Photo provided by pixabay.com
Discovery of Purpura Terra had set a flurry of planning into motion at the Independent Space Exploration Consortium (ISEC). With construction underway, ISEC launched a call for a special breed of volunteers. This was a one-way mission.
When Sarah heard about it, she jumped at the opportunity. She easily passed the rigorous screening process, much to the dismay of her family in Toledo. They couldn’t understand how she could throw her life away for what they considered a “suicide mission”.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
The space capsule had launched four years earlier. Sarah and her teammates had made the trip in a suspended cryogenic state to limit any adverse health affects of the long flight.
The team was revived as the ship entered Purpura Terra’s atmosphere. Sarah was surprised at how energized she felt. They ate a light meal, hydrated and donned insulated, oxygenated suits in preparation to disembark.
As the captain opened the hatch, a pale purple light illuminated the cabin.
Sarah stepped out into the light and thought, “Oh yeah, I was born for this!”
kat ~ 1 December 2015
(174 Words)
This is a story for Flash Fiction for Aspiring Writers (FFfAW) Weekly Challenge for the week of 12/1/2015 based on the photo above provided by pixabay.com (a free photo source). If you would like to read more stories or enter a story yourself, click HERE.
like mercury colliding... 
December 1st, 2015 at 10:28 pm
Very creative and interesting story! I enjoyed reading this Kat. 🙂 It’s complicated getting humans to new galaxies. 😀 Love it!
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December 1st, 2015 at 10:30 pm
Thanks PJ. That photo definitely had an other-worldly quality to it. 🙂
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December 1st, 2015 at 10:32 pm
You’re right Kat, it really did have an “other worldly” atmosphere to it. I loved your story!
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December 2nd, 2015 at 12:52 am
Interesting story about space exploration and a futuristic setting.
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December 2nd, 2015 at 6:51 am
Thanks Deborah! 😊 That photo certainly sparked my imagination on this challenge!
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December 2nd, 2015 at 2:06 pm
Such a good story. Very creative for the prompt. 🙂
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December 2nd, 2015 at 2:15 pm
Thank you Susan! 🙂
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December 2nd, 2015 at 5:53 pm
I love this Kat I have always felt that I was born too soon I always really yearn for space travel!
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December 2nd, 2015 at 6:29 pm
That would be quite an adventure! 😊
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December 2nd, 2015 at 10:53 pm
I’m so glad she felt good about deciding to go this place, a one way mission leaving her family. The beautiful lights were it for her, she new it was her place. Great story.
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December 2nd, 2015 at 10:57 pm
Thank you. I thought about the people who have volunteered to go to Mars when I wrote this. That’s quite a commitment.
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December 2nd, 2015 at 11:02 pm
Oh forsure it is! I don’t know how you could do that. It would be a very hard life. Worse, then the explorers who landed in North America first.
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December 2nd, 2015 at 11:03 pm
Oh I agree. No safety net at all.
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December 5th, 2015 at 1:53 am
Oh now this one is funny – especially this part: “…much to the dismay of her family in Toledo…” I can just about imagine their reaction 😛
Loved this one, Kat.
Ellespeth
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December 5th, 2015 at 4:15 am
Haha! She’s definitely not in Toledo anymore’ 😊 thanks Ellespeth.
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