Doctor Dean shifted his eyes from the two to the view outside. That is what he hated about leaving. If only he had listened to her son’s plea back then, he might have not lost them out of his sight.
Eunice hardly opened the door of the car as she waved her hand. Clueless, Sofia wished her good luck with flying hugs and kisses.
“I love you, Mommy!” she yelled as the car leaves.
Dean looked at the kid run to the gate, still waving her hands, until her mom’s vehicle vanished from the distance it traveled. She just stood there for minutes, motionless.
He wiped his tears and went to her. “Let us go inside. Don’t worry. She will surely be back in no time.”
As she looked up at him, his eyes saw how her eyes resembles much her mother’s. He pat her head. That is the look that he thought he will never see anymore.
“Then why it feels like I will never see her again?”
He gasped and looked at the road the woman has taken. “That is how leaving and being left behind feels.”
—
The sun is already about to set when she reached the Island Dreen. The barrier is already visible and the surroundings starting to get dark.
“Let me in, please.”
There is no response, but the gate opened. She looked at her watch as she almost stumbled, running towards the facility’s main door.
‘What is this again, Eunice?’ Program Anne appeared near her.
“Don’t stop me, Anne. No one can do it except for me. We both know that.”
‘You are underestimating the humans. They can find a way, for sure.’
“Humans? And what do you think of me? Am I not a human to you?!”
Using her badge, she opened one of the spaceships; inspected it and made sure that it is complete with the things she’ll be needing.
She turned to Anne and leaned her back on the shuttle. “Anne, do you really think I want to? I need to, I have to. That is why I am doing this. If those chunks got together, you know what might happen. And I have a daughter that I have to protect.”
‘You will come back then.’
“Of course, definitely, I will!”
—
The space never fail to fascinate her as she plunged further away from Earth, while Program Anne informing her about the status of her travel.
She catches her breath as she looked behind and slowly, the planet had started to get smaller and farther.
‘Captain, you missed the news.’
“What news?”
‘Rum send a notice. Those who has been an employee of the organization will return to the Island Dreen for a check-up, and we will see if we can turn them to a hundred percent human as well.’
“As well?”
‘You didn’t know?’
“I didn’t know what?”
‘Captain Eve…’ the program paused. ‘Congratulations! You are indeed a special clone.’
She frowned as she heard the word again. Eunice closed her eyes and have it rest.
‘ONE HUNDRED PERCENT HUMAN.’
Her eyes opened as she heard the program’s assessment for her, that she even grabbed the monitor to make sure that she is not being played.
“Anne.”
[“Captain Eve.”]
She froze when Doctor Dean’s voice interfered; stayed quiet, waiting for Sofia’s greetings. But the man’s sigh is what echoed next.
[“Have a safe trip. Worry not about her. She is enjoying her time in the laboratory room.”]
“How did you know?”
The man laughed understandingly, to which made her feel at ease. She touched the picture of her daughter and that is enough to bring a smile to her face.
“I always know. I know everything.”
She peeked outside and see basket ball size chunks of the asteroid like AE-010E. “Doctor, I want to hear Sofia.”
[“Go ahead. She is listening right now.”]
Her lips parted. But she is thankful. She knows the man has explained it to her well. And he is doing what he failed to do—to stay true.
[“Mommy, how was it in outer space?”]
She roamed her eyes around, and wherever she looks at, it is as if she can see her fallen members floating around. Her throat dried and won’t let her utter a word.
“It is wonderful, honey. It is as vast as your imagination.”
[“Really?! Do you see start?”]
She chuckled as she heard a hint of excitement in her voice. “I do. But they are not as shiny as they are when they are afar.”
[“Do you think I will see you tonight above the sky?”]
“I hope so, darling. I hope so—” The line went out and her shuttle’s system blared in warn.
Her heartbeat race as she saw the black hole getting bigger, widening its horizon’s reach. She moved away and watched things around it goes stable, immovable again.
“Oh, Anne. What did I just do?” she inquired, realized that the black hole is not increasing in size because the chunks of the asteroid outside it are enough to hold it in place. But her shuttle’s force caused irregularities in the force that is holding it in bay.
One after another, the debris that is unfortunately near it got sucked in the darkness of the void.
“Anne.”
‘Go ahead, Captain. Make your decision now.’
Her lips trembled and tears roll up as she looked back once more and hoped that she should have stayed on Earth instead. She gulped as she gazed at the things she has just awaken.
