Chapter 1: Decision

Liora has not had an easy life. She was sick from the beginning. The worst part is that nobody knows how to cure her. Her two Fathers have always helped her and allowed her to try new Treatments, but nothing seems to work. It is soon time for her 10^th birthday. Her Fathers, Franz and Phillipé, have shown her the beauty in the World, and she loved the theories behind some of the Mysteries of the Universe. It fascinated her that most of the elements were created within significant Galactical events like Supernovae. She loves to daydream about distant Events and play an Overseer of those events.

She had been lying down on the Roof and watching the stars since the sunset, and she fell asleep at one point.

Liora woke up in her Bed. Today is one of the worst days, everything hurts, and she feels frail. Her last trial had helped her with her pain, but the next Phase was not authorized by the Government and closed. It was a huge setback. However, there was nothing she could change. The only thing that helps her through the pain is her studies. She loves reading books about the Physicists from the 20^th and 21^st Centuries. It was a Time of Rapid change and a lot of violence. She studied the Relativity Theory from Einstein until she fell asleep.

The next day was a little better, the pain receded, and she wasn´t as weak. She washed in the shower. Like every day, she examines her Body for new Problems. She knows that her days are counted and that she should be happy that she has her Loving Fathers who won’t give up on her.

Her father´s work as Data analysts for the Government. They collect medical data from People all over the country. Her father’s told her that their work is essential since the laws were changed in the late 70 in the 21^st century. It changed a lot since the Data could be analyzed, the correlation between sickness and genes was more accessible and precise, and treatments were easier to find. Sadly for her, there still was no cure for her condition.

Liora walks into the Kitchen. Franz discussed something with Phillipé. Both did not look very happy.

"What are you talking about?" she asked them.

Franz was looking at Phillipe; he sighted and told Franz, "Liora would want to know it anyways." "Liora, come and sit down," Phillipé said. She moved to the chair on the opposite side of the Table.

"There has been a new Treatment. It is in its infant shoes, but it looks very promising," Franz says.

Liora was looking at them now, listening with her full attention.

"We both have gone through the whitepaper, and it really looks very promising, but it also comes with high risks," Phillipé said.

"We know that you know how your life expectancy is. The problem with this treatment is that it takes a very long time, time that you don´t have, so if this treatment does not work, we will most likely not see each other again."

Liora thinks a little about it. She finally says, "if I don´t take this, I will not see my 15^th birthday," she said, "but it also means that we still would have 4-6 more Years, which depends on how one sees it a lot of time, but what would be if the treatment works? We could have a whole life together. What Treatment is it?"

Her Fathers looked at each other, "It is radiation-based," Franz broke the stillness, "which is not all. The Facility is on the upper pole of the Moon, and they need the low Gravity for the Treatment to Work. It also takes around 8 Years to undergo the Treatment, and we would not be able to be there for you."

Liora was shocked. Eight years is almost as long as she was alive. How would she be able to endure such a long time? And all that time without her fathers.

"I need to think about this," she finally says. "That is the Problem," Franz says. "You will have to tell us the answer Tomorrow."

"They will only send one Spacecraft up there, starting next week."

"We contacted them to ask for more time, but they told us there was no more time, which is why I did not want to tell you. It is not enough time to make such a decision, and we took too much time to read the Whitepaper." Franz said

"It is ok if you say no. As a Fact, I would like it if you said no to this."

"Franz! It is not Fair", Phillipé tells him, "let this be her decision. It is her life, and her whole life is still more than a couple of Years."

"Liora," he said, "take your time and let us know about your decision."

Franz looked at her, he looked Frightened, but he nodded.

She took two Apples and left. It was Sunday, so she had the Whole Day to think about it.

On the one hand, she could take the Painkillers and have a happy but short life with her fathers, but on the other hand, what are eight Years if she could have a whole Life?

She went to the roof and laid down in her favorite place. Their house stands on top of a hill, from there she could see the city. Since the knowledge of climate change was finally accepted by all the countries in the world in the late ‘50s, the cities underwent a massive change, and some look like the elven city's from stories. Everything is green, and the towns are now no longer heat spots. And everything is now more centered around nature. At least if one does not look at the industry parts.

The only thing that did not change was space travel, there were colonies on Mars and Europa, but they are just a few decades old and nowhere as friendly to life there.

The Moon is an exciting place for Treatment. Also, it was an adventure, even if it could be her last one.

...

The night came fast, and the decision hardened as Liora watched the night sky. On nights like this, clear and silent, it feels almost Mythical.

She finds her Peace. The Pain feels almost like it is suppressed and far away.

She even saw a Shooting Star and wished for it that she had made the right choice.

Shortly after that, she fell asleep.

...

The following day, she woke up in her Bed. Franz probably carried her down. She finished her morning routine and went to the Kitchen.

Both Franz and Phillipé smiled at her, but she could see their worries. Both probably had not gotten any sleep this night. They prepared her favorite breakfast.

Vegan Pancakes with Honey. They chatted a little bit. "So, what is your answer?" Franz asked her. She could almost feel their anxiety.

