A Day Unseen

One

Nathaniel's POV:

"Son of a-”

"Dad!" My 11 year old daughter yelled, putting down her exotic glass violin. "No cussing!"

"Sorry, Nova. Keep playing for me."
She continued without hesitation. I looked down at my phone as her music rang throughout the room. A message from my wife read: Had to go on a last-minute business trip to Gliese 581d. Rumor has it that it’s a habitable planet. Take care of Nova for me, okay? Tell her I send my love. I texted her back saying that I loved her and to stay safe.
    Nova stopped playing. Glancing at the clock, she yawned. "When's mum coming home? She’s always gone and I miss her a lot."
    "She had to go on another trip.” I looked down at her.
“Again?”
“Yes, again. I'm sorry, little one.”

~9 Years Later~

“Dad! I’m ready!” Nova yelled from the living room.
“Be there in a second!” I yelled back, picking up the framed picture of my wife, Nova, and myself. My wife, Sylvyrr, had died on a space mission almost nine years ago. I wiped a tear from my eye as I set the picture down. Grabbing my bag, I got up and headed downstairs.
Nova was sitting at the table in a black shirt and white skirt, eating some ramen. “Hey Dad. I made you some taquitos.” She gestured towards the counter.
Grabbing the plate, I sat next to her. “Thanks, little one.”
Nova punched my arm playfully. “I’m not little anymore, Dad! I’m eighteen!”
“I know, I know. I’m just messing with you. Are you nervous about tonight?”
“Not as much as I expected, but I’m ready.”
Tonight was the night that Nova would be assigned her permanent job with the International Space Flight Association, or ISFA. Sylvyrr had been assigned the role of Lieutenant Commander on the starship Zhenya. There weren’t many men in the ISFA, but I was lucky enough to become a Communications Officer on Zhenya, also.
I looked at my watch. The LED numbers displayed 3:29 P.M. “Nova, we’ve gotta go. It starts at four, yes?”
She looked at the clock on the wall. “Ah! I can’t ruin my perfect reputation!”

The drive was quiet. “Dad, tell me again how mum died.” Nova said quietly, fidgeting with her seatbelt.
“Nine years ago…” I started.

~~~

    Nine years ago, Sylvyrr Flare was on a space mission to Gliese 581d. Scientists had found mountain-like structures similar to ours on Earth, possible oceans, and a reasonable atmospheric pressure. The team set out towards the planet, but the ship veered off course, sending the team into the orbit of the Sun in that star system. The frenzied crew tried to reset their heading, but it was too late. The engines had started to fail and the internal heat of the ship rose to unbearable temperatures. The starship was melted by the Sun a few hours later.

~~~

The Ceremony Center was a large sky-blue building with royal purple trim. We stepped through the door, and a warm draft of air greeted us. A greeter quickly rushed up to us. “Oh, you must be Nova Flare! Your seat is right over here, Miss.” Nova looked back at me as she was hurried away. I took a seat in the designated family member's area. I saw my daughter seated at a table with a large letter “F” on it. She looked around before landing her eyes on me and giving a small wave.
A petite woman in a dark blue halter dress stepped up onto the main stage. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here today for a very special Job Assignment celebration.” The audience clapped. The speaker started calling off names, starting with the A’s. Soon enough, she got to the F’s. “Nova Flare,” the speaker announced as Nova walked up onto stage.
“You will be given one of the most prestigious positions on a starship; the captain.” The audience gasped. No one from our District had been chosen to be a Captain in a long time.
Nova nodded and walked off the stage, with the audience clapping in awe. I stood up and met her by the door, since we were allowed to leave as soon as she was Assigned.
“A Captain!” I smiled proudly. “I'm proud of you, Nova. You’ve flourished and become an amazing woman.”
She grinned and laughed. “All thanks to you, Dad.”

~~~A Few Months Later~~~

Nova's POV:

“Captain's Log, Star Date 32.47.17. We're on our way to Gliese 581d to fulfill a mission started almost nine years ago by the starship Zhenya.  The crew is a little loath to carry out the mission, but everyone is determined to finish what we started.”
I sat back and looked around at my personal living quarters. On a small shelf sat my beautiful glass violin, the one keepsake I was allowed to bring from home. My bed was a twin size; I hated using up space. I was told that I could have a large room, but I chose a smaller room.

The intercom on my desk beeped loudly, making me jump. “Captain, please report to the bridge at once.”
I quickly made my way to the bridge, where First Officer Oda was waiting for me. “We will be beaming an away team onto the planet in approximately five minutes. The team will consist of you, Nurse Joyce, Commander Riker, and two security members, as you requested.”
I nodded. “I’ll be waiting in the transporter room.”

A few moments later, I was met by the rest of my away team in the transporter room and we were beamed down to the planet.
Gliese 581d was beautiful. There was greenery as far as the eye could see, a small stream, and I could hear the chirping of what seemed to be birds. We started to make our way down a little path into a clearing when my communicator beeped. “Team, we’ve got a huge problem,” Officer Oda said. “The Sun of the system is turning into a supernova, and our transporters are malfunctioning  due to the interference of gamma rays. We can’t get you guys out.”
The five of us stood in appalled silence as we watched the Sun explode.