Science Fiction
Zera
1
Traveling across the galaxy with your childhood sweetheart sounds romantic—
if the ship were not carrying an antimatter bomb capable of destroying a star system.
“Imagine this,” they said. “The enemy wipes out all senior commanders in a surprise attack. Our strategic weapons remain unauthorized and are destroyed before launch. Such a risk is unacceptable. Thus, the ‘Zero Point’ Plan.”
When it passed, you felt the world had gone mad. Zero Point warships were scattered across the galaxy, each armed with an antimatter bomb. Despite your opposition, you were exiled as executive officer aboard the *Redemption*. You knew it was retaliation: these ships would wander endlessly unless they received the ‘Z’ signal—the start of annihilation. A signal you hoped would never come.
You expected a life of lonely exile, until you met the captain.
Zera. Your childhood friend.
“How could it be you?” you both cried.
She once worked at the Research Nexus, then vanished into a classified Space Force project. When questioned, she only sighed. You didn’t press—but seeing her wear your hairpin and prepare your favorite drink, you knew she was still Zera.
With her, the voyage felt less empty. To the crew, she was cold and distant; to you, the gentle girl you remembered. You almost believed the exile was bearable.
Then the *Redemption* received a signal.
“Z.”
The Z signal meant the Empire had fallen. All Zero Point ships would deploy, dropping antimatter bombs into every star, reducing the galaxy to nothing.
Now, it was happening.
“Adjust course. Shut down all receivers,” Zera ordered.
Unable to accept this, you activated a hidden receiver. Broadcasts were normal. The logs confirmed it: no signal received. The Z signal was forged.
You rushed to the captain’s quarters and explained, the order had to be stopped.
Zera stared at you in silence. The door sealed shut.
“I’m afraid no one can stop it now,” she said, drawing a fully charged laser pistol…
