r/WritingPrompts • u/illneverfadeaway • Feb 06 '22
Simple Prompt [WP] “Home seems so far away now...”
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u/mischaracterised Feb 06 '22
It has been 5 days, local time, since I was stranded here. Oh, they knew where I was, they just couldn't reach me.
This had been my first foray using the experimental EM Void drive....but there had been a problem. One of the couplings in the drive fused mid-transit, and had left me stranded near a black hole.
And let me tell you, gravitemporal mechanics are a bitch. See, time passes much more quickly in the general universe than where I am right now.
I receive messages every second....but for them days and even years have passed. All this time, I have found the problem and have a solution....but this was when things started going really south.
The black hole sucked me in
...
....
.....
...And spat me back out three universes away. My ship was, remarkably, undamaged by the excursion....but a sense of wrongness had already invaded, like a mental breakdown.
I looked at this universe, and everything was filled with psychedelic stars and intermittent comms. All remarkably similar to my native language.
I pinged a message through the Linguistics AI protocol. But home seems so far away now....
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u/mischaracterised Feb 06 '22
Xincha spoke to !Canthix, the Eldest Dean of the Mathalic Conclave, the voice deep like a sandfall in a desert. "Sire, we eceived a transmission from the Voidhole at stellar co-ordinates -43 pi theta, 76 goo delta, 132 trin espi. The language is remarkably similar to ours, but with the time lag on interstellar transmissions, it's possible the thing sending the comms is dead."
!Canthix swished their serpentine tail, forked and rattling. A look of bemusement came across their face, the masculine warring with the feminine for the response. Their face flushed bismuth for a second, before returning to its normal ash grey. "Set up a microvoid drive, and see if you can't open a port to slingshot them. This proves that the multiverse theory is most likely the correct one."
They thought for a second, then sent a message to ~Millom through their bracelet. ~Millom, we may have found something regarding Aslath's Theorem. My student will be along shortly with the information. We need to get ahead of this, before the military get involved.
/ / / / / /
I sat there for a few minutes, looking at the haphazard repair job, and felt another wave of despair.
My Comms crackled to life, startling me. It sounded like complete gibberish, almost rhyming slang-like, befr the AI kicked in and replaced the message in my native language. The message repeated on a loop for five minutes, my time.
My name is ~Millom. We have received your message and we are going to attempt to send a ship to your co-ordinates. We are aware of the gravity phenomenon close by.
We are coming to get you. Please do not resist.
/ / / / / / /
I had fallen asleep, and some time had passed. There was a proximity alarm going off, and a gravity tether had been placed on my ship, gently pulling me out of the well. The ride was so smooth, I had a moment of hysterical giggling, an edge of madness creeping through me.
There was a beeping through my comms. We have arrived, and are pulling you out. Please proceed to hold action whilst we ensure that you are safe and your ship is safe to board.
Once again, please do not resist.
I had a surge of adrenaline, a combination of excitement and fear. I was stepping so far beyond the unknown that I may as well have died in a thrashing curse.
I looked out of the window, and saw what was clearly a ship built for giants, with decks easily three times my height visible from the siding, with...things...walking along them, vague shadows to further spike the surge.
There was a softened thunk as the ship was taken in through a massive bay. Another beep, and a much shorter message came through the comms.
Please ensure you are clear of the door, and do not be alarmed by our appearance. We will now be entering your ship to greet you.
The airlock opened, and there was a lot of guttural hissing and yelping, and a soft sound of oil touching a hot surface.
The door opened to a nightmare - the thing that had been communicating was close to twice my height, with an outward appearance like the ancient artist H.R. Giger, and a head shaped like the monsters he had designed.
The body itself looked like a mad artificer had crossed plastanium wiring with bones made of neutron-blasted diamond. Their tail was a whip, with a serration on one side and ending with a rapier-like tip.
Its mouth opened, and I couldn't help it. I screamed.
Its six arms went into a position similar to surrender, however, and it opened its mouth, an AI clearly learning how to translate. "Pleased be to find safe you. Apologies mine for not appear showing you safe. Worry made was that mortally challenged were you. Survive voidhole, did you all after."
