“Space is fascinating isn’t it?”, admired Nick.

“Yes, definitely”, replied Adam.

Nick, Ryan and Adam started to set up some communication devices and equipment soon after.

“Day 1

It was a nerve wrecking and tiring day. Had to set up some stuff before resting. I’m going to bed soon, maybe in one or two hours.”

“Day 2

I prepared and checked on the hibernation capsules, getting the capsules ready for hibernation. Adam, Ryan and I are going to start the hibernation process in a couple of days. I miss my family and close friends even with the sheer amount of work today to distract me from it.”

“Day 5

Tomorrow we will start the hibernation process and hibernate until we are about to reach planet HD 260655b. The scientists said it was going to just feel like falling asleep and in a split second, we’ll be awake and approach the destination. I’m actually feeling excited rather than being fearful.”

“Day 6

We will be hibernating soon, and I hope everything goes well!”

Nick wrote.

The hibernation capsules opened up, some misty gasses were released. Ryan soon entered and laid down; Nick followed and entered his own; Adam entered last. The capsules’ top closed and tubes with needles at the end were automatically inserted into their skins, into their blood vessels. Injecting some special chemicals into their bodies to begin the process. Nick’s eyes slowly closed and his vision started to blur out, falling unconscious.

The spacecraft traveled through space at incredible speeds, going past multiple other solar systems and more.

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

“Where am I?” said Nick.

Nick looked around, it had a familiar scent. It was in the open, with multiple houses and homes on the sides. Nick walked forwards and saw something intimate. It was his home. He sprinted towards it at the speed of light. But to realize that it has been already abandoned and inhabitable. He ran into the house and it was filled with dust and cobwebs. He zoomed up and down and the only thing that welcomed him was a tiny lonely spider. He panicked. He started gasping for air. He felt something causing immense suffocation on him. Something invisible. Something hidden. Something unfamiliar.

Nick looked around with fear and uncertainty. He looked around again. He looked around once more.

He was suddenly filled with fear and trepidation. He started to sweat even though it is only 18 degrees celsius. The sweat rolled from his head down to his face. It felt like little ants slowly crawling.

He eventually walked out and tried to check on the other houses. The results are the same. Homes abandoned and filled dust to the brim. He became desperate and ran around the neighborhood, but no live person was found.

After a few hours, he couldn’t bear it anymore. Tears like rivers flowed out of his eyes and soon got his whole face drenched. In split seconds, he was somehow sucked into the air and pulled out from this world.

He woke up.

Nick opened his eyes and saw that Ryan and Adam were already awake.

“Mornin!”, greeted Ryan.

It took a while for Nick to realize that it was just a dream.

“Morning…?”, replied Nick.

Adam said that we have 5 months time until we land, they’ll have to prepare equipment and tools beforehand.

5 months went by in a blink of an eye.

“We are expecting to land in approximately 13 hours, we should be able to vividly see the planet already”, announced Adam

Ryan was filled to the brim with energy and excitement, he went jumping up and down, all around the spacecraft. Adam and Nick just looked at him. Stared at him. They both thought he was being too ‘happy’ and ‘optimistic’ about it, as if he did not know the potential threats and dangers that awaited.

10 hours went by, no signs of planet HD 260655b present. The smile and cheer on Ryan’s face slowly faded away, turning into an intense, unsure and fearful expression. There were signs of nervousness shown on Adam’s face and Nick was constantly looking around for the planet.

Another hour passed, all three of the crew members were trying to find where they actually were.

Beep.

Beeep.

Beeep.

Beeeeeeeeeeeppp.

Loud beeping sounds coming from the instruments were the only sounds present, no one else said anything. Nick was covering his face trying to hide his emotions. Adam constantly tried to pinpoint their location and the error that occurred. Ryan in the corner of the spacecraft, silently praying and sobbing.

“Sobbing and praying has no use”, Adam scolded Ryan.

Nick looked out the window. He could see space filled with bright stars all around. But when he looked somewhere else, something strange was seen. There was a large vivid black spot in the center like nothing was there. It was surrounded by brightly shining stars and the circular object may have blocked or warped or pulled all the light coming from other stars, as if they didn’t exist.

Suddenly, an ear screeching buzzing sound was made. There were alarmingly bright red lights flashing and coloring the whole room red. As the spacecraft approaches the foreign object, it becomes very clear on what it is.