Reverie

The Reverie stood tall within its holding gates, reflecting the light of the Sun off of the silver steel plates. Its construction was completed half a year ago and has been proven space-worthy. She was built for one sole purpose: Getting to the closest stellar system to the Sun, Alpha Centauri, at faster-than-light speeds.

“The mission, Alpha-1, involves three people to fly her safely: Bryony Mitchell, the young aviatrix with a great aptitude at flying aircraft and spacecraft alike. Next is Quinn Lake, who partook in the construction of the extremely primitive but amazingly innovative Warp Drive that will be running Reverie. The final crew member is Claribel Mayrose, a veteran space engineer who has had a hand in nearly all new human spaceflight technologies”. Quinn looks up from the newspaper and folds it up.

“They make it sound less exciting when they are putting it like this,” Quinn says, throwing the paper to the trash chute by his seat.

“I don’t really care what they say, it’s just the biggest step in all of human history...” Bryony trails off, being interrupted by Quinn again.

“We already have ships that can go to the Moon in half an hour, this is just an over exaggerated stunt,” He says.

“If you think that, then get off of the ship.” Claribel says as she enters the cabin, shutting and locking the exit door.

“We’re ready to unlock, awaiting the go ahead from control.” says Claribel, flipping the priming switch for the rear propulsion engines. Bryony turns the key on the center console, making the helm light up with not-so-retro gauges and levers. Beep Beep.

Two beeps, Reverie is up and running. A voice comes over the communications system,

“Reverie-1, this is main control, field looks good and running normal. At this point, release docking locks and maneuver out of the holding bay, then await further instructions.” The radio abruptly cuts off, just as it does, the arms holding the ship in place lurch backwards, allowing Reverie to float freely.

“Claribel, give me some boost, honey” Bryony jokingly says, putting her hand on the throttle lever.

“One burst, don’t call me honey.” Claribel exclaims, hitting a very big red button, making the cabin shake with force and noise. The ship slowly departs from the gates, clearing the holding bay. Emerging from the space station, the Earth reveals itself in a beautiful blue and white fashion. Quinn sighs and says,

“Get a good look, people. We won’t be seeing home for a long time.” All three occupants look outside of Reverie’s aluminum oxynitride window to gander at their home planet. They all begin to get teary-eyed, but being in zero-gravity, best not to do so. The comms interrupts yet again,

“Reverie-1 you are clear of the station, proceed to jumping point ninety degrees right, wait to spool up.” Bryony pulls the control column, or flying stick, back and left, making the Earth creep away from the crew’s view.

“Quinn, go to the Drive and wait for comms to tell you what to do.” Bryony says, looking at him. He nods, getting up and walking with magnetic shoes the ‘Warp Drive’ core, and begins massaging it for some reason.

“When will we start it up?” Bryony asks.

“We have to wait until we are far enough away from Earth. That thing won’t spool at all if there is a major disruptive mass nearby. Once we’ve got a good distance, control will tell us it’s safe to start it up. By that point, Quinn, you hit the release, and I turn off the engine burners.” Claribel says, with her sense of pride in “knowing what a warp drive does” radiating from her wide smile.

Some time later...

“Reverie-1, this is control. Target distance of five hundred thousand kilometers from Earth has been reached. Cut power to rear thrust engines. When the pressure is gone, hit the Ring release and initiate the computer to take over control of the vessel. Captain Sultan... Bryony, rotate the ship up to face Alpha Centauri. You can’t miss it— you better not.” Control says, as Bryony nods to Claribel to stop the engines.

After a moment, pressure is audibly released, rocking the ship a little. Bryony uses the maneuvering thrusters to line up with their target destination, a white point of light just over four light-years away.

“Okay... Turning on the computer, Quinn wait” Bryony says, initiating the on-board computer. Quinn rolls his eyes.

“That computer has the distance known down to what—twenty significant figures? We don’t have to do anything except tell it to ‘go’!” He says, being cut off by control,

“Is the vector good, Reverie-1?”

“This is Reverie-1, vector is lined up, computer is on and has taken over piloting the vessel. Ready for pre-jump.” Bryony says, placing her hand over the yellow switch labeled ”PRE-JUMP“.

“Copy that, Reverie-1, start pre-jump spool.”

Control answers, cutting out in a click. Bryony flips the switch up. She then nods to Quinn, who hits the Ring release. A sudden jolt rocks the ship as the warping ring begins to spin, which begins emanating this very loud whining noise that is slowly growing in pitch.

“The warp ring is ready, my job is over.” Quinn says, taking a seat and strapping himself in.

“Control, this is Reverie-1, we have a good pre-jump, all clear to jump.” Bryony speaks into her microphone, shaking a little as she opens the glass case which covers the master key and button, labeled ”JUMP“. Claribel looks back at the drive housing, noticing it spinning and whining at a medium drone. Quinn turns to the girls in front, breathing heavily before saying,

“You two ready for this?”

Claribel and Bryony respond simultaneously,

“Are you?”

“I don’t know. I suppose we will find out when you press that button.” He replies, sitting back in his chair, gripping the arm rests tightly. Claribel nods at Bryony, and she nods back.

“Reverie-1, you are clear to jump. Once the master button is pressed, the computer will enter the exact distance, no need to worry about that.” Control stops with a long pause, then chimes in again, with a lower tone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, all of human history has led to where you three are now. This is— a beginning of a new era. Crew of the Reverie, planet Earth wishes you safe travels, and we hope to see you return. Clearance to jump, godspeed.”

The radio cuts with a loud click. Claribel and Quinn look to Bryony, who has her eyes wide open. Looking down to the console, Bryony turns the key, and the jump button glows red. She looks to the other two.

“On your hands, Captain.” Claribel says as she sits firmly up against her seat.

Bryony looks forward again. She takes a big breath in, and holds it. Here we go, she thinks to herself. She exhales deeply, pressing the Jump button. The ship begins to shake as the whine of the Drive behind them begins to increase in pitch and grows much louder. Suddenly, the stars around them begin to glow as specs of light move quickly backwards from the front of the ship, like sparks. As the drive reaches its highest pitch, one short and loud beep sounds throughout the cabin, as the stars immediately disappear and the ship lurches forward.