One More Time; A collection of writings

Always have a Plan

So everyone here believes in aliens, right? I mean, that's kind of the point of places like this. To be able to talk about it like we want to, with passion and open minds, without being dubbed wackos for even breaching the subject. But have any of you ever thought about what'd you really do if you were the first to meet a being from another planet? Like, what's your first step? How do you react to (or more importantly interact with) creatures so completely foreign to not just you and your home land, but your entire world and everything in it?

ok well hear me out. I have had a pretty well thought out plan of action for the longest time rattling around in my head. I had pondered different scenarios, but I mostly focused on the one where the beings are non-aggressive. I know how everyone in the media always idolizes how they would push back an alien invasion, destroy the hive-mind mother ship, or otherwise be eaten from the inside out from parasitic monsters from outer space. But I guess a bit of the wonder of it all makes me hopeful they'd be friendly.

It was a fun day dream of mine since my early years of life, but I never thought I'd have an opportunity to put any of this to use. I mean I have more of a chance of actually hitting the Million Jul Jackpot every day for the rest of my life than I do of being the one to make First Contact.

There's this thing about statistics though. No matter how high the odds are stacked against it, that 0.000001% will exist. It's what a lot of people would consider Fate. It being so rare and so powerful is what makes it worthy of legends and stories. Now, as I start to reach the end of my life cycle on this beautiful world, I think it's time for me to share my own adventure with you all.

This way maybe you'll have more of an idea what you will do if you ever hit the lottery too.

This experience happened quite a while ago. I was 26, I had a wonderful partner, an amazing new baby, a decent enough occupation, and I was getting by alright in life. I wasn't wealthy by any means, still struggling to pay all of my expenses with enough J left over to get a little extra each pay period. But I was happy most of the time.

We lived in a rural area, mostly farmland, but luckily my place of business wasn't too far away. I'd frequently walk when it was nice out. This particular night, on the way home from work, the sky was so clear I felt like I could see the curvature of the atmosphere when I looked straight up. In my exhausted state of mind having just finished a particularly long shift and mezmorized by the glittering night, I walked my usual route with my eyes fixated up high.

In retrospect, this was the best stupid decision I could have ever made. I put too much trust in my appendages to just automatically direct the rest of my body in the proper direction while my mind floated in the stars. As a result, somewhere around midway home when my neck started to ache, I brought my head down back to reality to find I had wandered off the intended path. The scenery surrounding me had turned from fallow fields and the occasional quaint abode to soaring ghostly white crops on either side of me as far as I could see.

I laughed at myself and shook my head. This wasn't out of character for me. I figured just turning around and heading back the opposite direction should lead me back out to the main road. I walked more briskly now. I was starting to feel the wear on my muscles and more interested in my bed than I was the stars.

The longer I traveled the more concerned I became. How far had I gone to be this lost? The sea of powdered plants at my sides made me feel like I'd never taken a step. That's when I spotted the light at the end of the Kurdzo tunnel. Literally. A vibrant white light began to emerge over the horizon and the anxiety in my chest dissipated.
I picked up the pace again. The light grew brighter and brighter, until I saw it was actually three lights. Instead of growing closer, they began rising higher. Three lights became six. A silhouette began to form in the glow. I slowed to a stop as I gaped at a massive structure unlike any I had seen before.

It was towering over me even at the distance of several Dart floors. It was mostly white, probably some sort of metal with the way that it shined in its multiple blinding lanterns. The sound was like a massive beast purring directly into your brain. I'm not sure if it was the sound or the machinery that produced it but there was a heaviness about the air. My wide eyes took in every detail as I gaped.

With a sudden lurching sound, it all stopped at once.

I was left blind, ears ringing, mind racing. After a moment of stillness another sound creeped towards me. A single point of light illuminated in front of me that slowly widened to the outline of a rectangle with no bottom. The sight kick-started my thoughts like a cold motor turning over.

It was a door.

It was opening.