Gravitational Constantly: A Novella (11 page)

Reinz stood with an open maw. His pen slipped from his grasp and fell to the floor, rolling down the aisle of terminals.

“Disconnect the couplings to the main relay! The power levels are through the roof, you idiots! Jettison the gate's power core now!” ordered Sebastian, who was now clearly the only one in charge. An alarm sounded just before the explosion of the gate rocked the tower and the shock wave sent debris flying in all directions. The proximity alarm chimed in before a piece of the gate smashed into the control tower's main view window, cracking and shattering it. Atmosphere escaped the room, bodies and equipment were flung about, moving in what appeared to be a slow motion waltz through zero G as they began to drift into Luna's cold orbit.

The image on the screen now formed a pattern of rotating lights and spiraling dots that appeared to be stars. Pulses of light came in their own pattern, overlaying the rotating spiral. A deep purple hue began to ebb and flow like a wave from the ocean, crashing and receding in time with the pulses. The patterns of light and color coalesced into an inaudible sound, something that could be heard through the eyes … or perhaps only in the mind.

The security barrier came down to close off the open wound gushing out into space. I could no longer see what was happening in the control room. Shapes moved in blurs, like thick globs of slow-drying paint on a canvas. Darkness began to close in around me as the power blinked before going out, short circuits and power conduits arced sparks, and Jayce became a place holder object at my side, not existing in physical form, but more so as a comforting glow of light near your bed in which to read by. I heard her talking to me like she had been going on for hours, never missing a beat, as if we'd been having a conversation all along.

It's like when you wake up, and your mind begins to dissolve the light that is shining through your eyelids. You know it's out there, but when you see it through your mind it becomes more clear what it is you're looking at. You open your eyes and the light rushes in, blinding your senses and your mind. Do you know what I mean, Andy?

Yeah, I do. I guess I've always known. Hey, Cara, what's the point of all this?

I don't think there is one. Does that make it unbearable for you, Andy? Can you find purpose without the purpose to do so?

Sure, why not? There's no purpose to falling is there? But falling feels good anyway.

You have a clear mind, Andy. And a beautiful heart. We like to think we want to be free of gravity, but the truth is we need it. We're all just falling.

Does it matter what we are falling toward? I don't think it does. Though, the light is shining from what we are falling toward. How will we be able to see it if we ever get there? How could you feel the warmth of it? I don't want to become light just yet, Cara.

Oh, Andy, in-between the cracks and spaces of all things is what holds the universe together, and I am too now. You'll never be alone while you fall again.

Cara?

It's time to wake up now, Andy. Remember, all things in nature seek out something to fall toward. In this way, everything and everyone is gravitational constantly. Don't be so hard on Jayce, okay? And, Andy … I love you.

When I walked into Cosmos, a young French girl in her teens was playing the acoustic guitar and singing something slow and sad. The atmosphere had not changed with the absence of Cara's glowing charm and image behind the bar. It still felt otherworldly to look out the great glass dome-sphere and gaze upon Earth and its deep blue beauty. I ordered a drink and sat at the farthest table from the bar and closest to the dome-sphere. I'd found that scotch tastes best in the morning; it's earthy flavor with a hint of peat moss, the perfect drink to get the day started, especially a day involving flying.

I let my ice melt to water down the whisky and improve the taste. I watched as tired crewmen and stewardesses came in for a drink and something to eat between long shifts. A man in a suit that looked slept-in ordered a rum and cola and sat at the bar stool in which I had my first drink at Cosmos. Most likely a gambler who had lost all of his money at the casinos. I'd seen his type many times before, having a drink to improve his confidence before the flight back to Earth. Soon he'll be explaining to his wife that his business trip to Luna had accidentally broke the bank. Poor fool.

As I sipped my scotch, I tried to remember my first trip to Cosmos—the first time I'd met Cara. I remembered far too well, however, and a sharp knife began to twist in the closing wound. It'd been several weeks since the “accident,” and I was coming to grips with it. Luna had suffered considerable damage due to the explosion of the gate. Power and life support were at dangerous levels for two days. No ships could dock at Luna during that time, all flights to and from Earth were canceled. Energy Management, Public Works, and Public Safety worked around the clock to stabilize the power problem of the main relay and carry out search and rescue in the quarantined areas outside of Futura's territory in the Science district.

Jayce and I were pulled out of the rubble and ash only six hours after the catastrophe. The compartment we were in was sealed and held atmosphere, luckily. The guard in the room with us was not so lucky. A conduit pipe burst and shot free of its anchoring clamps, slamming him in the face and leaving him a foot shorter. The sight was horrific and still left me in chills when I thought about it. I'd had several nightmares about his headless corpse since the accident, and I feared that they would always haunt me.

