Starbound

Dreams: The Encounter

Lucas Harper, a 14-year-old with an insatiable curiosity for the cosmos, often found himself gazing at the night sky from his small town’s only hill. Armed with his telescope and a head full of space facts, he dreamed of living among the stars. He devoured books about astronauts, space travel, and the mysteries of the universe, imagining himself piloting a spacecraft through the Milky Way.

One clear summer night, Lucas set up his telescope, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Perseid meteor shower. As he adjusted the lens, he noticed a bright, pulsating light moving erratically across the sky. Unlike any aircraft or satellite he'd ever seen, this light piqued his curiosity. He tracked it for hours until it suddenly vanished.

Disappointed but intrigued, Lucas packed up and headed home, his mind racing with possibilities. Could it be a new type of satellite? Or perhaps something more extraordinary? That night, he drifted into a deep sleep, dreaming of interstellar adventures.

The next day, as Lucas walked to school, he couldn’t shake the image of the mysterious light. During lunch, he shared his experience with his best friend, Jake.

“Maybe it was an alien spacecraft!” Jake suggested, half-jokingly.

Lucas laughed but couldn’t dismiss the thought entirely. That evening, he returned to the hill, hoping for another glimpse of the strange light. Hours passed, and just as he was about to give up, the pulsating light reappeared, closer than before.

To his amazement, the light descended rapidly, landing silently in the nearby woods. Heart pounding, Lucas decided to investigate. He made his way through the dense forest, guided by the eerie glow. As he approached, he saw a sleek, silver craft, unlike anything he had ever seen.

Tentatively, Lucas stepped closer, and a hatch opened with a soft hiss. A figure emerged—tall, slender, with shimmering, iridescent skin and large, almond-shaped eyes. The alien regarded Lucas with a calm, curious expression.

“Greetings, young human,” the alien said in perfect English, its voice smooth and melodic. “I am Zephyr from the planet Xylon. We have observed your world and find it fascinating.”

Lucas, both terrified and exhilarated, managed to stammer, “I-I’m Lucas. Why are you here?”

Zephyr smiled, or at least Lucas thought it was a smile. “We are explorers, much like your astronauts. We seek knowledge and understanding of the universe and its inhabitants.”

As they conversed, Zephyr revealed advanced technology and knowledge about space travel that Lucas had only dreamed of. The alien’s ship used a form of propulsion that manipulated gravity, allowing for near-instantaneous travel across vast distances. Zephyr explained how their species had overcome challenges like faster-than-light communication and sustainable living in space, concepts that left Lucas awestruck.

“You have a deep fascination with space, Lucas. Would you like to see more?” Zephyr asked.

Lucas’s heart raced. “You mean...go with you?”

“Only for a short journey,” Zephyr assured him. “You will be safe.”

Unable to resist, Lucas nodded. Zephyr led him into the ship, where he marveled at the advanced controls and holographic displays. With a gentle hum, the craft lifted off, and in moments, they were above Earth, the planet a beautiful blue marble against the blackness of space.

Zephyr piloted the ship through the solar system, pointing out planets and phenomena Lucas had only read about. They visited the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter, and even observed a comet up close. Lucas was entranced, absorbing every detail.

After what felt like hours, they returned to Earth. As they landed back in the forest, Zephyr handed Lucas a small, glowing orb. “This is a memory core,” Zephyr explained. “It will allow you to relive this journey whenever you wish.”

Lucas thanked Zephyr profusely, feeling a mix of gratitude and sadness as he watched the ship ascend and disappear into the night sky. He walked home, the orb clutched tightly in his hand, his mind overflowing with the wonders he had witnessed.

That night, as Lucas lay in bed, he knew his life had changed forever. He had seen the cosmos, met an alien, and experienced firsthand the marvels of space travel. His dreams of living in space were no longer just dreams—they were a reality he had touched, if only for a brief moment.

With renewed determination, Lucas vowed to dedicate his life to space exploration, knowing that one day, he would venture beyond Earth’s confines once more. And as he drifted off to sleep, the memory core pulsed gently on his nightstand, a reminder of the infinite possibilities that lay among the stars.