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Contest 2 (June) Done
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Mod
...was it? it might've been actually... no... no i thinks it was the last pic contest. i forgot to vote >.<
yeah it was the last pic one. lol yeah, thanks jeeves. :P jk :)
Woah, I missed this...A wave huh?Maybe it's time for a Captain Planet fanfic!
....You guys aren't too young for that reference are you? Arthur, get in here!
Mod
I'm working on a story about a male and female companion traveling in space, or something. I'll post it soon.
You haven't decided what they are traveling in?Will you take suggestions?
Pudding.
common! someone write a story! lol
Mod
I forgot all about this!I'll try to think of something.
that'd be great!! :) gahh i need some extra time so I can write!!
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 747
notes: as is, and does not take responsibility for any . . .
………………………………………………………
The Quinnizodiac
Deacon and Dember had been the chosen ones. Together they would go to the outer limits.
Now hurled in the void setting adrift. It had been a difficult maneuver to regain control at the speed of velocity they travel. The first frontiering starship was bumpy but it wasn’t destructive. All of the instruments have indicators of the drifting path they were on; operations were in control again correcting the velocity and saying they had traveled a greater distance off the trajectories than supposed.
Forces of the unknown and forces in gravity then anticipated still allowed them to pass out of the solar system void of space and beyond it. They were still on their way. The depth of gravity was so unexpected. Deme Dember was sitting in her flight suit entertaining thoughts of death when they found normalcy in the flight-path. The ship rocked and shook violently for days and now was smooth and quiet. She was now feeling the weeks that had been months. Both crew members took turn between them to navigate the flight-path when the other went into deep sleep, a kind of space hibernation doubling their relaxation time and shortening their conscience time in half.
Dember found her flight suit made her feel uncomfortable. The sense of travel in the large flight-path made her seem small in the universe.
Dacron Dickson Dicion Deacon had quit smoothing his hair. The past hour as the ship slowed and calmed he did too. He used the radio to send encryptions to Earth of the sudden sources of an unknown change in their flight-path. The computers angled their flight-path away from the system they were supposed to reach because of the violent sudden change in speed. The computers feared loosing control and sending Deacon and Dember into a collision instead of their expected journey.
Looking tied and relieved at the same time he said to Dember, “you are tired Dember, you rest. Take a regeneration lath strip before your hibernation. Program for three days of sleep. I’ll hold down the flight-path until I can make the corrections and get us back on our path.”
“I couldn’t sleep if I wanted Deacon, not just yet. I know nothing from home about why we have turbulence in the void.”
“But it will be days before we get the computers working and the path corrected.”
“How are you going to do all that alone Deacon?”
“By using communications from Earth and reprogram all the computers to accept the new data.”
They looked into each others eyes. Normally they would have a sigh after an argument but not this time. They wanted to agree with each other. Take their orders from Earth and do what was in their best interests. This was another surprise and unexpected change in a great plan from Earth. And what Earth has as plans for all mankind. They were getting attractive feeling for each other.
When physicists calculate they test for the outsides of voids like the void between our solar system and another. The distance of vacuum between two systems and the mass and attraction in gravity.
Science today suggests the data of a ship possible. A crew was called a flight-path.
All data being received was lost from the Voyager1 years after it enters the Solar System's Final Frontier. The new plan was to send faster flight-ships that could return after going the same distance as the Voyager. The flight-path ship could turn around anytime and it could also seek better communication zones to send status reports of the crew.
This is the first manned flight. Deacon and Dember were the first people selected in leaving the solar system into arduous conditions and see what the Voyager1 seemed to fail to send back. At the success of the flight-path through the void after the Heliosphere it was expected they could go as far as possible before needing to retrace any distance and contact Earth.
It was alternately unknown what was happening with the Voyager1 and hoped it was still in flight. But the loss of communication with Voyager1 as it reached this depth of space where Deacon was the Voyager1 was no longer able to communicate. The next step was to see if they could communicated with the Voyager1 from the flight-path ship.
Deacon and Dember worked together and successfully corrected their flight-path computers in hope of communicating with the Voyager1 a deep space satellite sent from Earth during the 1970’s.
wow! awesome! thanks for posting a story :) love the name Dember btw...
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 812
notes: the crew meet danger in space . . .
………………………………………………………
Chapter 2
Probing space was what the flight-path is for. Finding a lost satellite that was not expected to survive after it loses contact with Earth was possible even today now with these new rendezvoused ships. But the lack of present awareness of the mysterious forces that attract to bodies between outerspace and bodies in space is still pure speculative.
Deacon looking at the computer with reliance was speaking to Dember in reference to the computer.
“Um Dember? You remember the simulator course?” Deacon asked.
“Of course Deacon.” Dember said.
“When you then saw a 10-40-60 reading what was your reaction?” he asked. He turned to look at her; she appeared surprised by a question she wasn’t clear herself about its predictability, as if the computer had made an error. “You wouldn’t become nervous?”
“maybe I’d rerun the program. Maybe the computer is malfunctioning and I’d switch to an outside computer and relay my approximate calculations again to get a fix of real readings.” Dember hesitated, amused because he seemed to agree with her advice as she told him and she began to think he was humoring her. If he was she thought it was mean. On the other hand maybe he was having a problem.
Dember continued despite his amused nods. “At my fixed point in space a 10-40-60 would mean a total loss of control of the ship. Likely caused by external forces of pulling on the ship like a wave made on the ocean, pressures pushing against the ship and would eventually tear it apart.”
“Ah! Then you do really understand the computer.” He brutally said. “Look!” He pointed at dials and the computer that said the strangest thing that they were reaching a possible situation of a 10-40-60.
“That’s impossible Deacon.” She said shaking her head.
“You know what I think! I think we may be in a little more trouble in the voids than we know. We know little what the vacuum made of and we are trying to fly through it.”
“You did just set it to find our new path corrections, maybe its calculating winds by mistake?” She wasn’t sure why the computer warned them of waves in space when there wasn’t any in a vacuum void.
“Yes, of course I did. But is this a mistake?” Deacon said.
