With a sudden jolt, Freddy the Frog opened his wide eyes, the unfamiliar sensation of weightlessness making his limbs float. Transparent walls surrounded him, and he pressed his webbed fingers against the smooth surface, gazing out into the vast, glittering cosmos. The quiet beeps and gentle vibration of the ship were unlike anything he’d heard in his cozy pond back on Earth. As the pod’s lid slid open, Freddy tumbled out, spinning gently through the air.
Commander Riley, tall and kind-eyed, turned at the unexpected noise, eyebrows shooting up in surprise as a frog drifted across the deck. "Well, I must be seeing things. A frog in space?" Freddy, eyes wide, croaked nervously, legs flailing as he tried to orient himself. Commander Riley grinned and gently caught him, holding him steady in the zero gravity.
Freddy clung to Riley’s gloved hand, peering curiously at buttons and screens. Commander Riley chuckled, sharing a squeeze packet of water with the little amphibian. "Looks like you could use a tour. Let’s see, this is the control deck, and that’s the observation dome. I’m Riley—do you have a name?" Freddy let out a proud ribbit, feeling a spark of excitement at the adventure ahead.
Commander Riley strapped Freddy safely into a soft pouch on their suit. "Hang tight, Freddy. We’ve got to reroute power to the shields or we’re in for a bumpy ride!" Freddy’s heart raced as Riley floated quickly between stations, tapping commands and reading out instructions. The ship trembled, and Freddy watched in awe as colorful auroras flared outside from the defensive shields.
Realizing Riley couldn’t reach the lever alone, Freddy wriggled free and launched himself, sticky toes gripping the slick surfaces. With a mighty leap, he landed on the lever and pulled with all his might. "That’s it, Freddy! Just a bit more!" With a clang, the engines roared back to life, and the shaking stopped. Riley cheered, scooping Freddy up in gratitude.
Commander Riley floated beside Freddy, who basked in the glow of the galaxy. "You’re not just a frog, Freddy. You’re a hero," Riley said, offering him a crunchy cricket snack. Freddy puffed up with pride, his eyes sparkling as he gazed out at the endless universe. Together, frog and astronaut watched the stars, ready for whatever the cosmos would bring next.
