A Short Interactive Sci-Fi Story.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | | Bonus Endings

By the year 3000, it is confirmed that black holes are portals where spacetime folds like a cosmic colon. Since energy can neither be created or destroyed, what goes in is passed through and dumped somewhere else. Usually, in a day or two. The nearest black hole is discovered within reach.

So begins this experiment to boldly go where few men have gone before. To explore the inner reaches of his deepest, darkest regions. To probe. To illuminate. Perhaps, to come out tainted, but learned. Purged of dangerous ideas spreading like cancerous polyps within.

The mission must avoid man's past, indelicate bumblings. So, maybe the thrust of the thing is to go where a modern woman might dare go. Co-piloting the flotilla of starships on this one-year mission will be a selection of women and artificial intelligence models --participating in debate and polls.

DESTINATION: Planet Newbl

The year is 3001. Like countless other planets over eons, the technical evolution of earth's most advanced life-forms outpaced their ethical evolution. Instead of caring for mother earth, we plundered her. Human extinction appears inevitable. A dozen spaceships are being loaded for the journey to NEWBL, the galaxy's nearest life-sustainable, blue water, blue skied planet.

to be continued--unfolded. For as long as it takes for the new colony to be stabilized...

STORY KEY
White text = a regular forum discussion post or reply
BLUE TEXT= the story narrative
Polls that shape the mission are linked to.
Each page (of 12 posts) = a story chapter

Lindy:
As I inquired in the Poll thread: Will my children be able to inherit my credits when I pass?

V3:
let's get to the heart of the question, with another question:
if you're concerned about their well being, which would be more comforting?

1. that they have enough credits to buy more security within a corrupt environment, like it is today?

2. that their environment is more secure, just, fair & balanced in its default state, for everyone -- not just your own flesh and blood? They'd always be safer, even if the lose their credits.

Lindy:
I see where your going. The fair and balanced world that doesn't manifest fear and greed would be the safest place for my girls. Thank you.

V3:
but you didn't say whether you'd actually vote for option 2?

Lindy:
I have to think about it. As a mother, it would be hard to let go of the opportunity to pass on extra security to them.

V3:
i understand, Lindy. The people will have to decide.
I'd just encourage the population to let go of old-world fears
and trust that doing what is fair will pay back dividends
to society and every individual at the same time.

the other thing, is if the job of any creature's parent is to prepare offspring for the world,
maybe they should experience it without being sheltered from its challenges

and if we're extensions of one divine source,
isn't everyone our brothers, sisters, and children?

Lindy:
Thank you for reminding me of things I already know in my soul, but this world has taught me to forget, V! But THIS planet has burned me and my family before. I trust you. I don't trust us.

(conversation condensed for time)

RED:
I have to agree with my sister, Lefty-Lindy. You are a bit naive, V. People can not be trusted in this world, or the next, unless we're talking about the world beyond.

V3
as a revered Republican President once said about one of America's foreign adversaries,
"trust but verify"
that's built into this system with advanced tools.

i think you would be surprised how ethical people will become on a level playing field.

a question for you:
the Republican trend is away from democracy because of what they call "fake news" and "rampant woke-ism"
as a friend of mine once said,
"this President may be an a**hole but at least he's our a**hole"
would you agree with that?

RED:
To a degree. I have enjoyed him taking on the "political correctness" of the media and Dems on the left.
...another saying is, "Democracy is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to have for dinner."

V3:
but then, the opposite of that democracy is,
"one wolf and two sheep deciding what to have for dinner!"
the one with the strength, sharp teeth, and biggest mouth wins

the current president is a pack leader of hungry wolves in a country with many sheep, rabbits, deer, etc..
whom he is Constitutionally obligated to represent as well

also, as i reminded my friend,
"be careful what you wish/vote for!
someone who is a bullish a-hole in one way
will be a bullish a-hole in any way that serves him
whether his actions serve you or not"

Red, could you accept the will of the people, even if you disagree, as long as it was an accurate reading of that will?

