Main Page Go to Short Stories Go back to Articles Go to Comics Go to Continued Series Go to Editorial Go to New Series

Show All | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9 | Week 10 | Week 11 | Week 12 | Week 13 | Week 14 | Week 15 | Week 16 | Week 17 | Week 18 | Week 19 | Week 20 | Week 21 | Week 22 | Week 23 | Week 24 | Week 25 | Week 26 | Week 27 | Week 28 | Week 29 | Week 30 | Week 31 | Week 32 | Week 33 | Week 34 | Week 35 | Week 36 | Week 37 | Week 38 | Week 39 | Week 40 | Week 41 | Week 42 | Week 43 | Week 44 | Week 45 | Week 46 | Week 47 | Week 48 | Week 49 | Week 50 | Week 51 | Week 52 | Week 53 | Week 54 | Week 55 | Week 56 | Week 57 | Week 58 | Week 59 | Week 60 | Week 61 | Week 62 | Week 63 | Week 64 | Week 65 | Week 66 | Week 67 | Week 68 | Week 69 | Week 70 | Week 71 | Week 72 | Week 73 | Week 74 | Week 75 | Week 76 | Week 77 | Week 78 | Week 79 | Week 80 | Week 81 | Week 82 | Week 83 | Week 84 | Week 85 | Week 86 | Week 87 | Week 88 | Week 89 | Week 90 | Week 91 | Week 92 | Week 93 | Week 94 | Week 95 | Week 96 | Week 97 | Week 98 | Week 99 | Week 100 | Week 101 | Week 102 | Week 103 | Week 104 | Week 105 | Week 106 | Week 107 | Week 108 | Week 109 | Week 110 | Week 111 | Week 112 | Week 113 | Week 114 | Week 115 | Week 116 | Week 117 | Week 118 | Week 119 | Week 120 | Week 121 | Week 122 | Week 123 | Week 124 | Week 125 | Week 126 | Week 127 | Week 128 | Week 129 | Week 130 | Week 131 | Week 132 | Week 133 | Week 134 | Week 135 | Week 136 | Week 137 | Week 138 | Week 139 | Week 140 | Week 141 | Week 142 | Week 143 | Week 144 | Week 145 | Week 146 | Week 147 | Week 148 | Week 149

Neopia's Fill in the Blank News Source | 29th day of Running, Yr 26
The Neopian Times Week 26 > Continuing Series > Odyssey to the Stars: Part Four

Odyssey to the Stars: Part Four

by mewtant

Chapter 10

15:26 GMT, Day 26
Low Earth Orbit, 3.14 light years from Neopia

"Docking in thirty seconds," announced Zyral.

"Clamps extended," reported Sally.

"Docking in 5… 4… 3… 2… 1… docked!" Zyral exulted.

Ben flipped a switch, "Pressuring airlock."

Everyone crowded around the door as it slowly rolled open. Three men floated on the other side.

"Uhm… hello," said a very nervous Nivara. The man on the left rubbed his eyes as though just waking up. In the background they heard someone saying on the radio:

"Houston, you're not gonna believe this." The man in the middle pushed forward into the ship and held out his hand.

"I'd like to welcome you to Earth, except that we're not exactly on it," he greeted. Uno cautiously reached out and shook hands with the man.

"Thanks," he replied.

"Please come over here in front of the camera," said the man. "Allow us to introduce ourselves. I'm David Rezalas, Station commander." He gestured to the man on his right, "This is Philip Bromell, Flight operator. And this," pointing to the other man on his left, "is Station Specialist Robert Olsen." He motioned for someone behind him to come forward. A woman hovered into view. "This is Carolyn Hobbs, Mission Specialist." Uno began introducing his crew.

"I'm Uno, the commander, and this is my pilot, Zyral." He began pointing out behind him, "These are Ben, Sally, Infiniti, Yen, Davix, Strella, Salchicha, Nivara, Vincent, Helen, and finally Shipos."

"Well," David said, "Come on in. It's not much, but it's home." One by one, the Neopians made their way into the International Space Station. "I've contacted ground control, and they said they will have a shuttle to bring you down shortly." Strella suppressed a shudder of excitement as she 'stepped' onto the station.

"Actually, the shuttle is being launched now," commented Phillip. "Good thing they were planning to launch it tomorrow anyway, or you might have had to wait quite a while."