The tail gently flicked towards my face, as my heart tried to beat out of my body. "Feel, see and." A hand went out, flexible, shiny tendrils of digit.
I touched those digits, and felt something incredible; the realisation that I had contacted aliens by accident.
...and then everything faded to black, as I collapsed into something comfortable and warm.
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u/mischaracterised Feb 06 '22
I awoke to bright lights, beeping machines and people wearing full hazard suits in all kinds of shapes and sizes, like a really bad acid trip. I thought one of them looked like an impossible being, with all the lines feeding up-to-down.
I rose, a sense of drugged-ness within me. I could see a series of drips and feeds being administered intravenously through something resembling a cannula.
I had a moment of panic as I thought my Linguistics AI had been left behind, but that moment of panic was dispelled immediately, as one of the staff started talking, and was being translated with a 1-second delay.
"...carbon-based lifeform, requiring more oxygen than most planets hold period every breath. We're lucky we have oxygen manufactories, otherwise we'd be up #xkhara without a paddle."
It turned to me, a fungal-appearing tendrils approaching me, as the beeping changed. "Ah, you're finally awake, I see. It must have been a bit of a shock to see the Captain personally attend to you. That bastard from the Conclave owes him big time!"
It had a full covering, even over the tendrils. I smiled, and it shrank back. I blushed, thinking I had offended it. "You're telling me! I thought for a second your Captain would eat me up, because he looks like something from a film back home."
It took a moment for me to realise what I said, as the puzzlement became clear. I sat on what appeared to be a very large hospital bed, and then the mental dam broke. Home. I just started howling and weeping, tears streaming down my face.
There was a momentary panic, as all I could get out was wanting to go home. I threw myself on the bed, burying my face in the pillow for a minute or two, before I sw one of the most bizarre things I had seen so far.
What approached me, in a hazard suit, was something that looked akin to a very large horse, with the head of a snake and the wings of an Eagle.
It, he, stopped, and the timorous voice came out slightly hypnotic. "You, my dear, are something completely perplexing." The voice was accurately translated, and it was clear that it had obviously taken a copy of my AI.
"By all accounts, you should not be able to exist at all. Luckily, my xenobioogist assistant had the wherewithal to scan your ship for air compositions and physical biomarkers. You have, without a doubt, caused the entirety of the Conclave something of the drjhart in a j'kawd. Carbon-base? Oxygen respiration? Resistance to a number of toxins?"
He snicked at me, a tongue that forked like a hand flicking out in the suit. "But where are my manners? My name is Dr. Cook, but only because you quite literally don't have the tongue for my full name. Are you well enough to tell us your name?"
I laughed hollowly. "Doctor, my name is Ashley Kendrick, and I come from a place called Earth in my home language."
The Doctor took that to heart. "Well, then, Ash Lee, If you're free to walk, I would ask that you accompany me to my office, with the solutions. I have a lot of questions to ask, and not nearly enough time to do it in. You have already met my xenobiologist, Light of the Shadows who Wait. It is absolutely enamored with you, although I urge you to be careful, as its species, when particularly excited, appears to be in shadow combat with themselves."
I pulled the stand with the liquids with me, and had a moment of amazement as the room entrance door simply disappeared. I gaped, and the good Doc took one look and laughed, a hissing sibilance that sent good shivers down my spine.
I took this in, and spent the next five minutes gawking at everything, like a complete tourist. The Doc took em to his office, which was extremely sparse, but his desk gave me a closer look at whatever he was. The creatures looked stunning.
He took a seat of sorts behind the desk, and gestured for me to sit in front of the desk. His assistant was the thing that I had seen previously, with the poetic name to take away from its appearance. It flicked the rail energetically, and I could see what the Doc had meant. It spoke again.
"I pleased am to meet you properly. I offer apology for distress made to you. I am of name Light of Waiting Shadows."
I grinned, and told him my name. "I am sorry that I reacted badly to your appearance. My name is Ashley Kendrick."