“Get me that outside relay reading,” Dember said jumping into another navigator seal chair. “if we have to hit different waves then just the void drifts we could get pulled apart by the forces. We will have to stop engine. Completely and . . .” Dember trailed off. It would not be alright she told herself. A relay tele monitors space around the flight-path.
They eventually stopped flight. The outside relay’s had indicated strange pressures and elements that made up the space they were in. Both Deacon and Dember began to believe they were rushing their flight-path through a type of space that would react badly to bodies attempting to pass through it. But just what determines what can pass through brought them to remember a theory known as the Clear Pull Theory. And it was also believed that there was no motion in objects between systems due to gravity.
Suppose things remain in orbit remaining to have gravity. What if there were no bodies? The gravity would be different. More turbulent than passing through the Heliosphere but it was at rest now after many millennium of years because few things try to pass through it. Extreme forces were needed to get through a Clear Pull zone according to the theory. Object would need to be massive as planets to pass though. Assume objects could pass if they were attracted to one another. The power of the void was strong enough to pull them apart. The pressure would crush them.
Moving through such a force surely had destroyed the Voyager1 long ago explaining its incapability to contact Earth. It was crushed and scattered into debris small enough they wouldn’t know it from dust. The space between two systems contain elements of pressure of the universe unassumed this damaging. It was always believed the universe was peaceful and gentle.
With the engine turn off they rested.
“What’s our status Deacon?” Dember asked.
“Engine down.” He replied. Indicating he had switched it off and all power of the engine did seem still. He was still alarmed though.
“You have control,” Deacon said to Dember. She took over switching controls to continue monitoring the flight-path.
“Oh-oh!” called Dember from her seal chair. “it’s a Clear Path, shields up.”
“Deacon, we need shields now. Waves are striking the flight-path and they are increasing.” Dember said through the radio to Deacon who had been in the engine room.
“Trying. We need a few more minutes. It’s warming up though.” Deacon announced.
“Hurry.” Dember said. The ship seemed to rock and lurch in space.
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 929
notes: This is chapter 3. They think they find a way out of the trouble. . . .
………………………………………………………
Chapter 3
The doom was evoking memories for Deacon and Dember for feelings of the inevitable ending. The darkness outside and the waves beating against the flight-path was telling Deacon and Dember things they didn’t want to know. If there was no force acting between the systems and an orbit between two solar systems were calm then something else was out there acting on space creating a wave. Maybe ether and light became matter?
If space forces were acting against the flight-path according in the Pull Clear Theory but then it would explain what it looked like outside, then distance and space was a plane for forces and not just a vacuum made up by a void of bodies that has attracted to each other at one time. What they were facing was unknown and what would be tearing at their ship was created by some type of energy. This could have been the edge of the universe: or a kind of chaos.
The only hope for Deacon and Dember was to use energy to deflect and protect the flight-path. It would be the means for allowing them to eventually pass in theory through a greater mass and against waves passing through a plane in disturbance in space. Nothing was clear in space but until they reached into some kind of proportionate space they would have to be cautious. On the other side of the void and into the next system if they would shove themselves through the waves. On the cusp of the next system they were sure they would find a way to stir the ship in calmer zones and they could extend their power for their communication tower to send encryption messages of their status to Earth.
The flight-path was indicating several reports of minor need of repair for different experimenting machines outside the ship from a wave disturbance. 268 hours later they passed through a field of turbulence worse than after they had left the Heliosphere to enter the void.
They were the first humans in theory to go past one plane of an unknown dimension of space and enter onto another plane of space. To be between voids of heavy bodies in space.
They began cheering. Then when the ship stopped they started using a high powered light telemeter transmitting to Earth. The success of their pass through the void and into the next system. Passing through a chaos or a vacuum and space emptiness. Great forces of when bodies had attracted to one another and pulled them together creating the solar systems. It had always been suspected that Clear Pull was something that existed between Galaxy and another Galaxy. But the movement of lesser bodies thought constituted a lesser amount of destructive forces. Maybe they were lucky.
“Do you think we will be able to hear from them?” Deacon asked.
“I will only dream day and night until we do. There does not appear any real damage.” Dember replied.
“Mild waves. I don’t want to imagine what a plane in total space will be like.” Deacon said.
“Ha ha neither do I. we may find out if we keep growing out into space one day.” Dember said.
“One day we will be on the other planets of other galaxies and be traveling to them, ha ha who knows?” Deacon replied.
The computers had begun to read back for the move to a normal direction for flight of the system they approached. They were in the Heliosphere of it. They were unsure of the way they had been in approaching it.
The task seemed simple. Deacon was attempting to get proper data when he turned to Dember.
“Um. Now this is really strange Dember.” Deacon said.
“What is?” she asked.
“This unknown. . . .” he pointed to the monitor. “there have been sensor readings of a large object up ahead.”
“Impossible. Our stellar chart indicated all bodies. The system has one star and about fourteen planets. No comets or debris. How big is the object?”
“Lets see.” Deacon said sort of puzzled. He ran into problems when assessing the size of the unknown object that appears outside the system. Reaching to a conclusion that it was something larger than the Earth. It was an additional extra something and closer to Earth’s solar system than any object viewed before. Why had they missed it?
“And are we reading this right? There is an additional planet undetected in the system?!” Dember asked.
“Could it be what was causing that gravity storm difference? Could it be, um– a kind of large mass of debris crushed in one spot? Or could it be a new planet that was in the void but just survived the void and entered the Heliosphere?” Dember wondered aloud.
“Appears to have gravity.” Deacon responded.
“It’s unbelievable. We could have flown through the wave to get clear of it pulling into the system. Where is it?” Dember asked.
“Let’s see. Yes. We are slightly on the furthest angle attempting an entry into its Heliosphere.” Deacon said. They had avoided going straight, and started to go around the system when they were hit by the waves now on an altered course toward it and an unknown planet at the same time.
