Beneath the Heart

1.1

The large blue planet spun with paced speed. Earth. The third planet from the yellow star; which constantly spun around the earth, radiating it’s surface with heat and gases.2

It was never my idea to travel this far from our home planet, Neptune-if it were my idea, I would have been earth, already, but my father made me come with my eldest sister of her sisters, Veronica. 3

She wasn’t as thrilled about the plan, either. We argued with father, fought, tried to convince him that we were still “little children" but sadly none of them had worked. Which is why my sister and I were fastened down tight-so we don’t get hurt, or more of a chance the space shuttle wouldn’t be damaged-and were going almost as fast as light could travel.4

“How longer to this trawl going to take Hunter?” I stared at the universal grid on the dashboard. The blinking red arrows pointing to our destination, bellow that, it told me how far we have gone-or how far till our department.5

“We are now one planet away,” I grinned at Veronica. She rolled her eyes. “Fine, we’re about seventy-seven million kilometers away.” 6

She shook her head. “Alright, we’re forty-eight million miles away!” Now she glared at me. “No. I‘m just wondering why you are talking their native tongue. It‘s irritating me!” She complained heatedly. “Practice makes perfect, little sister.” I messed her hair up, a common brotherly technique to infuriate your sister; or anyone for that matter. It worked. 7

“It is not necessary to practice!” she whined, yet again. I raised an eyebrow at her. “What?” she snapped. “Well, on earth, the humans give slight ’hints’ when someone is being untruthful about what he or she said.” She stared at me. “So?” she questioned, pushing me for an explanation. 8

“So, my point is that you were being untruthful.” I explained. She rolled her eyes, also common when humans know they are incorrect about something they have said or done. “It’s very necessary, since we have to-” 9

“But it is true!” she interrupted, as if I haven’t spoken. “None of it is essential-for me anyways!” her voice began to rise higher, and higher as she spoke. 10

“I never wanted to leave home, I never wanted to travel across the universe with my eldest brother-just to reach a planet we need be highly educated at, I never wanted to-wanted to…” her voice lowered to a whisper, her eyes looking down at her hands. 11

I smirked at Veronica. “… leave Jared?” I finished her complaints. She looked away from her hands and glared into my eyes; I no longer saw Veronica, I saw someone, no myself, being drowned into lava at Earth. 12

The mental picture wasn’t all that disturbing as it was annoying. 13

“Veronica,” I barked. “Get that horrible image out of my head!” I growled.14

The picture was no longer in sight, and I once again got to see Veronica’s smirk; once she was satisfied with her “torture” method. 15

“Don’t. Dare. Do. That. Again.” I spat each word out. She didn’t flinch. “I’m not scared of you,” her smile smug. “Neither am I.” I threatened. As soon as we both got up, ready to start another clash-but a holographic image hovered in-between us-we both halted. 16

“Daughter, son, enough!” a rough voice boomed. Veronica and I slowly came out of our stances and stared at our father. We both held our breath; waiting patiently for him to yell at us again. “You both need to concentrate on the mission. Nothing but the mission. Is that clear?“ We both nodded our heads simultaneously. 17

“Good. I will be able to check up on you two the following light.” His image disappeared, Veronica and I let out a sigh, no, a groan and slumped back into our seats. 18

Good job, brother. Next time learn to control your anger. 19

A subtle laugh bounced off the walls of my head. 20

As the same with you, little sister. I replied touchily. A thundering growl disappeared quickly as it had came. 21

Veronica and I sat in silence as we got closer, and closer to the planet Earth. 22