Courage Beyond the Fire

Carthenius sat in the ship, with his family and friends. They were ready to leave. The ship was silent but for the thrumming of its engines. All were nervous. Everyone had a hand on their stomach, as if that would keep their nerves at bay.

Carthenius looked around the small cabin. He saw his wife, Bellia, sitting next to him, holding his hand tightly. She was beautiful. Her red hair framed her face perfectly, and her eyes shone with love and excitement. Next to her sat their three children: Hannah, who was the eldest, at 12 years old; she looked just like Bellia. The middle child was Calix, who was 10 years of age; he took after Carthenius's side of the family, with red hair and blue eyes. The youngest was Palma, who was only 5 years old; she smiled sweetly at everyone around her.

Carthenius looked over at his brother Vespasianus; they had grown up together on Earth, but they hadn't seen each other much over the last few years due to Carthenius living so far away from home at the Space Academy in Cape Canaveral. He smiled as he saw his older brother looking bored and impatient; that was something that hadn't changed about him in all those years --- since they'd been kids running around in the woods behind their father's house. His brother's eyes narrowed as he caught Carthenius looking at him, and Carthenius chuckled softly to himself before turning away again.

The man seated next to Vespasianus was a friend of theirs from school, named Messalicus; he too had lived near them when they were growing up. Messalicus winked at Carthenius as he caught his eye; they both shared a smile before they turned back to look at one another's families again.

Next to them sat Stilicho Glaucus, another friend of theirs who still lived near where they used to live in Pennsylvania --- he had made it clear he wasn't leaving Earth until his wife and his son were able to join him on this trip into space. Carthenius smiled as he thought of Stilicho's family back home; Stilicho had been one of his best friends growing up --- ever since the two of them had met when the two of them were five years old and Stilicho had jumped onto Carthenius's back during recess at school and tried to ride him like a horse --- much to Carthenius's chagrin! Stilicho had been quite embarrassed when he found out that day that Carthenius couldn't understand Latin! He chuckled quietly as he remembered how confused young Stilicho had been with his inability to follow along with what their teacher was saying during history class... That day Carthenius began learning Latin from Stilicho! And what an interesting friendship the two have forged over time!

Carthenius turned his head again and looked towards an open spot at one end of the cabin where there sat one more person: Fortunatus Aurelius. He was younger than most of them (he'd been born on Mars), but he'd studied medicine with them while they studied medicine together at the Academy --- and now he was going to be joining them on this mission into space! He smiled softly as he remembered the day when Fortunatus' grandmother suddenly passed away last year... Fortunatus took care of her for years after her husband died until she finally succumbed to her illness last October... And yet here Fortunatus stood today: standing tall amidst others who feared for their lives... And ready to serve all those around him! He grinned broadly as he thought about how excited Fortunatus must be right now! What an amazing young man!

And then suddenly all thoughts left his mind as a voice rang out through the ship: "Ladies and Gentlemen... We are now inserting ourselves into orbit..." There was a pause as everyone held their breath anxiously waiting for further instructions... "We will be entering hyperspace momentarily... Please hold onto any handrails you can find..." There was silence again as people felt themselves being pressed against their seats by invisible forces... "We are entering hyperspace... We are now exiting hyperspace..." There was silence again for several moments before someone spoke again: "We have arrived safely in orbit above planet Saturn..." The tension throughout the ship slowly began lifting as people let out breaths they didn't even know they'd been holding earlier that evening --- until finally everybody began cheering happily and hugging each other happily! People began laughing loudly and cheering for joy! Nobody could believe it --- though many knew deep down inside that it would work out alright somehow... They had done it! They were finally here! They cheered each other on enthusiastically when suddenly --- suddenly:

"DAD!" yelled Hannah urgently across the ship... And suddenly everything went black.