#greetings from protostar!

[gojoidyll]

aeon ! reader au

how you came to be and how you met welt welt yang

There was a big bang, and then there was light.

That was how your life started. That was how you were "born." For you weren't a normal living being. You weren't even human. You were the literal essence of stardust coming into an existence.

For instance, you were something that was compressed together within space itself far off into the unknown. With all the gravity and pressure pressing into you; your core started to heat up creating a protostar within the cosmos and soon once your core (your heart) became hot enough to ignite into a fusion, and you were born as a star. A literal one. Yet you looked human, but weren't one. Yet you have a consciousness. You have human hands. Human feet. You have a human face too. Hair, nails, fingers, and toes. You didn't need to breathe, but you could if you wanted to.

"Even if you turn into a black hole and consume all life ... Live freely, just like a shooting star across the cosmos. And come back to me, always. Little aeon."

Those were the last words you heard before you could even open your eyes, and when your heavy eyelids did finally crack open it felt like your reality was shifted momentarily, and you were standing on your own two feet. Clothes were mysteriously materialized onto your body and a language you never knew existed was imprinted into your brain.

And you know right then and there. You weren't just born as a star, but as an Aeon. A higher being that life should bow to. And somehow, with already obtained knowledge, you knew what being an Aeon meant.

That was years ago.

And now, you were bored. Being a higher being above everyone was too mundane for you.

No one challenged your power. All everyone did was ask it from you.

You had an immortal life. Unchanging circumstances. The powerful asking for more. The powerless asking for second chances.

It was all so boring!!

This was why you decided to put that aeon life of yours on hold and walk amongst the mortals and to live as they do. Which was how you found yourself in an abandoned alleyway.

Getting giddy all of the sudden, you took your first steps forward annnnd bumped into someone almost immediately the moment you left the comforts of the alley.

"Careful."

Your face had bumped into someone's chest, her hands grabbing onto someone's arm as you tilted your head a little up. A bright sun shining down as it blinded you. Your eyes squinting as you tried to make out the person's face.

And when your eyes adjusted, you were met with an older face of a man. The sight amazed you. This would be the first time you met someone so different from yourself.

"You...," the man sensed something off about you. Dangerous.

You understood his unsaid questions but you weren't exactly sure how you should answer. You also didn't know how he could sense you so quickly. Was it that obvious you weren't like him?

And how were you supposed to tell him that the universe birthed you and made you an aeon? How were you supposed to tell him that you didn't have "parents"?

And then there was the problem with a name.

In the knowledge you were given it was well known that people usually gave names to planets and stars. Not to mention that when you were born, no one ever gave you a name, not even the people who worshiped you gave you one. Now, some heavenly bodies get the chance to be apart of a cluster to form a constellation and get a name that way. Other Aeons also had names. So did children when they are born.

In other words, you didn't have a name.

So you did the next best thing.

You gave yourself one if the universe wouldn't. You were an aeon after all.

"Y/n."

Despite giving your name, he still seemed guarded. So you tried to continue the conversation, "and you?"

"...Welt. Welt Yang."

You paused as you mulled over his name, "It's nice to meet you Welt Welt Yang," you gave a small bow in greeting.

The man finally smiled at that and shook his head, "I see... so that is the state you are in. My apologies for my earlier apprehension Ms. Y/n. My name is Welt Yang. Not Welt Welt Yang."

You grinned, "I know."

"You.... know?"

"Yep! I just know! Now if you'll excuse me. I have some exploring to do-"

"Wait. Ms. Y/n, if I could have a moment-"

"No time! We'll see each other again, Welt Welt Yang! See ya around!"