“The turbulence and that Clear Pull set our course to a different destination. Our angle takes us toward the distant side the Earth is facing. An angle the mathematicians may have been in error of when looking for planets. Planets may have appeared invisible from the Earth.”
“True. Well I guess we discovered a planet.”
Mod
Mod
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 475
notes: This is chapter 4. They find they are trapped in a huge energy field. . . .
………………………………………………………
Chapter 4
What were the causing forces similar to Clear Pull Theory effect? Was the turbulence between massive galaxies maybe similar between the smaller systems to have them too? Why was turbulence acting against their flight-path in the zone between the Heliosphere and the void? The questions needed answers. The computers adjusting themselves in the Heliosphere was cut short as they waited upon a response from Earth. It seems they were cut off and in a bad encryption zone.
They had also flown into a high field of energy.
Dember sat back in thought for a moment, maybe thinking of her words she once exclaimed to Deacon, the words of Well I guess we discovered a planet.
They had also flown into a field of high energy.
A black hole? That’s not a bad idea. She had been thinking about the stress of their ship. About a series of energy they detected. A field of energy was here jetting out toward the undiscovered planet they had intended to investigate of its unknown origins. But what if there was a black hole? “What are we detecting now?”
Could it have instead been a black hole? “Odd really Deacon to be seeing waves in an ocean. Could we have averted a black hole?” Dember asked.
Dember was thinking about the high energy the computers were detecting. The computers could monitor the field of energy they entered in which were large. “Computer calculations describe a string of energy from the turbulent waves in the void entering the Heliosphere. But what if that was a black hole? What are the computers detecting now?”
“Just for now it thinks it’s a planet.” Deacon said. “We could stop and collect some data from the energy field we are in.”
“A possible jet path by all the collected energy we are seeing. But rather than being the canoe going fast through water rapids heading for the falls let’s slow our speed.” Dember said.
“Taking our last plunge in space, are we? We are out here to explore and have gone this far. We need to find a good encryption zone to receive transmissions from Earth.” Deacon said.
Thinking about it for a brief few moments.
“We can get closer to this object and send our observations back to the Earth first. Don’t you understand, it’s an important discovery Dember.” Deacon said roughly in a commanding male voice as he should.
“It’s a great discovery either way. I hope it’s an unknown planet we discover rather than the jet's path from the burst of star formation in its destructive wake or of a dwarf’s star with a black hole.” Dember took into possibilities of finding these in their way.
“Whatever it is, we will attempt an orbit around its mass.” Deacon reassured her he was taking precautions.
“I hope it isn’t too late by then.”
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 657
notes: This is chapter 5. Deacon and Dember discover what the object is . . .
………………………………………………………
Chapter 5
Against odds and safety for the flight-path ship went to attempt to level the ship while it was rushing through space. Velocity and the need to be clear of the Pull Clear zones with a chance to learn of a body yet undiscovered in the system they continued to travel.
“Indicators suggest we are in a forceful point of the energy field.” Dember said. Dember wondered what was next . . .
“Is it certain to be energy? Maybe you are right about this thing? Could it be radiation energy, or imprints of decay from a dwarf? A dark star out in the Heliosphere that scientist never found its value?” Deacon was trying to explain his feelings, then he said, “It appears its not disrupting the complex matrix of the system.”
“Deacon, sensors are detecting other values. . . .” Dember continued reading findings to Deacon, “We are entry the energy strongest point in field. There is intelligence here.”
“Sensors say this?” asked Deacon.
“Well the complex pattern of energy says it is.” Dember said.
“Is this energy a part of some cloaking devise?” asked Deacon.
“Maybe. I don’t know for sure.”
Deacon pressed on switches to make note of the events for preparation of sending data through the mainframe computers giving orders for it to check formulas. He switched to a communicative browser in a computer and manually tapped in more messages to send to Earth. ~Attempt to correct flight-path after extreme turbulences through an unknown zone of forces and have led us into an unknown object possibly planetary in mass at least; may have intelligence. Report~
He was then going to check on a few ideologies later before sending the encryption to Earth in hope they were mistaken. Dember waited for her computed estimations of the physical properties of the energy field they were traveling through. They had their shields up again as it was coming from the unknown planetary object in their direct path.
Passing a great distance making a visual of the great object after a brief time and how little they understood the mission Deacon and Dember recognized it as a massive planet but it was a ship. It was round and massive as the Earth was and clearly as if it was made by men. They flew toward it.
“We better break to a stop Deacon and attempt some type of contact with it.” Dember said. The sight of this great flying ship made her wonder at its extraordinariness.
“We may not have any way of contacting that ship. They could even be alien to us.” Deacon said. Then on second thought he concluded by saying. “Why have they not hailed us by radio?”
“Still we must, to think we have traveled this great distance to find someone else. We have long believed we were the only beings in the entire universe and here lays another race who knew about us first.” Dember said.
Hey yeah Dember, really well put. But aren’t you the one suggesting they have been this close all along and that this means they have been waiting for us? What if it’s a good idea to stop us before we attempt to go on? Our history will now say ~There they were waiting for us on the edge of our system and then we found them~” Deacon said tired and unenthusiastic.
“So should we go up to them and make friends with them for the sake of mankind.” Dember said.
“Yeah, you’re right Dember. Why not?” Deacon programmed the computer to approach the tall ship.
“Just fly up to it.” Dember said.
“Why not Deme Dember? A once in a life time chance to meet another being like us ~There is nothing to fear except fear itself~ Look at it!” he exclaimed. “We surely don’t have anything like this.”
“I doubt we will ever. Are we capable?” Dember wondered aloud.
“There is nothing impossible for us and Earth.”
AN: Content warning to some of the younger readersMarine Biology
Hello everyone. Thank you for having me in your class today, and thank you to Mrs. More for asking me to come speak to you. I know some of the other parents have already come in and a fair share of them have more interesting jobs than I, but I hope I can be a little bit entertaining, as well as informative.
Well, as some of you know, I’m Anthony’s father. I’m a marine biologist; and what that is, is a scientist that studies the animals in the ocean. I became interested in this field when I was about your age. See, my father was a fisherman and I would see numerous species of fish and I became fascinated by these alien creatures.
