"Wake the boy. He must see this." "Yes sir," The guard bowed and left the bridge. She walked down a long corridor ...

Exodus

allthingsm4tt

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"Wake the boy. He must see this."

"Yes sir," The guard bowed and left the bridge.

She walked down a long corridor and stopped at a colourful door. She placed her hand against the door. "Welcome Frida." An automated voice greeted her and the door opened.

She stepped into the room, it was lit by a weak light that she couldn't work under. "Light on." She said and everything became bright. A more expressive person may have winced at the drastic change in light but not Frida. She hadn't let emotions govern her body in years and a little light wasn't going to change that.

"Your father beckons you my lord." She raised her voice to act as a waking call.

A young boy lay in bed, fighting to stay asleep. "Can't it wait?"

"No!"

The boy tossed and turned himself into an upright position. His hair stood on end like he had been electrocuted and his eyes burned a clear green. "Are we there yet?"

"No. You need to come with me, quickly... please."

'Please' pulled the boy to his feet. Frida never begged. He didn't bother changing from his pyjamas. She turned away and left the room, he trailed her.

Each of her steps were hurried and uncomfortable. The boy tried to piece together what was wrong. Once onto the bridge she froze. The boy walked out a few steps behind. Wrapped in silence, everyone was staring at a large screen.

The boy looked at the screen and saw a burning red planet. The image had coated the bridge in an fluctuating orange and red tint. He turned to Frida and her eyes were running like taps. It was a day of firsts, she never cried, ever. "Frida, what's happening?"

His voice broke the silence and his father, who was stood in the centre of the bridge, turned to him. "Come here son."

He hesitated, something was wrong. His father beckoned him with his hands. The boy wondered over to him, looking at all the faces around him. Brave men and women trembling and hugging each other. He was young when his mother died, but he remembered the sullen faces that death orchestrated on that day. They were here again, right in front of him, but who had died he wondered.

"What's wrong with everyone Dad? Has someone died?"

"Look at the screen son. What do you see?"

The boy turned and studied the screen. "Looks like a volcano planet. Maybe even a star?"

The father inhaled and chewed over his next words. "That is our planet son."

"What? No, it can't be... It's red! That's not our planet."

His father looked at him, his eyes were flooding but he fought to barrier them. The boy spun around, and all the faces were broken. His stomach cramped, he didn't want to believe. "How? We were there just yesterday."

A large eruption threw molten rock into space and several people screamed.

"We must go back and save them." Said the boy.

His father watched on, with every eruption he grimaced as if a knife was being turned slowly into his heart.

"Father! We must go back." The boy tugged at his father's arm. "What's the matter with you? We must..."

Several large explosions vomited orange gas into space. The planet trembled and cracks tore through it. Everyone on the bridge held their breath. The planet shook to a frenzy and then stopped. One last crack cut through the planet like a chainsaw through jelly. Searing white light flared from the cracks. The orange hue of the bridge diluted to a bright white. Everyone shielded their eyes. All was quiet then the ship shuddered and the white light eased. Hands lowered and the screen was watchable again.

The screen showed large rocks flying everywhere. A grey mist floated where the planet once stood. The father's barrier breached and tears rolled down his cheeks and soaked his beard. Frida dropped to her knees. The boy fell back onto the floor hard, events cloaked him with numbness.

Everyone watched their former home float around space in fractured pieces.

Breaking the sullen lul a red alarm sounded.

"What is it?" Asked the father to one of the men sat at a console closer to the screen.

"Fearakes, sir. Two ships heading this way."

"Battle stations! Battle stations." The father screamed at his broken people. "For the memories of our dead."

About Post Author

allthingsm4tt

Writer of things, meme supplier, semi-occasional six string swordist, sporadic cinema goer and smiler.

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