RED:
Same thing. To a degree.

Red:
Here's a question for you, V.

I'm a State's Rights advocate. What would be the consideration for different laws based on where people live and what their priorities are? I'm not into the One World philosophy.

V3:
on Newbl, the "wisdom of the crowd"* is solicited and applied.

*In an English town in 1906, they held a contest to guess the weight of an ox. No single person guessed correctly, but when all 787 guesses were averaged, the crowd’s answer was almost exact. It showed that a diverse group, thinking independently, can outperform any individual expert.

so BIG isn't necessarily bad.
one world-big government, big business, big socialism, and big religion is bad
if it behaves badly by any fair assessment of the greater good.

for example, imo, applying the fundamental philosophies of
Jesus Christ, Buddha, Gandhi, and MLK everywhere,
would probably lead to a pretty good world to live in

but regardless, i'm willing to live with whatever the people's will is,
and if i don't agree, i'd try to change it by civilized means,
like participating in a public forum like this.

on Newbl, the original circle of starships spreads out as the communities grow.
and the C.I.V.I.C system still works because distance is irrelevant.
if colonists find a resource of water or precious minerals on the opposite side of the planet
the other side still owns it too.
iow -- a mining state could not vote for a bill that favors them over the interests of a potato state

most importantly,
protections pertaining to the environment, food, workers, etc.,
and fairness and equality issues like human rights and civil rights
should not change depending on what side of an imaginary line people are on

regarding cultural issues,
i think you'd be surprised how little you'll care about someone else's
race, sexuality, religious beliefs, or personal preferences
once there is less inequity and ignorance influencing individual behavior.

you're also less likely to care about owning the most lethal weapon when there is less crime.
like a lot of problems,
crime is a byproduct of competition, scarcity and less opportunity.
and so is prejudice

my father was a Republican who warmed up to progressive policies
after he retired from, what he called, "the rat race."
he told me, "you're naive. You think there's good in everyone."
i still do

Red:
But what if i don't, V, and i want to live with others who feel the same?

V3
then you'd have to petition a vote to secede and let the whole community decide.
but if you're thinking about owning resources instead of sharing them,
you'd probably need to commission THE LIBERTY to take you to a different planet.
because i'm sure that kind of libertarian sh,, uh, ship won't fly here.
that's one of the cancers that initiated the 3001: Space Colonoscopy intervention.

and now, the story continues
--uninterrupted by politics and polls
--to its conclusion
--actually, to its MANY conclusions

Some of Newbl’s defining institutions remain deliberately unwritten.

The pioneers built the Tri‑Lateral framework:
-- CIVIC to propose, CLEAR to evaluate, and UPP to execute
-- but many components of civilization still await the judgment of future elections and future generations...

• the shape of justice, the nature of policing,

• the boundaries of personal freedom, the stewardship of land and life,

• the rules of education, health, resource distribution, family policy, bio-ethics and AI autonomy.

All of the above remains open, under-informed, and undecided. They are the unfinished chapters of Newbl,
left in the hands of those who will inherit the world that has begun to take shape here.

As for the Captains themselves,they are admittedly tired of running things. They're tired of steering, commandeering, pioneering, and fearing--the unknown. It was nice for all the weary travelers to have some things known, for the first time in a long time.

Now, when people ask what about law and order and blah, and blah, the Captains say, I don't know You tell me, next election.

But the thrill of discovery-- that thirst could never be quenched in the Captains. On that front they would push forward, seeking knowledge of this new world and whatever mysteries it might reveal. Both above and beneath its surface.

As one joked to another as they set out on their next exploratory mission,"Ain't no mountain high enough, ain't no river wide enough to keep me from gettin' to truth, babe."

the story continues...

AN OCTOPUSES GARDEN IN THE SEA

Lindy Lightyear walked along the beach.
She loved the beach.
It was her safe place,
her meditative space.
As long as she wasn't exactly on the ocean,
or beneath it.