On the screen behind him, a white airplane-like ship with rockets attached lifted off with a blaze.

"In the meantime, tell us a little bit about yourselves," said Carolyn, "I believe you said you came from a place called Neopia?"

Chapter 11

18:27 GMT, 13:27 EST (1:27 PM), Day 26
Cape Canaveral, Florida, United States, North America

The shuttle descended in a fiery corona, gliding gently just before touching down at Cape Canaveral. There were a couple of jolts as the wheels hit the ground and the parachutes deployed, then the shuttle coasted to a stop. Outside, a special welcoming committee had been formed. The President, half the senate and house, several hundred reporters, and countless thousands of observers covered every bit of space around the now still shuttle, despite the security guards' attempts to herd most of the crowd out. A mobile ramp was driven up and two NASA officials opened the hatch. A deafening cheer rose up as Strella, who happened to be seated closest to the door, stepped through the hatch, onto the ramp. She walked down the ramp in a daze, into the warm golden light of a different, yet not entirely dissimilar sun. As her feet touched the pavement, warm in the afternoon sun, tears welled up in her eyes with the realisation that she was the first Neopian to set foot onto the owners' homeworld. Davix stepped out behind her. The rest of the crew come out and down the ramp, one by one, and gathered in a small group at the base of the ramp. They stood around, taking in the green grass, sapphire sky, and the huge crowds anxious to meet the visitors from another world. A greying man in a business suit walked up and took Uno's hand in greeting.

"Welcome to the United States of America, of the Planet Earth." At that moment, the crowds surged past the guards and surrounded the group. Strella was overwhelmed by the rush of people. Everyone wanted to greet them personally. Suddenly, she saw a familiar face emerge from the crowd to say,

"Strella?"

Strella rubbed her eyes in disbelief. Despite the fact that she knew it was bound to happen, her mind had trouble accepting

"Jenny!" Strella dashed forward and threw her arms around her owner and proclaimed, "I missed you!" Jenny looked down at her, smiled warmly, and said,

"Let's go home!"

Chapter 12

23:32 GMT, 18:32 CDT (6:32 PM), Day 92
5 miles from Denver, Colorado, USA

Strella sat watching the sun set over the treetops as she reflected on the nearly two-and-a-half months she had spent on Earth. Jenny had taken her shopping (much more fun in 'the mall' than on Neopia), they had visited amusement parks, and they had been a family more than most NeoPets would ever be. Which was why Strella was so depressed now. She had been informed a few hours ago by Uno that it was time to depart for Neopia. She couldn't believe that it was time to go after only two short months.

In the last few hours, an insane thought recurred to her for about the twelfth time during her stay. This time, however, she didn't put it out of her thoughts immediately. Instead, she dwelt on it for a long time, even planning how it could be done. Did she really have to leave? That really was the question, wasn't it? I don't really have any friends back on Neopia… But then Davix came to her mind. During the last three months, Strella had realised about the middle of last week, she had fallen in love. How could I stay behind and let the only friend, scratch that, boyfriend, she had ever had leave? she thought.

The moon rose only to find Strella deep in silent contemplation of her coming decision. After another hour or so, Jenny was getting ready for bed. She had to get to sleep early for the long journey to the Florida early in the morning. She was growing concerned over Strella, who had been acting very sad. Her thoughts were interrupted by a gentle tug on her sleeve. Jenny turned to see Strella standing there, trying to maintain a look of resolve on her face. Strella looked up and said:

"I'm not going."

Jenny had suspected that Strella's thoughts had been going somewhat along those lines, but was still surprised, nonetheless.

"I love you, Strella, but are you sure this is what you want? There won't likely be any way to go back for a long time if you don't."

Strella wasn't really sure of anything, but she gathered up her courage as best she could and said, "I love you, and I just can't leave!"

"If that is really what you want, then I would be happy to have you stay," Jenny said, and the hugged Strella tightly.

