Star Rider

Alcon's Journal #23 - Gravity

DSF@dfd75d1835b148a826b5ab22d910c80e

When our vacation on Earth came to an end and we resumed our exploration mission, the departure scene felt both familiar and different. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan, along with Ami's mother, were there to see us off, but the most significant presence was Ami by my side.

We bid farewell to each person with heartfelt hugs before stepping into the elevator. As the Earth orbital ring elevator began its ascent, Ami, sitting beside me, tightly held my hand. I looked at her, and despite her tears, she managed a smile. "Alcon, I'm sorry for crying..." I reached out my other hand, gently cupping hers. "Ami, it's okay. Let your tears flow. Don't hold them back..."

During the two-hour journey to the orbital ring, we held hands in silence. Ami would occasionally glance at me, then gaze out of the window. I knew that another separation awaited us. We would be assigned to different designated asteroid belts. At the Schiaparelli#1 space habitat, DSF-3137 and DSF-4177 were already prepared for the tasks designated by DSF.

When the elevator reached the Earth orbital ring docking platform, we made our way through the corridor, ready to board the commuter space shuttle bound for Schiaparelli#1 space habitat. Ami gripped the handrail, her gaze fixed on the home planet against the backdrop of the starry sky before resolutely entering the space shuttle. I followed and took the seat next to her. She forced a smile and leaned against me. I couldn't help but worry for her. She had already experienced the emotional farewell to her mother and home planet. In a few weeks, when we departed for Schiaparelli#1, she would face the separation alone, with only Anguirus by her side. How could I comfort her?

The three weeks on the shuttle to the space habitat passed quickly. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan, along with Ami's mother, sent us various greetings and messages along the way, and we responded with pictures and videos from our journey. We read, listened to music, and had endless topics to discuss, but we carefully avoided discussions about the impending separation.

Upon our arrival at Schiaparelli#1, as we entered the neutral gravity zone, the moment of separation drew near. Ami held onto me, resting her head on my chest. "Let me listen to your heartbeat a little longer," she softly requested. I kissed her, and then she slowly began to step back, tightly holding my hand. We parted ways and floated toward our respective spacecraft's docking positions. She placed her hands on the necklace, while I placed my hand on my watch. Then, we turned around and ventured into the passage leading to our spacecraft.

A private communication channel has been established between Mars and Anguirus. As we settled into our console seats, activating the video intercom systems, we could hear each other clearly. Mars greeted me first, welcoming me back and expressing readiness to proceed. Anguirus greeted Ami, acknowledging her return and confirming the readiness of spacecraft 4177 for departure.

I suggested to Mars, "Let's follow them once 4177 departs."

On the other end, Ami said to Anguirus, "I'm ready to go. Authorization to depart."

After a brief pause, Ami's voice trembled as she said, "Alcon, I'm leaving..."

"Ami, I'll always be here for you," I reassured her, trying to comfort her while suppressing my own longing.

Mars remained silent. When 4177 was released from the anchor device, he also released the anchor, smoothly slipping into the void along the space habitat's rotation. At that moment, a message from Ami appeared on the screen: "Good luck and Godspeed." It was the same message my mother used to send to my father when he embarked on a mission. I couldn't hold back my tears any longer. 

Mars calmly informed me, "Alcon, you authorized Ami to access our information, so I shared your history messages with her. This is the message your mother always sends you before you set off."

"I know, thank you, Mars," I replied, taking a moment before adding, "Mars, can you help me send a message to Ami and Anguirus?"

"Of course, go ahead and speak," Mars responded, maintaining his composed demeanor.

"Ami, I love you. Fair winds and following seas..." (Fair winds and following seas is a common blessing phrase used by Western sailors when setting sail, equivalent to "smooth sailing".)

As I watched 4177 fade into a small bright dot in the distance, our paths diverged, taking us in different directions. The nearby planet Mars emitted a soft orange glow, and I could feel an intangible force pulling me in the direction Ami had departed. It defied explanation, yet it was undeniably real and palpable. Scientists claim that only gravitational waves can traverse time and space. Could this mysterious force also be a gravitational wave?

After a few weeks, we settled into our designated survey areas and gradually adjusted to a routine of exchanging video messages, despite the vast distances between us. In her videos, Ami would share the events of her day and lovingly kiss her diamond necklace. We consciously avoided dwelling on our separation and longing, instead discussing the celestial bodies we encountered, the occasional passing comet, as well as the music, movies, and books we enjoyed onboard the spacecraft.

However, whenever I finished watching Ami's video messages, I would find myself gazing in her direction for hours. That indescribable fascinating force continued to exist, surpassing the boundaries of stars, time, and space.