Picture a fish in your mind. Not the cartoon type, not the Nemo type. Not the fish sticks type either. Picture a real fish. Have any of you seen a real fish before? Here, pass these around...They are photos of different species of fish and octopi, I thought these would be the ones you might most readily associate with ocean life. You may wonder why I’m not suggesting sharks or dolphins, as you all surely have a better, more accurate, representation of them in your imagination. Well, that’s just my point. There are innumerous other creatures and life forms in the ocean, more then science even knows of now. We discover more all the time, sometimes confounding the leaders in my field. Maybe one day we’ll discover a mermaid. Maybe you’ll grow up to be the marine biologist who does just that.
Now, now that you have a better idea of these funny looking creatures and the mysteriousness of the ocean, consider what life in the ocean is like. There is life, death, evolution, eating, sleeping. Just like here on land. Your lives are a lot like the one’s of sea creatures. Have you heard of schools of fish? Well, those schools are essentially what this classroom is. We, like fish, learn from life experiences and as the fish learn from their survival and natural instincts, we put ourselves in school to experience a text book education. We can afford to do this because our lives are longer, we’re more highly evolved, and our impact on the world is greater than that of a fish’s.
Have any of you been molested? I see a few hands there. Did you know that dolphins are the only animal on Earth besides humans to gang rape? It’s true. They are very intelligent, more so than monkeys, and you’ve seen some of those speak in sign language, right? In fact, dolphins are more like us than you might think. Their flippers have almost the exact same bone structure as your hand.
Another interesting fact you can impress your friends with is that sharks don’t sleep. They alternate between active and inactive states. As humans we need at least seven hours sleep. Another difference, among many, is that sharks have no bones. They have cartilage. Feel your nose, see how it can move but it’s still firm? That’s cartilage. It’s what makes the sharks neutrally buoyant. Human’s are weighed down by 206 bones (in an adult) and the highest rate of drowning instances is in children. A phenomenon known as ‘dry drowning’ takes the lives of many children each year, maybe you’ve heard it on the news? You can get water in your lungs while swimming and it will drown you internally even hours after you’ve left the water. You’ll never see it coming.
My time is about up here, I want to thank you again for letting me visit your class. I hope I didn’t embarrass you Anthony, I know my boring science talk can be a bit boring sometimes. I’ll see you when you come home – Oh, and we’ll have to talk about you raising your hand earlier. I’ve explained to you what would happen if you ever told anyone.
-END
omg!!! So sad :*( reeeally good though! loved it!
Name: Words of the SeaBy: Clare
Words: 774
Notes: Kinda short for a monthly story, >.< sorry
* * *
I look out at the majestic waves of the ocean, trying to think of the right words to describe it. Visiting the ocean always makes me think of things that I normally don’t think of. Love, hate, the meaning of life, God. The list goes on. I don’t know what it is, but the ocean is just one of those places that makes you think about life. Despite the mental weariness I experience after a visit, I love the sea. The rolling, churning waves. The power, the beauty. Unfortunately, I don’t get out here much. Juggling two jobs makes things crazy enough without throwing in my other hobbies. I like to write, to paint, and I always seem to find myself volunteering at the community theatre for prop making and costume help. Yes, my life is busy enough to ensure that I don’t get time to myself very often. Maybe that was better. I am twenty three, and I have no plan for my life. Nowhere to go, no dreams to fulfill. When I am to myself, my thoughts always float to my pretty pathetic life. Better to be busy.
But I never feel like that when I’m at the ocean. I always felt at peace. Questions, thoughts, and theories attacking my mind, but at peace all the same. I can honestly say that the ocean is my favorite place in the world. Feeling the warm sun beating upon my face, feeling the ocean, hearing the ocean, knowing that the powerful force is at work, even as I close my eyes. Also feeling safe in the chaotic pattern of the waves and tides. The salty water swelling in, and swelling out again. The salty clean air filling my lungs, washing my troubles away. Cleansing. Cleansing was a good word to describe the ocean.
I love to swim also. Or rather, not so much swim as fight and float. To fight the strength of the waves, and to float after you get past each one. It was like a continuous rollercoaster. Up and down, again and again, in an unbroken stream. Comforting, soothing. Maybe that’s why I love the ocean so much. It always has been, and always will be the wild and powerful sea. Powerful is an excellent word to describe the sea. The powerful strength it must have, as the gallons of water come rolling in, and are sucked back out into the enormous depths of the ocean. Constant. That was another good word for it. In and out, in and out. While people and things come and go, the ocean will be there forever. Reliable, and forever going.
If I was to say that I was afraid of drowning, would you laugh? Well I am. I am deathly afraid of drowning, and panic every time a wave crashes down on me and drags me underneith. Harsh. Another accurate description of the sea. Ruthless, merciless, cold. It would take you life, without a thought. It would snub your life if you let it. I won’t. I will never let it take my life. I will never let something I Iove so much kill me. I won’t give my safe haven the chance to steal my breath. But I won’t stay away either. I will persevere.
Have you ever gone deep sea diving? It is amazing. It is wonderful, it is marvelous. It makes you gasp, and take in the overly rich oxygen. The colors are vibrant, the creatures are astonishing. Everything about the sea floor is amazing. Awe-striking. Good word for that.
The ocean is one of the strangest things on our small planet. It is composed of exotic plants and wondrous creatures. It’s ever changing waters, colors and shape always shifting. Brilliant blue on a sunny day, the sun throwing itself on the water to make it glitter. Gray on a stormy day, with the waves towering high, as if to tell the world that they will demand respect. And inky black at night, with the moon to cast a shimmering silver beam across its vastness. The changing colors and ferocity of it make it seem as though it has an ever changing personality. It goes on forever to the viewer’s eye, meeting the sky at the horizon, it’s perfect match. The constant thrashing sea is many things. It is cleansing, it is constant. Harsh and so very cold. Amazing and very awe-striking. But above all, the sea is beautiful. It has a wild alien beauty about it, one that arouses questions in all of us. It is untamed and uncontrolled. To me, it is the most beautiful thing in the world.
