“Absolutely not.” Katya Khepri said angrily as she stared at her daughter with burning eyes. Ronada stared back at her with the same fierceness.
The mother and the daughter had been arguing since Katya got to know that Ronada had decided to join the Enliven crew as a medical officer.
“I’m not letting you keep a foot on that cursed ship.” Katya said as she walked towards the huge glass window in her office. Through it she could see Enliven docked at the shipyard like a giant ominous bird and automated machines were preparing the ship for its next mission. Ronada observed the anger on her mother’s face turn into a somber expression. She knew what worried her mother. Enliven had already taken a loved one away from her. Asahi Agawa, her step father had once boarded Enliven, never to be seen by another human being, a mystery that had not been solved to this day.
Katya thought of the day that Asahi disappeared. Enliven was Asahi's vision, come to a reality. The ship was designed and manufactured in his factory. Its test voyage was made to Saturn and back within breaking time records. It was and is the fastest and the biggest passenger spaceship ever made. It had made many trips to Xnex. The only exoplanet with human beings. Few years ago Asahi had boarded Enliven bound for Xnex. When Enliven docked at Xnex Asahi was nowhere to be found. Investigation into his disappearance only made people disturbed and worried and Enliven became unpopular among the public.
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Ronada knew the purpose of Asahi’s last trip and it was the reason that she wanted to join the Enliven. But there was no way she could let her mother know the reason. Asahi was on that ship on Ronada’s orders. Ronada knew that the guilt that she felt was nothing compared to the pain her mother would go through if she knew the truth about Asahi’s disappearance. And her mother’s pain would be nothing compared to the horror people would feel if they knew the truth about Enliven.
“But why?” Katya asked Ronada without turning back and Ronada watched her mother’s rigid military pose for a few seconds before reply.
“You know exactly why”
“Damn it, Ronada.” Katya shouted as she turned towards Ronada fast and Ronada looked at her mother with a startled look.
“You are not a soldier. Heck, you are not even a spy. You are just a scientist and your position won’t save you. What would you do if something happened?”
Ronada looked at a vein dancing on her mother’s temple. She drew a deep breath in and got up from her seat.
“I’ll see you when I’m back mother.” Ronada started walking towards the door, putting her white coat back on.
Katya watched as her daughter walked out of the room. A tear was trying to force out of her eye but she shook herself out of the trance.
“I’m sorry kid. I won’t be able to save you from a million miles away.” She said looking at the closed door.