Love and Doom

She wore a heart-shaped locket around her neck. She's had it since she was young. It's an antique-looking, somewhat ornate piece. Simple yet elegant. It hangs from a silver chain she polishes regularly. She never goes anywhere without it. This trip is no exception.

She's tall and lean, also strong. She possesses every beautiful, attractive female feature imaginable. Still, she's used to wearing jeans and flannel shirts to the places she usually goes. Today, she tucks the locket under the collar of the spacesuit she's wearing.

This suit is incredible. An achievement of modern technology.

It clings to her, a near weightless second layer of skin, and offers protection from radiations like gamma and UVC. It can take a direct hit from some pretty big objects and absorb the impact, guarding all vital organs and bones. Nanosensors monitor her every heartbeat and every breath. The helmet is equipped with a vaporized-gold face shield that hardens beyond diamond strength when in solid form. It has a heads-up display that delivers all the relevant information about her surroundings. It uses photonic wiring to energize and drive its quantum processing core. Like I said, incredible modern tech.

She's off on a one-way mission to Mars.

Years ago, the privatized companies started going off-planet to pursue their interest-driven tasks. Dollar signs in their eyes. After some time and plenty of failed attempts, they finally figured out a way to terraform out there. An opportunity that rose greater than the greatest stores of money on Earth.

Given her background and degree, and appetite for adventure, she signed up to help. Who would blame her? We couldn't just keep going on like we were, 'back home' much longer. Everyone knew that our planet wasn't what it used to be.

Even so, ever since she was young, she had had this dream.

A dream that could only be fulfilled 'out there.'

So she went.

The long journey was successful but rough. Luckily everyone and the equipment arrived safely. There, without delay, the people got right to work. They are well trained and highly efficient at their jobs. Fueled by ambition with a twist of crazy. As a result, stuff got done—to this day, this remains a great example of human ingenuity and collaboration.

Through the years, her career is notably fruitful. A true problem solver. She works hard and has fantastic ideas. She innovates the technology, pushes projects forward, and pulls off the impossible while inspiring the people around her.

Back on Mars, the structures have gone up. Not easy work. Then again, nothing has been. The soil has been mixed and treated. The experimental H2O generator comes online, and now there are streams and ponds. Seeds have been sown, yielding new grass, trees, flowers, fruits, and vegetables… everywhere. The Atmosphere Enhancer becomes operational. Nitrogen levels give way to rising levels of oxygen; the Sun does the rest. Surprising how quickly Mother Nature thrives here. A beautiful place resembling a different world from another time.

Her final step was to inspect the structural anchoring system she designed before the first people arrive. Everything has been building up to this. She feels good, actually great, about what she and her team have accomplished. Her mind is full of positive thoughts, her heart overflowing with gratitude.

Then suddenly, her orbit craft malfunctions. The situation immediately becomes critical. Loud beeps and flashes. She must regain control and brace for impact. She feels her suit shiver to life, preparing to perform the functions it was created for. Colleagues watch from the surface below.

Her craft, burning upon reentry through an atmosphere she helped create…

Many years have since passed. She's gone, but her missions were a success and continue to benefit humanity at large. People have now occupied the Mars Environments for decades to this point. Her legacy is undeniable, yet nearly unbelievable. She stands out among the greats.

…Somewhere, a young girl opens an old shoebox, pulls the locket from inside, and holds it in her hands. Gently she tries to pry it open.

Eventually, she succeeds. It hinges open like a butterfly's wings, where she finds a picture. Well, there were two: one of a grassy field (from back on Earth). And, the other side, a large black horse. Black hooves. Shiny black hair. A small white diamond between the eyes. Stunning and powerful.

There's an inscription on the inside rim of the locket that reads,

"Onyx, I'll not forget you, or the dream of when we rode upon the moon."