Chapter 20 - Beyond the Stars
Ten years later. Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The morning sun rose over the massive launchpads of the Kennedy Space Center. The ground trembled with the deep, vibrating roar of rocket engines fueling up for the historic Ares-1 mission—the first crewed spaceflight to establish a permanent human research base on Mars.
Inside the central launch control room, an older Michael Vance stood beside Rafael Cruz, both watching the main telemetry screens with intense pride.
On the primary astronaut camera feed sat twenty-two-year-old Mission Specialist Mateo Cruz, strapped securely into his seat inside the advanced spacecraft capsule. He wore a sleek white space suit, and pinned to his shoulder was the original Vance Aerospace mission patch Michael had given him when he was twelve years old.
Over the comms speaker, Mateo's voice echoed clearly through the control center: "Control, this is Ares-1. All systems are green. We are ready for ignition."
Michael picked up the director's microphone, a smile spreading across his face. "Mateo, this is Michael. Ten years ago, you taught me that impossible things become possible when someone is stubborn enough to try. Take us to Mars, kid."
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"Roger that, Horizon," Mateo replied, his voice filled with joy. "Heading for the stars."
The rocket engines ignited with a blinding flash of golden fire, lifting the vessel high into the clear blue sky, carrying a brave boy's dream far beyond the ocean and into the infinite cosmos.