Futura was finished. Sebastian was dead, along with Reinz and the rest of the flight operations crew. Luna's counsel and pressure from Earth forced Sebastian's father to officially announce its closure of operations on the Moon, along with an apology and a major contribution toward the cleanup and restoration. Jayce and I were unemployed. I couldn't be happier about that situation, if only it hadn't come at such a high price.

I was just finishing my drink when Jayce came striding into Cosmos. He was wearing a sharp blue suit and black tie, brass and black cufflinks, and polished black leather shoes. His flight was scheduled to leave this morning as well as mine, although our destinations couldn't be more different.

Jayce waved from across the bar and signaled to the waiter. “I'd say it was a little early to be getting started like this, but I do know how much you hate flying,” Jayce said with grin.

He sat his rolling luggage by the table and hung his jacket on the seat. “I'll have what he's having, if you please,” Jayce told the waiter. “I won't have you drink alone, I wouldn't dream of it.”

He sat, crossed his legs, leaned back—smiling of course—and looked me over. “You look almost good enough, Andy. We'll slap a tie on you and you'll be right as rain. What d’ya say? Why don't you come down to New Mexico with me? You'll love the VLA. It will be like old times, you can work as my assistant, with all the perks of being my assistant.”

I, however, was not going to a job interview and was dressed in a more causal salt and pepper sports jacket, white shirt, no tie. I had no intention of going to New Mexico with Jayce. Even with the “perks” of being his assistant, which meant short hours and plenty of time to loaf around, take long naps on the desert floor, and staring up into the clear night sky lit up with thousands of stars.

“I don't think so, Jayce. That time has passed. It was fun though. I'll never forget it. I'm grateful for the job and everything you did for me. I really am.”

The waiter delivered our drinks and we both drank deeply. Jayce, his face hinging on anticipation and hard to read, leaned forward. “Alright,” he said as he tried his best to look serious, “I can't force you I guess, but you come visit, okay? I won't be much good down there without my 'idea man' around.”

Jayce had pulled some strings and had all but secured a comfortable position at the Very Large Array in New Mexico. Although his reputation was almost ruined from the disaster at Futura, he did possess a vast amount of knowledge and experience from years on Luna. The idea had been tempting at first, but the absurdity of us continuing this friendship while on a never-ending quest for truth seemed to be the recipe which served the indigestible meal we were now roiling from.

I was headed back to Earth, but not home. The old country in Europe had long been a place of great interest to me. A place to disappear into a sleepy town, take up some small jobs to make ends meet, and work on a life-long dream of writing. Somewhere like that, I could find peace and solace, and most importantly, be left alone.

I finished my drink and signaled to the waiter. His dry eyes and apathetic speed spoke volumes about his desire to cater to broken-down drunks waiting to flounder back to Earth. Nevertheless, he brought two drinks to our table and sat them in front of us without a word.

“Do you remember when the three of us went out to the solar fields for the first time?” I asked Jayce.

He looked at his watch and took a sip of the scotch. “Of course.”

“We ran all the way to the terminal to catch the shuttle car. Cara and I laughed the entire way, like kids, pushing our way through the crowd, trying to keep up with you.”

“Andy …”

“She was so full of life, wasn't she? People like that don't come around too often. People like us, Jayce.”

“No, I guess they don't.” Jayce checked his watch again. “Well, I should probably make my way to the shuttle. Are you sure you won't come with me?”

I smiled and looked out to the sea of stars once more, suddenly sick of seeing them. “Good luck in New Mexico.”

Jayce finished his drink and set the glass down. He smiled at me while he straightened his tie and buttoned his jacket; that smile that was genuine, bright, and full of life. He smiled like Cara did, often and honest. “You know, I was right about you. The first time I met you, I told you that we were destined to do great things together. We've just scratched the surface.” He clapped me on the shoulder and gave a squeeze. “I'll see ya around, Andy Wright.”

Jayce walked out of Cosmos without looking back. I sat for a time, listening to the girl playing guitar and singing words I could not understand. Outside the dome view the sun was coming up over Earth, and the light was unfolding in my mind, illuminating the path before me and calling me home. Earth was pulling me back down, and I was bound to the rules of gravity. I turned my glass over and set it next to Jayce's. I laid a generous tip on the table and told the waiter to spend it on the next girl that came in, the one that slips in without you noticing and is there just long enough to distract you from the nothingness outside.

The End

Thanks for taking your precious time to read my book. No, seriously. I’m absurdly aware of how valuable everyone’s time is, and it is an honor that you spent it with my story. If you liked what you read, or if I piqued your curiosity about what I’m working on or writing next, please follow the link below to join my monthly mailing list via e-mail. See you in the stars!

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