She didn't have the stomach for the top, or the breath and swimming skills for navigating the water on her own. But she was delighted to be able to make the trip, now that Newbl's land development was progressing nicely.

The ships initial ocean scan reported no life signs. That was unusual, given the ideal conditions. But since they had not found intelligent life forms on the surface, they accepted it, and focused on their colonization

For that reason, and several others, what Lindy saw this day was especially shocking.

A crab crawled out of the surf towards some rocks, but got no further than 5 or 6 feet before a dark brown tentacle, with the girth of a tree trunk, reached out of the water and picked it up. Instead of making a meal of the crustacean, however, the long arm tossed it far back into the ocean.

The tentacle paused as if sensing Lindy's presence -- as if contemplating Lindy's presence. Apparently, its decision was to whip out and latch around her waist.

Since no one else was around, the Captain was spared the humility associated with one wetting their pants. But, apparently, the discomfort, did not go unnoticed by the cephalopod.

"My apologies for startling you my dear. But I could not let you get away," the rubbery creature projected into her mind.

Lindy was encouraged that she could communicate with it. She was an excellent communicator. In fact, she was The Palette's Communications Officer before being promoted. Yet, somehow, under the circumstances, language escaped her --even if it was only inner thought. Or, perhaps, because it was inner thought, all she could transmit was PANIC!

A wave of calm overcame her, as a soothing frequency accompanied the thought-- "You may call me, Octo Octopus. And i mean you no harm, my friend." The feeling flowed through her whole being.

"Our scans detected no oceanic life readings. How did you get here?" Lindy inquired.

"We have been here for a long, long time" it answered. You didn't detect us, but we detected you, and through quite some effort of mass concentration, we blocked your perception of your machine's readings"

"But why?" she asked.

The octopus hesitated, then transmitted, "Because...well...let's just say..."

to be continued...

OCTO AND THE anti-ARMS RACE
(conversation format)

OCTO:
...We're happy. living our best lives--enjoying nature and companions, without needless conflict and complications.

LINDY:
Can i ask who WE is?

OCTO:
Yes, I'll show you, but you must trust me.

She affirmed her willingness and felt another wave of calm, even as she was lifted above ocean waves and deeper water.

The octopus swirled its 7 other arms beneath the ocean surface, as if performing or signaling something.

It's body turned sage-green. Lindy's favorite color. And the milky blue water, turned crystal clear --treating her eyes to a wondrous vision, indeed.

The ocean was teaming with life--all forms of fish and crustaceans, and a glorious, colored, array of sea vegetation on the ocean floor.

Lindy was especially delighted when a school of dolphins passed. She instinctively connected with dolphins, even though she had only swam...uh...floated with dolphins once, with the aid of adult floaties.

She was particularly surprised to see a crab riding on the back of one dolphin. Apparently, just for the fun of it.

LINDY:
I don't get it, Octo. Don't you and dolphins eat crabs?

OCTO:
My dear girl, the crab's family would not be happy about that! -- and neither would we. As you can clearly see, we are perfectly capable of farming non-sentient vegetation. It is abundantly available for all thinking, feeling oceanic creatures to enjoy.

LINDY:
I see. but...wait. Why did you throw the crab back into the ocean, instead of just letting it be?

OCTO:
(with a more stern tone of thought) Well, we may be peace-loving free spirits, but we do have certain rules which must be followed...

FLASHBACK: First Contact

V3 approaches a doorway at his usual, brisk, waste-no-time pace, just ahead of a women approaching from the other direction. He catches himself needlessly rushing, so he opens the door and waits. She thanks him, with a smile. Their brief eye contact feels more like two penetrating soul scans that end with a mutual blush and awkward look-away.

V3 is now a few steps behind the middle-aged African American women. The back of her hair is tied in a bun and she wears a warm coat on this unusually cold winter day -- for Florida's Kennedy Space Center -- under advanced global warming conditions.

