Prologue: The STAR-t
The sky was dark but freckled with stars. Seventeen year old Katana sat on a rocking chair settled on a wrap around front porch. Sitting alone enjoying the North Carolina air on her family's large ranch. Rocking silently she listens to the cicadas in the early summer night. It was a cooler night than most. Katanas Mama and Pop were already upstairs asleep. Having to wake up early to tend to the livestock her parents go to bed right after supper. Nearing midnight, Katana loves to sit outside and gaze at the stars. Imagining other worlds and different creatures that inhabit them. Her parents would throw a fit if they found out she was outside by herself this late at night. Being super over protective of their only child.
Her grandfather was the reason she loved stars and the idea of outer space so much. When she was a little girl, way younger than she was now. Her grandfather would take her out to the cornfields way past her bed time. He'd drive his old red '52 Chevy pick up out to the middle of the field. It was always super dark so it was perfect to see the glow of the stars. Perks of living in the country. Living in the boonies meant no city light to take away from the cosmos. Katanas grandfather would haul some fold out camping chairs and a telescope. He would open the tailgate and sit the chairs and telescope up on the bed of the truck. They would sit out there for an hour each night he was home to visit her.
Remembering her favorite constellations that her grandfather would point out to her. Katana looks to find Orion's Belt. Orion's Belt was always the most easiest to find. It is made up of three stars in a row going diagonally across the sky. They were some of the brighter stars than most. The most brightest star however, was the North Star. The North star was a part of the little dipper. Another simple constellation to point out in the sky. People from the past used to follow that star at night whenever they were lost and needed to find their way home. Always knowing which direction to go as long as they knew which way was north. Grandpa always said when people pass away he believes that their souls go to a better place. The stars being the doorways to the heavens. After her grandpa passed she likes to think that he's walked through the stars and to a peaceful place.
Sighing, Katana slowly stands. Readying to head inside. Shuffling her feet she walks around her porch. Looking up at the sky one last time her eyes widen with unspoken wonder. Shooting across the void were multiple meteors. She couldn't possibly put a number to the amount she saw glide across the atmosphere. At an alarmingly fast rate, Katana realizes they are coming closer to the Earth. Fire and rock falling from the heavens like rain.
Approaching closer and closer the meteors spread out. Lighting the horizon in streaks of pure white light. It was the most beautiful thing Katana had ever witnessed.
Next thing you know the Earth starts shaking. As the meteorites start to hit the Earths crust. Standing still in her spot, Katana watch's a meteor come straight to the direction of her family's barn. She witnesses it all in slow motion. The barn only a couple hundred feet from where she stands. As quick as lightning. Like a bat hitting a baseball. Her family barn explodes as the meteorite makes contact. Wood splinters, rock, and dirt fly everywhere.
A large chunk of rock comes out of nowhere and hits Katana hard on the top of her head. Tumbling down, she starts to loose vision. Black and white dots cause fuzziness in her eyes. Ears ringing with a high pitched ding. She feels like a character in a war movie after a grande goes off. Fire surrounds her as the wooden barn pieces are set a flame. Blurry lines start to fade into a black void. Losing consciousness, Katanas world goes silent. Everything fades away.
