishtar By Brian Trent Her family tried very hard to never use the word “crazy” with her. So therefore, they didn’t say it was crazy that she was applying for a Venusian post as Tier 3 Balloon Specialist. She tried explaining her reasons to them: I have valuable skill-sets for the Ishtar colony. They countered: you don’t do well with people. Her response: there are only 612 people throughout Ishtar’s nine modular habitats. There are 2.1 million people here in San Antonio. Venus is hell, Mom interjected, and you’re afraid of heights, Melissa! Do you hear yourself? Venus is hell below the clouds but I’ll be living above them, sweeping along with the transterminator currents on oxygen-filled aerostat balloons that provide both breathable air and the lifting gases required. Statistically it will be safer. No chance of making another Terrible Mistake. The smiling masks of her family fell away. Older sister Diane exploded at her. Is that what this is about? Are you out of your mind? You— Melissa didn’t hear the rest. She marched out of her parent’s house and took the nearest PDT to the local office of ExtraPlanetary Colony Careers. Why do you want to go to Venus? the interviewer asked her. I have valuable skill-sets for the Ishtar colony, she replied. They were quick to agree.