Poignant Skies

Questions

Selena woke up to a bright morning. She could smell the breakfast being prepared in the kitchen from her room. She got up and saw Lee making a toast.

"Our new neighbors are kind enough to bring us some food supplies from the market." He pointed out to the basket full of fresh fruits, bread, marmalades and milk from the NICC. "They must be very concerned that I might starve you."

"How kind of them." She replied with a laugh.

"You slept the whole afternoon until this morning. You must be very hungry so I made you the most hearty breakfast I could manage." Lee said as he handed her plate. It consisted of two slices of toast with butter, sliced oranges and some classic omelet. Lee also handed out the strawberry jam to go with the toast.

"Oh thank you. It looks good."

"You're welcome." Lee feels so proud of himself. He never cooks for anyone except for his sister. "Do you want milk or coffee?"

"Milk will do."

"Here you go." Lee poured her some milk.

"Are Novans really this hospitable when hosting migrants from other planets?" Selena asked before she ate a forkful of omelet.

"I don't think they will let you host a migrant if you are not hospitable in the first place." Lee replied with a chuckle.

"Well you have a point." Selena enjoyed eating her toast with the strawberry jam. "This is good food. And it tastes exactly like I remember strawberries. So you had all the Earth seeds shipped here in Novus?"

"Yes, all the edible fruit and vegetables here were from Earth. There were very little food that could be eaten here in Novus when it all started. Good thing the seeds were able to grow and adapt. Even the farm and domestic animals that were brought here on a later period was able to adapt as well."

"Food supply is really key to establishing a new civilization in the middle of a new planet."

"Correct." Lee replied. For a few seconds he stared at her as she gobbled up her toast.

"What is it?" Selena asked when she noticed him staring her.

Lee was silent for a moment. "I just have many questions. That's all."

"You are free to ask them you know." She said to him. Then she took a sip of her milk. "I don't think it will compromise anything."

Lee moved closer to her. "What was your reaction when you found out that you just woke up from a very long hibernation?

"Well," Selena placed her cup down. "I was confused how it was even possible. I don't recall yet how long hibernations used to be but I do know 250 Novan years is a very long time. There's little difference between Novan and Earth time right?"

"Yes, the length of time here is almost the same with earth's. In Novus we have 25 hours a day, and 29 equal days for 12 months. That's probably around 60 hours less than that in an Earth year."

"I see."

"So how much did they tell you about the status of the Intergallactic Confederation?"

Selena paused for a moment. "They told me it was disbanded after the destruction of Earth." there was a sense of sadness in her voice.

Lee thought it was a sensible reaction. After all, it was probably the only home she had. "Selena..."

"I'm trying to recall the last memory I've had of Earth. Before I took off to somewhere in space, I was in a familiar place, like a bar or something. Then I was drinking like a gin or vodka. Then there was someone else with me. I couldn't remember his face. But I knew I was sad at that time. I just couldn't remember anything vivid."

"Then did they also tell you how Earth was destroyed?"

"A massive solar flare. The worst thing I could ever think of that could annihilate a planet."

"We lost our mother planet, and the Mars and Titan colonies. Some tried to escape but only those who were able to get past Neptune did. It happened around year 246. You were already hibernating that time."

Selena tried to eat some of her omelet. "I'm lucky to be alive. Although I'm not sure why. Right now, like you, I have so many questions."