“Alert them. Tell them that a black hole is approaching Earth. Tell Dean to go to the Island and use the shuttle I have prepared to show to Sofia.”
‘Are we leaving, Captain?’
She shook her head and kissed the picture she is holding. “No. We are staying here.”
—
Doctor Dean put on her ear phone and waited for Anne’s call, while keeping the kid busy and not be worried about the cut off call.
“That happens in the space. She will call us again later, for sure,” he assured when she peeked at him.
But his smiles faded when the program sent him the Captain’s last words. He picked up his attaché case and went to her.
“Come. We will go somewhere. You will love it there.”
As expected from a child, that took her inhibitions away and hurriedly run outside and search for a car.
“Is it somewhere far away, Grandpa?” She held to his hand.
“It is.”
She looked outside the window as they drive away. There is no nature’s beauty that she did not appreciate. From the sky above to the ground beneath it—she praised it all equally.
“It will be a long drive, Sofia. You might want to have some sleep.”
“No. I want to see mom. Do you think she’s one of those sparkling stars above?”
His chest ached in pity, wondering if his son has ever looked up at the sky that way and asked himself if he is one of the heavenly bodies up there.
He glimpsed at her only to find out that she has indeed fallen asleep. The man looked outside and turned on the radio.
“Hello?” he answered as his phone rang.
[“The team from the Space Administration has just taken their flight. Have you already heard from Eunice?”]
“Yes.”
[“Dean, how can we stop them? Her chance to get out of there will be impossible once the force around the black hole get disturbed!”]
He blinked his eyes to suppress his tears. He understands the man’s desperation, but even him cannot think of any way to stop them.
“We cannot stop them. By now, they might have already reached her.”
[“N-No. That can’t be.”]
Dean had to bit his lower lip to keep his cries quiet. And swiftly speed up as they headed to the sea, hiding behind the towering trees.
A few splashes have reached them, waking up Sofia and gasped as she saw that they are above the water, the car turned to a high-speed boat.
“Are we there yet?”
“Almost, Sweetheart. Sleep more, and I will wake you up once we get there.”
“Are you crying, Grandpa?”
“No, I am not.”
“But you are sniffing and sneezing,” she insisted and reached for her face.
He held her hand and keep them on her face, put their speed in maximum. He can hear from the background Rum arguing with Anne. The news that stating that the hole is fast approaching Earth, meeting halfway the astronauts who are clueless about what they have just done.
“Honey, would you believe me that I am a sinner?”
“Why would I?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“Because mom and dad had always been telling me that people often make mistakes, and that is what makes them human.
He let out a forced chuckle and brushed her palm with his fingers, just how he used to calm down Harold when he was little.
“But mistakes are far different from sins. Mistakes are things that are done unintentionally, while sins are things that have been thought and decided.”
He blindfolded her eyes as they reached the island. His knees are pulling him down as he leads her to the facility.
“When can I take off the blindfold, grandpa?”
“Later.”
The doors opened as the program’s recognized the child he is with. He gripped her hand gently and keep her close.
“Grandpa, I am scared. What are those noises?”
“Shh. Those are part of the surprise.” They stopped in front of the boss’ shuttle that is already parked at the spacious room.
He no longer wondered about it, for Eunice have already let him know through her journal that Sofia is Henry’s child. The same man who uses the initial H.Y.
As he carried her inside it, and the shuttle closed, a conditioning bed is already waiting for her. That is when he took off the cover of her eyes.
“Wow! This is—This is magnificent! Where are we?” she turned around.
“First, I am sorry. Second, we are here in your new home—you love science, right? Third, we are on the Island Dreen. Your mom called and was asking if you are already sleeping. Of course, I told her yes.” He opened the capsule.
“You lied. That is bad.”
“It is. But she will get worry if you don’t. Try this bed. Your mom had prepared it for you.”
“She did?”
“She did.”
The kid climb and lay down on it, touching the comfy foam and its edges. He took a deep breath and kissed her good night.
“I will be closing this, so no bugs will bite you, okay?” He refrained himself from breaking down as he feed her another lie.
She gave him a thumbs up and watched the glass covered here. He turned his back on the child as he proceeded with the conditioning on her.
The beeping continues, until everything outside turned dark. And soon after, a voice echoed, filling the space they have.
‘MEMORY EMPTIED.’