Flight of Icarus

Flight of Icarus

Nobody can hear a scream in the vacuum of space, or so they say. When the helmet camera of Commander Ander Icarus Rikard activated the universe as we knew it changed forever. Scientists, spiritual leaders, and the Worlds United Space Station could not comprehend what they had witnessed.

The year was 2062 when Commander Ander Icarus Rikard developed a new space suit that revolutionized space travel. The Commander was able to split carbon dioxide with the new energy source called “God Fuel” which he had discovered deep within a crater on the moon. This would allow astronauts to recycle their carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Along with discovering the God Fuel, the element “Sytosium” was created using the God Fuel mineral. Sytosium was malleable and could withstand temperatures of seven thousand degrees Celsius that would allow direct contact with the sun.

The Sytoson space suits were chromatic which gave off vibrant colors that constantly changed. Commander Icarus was an engineer who followed his dreams and his discoveries and inventions allowed deeper space travel as far as Uranus. There was a transmission that the Commander heard coming from the Sun that he had kept to himself. It was not until the Commander’s paired helmet was discovered that the world found out about the Flight of Icarus.

“Helmets paired. Testing.” Commander Icarus speaks wearing his space helmet and looking into his wrist monitor.

The secondary space helmet sits upon the Commander’s desk as he stands in front of it in full gear. He waves his hand and looks at the monitor as everything he views is recorded and linked to the secondary helmet.

“I am Commander Ander Icarus Rikard of A.I.R. engineering. I have linked my helmets together for if my journey was to fail everything I see and hear will be recorded and my mission will not be in vain.” Commander Icarus speaks as he confirms what he had just said and returned to his monitor.

As the Commander finished testing his audio and visual from his helmet he went to the window and looked out at the vast expansion of buildings on the moon base.

“We have come so far in so little time, yet there is one discovery that I must find the answers to. Once a sun dies it becomes a black hole, but what if that blackhole is already inside the sun and able to be controlled before its birth? Much like the myth, I too Icarus will fly into the sun, yet my wings shall not melt, and I will be the first to know what lies within the fire that brings life to our world.” Commander Icarus spoke into his helmet.

Upon arriving at the prototype shuttle “Phoenix”, the Commander announced over the intercom of his departure.

“This is Commander Ander Icarus Rikard apprehending the shuttle Phoenix to set my journey toward the center of the sun. In my heart, this will be something that will lead to a discovery that will unleash a new era for our kind. I know I will be court marshaled if caught. To clarify, I am of sound mind and know what I am about to do. This camera is being powered by my suit with the God Fuel and is protected by any lens flare. Whatever you witness is not manipulated in any way. I have left my helmet which is linked to mine so that everything I see, and witness will be offered to you as evidence. Godspeed.” Commander Icarus announces as he stares out into the void of space with his hand trembling to hover over the ignition switch.

Placing the coordinates to the sun the Commander set a timed date to awaken himself as he was about to set off for a nineteen-year journey. Pressing the ignition switch the shuttle began to lift off from the surface of the moon and begin to navigate itself.

The autopilot began to activate and guide the shuttle to a place no one dared to even dream of going. Commander Icarus stayed awake for the first thirty-six hours, ensuring all the equipment was functioning. He knew that the shuttle would detect any incoming objects and would maneuver accordingly but what he did not know is how it would feel to have to go to sleep and awake with years gone by.

Upon activating the sleeping chamber, the stimulant was injected into the Commanders body upon taking off. As years pass the Commander would enter a sleep state where it would feel like he had only slept for a night. Being asleep for years would cause mental damage as the person in the chamber would no longer know what dream or reality is.

As the Commander decided that it would be best to enter the sleep chamber, he had a feeling that told him to wane off the stimulant and not enter. In the back of his mind, he felt that the chamber might not open and entrap him in a space coffin being propelled into the infinite abyss. He would not take that chance.

After concluding that he will no longer use the sleep chamber, Icarus needed to stay awake for another fort-eight hours for the stimulation to wane off. Icarus gutted the sleep chamber of the cushioning and lowered it below the cabin placing it on top. He would allow himself six hours of rest every twenty-four hours once the stimulation wears off.

Commander Icarus had programmed over five thousand classic arcade games in his wrist monitor which he secretly installed when he first became an engineer. He thought hard as the password to unlock it was long forgotten as his focus on serious achievements took over within the second year of his job.

“Up, down, up down, left, right, beta, alpha, select, enter” A pleasant chirping sound began to play synthesized sounds from the wrist computer speakers.

“Yes!” Commander Icarus shouted acting like an excited teenager.

The first game he ever programmed called “The Solar Son” appeared.

Reflecting back on his days as a game designer Icarus couldn’t believe how far he had come in his life. His dreams and imagination kept him going and allowed him to become the man he is today. A man of discovery and innovation.