[nexusmoon]

“Break from war” My part from the art-trade with @catbatart! It was a pleasure to draw your girl. I hope you guys like it! ;)

[nicanario]

The Doctors as Starfleet officers

so, I'm going to sort the Doctors into Hog... I mean, into Star Trek shows and Starfleet divisions, based on vibes and maybe a few character traits. Also, I'm counting the first Star Trek pilot, The Cage, as a separate entity to The Original Series, because it has an almost entirely different set of characters and, um, vibes? and I'll also be countring the upcoming series Starnge New Worlds because there's not enough Star Trek eras.

1st Doctor: after the Sybok incident, this old Admiral regularly contacted the Enterprise in order to send them on missions and the like. despite his general crankiness, Captain Kirk was happy to learn he wasn't evil or anything.

2nd Doctor: in the Academy he was nicknamed "cosmic hobo", and he truly demonstrates that in the Enterprise NX-01. he and Archer have regular meals. T'Pol once mentioned in passing that he didn't smell as strong as the rest of the humans.

3rd Doctor: he's been transferred to the colourful USS Enterprise of The Animated Series as a science officer. he's been trying to get off world for a while (something about being on Earth for too long), and has been teaching Arex some kind of weird Aikido, which apparently really works for him since he has three arms.

4th Doctor: iconic, colourful, great first season and meh last season? of course, he belongs in The Original Series. he's an engineer, and it frustrates Scotty that he always says the exact amount of time it's going to take him to perform a task.

5th Doctor: he was briefly appointed Chief Medical Officer after the departure of Dr Pulaski and the return of Beverly Crusher. on his record there is a long section dedicated to the time he served as a Rigelian Cricket referee.

6th Doctor: after the attempted forced relocation of the Ba'ku from their planet, he was appointed as a high-ranking security officer in the Enterprise-E. he said he decided to go into security after a friend told him he had the face for it.

7th Doctor: he'd be a plain, simple candy shop owner on Deep Space Nine. like a certain other shopkeeper he hangs out with a lot, he has a hidden motive for being there (maybe some kind of big plan, a long game?) but, unlike him, nobody suspects it until the big reveal.

8th Doctor: he visits Picard once in a while at his vineyard, greeting Number One with much enthusiasm. from what his Romulan aides have overheard, he's a friend from the USS Stargazer, though he really doesn't look that old.

War Doctor: you know what? he deserves some light-hearted work as a security officer in the USS Cerritos. he's been through a lot lately in the Dominion War. wait, what's this about the Pakleds I hear?

9th Doctor: former Maquis, now on Voyager. no further questions.

10th Doctor: the previous yeoman to Captain Pike before his first trip to Talos IV, probably the reason why he was weary of newly arrived yeoman Colt and definitely not because of sexism :)

11th Doctor: he's serving as a communications officer on Pike's Enterprise in Strange New Worlds, because, um, modernized feels?

12th Doctor: no-one knows exactly what he does at Starfleet headquarters, but Admiral Vance has said that he has some 'experience at avoiding wars.' Saru has managed to speak with him and says that he trusts him, as they should this new Starfleet in general.

13th Doctor: she's another hologram in the USS Protostar, along with Janeway, but as an emergency medical hologram. just in case, y'know? they might get inexperienced cadets there.

Bonus

Shalka & Curse Doctors: they're both officers aboard the USS Enterprise from the Kelvin timeline films because alternate reality. they get on each others' nerves a lot. Shalka is a nurse and Curse (9) is a biologist. he was transferred out of Medicine because of all the sex jokes.

Dr. Who: not a Star Trek show per se, but I can imagine him being in the Mirror Universe. you know, a distorted and horrifying alternate version of our beloved main characters.

what do you mean I should write a Doctor Who/Star Trek crossover? I'm already """writing""" a Doctor Who/Avatar crossover. stop, you'll make me want to actually write it! well, now that you mention it, I did have some ideas for-

[spaceexp]

Stellar Snowflake Cluster

NASA - Spitzer Space Telescope patch. Dec. 23, 2019

Newborn stars, hidden behind thick dust, are revealed in this image of a section of the so-called Christmas Tree Cluster from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The newly revealed infant stars appear as pink and red specks toward the center and appear to have formed in regularly spaced intervals along linear structures in a configuration that resembles the spokes of a wheel or the pattern of a snowflake. Hence, astronomers have nicknamed this the "Snowflake Cluster." Star-forming clouds like this one are dynamic and evolving structures. Since the stars trace the straight line pattern of spokes of a wheel, scientists believe that these are newborn stars, or "protostars." At a mere 100,000 years old, these infant structures have yet to "crawl" away from their location of birth. Over time, the natural drifting motions of each star will break this order, and the snowflake design will be no more.