The End.
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 1061
notes: This is chapter 6. They try landing on the new planet....
………………………………………………………
Chapter 6
Landing a flight-path ship to an alien made planet is easy, all Deacon did was fly the flight-path down close enough in a clear atmosphere to see it. When he saw what looked like thin but comfortable atmosphere and seeing ships the size of their flight-path landing through large metal doors, and in constant fashions he took a moment without hesitation then slid the flight-path through the doors. There, he saw an amazing idea for a colony, and what could amaze Earth when he returns. They were only robots. Only robots working to smaller ships with other robots for attending on them. He took the flight-path through a bay onto a planet of robots.
Dember took a sweater from the craft storage and put it on over her shoulders. They had depressurized the flight-path to the environment of the hidden bay found through the metal door. It was breathable air and normal gravity. They stood out on a landing field a size of Boston, and began to walk past the robots as they seemed to ignore Deacon and Dember. It was fine air, a bit dry and a little cold like a cave or tunnels under the ground, which incidentally could have been in.
Dember had walked along Deacon for fifteen minutes. It had such artificial light that they could see their faces. “The robots!” Dember excvlaimed. As if she was brought to a world of a paradise but there was no one around except Deacon to hear her. She had hoped to meet living creatures once they landed the flight-path.
“Yes, they just keep working while they are ignoring us.” Deacon said.
“It’s like they know we are here, but they like us and work around us.” Dember had never seen such order in robots before. There were little ones moving small items, and bigger robots pulling ships into chains and pulling the ships into storage areas. There didn’t appear to be people or anything in the ships which came through the bay.
A playful robot on one wheel drove up to them. It stopped Deacon and Dember is a most curiously friendly way. It stood there at attention to them then produced an antenna from its box. It rose and rose then a sheet uncurled making a screen. Then the face appeared on its screen.
“Welcome. Welcome man and woman. Please feel free to explore as you wish. But first please follow me to the interior doors and there we will let you in to society. Yes despite our appearances out here in the middle of the universe we have brought civilization along.” The face on the screen said.
“Can you hear me too?” Deacon asked in reply.
“Yes. Please don’t feel alarmed and follow me until you reach the grey doors. But first save your energy for a little longer before you badger me with your curiosity. I’m still pleased to answer all your questions in a few moments. Come.” It said.
With a slight look of surprise the sheet folded back up and the antenna slid back into the box and the robot began to blip a light indicating it was in a stand by mode.
“Then lead us.” Dember said.
The blinking unit slid into motion and took them onto a few minute walk to a large grey door. There the doors slid open with unusual cranking noises. Like grinding wheels spinning not on a pendulum. Then the doors were finally open. The unit began its flashing light again. Deacon took Dember pressing his hands against her leading her through the doors. When they enter they saw white hall ways and observation rooms with narrow doors. The great grey metal door swung close again. The hall was well lighted. They began to walk down it looking for a source beyond this one. A door slid up, and inside a room stood two men.
“Greetings man and woman. Please come in. I’m am Neumann. And let my present Icewine.” Neumann said. He reached out a hand to the man. The man shook Neumann’s hand in return.
“But,” Deacon said. He was in a surprised awe of his little adventure across the barrier which separates all of Earth to the rest of the universe. “Where is this place?” he asked Neumann.
“Welwitsch.” The known universe had been named Welwitsch. It had always been a name Neumann respected. Like the chaotic and hierarchical universe that it was. He was a specialist in the field of science. He was also a savant. He leaned back to one side and smiled to Dember who tried not to notice. “And who may you be?” he asked the woman with as a savant of grin as he could muster for women.
“Dember. Pleased to meet you and Icewine Neumann.” She said.
“And I am called Deacon.”
The two mean fronded when the man spoke. “You are Deacon! And the captain to your ship you came in?” Icewine asked.
Deacon tried not to show he caught a surprised frowned. And really he tried to ignore them. He thought differently being a being from Earth. The two men he faced were from some far off place.
“Yes. We both share the rank. We both fly.” Deacon was proud to be the same as Dember.
Again he noticed the confused frowns on their faces when he spoke.
“Well come, sit here at this table.” Icewine flashed a wand at a space and a table lighted up. It had three chairs sat beside it. Dember wondered if she was supposed to remain standing. Then two, three more chairs slowly materialized. The three chairs were a little bigger than Deacon or Dember would be able to sit in.
“Sit.” Icewine said, as himself strode toward one chair, then he sat. They followed and sat too beside him. When they turned to watch Neumann leave the room he had a pleasant smile for them as he turned away into the hall eventually into darkness.
“So where have you two come from?” Icewine asked.
“Earth.” Dember answered. Her first concern was for the people of the Earth and their safety. But then she suddenly felt like resistance was the wrong movement in the arena. An arena of death for her if she had been these people’s foes. That she quickly decided for the fate of the Earth she was not.
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 1048
notes: This is chapter 7. The saga continues......
Chapter 7
Dember fell quickly into conversation with Icewine. With Icewine she felt comfortable. He was a curious sort, not like the diabolical Neumann. Neumann was totally bald and for some reason beyond Dember she felt a cold instinct towards him. Icewine was different; he was cheerful and easy to talk too. They sat in the room still. Then it was quiet. Then there was a good deal to discussion learning marvels of a universe Deacon and Dember never would have imagined on their own. Dember was surprised that they were in some dark corner of the universe on an observatory.
The observatory was in the Quinnizodiac. Not the name Earth has for thousands and thousands of stars making up the Milky Way, their home was the galaxy and but a struggling field of emerging young mass in the universe still fully unexplored. According to Icewine Quinnizodiac was the name the rest of the universe called it. It was a mirroring universe. There had been man and beasts in the universe always. Reaching the Milky Way of Deacon and Dembers was only a small step for the rest of the Welwitsch.
“So you would have discovered us, eventually?” Dember said amazed at all these facts.
