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A sudden shower of sparks cast a warm, golden light into the travel cruiser. Light. The heat reminded him of the summer and as he breathed in the air, rather than the scent of grass and deep earth overturned in the fields, he smelled the sick tinge of clinical metal and filtered air. Rowland opened his eyes to see sparks flying past the single window allowed in the single-occupant models. His arms, still bound by the restraints in the cryo-pod, fought against the metal braces until the automated voice announced the emergency collision alert. “Emergency Release Initiated,” the monotone voice announced. Rowland felt the restraints release as the rest of the life systems shut down and pulled away into standby …show more content…

Propulsion…no, no…thrusters perhaps…oh, by the stars and all that dwells in the heavens, how do I move this blasted ship? His mind raced as the burning object drew closer and closer to the cruiser. “BRACE…BRACE…BRACE,” the computer screeched between the static. Rowland felt one of the thrusters fire off, moving the cruiser slighting away, but it wasn’t going to give enough thrust in time to escape the impact. His mind stuck on the promotional plaque that reflected all the emergency lights on the control panel. The glistening icon of the five planets that made the Outer-Ring of the solar system began to glow with the burning star. “The Outer-Ring,” he said, laughing at the irony as he braced for impact. “A new step for mankind.” They promised that the Outer-Ring was a place where dreams do come true. But they forget that nightmares were dreams too. She was like the moon…part of her was always hidden from him. It was too late now, to ever really know her, he would have had to look up from his work to notice the beautiful stranger that was holding his hand. “Carson, we cannot be late!” he said as he slid the small metal case into her regulation-size travel container as they stopped for a moment to let her fix her shoe. Time was too short. It had always been. The spaceport was crowded with the day’s scheduled launches. Each cruiser, her father had said, was nothing

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