The Horizon – Stars of the Nebula
The Horizon drifted through the Andromeda Nebula, a swirling mass of chaos and colour obscuring the stars.
In “Shadows of the Nebula,” the crew of the spaceship Horizon navigates the treacherous Andromeda Nebula, where they detect a mysterious distress signal emanating from a derelict Federation ship, the USS Valor. Commander Thorne, determined to uphold their responsibility to those in need, leads his team—technician Jax and telepath Lyra—into the depths of the abandoned vessel.
As they explore the eerie corridors, they encounter a lone survivor who reveals that the crew was taken by evil shadows lurking within the nebula. Suddenly, a dark figure confronts them, claiming they have trespassed into the realm of the lost. Faced with this supernatural threat, Thorne and his team must fight for their lives against the encroaching darkness.
In a tense escape, they manage to reach the transporter room and beam back aboard the Horizon just in time. With the shadows dissipated but the danger still looming, the crew sets a course for the nearest starbase, reflecting on their harrowing experience and the constant threats they face in their ongoing battle against the unknown forces of the universe.
Join one2one academy for this intermediate to advanced reading and comprehension task. Book a free test class for more information about this lesson plan; details are on our website.
“One2one academy, teaching English as a second language since 2011”.
The Horizon
The Horizon drifted through the Andromeda Nebula, a swirling mass of chaos and colour obscuring the stars. This mysterious and dangerous nebula was known for its unpredictable energy fluctuations and the strange phenomena it spawned. Inside the ship, the atmosphere was thick with tension, a palpable reminder of the dangers ahead. Commander Thorne leaned over the control panel, his fingers dancing across the console as he monitored their surroundings.
“Status report, Jax,” he said, glancing at the nervous technician adjusting his collar.
“Nothing to report, just the usual cosmic soup,” Jax replied, his voice wavering. “But I’ve picked up some strange energy readings. It’s like we’ve stumbled into a worm’s nest.”
“Let’s not mince words,” Thorne retorted, his tone sharp. “What do the readings indicate?”
“Um, it’s hard to tell,” Jax stammered, peering into the screen. “It’s fluctuating. It could be a distress signal… or a trap.”
Just then, Lyra, the telepathic crew member, spoke up from her station. “I sense something… or someone. There’s a presence trapped within the nebula.”
“Great,” Jax muttered, shaking his head. “Just what we need—more company. We should cut our losses and get out of here.”
“Not so fast,” Thorne interjected, his eyes narrowing. “We can’t abandon anyone in trouble. We have a responsibility, whether you like it or not.”
“Responsibility? You mean to get us all killed?” Jax shot back, but he knew Thorne was right. They couldn’t leave someone to suffer in the depths of the nebula.
“Or worse,” Lyra added, a grim look crossing her face. “What if this presence is linked to the Federation? Our mission was to investigate the disappearance of a Federation research vessel in this sector. If this is indeed their ship, we may have stumbled upon the cause of their vanishing.”
“Then we’ll have to deal with it,” Thorne said, his voice steady. “Set a course for the source of the signal. We can’t afford to look the other way.”
As the Horizon inched closer, the nebula enveloped them, tendrils of gas swirling like wraiths. The ship shook, and the view screen flickered with bursts of colour. “It’s as if the nebula is alive,” Jax whispered, a chill running down his spine.
“Don’t let your imagination run wild,” Thorne snapped. “We need to keep our wits about us.”
“Easy for you to say,” Jax muttered, gripping his seat. “You’re not the one risking your neck.”
“Enough. Prepare to beam down,” Thorne ordered, his gaze fixed on the readings. “We’ll find out what’s happening.”
The team materialised on the surface of a derelict Federation ship, the USS Valor. The air was stale, saturated with the scent of decay. The crew’s breath caught in their throats as they took in the eerie scene. “This place is a graveyard,” Jax said, his voice barely above a whisper, a shiver running down his spine.
“Stay alert,” Thorne commanded, scanning their surroundings. “We don’t know what we’ll find.”
As they moved deeper into the ship, shadows flickered at the edges of their vision. Lyra paused suddenly, her senses prickling. “Something’s not right,” she warned. “I can feel it.”
“Don’t get jumpy,” Thorne said, but his voice showed a hint of concern. “We need to keep moving.”
They entered the main engineering bay, where the source of the distress signal flickered on a console. A lone crew member lay slumped against the wall, his face gaunt and pale. “Help… please,” he gasped, his voice a mere whisper.
“Get him out of here,” Thorne said, urgency in his tone. “What happened?”
“The nebula… it took us,” the man gasped. “One by one… the shadows came for us.”
“Shadows?” Jax echoed, his eyes wide. “What do you mean?”
Suddenly, the air crackled with energy, and a dark figure emerged from the shadows, its form shifting and twisting. “You have trespassed into the realm of the lost,” it intoned, its voice a chilling echo.
“Back off!” Thorne shouted, raising his weapon, but the figure advanced, its presence suffocating. “You cannot escape your fate.”
“Not if I have anything to say about it,” Thorne retorted, his resolve hardening. He turned to Jax and Lyra. “We need to get out of here. Now!” The crew, though terrified, stood their ground, ready to face whatever came their way.
The figure lunged at them, and chaos erupted. Jax stumbled, fumbling with his blaster as Lyra tried to focus her mind, pushing back against the oppressive force. “We can’t let it take us!” she cried out.
Thorne led the charge, directing them towards the exit. “Stay together! We’ll fight our way out!” The crew, united in their struggle, pushed forward as one.
As they raced through the corridors, the shadows seemed to close in around them, whispers echoing in their ears. “You cannot run from the inevitable,” the figure taunted.
“Shut it!” Jax shouted, panic lacing his voice. “We’ll take our chances!” The crew, refusing to succumb to fear, pressed on with unwavering determination.
They reached the transporter room just as the figure surged forward, its form coalescing into a mass of darkness. “You will join the others!” it roared.
“Now!” Thorne commanded, slamming the transporter controls. The team beamed back aboard the Horizon, the darkness dissipating as they materialised on the ship.
“Status report!” Thorne barked, adrenaline surging through him.
“Shields are holding, but we need to get out of this nebula before it’s too late,” Lyra said, her brow furrowed with worry.
“Set a course for the nearest starbase,” Thorne ordered, his voice steady. “We can’t afford to linger here.”
As the Horizon pulled away from the nebula, the crew felt a wave of relief wash over them. They had faced the darkness and emerged intact, but the shadows of the past still haunted them.
“Another close call,” Jax said, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Next time, I’m voting for a nice, quiet planet.”
“Don’t count on it,” Thorne replied, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “In this line of work, quiet is a luxury we can’t afford.”
The Horizon surged forward with the stars glimmering ahead, ready to confront whatever dangers lay beyond. Together, they would continue their fight against the Federation and the shadows that threatened to consume them.
Questions
What is the name of the ship in the story?
Who is the commander of the Horizon?
What phenomenon does the Horizon navigate through?
Which crew member senses a presence within the nebula?
What type of ship do the crew members find when they beam down?
What happens to the crew of the USS Valor, according to the lone survivor?
What does the dark figure claim when it confronts Thorne and his team?
How does Thorne respond to the dark figure’s threats?
What do the crew members do to escape the dark figure?
What is the crew’s plan after they escape the nebula?
