Orana awoke with tremors all around her and rumbling in her ears. The first thing she felt were rough straps that tied down her arms and legs. The first thing she saw was a piercing light coming from the small window directly in front of her. She quickly realized she was in a pod, with only enough room for her and the chair she was strapped down into. Her skin burned and she felt like she couldn't breathe. The capsule was spinning out of control, and she became increasingly dizzy. Where was she? Where was she heading? Who was she? She could only remember her name.
The bright light from the window disappeared, and in her view was a sandy, circular shape, and nothing but a star-filled horizon behind it. Now she understood where she was. Deep in space. Alone. A flashing red alarm came on above her, and the window became a screen that projected three words that made Orana's heart leap in her chest. "Prepare for impact." The planet was rapidly coming closer and the pod sliced through its atmosphere. There was a creak, and the miniature cabin was being ripped open, a furious blaze was engulfing it, and then everything went dark again.
YOU ARE READING
The Ascendants
Science Fictionas·cend·ant - the point on the ecliptic at which it intersects the eastern horizon at a particular time, typically that of a person's birth. Four people wake up in pods each heading towards different planets, and their own fates. They must find thei...