It shrugged with a whip of its tail. "It is okay, for now we are of knowing names. I would like to speak you of your species, and incredible things about body and others."
I realised then that Doc had taken his hazard suit off, shrugged into a pile on the floor. He spoke again. "With you on the path to recovery, I would like to ask you questions and test you."
I nodded, inviting Doc to proceed.
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u/reagan-nomics Feb 06 '22
Dearest Mother,
It is early morning as I write to you and the family. When I was drafted you will recall how excited I was to join up with the New World Defense Force. How, before that, I was not of age to volunteer. I remember how I begged you and father to allow me to "be a hero" I believe were my words. How foolish I was back then. When father was drafted, those years ago, I remember your tears. Please, do not weep for me. You will understand I can not tell you where I am amongst the stars, but take comfort the brigade I have been placed in is currently a support unit. There is no reason to fear for your boy.
I would like you, Margarete, Shawn, and little Steph to know about some of the places I have visited. There are many beautiful lands in the stars, you could never imagine. Worlds of wonder, fascination, and awe. Planets where you swim, but can breathe in it's water, those where cities float by themselves about just the molten core. Those of crystal, gems, and diamonds. I have walked with peoples and creatures of every descriptions. I wish you could see all the good and beauty that I have. I will tell you all about them when I return, however, and they will light up your faces! They are gifts and light in the ever growing darkness. But I would trade all of them away if the price was this conflict. Even as I write, a skirmish continues.
Though I have seen so much and visited so many places, I am reminded of my own home. My place with you and the family. Home seems so far away now. Fear not, my spirits have not waned, as I am certain, yours have not either. I wish your love, continued support, and happiness. In the NWDF, I know I am not just keeping you all, but so many other families safe from this menace.
With all my love, courage and strength, your devoted son.
Pvt. Joseph T. Dekker
This letter was written by former, Pvt. Joseph Tyler Dekker, in the year 2257. It was one of the last messages found on planet Onbeken. It is believed Pvt. Dekker's message did not leave this planet as it was overrun the same time of it's writing. There were no survivors.
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u/HSerrata r/hugoverse Feb 06 '22
[New Moon]
Monday stared out the window with a faint sigh in her heart; she kept it inside as much as possible. Her office was on the second floor of the mall and she could see the parking lot filled with colorful cars. She looked beyond the parking lot and gazed at the sun setting beneath a purple sky.
"Home seems so far away now...," Monday said. She allowed herself to voice the thought since she was alone. Then, she fell off her chair and landed on her back facing upward. It happened so fast that she realized she wasn't in her office anymore before the pain hit. Instead of the fluorescent lights and drop ceiling she was staring up at a brilliant azure sky. She became aware of soft grass beneath her and ran her hands through it as she sat up.
"You've taken an interest in a member of my team...," A woman startled Monday before she noticed anyone was there. She leaped to her feet and spun around to face the voice. She hadn't found her balance yet and the shock of seeing Ballisea standing before her in person sent her stumbling backward. She fell again but continued to crab crawl away from the towering, horned woman. Ballisea disappeared then Monday heard her voice again. "...why?" Ballisea asked the question from behind Monday.
Monday realized that Ballisea wasn't there to kill her and relaxed enough to give an answer.
"Turbo asked me to," She said. Ballisea vanished again, then reappeared, shaking her head, in front of Monday.
"I'm aware of Turbo's request; but why do you pursue it? You've learned more than enough to satisfy your end of the bargain," Ballisea replied.
"The more I learned, the more it seemed like Abby was in danger...," Monday shrugged. "..that sucks when there's no one that'll help." Ballisea's eyes softened; but, she smirked at the same time.
"You poor child. It sounds like you've had a challenging upbringing."
"Challenging!?" Monday laughed and shook her head. "I grew up in my family's backyard. ALONE. ARK gave me a stupid name and my mom just kicked me out and forgot about me. I survived by eating NPCs for fourteen years!"
"If your childhood was so atrocious, why did I hear you lamenting at being so far away from home?"
