Nova, Part Six
by ted2112, HSM team writer
Although she had no eyes, she could see. From the speeding comet she could see the universe as it sped by her, and the universe unraveled before her like a great ocean. It moved with its own grace. The very fabric flowed in invisible currents, and the stars were moving islands, reflecting light like a mysterious beacons to far off points in an agonizing slow wave. It power was enormous; everything had to obey its tidal pull. Even this simple raft of rock she rode was pulled by an invisible rope towards a distant shore.
She knew she was changing the comet’s course, steering it closer to the blue water planet. She tried to calm herself and sleep. To think too much of the water planet would steer the comet too close; she needed to jump off and for that she needed to only get close to it. She let her mind wander for a moment longer, and she thought of falling into the ocean and regaining her form, and feeling the water against her skin. She wanted her body back. Wanted form again, to breathe though real lungs and see through real eyes. She wanted to see her Sam.
He had come in her dreams, the boy in the blue water planet. He had come to her when she slept on the comet, and even before that. She knew that he was the way, and now her only hope. The comet was going to him, she knew that, but it wasn’t fast enough. She felt like she couldn’t take it anymore. All the years of loneliness were too much to bear. There was nothing but the infinite night to keep her company. She felt like she would just fade away, and someday the comet would collide with something bigger, and no one would notice her, the girl from a planet of light and water, alone yet gone, clinging in the dark to a clump of rock. She felt the comet shutter under her, straining to turn, trying to obeying her will and follow her desire to the blue planet. Her light faded and she felt her energy drain away. Sleep, she though, and although she had no eyes, in her mind she closed them and started to dream.
At first she dreamt of her home. She felt the heat from the sun on her shoulders for the last time as she surfaced. Her house in the lagoon was built on stilts around the great tree. Its mighty trunk rose out of the water and from its wide branches the green leaves and red fruit swayed and moved in the coming storm, it was as beautiful as it has always been, proud and powerful. To take its fruit was forbidden, for every piece held the knowledge of all the days, but she wouldn’t let the tree die. Its trunk would burn with the rest of the planet, yet she would make sure it lived on. She plucked the apple off the branch and folded her hands over it, and felt the water rush over her, propelling her to the heavens.
Then the dream changed, she saw herself, from afar riding on the comet moving through the void. Ahead, the blue planet and the sleeping boy. She felt their minds join and the vision came: Sam and Nova stood together in the glade. They stood in the shade of the mighty tree, its branches laden with fruit. It was their job to protect it. To nurture it and let it grow. They were the first and their hearts were filled with light.
∞
Sam lay on the couch at the Spot. In his mind he saw the tree and a girl, not just any girl, rather the girl he named Nova. He saw these things as if his eyes were being borrowed. When he was awake they were his; when he dreamed they saw the visions of Nova. He started to see a different reality being pieced together in a strange and jumbled way. Sam wasn’t sure what was real anymore. His nightmares were becoming less scary and even starting to make sense. He was falling asleep all the time now. It was everything he could do to stay awake, but he wanted to sleep; he wanted to see Nova.
Sam awoke to find himself on a beach. The small stretch of sand was deserted as far as the eye could see. The gentle rain fell into the water making a million small splashes. A few yards out she stood, water up to her knees.
“Nova,” called Sam, maybe in his mind maybe out loud. The girl in the water turned her head , smiled at Sam and dove in the water. She surfaced a few yards further out and waved.
“Isn’t it wonderful,” she answered then dove in. Sam broke into a run and closed the distance to the water.
“Nova,” he called out to her again. The rain had already soaked through his clothes when he hit the water. Sam waded out to where she was and stopped, careful not to touch her. The ripples seemed to travel right through her.
“I know this is a dream Sam, but it is wonderful,” said Nova skimming her hands along the top of the water.
“You’re dreaming too,” asked Sam.
“Yes, and now we are together,” she replied.
“Why me, Nova?” Sam asked.
“You came to me in my dreams Sam,” she whispered. “Before the comet came, you told me to be ready. You saved me, Sam.”
Sam looked away in confusion. He had no recollection of Nova at all before she came to him in his dreams.
“Sam, I didn’t want to believe you, but I knew somehow. I was so scared, and now it’s all gone,” she choked with tears running down her cheeks. Nova looked away and submerged herself again for a moment, when she surfaced she continued softly. “The water feels so good.” Nova swam up close, “Sam, I don’t know where I am.”
