They said “Fourth from Magnus’ sun” Little blue ghost Just past Borea’s run Scrawled the coords on a napkin ring Smelled like coolant Cardamom And gin Dockside bar with the flicker signs “Kid You’re lucky This one’s hard to find” Laughed so light I could feel it sting Like I’d joined some old inside thing Triggerfish Chasing a planet that never exists Star chart scars on my wrist You can fall for a myth Or learn how it twists Triggerfish The joke that cuts like a knife through the mist In the dark between the ships Trust is the first thing you miss Stories older than jump drives hum Pranks and tall tales That’s where we’re from Painted moons on the cargo doors Fake distress calls in the comms at four But some kids grew up with rust in their teeth Turned the punchline into a reef Waited quiet where the beacons lie Trading “gotcha” for a battle cry Triggerfish Chasing a planet that never exists Star chart scars on my wrist You can fall for a myth Or learn how it twists Triggerfish The joke that cuts like a knife through the mist In the dark between the ships Trust is the first thing you miss [Radio-crackle Distant voice] “UEE advisory Archive note If they hand you heaven in a dotted quote Count the worlds Then count again Ask who profits from the legend” Now I mark my maps in red Little ghosts where the lies once led Still I smile when the rookies ask “Is there really something past the gas?” Triggerfish Chasing a planet that never exists Star chart scars on my wrist You can fall for a myth Or learn how it twists Triggerfish I raise a glass to the harmless tricks And a flare for the ones that flipped Here’s to tales and the teeth that grip Soft laugh Low breath “We’ve always lived with beautiful threats” One more toast in the station’s hiss “To the world that never was— Triggerfish”
