Out of Time

Amber Wilcox dreamed of space. The stars in the night sky called to her like a melody to a musician. Orphaned at 17, she joined a training program with one goal, to someday be in space. When her day to achieve her dreams comes with a hefty price, will she survive the crash landing and who awaits her after falling from a star-filled sky?

"My name is Amber Wilcox, manning the deep space black hole mission, Spacerunner. It is August 23, 2045, and thank god for new technology, 'cause if we did this mission 45 years ago we still wouldn't have made it this far in this time. This may be my last transmission for a while, time works differently here. Based on past transmissions, outgoing and incoming, time seems to be slower here. It takes longer to communicate the closer I get. I've reached the edge of the black hole and it is certainly an unsettling view," the woman on the screen laughed slightly. "It really is quite incredible. I knew when I signed my name to man this mission, I may never come back. But if this is the last thing I see, I can't say I'll be too disappointed."

The video kept rolling while my brain was trying to comprehend what I had just seen. I grew up, learning about this woman, and how the NASA administration was blamed for her death. This video is dated after she was proclaimed dead.

"Open a video message to send back. Use the updated satellites." I ordered.

"Sir?" the tech sitting in the front row questioned

"If Amber Wilcox is still alive, she is far overdue a homecoming."

Nodding, the tech opened up a channel. "It's ready sir."

"Amber Wilcox, we have received your message. I am Jack Morden, head of operations at NASA. Today's date is August 1, 2082. If you receive our message respond with your coordinates, and we will come to bring you home."

But there was nothing but empty space. Were they out of time?

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