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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Science Fiction
- Subject: Science / Science Fiction
- Published: 10/08/2014
Marinia Seven
Born 1948, M, from Cleethorpes, United KingdomIt was a mystery. Any space textbook would tell you about a certain class of “Super-Earth”: classically about twice as big as our Earth. Such a planet would typically reside in the Goldilocks Zone of a G Type (yellow) star like ours. It would be a rocky planet, but would be completely covered by a water ocean hundreds of miles deep. Ten such worlds were titled “Marinia”.
The attraction of such a world would be its great variety of sea-life. The downside was the absence of one important thing: land. Yet Marinia 7 had become a puzzle. The latest probe into its vicinity had sent back pictures of ... land! This required investigation. Cue the Space-Timeship “Leeds”. Cue Pilot Dave Smethurst and his Co-Pilot Pete Smith.
Now they were in parking orbit over Marinia 7. The view was breathtakingly beautiful. You cannot beat an ocean planet for an awesome sight. But the boys were busy.
Dave: “What’s the computer say it is?”
Pete: “Well, it’s real, that’s for sure. But I don’t think it’s land as we know it.”
Dave: “Eh?”
Pete: “Looks organic. Must be a cross between seaweed, coral, oak, and a giant spider’s web. Like coral, live stuff growing on dead stuff.”
Dave: “On THAT scale?”
Pete: “Yep.”
Dave: “We better fly in and take a look then.”
So they headed down towards what looked like an impossible continent. As they cruised lower, however, they could see that they were approaching a vast scattering of “islands”. Dotted all over this super archipelago was evidence of towns and villages! They chose an island and landed. There was a town just over a small “hill” nearby.
Dave and Pete left the safety of their ship and tiptoed over the contorted latticework that provided this land. They aimed themselves in the direction of the town.
Suddenly they were stopped in their tracks. Three figures just materialised before them. Two humanoids with bows and arrow-pouches over their shoulders stood regarding the two explorers. And hovering between these men was a dolphin!
Dolphin: “Welcome to Flotia. I am Fast Fin. Yes, what you call a dolphin. I am speaking to you telepathically. Would you like to visit our homestead?”
Dave: “We would be honoured Sir.”
Fast Fin: “I’m a female actually. But no offence taken. Would you like your vehicle to come with us? It will save the walk back.”
Dave: “Okay.”
Without hesitation the dolphin stared at “The Leeds” and made it rise about ten feet in the air. She made it hover before them as they entered the town and gently lowered it into the central square. By this time they were surrounded by a crowd of dolphins, humans and other “fish” and “animals”.
Presently Fast Fin approached the two astronauts.
Fast Fin: “I have something to show you two.”
Instantaneously they found themselves, alongside Fast Fin, looking directly at a red star. They were now somewhere on a gloomy plain, a chill wind blowing from some alien North. There were trees and bushes all around them, forming a dark parkland: for all the plant-life was BLACK!
Pete: “Where the Hell are we?”
Fast Fin: “Do not be alarmed my friends. You are in no danger. We have only travelled ten light years. This planet is the nearest one to mine that supports life. As you can see, it is what you would call a Red Dwarf M Type star. See those great things over there?”
The boys picked out what looked like giant turtles, twice as big as elephants and with huge gaping mouths.
Fast Fin: “That’s the most advanced animal life here. They barely move and just catch food in the wind.”
Dave: “Yes, Fast Fin, we’ve seen many planets like this. In fact the vast MAJORITY of inhabited worlds revolve round M type stars. They are all tidally locked so there are no seasons or even days there. And no change means very little evolution.”
Fast Fin: “That’s generally true Dave. And your theory applies here too. But the point I want to make is that ocean-planets too have restrictions on development, but occasionally, very occasionally, such restrictions may be overcome.”
Pete: “Through a different evolution you mean.”
Fast Fin: “Precisely. We could never develop Your technology. We have almost no metals for a start. But we have evolved with higher “mental” abilities such as telepathy, telekinesis and, as you see, teleportation. And much more, but I think I’ve shown off enough already.”
