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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Science Fiction
- Subject: Science / Science Fiction
- Published: 08/08/2021
The Journey of 'Hope'
Born 1980, M, from Exeter, United Kingdom![The Journey of 'Hope'](/storage/story/story_B9286719-CF38-0D03-07D4-4918F5CBB1C1-image(396x285-crop).jpeg)
Years in the future climate change has impacted our planet. The effects have been catastrophic, oceans drying up and land becoming desert. From space, our once majestic blue planet has turned into a featureless brown rock, with natural resources almost depleted. We have turned to science to synthesise food and drink to sustain us, but this, like everything else, is running out. We don't have long left.
An evacuation to Mars and Jupiter was agreed-upon by a panel of top scientists, as a temporary measure but discounted as a long term solution, due to them fearing that these neighbouring planets would eventually suffer the same fate as earth.
After many days of debates, to discuss a more permanent solution, it was decided that a ship capable of exploring the outer reaches of the Solar System would be launched to find humanity a new home. This ship was optimistically named ‘Hope’.
The crew was composed of astronauts, scientists, data analysts, physicists… and me! All of these men and women were the brightest and most distinguished in their fields. Whereas my presence aboard the ship had nothing to do with my academic achievements and everything to do with who my father was: the sole financier of the project.
I remember the conversation my father had with the captain the day before the launch. The captain was annoyed that my father would even suggest taking a civilian on such an important space flight: “This is not a babysitting mission, Stanley. I am trying to save the world and cannot be responsible for your teenage daughter.” My father smiled and calmly said: “I understand that Steve, but Kim will be no trouble I promise you. She is going to university to study data analytics and could learn a lot from being onboard. Besides, being up there is a lot safer than staying down here.” The captain was reluctant but the financial incentive my father gave him sealed the deal.
So, just like that, I was added to the crew manifest. The others were not happy to have a ‘tourist’ aboard. When they learned about the bribe, they became hostile towards me, saying things like: “Silly little rich girl, your presence will jeopardize the mission.” They would not let me sit with them in the canteen. Their teasing affected me but, as time passed, I gradually learned to enjoy my own company. Sitting in my room for hours, writing this journal and solving puzzles, gave me a sense of personal achievement and self satisfaction.
In the early days, there was a buzz of excitement amongst the crew. A real sense of purpose and camaraderie between them, but as days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months, without result, the mood gradually soured. Every night, frustrated crew members would throw away photographs, coordinates and data printouts. These would not stay in the bin for long as I would retrieve and study them in the solitude of my cabin. If the crew noticed rubbish going missing they didn't care. I was going to solve this puzzle and show them that I was more than a stupid little rich girl.
I spent my days and evenings studying these documents. However, the more I looked, the more I was inclined to agree with the crew: there was nothing to find and my normal optimistic attitude began to waver.
Life aboard ‘Hope’ continued as normal, until the day we were due to go back to Earth. I was in the process of taking down the photographs when something caught my eye and made me stop. There was an object where there should only have been a constellation. A vertical surface, like a mirror. What was even more surprising was the reflection: the Earth! Not the Earth that we left over a year ago, but the healthy blue planet I had only ever seen pictures of in geography books. I could hardly believe what I saw. I pinched my arm, I wasn’t dreaming. I needed to show this to the others. I hurriedly looked up the coordinates then raced to the bridge where the crew were making the final preparations for the return. They seemed irritated at my interruption, but when they caught sight of the photo that I was holding, they stopped and crowded around me to have a better look. “What is this?” said the captain, “That is impossible,” remarked the physicists, “Whatever it is, we need to investigate!” said the scientists.
As we approached the anomaly, we gasped at its size. It was much bigger than our ship. Curiosity made them forget about protocols and we flew straight towards the object. It rippled around us as we exited. However, rather than being confronted by the reflection, we found ourselves in the darkness of space. The object had disappeared. Only the twinkling constellation remained. We looked at each other in confusion, a dark cloud of despair settled on us. This feeling of hopelessness was reinforced when the captain announced in bewilderment: “Communications are dead. We cannot contact the Earth anymore.” The crew rounded on me and in one voice exclaimed: “We knew it, you stupid little rich girl!” I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I ran out in embarrassment. I cannot remember anything of that night, but when I woke up my pillow was soaking wet and my eyes were red.
We flew back dreading what we would find on our return. Would we even have a home to go to? Has the evacuation to Mars and Jupiter already taken place? I was only trying to help and now I had made them lose precious time. These thoughts plagued me all through the journey. I avoided everybody and didn’t even take pleasure in my own company anymore. They had been right all along. I had no place on this ship.
