Page 53 - The Muse 2019-20 Issue

Red Fury
by Maks Kestin
8th Grade
Blue Ribbon
“We’re fine! There is absolutely no way that the second reactor while fail. Just give me a second!” I shouted back.
The second reactor then failed. It had been torn apart by flying rock which kneaded itself into the cooling engine. As the first reactor failed and blew up half the ship, it looked like we were next. Eve cowered in her seat, expecting the second reactor to blow any second. She crumbled, scared and helpless like she was. Rida, being the brute, attempted to dispatch the melted belt to no avail. She put her hands on her buckle, the red-hot steel giving her excruciating pain. As the red beams melted, I noticed the ship braking at our feet. I looked down at the window as I spotted a large planet, filled with vast blues and spotted with green freckles.
“Helmets. Now!” I bellowed to the two remaining members. My commands were followed, and with a final check, I launched the pod down into the direction of the planet. With our current condition, holes were tearing into the pod as it sped down the galaxy, glass breaking, and holes opening up at our feet. As I looked up, I could see the Astra II. It had been torn in half, with its main engines exploding within it. My eyes were focused on it when it suddenly combusted, exploding into the vast void of space in a flurry of fire and heat. The shockwave tumbled the escape pod, spiraling it with incredible speed as it sped towards the planet. It was getting hotter and hotter, the burning pod almost evaporating. With a smack, it plummeted, deep into the water.
I opened my eyes to meet a deep blue. The pod had sunk twenty feet underwater. Flashes of red alerts and electronic frizzles where my only light. I quickly pulled a loose piece of metal and cut my belt, finally freeing me from my underwater cavern. My suit was quickly running out of the small supply of oxygen that was held within my helmet; I had to find my crewmates and swim to the surface. It seems they had the same idea. As I swam upward, they were already halfway there. Betrayed, yet determined, I
The explosion threw shrapnel across the metal chamber, opening it to the delves of space as the oxygen escaped into the void. The loud piercing noise blasted in my ears as distant yells were shouted around me. The buckles on our seats were stuck; clamped in between twisted bars. Lieutenant Carter and Private Buck managed to unclench their buckles, dropping down into the room below us. Carter was my best friend: We had known each other since Earth was set on fire, since the water evaporated. If there was anyone I could depend on, it was him. Buck, however, was my brother. We’ve been together all our life, and if it wasn’t for him, I'd be sleeping in an alley right now. As for the two girls stuck with me, however, I really didn’t care much for them.
The explosion filled the room beneath us, engulfing Buck and Carter in the flames, opening a hole in the ship to the vast void of space, and sending them out like flies.
Rida yelled, “What’re we gonna do? We need a plan. Now!”
53
Maks Kestin, Grade 8