“Yes, it’s important to meet the other living creatures still today. All various sorts of beings have been sweep aside in the past. A history we are still ashamed of todat. But a strong realization brings us to protect and conserve. Suppose I told you we have discovered planets not yet awake to civilization and have left them in their galaxy without them knowing we were even there. Why bother with nature. I ask you, what god does Earth worship? Religion is a concise knowledge in the Welwitsch. We have no longer arrogance or brutal systems. We are meek men working as gardeners to help the planted seeds god has given unto us.”
Deacon looked up. Ashamed that the Earth would have been only waking up to. The words Icewine spoke made him feel relieved; to a knowledge to open further the eyes of all people. “Are you a politician?” Deacon asked.
“Yes. You noticed why I am enamored by science and its equal religion.” Icewine said. He pointed to a sliding door at a wall. It opened to refreshments. He opened a bottle and poured drinks. “Take cider to the soul, they say.” Icewine said remembering all the people who said it to him.
“Thank you.” Dember said. She sipped her goblet. It was some kind of metal and plastic. It was smooth to the touch. When she drank the liquid inside the goblet she smiled. “I’ve never heard it put quite like that before, that is so beautiful.” She said.
“Ah yes, we have many men in history. Too many to really want to remember who have said the kindest words at the right moment.” Icewine soothed as they drank the cider.
“So tell me about this place you are from, Earth. How old is it? What color is your skies? Do you feel that they can adjust to Welwitsch?”
“I feel the answer to your question is yes.” Deacon said. “Mankind has given something back after all our undue troubled history. Now we are united, each of us. We all agree about unity and society as a system. Our mistakes are forgotten, only stories in books. Something seldom taught in schools any longer.” Deacon replied why Earth would like to remain living.
“And did they all grow up on Polyester: poly stem Deck sector D as you said?” asked Icewine. Icewine had taken interest in Deacon. It is the first in Welwitsch Icewine heard in history of a planet being taken over by its own clones.
Deacon showed him after he told him his identification numbers on his neck. It looked like a tattoo. And he spoke of their artificial cloning and their natural upbringing. It happens in an environment to stimulate breading by marriages in the cultures on Earth. Deacon and Dember had lived isolated all their lives until they were the ones selected for the flight-path from other cultures, this one was called Polyester. They had come from the poly stem Deck sector D, hence being named Deacon and Dember, their names began with D’s.
“Only B’s, Bh’s and D’s live in Polyester.” Deacon said. He remembered the unusual friends he had. He knew about the others, a class of people who represented a higher up order in society than who lived a long time ago and made the clone people.
Fascinated by their talks Icewine rose again. He stiffened as three large men entered the room. They went to their three chairs and sat briefly before anyone spoke.
They were old and gentle, except Petercut. Petercut, the same shape and size as his two other was cut and shaped differently than them. He had not lively color at all. His hair was old and the darkest black. He had no grin. No emotion. He looked demented as a robot made from reproductive dead or living parts from other humans or organisms. He looked much like Earths pictures of a Frankenstein’s monster. Only he sat there in a cold stare at the man and woman newly arrived wearing a uniform. A smart military uniform he had on with brass metals on the chest.
The other two introduced them. They had been brief to greet the man and woman after listening to their interview by Icewine.
“Greeting to you. Our supports will like to extend their welcome from our universe, Welwitsch.” He spoke very dedicatedly. He had sandy blond hair, short cut and even. When he removed his helmet and placed it on the table next to him he signified himself to rank then said their names. “I am Univocal. I am captain of the observatory in Quinnizodiac. These are my men, Eugene, the engineer. And Petercut, second in command. A man with fine attributes and also well known around here for his quick selective mental skills.” From that introduction Petercut nodded his head to them. Dember stared at Petercut trying to remove herself from the instant fright. He looked so strong and hard, but he was described by the captain as gentle and intuitive in judgments, she thought it odd.
Mod
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 1130
notes: This is chapter 8. Later on the ship......
.......
Chapter 8
“I hope you enjoy these rooms.” Icewine had said. He had brought the two visiting astronauts to customary rooms.
“If you slid this door,” he paused and pushed a number on a pad at a door, “it opens the rooms to each other. Like this!” the wall slid to the left. And opened about eight feet, giving plentiful space making two large cordon bedrooms to look much more like a couple’s apartment.
Icewine pressed another number on the wall pad. Then a light flickered against the wall and the pattern changed. The usual white walls displayed any number of images. “There are about 600 billion images. So you may go through them at your leisure. I promise there are sights you’d have huge pleasure for wall landscaping. It’s an art unsurpassed in Welwitsch. To find automated refreshments, press” he held the button for a long moment. A light about a counter appeared. The counter island rose too. It had a tray platter, cups and saucers. “You’ll find something you like from the bar. Press the number on the counter pad and then you may pour your containment. Food, you have to order out to dine in or join others at messes or there are some special restaurants, and you may ask anyone here about where they are and what to eat. It’s very pleasant, really.”
Icewine left them. Dember stood there astonished. First they thought it was a world run by robots. But now they find it was heaven populated by advanced humans.
“There’s nothing to do till morning.” Deacon said. He assumed they would have been questioned more about their origins. Maybe trick and forced into telling secrets about society. But instead they are treated like guests in a hotel.
“I’ll find a pleasant wall light.” Dember said. She looked at the control on the wall. Pushed on the pad numbers until a pleasant moving sea change appeared on the wall. The waves washed in. the salt and weeds were caught on a sandy beach and the water drained back as the next wave came. The sun was invisible but it was bright and opaque. Dember stood back and watched the waves roll in one by one.
“It’s beautiful.” Deacon said.
“Yes. I only wondered where I’d seen such a sea. The water is green, not blue. Most of Earth's will be blue. This is indeed very exotically beautiful.” Dember said.
Deacon brought some refreshment over. They stood talking about Earth and how they missed it. How wrong everyone on Earth was. How young and knave in comparison to the people they have now meet in the Welwitsch. Real people in a real universe.
