Moonstruck Pt. 6
Choral dove from the rear ramp of the shuttle with her team right behind her. The shuttle would kick up way too much sand so they were jumping from about fifty feet in the sandy surface. A drop made possible by Saundra’s gravity being one-third that of Scepter III. Their target was a sandy hill next to the canyon where the chamber was. Thanks to M-1’s directions, and the mining grade ground scanner, it was surprisingly easy to find. Almost too easy.
She released her drag chute to right herself seconds before she landed in the sand. Her team of three younger teenagers did likewise. Then they ran for the canyon. Or tried. One-third gravity compared to Scepter III helped, but the sand impeded their movements.
“We have boots on the ground and are one minute out from the canyon.”
“You have less than twenty minutes to activate the weapon.”
“On it.”
They waded through the sand that tried to swallow their legs. Thankfully it wasn’t very windy. In minutes that felt like hours, they reached the rim of the canyon. They looked down and saw the circular door to the underground chamber set into the opposite canyon wall.
Is it really that easy?
They jumped down into the canyon and looked up at the massive door. Choral pulled out the star compass and approached. There was a hole in the door at eye level.
Just the right shape. Still too easy.
She inserted the Star Compass into the hole. The lock twisted open and dropped the Star Compass. Choral caught it. The door opened and her team followed her in.
Wait. Everything is labeled? Uh- Oh no.
“Does that say what I think it does?” One of her teenagers asked.
Choral closed her eyes.
Yes. Yes it does.
“Um. Bennor…”
“What?”
“The moon is the weapon.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean the moon is going to blow up and smash the Space Fortress like a gigantic space mine.”
“But you’re on the moon.”
“Yes-” She breathed in.
I guess this is it.
“Benna will exfil the team in three minutes. I will-” her voice caught, “I will activate the weapon.”
“No. Wait. Hold on. How does the activation work?”
“Insert the Star Compass and place a human hand on a scanner for sixty seconds.”
“You go with the team. We’ll find another way.”
“Bennor.” Choral needed to tell him.
“Choral we can find another way. I don’t want you blowing up that moon with you on it.”
“Bennor… I love you.”
Bennor froze.
“The TIMING.” Calyx said.
“Shut up.”
But yeah, the timing Choral. Why tell me that now?
“Bennor, I know where I’m going thanks to you. But our kids and the millions of lives on Scepter III, including yours, will be lost if I don’t do this. By doing this I’ll be giving life to millions.”
Bennor was in the lift speeding toward the surface.
“I shouldn’t have sent you. I should have gone.”
“No. The kids need you. You’re our leader.” She took another shuddering breath, “I’ll see you on the other side Bennor.”
“NOOOO!”
Bennor was out the back door of the book shop and staring up at Saundra.
He tried to reach, her, tell her not to do it, but she didn’t answer.
“We’ve lost contact with Choral.” Calyx reported.
No. No. No.
Saundra was fully visible in the light of the rising sun. One moment she was there, the next moment she seemed to slowly grow and fade at the same time.
“The Space Fortress is right in the path of a wall of moon debris. It’s about to be shredded.”
Of course. The Space Fortress wasn’t designed to survive an exploding moon. It wouldn’t. Nor would the people on board. Nor would Choral. Bennor collapsed to his knees and let the tears flow unchecked down his face.
Worst timing ever.
“I should have told her.” He said aloud.
“She knew.” Calyx said as she walked up behind him to see the moon disintegrate.
Bennor stayed there a long time. The moon disappeared completely and Calyx went back down to the monitoring room. Bennor didn’t stir until Calyx’s voice sounded in his ear.
“Benna’s back.” She reported.
Bennor opened his eyes.
“They made it to the atmosphere in time?”
“Yep, they made it to atmosphere in time.”
The sky filled with pin points of fire and shooting stars as debris from the moon and the space fortress began to disintegrate in Scepter III’s atmosphere.
“Um, Bennor?” Choral’s voice sounded in his ear. His eyes widened. “Please don’t be mad. I had no idea. There was an escape pod.”
Bennor laughed and wiped his tears away with his sleeve.
Choral, I’m going to marry you one day.
Bennor turned to walk back into the book store as he said, “I forgive you.”
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