With that, they were instantly transported back to the town square on Marinia 7.
Fast Fin: “We look forward to a new age of cooperation between our worlds. A mutual exchange of knowledge and goods of all kinds.”
She turned to the crowd.
Fast Fin: “Come on everyone. It’s time to party.”
Many hours later all was quiet.
It had been quite a day. Dave Smethurst and Pete Smith were now soundly asleep in their shared (single bed) accommodation kindly provided by their alien hosts. They were both disturbed by some bizarre dreams of course. After all, had not “Fast Fin” the lady dolphin shown them some remarkable powers of telepathy, telekinesis and even teleportation?
In the blink of an eye Fast fin had used her mind to take them on a visit to the nearest life-bearing planet, revolving round a red dwarf. As she said, “Who needs technology?”
After those amazing demonstrations they had simply partied long and hard with the local natives who called this planet “Flotia”. (On Earth of course it was titled “Marinia 7”).
But WHOAH! Talk of “floating”, Dave suddenly found himself floating near the ceiling of their room. Bad dream. Like when you were a kid Dave! Get a grip man.
Dave turned his head, or so it seemed, and there was Pete floating alongside him!
Dave: “Pete!”
Pete (he turned): “Dave???”
Fast Fin (as she floated into view): “Relax gentlemen. Everything is under control.”
Dave looked down. Directly below him was his own sleeping body. And there in the next bed was Pete’s!
Fast Fin: “Sorry to shock you boys again. It’s another of my talents. We three souls are sharing what you would call an out of body experience. Sorry again for doing this to you, er, again. I’ve got something to show you.”
She turned away from them and stared at the wall. Immediately a piercing white light appeared, and expanded into an orb about five yards across. It was just like one of those descriptions of a near-death experience.
Fast Fin: “You two come with me!”
She needn’t have said that. They were helpless any way. Instantly they were speeding down this bright-white “wormhole”. And soon they “emerged” from this light into another world: of sunlit green mountains, trees and grass. They were hovering over a beautiful hillside, part of a range of hills flanked by a sea.
Fast Fin: “Welcome to Heaven, gentlemen.”
Pete: “Heaven?”
Fast Fin: “Yes Pete, this place has many names, but for you I’m calling it Heaven.”
They looked around, trying their best to adapt to another great shock rendered upon them by their hostess in chief. But soon, Dave pointed out some sort of great cloud that was now floating towards them with some haste.
As it approached, they could see that it wasn’t a cloud but a swarm. Not of insects however. It was a swirling mass of people and animals.
And finally, as the “cloud” came near, they could make out that those people at the front were some of their own dead relatives! Alongside these human spirits they recognised several family pets who had also passed on.
Dave’s late Mum stepped forward in front of the others.
Dave’s Mum: “What are you doing here Dave? Surely it’s not your time.”
Dave: “It isn’t Mum. I hope…”
He turned to Fast Fin.
Dave: “Is it?”
Fast Fin: “Of course not Dave. (She turned to Dave’s Mum). I brought Dave here, Mum. We are only visiting…”
Suddenly a large Dolphin shot into position between the two groups.
Dolphin: “Fast Fin. Just what do you think you are doing? We’ve told you before, this is much too dangerous! If you don’t find your way back, who knows what will happen?”
Fast Fin: “But Grandad, these are very special visitors, from a world hundreds of light years away…
Grandad Dolphin: “So what? It’s still too dangerous. The fact that it’s a First Contact makes it ****** reckless!”
However, unpromising as these opening exchanges were, Fast Fin in particular managed to calm everyone down. Before long it was hugs and kisses (or the equivalent) all round.
After lots of frantic conversation, though, Fast Fin announced that it was time for her little group to go. Goodbyes were exchanged and Grandad Dolphin made Fast Fin promise this was her last ever visit.
So, into that white light they reluctantly returned. And then shot out of that wormhole, much faster than last time.
Dave blinked. He was already back in his body! Already standing up! In some sort of bunker? Staring at six totally alien humanoids, all dressed in the same military (looking) uniform.
One of them turned to Dave.