Spitzer Space Telescope

While most of the visible-light stars that give the Christmas Tree Cluster its name and triangular shape do not shine brightly in Spitzer's infrared eyes, all of the stars forming from this dusty cloud are considered part of the cluster. Like a dusty cosmic finger pointing up to the newborn clusters, Spitzer also illuminates the optically dark and dense Cone Nebula, the tip of which can be seen towards the bottom left corner of the image. Spitzer Space Telescope: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/main/index.html Image, Animation, Text, Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/P.S. Teixeira (Center for Astrophysics). Greetings, Orbiter.ch Full article

[grumlen]

PECULIAR PLACES

A collection of my current open RP plots, summarized

(I've noticed interest in some of the plots I've made in Wildstar, but I haven't done a great job of compiling their lore / backstories into an easy to find format. To try and fix this I've summarized the lore of each of the locations I've completed up to this point, so hopefully they can enhance the RP experience a bit. More places to be added once I feel like being productive and finish those too)

Plot Name: The Eldan Fried Cubig Protobar Plot Owner: Grumlen Dangerpants Roleplay Hooks: space exploration, social eating, faction conflict, small groups

Nestled in the valleys of a cavernous asteroid sits a previously abandoned space station, now home to the barely-notable fast food "protobar" establishment calling itself Eldan Fried Cubig (EFC). EFC has made its name almost solely through commercials frequently airing on late night holovision slots.

The asteroid itself is home to a strange array of flora and fauna, the latter of which often seek refuge in shallow caverns and crevices; excluding the more prominent burrowing worms, who can be found dotted along the landscape as they tear through the space rock's surface. A previous ikthian presence can be noted with further exploration, though the cause of their sudden disappearance is unknown. A crystalline cavity nearby the ikthian camp reveals a subterranean living organ with clear artificial tampering, hinting that this celestial body may actually be something more. A recent rumor spread by the stations locals says the asteroid is haunted by the ghost of an old eeklu captain who was swallowed by one of the worms.

The upkeep of the station leaves something to be desired, and the denizens that frequent the location do little to maintain the trash that seems to forever accumulate in the hallways. Still, EFC does well enough to have the attention of a few Dominion and Exile pilots who are "in the know". Both factions have been granted a shoddily segregated landing platform with which to make orders (along with another opposing hangar for freelance customers), on the terms that they remain neutral during transaction... Although it's not uncommon for the more trigger happy few to give into urges every now and then. In any case, there's a trash compactor just down the hall to deal with the mess.

The station's only two functionally intact docking bays are populated by a few odd characters, but cobbled-together signs and lights point potential customers to the real action aboard the EFC fast-food ship. The presentation of the ship's interior is a good indication into the quality of the food, but the business owner, Grumlen Dangerpants, doesn't claim to be advertising anything more than food that's made fast. He also claims to be backed by Protostar, with their likeness being plastered in almost every nook and cranny, but the proof is dubious at best. Low ceilings and even lower standards limit EFC's target demographic to something less than desirable.

Plot Name: The Jabbit Hole Plot Owner: Jabbit Tooth Roleplay Hooks: slum life, low income living, underworld interaction, hiding from the law

"The Jabbithole" is a location seldom mentioned outside of a small underworld community. They say one only needs tune their matter transmitters to the right frequency to gain access, but any further information on this is a closely guarded secret. It's a place inhabited by those who are wanted by the law or unwanted by society, aimless wanderers and adventure seekers. The Jabbithole is unsurprisingly lawless, though it sees minimal conflict, seeing as the space is shared equally as a last bastion of escape from the shackles of the outside world.

