Alpha Centauri

Weightless

As the days molded together, I started to understand the feelings that coursed through me.

I noticed when I was around Estrella and Nev, I felt anxious. My heart would race, and my stomach would form knots.

When I was with Rosa, Lyra and Nix I felt happy and excited.

Lyra said we were going to be best friends; I wasn't sure what that meant, and she told me it was an earth saying. Either way, I was happy that I was starting to feel a little better.

I was still very confused with all the words coming out of everyone's mouths, but they kept assuring me that all would make sense soon.

When I slept at night, I wouldn't see the beach anymore, instead images of the ship and everyone's faces filled my night with happy memories, but also confusion.

Occasionally, the red orb would filter into my sleep, causing me to feel uneasy. It pulsated and called out my name and sometimes scared me so much I would sit up straight in my bed, sweat dripping from my skin, my body racked with shivers.

I didn't tell anyone, unsure what they would say. Maybe they would think I was crazy and lock me back up in the Cryotube.

Phee helped me navigate the ship, her handy light orbs sent me on many long walks through the metal hallways. She showed me to what she called a Library, which was stacked high with books.

I found that I enjoyed sitting in the Library and it's where I spent a lot of the last few days, reading, smelling the paper pages. The smell was so foreign to the smells I had become accustomed to aboard the Sitara.

Most of the older books were locked away in glass cases, and I sometimes wished I could touch them, read them, smell them.

I sat on the floor reading a book on Earth. It showed me war and deforestation, third world countries plagued by starvation and dehydration. It made me feel sick that all these people were dying, or dead.

I felt sad for humanity, and maybe we were supposed to do better?

I put the sad book back and picked up a medical journal. My hands tingled and I started to feel excited, I didn't know why, but I liked the feeling.

Suddenly an alarm sounded, the library turning bright red. I covered my ears, hating the noise and the fear it brought.

"All crew to the flight deck immediately!" Lyra's voice echoed inside my head scaring me so much I yelped.

I stood up off the ground and shouted for Phee to help me. She must not have heard me because no glowing orbs of light came to rescue me.

I walked out of the library, my body shaking as I tried hard to remember where the Flight Deck was located.

Luckily, I saw Estrella running through the hall and I followed her at a distance.

I entered the flight deck where everyone was strapped into a chair. Lyra, Nix and Nev were in front of the screens, tapping away and shouting to each other.

"What's happening?" My soft voice tried to yell over the alarm.

Lyra must have heard me because she looked back and yelled "We have a small meteor shower heading for Centauri Earth and we are in its path."

"You need to strap into a chair!" Nix shouted.

I frantically ran for one of the chairs and grabbed the straps that would buckle me in.

But I froze.

Panic took over and my breathing came in sharp and fast, a strange tingling sensation started to spread through my body.