First In Space

First In Space is a short story I wrote, illustrated, and bound into a small book. It offers a glimpse at the life of Eubala, a whale genetically altered to exist in the vacuum of space as a mapping satellite. Eubala has been mapping Jupiter for so many years, she has fallen in love with the planet.

There is a point when one grows so big, the violence surrounding you seems tailored to your shape.

This is how Eubala felt in her fourth day on Jupiter, gargantuan and alone, floating through the gas storms of the god she was created to map.

and how she spent each nanosecond now, alone among endless cascades of white and brown, silver and gold. A glorious suspension rich with the seeds of the universe.

At one time, Eubala was also a whale. She supposed she still was, at her core.

A whale may grow as large as she needs to, if she can make new cells and has enough space.

In the same cosmic hour that Eubala took time away from breathing Jupiter to re-notice her fluke was still attached to both backbone and brain, she also noticed she had grown bigger than the eye of her love.