Two days of relaxation Dember began asking Deacon when they should insinuate upon their hosts about contacting Earth and sharing with them the discovery that there was life elsewhere in a dark universe that Earth could not see. She wanted Deacon to press the other men, she felt something for Deacon, and he would make a good captain of flight-paths some day. Deacon could fly back and forth in the Welwitsch with the other human peoples and she could settle down and start a little family. With Deacon by her side she felt the reassurance she needed and settling and leaving responsibility of commitments would be for Deacon.
Deacon agreed with Dember’s suggestion. That in time they would need to return to Earth and bring news that close by there is a colony of humans waiting to meet Earth people. He would bring this good news and both races would meet and he would be remembered for his involvement.
They walked together after being to the ‘Lost Time’ a new wave dinner and bar. They passed a couple of robots that duck pass no and then without a word. Dember was laughing about the waiter, he had an earring the size of a silver dollar hanging from one side of his nose, and a lady she who caught the waiter’s eye before they could sit, and the waiter pulled the chair to far out, then Deacon would not sit until the waiter pushed it back in a little way.
“That was the best food I’ve ever had,” Deacon admitted. “I didn’t like the waiter though,”
“The music was so good; I want to go back some night, before we leave.” Dember said.
“Yes, leave. Definitely, one day we will. I had a hard time discussing our preparations with Icewine. He seemed in his usual good spirits with aiming to talk with Univocal and about Welwitsch and finding Earth a represent commissioner. Someone who could patch up a deal in the discovery of Earth. He thinks we could refer one of the Earth politicians to Welwitsch. Univocal says we can contact him once with an encryption once we return.”
“Politicians,” Dember said, “they want to discuss politics.”
“Yes he does. I wonder why we have not seen him or his special men since Icewine introduced us.”
“They only talk politics, and Univocal has no interest in us. He is the captain of this entire colony.”
“That he is. And I am very proud for him. Imagine earth being ran by one politician like the captain.”
“And being a ship?”
“That too, oh Dember you never miss a point.” Deacon said.
They kept walking past robots and the tinkering noise the machines make as it opens doors on some maintenance order then disappears. They were walking towards their sector where there apartment was. They had not gone so far before in this direction. They heard a frightful sound. It was not a robot on a duty or any human sound they ever heard before. The noise was loud like an animal caught in a trap. The holler of the animal was so baleful it deadened in the sleepless night like air. On a plunge for understanding of what was going on in the next block Deacon quickly paced himself for the animal noise.
When Dember finally reached to the spot where Deacon had run she saw exactly what he did. It was three men with whips slashing at a dumb animal. It was bigger than the men and they were forcing it into a cage. It had broken a chain it wore and was nearly free before the men were trying to move it from one place into the cage.
Dember was frightened for the first time since she was on the ship. She had no idea there were animals. Especially ones like this. It had fangs hanging from its mouth. It had fierce wrists that looked like they could pound a human to death. Its face was frozen in anguish not only for being capture but for being what it truly was, some kind of monster.
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 905
notes: What is the monster ......
.................................................
Chapter 9
“Hey!” shouted Deacon, “What are you doing?”
“What?” said one. “Who are you?”
Another of them who had been pushing the creature into the cage said something to the other. Then he realized who shouted and he looked embarrassed and then decided how to reply.
“Sorry Deacon. I didn’t know it was you. I thought for a moment that it was someone else who was supposed to come and help us with this escaped lunatic.”
“It escaped?” Deacon asked.
“Yes and well, no.” the man offered. “it’s an alien from one of the colonies. But payers pay big dollars to sport with aliens. Do you have a preference?” he asked Deacon.
“A preference? Do you mean an alien from my world I would like to face in some kind of sport?”
“Yes. If you have, we trap one, and then you may use it in one of the arenas. Look for yourselves.”
“Only thing we have as horrible as that creature you have bound in that cage are elephants.” Deacon said.
Dember let out a frightened sigh. Elephants were tamed creatures that roamed around Africa in the wild or lived in zoos. But they were not especially known for attacking people. The alien thing they looked at now was indeed terrible to look at.
“Do you mean on the other side of that cage is a door to the arena you spoke of and it enters it?”
“Yes to play combat against another.”
“This creature will fight one of its own?”
“Tonight yes.”
“An entertainment fight?”
“Right. You two go through that door in about an hour and you can watch from the arena’s viewing zones.”
“Thank you, we will do that.” Said Deacon.
He took Dember’s hand and the two of them started to move toward the gate. There was a baleful of noise from inside the gate. They could hear yelling or uproars of excitement for the fighting going on inside.
“What are you doing Deacon? I don’t want to see fighting. It frightens me.” Dember said.
“I think we should see it. We have nothing like this on Earth.” Deacon said with real conviction.
Dember hesitated.
“Come on. Let’s see it before we judge it.” He said. They turned toward the gate and entered together.
It was a sight. There were hundreds of wealthy people gawking in cages and at the arenas. There was gambling bets on every animal shape and size. Anything alien like made conversation. Anything with a champion record was talked about even more.
“This isn’t so bad, is it?”
“It hasn’t started yet.” Was all Dember was willing to say.
Deacon order two containments and they sat beside a flighty couple who seemed to be ignoring them until the handmaid noticed or realized who she sat next too. She was in the throw of making much of it to her husband as the entertainer entered on the stage.
“Tonight is special because we have with us from Baklava two mere primate destroyer Dinosaurs.” And as the crowd cheered Dember tugged at Deacon’s sleeve.
“Please, let’s just leave. This is not a good idea. I don’t think I’m ready to see all of these things.”
“Nonsense,” Deacon said bravely, a little too knavery in his voice forcing Dember to remain. “Give it a chance. If we don’t like it after that, we may leave. Alright?” Deacon was being honest while trying to compose himself. It was both an honor to be in such a place and frankly a surprise. He father had always taught him needless killing or fighting was unadventurous. It leads to finding evil cravings and influencing bad ideas.