The ruins and rubble tell the story of a city that once was. Stories change depending on the muse, but most agree that something clearly catastrophic happened previous to its current iteration. A dark and ethereal miasma clouds the view above, and no star chart or GPS to date has been able to pin point the location of the Jabbithole.

Visitors are first greeted by the glowing image of an AI caretaker, connected to the city through a large subterranean network of wires that stretch further than what has even yet to be explored. The central network hub is a cobble of scavenged materials set in the tunnel of a dead subway system. A collapse further ahead gives passage into a portion of the old sewer system, which in turn leads into the back alleys. Here the sparse community has set up a smattering of lowly vendors and shacks, enclosed by walls of broken buildings left in the wake of fallen space rock.

A lone draken, dressed in weathered marauder garb and going by the title "Jabbit Tooth", looks to be the main figurehead of the Jabbithole operation, and rumored to be one of the original inhabitants of the city prior. Though he's no ruler, most say he "speaks for the city". Jabbit Tooth is seldom seen outside of his occasional hologram appearance, but any newcomers to his domain will know his voice by the repeating low quality voice recording that welcomes them forward.

Plot Name: Backwash Bay Plot Owner: Beedar Reebil Roleplay Hooks: tropical setting, beach vacation, underworld interaction

With a plethora of makeshift bungalows built upon a rock face and scattered along the dried beachhead below, the outpost "Backwash Bay" is a part of its greater pirate community within the Sinkhole Sea on a distant, feral planet of Marauder space. It's mostly known (if at all) through the galaxy as a questionably affordable destination resort. Those gullible few who are swayed with the promise of an island getaway are often sorely disappointed to find a only ragtag group of pirates and thieves greeting them and their pockets with open arms.

Being in closest proximity to an industrial complex also bordering the coast, the already shallow and polluted waters often wash ashore garbage and discarded materials which the locals enthusiastically use for their own benefit. Flea markets are running almost constantly on the docks, while more inland, reluctant visitors can at least attempt to enjoy the local amenities like open bars, food vendors, and lodging.

A chua by the name Beedar Reebil, while not directly running the show, brings in a majority of the outpost's business thanks in large part to his literal underground brewing operation. Backwash Bay is usually a traveler's first destination upon arriving to the Sinkhole Sea.

((sinkhole sea community plot coming soon tm)) lol yeah rite

[shanannigansthebibliophile]

Solstice by Braxton A. Crosby is the 3rd installment in the Star-Crossed Saga.

What You Believe, Can Destroy You!

Solstice (Release Date: November 25, 2017)

William and Sydney have sacrificed everything to fortify their love, so much so that William dares to brave the depths of space to find a cure for their deadly Supernova bond, leaving both her and Earth vulnerable to Torrian Alliance attack. But with a full scale rebellion in play on Fabricius, the reality of Sydney’s execution from Torrian hands is diminished, only eclipsed by the certainty of a more threats – The Third Faction and The Dagmas Clan – lead by Dominic and his insurgent recruits. With overwhelming odds mounting against them, William makes a desperate attempt to find the last of the endangered Star-children only to be captured by a new menace, where he is forced to compete in the dreaded Gauntlet of sport. Allies surge to free Fabricius, seeking alliances across the galaxy while Sydney tries to keep her identity hidden and trains to master the third phase of her Star-child evolution: Solstice. With Sarah’s mysterious return home with clues to unlock the future, Noella’s training and Bill’s symbiotic development hope is restored, but will it be enough to unite the galaxy and destroy evil for once and for all?