The corridor leads to the Space Force cafeteria. Its wall is adorned with art in a wide variety of styles and sizes. The woman softly says something to herself, that V can barely hear.

V.3
I'm sorry, did you say something?

WOMAN
Oh, I was just saying, who am I to judge?

The sentence started with her glancing back at the art, but ended with her fulling turning to look him in the eyes -- with her own pair -- smiling, in coordination with her full lips -- all welcoming. Inviting.

V.3
Yes, who are you to judge?

His tone was stern, but his expression melted into an affirmation that returned her invitation with an implied, but unperformed, wink.

WOMAN
Whoa, you said that so forcefully. One might say, judgementally?

The game was afoot, they both thought to themselves.

V.3
Yup. That's me. A judge-mentalist from a long line of Judge-mentals. And from where I stand now, there's more beautiful art to consider than what's hanging on this wall.

WOMAN
Oh, I like you. Especially, you're taste.

She laughs and compulsively puts her arm around his waist. A bold, momentary move, which she would have retracted, had he not returned the gesture with his own arm. It was all in line with the open, unguarded and playful tone they had both unabashedly offered and accepted. They now walk together.

V.3
And to think. I entered this cafeteria, alone and uninspired. And in the flash of an eye, I'm alive and coupled. Would it be forward of me to offer to buy you a cup of coffee?

WOMAN
Well, considering your arm is already around my waist. And I like it. I'd be delighted, sir. My name is Munda.

She extends her free hand and they shake. Her grip is a little weak -- like her knees at the moment.

V.3
V--Salvator V. It's my pleasure to hold you.

MUNDA
Salvator? What an odd name for an...Italian? (she teased)

V.3
Yes, well, the most famous of us Sals was Salvador Dali, with the Spanish spelling with a D. But there was that great work of art by Leonardo Da Vinci called Salvator Mundi. What a coincidence. Sounds like your name. What was it again? I'm sorry, it'll take me hearing it 2 or 3 times before I remember it.

MUNDA
Munda, Munda, Munda. There. Now you're under my spell!

V.3
Obviously.

The dance continued. Feet in sync
-- all the way to the nearest, most secluded coffee table available.

MUNDA
And doesn't Salvator mean savior?

V.3
Indeed it does.

MUNDA
Well, we'll have to see about that.

The flirtations and expectations were more than V's subconscious could handle. When he was in a dream, and got too excited, he'd immediately wake up. He was. And he did. But he almost wished it was, just, a dream. But it wasn't. It was a memory. His memory of another loved one left behind to bare the full weight of humanity's pig-headed arrogance and ignorance.

Regardless. Today would be a good day. Like Lindy, V3 had the beach to look forward to.

OCTO AND THE anti-ARMS RACE
continued...

LINDY:
Rules? Sure we all need guidelines. But why does that sound ominous?

OCTO:
I'm afraid you're right, human. I'm sorry, your name is on your name tag -- Captain Lindy Lightyear. You wear name tags? Anyway. The ominous part is what it might lead to, if we didn't have a particular rule. I must apologize again, if it sounds insulting, but what it might lead to is...um...YOU. In the evolutionary sense.

LINDY:
No offense taken. I think i understand? But why might a land crab lead to us?

OCTO:
Well, you can't be too careful. But, yes, a more readily recognizable example, according to your history, would be a mudskipper or, more accurately, a Tiktaalik or Ichthyostega which, visually, is a mix between an alligator and a potato.

LINDY
I see. I see. Right. Well, yes that isn't flattering but it makes sense, if it's the war mongering, exploiting, lusting, greed, arrogance?...

OCTO:
Frankly, my dear. It's the oxygen breath. Ha. I kid. You're not the only ones with a sense of humor. But the most dangerous aspect of you is, your hands -- the hands that build the technology that can turn faulty thinking into bad behavior and magnify it.

