When two Stars Collide

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1: The Colossal Hole of Nothingness

Pangasinan Space Explorer Agency
(PASEA) Headquarters
Philippines 2005

My chest is thumping violently as i walked along the straight path of the main station corridor. Mabibigat ang aking hakbang ganon na rin ang aking paghinga habang taas noong tinatahak ang kahabaan ng hallway.

Behind me are three courageous men in military attire walking on behalf of my lead.

Kabi kabilaang mga high-tech drones ang lumalagpas sa akin. Sa baba ay nakikita ko rin ang iba't ibang disenyo ng mga spacecrafts and a variety of equipments in a hint of modern technology. Lahat iyon ay sumasailalim sa masususing pagsusuri. Members of the crew are also actively working on their designated opposition and tasks.

Sandali akong napangiti ng tipid. To feel the presence of magic in this place makes me feel better.

Nang makarating sa pintuan ng conference office, me together with the army's at my back came to a halt.

There were guards stationed nearby. Sa hamba ng malaking pintuan nakatayo rin si Commander Canis Vilseko—the chief operating officer of the Mission System Advance Space Shuttle Technologies kasama ang kaniyang mga tauhan.

Mabilis itong sumaludo sa akin.

"Col. Elguerra, Professor Synder, Dr. Kivelson together with the deputy administrators are waiting for you inside." she told me emphatically.

I just gave her a polite nod before placing my palm on the metal door's identity detector. The door swung open as the line went green.

Taas noo akong naglakad papasok sa loob ng silid.

Ramdam ko ang tension na bumabalot sa buong paligid dahil sa ingay at yapak ng mga paa'ng hindi magkamayaw sa paglakad.

What's going on? Everyone is on panic.

Sandali silang natigil sa pagpasok ko. The highest-ranking PASEA officials hurriedly rose from their seats at the long table and awaited for my arrival. Una kong hinarap si Col. Elguerra, mabibigat ang kaniyang bawat paghinga.

"Oh thank goodness Commander, you're here."

"What's happening?" Binaling ko sa paligid ang tingin ko. Everyone's attention drawn at me.

"An emergency." saad nito.

Naningkit ang mata ko. Nahihimigan ko sa boses nito ang magkakahalong mga emosyon. A question suddenly strikes my mind.

What is all about this emergency?

"For the past 30 years, PASEA has been studying the behavior of space and put it in a lot of effort, hoping to find something that will add up to the knowledge of our existence. We're sending space probes, rovers, and space shuttles carrying our trained Astronaut crews who will be in charge to gather data and information during the said voyage."

On the projector screen in front, one by one, images of Astronaut crews as well as the exploration voyage from PASEA traveling across space appeared on the big screen.

Nakatayo sa harapan naming lahat ngayon si Professor Alberto Synder, isa sa pinakamataas na opisyal ng PASEA. He is an Astrophysicist, a Mathematician and a great inventor.