Stories From a Distant Galaxy Volume 18
By: Hm Grove
Tags: Science Fiction, Space, Short Fiction, Space Exploration, Short Story

We are the Sailors of the Stars

This story takes place long before the galactic society was born. At this point in time, there was no GUA, ORA, or interstellar communication.

As I sit at my desk and tap my pen on my head, I gaze out the window at the beautiful view of the sharp mountains, tall red trees, and the gorgeous ringed planet in the sky . There is so much on my mind. Ever since the accidental discovery, I have found myself lost in the confines of my mind. What could be out there?

What are we going to find? Are we alone; will we find more like us? I find myself asking these questions quite often. I have a speech to write, but I can’t seem to focus. My name is Miachigo Tobagia and I am a yellow-skinned, four armed Iteusion man. 5 years, 2 months, and 13 days ago, I accidentally invented light-travel while working on a movie set.

I still have a hard time believing it actually happened. It turns out that my prototype warp-drive was correct, and the small changes we made to it while turning it into a movie prop actually activated the drive. Sometimes I think I’ve been in a very time consuming dream.

My people were suffering, without hope, and on the edge of decimation. Everybody says I saved the planet, but it is the Iteusions who have saved our world. I am not a prideful man; I am just a scientist and a filmmaker. Our president wants me to give a speech at the unveiling of the new interstellar spacecraft, but I feel nervous.

Not because of the crowds, but because everyone looks at me as if I were a god, but I am simply a man, just like everyone else. As I soak in conflicting thoughts, I hear a knock on the wall. I look back to see my husband, Ketri. “Hey you. We need to get ready, the event is in a few hours.” I look at him and smile. “I’ll be right out.” What would I do without that man?

He saved my life many years ago. I was inches away from shooting myself in the head when I failed my first three attempts at inventing light travel. That was a hard time. I felt like I failed my planet; I failed my people. If anything, he should have received the awards. Ketri played a big part in all of my work; if it wasn’t for him, I would have been dead before I accidentally stumbled across my masterpiece. Enough mental rambling, I need to get ready.

As I dress in my suit, Ketri walks up and straightens my tie. “This is your big day. Now, when you go out there, let them know who you are, and let them know who they are. Big things are coming, and it all started at that little movie set. Don’t be afraid to feel proud, my love. You have every right to feel proud. Look how far you’ve come! I remember those long nights, filled with tears and doubt. I remember when they cut the research funding, and we almost lost our little apartment in the city. You saved the planet, and you saved us. There is a whole world waiting to hear you speak, so speak words of hope.” Lectures Ketri with a smile as he pats my face.

I give him a warm hug. “Thank you… Thank you for everything.” We walk out of our very comfortable home in the countryside, and drive to the space center where the ceremony is taking place. As we drive up to the event, I see the crowds of smiling faces. Men, women and children all stand and cheer while waving our planet’s flag around. I feel extremely nervous, but Ketri makes me feel more stable.

I’m not a social person; I never was. I’m a man of science; I talk to my lab and converse with my thoughts. As we park behind the stage, the president of our world greets me. “Miachigo! The man of the hour! I’m thrilled to meet you again. How are you, good sir?” I try to look him in the eyes and act in a social manner. “I feel fine, sir. I’m glad to be here.” I quietly reply. He wraps his arm around me and walks me to the stage. “Don’t be nervous, son. These people love you. You’re our hero; you’re the greatest man on Iteuse.” Utters the President as we walk forward.

I look back at Ketri and he smiles and waves. Upon walking to the stage behind the curtains, I feel my hands trembling. There must be at least 20,000 people in the crowds and billions watching on TV. Couldn’t they just hire someone else to make a speech? I just want to live my life. I did my job, now the planet will do theirs. As I argue with myself, a few PA’s wire me up and put a microphone on my shirt. “We’re on in 10 seconds!” Calls out a PA. Oh God! No, I’m not ready! What am I going to do? I haven’t even written a speech!

Suddenly, the curtains open up and a massive crowd is brought to my feet. That was not 10 seconds, you liars! Okay, just look at the mountains in the background. The mountains comfort me. As I try to focus on nature, I can’t help but to leer down at the crowd. So many faces, expressions, love and hope in the faces of these people. These are my people. My people love me because I saved them, but I didn’t. They saved themselves by holding on to that thread of hope.

I think I get it now. I’ll just say what my heart tells me to say. Slowly, I walk to the edge of the stage and smile at my beautiful people. “Hello people of Iteuse.” I nervously greet. The crowd cheers and claps. Okay, here I go. “5 years ago, I happened to stumble upon something we’ve spent generations trying to figure out. It was an accident, but probably the greatest accident to ever happen. My fellow Iteusions, we as a planet discovered light travel.” The crowd roars again before I can continue to speak.

