Or why we should run our spaceships on Vitamin A
As promised, here is a fictional piece I have been working on over the last few weeks. Still doing some tweaking to it but enjoy!
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Tomatoes and Ragalin
Dr. Stephen Harris is the inventor of the Micron3000, the world’s strongest hand held telescope and the Space3000, the world’s fastest space ship. His desire to learn more about outer space pushed him to develop new technology for mirrors and lenses, which allowed him to see far away planets, and new forms of fuel for the Space3000. The Micron3000 has opened doors for all scientists. When focused properly, the user can see every planet in our solar system in such detail that science never thought possible while allowing the portability of a kids telescope. Dr. Harris was an avid member of SFDP, Scientists For Dwarf Planets, and protested in favor of keeping Pluto listed a planet in our solar system. He was even arrested at one point for blocking all entrances to NASA with large Pluto replicas. His charges were dropped after several scientists testified that he was mentally ill. He spent two years at Napa State Hospital. Dr. Harris was finally released after doctors agreed he would do no harm to others. Dr. Harris went on studying alone and eventually was credited with discovering life on Pluto. He is also credited for coining several Plutonian words. For nine months, he watched the Plutonians, writing down their features and habits. The following are a few of his journal entries discovered in his former home in California, written about his discovery and inventions. Because of his previous mental history, scientists argue as to what facts are true in these entries. After this period, he decided to try out the Space3000 in order to go live on Pluto, abandoning Earth as his home.
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March 12:
Plutonians are fascinating creatures. Their bodies, circular in form, have hair covering their entirety. Their hair is thick and course to keep them warm, like a fur coat, in such a cold climate. The hair color seems to change periodically based mostly on Pluto’s position to the sun. When Pluto is nearest the sun, it is a shade of golden orange, but as Pluto rotates further away, it fades to a shade of sky blue. The males’ hair is always darker than the females’ hair. They have only two arm-like extremities, which don’t seem to have sockets but can rotate in any way. Because they do have such thick hair, Plutonians rarely wear outer clothing like us. On special occasions, the females wear Crintos that are red in color and are made from weaves of fluben, or flowers, that have been dipped in red mud and hung to dry. Crintos are tight fitting and have an opening for the face and arms. The men wear similar outfits called Broks. The only difference is these are made with white fluben and cover only the bottom half of their bodies. Instead of walking up right, they simply roll to move. From what I can see, they do have eyes and mouths which they carefully close and open as they roll on the rocky terrain. Their eyes are similar to ours except they have a wider variety of colors. I have even seen some Plutonians with purple eyes! Although I cannot hear them, they seem to be able to speak with each other.
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March 23:
Today, the Plutonians are working on a new building. Pluto only has three major buildings, which stand together, like a mini city. The creatures don’t leave their homes often and only visit these larger buildings on certain days. The rocks on Pluto soften if immersed in ragalin (a water-like substance only found on this planet) and can be molded into shapes, similar to molding thick grey concrete. This is how the Plutonians make their buildings. The buildings are usually dome shaped. If I had to guess, I would say the first one, the tallest, light green building, is used for religious purposes. Outside, there is a statue of what looks to me like a large Plutonian male with dark hunter green hair. They take turns gathering to this place once every Earth day; the average Pluto day lasts about a week in Earth time. Each gets a few minutes alone with the statue. The second is the middle building and is a dark red in color. The third is the smallest. It is yellow. I cannot seem to figure out what these two buildings are for. The Plutonians come and go with no regularity to these places. However, the current building project seems to be taking the shape of a heart, a blend of curves and straight lines.
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May 11:
After much frustration with my telescope, I have finally got the lenses corrected. I have also gotten the SuperSonicEar piece to work, which has enables me to hear the noises through out the community. Now I am also able to see Pluto even more closely, giving me the ability to peer through the cracks of their buildings and into their homes. Their voices vary is pitch and sound but tend to be low. Although I cannot understand their language, Plutogalin, it seems to rather advanced. They don’t just grunt sounds together like I originally believed, but in words. These creatures eat some sort of jello-like substance, meaning it has a bouncy quality to it, called boungle. They eat this for all their meals, but the color of the substance changes depending on the time of day. In the morning, it is a bright lime green and in the night it is a royal purple. The substance is made with ragalin and a powdered flavoring. The shape of the food also changes through out the week. Sometimes it is a round shape while, other times it is cut into squares. Rarely, their boungle is cut into the shape of a star. They seem to have family units very similar to ours. They travel and live in small groups. Examining one home, I found a family, one adult male, one adult female, and two small females, eating together at a circle shaped table made out of ragalin dipped stones also. After the food was gone, I watched the mother play with her child, picking her up and tossing her in the air, catching her small body on the way down.
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June 3:
Lately, I have spent my days working on my Space3000. Its pod shape is much thinner and lighter than traditional spaceships, giving it the ability to travel faster. I have abandoned jet fuel. The machine runs too fast for jet fuel and it cannot withstand long distances. The machine gets most of its energy through solar power, but I still need a secondary fuel for when the sun is not visible to the ship. I think I have discovered the perfect source, tomatoes. Tomatoes are easy to grow and abundant now that Gromatoes have been invented. Gromatoes are chemically engineered tomatoes that can withstand extremely high and low temperatures due to their high fat content. Gromatoes will not work for the Space3000 since the fatty oils get stuck in the system. However, I am certain that regular tomatoes will be perfect. They have high levels of vitamin A, which I can convert into a fuel almost three times as powerful as jet fuel and lasts ten times longer. I am also crafting a suit for the ship as well as for the cold climate of Pluto and an oxygen producer. I have also thought about the food I will bring along for the duration of the flight. I will probably bring Twinkies and Ramen as both seem fairly indestructible. I am looking forward to leaving this place behind. As far as the Plutonians go, I am starting to think they know I am listening.
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August 17:
Things have been very busy lately as I prepare for my voyage to Pluto. The Plutonians are far more complex that I could have ever thought. They have been transferring messages to me through satellites. Although I cannot understand everything they say, I am getting better at learning Plutogalin and they are getting better at learning English. The main Plutonian, Frasin has been telling me all about how to get to Pluto and the perfect times to come so as to use the least fuel. I was shocked to learn that many Plutonians used to come to Earth and study us. It wasn’t until major scientist discredited Pluto as a planet that they stopped coming. They would stay in rural unpopulated areas, like Antarctica, as to not be discovered. I leave for my journey in three days and it will take me 327 days to get to Pluto is all goes at planned.
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August 20:
Dear Earth,
I do not know what will happen to me on my voyage but I am prepared to confront the unfamiliar. Some day I may return but it is unlikely since I have made such a connection with these creatures. There is nothing left for me on Earth but I am so much to looking forward to this journey and a new life away from here. The only thing I fear is my dislike for jello, (hopefully boungle is better than jello!). My bags are packed with puffy winter coats to keep me from the cold and silk scarves to give as gifts. My Space3000 is lined with juicy, red tomatoes and packages of Twinkies. I leave this journal for someone to discover and tell, not my story, but the story of my beloved Plutonians.
Sincerely,
Stephen Harris
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Dr. Harris never returned and has not attempted to make contact with Earth. Scientists still debate whether he ever made it to his destination.
-Written By Caren Starry-
Currently listening to: She Ain’t Right- Lee Brice
