The End to Come - Page 24 3D Render, Digital Artwork by emarukk

! REPORT

The End to Come - Page 24

3D Render by emarukk

Aldo's hands expertly tightened the security rail, each movement fluid and precise, leaving him with a look of satisfaction across his features. Yet, the seat seemed almost too spacious for Olivia's petite frame, failing to adjust snugly around her tiny body. Despite this, she trusted Aldo's judgment, believing it to be secure enough since he hadn't mentioned any concerns. Olivia clutched the handles with determination, her knuckles turning a stark white as if her very existence hinged on maintaining that grip.

The old man moved with a calm and deliberate purpose. Yet, the faint tension in his clenched jaw betrayed the urgency he felt, a silent countdown ticking away in his mind, more acute for him than for her. The low hum of the shuttle's systems resonated through the cabin, growing in depth. At the same time, gentle whines of diagnostics filled the air, indicating that more functions were gradually coming online. Or those were alarms, Olivia had no idea. Her mind wandered to the imminent return of gravity, envisioning how the engines would soon roar to life, followed by the exhilarating rush of acceleration reminiscent of scenes from movies and tales of space adventures.

Despite the situation, Olivia's mind was not consumed by the image of the failing station, poised on the brink of its final, blinding explosion. The impending disappearance of her home into the void was a thought she simply couldn't imagine. Instead, her focus had shifted from the shuttle, narrowing in on the man kneeling before her. Olivia, on the cusp of womanhood, was often labeled childish by her peers. Yet, she possessed a deeper understanding of the world than they realized. The notion of a kind stranger helping a young woman without asking anything in return seemed too fantastical. It was too out of place in a harsh and unforgiving reality for the vulnerable. The questions that had been simmering in her mind finally surged forth, catching her breath in their urgency before she could restrain them. She knew that any word she uttered might slow their momentum, yet the silence was unbearable.

"Why did you help me?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, soft yet resonant, rising above the constant hum of systems and the low, steady rumble of engines that filled the air. Yet, in the silence that enveloped them like a cocoon, her words rang clear and distinct, cutting through the ambient noise with a sharp clarity.

Aldo paused, his movements stilling as if captured in introspection. For a brief span of time, he refrained from meeting her gaze, remaining in a crouched position at his feet, one arm resting heavily on his knee. His head bowed slightly, as though the question she posed carried a weight far beyond her intentions, pressing down on him with an invisible force. Olivia's eyes, vivid and green like the depths of a verdant forest, were fixed unwaveringly on his face, demanding answers with an intensity that could not be ignored. Her gaze traced the deep, timeworn creases that etched his features, each line a testament to years of hardship and sorrow. Her focus then shifted to the subtle flicker of light that danced from his cybernetic eye, casting a faint shimmer that seemed to hold untold stories within its mechanical depths. Yet, he remained silent, his answer lingering in the unspoken space between them.

The silence stretched on, a tangible presence in the room.

Finally, he exhaled slowly through his nose, the sound a soft whisper in the quiet. "Because," he began, his voice steady as he lifted his eyes to meet hers at last, "I didn't want a young life to end there."

His voice was calm, a little too calm, as if each word had been meticulously crafted, polished to a shine. Olivia could sense the discord beneath the surface. This wasn't the whole story. There was an undercurrent of something else, perhaps sadness, a haunting memory, or even the weight of guilt. She noticed how his jaw clenched subtly, and his human eye avoided meeting hers for longer than a fleeting moment. There was an emotional shift within him, an intangible retreat.

Aldo turned his gaze toward the cockpit, sidestepping any further probing questions. Suddenly, with a sharp click, his gravity boots deactivated, with a slight movement propelling him upward in a fluid, practiced motion. He floated with an effortless grace, the kind that spoke of extensive experience. His hand extended to grasp the support rail, guiding himself with precision toward the cockpit. There was no hesitation, no faltering movement. Every action was deliberate and executed with a clear purpose.

Olivia clung to her seat, gripping the handles as though an invisible force was about to rip her from the shuttle and hurl her into the void. Her eyes lingered on the spot vacated by him, filled only with emptiness now. Her mind was a whirlwind, spinning with a thousand questions, worries, and flickers of hope that ignited and consumed her thoughts. It was as if she had been turned inside out, shattered like a delicate glass ornament. Aldo's words echoed in her mind, wedged precariously between dread and optimism.

He didn't want a young life to be extinguished there. That meant something. It wasn't everything, but it was a start. Perhaps, for now, that would have to suffice.

"Hey, kid," came a voice, dry and dripping with sarcasm, from above. It was a voice seasoned with experience, one that knew the Confederation and its military like an old acquaintance. "If your parents are alive and well, I'll still get modest salvage compensation to save a future prospect for the Confederation. You're approaching conscript age, and I'm sure the Confederation would prefer to see you serving in the Navy rather than being squandered as a thrall. Though, in my experience, the latter might prove to be the gentler option."