"I will try it. I know the Risks, but it is either a short Life with painkillers or a longer life with a decade missing. It was not easy, and I am frightened to the Bone, but I had to grasp it if there were a slight chance it would work." Liora stated.

"I will call them right now," Franz told them. He stood.

She could see the tears on his face.

Phillipé looked her in the eyes and told her: "He needs time. Ever since I Knew the both of you, I knew this time would come, and he will never be ready for this. He has just a couple of days left with you. Even if I never knew your mother, Marissa, I know she would be proud of you and how you tackle your Problems. Always with a smile on your face, never Forget, Franz and I will always love you! If something goes wrong, this will be the Last Day we will see each other, so be kind to him."

There are three more Days. The three of them had not a lot left to say to each other, so most of it went by in stillness, Franz was crying in the Nights, and Liora could barely Sleep.

Then finally, the day came. They drove to the Facility, where they would say goodbye. By now, even Phillipé was crying.

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The Goodbyes were very emotional, and even the two Researchers had a shimmer in their Eyes.

...

The two Researchers in the Facility led her away.

They introduced themselves as Mara and Kilian. "We will show you the way. You will like it."

"The Technology here is State of the Art, and the Energy resources are something few people have ever seen," Mara told her.

"For the Flight to the Moon, you and the others will be in a coma to reduce your stress. After you wake up, we will be there for you. Every Patient has two Researchers who are directly responsible for you."

They led her to a capsule like a Stasis capsule from a futuristic Movie of the 21^st century, and she liked those Movies. Everything was solvable with Technology. But it also was just that, Fiction. What she saw now excited her.

What wonders will wait for her?

She laid down in the capsule, and they injected her with something, she saw how the lit of it closed, and then everything went dark.

When she woke up, she felt different, weightless, something she had never felt before. She saw Mara and Kilian right next to her.

The Bed she was in felt very Comfy. "Hello, Liora," Kilian said, "how are you?"

"I feel weird, and the low Gravity also feels very weird," she told them. "Where are we?"

"We are in the west wing of the Facility, and here we will prepare you for what is to come and explain most of it to you. But first, you need to eat something." Mara said.

They signaled her to stand up and follow them. The Floor looked like they were in a SciFi movie. Everything was out of Metal. There were only small Round Windows, but she was too small to look through them. She could only see the Stars in the Sky, or rather in the Void.

There was something beautiful in it, something she could look a very long time at.

"Wow," she said excitedly. The two Researchers smiled at her.

They arrived at the Cafeteria, and Liora saw some more People.

"There are 20 more Patients like you, of varying ages and ethnicity, but we try to keep you all apart. It will make it easier should something go wrong. Liora, what would you like to eat?" asked Mara.

"How about some Porridge?" Kilian said.

"That sounds good. Are there any Fruits up here?" Loira asked them.

"Yes, we have Strawberries and Blueberries. What would you like?" Asked Kilian.

"Can I have half-half?" Liora said, her face reddening.

"No Problem, give me a little bit of time." With that, Kilian walked to the Counter.

"What comes next?" Liora asked, shy.

"We will scan you and do some testing to analyze your Body. How much Pain do you have right now?"

"I can Manage," said Liora.

"If you are more Precise about your Conditions, we can make a more Personalized Treatment, and it will have a better chance of success. So, let’s try again. What would you say on a scale, from one being the lowest and ten being the highest Pain?" Mara said.

"Probably a seven," Liora told her.

"That is better, is the Pain on average this high, or is it Right now higher?" Asked Mara.

"On average, it is a six now, but it is rising from Year to Year," Liora said.

Kilian came back with her Porridge.

It tasted a little different, but to her Delight, it also tasted fantastic.

Mara and Kilian smiled at her Reaction. "I am glad you like it," Mara told her.

There were more Questions about her Health, condition, endurance, and if she sometimes feels nauseated. Every answer was noted on a weird device by Mara that looked like something from a movie, with a roll-up display.

After finishing her Bowl of Porridge, they stood up and went to the Research Faculty. There were all the Instruments to measure her.

After what felt like an eternity, they discussed the Next Steps.

"Liora, after today, we will put you inside a Capsule, this Capsule will Travel around the Moon, and at the same time, there will be Radiation inside the capsule. The Capsule is built to withstand pretty much anything, and it has a Power source that will last like Forever. This is meant to make you feel safe. While being treated, you will be unconscious, but you can keep your mind busy with today's technology. You will have access to an interface that allows you to Read any Book you Like. It contains all the Data inside the Capsule so that no Connection error will be a problem for you. You can even Monitor your body, but Time will go by more accelerated for you. If you wish, you can Stop it for a Defined Time and Slow it Down. You can also Play some Games. The List is vast." Kilian explained.

The Testing was very tiring, but it also was somehow fun.

They led her to her Capsule and explained how it would work, her body would be kept unconscious by the System, but her Mind could Control most of the Functions, except her Treatment, which the A.I. controls.

"You can also give the A.I. a name, and you don´t have to do it right now. Tell it when you are ready." With that, Mara closed the Capsule, and then everything went dark...

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