Readily reshaped

Something appeals to me about making this item a liquid.

Despite obvious analogues to precious materials in today’s world, there is something hopeful about a fluid.

At first, I thought of something that glows, but that seemed unsubtle. Although an inverted vase shape that emits its own light still appeals to me.

Focus on the object

I have been considering a story about a spaceship.

I know I want my story to be partially about trying to get this spaceship to fly somewhere far away – farther even than we have considered sending unmanned probes in the early 21st Century. And I think I know that I want the person or people on this spaceship to find something that they did not expect.

It is difficult to decide what that should be, and I have been trying to let my imagination help me find it. I have also been trying to fall asleep while thinking about this item to see if my dreams will reveal it to me.

But even after I discover what the explorer(s) should find, I am not sure what they will do with it. I hope that its nature will bring that answer, at least in part.
I have a feeling that the travelers should return home, but that is not a foregone conclusion.

This story will also have pictures and maybe sounds.