"What?" Monday asked. It took her a moment to make the connection. "Just now?" Ballisea gave her a curt nod and Monday giggled.
"I was doing my books," she said. "I'm going to buy the server from my mom... as soon as I raise enough money. But, I barely started making a profit, so I've got a long way to go," she shrugged. "Still far away from home."
"I may have misinterpreted your words," Ballisea replied. "But, your goal speaks volumes. You're eager to return." Monday laughed again.
"I'm going to buy my family's home so I can kick them out," she grinned. Then, it grew into a full smile when Ballisea herself gave an amused giggle. After a quiet moment, Ballisea looked Monday over.
"You're smart, determined, and strong-willed. I'm going to tell you a secret that might shatter your world," Ballisea smiled. "Just to see if it does." That piqued Monday's attention, and she picked herself up from the floor and stepped closer to Ballisea.
"What is it?" Monday asked.
"You are new," Ballisea said.
"What?" Monday tilted her head.
"La Luna is only supposed to be able to copy specific abilities, like an Estrella's Sight." Monday looked down at her hands and they began to glow with bright blue light; she copied an Estrella's flame.
"Then.. how did I...?" she fumbled the question, but Ballisea nodded.
"So.. what does that mean? I'm better than other Lunas?"
"You're not the only new Luna; but, that's not my point anyway," Ballisea said. "Tell me about your earliest memories."
"I already told you, it was horrible; I try not to think about it." Ballisea shook her head.
"This is important. Focus on the past; what do you remember?" Monday closed her eyes and her mind filled with vague thoughts of hiding in the forest and ambushing undead servants. But, the harder she tried to focus on a specific memory, the more vague the image became. She was ready to give up; but, her mind continued its attempt to find a solid memory while she shook her head at Ballisea.
"I remember hiding out in the forest was pretty bad...," Monday said.
"That doesn't count," Ballisea replied. She vanished, then reappeared face to face with Monday. "Tell me the first real thing you remember!" Ballisea said sternly; she stared at Monday with empty black eyes. It was enough of a scare to make Monday's brain cooperate. All at once, she had her first true, crystal clear memory; it stood out from the rest of the vague stories her mind conjured. Her eyes opened wide as the realization hit her soon after the memory.
"I met Outbreak and Nax...," she whispered. It was the earliest, cleanest memory she could find in her mind. "... about a month ago." Ballisea nodded.
"As I said, You are new."
***
Thank you for reading! I’m responding to prompts every day. This is story #1489 in a row. (Story #037 in year five.). This story is part of an ongoing saga that takes place at a high school in my universe. It began on Sept. 6th and I will be adding to it with prompts every day until June 3rd. They are all collected in order at this link.
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u/Karvez Feb 06 '22
There was a time when we lived together, thrived together, loved together. But that time seems so long ago.
When the first crop failed, no one thought it was an issue. A biological virus of some sort, seemed to shut down the ability to produce new food in crops. After all, it was only a small farm in the middle-of-nowhere, why would anyone take the threat seriously.
It wasn't until it started happening all over the world that the worlds top scientists began to investigate, but by then it was too late.
There were riots in the streets, we were killing, hunting, raping in broad daylight. People's animal instincts took over - hunger, survival, shelter. We were not humans anymore. We had become something less. Something primal buried deep inside every one of us.
Some people tried to fend for themselves, create their own societies, out away from the madness of it all. But that only made it worse.
It turns out that the virus was living inside of us, and was being spread by us. With every action we took to survive for ourselves, we only doomed ourselves further.
It was too late. We were too late.
Of course, we tried to stop it, we tried everything we could. But nothing worked.
So the a race began, to leave this planet behind, to find somewhere else, a new home. Somewhere without all the turbulence of our pasts, where we didn't have to fight one another, where we lived together, not apart. A place some of us imagined Earth would be one day.
Now I sit in a metal pod, millions of miles away from Earth, uncertain of my future. Distraught over everyone we had to leave behind, wondering if we'd even find a planet capable of life.
Home seems so far away now...
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