Into the Black Hole
1400 Words
“Chris! Where’s Rhapsody?” A woman ran for Chris holding an infant in his arms…
“I’m so sorry Terra… She didn’t make it…” Chris hung his head low. Terra was part of the Council on another ship as well as Rhapsody’s twin. People were only meant to have one child per family, but the doctor that delivered the twins kept it secret taking in Terra as her daughter, listing Terra as the daughter of a woman who had died giving birth that same day, her own child didn’t make it either and her husband had died during an accident… a tragic story for the family, but it saved the twins, one of them would have had to die otherwise.
“No…” Terra held back her tears, she and Rhapsody always knew they were sisters… they could feel it even if they weren’t identical twins, there was a ‘pull’… They were best of friends growing up until Terra took on the role as a Council-member and Rhapsody transferred ship to live with Chris.
“This…”
“This is your niece, Aurora…” He was the only one other than Terra’s adopted mother and Rhapsody’s parents that knew the truth.
“She’s beautiful… Hi there little one…” Terra immediately took on the motherly role though knowing it would be short lived… The head Council kept many of the other Council-members in the dark, but when you have secrets that needs to be kept safe, then you learn how to ‘dig’ for information.
“Chris… They are finally pushing to go through…” She whispered as she leaned near, protectively taking Aurora in her arms.
“I figured, they’ve been drifting near it for years, I’m almost certain that the Star Fire also came from it, or was caused or pulled here by it…”
“I believe so too. Give or take five years and we might all be on the other side of the black hole.
…
“Cel Stea?” A woman with auburn hair like fire nodded her head, her niece was a little genius!
“And how will you say… I love you?”
“Ir sei le dars?” The little girl with hair like crimson blood curls scrunched her brows as she thought hard about her answer.
“No… that means 'my thoughts with you'.”
“I love you will be ‘dars ir amar’.”
“Terra ir amar!” The little girl’s silvery eyes glittered like stars.
“Aurora ir amar.” Tarra kissed her three year old niece on her forehead.
“Remember this is our secret you can tell anyone about this.” She was teaching Aurora a language that her twin, Aurora's mother, had made up. They had used it as a means to communicate without the adults knowing what they were talking about, like their own secret code. At first it was used for fun as children often would make up silly games, they made their own languages. But as they discovered more secrets that the Council kept and as Terra worked to ‘join’ the Council they used it as a means to keep their secrets when they contacted each other.
“Ir romes!” Aurora held her hand over her heart.
“Good girl! Now you need to learn and practice your Latin some more and try not to make more trouble for your Dad? Or for the Doctor this afternoon, okay?” Aurora nodded reluctantly. She was a natural trouble maker with all the energy she had and after running through the station twice she’d still have energy to spare to play and tire out Chris when got ‘home’ from his work.
Aurora wasn't the only one with heightened intelligence, though all children are taught various subjects from science to mechanics from a young age, those affected by the Star Fire were unique in that they learned twice if not three times faster. Only difference being Aurora showed no signs of cellular deterioration.
She was perfect.
…
“Aurora?”
“Yes Aunt Terra?” Aurora was already six years old.
“I have to go now… You have to be a good girl, listen to your dad, and don’t cause trouble for your teachers, just because you know a lot doesn’t mean you know everything.” Terra seemed worried but she would not say it out loud, she had tried her best to stay with the Station, to go through with the station, but no matter how she argued the head Council had already made up their minds; two other ships already went through five months ago, and though they thought them lost, a month ago one finally made contact, they theorized that there was indeed some time distortion within the black hole, but it was something they were ready to face…
“Why? Why do you have to go? Why can’t you stay?” She pleaded, she loved her aunt, she was as close a mother Aurora could ever have…
“I just have to; if I want to make sure everything is safe and sound for my beloved smart and cute niece!” She kissed her on the forehead and pinched her cheek.
“Aurora… Dars ir amar! Dars ir sei ki… I’ll see you soon.”
“Romes?”
“Ir romes!” They spoke in whispers, giving one last big hug, Terra really didn’t want to let go.
A nagging feeling telling her it would be the last goodbye…
…
It’s been two years the station had finally acknowledged the black hole, Aurora had already known it, and she had heard her aunt and father talking about it when they thought she was asleep. According to the announcement three of the ships had made it through, the fourth and fifth would soon make contact, but has been spotted by the other three ships. She doubted that. The ships that made contact were Vega, Hydra and Sirius. According to them Atlas was lost during the Star Fire, Vega confirmed it, the two were the first to make it through though they by accident.
Aurora and Chris stood on the viewing deck, watching as the station approached the black hole. Though this was against the Council’s orders to stay in their rooms.
“I’m scared…” She wasn’t scared of the black hole, rather that her Aunt who left on Orion was missing forever…
“Everything’s going to be fine, some way or other I’ll do my best to make sure of it!” He said reassuringly.
The station lurched forward; the three ships - Altair Calypso and Creed – had maneuvered the station towards the black hole gravitational pull.
She continued to watch as the eerie black hole came closer and closer, the station shook again… violently… a fiery vortex wrapped around them and she could feel the station shake and rattle, the creaking rattling sounds as though her ‘home’ would be torn apart at any moment… She closed her eyes tightly, gripping her father’s hand…
… Suddenly everything became ‘calm’… too calm… she opened her eyes not able to stand not knowing and pitch blackness greeted her, the station was completely dark…
“Daddy…” Her voice was shaky.
“It’s alright I’m sure the generators will kick in any moment…” She nodded in understanding… He was only trying to reassure her.
Outside was a tunnel, clusters of stars… nebulae… covering the tunnel in all colors… but in the distance she could see a light moving inside the tunnel…
“Star fire…” Chris heard her say and chill ran down his spine. He had described it so many times… he followed her pointing finger…
- Writer
