(INSPIRED BY THE PROMPT: “You’re convicted of crime and, as customary in society, you are sentenced to “death by black hole.” You expect death as your capsule approaches the event horizon. After crossing, everything is silent and dark. Then you hear someone say, “Sir, I’ve found another one.”)
Sean cursed his luck again that the Commodore had caught him stealing meds for his mother. Overpopulation had made life on the station unbearable and Sean never did well with following the rules for long. Resources were tight, but theft was punishable by death. Strapped into the seat of his capsule, Sean also cursed that the majority had won out to keep people alive in the capsules to think about their sins and starve to death. During history lessons, Sean knew the people of Earth used to ensure no death was “cruel and unusual” but that kind of thinking had fallen out of favor centuries ago. Sean found himself wishing they’d just ejected him out of an airlock and be done with it. But humans were still all for making an example out of others and with shortages this year as the food generators and 3-D printers failed repeatedly had made theft of any kind akin to murdering someone else on the station.
Sean’s capsule had entered the black hole what felt like months ago. He was feeling stretched and out of sorts and kept waiting for death to come for him.
Suddenly, Sean heard something bang into the shuttle, a resounding boom shaking through the capsule and rattling his seat.
“Sir, I’ve found another one!” he heard a voice shout.
Sean found his body suddenly under unbearable pressure. If felt like he was being squeezed into a tiny box that he couldn’t possibly fit into. Gritting his teeth and scrunching his eyes shut to try and stave off a scream, he suddenly snapped back into himself. Sean felt a lot better and not as wrung out.
The door to his capsule opened and he was blinded by light and sudden bird song and crashing waves. “Welcome to Neverland Quadrant 52467” the voice shouted down at him as he tried to get his bearings. “You’ve been conscripted into the eternal war against Lord Peter Pan and The Lost Boys on behalf of his most royal Majesty, Captain Hook!”