I can feel the happiness and excitement radiate from their claps and cheers. “There was once a time where we as a planet were primitive and divided. During the Tiruka and Nephik empires hundreds of years ago, we were murdering each other with spears and clubs, all over plots of land and power. My people, we as a race have come so far. We made the first launch into space 40 years ago; we walked on a different planet for the first time 20 years ago, and now we have discovered light travel. We have not only advanced, but we have evolved.” The crowd roars once again, and then slowly chants my name in unison.

I hold my hand out. “STOP!” I shout. The crowd grows silent immediately. “Don’t chant my name. I am not your hero. The scientists that took their own lives are the heroes. The men and women that built our rockets, and houses are the heroes. The actor in the movie prop when it shot away is the hero! We did this together, as a race. I am not your hero, my beautiful Iteusions. You are all my heroes. As a society, we will enter the void of the unknown. I will not lie, men and women will die out there, but that is a sacrifice for our expansion. Our goal as a planet is to pass the torch! I know somewhere out there, deep in the burning stars of our night sky, there is a planet full of people just like us. They may be in despair, they may be prosperous, they may be dreaming, or they could be sleeping. The day will come when we arrive to their world with our torch, and we will pass it to them, because that is our duty! I dream for the day when we can live in a galaxy where people of all alien races will unite and prosper. This dream all starts here, with our planet, with our technology, and with our people. So, today we are unveiling our torch. Behold, the IH-V001, Iteusion Hope.” The curtains fall down revealing a large ship with two massive thrusters on the back, thick windows on the front, stubby wings, and on the side is a plaque with the names of all the scientists who took their own lives during the budget cuts.

My name could have been on that plaque, but I am very fortunate to be loved by an amazing man. The crowd goes absolutely wild, and cheering echoes throughout the air. Some people are even crying from joy, while others are dancing and clapping. It warms my heart to see my people this way. 5 years ago, our race was on the brink of damnation. Suicide rates were through the roof, and my good people were depressed.

To see them cry from joy, and cheer from excitement was my goal this whole time. From the back of the stage, 7 men and women line up beside me. They are the 7 explorers tasked to embark on our first interstellar mission. These men and women are the bravest people I will ever meet. “My fellow Iteusions, these fine people will be the first to voyage into that dark void. We may not know what they could find, but they will find it. We are the sailors of the stars! We are the proud people of Iteuse who will take that step! We are the star jumpers. So as these good people voyage into that mysterious abyss, think of what could be and what will be. We may not be alone out there. Our planet screamed for help, but we are the helpers. I hope I can live long enough to look into the eyes of a man or woman from another world. We will look into their eyes, and we will give them our torch. May the stars take you in with warmth and assurance. I love you Iteuse.” There is second of silence as the crowd gazes into my eyes.

Suddenly, everyone bursts out with cheering and screaming. My planet was gifted hope. That gift was crafted with pain and sacrifice, but in the end, we won. I shake the hands of the fine explores of the IH-V001 and wish them safe travels for when they launch in two weeks. As I walk behind the stage, I see Ketri with tears of happiness in his eyes.

Before I can greet him, two men from the mission control center confront me. “Sir, we wanted to tell you something. It’s only right that we offer this, considering your contribution to our world. We have saved a spot for you on the IH-V001 mission. Sir, we would like to give you the opportunity to sail the stars with our brave men and women.” Offers one of the men. I look back at Ketri and see the glowing smile on his face.

Slowly, I shake the man’s hand. “That would be wonderful, but my work here is done. I’m going to live out the rest of my days in peace, with my husband. I am not an explorer; I am just a man that stumbled across a gift from God. Now excuse me, I have dinner waiting for me at home.” The men shake my hand and walk off.

As I pace toward Ketri, the happiness from my world is rubbing off on me, and my soul is as warm as an oven. We are the sailors of the stars, and the stars we will sail. One day, I hope the galaxy can experience what I am feeling right now. I hope worlds can come together and unify to create great things. The galaxy only knows its fate, and we can only dream of knowing it. Sail on star jumpers.

6 months after the launch of the IH-V001 mission, contact was made with an intelligent species known as the Jaftegeans. At first, communication was impossible due to language and culture barriers, but within a few years, researchers discovered a way to talk and communicate. 20 years after first contact was made, 4 intelligent races were in contact with each other and in good standing. Miachigo was incredibly ill and in an assisted living home at this time. His days were numbered, but with the support of Ketri, Miachigo was able to fulfill one of his life long dreams. One day, the door to his hospital room opened up, and a Jaftegean woman walked through and greeted him. She grabbed his frail hands and looked into his eyes. This was the first time Miachigo ever touched and looked at a person from another world. Ketri said it was one of Miachigo’s best days. The old and brittle Miachigo talked with the Jaftegean women for hours, and carried out conversations about life, reality, philosophy, and love. Two days later, Miachigo died in his sleep. He was at peace and content with his existence. The Iteusions will forever be known as the Star Jumpers that brought the galaxy together.