Aaron scrambled away from the window. He pushed his back up against a book case as his heart fluttered in his chest. He stared out the window, pure terror plastered on his face. Something caught his eye, a shine that crossed over his view. He squinted and took a daring step forward, only to gasp at what he saw. A huge rock fragment was hurtling towards the window. Aaron screamed and ran for the door, jumping over chairs and tables like a mad man. He was suddenly sent to the floor as the rock slammed into the window and shook the ship to its core. The sound of the crack reverberated around the room. Aaron crawled to the door and pulled himself out of the room. He stood on shaky legs and turned towards the door panel. He pressed airlock and the door shut tightly behind him. The hallway was alight with red and figures darting left and right. Tears sprang from his eyes and he collapsed on the ground. He cried out for his parents as the ship shivered and groaned from the onslaught of space fragments. He stayed put, curled up in a small ball. The sirens blared loudly and he covered his ears.
"Aaron? Aaron!"
Aaron's head jerked up at the sound of his name. He turned to see his mother scrambling towards him through the crowd of panicked civilians. She scooped him up in a hug and stroked his hair softly.
"Are you ok? A-Are you hurt, or injured?" Josephine looked him over with a worried expression. Aaron shook his head and wiped tears from his eyes with a sniff.
"Come on! We have to get to the escape pods!" She grabbed his arm firmly and led him through the throng of people. Aaron tripped and stumbled but his mother never let go of him. They rounded a corner and went through a pair of sliding doors into a hallway packed to the brim with people and their families.
"Oh god..." Josephine cupped a hand around mouth at the sight.
"Josephine! Aaron!" Tom pushed his way towards them with a wild look on his face. He was breathing heavily and sweat dropped through his beard. He embraced them both with a look of pure hurt and grief.
"They're only taking women and children on the escape pods. You both have to go" he pointed to a section where a new line was forming. "There, that's the new pod opening up for passengers" he turned back to them, his eyes wet with tears.
"Promise me you'll be ok!" Josephine pulled him into a tight hug as her own tears began to fall.
"Please"
"I'll do everything I can to get to an escape pod. Right now, you both need to get to one" he looked at her and Aaron as he wiped tears away. He bent down and hugged Aaron tightly.
"Be good you hear? I'll see you when we get to the new colony ship." He gave a strangled smile.
ALL WOMEN AND CHILDREN REPORT TO THE ESCAPE PODS IMMEDIATELY
Josephine looked to the new pod entrance open. She pulled Aaron towards the entrance as they both looked back to Tom. He waved goodbye and mouthed 'stay safe'. Josephine pulled Aaron down the passage frantically, she looked over her shoulder to see more people following a little ways behind. Suddenly the ship lurched and everything went dark as light bulbs burst. Screams rang out as the ship shook violently as more debris slammed into it. Everyone in the passage where thrown to the ground as it lurched again. Aaron screamed and scrambled to his feet as his mother did the same. The escape pod was waiting for them at the end of the passage, they just had to get there in time. Aaron out ran his mother in a few strides and was sprinting for his life and me the ship groaned eerily. A loud crash sent him sprawling as metal fragments dug into his back. He fell to the ground with a hard thud. He turned to look behind him, only to see a pile of scolding hot metal blocking the passage. And under it all was his mother.
"Mama!!" He ran back and saw her hand poking out from under the red hot metal pieces. Without thinking he hooked his arms under a piece and tried to lift. He screamed in agony as his skin boiled and burned on his arms. He fell back, feeling faint. But pure adrenaline stopped him from passing out. He has to get the escape pod, no matter the cost. He stood weakly and crossed his singed arms, he sprinted toward the pod. The door was ajar and ready for passengers as he stepped in. The escape pod was humongous, meant to hold up to and maintain at least 100 people. Aaron located the flight deck and took a seat. Another shudder shook the ship and the pod as more explosions rang out. He looked over the buttons and levers as he tried to remember the class he took on operating escape pods. He reached out to the autopilot switch and flipped it up. Tears sprang from his eyes as pain flooded through him from his burned fingers. The escape pod lurched, but not from the ship. It detached and shot away from the ship at an alarming speed. It slowed when it was a safe distance from the colony ship. Aaron peered out the window to see the ship crumbling; fragments of the vessel floated freely and more explosions raked its body. The debris had passed, but they left their sick mark on the vessel. Aaron felt light headed and his vision split and wobbled. The panel lit up with two options.
Find nearest colony ship
Find nearest habitable planet
Aaron wasn't sure which he pressed, for he passed out in the pilots seat. The escape pod lurched once more, carrying him into the unknown.
YOU ARE READING
Starscape
Science-FictionA young boy named Aaron is separated from his family as well as the colony ship that held millions of people. The ship was shattered to pieces and he was one of the few who escaped a fiery death. His escape pod carried him to a whole new world, and...