But the show must go on and it did. There were suggestions in the arena that the fights were fixed. There were cheers when a champion fought. There were boos when little creatures had been used to fight larger ones. There were deaths. There was blood and scenes of agony. Dember had turned in her seat and looked away. Deacon in fright of things he saw, of the people gambling and swearing around him brought him back to the present.
“Let’s go.” He said disappointed.
They left and walked to their apartment.
They talked about the poor creatures that had been captured from other worlds and kept as slaves to puppet people who wanted to see the creatures and aliens destroyed. It was horrible.
“Deacon? How can we let this happen. Where is mankind today? Are they all selfish and arrogant? Does Captain Univocal know what his people do with those alien creatures?”
“I don’t know. I suppose he allows them because they need to act this way to prove something. If he didn’t allow it there would be a mutiny.” Deacon said.
“And what of the creatures? Couldn’t we find the bills of trader slips in his office and know where the creatures are from and report the men to the police for stealing creatures?” Dember asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe if the creatures were protected on those other worlds and Univocal didn’t know what was going on I’d say we could put a stop to it.” Deacon said.
Deacon made a plan of sneaking into Univocal’s office. Learn where those people found the animals and do a little research on the rareness and protections of the creatures they saw tonight. Maybe they couldn’t stop the arena’s killing but Dember was set definitely against seeing it more.
Mod
by: Arthur
Word Count: 926
notes: the zoo ......
……………………………………………….
Chapter 10
That night they sat up staring into each others eyes. There grew an attachment for each other. To send Deacon to do something dangerous like breaking into the politician captain’s office was pretty serious.
“You do love me you know?” Deacon said. He thought if he returned to Earth he might marry and if he did why not Dember?
“Yes, I know I do.” Dember replied. A small sea water liquid called an emotional tear formed at her eyes. She was about in tears when she caught herself. Wiping one away she stood to open the door for him to leave. He turned and pecked her on the check then went out.
In the hall he took his time moving past the robots that took things through doors. One wheeling past him paying no attention at all closed a door. Deacon stepped past then opened his map of the area. According to the map he found in the library his destination was not far.
A screen opened. A face very familiar came on the screen. There were busy people moving in the pictures background. “Greetings.” Said the voice. “First, let me ask of my son. How is he?”
Univocal stood at attention when the face appeared. “Greeting my lord. He is fine. I shall tell him I spoke with you when I see him next.”
“Has he been good? Does he become homesick anymore?” Lord Wine asked.
“Yes he seems to talk about politics to flattery. He talks about promises the Wine race recommends to entire Welwitsch.” Univocal replied. “he never tires. And I do know for sure but he talks of home all the time too still.”
“Ha ha ha, like his father. He will be a superb politician one day. Now let’s talk about your post Univocal. How goes the Quinnizodiac?”
“Lord, are we secured?” Univocal asked of the encryption.
“As ever. Univocal stop hesitating. You know what we need and you know what must be done. Get on with it!”
Without a possible hesitation to be unflattering Univocal responded with a quick nod. “Yes lord.”
Just then Deacon found the right air duct tunnel and was now looking into Univocal’s office. He saw that Univocal stood there and talked to a screen. The man’s face on the screen looked like a much older Icewine.
Deacon decided to stay until Univocal left his office in duct. Once Univocal would leave Deacon could spring into action.
“I understand lord.” Said Univocal.
The screen went out. It was a white wall. For a moment Deacon thought Univocal was leaving, he opened his door then said, “Do come in Peter-cut.”
“It’s late you know, I want to go home Petercut.”
“Why are you still up?” asked the mutant officer. “I thought all the offices closed. Was it a screen message from his lord?”
“Yes. He wants to keep up with Icewine’s progress.” Univocal replied.
“Why don’t I believe that?” Petercut asked.
“Because you are nosy. Petercut are you standing there and telling me you have nothing better to do?” Univocal said.
“No Captain. There is news of further protests.” He said.
“Oh? About experiments and governments again?” Univocal said.
“Yes. They are trying to get to lord Wine’s son to get him to speak of what we do. We are a free ship and they thing having a government official’s son aboard means we are experimenting secretly. There are ways captain of leaking the truth.”
“Aye, except there are no secrets. Lord Wine wants this zone system prepped for inspection by the end of a year. That’s not a problem is it?” Univocal asked Petercut.
“No sir. As you know the downsizing has almost completed.” He said.
“Really? What about the couple who got through the downsizing wave? How did they survive and reach us through our fields?”
“I don’t know sir. I searched their ship with the drones and they found a energy emitter that looks like it got the ship through both our wave and our fields.” He answered.
“That’s amazing. Have you copied this machine.”
“Of course. Nothing special about the machine they had, it was the energy. It was emitting an unknown value of energy.”
“No doubt why Lord Wine wants this zone downsized. And turned into a black hole. Now what of this pressing Icewine by media?”
“I can keep them at bay until the downsizing of this system is complete. And there is a black hole where that star is where that planet is that they arrived from. Will you be here when they inspect this system, the Quinnizodiac is almost complete.”
“No, I think we have other systems to downsize. But the discovery of this black hole should dampen the media for a while.” Said Univocal.
“Aye captain.” Said Petercut.
“One more thing, nothings said about the Quinnizodiac having a black hole until that star goes supernovae to Icewine. Once it’s confirmed, give him the news and he with contact his father directly on the screen. His father will decide to announce its discovery.”
Petercut was about to leave. “And what should we do with the couple meanwhile?” he asked.
“No sense sending them back. And we don’t need more of their kind in our zoos. Let’s place them in a private gallery and when we return sell them.” Said Univocal.
“At a good price. They human at that advanced stage is very rare. They are not like the apes you have in our zoos.” Petercut said.
“People come to see animals, not boring people. Goodnight Petercut.”
“’O Night captain.”
The end……
Ok please stop entering, and go vote! thank you everyone!
Congrats Jes! you win this monthly contest!!! Thanks to everyone who participated! do u want it up on short story galore?
Mod
~Me~ a.k.a Sunny wrote: "congratzulations jes!"That was really good.
Jes Arianna wrote: "Oh, haha. Thanks. :D"IIt was really moving.
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