Soldier 1: “You alright Krella?”
Five of them looked quizzically at Dave. But the other two looked anxiously from side to side. And Dave suddenly had a damn good idea who those two might be.
Meanwhile back on Marinia 7, in a certain bedroom, two humans known as Dave and Pete sprang awake and turned to one another.
“Pete”: “Who are you?”
“Dave”: “I’m called Krella…”
Back in the bunker, about an hour later, the real Dave (otherwise known as Krella), was a picture of concentration. He was sitting at a console, effectively flying “a missile”. According to the monitor in front of him, that deadly machine was flying towards a great city. Standing behind Dave, giving instructions was an alien humanoid ironically named Pax. To one side of them, more to the rear, were Dave’s co-pilot Pete who had occupied the body of an Alien called Jobbra. Next to Pete was flying female dolphin Fast Fin, now an alien titled Extroth.
Unknown to Supervisor Pax, Fast Fin was acting as interpreter. With her telepathy she was reading Pax’s mind as he spoke aloud to Dave and then translating instructions directly into Dave’s brain. Dave’s replies were then sent into Pax’s brain. Mostly this worked fine.
Dave: “There? But that’s in the middle of a civilian area! How about here?”
He aimed at some buildings which looked very much like a military base.
Pax: “No! Not there!”
Pax put his “hands” to his collar and anxiously loosened it.
Dave: “What?”
Pax: “Veer off! Veer off!”
Dave: “Why!”
Pax: “It’s going to hit us! Veer off!”
Realisation swept over Dave’s face like an incoming tide. Quickly he veered the missile away and back up. Satisfied that it was flying away from them and gradually higher, he let go of the controls.
Dave: “What the hell’s going on? Are we bombing our own people?”
(Fast Fin’s translation might have missed the exact flavour of this).
Pax: “You know full well we are, Krella. What’s wrong with you recently?”
Fast Fin: “He seems to have amnesia, Pax. You’ll have to explain it to him as though he were a little child I’m afraid.”
Pax: “What? I’ve never heard anything like it. Have you reported this to the medics?”
Fast Fin: “Yes. They advised to keep his condition under wraps so as not to cause any alarm. I am instructed we are to fill in his gaps for him. I’d rather did the honours in this case Sir.”
Pax: “Okay. Krella. Listen. What you have to remember is that we are critically overpopulated. These attacks are a means of culling the plebs. (Plebs is one translation, could have been chavs, low-lifes or anything similar). We tell them that we are at war with the Togruns and put the blame on them. You are doing a great job controlling that missile to meet the wishes of our great leader.”
Dave: (sarcastically) “Well that’s all right then.”
Suddenly Dave and Pete found themselves laying on a soft floor. Then they heard a dull thud. A few feet away was Fast Fin. The original Fast Fin! She looked shocked. Then she composed herself and floated back into the air.
Dave turned and saw Pete. The real Pete.
Dave: “Pete?”
Pete: “Dave!”
They were back. At least in their bodies. Fast Fin held a frown of concentration.
Fast Fin: “Yes we’re back boys.”
Dave and Pete: “Thank God.”
Fast Fin: “Those soldiers created quite a rumpus here. That’s why we are in this cell. Someone is coming to release us.”
Pete: “You mean, they occupied our bodies?”
Fast Fin: “Yes.”
Dave: “Where have we been?”
Fast Fin: “As far as I can tell, we have been to what you would call another dimension or alternate universe.”
Pete: “Well I’m bloody well glad we’re back. ‘Culling’ their own people that boss-guy said.”
Dave: “Indeed. But can we really criticise them? Remember your history lessons at college Pete.”
Pete: “Like Iraq, Syria…”
Dave: “Yeh, and what they did to their enemies, well…”
Fast Fin: “Don’t beat yourself up boys. It’s the future that matters now. We’ll be out in a minute.”
So they were released.
“No more surprises guys, honest” purred Fast Fin (well as much as a dolphin can purr).
She was as good as her word.
