A vacation chance of a lifetime the new world plan

A vacation chance of a lifetime the new world plan.

Today is the day. Marshal watches the first group begin the ascent. It’s still so damn unbelievable. However, people will do what they will. Especially if they believe it’s the end of the world. Of course, an interstellar ship as large as a city hovering just above a city is an end of world qualifier. Marshal takes one last look at the group slowly ascending into the mysterious ship and turns back toward his apartment. It is still midday and he has much to do.

The city is Aberdine and the day is a hot one in August. Marshal has lived in Aberdine all his life. Even takes vacation here. He drives a bus and lately the traffic has taken a turn for the worse. Of course the traffic is a major concern for someone like Marshal. He spends all his time on the road. The road is his living and subtle changes are very noticeable. It started about three months ago when the reports first came in. Something’s here! Every news outlet and online reporting agency in the world took notice immediately. For the first time in known history there is contact.

Over the next few weeks the only thing was the UFO. The UFO from another galaxy. The UFO in orbit. Then: contact. Marshal, like the rest of the world, followed everything. The news was everywhere and ran twenty four hours a day. The UFO was in orbit for about a week, and then reports started surfacing about contact. Suddenly humanity’s understanding of the cosmos seemed on the brink of expanding, exponentially.

A Vacation Chance

Then, things got strange. How could they not? There was an unidentified flying object from another galaxy in orbit around the Earth. Except that wasn’t completely true. The object is identified. Not only identified but also in orbit. Far enough away to feel wondrous, but not threatening. Then it chose Aberdine, and that’s when the strange shit started happening. First it was the damn traffic; because 24 hours after the announcement that the Craft was on its way to Aberdine, the city population quadrupled. It was like everyone in the country decided to vacation in Aberdine. At the same time.

Before Marshal knew it, his once empty bus route was so crowded, it was standing room only. Furthermore, most every passenger was a tourist. After one long month of the new normal, Marshal began to think he would lose his mind. Then the real fun started. World leaders began arriving in Aberdine. Something big was brewing and the whole world was watching. Now, the streets are so crowded, it takes Marshal twice as long to complete his once empty route.

With this in mind, eventually, the something big came out. The visitors, the Aliens, from another galaxy are on a mission of peace. They are looking for volunteers to spread Earth’s consciousness across the stars. No strings attached, of course. Marshal smirks to himself. A free ride into the cosmos. Finally humanity learns it is not alone in the universe and the visitors are just picking up hitchhikers while on vacation. Marshal can’t wait to hear how that plays out.

Chance of a Lifetime

His apartment is on the East side of the city. From his window he can see the enormous ship in the sky. The enormous craft is the sky. Aberdine sits nestled between two ridges and since the city sized ship came to rest in the sky above the city the residents have had to adapt to a reduction in daylight. Furthermore, the night sky is now the underside of an interstellar mother ship. The light patterns are interesting to say the least.

That afternoon Marshal watches the news before his evening shift at the bus station. Sleep is elusive these days. The premature night has everyone’s sleep schedule bent up. It’s like being on vacation, but not as much fun. Another one hundred and fifty souls have ascended to the mother ship and more are on the way. Marshal watches the news with much skepticism. He wonders how many people will fit on the ship. Considering its size, he imagines it’s a multitude. The invitation is open to everyone. However, the caveat is not for everyone. It’s a one way trip.

New World Vacation Plan

All the reports are very careful to emphasize that once the Craft (ship) breaks orbit, there will be no return. At least not in this lifetime. Or the next, for that matter. In fact, that’s quite a sticking point as far as Marshal is concerned. Celestial beings notwithstanding, who takes a chance like that? For that matter, maybe awful things are happening inside that ship right now. Hundreds of human passengers are already on board, and not one glimpse of the so called, extraterrestrials. Vacation or not, Marshal isn’t feeling too impressed with the celestial flex.

Two days. The announcement came in the morning news. Channel 3 had the breaking story. The announcement (and decision) is so abrupt that world leaders are threatening military action. Marshal almost laughed out loud. As if anything short of a nuclear blast could impact the monstrosity that is the Craft (ship). Two days and the ship is leaving. Marshal can’t help but wonder how long it will take things to return to normal in Aberdine. Do tourists leave as fast as they arrive? There should be a feeling of relief. Something like, a sigh of relief from humanity.

Lifetime

However, it is anything but a sigh of relief. If anything there is more confusion as the news begins to change. First it’s the missing herds of cattle. Then later in the day the discovery of an empty lake hit every news outlet far and wide. It wasn’t just a lake. It was a Great Lake and the entire thing was dry. Overnight. Marshal knows it’s them. Hell, everyone knows it’s them. Yet people are still going up into that ship. How many can that thing hold? Only one day left to find out.

Marshal pulls the bus up to the stop. Then he uses the old crank handle and opens the doors of the bus. From there he pulls the key and almost pockets it. Then he smiles. What the hell will he need it for? He’s going on vacation. Therefore, he tosses it on the console and steps off the bus. Just ahead there is a small queue of people and he takes his place at the end of the line. Overhead, in what was once his sky, the massive ship has begun an almost imperceptible rotation. The effect is slightly disorienting. Another few minutes and he will be ascending. From there, who knows.

Thanks for reading.

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