15:30 GMT, 11:30 EDT (11:30 AM), Day 93
Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA

Strella watched as the space shuttle Atlantis lifted of from pad 3A to climb slowly, then increasingly faster into the late-morning sky in a blaze of fire and smoke, carrying away the one she loved. Higher and higher it rose into the deep blue until nothing remained visible except a plume of smoke from the great engines, then finally that too, vanished. The hours passed, and despite Jenny's urgings, she didn't leave until a flash of green in the starry night sky betrayed the chaos drive whisking the rest of the crew of Sojourner 1 back to where they came from. Strella held back tears as she left the to go home, but someone was running after her.

"Strella!" called a man in a blue technician's jump-suit. Strella stopped and turned around. He ran up to her, breathing hard from an apparently long run. "Are you Strella?" he asked. She nodded uncertainly. "There is a message for you in the control room from Dave" he said. Strella thanked the man, and spread her wings, then soared to the main building in minutes, leaving behind a very surprised technician. Now what could the station commander have to say to me? she wondered. She gently alighted on the steps in front of the main entrance to the building and walked in. No one questioned her identity, as she was fairly unmistakable. She went through a glass door marked 'Control Room I.S.S.', which she remembered as being the control room for the station. The flight commander on duty at the time saw her and walked over. He promptly said:

"Davix is on the line for you."

No, what he actually said was: "David is on the line for you." Davix is gone. Wake up and get over it already! Strella mentally chided. The flight commander motioned to one of the people behind the controls. Abruptly, the big screen in the front of the room that had shown the flight path of the station superimposed on the world blinked out and was replaced by a live video feed from the station. In the centre of the screen was a familiar red Lupe…

"DAVIX!!!" Strella cried out over the microphone. Davix winced at the volume and turned a dial slightly. "But I saw you leave…" Davix cut her off.

"The ship did leave, but I just couldn't leave without you." For the umpteenth time that night, Strella's eyes watered, but this time for joy.

Epilogue

23:37 GMT, 18:37 CDT (6:37 PM), Day 103
5 miles from Denver, Colorado, USA

Strella again sat watching the sunset over the hills, but this time she was not alone. She was lost in her thoughts yet again. I have come closer to my owner than most Neopians ever have, maybe ever will. I have traveled the stars. I have been the first to step onto the homeworld of our owners. I have found a new life and love. The sun's last rays faded in the distance as the day drew to a close. She moved a little closer to Davix and the watched as the first stars appeared in the sky, the same stars that had brought them together and almost torn them apart. She felt so renewed that they might as well have been the first stars ever to shine in any sky for all she knew or cared.

Strella had come home.

The End

Previous Episodes

Odyssey to the Stars: Part One

Odyssey to the Stars: Part Two

Odyssey to the Stars: Part Three

Week 26 Related Links

Doomsday Rider III: Zing-Lau's Revenge - Part Four
I stared in total disbelief at the spot Mechanicore had been standing. I couldn't believe it. I had defeated Mechanicore.

by yugo149


Elemental Distortions III: Part Seven
"Do you accept your fates?" growled Ignus.

by selphie_tilmitt


The Fine Line: Breaking Reality - Part Eleven
"I can't stand this!" Ryo said as he pounded on the dome. "Brad's in there fighting and we can't do a thing!"

by gundamblaze


The Wings of the Dream: Part Five
"I need to save my energy," said Celia with a pout. "Shoyru's weren't made for climbing, they were made for flying."

by stephy_stork


Trouble
Doh!

by angelwishes249


The Lost NeoPet: Part Three
After playing Deckswabber, Deckball, enrolling all four pets in the Academy, buying some food, meeting some pirates, and giving his pets swimming lessons, Jamez and his four pets finally swaggered into the Lost Desert...

by leb388



Search :
Other Stories

Faerie Tales, Vol. I The Negg Faerie: Part One
The new Negg Faerie couldn't have been more delighted. She barely kept an acceptably serene face as she bowed to the Faerie Queen.

by taffychic


Meerca Siblings: Part One
"Jake, I have an excellent idea."

by comedian872001


Rebirth: Part One
I am a cowboy Lupe. I patrol the harsh desert lands, protecting those in need and fighting those who threaten the well being of others.

by solargriffin


As Told by child_dragon: Part Two - A Strange Tail
I then noticed every NeoPet there staring at me, aghast, and Un-eairkagh rolling on the ground, laughing so hard tears were forming.

by child_dragon


Neopets | Main | Articles | Editorial | NeoMarket
Short Stories | Comics | New Series | Continued Series | Search