Category: Fiction Factor

“Settle down, class … settle down. Please return to your squabs and let’s go ahead and get today’s lesson started.”

Instructor Provident decreased the illumination in the circular, revolving room, and with a wave of their hand produced a glowing, three-dimensional orb. The image slowly floated among the students so each could get a look at it.

“OK,” Provident said. “Today we’re continuing our study of planetary science. Does anyone know this one?”

Right hands went up immediately, but none more enthusiastically than the pupil who was almost always front and center during science segments.

“Tavor, you were first, so take it away.”

“That’s the Planet Earth,” she said.

“Correct. What do you know about Planet Earth?”

Tavor had already decided she wanted to become an astrogeologist, and prided herself on her knowledge of celestial bodies and their histories. What did she know about Earth?

Plenty.

“The Earth is 4.544 billion years old and its surface is 71 percent water,” she said. “The first life forms were prokaryotes, and it’s generally considered that sponges were the first animal-type organisms on the planet. The first vertebrates appeared roughly 500 million years ago.”

“Excellent,”  Provident said. “You’ve certainly done your research.”

“Earth fascinates me, Instructor,” Tavor said. “Once I get to Advance Academy, I plan to make it my Skill Expertise.”

“Would you care to tell me – and the class – what it is about Earth that interests you most? I’m certain we all want to hear it.”

Tavor smiled and rose, relishing the opportunity to share her curiosity.

“Yes, I would, thank you,” she said. “Originally, I was drawn to the massive asteroid impact that caused the extinction event there 67 million years ago,” she explained. “At that point dinosaurs ruled the planet – it was what Earth scientists referred to as the Mesozoic Era – and there was also sea life, including flying reptiles. The extinction was triggered by the Chicxulub impactor, an asteroid which is estimated to have been 10 kilometers in diameter. It created wildfires and tsunamis, and ultimately led to the extinction of more than three-quarters of plant and animal life on Earth.”

“That’s fascinating, Tavor,” Provident said.

“It is, but not nearly so much as the second extinction event on the planet a million years ago,” added the student. “Do you guys want to hear about that?”

Her classmates nodded approvingly.

“The 2024 YR4 meteor was discovered in Earth Year 2024, and was predicted to pass by Earth in 2032,” she said. “Whereas the Chicxulub impactor was 10 kilometers in diameter, 2024 YR4 was just 0.09 kilometers – significant, certainly, but much smaller. As scientists studied it more closely, they determined that it would not create an extinction level event were it to make impact, but was potentially what they called a ‘city killer’ – an asteroid that would cause significant loss of life and damage. Still, their early predictions were that it would miss the Earth entirely.”

Raven, a classmate of Tavor’s, raised her hand.

“Go ahead, Raven,” Provident said.

“Tavor, I’m a little confused,” she said, pointing to the orb. “I’ve done a bit of research on Planet Earth as well, and don’t understand how the 2024 YR4 asteroid – considering its size – could’ve basically wiped out human life on the planet. As we know, Planet Earth is now home mostly to rodents and sea creatures, so something else had to happen, didn’t it?”

“Something did, indeed,” Tavor said. “Turns out, by 2032, society across the planet had mostly collapsed. There was violence and chaos across the globe. So, a group of international scientists helped build a rocket that could intercept 2024 YR4.”

Raven looked confused.

“Wait … they tried to destroy the asteroid? Did they think by doing that it would somehow unify the planet?”

“That’s what’s so interesting to me,” Tavor said. “According to records that have been uncovered, the scientists had no intention of stopping it … instead, they armed the rocket with so many explosives that they were able to dock it with the meteor, supercharge it with nuclear energy, and transform it into an extinction level asteroid. They changed a city killer into a planet killer.

“They called the mission ‘Operation Own Goal,’ and they’re considered heroes.”

Noel had spent the past half hour racing up and down the steps, stopping only briefly to loudly meow at the door leading to the garage. Cam had been trying to play word games and relax over his morning cup of coffee, but finally rose from his chair and figured it was time to investigate.

“Noel, buddy, what on Earth’s the problem?” asked Cam, easing down to sit on the top step while carefully placing his cup on the hardwood floor. “Come here, big fella … tell me all about it.”

The gray and white feline galloped up the steps and butted his head against Cam’s knee, rolling over to expose his belly – briefly – before charging back down. This time he stood up on his hind legs and pushed on the door with his front paws, chirruping the whole time.

“OK, OK,” Cam said. “What’s say me and you check things out, huh? Is that what you want to do? Maybe there’s a chipmunk down there, or even a squirrel. I guess either one could get in while I’m raising or lowering the garage door. Of course, if it’s another cat, well … I don’t want to get in the middle of a fight.”

Cam slowly opened the door and flipped on the light switch. He paused for a moment in an effort to detect any strange sounds, but there were none. Oh, the humidifier was humming away as usual, but that was completely normal. His Honda Accord was parked in its usual spot, the work bench was cluttered with some of his wood burning efforts, and the shelves on the side of the garage were packed with everything from Christmas and Halloween decorations to old kitchen appliances and lamps.

Cam carefully eyed the area and saw no signs of animal activity. If there were any present, they were doing a great job of hiding.

He assumed Noel had followed him into the garage, but instead the cat was standing at the entrance, his tail standing straight up and slightly curved at the top. He was trilling and staring wide-eyed at … well, nothing.

The man walked back toward the stairwell, turned out the light, closed the door and locked it.

Noel looked at him and then fixed his stare on the door again.

“You critters are weird,” he said. “You’ve been carrying on all this time trying to get to whatever you think is out there, but then you’re too scared to find out for yourself. Why don’t you come up here and sit with me? You could probably use some more skitches.”

