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 |