Beyond

Part 2

...One year later…

Studies have shown that what happened was a spacial collapse. Ever since the Big Bang, space has been expanding, but what we didn't know is that the universe is like a rubber band. The event last year was the "rubber band" snapping back into its original shape. Our solar system was just lucky enough to be in the center of it all. We are the only thing left. The Hubble Telescope has tried taking pictures of "deep space" but they only came back as inky darkness.

...Five years later…

Turns out that my fascination with the stars was actually helpful. I have joined a special team of researchers who have been studying what caused the "snap back" as some people call it, and why our solar system was in the middle of it all. In my spare time though, I have been analyzing ancient, old, and new theories about space. The Mayans said the world was going to end in 2012. They were only twenty-four years off. And they were wrong about it being Earth.

A popular theory amongst middle-schoolers is that the Man in the Moon’s face was warning us. He looked worried. And there is some evidence to support that theory. Old texts from all around the world described the moon as having a “bright and happy” face, but since the big event in 2019 the moon has taken on a more somber and sullen look. Secretly, I have come to accept this theory.

Rebekah has decided to join the Air Force in hopes of being selected to pilot a space mission. She has studied hard and trained even harder. She is fearless in the sky and is a little bit of a celebrity.

Engineers at NASA have been slaving day and night over a new spacecraft. They have found the equation, or something, to make the most perfectly aerodynamic vehicle in history. The only problem is, we don’t have the right technology to manufacture it. Once we do, a team will be assembled and the "Beyond" mission will be put under way. 

Since there is nothing really out in space anymore, we humans have taken to calling it The Beyond.

...Ten years later…

I just turned thirty-four and for my birthday I was offered a spot on the Beyond team. Bekah was there and at the same time she was appointed pilot. The Beyond team only had four positions available so this was a high honor. 

The day of the mission came quickly. I was in a daze of nervous excitement as I carefully stepped along the path leading to the shuttle. Reporters crowded on each side and were shouting to get my, or someone else’s, attention while shoving their microphones our way.

Rebekah led our small group, followed by her co-pilot named Ryan, then there was the head scientist named Jacey, and I brought up the rear.

Before I knew it, I was strapping myself into my seat and the countdown was sounding in my ears. Soon enough we were shooting off into the atmosphere and radioing a last goodbye to our home planet. There was no turning back and we were now stuck on this ship for the next thirty-six years.

 The team began moving around the ship, albeit slowly because the artificial gravity wasn't turned on yet. Once someone turned it on though, everyone began preparing cryo-pods and setting the systems on low power mode. Ryan tapped a few buttons on a small console in the back. I assumed that that controlled the Radio Transmitter Drop System. Every once in a while the ship would drop a radio transmitter so that when we reached the edge of the solar system we could communicate better with Earth.

Once everything was finished and put into place we were ready to go into the cryo-pods.

They were new technology and had only been tested a few times. We had no idea how long they would last.

Jacey entered her pod first, jokingly wishing us a good night. She laid down, the lid closed and sealed, and slowly, ice particles formed swirling patterns over the glass.

Ryan went next. Rebekah and I were left standing there. She smiled at me but her eyes were filmed with fear of the unknown. I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tight.

“It’s going to be okay. You don’t need to worry. I’ll be here to protect you.”