Cam made his way back up the stairs, reached down to pick up his cup, and returned to his chair in the den. He remembered a quote by Eleanor Farjeon – “It always gives me a shiver when I see a cat seeing what I can’t see”  – and smiled. Whatever Noel was seeing was apparently for cat’s eyes only.

Meanwhile, at another house …

Leon had spent the past half hour racing up and down the steps, stopping only briefly to loudly meow at the door leading to the garage. Mac had been trying to play word games and relax over his morning cup of coffee, but finally rose from his chair and figured it was time to investigate.

“Leon, buddy, what on Counter-Earth’s the problem?”

Clancy Orion picked up the Big Zac tomato and raised his sunglasses to get a clearer look. It was orange-red and firm to the touch, so he sniffed it, nodded approvingly, and then placed it in his basket along with the other, smaller tomatoes.

He had made it into Vic’s Victuals without incident, and his goal was to inconspicuously navigate the self-checkout aisle and head to the exit. It was an early Wednesday morning, and only a handful of people were in the grocery store. Yet – as was almost always the case when he ventured out in public – even his shades and black dad cap weren’t enough to conceal his identity. This time it wasn’t a customer who recognized him, but an employee stationed near the baskets and carts.

“Hey, I know you,” said the worker, flashing a big smile. “You’re Captain Hysterical! I’d recognize you anywhere – even in sunglasses.”

Orion was  5’7, pale to the point of being almost transparent, and had a long, hooked nose. These days, his curly red hair was closely cropped, unlike the bushy locks he sported while picking up the name “Captain Hysterical.”

That title was earned as was walking through the neighborhood park near his home two years earlier. A child’s birthday party was taking place near the playground when a drunk driver lost control of a fast-moving automobile. The vehicle came barreling towards the kids but Orion stepped in front of it – his outstretched arms crumpling the front end until it looked like an accordion.

The feat was beyond belief, except the party was being recorded by several cellphone cameras (and one professional videographer) who caught Orion’s heroism as it happened.

When first responders arrived on the scene Orion explained that it must have been a case of “hysterical strength,” a phenomenon in which humans display incredible physical power when they find themselves in high adrenaline situations.

A quick checkup by the paramedics revealed no injuries to Orion and nothing unusual about his vitals.

“Man, I remember seeing that all over the TV and internet,” the employee continued, stepping closer as Orion scanned his tomatoes. “A lotta people thought it was fake – still do, I’ll bet. But I don’t think it was. Course if it was, you can tell me … I can keep a secret.”

Orion shook his head.

“It was just a freak thing,” he said, hastily putting his fruit in a plastic bag and tugging at his receipt as it slowly dispensed from the slot. “Never happen again in a million years. Anyway, I gotta run.”

“Sure, sure … I’ll bet you can run fast, too. You know, there was an Olympic guy a few years back who raced a horse. You ever thought about racing a horse? If you can crush a car, you can outrun a horse. Well, maybe not Secretariat …”

Orion said nothing as he walked out the door, but quickly noticed a man in a tank top staring at him.

“Hey,” he yelled. “Captain Hysterical! What do you know about them chemtrails? Are they the reason my mother-in-law thinks she’s been reincarnated as Honey Boo Boo?”

“Sorry, buddy,” he said, rushing past the man as he made a beeline to his Volvo. “I can’t stop now … gotta go.”

Peace has been hard to come by ever since the incident. The first few weeks he was bombarded by media from all over the world, wanting to profile the planet’s “real” superhero. He had to change his number countless times to avoid calls, and as he pulled his car onto the highway, he was traveling toward his seventh apartment in 24 months.

His job as a data entry clerk was one of the few times he could be anonymous, mainly because his company was staffed by introverts. His coworkers didn’t ask many questions, and for that he was grateful.

Still, it was nearly impossible to escape the spotlight. There were some podcasters convinced he was possessed  by demons, while other insisted his heroics were the product of a carefully orchestrated hoax perpetrated by Quakers.

A congresswoman from Georgia even insisted he was a Communist robot, and demanded hearings.

However, as he neared the entrance to his apartment complex, he spotted a familiar figure standing on the steps leading up to his unit.

“Circinus?”

“Orion,” answered the visitor, who had just arrived from Wolf 1061c. “Good to see you again, my friend. I’ve had some meetings with the Council of Elders, and overall they’re quite pleased with your work here on Earth.”

Orion reached into his bag and offered Circinus a tomato.

“No, my inoculation is good for 72 Earth hours. You need the folate and vitamin C, and since it’s the only food here compatible with your digestive tract, you need to keep them for yourself.”

Orion bit into the Big Zac and looked toward the sky.

“Do you think they’ll allow me to return soon? This whole Captain Hysterical thing is my fault and I apologize for getting exposed like that; I realize I’m just here to blend in and observe, and should’ve made myself invisible during that playground episode. You know what, though? I realize it’s forbidden, but sometimes I wish I could just tell everyone I’m an alien life form who has capabilities beyond their comprehension ,,, just go ahead and be honest with them, which is something they aren’t used to. Regardless, I’ve learned much about them during my decade here, and I should have a recommendation for the Elders soon.”

Circinus put his hand on Orion’s shoulder.

“So … from what you’ve gathered so far, are they worth saving?”

“The children are … they’re unspoiled and so full of hope. And the animals make me smile. So many varieties … so pure in their purpose.”

“But?”

“But, the adult humans seem to be marching backward. I just don’t know if the current crop can be salvaged. On the other hand, they’ve learned to cultivate some really fine tomatoes.”