Braze had his eyes glued on the telescope
There was something happening amongst the stars. Something that he had been anticipating but could not really fathom.
He was yet to complete his research papers. They were due for submission within a month .
He has been lost in stargazing lately.
Particularly gazing at a distant star.
His phone rang, breaking his undivided concentration.
" You must come over at the observatory , Braze. Something phenomenal is happening with your star. You cannot miss it. The telescope at your place is not strong enough to capture this miracle.
" What is it? "
Braze asked as his breath picked up pace.
Even though he could not properly see what was happening, he knew something was different about his star that day.
Braze hit the brake hard as the voice from the other end hung up after telling him that,
" It was the birth of a star. "
***
From the depths of the cosmic cradle, a celestial ballet unfolds as if orchestrated by unseen hands. Through the lens of a distant telescope, the universe reveals its most intimate secret,the birth of a star, a radiant child of the cosmos.
It looks like a cosmic womb pregnant with the promise of creation. Within this nebulous cocoon, gravity's gentle caress pulls together fragments of stardust.
It was like witnessing something incredible, like watching a baby being born.
Deep inside this cloud, something magical was happening. Just like how a baby forms from tiny cells, within the nebula, tiny particles of dust and gas started coming together, drawn by invisible forces.Then, like a baby taking its first breath, the center of the cloud started glowing.Bright light burst forth, filling the cosmic nursery with warmth and wonder.
However, Braze was certain he was watching a completely different imagery.
He was certain he saw a silhouette of a woman instead of a luminous cloud.
She bent low as her burden pushed forth to come out.
Braze felt like she looked at him through those lenses.
His eyes teared up as he watched helplessly, unable to grab her hands.
Braze watched her toil in her labor, alone and scared.
But her eyes lit up with the first cry of the little babe, as it lit up the rest of the space around them.
Her tiny cries scattered stardust everywhere.
She bent low and scooped her in her arm, gently caressing the baby to and forth as the brilliance radiated across the universe.
Then she looked him directly in the eye and smiled.
" Thank you for remembering me!"
Then all the lights disappeared.
***
" What's happening! "
Frenzy enveloped earth as all satellite connections were lost.
It seemed like there was a major power cut .
Not a single electric device functioned any more.
" This doesn't look nice. This doesn't feel good. "
One of the observers yelled as he panicked.
" We are facing something incredible. A burst of solar flares around our atmosphere has disrupted all forms of electronic communication. "
Another announced
" Sir, we have arrived as well. What are we bracing for? "
" Is it a meteorite? "
" No. It's bigger and brighter. "
" What is it? A space particle? A stray planet? Are we doomed ? What are we bracing for? "
Chaos erupted and it seemed like nobody was in charge anymore.
" There is no way we can connect with the outer space stations. "
" Call the Watchers! "
A senior walked into the room.
" The Watchers? Is the Astronomy department really going to call those quacks? "
" Stay silent when you don't know what to say. The Watchers are the highest form of defense that our planet has. They are the most undercover, international organization.
Now, hurry, we don't have the time.
We might have to launch an analog missile at the incoming object.
We cannot let it crash on our surface without knowing the consequences.
It could be the end of our species, the human race. "
***
The three of them woke up in the same darkness.
They were clad in white. Their clothes were identical.
They looked at each other as they stood up, dusting off their hands.
" Braze?
Xen?
Kian? "
Recognition flooded their brains.
It seemed like they had already crossed many lifetimes yet it felt just like yesterday.
They immediately gathered in a hug.
Their smiles were testimonies of how they had missed each other.
" I am sorry to keep you waiting. "
Her voice made the three of them turn.
There she was standing in front of them in a translucent white gown that had a long trail behind her back.
The flow of the fabric matched her flowing hair. It grew in length and she looked out of the world in that avatar.
" Mira! "
They gasped as her name felt like water in a dessert against their tongue.
" I missed you too, my knights! "
She ran towards them as they did the same.
But they froze.
The three of them.
Mira was not alone.
She had something wrapped in her arms.
A little baby with a smile so bright it sent out stardust and shone brighter than Mira's light.
Mira smiled as she looked at their faces.
Their eyes sparkled but they failed to ask questions.
" Yes you are right. She is yours. All of yours. I had to stay away so I could bring her back to you safely. "
Xen lifted his hand and touched her little head with his trembling fingers.
Her little hair was the same color as his. He felt fragile as he stroked her head with his massive hands.
The child closed her eyes as if enjoying his touch.
" Mine? "
Xen could barely get the question out.
Mira nodded.
Then Kian came forward.
She had his eyes, beautiful and bold. She giggled as he looked at his own reflection on her iris.
She suddenly grabbed his finger with her tiny hands as he bent closer.
Kian felt like his heart would stop.
" When? How? "
He didn't even know what he wanted to hear.
His eyes were full and he couldn't talk properly.
" The prophecy! It finally fulfilled itself. When you gave away the Heartstaff back then, the sacrifice stripped all your Chemorian powers along with it.
I had no other option but to impregnate myself with your offspring so we had the one who would bring all of Chemora together.
A blood that transcends all tribes. "
Mira's voice felt so sweet, they wanted to listen to it without worrying about anything.
" But I could have never had her outside my celestial body.
I could only come back because you remembered me.
All three of you. "
She looked happy but her eyes looked sad.
Braze walked forward and held the baby's feet between his hands.
He kissed her legs tenderly over and over again.
" She will be your responsibility, my knights. Take good care of her. "
She said as she handed her bundle of joy over to her lovers.
" We will take good care of her, Mira. We will do it together. "
They said as they looked around.
But Mira was already retreating.
" Mira, where are you going? Mira, wait! "
They held their hands out in desperation but their feet were stuck.
They could not move from their spots.
" This was the end of our journey, my knights. I cannot be with you physically after renouncing my physical self.
I will always look over you from afar. "
" Mira! No!!!!! You cannot do this! Mira!!!!!!!!!! "
Their voices faded in the vastness of space but Mira was already gone.
All that was felt of her was the little baby in their arms.