Chapter : 3
Tittle : A mother's sacrifice
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The Stardust Drifter shuddered violently as it pierced Earth's atmosphere, the hull groaning under the strain. Alarms blared, and the recycled air filled with the acrid smell of burning pollutants. Inside, the crew was strapped into their harnesses, their faces grim.
"We're through the worst of it," Eunwoo announced, his voice strained. "But the turbulence is still intense. I'm trying to stabilize our descent."
The main viewport showed a chaotic landscape of crumbling buildings and swirling dust. The sky was a sickly orange-brown, and the air seemed to shimmer with heat. In-Guk, his face set, began prepping the short-range shuttle for deployment.
"Signal's getting stronger," Ana reported, her voice tight with a mix of fear and anticipation. "It's coming from a collapsed structure, about five kilometers from our projected landing zone."
After a harrowing descent, Eunwoo managed to stabilize the Drifter in a relatively clear area. In-Guk and Maya, suited up in environmental gear, boarded the shuttle. Ana remained on the Drifter, monitoring their progress and maintaining communication.
The shuttle skimmed over the ruined cityscape, the silence broken only by the crackle of their comms. The devastation was even worse up close. Buildings were reduced to rubble, and the air was thick with a choking dust. Suddenly, a section of a nearby skyscraper groaned ominously, tilting precariously.
"Incoming debris!" Ana's voice crackled through their headsets. "Large structure collapsing! Get out of there!"
In-Guk, with his quick reflexes, slammed the shuttle into a sharp turn, narrowly avoiding the falling debris. A massive section of the building crashed down where they had been moments before, sending up a cloud of dust and debris.
"We're clear," In-Guk reported, his voice tight. "Barely."
They continued towards the signal's source, the near miss adding a layer of urgency to their mission. They landed the shuttle near the collapsed structure, the hatch hissing open. As they approached the ruins, they could hear a faint, weak cough.
Inside, the scene was heartbreaking. A young woman, her face pale and gaunt, lay trapped beneath a piece of rubble, a small space miraculously preserved around her. In her arms, she cradled a small girl, no older than five, her eyes wide with fear. The woman's breathing was shallow and ragged.
Maya knelt beside them, her voice gentle. "We're here to help.. relax.."
The woman looked up, her eyes filled with a mixture of relief and despair. She coughed again, a weak, rattling sound. "Please... take her. Please... protect her." She reached out a trembling hand, placing the child gently in Maya's arms. The little girl clung to Maya, burying her face in her suit.
"We will," Maya promised, her voice thick with emotion. "We'll take care of her.. but first let's get you out of here.."
"I can't, I'm stuck.." the woman whispered. "E-Elara." A single tear traced a path down her cheek, she whispered her name for the last time. "Please... tell her... tell her I love her."
The woman's eyes closed, and her breathing ceased. A section of the already unstable ceiling crumbled further, the dust settling around them like a shroud.
In-Guk lowered his weapon, his expression softening. He knelt beside Maya, his hand resting gently on Elara's small back, shielding her from the falling debris. "We have to go," he said, his voice a low rumble. "The structure is unstable."
Maya cradled Elara close, feeling the small child's trembling body against her. The weight of their mission, already heavy, now carried the added burden of a promise to a dying mother. They had found life amidst the ruins, but it came at a terrible cost.