On ‘Hope’ final day in space, I sat alone in my cabin eating breakfast, although I really had no appetite. Then the announcement came: “This is the captain, report to the bridge! You need to see this! It’s wonderful! It’s marvellous! It’s a miracle!” I took my time. When I got to the bridge, everyone had arrived. My vision was obscured by many backs, what were they looking at? Then something strange happened: they parted to let me through. What I saw was impossible, the Earth was below us, a planet reborn. “This surely proves the existence of God,” said a scientist. He uncharacteristically crossed himself. The mood onboard was jubilant. We finally descended.
As the ramp extended... rather than stepping out onto sand as expected, there was grass! We were surrounded by trees, plants, animals, birds... The sky was bluer than I had ever seen it. The crew looked at each other and with tears in their eyes started hugging. They even forgot the animosity towards me. I finally felt accepted.
A few days after ‘Hope’ returned, something strange began to happen. I thought this was just my imagination but soon I could no longer ignore it. Each day when I looked in the mirror a younger reflection stared back at me. In time my hair gradually turned from dark and wavy to the straight and blonde hair of my childhood. This effect wasn’t just limited to me. On my morning jog, I have noticed elderly people once bent with age, beginning to straighten and walk with a youthful spring in their steps. Parents watched powerless as their children got smaller by the day and eventually ceased to exist. There were no new births.
I cannot be sure why this is happening, but I have a theory which I'm writing before it is too late. The anomaly we encountered in space acted like a reset switch for the planet. Time is going backwards for humanity. I have come to think of it like a video tape being rewound by someone or something. This will insure the planet heals itself. However, in order for the Earth to fully regenerate, we must cease to exist. I have tried to think of a way to stop it many times. But I can see this is inevitable. I am scared and do not want to die.
This journal increasingly reads like a science fiction novel rather than a factual record of events. There will come a day soon when these words will be incomprehensible. My clothes are getting looser, eventually they will no longer fit. My parents have become unrecognisable to me. They now look like the figures in the old photographs adorning the walls of our house.
My only solace in death is that our beautiful planet will thrive, but all this seems unimportant. All I want to do is play.
The Journey of 'Hope'(Christopher Long)
Years in the future climate change has impacted our planet. The effects have been catastrophic, oceans drying up and land becoming desert. From space, our once majestic blue planet has turned into a featureless brown rock, with natural resources almost depleted. We have turned to science to synthesise food and drink to sustain us, but this, like everything else, is running out. We don't have long left.
An evacuation to Mars and Jupiter was agreed-upon by a panel of top scientists, as a temporary measure but discounted as a long term solution, due to them fearing that these neighbouring planets would eventually suffer the same fate as earth.
After many days of debates, to discuss a more permanent solution, it was decided that a ship capable of exploring the outer reaches of the Solar System would be launched to find humanity a new home. This ship was optimistically named ‘Hope’.
The crew was composed of astronauts, scientists, data analysts, physicists… and me! All of these men and women were the brightest and most distinguished in their fields. Whereas my presence aboard the ship had nothing to do with my academic achievements and everything to do with who my father was: the sole financier of the project.
I remember the conversation my father had with the captain the day before the launch. The captain was annoyed that my father would even suggest taking a civilian on such an important space flight: “This is not a babysitting mission, Stanley. I am trying to save the world and cannot be responsible for your teenage daughter.” My father smiled and calmly said: “I understand that Steve, but Kim will be no trouble I promise you. She is going to university to study data analytics and could learn a lot from being onboard. Besides, being up there is a lot safer than staying down here.” The captain was reluctant but the financial incentive my father gave him sealed the deal.
So, just like that, I was added to the crew manifest. The others were not happy to have a ‘tourist’ aboard. When they learned about the bribe, they became hostile towards me, saying things like: “Silly little rich girl, your presence will jeopardize the mission.” They would not let me sit with them in the canteen. Their teasing affected me but, as time passed, I gradually learned to enjoy my own company. Sitting in my room for hours, writing this journal and solving puzzles, gave me a sense of personal achievement and self satisfaction.
In the early days, there was a buzz of excitement amongst the crew. A real sense of purpose and camaraderie between them, but as days turned to weeks and weeks turned to months, without result, the mood gradually soured. Every night, frustrated crew members would throw away photographs, coordinates and data printouts. These would not stay in the bin for long as I would retrieve and study them in the solitude of my cabin. If the crew noticed rubbish going missing they didn't care. I was going to solve this puzzle and show them that I was more than a stupid little rich girl.
I spent my days and evenings studying these documents. However, the more I looked, the more I was inclined to agree with the crew: there was nothing to find and my normal optimistic attitude began to waver.