After a few more days exploring this great new world, Dave and Pete were safely back aboard their ship. They were soon on their way home, with plenty of time to reflect…
Paul Butters
Marinia Seven(Paul Butters)
It was a mystery. Any space textbook would tell you about a certain class of “Super-Earth”: classically about twice as big as our Earth. Such a planet would typically reside in the Goldilocks Zone of a G Type (yellow) star like ours. It would be a rocky planet, but would be completely covered by a water ocean hundreds of miles deep. Ten such worlds were titled “Marinia”.
The attraction of such a world would be its great variety of sea-life. The downside was the absence of one important thing: land. Yet Marinia 7 had become a puzzle. The latest probe into its vicinity had sent back pictures of ... land! This required investigation. Cue the Space-Timeship “Leeds”. Cue Pilot Dave Smethurst and his Co-Pilot Pete Smith.
Now they were in parking orbit over Marinia 7. The view was breathtakingly beautiful. You cannot beat an ocean planet for an awesome sight. But the boys were busy.
Dave: “What’s the computer say it is?”
Pete: “Well, it’s real, that’s for sure. But I don’t think it’s land as we know it.”
Dave: “Eh?”
Pete: “Looks organic. Must be a cross between seaweed, coral, oak, and a giant spider’s web. Like coral, live stuff growing on dead stuff.”
Dave: “On THAT scale?”
Pete: “Yep.”
Dave: “We better fly in and take a look then.”
So they headed down towards what looked like an impossible continent. As they cruised lower, however, they could see that they were approaching a vast scattering of “islands”. Dotted all over this super archipelago was evidence of towns and villages! They chose an island and landed. There was a town just over a small “hill” nearby.
Dave and Pete left the safety of their ship and tiptoed over the contorted latticework that provided this land. They aimed themselves in the direction of the town.
Suddenly they were stopped in their tracks. Three figures just materialised before them. Two humanoids with bows and arrow-pouches over their shoulders stood regarding the two explorers. And hovering between these men was a dolphin!
Dolphin: “Welcome to Flotia. I am Fast Fin. Yes, what you call a dolphin. I am speaking to you telepathically. Would you like to visit our homestead?”
Dave: “We would be honoured Sir.”
Fast Fin: “I’m a female actually. But no offence taken. Would you like your vehicle to come with us? It will save the walk back.”
Dave: “Okay.”
Without hesitation the dolphin stared at “The Leeds” and made it rise about ten feet in the air. She made it hover before them as they entered the town and gently lowered it into the central square. By this time they were surrounded by a crowd of dolphins, humans and other “fish” and “animals”.
Presently Fast Fin approached the two astronauts.
Fast Fin: “I have something to show you two.”
Instantaneously they found themselves, alongside Fast Fin, looking directly at a red star. They were now somewhere on a gloomy plain, a chill wind blowing from some alien North. There were trees and bushes all around them, forming a dark parkland: for all the plant-life was BLACK!
Pete: “Where the Hell are we?”
Fast Fin: “Do not be alarmed my friends. You are in no danger. We have only travelled ten light years. This planet is the nearest one to mine that supports life. As you can see, it is what you would call a Red Dwarf M Type star. See those great things over there?”
The boys picked out what looked like giant turtles, twice as big as elephants and with huge gaping mouths.
Fast Fin: “That’s the most advanced animal life here. They barely move and just catch food in the wind.”
Dave: “Yes, Fast Fin, we’ve seen many planets like this. In fact the vast MAJORITY of inhabited worlds revolve round M type stars. They are all tidally locked so there are no seasons or even days there. And no change means very little evolution.”
Fast Fin: “That’s generally true Dave. And your theory applies here too. But the point I want to make is that ocean-planets too have restrictions on development, but occasionally, very occasionally, such restrictions may be overcome.”
Pete: “Through a different evolution you mean.”
Fast Fin: “Precisely. We could never develop Your technology. We have almost no metals for a start. But we have evolved with higher “mental” abilities such as telepathy, telekinesis and, as you see, teleportation. And much more, but I think I’ve shown off enough already.”
With that, they were instantly transported back to the town square on Marinia 7.
