53.

Tuesday December thirty first and it is approaching midnight but instead of celebrating the arrival of a new year, the senior staff, if they can be considered staff, are all at their posts for The Pathfinder had come across a star which at this very point in time is extremely close to going super nova.

'Right ladies and gentlemen' speaks Maria with a ship wide com link open.

'Thank you to those of you who are currently at a station for giving up your time, and for those of you who want to see and can see from a view port anywhere else aboard the ship, what we have here is a dying star. When a star comes to the end of its life they can sometimes explode. Such explosions result in a supernova, and this is what we are about to have here. Supernova's give off a huge amount of energy and what we are about to do is attempt to harness some of that energy for our own energy reserves ...

... Like in the way when we were back on Earth we could harness and use solar energy from the sun, the same can be done in this instance. We have to be careful however, an exploding star usually can leave behind a black hole and we cannot allow ourselves to get dragged into such a black hole as once inside one we will not be able to get back out, so be on your toes.'

'If it is not this it will be something else' Simon says to himself under his breath.

The journey through space may only be a couple months old, but Simon is seriously losing all hope with its potential to be a successful mission. To him things do not seem all so good, and it feels as if it all would only get worse. It's one thing after another and there is not much good coming out of anywhere or anything. If it were to take decades or some time longer than that to reach a destination, then wouldn't Mankind do itself in before any time can come where a destination can be reached?

Supernovas can tend to last only moments so Alison in engineering has already begun her efforts with preparing to harness the energy. When the time came, she, and those around her, are most certainly ready to go. Out ahead in space a burst of bright white light expands quickly before beginning to dull a little then going on to develop into joined strands and loops of colour before then continuing to stretch and expand until the multi-colours of purple, orange, yellow and white of the super nova begin to dissipate.

'Keep your distance Simon' instructs Maria.

'I have it under control, I can feel a tug, but it is nothing too strong.'

'That tug may just strengthen so keep on it.'

'Will do.'

'Engineering ... how are we getting on?'

'Energy reserves are at one hundred percent; we couldn't have done any better than what we did' responds Alison still working away on various consoles.

'Fantastic ...' Maria was about to congratulate everyone when she notices how agitated Simon seems to be.

'Is everything alright, Simon?' she asks.

'Remember I mentioned that there was a little tug a couple of moments ago? Well, it has become more than a just a little tug.'

The way Simon was and still is feeling, almost forewarned that something like this was going to happen. It was almost inevitable that something negative would come from what was happening especially with the fact that something positive has already come. Mankind, or what is on The Pathfinder at least, may soon be about to meet its end within a black hole.

In the wake of the supernova a black hole has indeed formed, and it has also already begun to draw in energy from all around it. Simon looks over at the second piloting console. In this moment, the second piloting console is being manned by fellow pilot Leo Bridges and also in this moment, Simon knows only too well that now is not a time to reflect on the fact that Jeff is not currently sitting at that station.

'Leo, I need you to take over navigation from your station, on my mark put the ship into reverse and give her all she has, OK?'

'No problem boss' responds Leo.

Simon works on his console frantically for a moment before saying 'mark', Leo does what he was asked and the ship does indeed move out of harm's way, just as well too as unlike with the electrical storm The Pathfinder would not be able to power its way through using the speed of light booster system.

Once again Simon would speak to himself under his breath, 'I guess it looks like it may just be the something else. Nothing is getting us this time.'

Silence had gripped the command center until someone realized just exactly what time it so happens to be and a countdown in reverse from ten begins. All time related considerations aside, midnight has come. One year, at least in relation to those in the here and now, has come to an end and a new one just begun, and the celebrations begin all over the ship.

Alison congratulates the engineering crew then makes her way to the mess hall to be with her family who were celebrating with Rory. With all which has come Rory's way in recent months, he is grateful for those who stuck by him. You really get to know who your friends are when accusations come your way, no matter how innocent you actually are, not that he knew a whole lot of people upon The Pathfinder before it began its mission. Even with the past truly set in the past there are still those who look at Rory accusingly.

Aaron and Sylvia finished a celebratory drink in the medical center before they too made their way towards the mess hall. Along one of the wing walkway view ports Cindy hugs both Jasmine and Timothy before making her way to the command center to be with her mum. Jasmine has a question she has been meaning to ask Tim and for some reason thought that this moment in time was an appropriate moment to ask it.

'Who is Mary?'

'What?' asks Tim.

'Remember when I found you when you had been knocked unconscious? Well, you managed to come to, and you called me Mary ...'

Tim has a bit of explaining to do and luckily enough for him Jasmine knows that he does have a vivid imagination.

'I had just begun to let a day-dream take over, not long before the moment when I had come across Dan. I have an imaginary investigation to conclude. Maybe you can join me in my fantasy maybe taking up a more serious role?'

'Sure ... sounds interesting.'

Jasmine links Timothy's arm and smiled as the two began to walk together. She knows well too that Tim's daydreams are not in any way naughty nor do they lay with wishful thinking, so she refrains from making a remark on any kind of preference he may have, the thought of changing that to at least some degree to include herself a little more does however occur to her.

This whole moment in time, this New Year's celebration is a key moment for The Pathfinder, one which Brandon would not have wanted to miss while he was alive, so he watches on unnoticed by Maria, as the ship that he was briefly in command of celebrates. He keeps himself unnoticed as he had spoken of needing to be away while also keeping an eye on things.

Leo, Jeff's temporary or maybe not so temporary replacement, stands up from his pilot station and moves over to shake Simon's hand wishing him a happy new year. Simon returns the wish but remains seated. Leo has worked piloting stations before now, when either or both Simon and Jeff were not on duty, from here on in his shifts may become more hands on.

Simon couldn't help but think of Robert and Jeff ... wondering as to where they were or even when they were or are and hoping that whatever situation they found themselves in that they were coping well and doing well. For Robert and Jeff may have the back up of Dan the alien, but would that be enough for them to survive wherever they may be?

The celebrating, it is not right, is it? Simon can't help but consider as to if anyone else is thinking of those who are missing, or even of those who have been lost. Yeah, this really is not a moment to celebrate.