LINDY:
But technology in the right hands is good. What about our communication devices?

OCTO:
Don't need em. They're in our head. And interactions.

LINDY:
What about all of our entertainment delivery systems.

OCTO:
Don't need em. They're in our head. And interactions.

LINDY:
Alright then, what about our culture and history that we record and pass down through our media.

OCTO:
Don't need em. They're in our head. And interactions.

LINDY:
Games. Sports?

OCTO:
The Dolphins are playing the Sharks in the semi-finals of Touch Snoutball tomorrow. Turtles are the balls. They retract. They love it.

LINDY:
Damn it. You got me. Should we pack up and leave?

OCTO:
No, everybody deserves a second chance. We'll pretend you haven't already had a boat load over the course of your history. We'll just keep an eye on you.

LINDY:
You mentioned our history again. How do you know so much about our history, Octo? Can you read it from my mind?

OCTO:
No. Well, some. But your mind is all over the place. I mostly get a sense of you, including the sense of humor you like, so I can reflect it.

LINDY:
Then how do you know so much, Octo? I don't like loose ends.

Lindy says waves her arms around. Then, looking at his arms still dangling in the water, she adds...

No, offense.

OCTO:
I am forebode to share the source, my child.

Lindy thinks for moment, reaches into her Flight-Fanny-Pack and pulls out a Choco-Nutty Nutrition bar. She invites Octo to try it. It does, and its skin pigment changes into a flush of vibrant colors.

OCTO:
Hmmmm. That has fascinating flavors. I mean, I love a good seaweed salad but I eat it so often it's practically coming out of my gills...you got any more of those, sweetie?

LINDY:
Why, yes I believe I have a whole pack. Now, you were saying...about human history?

to be continued...

the story concludes...
Ending 1: THE ME BOOKS

OCTO:
OK, my 2 armed, single-hearted, red-blooded friend. The truth is, your history was recorded in the ME BOOKS.

LINDY:
The ME BOOKS? Someone wrote down human history and named it after our "Me Generation?" That doesn't sound right. I mean, it may be an appropriate title, but, it still sounds fishy. No pun intended.

OCTO:
Well, madame. I assure you, I may be squishy but I'm not fishy, in any sense. And I've got as much brain power in one tentacle as you've got in your entire human skull. But, look, I'm already regressing. I'll summon up the evidence. In the meantime, let's break out some of those snacks and engage in more elevated repartee.

Octo softly places Lindy on a rock and they converse about many things. A large, big-mouthed Grouper shows up, opens its mouth wide, and spits out a canister. Octo opens it to show Lindy what's in it. She is amazed, tickled, and inspired. She's so excited she could wet her pants, if she hadn't already.

Lindy rings V3 (via her ring). She tells him the whole story and transmits the canister contents. V3 immediately recognizes the books, now with a few illegible title letters, worn down from centuries of being passed down from tentacle to tentacle...

MEL BROOKS:
THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD PART I
and THE NEW TESTAMENT

Octo explains that they learned lessons from the ME BOOKS. The learned what not to do from some of the mean spirited-ness of the silly creatures in volume 1. And they learned from the examples of brotherhood and selflessness from what they believed was volume 2. But since the ME people crucified the messenger of truth in volume 2, the sea community decided that the land walkers could not be allowed to evolve into existence again.

V3 dashed to his night-table drawer and opened it -- verifying that, indeed, he had retained the Old Testament, by mistake. He thought to them all: "Thank God I capsulized the better half!"

And he thought to himself, about his earth father's hand in shaping the future for him, and the life forms to follow.

THE END (1)

Now Available
--the startling OTHER CONCLUSIONS:

ENDING 2: THE TOWER OF POWER

ENDING 3: THE TARDIGRADE'S TALE

ENDING 4: RED WRITING HOOD EXPOSED

ENDING 5: BEYOND THE DARK OF THE MOON