New Earth

Part 1

I consider this ‘my favorite’ of stories I’ve written. This is a repost. The dates have been changed. Time marches on. And the story has been broken into chapters for easier reading. I hope you enjoy reading New Earth as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Posted: 10-9-2022

Revised: 9-10-2023

Reposted: 11-14-2023

New Earth

2,030 marked the first human mission to Mars. Scientists were on this trip; people who were in charge of setting up the first ever base camp.

Ground Y had already launched two BFS’s (Big Florida Spaceships) to Mars, full of cargo for the base camp. Earth held its collective breath as the big crafts landed perfectly.

Something happened to the camera system on the second ship. Using telemetry and lots of computer data, Ground Y was able to ascertain that the ship had landed; intact they hoped.

We watched every minute of the 2,030 launch. Earth’s data field was maxed out. Everyone live streamed the event including the months spent in open space. We worked, slept, and ate MARS. We watched as NASA announced BFS 3’s safe landing. People rioted in the streets, burned cars, buildings, and of course the ceremonial couch. The people of Earth were no longer a single planet species.

Ground Y’s founder, Edward Mosque, made the official announcement. Instead of the pompous speech everyone was expecting, we got, “hot damn I made it.” He ranted for a good half hour about all the doctors who had advised him not to make this trip. He said lots of colorful metaphors that I choose not to repeat.

2,032 was when the next BFS was scheduled to lift off. It had a few more people and what seemed like a shopping list from Mr. Mosque.

He wanted a televised lottery for one average person to go on this flight. Can you imagine the heart pounding excitement of getting to go to Mars? I could! So I threw my name in the hat along with 5 billion other people. I knew there wasn’t a prayers chance in hell that I would be chosen. I was going to try anyway.

The day of the big drawing had arrived, 6 months before the lift off date. Everyone was glued to a media source. An asteroid could have hit and no one would have cared. The most important event in this moment was the person’s social security number that was announced. It was mine!

Wait. What? Mine? Yes! Mine! It was immediate. My Kentucky home was surrounded by media crews, helicopters, black SUV’s filled my yard. I got my first death threat three minutes after my name hit the data field. I was offered obscene amounts of money for my SS number. I received 250 marriage proposals from people that wanted to take the chance that my spouse would be allowed to go with me.

The caravan was stopped 6 times by desperate people wanting to take my place.

After we made it, the following months were filled with training. I was allowed to keep my dog right up until the moment of lift off. I don’t know if it was true but everyone fell in love with Chico. I was told he was going to be the official mascot of Ground Y. It was a sweet parting memory.

The day of our launch had arrived. I was excited. This was to be a new chapter in my life and I was ready to meet it head on.

Lift off was like starting up a wooden roller-coaster. Shaky and rough. I barely noticed. I was too consumed with taking in what might be the last time I got to experience Earth.

The trip was going along as planned. Only after I got so tired I couldn’t stand myself did I fall asleep staring out into the void of space.