“The comet, Nova, I think you are in the comet, and this is a dream.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “I am in the comet Sam and it is getting close now.”
“What is going to happen, Nova?” Sam asked.
“I don’t know Sam,” she said shaking her head slowly. “I think the comet is what made this all happen. It found me Sam, and now it is looking for you.”
Sam felt a hand on his shoulder, shaking him.
“Nova, I have to go,” Sam called out in a panic. “Tonight, I will be back.” Nova quickly swam up to Sam but by then Sam was falling away. He saw her turn away and dive under the water.
∞
“Sam?” barked Tac, shaking his shoulder. “You moving in here or what?”
Sam bolted upright, not yet totally awake. “I warned her?” He screamed. It was a question to himself that he couldn’t answer.
“Easy Sam,” cautioned Tac, holding his hands out. “You were dreaming again, that floating lady thing again?”
“Tac,” said Sam as if he was just aware he was there. “Tac I was with her, we were talking?”
“That dream?” Questioned Tac, scrunching up his eyebrows.
“No, I don’t think it’s a dream anymore Tac, I know I am dreaming, but… she’s real, I feel it. She’s coming!”
Tac got Sam a RZR energy drink and sat down next to Sam on the couch.
“Drink this, and you’ll be alright,” consoled Tac, screwing off the cap and trying not to look so concerned. “I know your dreams are heavy man, but that’s all they are, just dreams.”
“I don’t know Tac,” said Sam looking straight at Tac. “I think we need to get ready for this comet. Something is going to happen.”
“Yeah, I know, it’s all the news is talking about,” affirmed Tac pulling out his phone and scrolling through some headlines. “The thing has turned again; they’re saying it might pass between the Moon and Earth now, to be honest I don’t think they know what the hell is going on.”
“Nova,”asserted Sam, “the girl in my dreams says we must be ready”
“Don’t scare me like that Sam,” argued Tac putting his hand on Sam’s shoulder. “We’re all freaked out about this comet enough, this was supposed to be a celebration, not a world wide freak-out.”
“Tac,” stated Sam still blurry from the dream, “I think we need to be ready.”
“How Sam?” Retorted Tac sharply. “How in hell do you get ready for a comet to hit your planet? If that thing hits anywhere, we’re all toast.” Tac continued, “Toast Sam, like the dinosaurs. Gone, baby.”
At that moment, Seiphie and Pence came in, looking flustered. Pence took his lap top out of his backpack and proceeded to plug it in to the internet connection. Seiphie sat on the couch in-between Sam and Tac.
“Y-you guys hear about the comet?” Stammered Seiphie. “It’s turned even more, it’s official, I’m now scared.”
Pence showed the rest of the Misfits some graphics the news was reporting. It showed the earth and the comet with lines of probability connecting the two.
“Man, this sucks, I’m too young to die,” grumbled Pence as he frantically surfed different web sites. “Look at this one,” he continued. “This is the only optimistic one.” The graphic showed the comet keeping its arch and passing barely to the opposite side.
“This is just great,” bawled Seiphie, suddenly getting angry. “The media better not be whipping this up, that’s all I have to say.”
“How can a comet just turn,” wondered Pence. “I mean, it just doesn’t make any sense.”
Seiphie and Pence started to talk about how deep the Spot was underground, and if it was deep enough to survive. The whole time they were talking, Sam and Tac were strangely silent. Tac, just half listened as he stared intensely off into the distance, as if wrestling with some great decision. After a while he stood up suddenly, cutting off the conversation, the room suddenly going quiet.
“Sam,” announced Tac, “tell the others what you just told me.”
July 21st, 2012 by ted2112 | 4 comments
ted2112 is a writer and a Bass player that has been both inspired and takes to heart Kurt Vonnegut words...."we are here on planet Earth to fart around, and don't let anyone tell you different."
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Awesome and exciting! I am loving Novella Nova so far! I cant wait to find out what happens next and looking forward to seeing what happens at the end!
Very nice once again Ted. I am loving the suspense you leave us in each segment. This is a nice blend of fantasy and reality.
Wow! Just catched up the last 4 parts. Nicely written. Our community is rich of it’s members. And some of them deserve a lound run of applaused. Can’t wait to read the next one. The end is near, i feel it!
note to editor: Norse you need to find a way to link those chapters together once it’s all done.