Beyond Earth
Old Earth, 3 months before launch day
You have been chosen.
Those words ran through my mind a thousand times as I stood in the crowd, watching the huge vid screen displaying a few hundred numbers. In my hand I held mine, just as all the thousands around me did as well. Some in the crowd were wailing in despair, others danced and wept for joy. I stood silent, staring at the monitor, then at my number. I had been chosen, out of all the millions of people who had applied, my number had come up. It wasnt for any particular skill or aptitude, those people who possessed such things hadnt been chosen at random. No, I had just won the lottery, along with a few thousand normal people who would make up the bulk of the colonists going into space. Someone was shaking my shoulder; I looked up into the ecstatic face of my father. I can see your number up there Alex, isnt it wonderful? he said in a voice laden with pride. I smiled weakly but said nothing. I knew he was proud, but that he was also sad. His number was not on the screen, and he knew that now I had to make a choice. Do I stay on Earth and give up on my dream, or do I journey alone into the stars
Old Earth: 1 week before launch day
These past months have been hectic at best, downright awful at worst. The entire weight of the ARCs publicity machine seems to have descended on our house, making me seem like some kind of tragic hero for deciding to go into space. My father has worked for the company all his life, making a decent living as a sales consultant in our corner of California. My mother died when I was young, during a food riot in Greater Los Angeles. The ARC had been trying to drive out one of its few competitors in the area by hiking up the wholesale price of food, but they miscalculated and caused an artificial shortage. The poorer sections of Greater L.A. went up in flames, and the rioters took over the central portions of the city for 2 weeks days until ARC security was able to beat them back. My mother and I were alone in our apartment tower in the center of the city, the streets filled with hungry people. She went out to look for food and never came back. My father came with the security forces a few days later, and ever since we have been on our own. The ARC reps. have trotted me out in front of anyone with a camera, making me the face of the Greater L.A. areas colonists. I cant go outside without dozens of people applauding me, or a few hurling insults or worse as I walk by. Inside I just feel confused, torn between what I have always dreamed of and the fear of the unknown. Theres only a few days left before the launch, only a few days to make the final choice
Old Earth: Launch Day
A massive crowd is at the gates of Edwards Air and Space, all holding signs and shouting at the ARC soldiers as we pass. They are the unlucky ones, who were not chosen. All kinds of rumors and accusations have come to light in the last few days, all saying that the ARC Seeding Lottery wasnt random for everyone, but that most of the people had purchased their spots directly from higher ups in the company. Riots had broken out all over, despite the lack of concrete evidence. But I knew it was true. My father had told me himself, when I told him I didnt want to go on the mission. He said Son, I am going to tell you something you may not like. You didnt win the lottery; I bought you into the mission. I remember staring at him, open mouthed and shocked. He continued I have spent my whole life working for the ARC, doing everything they asked and toeing the company line. Ive done things Im not proud of, but I did it all for you. I dont want you to stay here and follow in my footsteps, I want you to go to this new world and make your own way I asked how much it had cost and he shrugged. I know things son, things that would bring the ARC to its knees if they came out in public. I traded the proof for your spot on the mission, and kept a copy in reserve until the ships are in space. But dad, Ill be working for the company in space, how will that be my own path? I asked, still absorbing his revelation. Listen son, once the ships land everything will change. On this new world the ARC will have to rely on people like you, and that makes you powerful. Find your way, and make the new world a better place than this one.
His world rang in my ears as the convoy passed the gates, heading towards the launch pad. I sat next to a young woman, Isabel, who had been preselected for her genes and skills. She was a leading alien-biologist, one of the foremost in her field despite her young age. Unfortunately she was also as aloof and contemptuous of us randoms as could be imagined. She had not spoken a single word during the entire bus ride, despite my attempts to start a conversation. Her eyes remained locked on the horizon, towards our fast approaching destiny
Old Earth: 3 hours to launch
As soon as the busses stopped we were whisked away into the main facility. I got my first good look at my fellow colonists, and I felt increasingly inadequate. Almost everyone there was older, and I recognized most from the mission briefing as top scientist and engineers with the company. There were slightly more women than men, but other groups from across the US would contain more men to make a more even number. All our personal effects were taken to be screened and disinfected, and we were given the jumpsuits we would be wearing for the duration of the voyage. Our final briefing was a somber affair, bereft of news cameras or flowery speeches. Everyone was committed now, fully realizing that a few minutes from now we would leave all that we had ever known behind forever. By chance I was squished next to Isabel again, and her discomfort with this situation was palpable. Despite her obvious discomfort I could not help but notice she was extraordinarily beautiful, but I put such thoughts from my mind. There would be plenty of time for fantasy later.