Fast Fin: “We look forward to a new age of cooperation between our worlds. A mutual exchange of knowledge and goods of all kinds.”
She turned to the crowd.
Fast Fin: “Come on everyone. It’s time to party.”
Many hours later all was quiet.
It had been quite a day. Dave Smethurst and Pete Smith were now soundly asleep in their shared (single bed) accommodation kindly provided by their alien hosts. They were both disturbed by some bizarre dreams of course. After all, had not “Fast Fin” the lady dolphin shown them some remarkable powers of telepathy, telekinesis and even teleportation?
In the blink of an eye Fast fin had used her mind to take them on a visit to the nearest life-bearing planet, revolving round a red dwarf. As she said, “Who needs technology?”
After those amazing demonstrations they had simply partied long and hard with the local natives who called this planet “Flotia”. (On Earth of course it was titled “Marinia 7”).
But WHOAH! Talk of “floating”, Dave suddenly found himself floating near the ceiling of their room. Bad dream. Like when you were a kid Dave! Get a grip man.
Dave turned his head, or so it seemed, and there was Pete floating alongside him!
Dave: “Pete!”
Pete (he turned): “Dave???”
Fast Fin (as she floated into view): “Relax gentlemen. Everything is under control.”
Dave looked down. Directly below him was his own sleeping body. And there in the next bed was Pete’s!
Fast Fin: “Sorry to shock you boys again. It’s another of my talents. We three souls are sharing what you would call an out of body experience. Sorry again for doing this to you, er, again. I’ve got something to show you.”
She turned away from them and stared at the wall. Immediately a piercing white light appeared, and expanded into an orb about five yards across. It was just like one of those descriptions of a near-death experience.
Fast Fin: “You two come with me!”
She needn’t have said that. They were helpless any way. Instantly they were speeding down this bright-white “wormhole”. And soon they “emerged” from this light into another world: of sunlit green mountains, trees and grass. They were hovering over a beautiful hillside, part of a range of hills flanked by a sea.
Fast Fin: “Welcome to Heaven, gentlemen.”
Pete: “Heaven?”
Fast Fin: “Yes Pete, this place has many names, but for you I’m calling it Heaven.”
They looked around, trying their best to adapt to another great shock rendered upon them by their hostess in chief. But soon, Dave pointed out some sort of great cloud that was now floating towards them with some haste.
As it approached, they could see that it wasn’t a cloud but a swarm. Not of insects however. It was a swirling mass of people and animals.
And finally, as the “cloud” came near, they could make out that those people at the front were some of their own dead relatives! Alongside these human spirits they recognised several family pets who had also passed on.
Dave’s late Mum stepped forward in front of the others.
Dave’s Mum: “What are you doing here Dave? Surely it’s not your time.”
Dave: “It isn’t Mum. I hope…”
He turned to Fast Fin.
Dave: “Is it?”
Fast Fin: “Of course not Dave. (She turned to Dave’s Mum). I brought Dave here, Mum. We are only visiting…”
Suddenly a large Dolphin shot into position between the two groups.
Dolphin: “Fast Fin. Just what do you think you are doing? We’ve told you before, this is much too dangerous! If you don’t find your way back, who knows what will happen?”
Fast Fin: “But Grandad, these are very special visitors, from a world hundreds of light years away…
Grandad Dolphin: “So what? It’s still too dangerous. The fact that it’s a First Contact makes it ****** reckless!”
However, unpromising as these opening exchanges were, Fast Fin in particular managed to calm everyone down. Before long it was hugs and kisses (or the equivalent) all round.
After lots of frantic conversation, though, Fast Fin announced that it was time for her little group to go. Goodbyes were exchanged and Grandad Dolphin made Fast Fin promise this was her last ever visit.
So, into that white light they reluctantly returned. And then shot out of that wormhole, much faster than last time.
Dave blinked. He was already back in his body! Already standing up! In some sort of bunker? Staring at six totally alien humanoids, all dressed in the same military (looking) uniform.
One of them turned to Dave.
Soldier 1: “You alright Krella?”