Add to Goodreads

Amazon

CHAPTER THREE

Sydney and Noella walked hand in hand along the small winding path leading to the top the Mount Dothan. The dusking sky painted a sheet of orange and red light across the woodsy terrain around them, giving the impression of wading through a sea of fire. Amid the grim moment of the day and the burning sensation rising in Sydney’s throat, the tone seemed fitting. Silence accompanied them, and it wasn’t until the pair hit the peak that Sydney finally broke the ice. “So what do your people call this ceremony?” she asked.

“The time of the harvest. It’s the moment when a fallen soldier is said to join the being of the sky. I think humans refer to it as God,” Noella said, her tone as flat as the expression on her face.

“Sounds cool,” she replied as she surveyed the surroundings; a patch of flatland that housed a family of hawks who watched cautiously from above in a lone cedar tree. From here, every inch of Madisonburg could be observed without the need of telescope or binoculars. A bed of dandelions and weeping willows greeted them in the center of the field.

“This way. I’ll show you where I buried his body,” Noella said.

She could see that Noella was visibly shaken, slowly unravelling before her eyes. Her hands trembled as her eyes began to redden. She wondered how long it’d take, amazed at how Noella had not said a word since Arrion’s death a few weeks ago, only morning him in silence, which she explained was customary on Fabricius. She had done the deed all by herself, refusing to allow Sydney to assist in his burial. From scouting the plot of land to digging the hole, Noella insisted that it was protocol on her planet for a lone fellow soldier to be assigned the arduous task of preparation. Seeing as though William had departed soon after, there was no better candidate left for the job.  

She took Noella by the hand and drew her close, giving her the most delicate and firm hug she could muster. Noella stood motionless, sinking into her friend’s embrace. After a few seconds, she released her, unable to make eye contact. “I’m here for you,” she murmured.    

“Thanks, Syd,” Noella replied, her voice ragged.

She finally looked up at her and gave a nod, following Noella’s lead over to the place where Arrion’s body lay. Surprisingly, the disturbed clay seemed more settled than she expected, dried from the sun and already showing signs of life as Bermuda grass had slowly began to encroach along the edges. A makeshift tombstone had been erected, fashioned from metallic fuselage scraps of the Daedallus, with only Arrrion’s name and handle tatted along the surface, minus dates to hide his identity to hikers in hopes that most consider it a memorial to a lost pet if they stumbled upon it.

Noella knelt next to the grave, slid her backpack from her shoulders and began to open it. Searching her bag, she retrieved a small oval-shaped disk and a satchel filled with purple powder. “These are crushed lilacs pedals. We must first prepare the path for Arrion’s ascension by sending tribute to the sky.” She stood and sprinkled a few handfuls over the grave until a thin layer had materialized before them. “On our planet we usually use the oil of a Tonosia Tree, which is a lot thicker substance and is used for sterilization. Sarah thought it’d be a good idea to use lilacs as a substitute because it was a similar color.”

“It’s beautiful,” she replied.

“I will now begin the ceremony.” Noella placed the disc in the center of the burial site, depressed a red button on the top and came to her side. The two joined hands as the disc began to spin and dig into the hardened clay. Noella pointed a hydrogen phaser at the site and fired a stream of fire upon it that scorched the sheet of crushed pedals. The disc disappeared beneath the flames and Noella broke out into song, in an alien dialect that Sydney could not understand. It was less about the words and more the moment that choked at her, forcing the tears to flow freely down her face. She squeezed Noella’s hand as she crooned on. By the time Noella had finished, a small fissure had opened in the place where the disc had entered and a cloud of embers swirled into the air; a mix of red, orange and yellow. It lifted high into the sky and faded into the clouds.

Noella dropped to her knees in a whimper. “It is finished.”

Sydney came beside her and held her close. “It was… beautiful.”

The two sat in silence with only sobs to drown out the sounds of the forest.  