Our mission commander and future leader of the ARC colony stood before us. Suzanne Fielding was a no nonsense businesswoman and brilliant organizer, and she knew how to rally a group of people. All the speeches and grandstanding, all the preparation and hard work have brought us to this moment. All of humanity is watching us, hoping that we will succeed. I tuned her out, as I had heard it all before. I knew that this last speech was being recorded, to showcase the human side of the ARC after we left. Finally we were assigned to one of five rockets; all named for the western US states. I was assigned to the Colorado, Isabel to the Washington. I took one last look at her dark hair as she clambered into a Humvee before I mounted the steps to the elevator. As it rose I saw the sun begin to set in the hills to the west of the base. I knew this would be my last sunset on Earth, as did everyone else on the mission. At the top of the rocket we stopped, and I noticed everyone else on base had stopped as well. We all looked at our beloved Sun slowly sinking behind the mountains, and thought of what we would leave behind. I thought of my father, giving up everything so I might have this chance. I thought of my mother, who had died trying to find food for us. I thought of all the friends and people I had known, all the mistakes and regrets I had. I saw my whole life in that sunset, and I didn't like what I saw. I promised that setting star that I would make a new life on our new world, and that I would prove worthy of my fathers sacrifice. I promise I said aloud, and then I turned my back to the red sky of Earth and walked into the open door of the rocket. A new world stood before me, one of danger and wonder. I hoped I was up to the challenge
Old Earth, 3 months before launch day
You have been chosen.
Those words ran through my mind a thousand times as I stood in the crowd, watching the huge vid screen displaying a few hundred numbers. In my hand I held mine, just as all the thousands around me did as well. Some in the crowd were wailing in despair, others danced and wept for joy. I stood silent, staring at the monitor, then at my number. I had been chosen, out of all the millions of people who had applied, my number had come up. It wasnt for any particular skill or aptitude, those people who possessed such things hadnt been chosen at random. No, I had just won the lottery, along with a few thousand normal people who would make up the bulk of the colonists going into space. Someone was shaking my shoulder; I looked up into the ecstatic face of my father. I can see your number up there Alex, isnt it wonderful? he said in a voice laden with pride. I smiled weakly but said nothing. I knew he was proud, but that he was also sad. His number was not on the screen, and he knew that now I had to make a choice. Do I stay on Earth and give up on my dream, or do I journey alone into the stars
Old Earth: 1 week before launch day
These past months have been hectic at best, downright awful at worst. The entire weight of the ARCs publicity machine seems to have descended on our house, making me seem like some kind of tragic hero for deciding to go into space. My father has worked for the company all his life, making a decent living as a sales consultant in our corner of California. My mother died when I was young, during a food riot in Greater Los Angeles. The ARC had been trying to drive out one of its few competitors in the area by hiking up the wholesale price of food, but they miscalculated and caused an artificial shortage. The poorer sections of Greater L.A. went up in flames, and the rioters took over the central portions of the city for 2 weeks days until ARC security was able to beat them back. My mother and I were alone in our apartment tower in the center of the city, the streets filled with hungry people. She went out to look for food and never came back. My father came with the security forces a few days later, and ever since we have been on our own. The ARC reps. have trotted me out in front of anyone with a camera, making me the face of the Greater L.A. areas colonists. I cant go outside without dozens of people applauding me, or a few hurling insults or worse as I walk by. Inside I just feel confused, torn between what I have always dreamed of and the fear of the unknown. Theres only a few days left before the launch, only a few days to make the final choice
Old Earth: Launch Day
