Tips: 0.00 INK
by LockandKey on Sun Mar 02, 2014 4:48 pm
It was in 1986 that President Reagan famously called Nasa’s newest discovery ‘Utopia’. The space program had been venturing out farther than any had ever dared to dream, and one tiny planet at the edge of the solar system began to spark the imaginations of not only the nation, but the world. The tiny, blue-green planet was remarkably similar to Earth, and in 1987 the first initial testing of the planet began. The atmosphere of the planet- which was only a quarter the size of Earth- was nearly identical to what became referred to as her ‘sister’ planet- officially called Obrios. Obrios had not only an abundance of water, but also flora and fauna that, while unique, were not dissimilar to her sister’s.
The planet was habitable, they decided later in ’87, and it was time to send a large team of highly trained specialists to ready the planet for future inhabitants. Two hundred men and women were selected for the task. They ranged from astronauts and physicists to doctors, engineers, foremen, and a wide range of skilled laborers. The goal of this group was to first establish a home base on the alien planet, then to see if it would eventually be self-sustaining.
The two hundred people were sent to Obrios over the course of several months, and it took many shuttles to achieve the large undertaking of transporting not only a huge group of people, but everything they would need to establish a colony on the distant planet. However, as those two hundred pioneers successfully created a home base that others could soon venture to, the project was marked a huge success. The day when Earthlings would commonly inhabit planets other than Earth seemed to be drawing nearer and nearer.
In 1989, the tragic news that Obrios’ atmosphere was toxic came from President Bush. Over the course of almost two years, all two hundred pioneers had become exposed to an airborne toxin they hadn’t detected during testing, and the onset of symptoms was sudden and dramatic. Most had already died, and it was determined that those surviving would not live long enough to be taken back to Earth. The report of their brave conviction to spend their final days on Obrios made headlines and ultimately the entire project was abandoned. Obrios was not the Utopia that Reagan had once proclaimed, and the blow to the space program would take years to recover from.
Obrios, 2025
The fence was in disrepair again and the border skunks were getting into the grounds of the facility. The border skunks were similar to hyenas in temperament, but liked to sneak in and scrounge for anything they could get into. They’d been likened to racoons by the Originals- the first two hundred that had arrived. Only one Original remained anymore, and it seemed he too was reaching the end.
Dorian scrubbed a hand over his eyes and sighed, agitatedly kicking the hole in the chain link fence. A group needed to be assembled to repair the fence again and it was one of the tasks most preferred to put off. Almost all parts of the facility were in some level of disrepair, but partially it was par for the course. Supplies hadn’t been received from the Original’s home planet in thirty six years, so everything they had had to be either recycled or made from the natural resources on Obrios.
A strange noise drew Dorian’s attention upward. It was almost like an intense, far-off humming, he thought, searching the sky. To the East was a faint line of smoke angling down toward the thick forests of Obrios. What had left that smoke line? It wasn’t from a fire, Dorian thought with a frown. It was coming from the wrong direction. Seconds later, as he was still fixated on the white trail of smoke, a thundering crash was followed by a faint rumble that vibrated through the ground. It had sounded far off, but if he’d felt the reverberations he knew it couldn’t be that far.
There were running footsteps behind him and he turned to see Jenna running toward him. She was wide eyed and looking to him for an explanation.
"What the heck was that?"
Dorian shrugged. “I don’t know. Let’s get some people together and go check it out.”
Jenna nodded, already turning back toward the compound. “I’ll get Joe and Rasul,” she told him.
“Might as well get Cinda, too.”
Jenna called back a muffled reply and disappeared. Dorian doubled back toward the medical ward. Once there had been several doctors, but now there was only Dorian. He was no doctor and he knew it. He’d never gone to medical school or studied autopsied bodies or even been in a hospital. He’d received some training, but with few medicines available to them, his care was more on the order of basic first aid and a good bedside manner.
They would be venturing into the jungle, unsure what they might find. It would be a daytrip, but Dorian liked to be prepared. He packed basic first aid supplies, then found one of their precious machetes to cut through the wild flora that surrounded them on all sides. When he returned to the compound gate, Jenna and the others were already waiting for him.
“Any idea what that was?” Rasul asked him as they set off. Dorian shook his head.
“No idea.”
They followed the slash of white smoke that marred the clear, blue sky, cutting through underbrush as they went. It was hot, tiring work, but they took turns clearing the path so no one got too tired. After a few hours of walking the small group began to see refuse scattered around and it made them nervous. Chunks of metal and broken parts they couldn’t identify were all around them, and some had apparently crashed with such force that they made gaping holes in the canopy and left craters in the ground.
“You don’t think....” Cinda began, but didn’t finish. All were thinking the same thing, but didn’t voice it. Dorian wasn’t even sure how to feel about what he was seeing.
The debris became more dense the further they traveled, and it wasn’t long before they reached a large shuttle, smoke still rising from several parts of it. The group stopped, stunned, surveying the wreckage.
“A ship?” Jenna breathed. “Do you think... I mean, maybe they were coming for us. Why else would a ship be here?”
Joseph turned his head and spat. “That ship wasn’t for us. They forgot about us a long time ago. Don’t get your hopes up.”
Dorian stepped cautiously closer toward the shuttle and Cinda’s hand shot out to grasp his arm. “Wait! What are you doing?” she hissed.
Dorian jerked his chin toward the ship. “That thing probably has a pilot, right? And maybe other passengers? I’m going to see if there were any survivors.”
Joseph was a step behind him, machete in hand, a grim expression on his face. “Goin’ with you, then,” he muttered. The others were only a few paces behind, but they seemed tentative.
Dorian reached the shuttle. The crash had left a gaping slash through the thick layers of metal, and it was the only way he could see to get in. The edges were sharp and still warm, and he had to wind his way in carefully. The air inside the shuttle was slightly smoky, but things were surprisingly intact. The lights still worked, but the light sources seemed bright and unnatural. Dorian padded slowly through the vessel, his eyes scanning the ship. He glanced back and saw Joe right behind him, machete raised. Perhaps that was a good idea, Dorian thought. They had no idea who- or what- might be on-board.
A search of the first compartment found no one, and the group passed through into the next compartment. They were at the head of the ship, but the pilot’s station was abandoned. Dorian looked around, then jumped back in surprise at the sight of a man- a human man, he was glad to see- who was apparently unconscious. The group paused for a moment, staring at each other silently, then Dorian crept forward, making a visual inspection. He was intact and didn’t appear to be bleeding, though possibly there would be internal injuries from the force of impact. A hand found the man’s pulse as Joseph poised himself a half step behind, his huge blade raised threateningly.
“He’s alive,” he told the group.
Tip jar: the author of this post has received
0.00 INK
in return for their work.