Life aboard ‘Hope’ continued as normal, until the day we were due to go back to Earth. I was in the process of taking down the photographs when something caught my eye and made me stop. There was an object where there should only have been a constellation. A vertical surface, like a mirror. What was even more surprising was the reflection: the Earth! Not the Earth that we left over a year ago, but the healthy blue planet I had only ever seen pictures of in geography books. I could hardly believe what I saw. I pinched my arm, I wasn’t dreaming. I needed to show this to the others. I hurriedly looked up the coordinates then raced to the bridge where the crew were making the final preparations for the return. They seemed irritated at my interruption, but when they caught sight of the photo that I was holding, they stopped and crowded around me to have a better look. “What is this?” said the captain, “That is impossible,” remarked the physicists, “Whatever it is, we need to investigate!” said the scientists.
As we approached the anomaly, we gasped at its size. It was much bigger than our ship. Curiosity made them forget about protocols and we flew straight towards the object. It rippled around us as we exited. However, rather than being confronted by the reflection, we found ourselves in the darkness of space. The object had disappeared. Only the twinkling constellation remained. We looked at each other in confusion, a dark cloud of despair settled on us. This feeling of hopelessness was reinforced when the captain announced in bewilderment: “Communications are dead. We cannot contact the Earth anymore.” The crew rounded on me and in one voice exclaimed: “We knew it, you stupid little rich girl!” I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I ran out in embarrassment. I cannot remember anything of that night, but when I woke up my pillow was soaking wet and my eyes were red.
We flew back dreading what we would find on our return. Would we even have a home to go to? Has the evacuation to Mars and Jupiter already taken place? I was only trying to help and now I had made them lose precious time. These thoughts plagued me all through the journey. I avoided everybody and didn’t even take pleasure in my own company anymore. They had been right all along. I had no place on this ship.
On ‘Hope’ final day in space, I sat alone in my cabin eating breakfast, although I really had no appetite. Then the announcement came: “This is the captain, report to the bridge! You need to see this! It’s wonderful! It’s marvellous! It’s a miracle!” I took my time. When I got to the bridge, everyone had arrived. My vision was obscured by many backs, what were they looking at? Then something strange happened: they parted to let me through. What I saw was impossible, the Earth was below us, a planet reborn. “This surely proves the existence of God,” said a scientist. He uncharacteristically crossed himself. The mood onboard was jubilant. We finally descended.
As the ramp extended... rather than stepping out onto sand as expected, there was grass! We were surrounded by trees, plants, animals, birds... The sky was bluer than I had ever seen it. The crew looked at each other and with tears in their eyes started hugging. They even forgot the animosity towards me. I finally felt accepted.
A few days after ‘Hope’ returned, something strange began to happen. I thought this was just my imagination but soon I could no longer ignore it. Each day when I looked in the mirror a younger reflection stared back at me. In time my hair gradually turned from dark and wavy to the straight and blonde hair of my childhood. This effect wasn’t just limited to me. On my morning jog, I have noticed elderly people once bent with age, beginning to straighten and walk with a youthful spring in their steps. Parents watched powerless as their children got smaller by the day and eventually ceased to exist. There were no new births.
I cannot be sure why this is happening, but I have a theory which I'm writing before it is too late. The anomaly we encountered in space acted like a reset switch for the planet. Time is going backwards for humanity. I have come to think of it like a video tape being rewound by someone or something. This will insure the planet heals itself. However, in order for the Earth to fully regenerate, we must cease to exist. I have tried to think of a way to stop it many times. But I can see this is inevitable. I am scared and do not want to die.
This journal increasingly reads like a science fiction novel rather than a factual record of events. There will come a day soon when these words will be incomprehensible. My clothes are getting looser, eventually they will no longer fit. My parents have become unrecognisable to me. They now look like the figures in the old photographs adorning the walls of our house.
My only solace in death is that our beautiful planet will thrive, but all this seems unimportant. All I want to do is play.
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JD
08/10/2021Good one, Christopher! I really enjoyed the thought provoking scenario you created. Personally, I don't understand why any human beings think we can inhabit another planet (if we kill our own planet in the future), when t simply is not possible for us to survive without the air and water our planet provides. What we could take with us would only last so long.... There is no other planet in the known solar system that can sustain life, so we human beings need to start working together to protect and perserve and care for our beautiful earth before we destroy our own future....
Thanks for sharing another great short story on Storystar!
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Christopher Long
08/13/2021thank you very much for making me story of the day.
As usual I am in shock and very happy.
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Radrook
08/08/2021Very interesting concept! The narrative in the first person kept my attention riveted on the story. The persionality of the narratore came through very convincingly.
BTW
It made me wonder what the effects on society would be as babies would lose the ability to survive outside a womb.
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Christopher Long
08/09/2021Thank you Radrook! I'm glad you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it
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