About the Author

Multi-Award Winning and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author Braxton A. Cosby creates vivid, original stories that focus on relationships and world building that brings characters to life. Braxton received a lot of his inspiration from watching the accomplishments and exploits of his famous uncle, comedic legend Bill Cosby. Braxton is the CEO of Cosby Media Productions, a full-service entertainment studio that focuses on producing content in the areas of television, film, and print media. Braxton is also an actor and radio show host. As a writer, Braxton’s novels explore the psychology of human connection, concerning themes of trust, faith and selflessness. He resides in Lawrenceville, Ga with his wife and a scruff Morkie named StarKozy.

Braxton Cosby | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

“The Star-Crossed Saga is daring, exciting and romantic. It’s an imaginative science fiction adventure, chock full of memorable characters, including the smart and alluring Sydney, who will inspire girls everywhere as they navigate the tricky waters of teen hood. Braxton Cosby’s debut delivers.”  –Adriana Trigiani — New York Times bestselling author

“Braxton Cosby’s stories feel personal and well thought-out. I’m happy to welcome this entertaining writer to the YA science fiction field. I look forward to more of his work!”  –Tananarive Due, author of My Soul to Keep “Even an eternity of travel may fall to emotion…ProtoStar is a blend of science fiction and romance…a unique spin of the doomed love, very much recommended.”  –James A. Cox – Midwest Book Review “This Young Adult Sci-Fi book has it all: romance, innocence, mystery, intrigue, prophecy and adventure. …Cosby writes like a seasoned author and I look forward to the next installment in this series.”   –Anne B. Readers Favorite “…a magnificent start to an inventive series by a talented debut author…strong prose is appealing, engaging and well-written. His characters glimmer like the sun…a cinematic literary epic adventure.”  -Blogcritics “…filled with lots of action and great pacing…very descriptive and vivid.”   –Jennifer Jabaley, author of Crush Control  “…a really intriguing story that encompasses action, adventure, romance, drama and a measure of science fiction that helps make this multi-faceted book a very engaging read. Ending skillfully with a suspenseful cliffhanger, this book, with its well-developed characters and many surprising twists will leave readers anxiously waiting for the next installment in the Star-Crossed Saga.”   –Literary Classsics 5/5 stars

YA Bound Book Tours

Blog Tour: Solstice By Braxton A. Cosby (Excerpt) Solstice by Braxton A. Crosby is the 3rd installment in the Star-Crossed Saga. What You Believe, Can Destroy You!

[infinitehouseofbooks]

BLOG TOUR - Solstice

DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS by Bewitching Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

GENRE: YA, Sci-Fi, Romance

Solstice

The Star-Crossed Saga

Book 3

Braxton A. Cosby

  Genre: YA Sci-fi, Romance

  Publisher: Cosby Media Productions

  Date of Publication: 11/25/2016

  ISBN-13: 978-1540541673

ISBN-10: 1540541673

ASIN: B01LZ4OMHI

  Number of pages: 303

Word Count: 90K

  Cover Artist: CMP

  Book Description:

  What You Believe, Can Destroy You!

  William and Sydney have sacrificed everything to fortify their love, so much so that William dares to brave the depths of space to find a cure for their deadly Supernova bond, leaving both her and Earth vulnerable to Torrian Alliance attack.

  But with a full scale rebellion in play on Fabricius, the reality of Sydney’s execution from Torrian hands is diminished, only eclipsed by the certainty of a more threats – The Third Faction and The Dagmas Clan – lead by Dominic and his insurgent recruits. With overwhelming odds mounting against them, William makes a desperate attempt to find the last of the endangered Star-children only to be captured by a new menace, where he is forced to compete in the dreaded Gauntlet of sport. Allies surge to free Fabricius, seeking alliances across the galaxy while Sydney tries to keep her identity hidden and trains to master the third phase of her Star-child evolution: Solstice.

  With Sarah’s mysterious return home with clues to unlock the future, Noella’s training and Bill’s symbiotic development hope is restored, but will it be enough to unite the galaxy and destroy evil for once and for all?

  Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/NHUT02Fqk5w

  Amazon

    EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK – CHAPTER THREE

Sydney and Noella walked hand in hand along the small winding path leading to the top the Mount Dothan. The dusking sky painted a sheet of orange and red light across the woodsy terrain around them, giving the impression of wading through a sea of fire. Amid the grim moment of the day and the burning sensation rising in Sydney’s throat, the tone seemed fitting. Silence accompanied them, and it wasn’t until the pair hit the peak that Sydney finally broke the ice. “So what do your people call this ceremony?” she asked.

“The time of the harvest. It’s the moment when a fallen soldier is said to join the being of the sky. I think humans refer to it as God,” Noella said, her tone as flat as the expression on her face.

“Sounds cool,” she replied as she surveyed the surroundings; a patch of flatland that housed a family of hawks who watched cautiously from above in a lone cedar tree. From here, every inch of Madisonburg could be observed without the need of telescope or binoculars. A bed of dandelions and weeping willows greeted them in the center of the field.

“This way. I’ll show you where I buried his body,” Noella said.

She could see that Noella was visibly shaken, slowly unravelling before her eyes. Her hands trembled as her eyes began to redden. She wondered how long it’d take, amazed at how Noella had not said a word since Arrion’s death a few weeks ago, only morning him in silence, which she explained was customary on Fabricius. She had done the deed all by herself, refusing to allow Sydney to assist in his burial. From scouting the plot of land to digging the hole, Noella insisted that it was protocol on her planet for a lone fellow soldier to be assigned the arduous task of preparation. Seeing as though William had departed soon after, there was no better candidate left for the job.

She took Noella by the hand and drew her close, giving her the most delicate and firm hug she could muster. Noella stood motionless, sinking into her friend’s embrace. After a few seconds, she released her, unable to make eye contact. “I’m here for you,” she murmured.

“Thanks, Syd,” Noella replied, her voice ragged.

She finally looked up at her and gave a nod, following Noella’s lead over to the place where Arrion’s body lay. Surprisingly, the disturbed clay seemed more settled than she expected, dried from the sun and already showing signs of life as Bermuda grass had slowly began to encroach along the edges. A makeshift tombstone had been erected, fashioned from metallic fuselage scraps of the Daedallus, with only Arrrion’s name and handle tatted along the surface, minus dates to hide his identity to hikers in hopes that most consider it a memorial to a lost pet if they stumbled upon it.

Noella knelt next to the grave, slid her backpack from her shoulders and began to open it. Searching her bag, she retrieved a small oval-shaped disk and a satchel filled with purple powder. “These are crushed lilacs pedals. We must first prepare the path for Arrion’s ascension by sending tribute to the sky.” She stood and sprinkled a few handfuls over the grave until a thin layer had materialized before them. “On our planet we usually use the oil of a Tonosia Tree, which is a lot thicker substance and is used for sterilization. Sarah thought it’d be a good idea to use lilacs as a substitute because it was a similar color.”

“It’s beautiful,” she replied.

“I will now begin the ceremony.” Noella placed the disc in the center of the burial site, depressed a red button on the top and came to her side. The two joined hands as the disc began to spin and dig into the hardened clay. Noella pointed a hydrogen phaser at the site and fired a stream of fire upon it that scorched the sheet of crushed pedals. The disc disappeared beneath the flames and Noella broke out into song, in an alien dialect that Sydney could not understand. It was less about the words and more the moment that choked at her, forcing the tears to flow freely down her face. She squeezed Noella’s hand as she crooned on. By the time Noella had finished, a small fissure had opened in the place where the disc had entered and a cloud of embers swirled into the air; a mix of red, orange and yellow. It lifted high into the sky and faded into the clouds.

Noella dropped to her knees in a whimper. “It is finished.”

Sydney came beside her and held her close. “It was… beautiful.”

