Once Upon A Time In Nelusma City by Werley Nortreus - HTML preview

Chapter 10

First Rocket Launch Attempt

The reality is that I don’t think no one can narrate my story better than I can - my narrative is the only one that can convey it accurately, without error.

Three days after I presented my friend Xeyamia with the rocket I constructed, I attempted the initial launch using the remote control.

Yes! Indeed!

I indeed launched the rocket for the first time without any trepidation.

On Saturday afternoon, after spending my morning in the garage conducting a checkup, I sent the rocket soaring into the sky.

Did the rocket succeed?

We will discover that later, so relax.

However, before I initiated the launch, I remembered my father's encouraging words that dreams are always achievable. "Dear rocket, today is the day," I proclaimed loudly.

As soon as I uttered that, some pigeons inside the garage flew away. "Yes, today is the day I send you into space, but don't worry, it's merely a test that won't take long," I reassured.

"This will just be a test, alright?" I reiterated.

Indeed, with the remote in my hand, I pressed the “Okay” button to launch it.

Naturally, the remote is designed to control the rocket just as a Pilot would manage it from within the control room.

Ah!

Without delay, I pressed the button, and smoke and fire erupted from the engine as the rocket ascended, soaring high past the large hole in the roof.

“Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about!”

“Someone needs to discover what lies beyond our blue Sky,” I exclaimed.

As soon as the rocket launched, I monitored all its movements and traces on the computer from the cameras I had installed in various sections of the rocket.

But then something occurred.

What happened?

While some residents were enjoying a bath on the beach not too far from the garage, they heard a loud noise reminiscent of fireworks being ignited and launched into the air, and they witnessed the rocket take off.

And it was a girl playing in the sand with her brother who first spotted the rocket ascending into the sky.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

“Look up!” The girl exclaimed to her mother, who was relaxing and laying on the Sun lounger.

“What is that, mommy?”

“Did you see it too?” She asked her mother again.

The mother replied, “What is it, sweetheart?”

As the girl extended her hand to show her mother the rocket that had just been launched, her mother was surprised. “Oh, this is a rocket, dear!” She exclaimed. “But who launched it?” The mother wondered.

As she rose from the Sun's lounger to get a better view of the rocket, other beachgoers noticed it as well.

“Look, everyone!” Someone shouted. “Did you see the rocket that was launched?”

“Where did it come from?” A man asked. “Did the Government announce a rocket launch for today?” Another man chimed in. “No, not really,” several others replied. “Oh my God, this is incredible!” Another girl exclaimed.

Meanwhile, some residents were pulling out their phones to record videos and take pictures.

“This is awesome!” A young man told his friends, who were with him, as he shared videos and photos in their group chat with other friends.

Honestly, I’m not sure if everyone on the beach saw the rocket launch, and some even recorded it and took photos; I should have anticipated that.

A few minutes later, I was still in front of the computer, monitoring the rocket's trajectory and movements, expressing my joy as it ascended, when suddenly the emergency alarm blared. “Rocket launch failed!”

“We have a situation!” The computer announced amidst the alarm ringing. “Oh my God.”

“What happened?”

“What's going on?” I exclaimed while trying to understand the situation.

I soon discovered that the rocket lacked sufficient power to counteract the strong winds and turbulence, which led it to flip upside down and plummet. “No, no, no.”

“Can you regain stability?”

“Why didn't the rocket ascend vertically?” I repeatedly.

“Okay, I realized that the high winds and turbulence were the cause.”

“But come on, we were so close!”

“Oh my God! Please give me a chance today!” I pleaded once more.

As the rocket began its descent, I kept tracking its movements.

Moments later, just as it was about to crash, the engine roared back to life, and it soared horizontally in various directions.

As the rocket flew across the Sky, many residents and tourists, going about their daily routines at home, on the streets, and elsewhere, looked up in astonishment. “Wow, we are under attack!” A man shouted on the street as the rocket zoomed by.

His words triggered a panic, causing a crowd to scatter in all directions as the rocket flew a few kilometers above them.

Thankfully, one person recognized it was a rocket and not a missile.

“Calm down, everyone! It's not a missile, it's a rocket!” He shouted.

Even Xeyamia noticed the rocket soaring overhead while she was in her backyard playing Volleyball with other local girls. “Did you all see that?” Xeyamia asked her friends.

“What is that?” One of the girls replied. “Calm down, girls!”

“It's a rocket!” She reassured them.

However, she harbored uncertainties regarding the rocket I had shown her; she was aware of the reality and was concealing it.

“Werley! Oh my God”

“He truly launched the rocket!”

“Man, he is in trouble!” She remarked during a brief break.

“What happened?”

“Are you okay?” One of her friends asked her.

“I'm fine.”

“Don't worry.”

“I'm just fatigued,” she replied.

At that moment, I positioned myself in front of the computer and dashed out of the garage to see if the rocket was approaching.

Indeed, the rocket arrived and landed in the sea close to the garage.

As it splashed down, I hurried to check if it was damaged.

“Dear God, I lost the rocket!”

“It was so close to succeeding.”

“What am I going to do now?” I exclaimed as I neared the rocket and examined it in the water.

“I need to act quickly before someone arrives.”

“I must retrieve the rocket from the water before anyone sees me and alerts the Authorities,” I reiterated.

Alright!

I grabbed a wire from the garage and pulled the rocket out of the water, dragging it back inside to repair it.

“I can't fix it today because I'm exhausted”, “I need to go home to rest,” I stated.

Later in the evening, while in the dining room, enjoying dinner while the television was on, I saw a surprising news report.

But this time, I caught the news about my rocket that flew horizontally across the Sky, causing panic among the residents and even tourists who began to flee. “Did you see the rocket as well?” One news Reporter asked a bystander. “Oh yes, I did see the rocket!” She replied. “Many people believed it was a missile,” she added in response to the Reporter. “Really?” The Reporter continued. “And who do you think launched it?” He asked the elderly woman. “Oh, I have no idea!” She responded. “Unless the Gov can identify the individual responsible for launching the rocket,” the old lady concluded.

Upon hearing this, I felt a wave of frustration and pretended to be oblivious, continuing to eat my cereal and milk. “Dear God, am I in trouble?” I remarked with a smile.