A massive crowd is at the gates of Edwards Air and Space, all holding signs and shouting at the ARC soldiers as we pass. They are the unlucky ones, who were not chosen. All kinds of rumors and accusations have come to light in the last few days, all saying that the ARC Seeding Lottery wasnt random for everyone, but that most of the people had purchased their spots directly from higher ups in the company. Riots had broken out all over, despite the lack of concrete evidence. But I knew it was true. My father had told me himself, when I told him I didnt want to go on the mission. He said Son, I am going to tell you something you may not like. You didnt win the lottery; I bought you into the mission. I remember staring at him, open mouthed and shocked. He continued I have spent my whole life working for the ARC, doing everything they asked and toeing the company line. Ive done things Im not proud of, but I did it all for you. I dont want you to stay here and follow in my footsteps, I want you to go to this new world and make your own way I asked how much it had cost and he shrugged. I know things son, things that would bring the ARC to its knees if they came out in public. I traded the proof for your spot on the mission, and kept a copy in reserve until the ships are in space. But dad, Ill be working for the company in space, how will that be my own path? I asked, still absorbing his revelation. Listen son, once the ships land everything will change. On this new world the ARC will have to rely on people like you, and that makes you powerful. Find your way, and make the new world a better place than this one.
His world rang in my ears as the convoy passed the gates, heading towards the launch pad. I sat next to a young woman, Isabel, who had been preselected for her genes and skills. She was a leading alien-biologist, one of the foremost in her field despite her young age. Unfortunately she was also as aloof and contemptuous of us randoms as could be imagined. She had not spoken a single word during the entire bus ride, despite my attempts to start a conversation. Her eyes remained locked on the horizon, towards our fast approaching destiny
Old Earth: 3 hours to launch
As soon as the busses stopped we were whisked away into the main facility. I got my first good look at my fellow colonists, and I felt increasingly inadequate. Almost everyone there was older, and I recognized most from the mission briefing as top scientist and engineers with the company. There were slightly more women than men, but other groups from across the US would contain more men to make a more even number. All our personal effects were taken to be screened and disinfected, and we were given the jumpsuits we would be wearing for the duration of the voyage. Our final briefing was a somber affair, bereft of news cameras or flowery speeches. Everyone was committed now, fully realizing that a few minutes from now we would leave all that we had ever known behind forever. By chance I was squished next to Isabel again, and her discomfort with this situation was palpable. Despite her obvious discomfort I could not help but notice she was extraordinarily beautiful, but I put such thoughts from my mind. There would be plenty of time for fantasy later.
Our mission commander and future leader of the ARC colony stood before us. Suzanne Fielding was a no nonsense businesswoman and brilliant organizer, and she knew how to rally a group of people. All the speeches and grandstanding, all the preparation and hard work have brought us to this moment. All of humanity is watching us, hoping that we will succeed. I tuned her out, as I had heard it all before. I knew that this last speech was being recorded, to showcase the human side of the ARC after we left. Finally we were assigned to one of five rockets; all named for the western US states. I was assigned to the Colorado, Isabel to the Washington. I took one last look at her dark hair as she clambered into a Humvee before I mounted the steps to the elevator. As it rose I saw the sun begin to set in the hills to the west of the base. I knew this would be my last sunset on Earth, as did everyone else on the mission. At the top of the rocket we stopped, and I noticed everyone else on base had stopped as well. We all looked at our beloved Sun slowly sinking behind the mountains, and thought of what we would leave behind. I thought of my father, giving up everything so I might have this chance. I thought of my mother, who had died trying to find food for us. I thought of all the friends and people I had known, all the mistakes and regrets I had. I saw my whole life in that sunset, and I didn't like what I saw. I promised that setting star that I would make a new life on our new world, and that I would prove worthy of my fathers sacrifice. I promise I said aloud, and then I turned my back to the red sky of Earth and walked into the open door of the rocket. A new world stood before me, one of danger and wonder. I hoped I was up to the challenge