Five of them looked quizzically at Dave. But the other two looked anxiously from side to side. And Dave suddenly had a damn good idea who those two might be.
Meanwhile back on Marinia 7, in a certain bedroom, two humans known as Dave and Pete sprang awake and turned to one another.
“Pete”: “Who are you?”
“Dave”: “I’m called Krella…”
Back in the bunker, about an hour later, the real Dave (otherwise known as Krella), was a picture of concentration. He was sitting at a console, effectively flying “a missile”. According to the monitor in front of him, that deadly machine was flying towards a great city. Standing behind Dave, giving instructions was an alien humanoid ironically named Pax. To one side of them, more to the rear, were Dave’s co-pilot Pete who had occupied the body of an Alien called Jobbra. Next to Pete was flying female dolphin Fast Fin, now an alien titled Extroth.
Unknown to Supervisor Pax, Fast Fin was acting as interpreter. With her telepathy she was reading Pax’s mind as he spoke aloud to Dave and then translating instructions directly into Dave’s brain. Dave’s replies were then sent into Pax’s brain. Mostly this worked fine.
Dave: “There? But that’s in the middle of a civilian area! How about here?”
He aimed at some buildings which looked very much like a military base.
Pax: “No! Not there!”
Pax put his “hands” to his collar and anxiously loosened it.
Dave: “What?”
Pax: “Veer off! Veer off!”
Dave: “Why!”
Pax: “It’s going to hit us! Veer off!”
Realisation swept over Dave’s face like an incoming tide. Quickly he veered the missile away and back up. Satisfied that it was flying away from them and gradually higher, he let go of the controls.
Dave: “What the hell’s going on? Are we bombing our own people?”
(Fast Fin’s translation might have missed the exact flavour of this).
Pax: “You know full well we are, Krella. What’s wrong with you recently?”
Fast Fin: “He seems to have amnesia, Pax. You’ll have to explain it to him as though he were a little child I’m afraid.”
Pax: “What? I’ve never heard anything like it. Have you reported this to the medics?”
Fast Fin: “Yes. They advised to keep his condition under wraps so as not to cause any alarm. I am instructed we are to fill in his gaps for him. I’d rather did the honours in this case Sir.”
Pax: “Okay. Krella. Listen. What you have to remember is that we are critically overpopulated. These attacks are a means of culling the plebs. (Plebs is one translation, could have been chavs, low-lifes or anything similar). We tell them that we are at war with the Togruns and put the blame on them. You are doing a great job controlling that missile to meet the wishes of our great leader.”
Dave: (sarcastically) “Well that’s all right then.”
Suddenly Dave and Pete found themselves laying on a soft floor. Then they heard a dull thud. A few feet away was Fast Fin. The original Fast Fin! She looked shocked. Then she composed herself and floated back into the air.
Dave turned and saw Pete. The real Pete.
Dave: “Pete?”
Pete: “Dave!”
They were back. At least in their bodies. Fast Fin held a frown of concentration.
Fast Fin: “Yes we’re back boys.”
Dave and Pete: “Thank God.”
Fast Fin: “Those soldiers created quite a rumpus here. That’s why we are in this cell. Someone is coming to release us.”
Pete: “You mean, they occupied our bodies?”
Fast Fin: “Yes.”
Dave: “Where have we been?”
Fast Fin: “As far as I can tell, we have been to what you would call another dimension or alternate universe.”
Pete: “Well I’m bloody well glad we’re back. ‘Culling’ their own people that boss-guy said.”
Dave: “Indeed. But can we really criticise them? Remember your history lessons at college Pete.”
Pete: “Like Iraq, Syria…”
Dave: “Yeh, and what they did to their enemies, well…”
Fast Fin: “Don’t beat yourself up boys. It’s the future that matters now. We’ll be out in a minute.”
So they were released.
“No more surprises guys, honest” purred Fast Fin (well as much as a dolphin can purr).
She was as good as her word.
After a few more days exploring this great new world, Dave and Pete were safely back aboard their ship. They were soon on their way home, with plenty of time to reflect…
Paul Butters
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