Commander Icarus wanted to be the Solar Son and be the one to befriend all life and protect it from impending doom such as the decay of our galaxy. All stars die and upon its death is absolute annihilation of all things around it. Icarus did not only think of saving his generation or the generation after but millions of years in the future. That colonizing other worlds as Mars has been done and more soon after but we can never forget our home.

After tapping on the screen for hours, Commander Icarus ended the game and began to charge his wrist computer. Looking out into the vast darkness of Space, Icarus’s mind began to wonder. Being awake for days trying to wane off the stimulant he began to hallucinate.

“Help! Where am I?” Faint whispers were heard as his vision starred off into a floating orb of light.

“You are going to burn.” Another faint laugh is heard.

Almost like being in the desert Commander Icarus began to see a space mirage. A flutter of images is seen briefly as he passes through electromagnetic waves. An old horror film scene appears in front of him and stays solid for a few minutes. It was as if he was in a drive-through movie theatre recalling a date he had with his girlfriend.

“I hate these movies lets go!” Her voice is heard.

Commander Icarus shakes his head trying to comprehend what is happening.

“This must be hysteria. Going through the electromagnetic waves of a former film and recalling a memory of her voice is making me see what I see. This is not real.” Commander Icarus said to himself as he closed his eyes. “I just need some rest.”

The Commander closes his eyes just for a moment, but a loud noise awakens him as his shuttle begins to be struck by debris.

“Warning! A breach in compartment A-12” The computer announces.

Before the Commander could react the force of the tear in his ship pulled him back. As he was yanked from his seat everything seemed in slow motion. His mind raced to think of any scenario where he would survive but there was none. He would be alone floating in space.

Upon being spit out from the Phoenix the ship was struck by multiple targets knocking it out of the trajectory of the sun. Icarus watched as his vessel spun into the dark void.

“I have failed my mission to bring evidence of what is inside the sun. I will die long before I reach there without food.” Commander Icarus spoke into his helmet announcing to the space station not knowing if they are listening.

Knowing that he is doomed to not return, Commander Icarus used his monitor to adjust his trajectory back toward the sun. Using his boosters from his spacesuit he placed his hands in front of him like the Solar Son and dreamt of being reborn as a hero. Using the God Fuel and the stabilization of his suit Icarus placed his speed to full taking away the power for his oxygen and filtration system to allow him to travel at Mach 2.

Seven years pass as the body of Commander Icarus reaches the corona of the sun. His lifeless body begins to react to the direct contact of the sun’s flares and magnetic field. Captain Icarus’s eyes open as flares burst before him like atomic bombs.

“How am I alive? How is this possible?” Commander Icarus speaks as he is in disbelief.

Moving his jaw around the Commander cannot feel a thing and tries to blink yet his eyes remain open.

“I cannot feel my jaw and am unable to blink or shut my eyes. This must be a reaction to not being able to eat. Somehow this suit was able to give me the nutrients I needed to stay alive.”

As Icarus enters the Photosphere of the sun the brightness intensifies even with the helmet flare protection. His eyes take in all of the glory of the sun as the light begins to irradiate and pulse.

“I have no words to describe what I am seeing, and I wish of all my heart that this is being transmitted to you all to witness.” Icarus states as he enters deeper into the sun.

Looking at his monitor strange symbols began to appear flashing rapidly. Tapping on the screen a black doorway opened before him. Icarus froze as he saw something within it. As Icarus went through the black doorway a new reality was bestowed before him.

Vibrant colors scattered in the dark abyss as worlds the size of beach balls floated by with signs of life. He could hear faint sounds from the world as it rotated around him. A smaller sun was seen glowing off in the distance.

“My theory of the black hole is correct. Within the sun is a portal through time and space except now I see also a portal through other dimensions.” Commander Icarus stated as he viewed the galaxy around him.

As another world began to pass by a voice was heard behind him.

“You don’t belong!” As a figure in a dark cloak appeared pale and alien.

Icarus tried to scream but his voice lay mute.

The figure began to walk across the darkness of space as if they were steps. The figure reached out to Icarus whose hand went through his suit.

Icarus cried out again as he saw himself exit his suit and pulled by the giant shrouded figure.

“Don’t kill me!” Icarus pleaded.

The figure turned Icarus around to reveal that his Earthly body was long past dead as his corpse lay decayed within.

“Return home!” The ghastly figure said pointing at the sun.

The sun opened up like a pathway back to his home. Icarus saw the desert road that led to his childhood home.

Icarus turned to the shrouded figure and nodded. Icarus was released as he began to drift swiftly into the sun revealing his home.

After ten years of Commander Icarus leaving his helmet found on the moon, the base had been fully downloaded and played for the world to see. That his bravery to travel to the center of the sun not only allowed the world to know that it is possible to enter into another dimension but that life after death is real.

This brought world peace as it was shown across all counties of the world. That one good deeds in life may be granted another lifetime in a good memory once held.