Captain Hew wakes up from torpor on a spaceship and is informed by the AI, Elyon, that he is the first to awaken. He requests a status report and an engine test, while also asking for the date, which is June 1, 2068. Suddenly, co-captain Elisa expresses concern about running the ignition test before the rest of the crew is awake. There is tension between them as Hew asserts his authority and questions Elisa's instructions. Elyon introduces herself and explains that a collision with debris from an old spaceship caused the cafeteria to be under renovation. Captain Hew insists on waking the crew, as they are approaching a critical area known as the darkslide. Elisa, worried about a locked torpor unit, urges him to halt the flight, but Hew refuses, stating he has waited his whole life for this moment. Elyon supports Elisa's concern, indicating that proceeding would break protocol. In a dramatic turn, Elisa disables the manual override to prevent Hew from continuing. She argues that she does not want the mission to be remembered for the loss of crew members, while Hew remains determined to make history. The story concludes with a conflict between the captain's ambition and the co-captain's caution, highlighting the tension between leadership and safety in a high-stakes situation.

by Kunal Patidar in English Adventure Stories

Writen by Kunal Patidar

Category Adventure Stories