The two sat in silence with only sobs to drown out the sounds of the forest.

          About the Author:

  Braxton A. Cosby is the award-winning author of YA fiction.

  He endeavors to paint vivid pictures of his characters and worlds in the minds of readers, so that they too can share in his complex visions of the past, present and future.

  Braxton lives in Atlanta, GA with his amazing wife and four children.

  Instagram: braxtonacosby

  Twitter: @BraxtonACosby

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrBraxtonCosby

  Websites: www.braxtoncosby.com

  www.theredgeminichronicles

  www.cosbymediaproductions.com

                                      Tour giveaway

  Audiobooks of the first two books of the series: Protostar and Supernova

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

BLOG TOUR – Solstice was originally published on the Wordpress version of SHANNON MUIR'S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS.

[spaceexp]

Spitzer Telescope Spots a Ghoulish Gourd

NASA - Spitzer Space Telescope patch. Oct. 30, 2019

Animation above: This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space telescope shows a cloud of gas and dust carved out by a massive star. A drawing overlaid on the image reveals why researchers nicknamed this region the "Jack-o'-lantern Nebula." Animation Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech. A carved-out cloud of gas and dust looks like a celestial jack-o'-lantern in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. A massive star — known as an O-type star and about 15 to 20 times heavier than the Sun — is likely responsible for sculpting this cosmic pumpkin. A recent study of the region suggests that the powerful outflow of radiation and particles from the star likely swept the surrounding dust and gas outward, creating deep gouges in this cloud, which is known as a nebula. Spitzer, which detects infrared light, saw the star glowing like a candle at the center of a hollowed-out pumpkin. The study's authors have fittingly nicknamed the structure the "Jack-o'-lantern Nebula." A plethora of objects in the universe emit infrared light, often as heat, so objects tend to radiate more infrared light the warmer they are. Invisible to the human eye, three wavelengths of infrared light compose the multicolor image of the nebula seen here. Green and red represent light emitted primarily by dust radiating at different temperatures, though some stars radiate prominently in these wavelengths as well. The combination of green and red in the image creates yellow hues. Blue represents a wavelength mostly emitted, in this image, by stars and some very hot regions of the nebula, while white regions indicate where the objects are bright in all three colors. The O-type star appears as a white spot in the center of a red dust shell near the center of the scooped-out region. A high-contrast version of the same image makes the red wavelength more pronounced. Together, the red and green wavelengths create an orange hue. The picture highlights contours in the dust as well as the densest regions of the nebula, which appear brightest.

Spitzer Space Telescope. Image Credits: NASA/JPL

The study that produced these observations appears in the Astrophysical Journal and examined a region in the outer region of the Milky Way galaxy. (Our Sun is halfway to the edge of the disk-shaped galaxy.) Researchers used infrared light to count the very young stars in different stages of early development in this region. They also counted protostars — infant stars still swaddled in the dense dust clouds in which they were born. When combined with tallies of adult stars in these regions, these data will help scientists determine whether the rates of star and planet formation in the galaxy's outer regions differ from the rates in middle and inner regions. Scientists already know that conditions differ slightly in those outer areas. For example, interstellar clouds of gas and dust are colder and more sparsely distributed there than they are near the center of the galaxy (which may reduce the rate of star formation). Star-forming clouds in those outer areas also contain lower amounts of heavy chemical elements, including carbon, oxygen and other ingredients for life as we know it. Eventually, more studies like this one might also determine whether planets similar in composition to Earth are more or less common in the outer galaxy than in our local galactic neighborhood. The data used to create this image was collected during Spitzer's "cold mission," which ran between 2004 and 2009. Astrophysical Journal: https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019ApJ...880....9W/abstract For more information about Spitzer, go to:  https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/spitzer/main/index.html Animation (mentioned), Image (mentioned), Text, Credits: NASA/Tony Greicius/JPL/Calla Cofield. Greetings, Orbiter.ch Full article