29th Feb Page 3

Absinthe's 29th
-Pranava

28th February, 2119, Planet Absinthe
Dawn breaks as the huge red disc rises over the barren land. Clear is the silhouette of a man running against the sun, against time!

2118, Space station X12FA
Capt. Bakshi sat facing the board, with the results of the data. The revolution of Earth had slowed down due to the presence of the new Planet Absinthe (gets its name from the fact that it was believed to be a hallucination, since it leaves the solar system for a brief period annually). This planet that belongs now to both the Solar system as well as the Proxima Centauri system has earth like atmosphere but no life as yet.
The consequence shall be the increase in the days per year. But the bigger problem is the climatic catastrophe that has been forecasted. The tides, the temperature, the seasons will all be out of order in the near future.
After numerous intricate and involved meetings, it was decided that the tiny planet shall be destroyed. It shall disappear into dust when its rotation is stopped with the help of huge electromagnetic coils that are placed on the near by planets Saturn and Xylonia (from Proxima Centauri system).

28th February, 2119, Planet Absinthe
The coils are in place the planet had been checked again for traces of life. His faithful team had followed orders to the word. Now, when the time has come, here was Capt. Bakshi running for his life to get to the spaceship and fly away from the prescribed danger zone within the given 5 hours before which the coils come alive.
He ran as fast as his legs could carry. He had two minutes to reach the little ship. He could no longer feel his legs and for a moment his entire life flashed in his mind. He wished he could see his son for one last time. He reached the ship but the two minutes had passed. He lost hope, but still pressed the red button before collapsing.

29th February, 2119, Civil Township, Earth
Capt. Bakshi fluttered his eyes to an anxious bunch of people. “He’s alive!” The spaceship survived too, the exteriors suffered a lot.
And the date was 29th February. The little damage that Planet Absinthe had done was covered by an extra day in the year, dedicated to Capt. Bakshi!
He muttered a little prayer before slipping into unconsciousness again.

Picspeak

Concept: Pranava
Illustrations : Ramya, Kirtika (tadpole tag)
Graphic modifications: Leela