"This is the most beautiful planet I have ever seen." I smiled and looked to my captain. She nodded at me and smiled and gave a small wave in the direction of the ocean. We were in orbit around Earth, in the middle of our first fly-by. Anne and I had finally been granted permission to visit the most beautiful planet in the universe. "We ought to hurry to the desert." I said, my eyes on the Earth. It was breathtaking.
"Actually," Anne said as she stared at the Earth below us. "I think we should stay here a bit."
"Since when have you become the ol' fuddy-duddy?"
"I have an idea. I think we're missing something."
"Oh yeah? What could it be?"
Anne took a deep breath and glanced at me. The wind was fresh and the sun was warm. I had the perfect view for this shot. "I think this really needs a wide-angle lens."
I looked at the Earth then reached out and grabbed Anne's shoulder real quick, in case she was thinking funny thoughts. "Now what would cause you to change your mind?" I asked her.
"I know why this whole thing is happening."
My jaw dropped. "What?"
Anne laughed and turned back to me. "I think we're supposed to stay here. This was the signal to stay."
I knew she was right, although I wasn't happy to hear it. People from ancient Earth had visited the new colony far earlier than we had, way before we were ever even born. This was the third time in seven years they'd come. We had to ask what they wanted of us.
When they first arrived they had been friendly. From there they became more forthcoming. They'd been impressed by the human ability to co-exist with the angels and have our own cultures. They had faith in us because we were a continuation of our past. There had not been a stranger among us. Their philosophy was one of peace, friendship, protection of their cultures.
A violent invasion of Earth's culture was the last thing on their minds.
The third time that the people from ancient Earth had come was only several months earlier. They told us what we were here to do and why. They shared with us the wisdom of their peoples and the caution of many past worlds. They had visited the new world many times because they were fascinated by the unknown cultures they found here. From Earth, they'd dropped metallic balloons that had pieces of paper and instructions in them to help us understand. They had come to warn us. They had wanted to befriend us.
They had already known we were in orbit.
"So what happened in their history?" I asked Anne. I was still a little bit worried. How did we share their history with us?
"They warned us."
"Of what?"
"They warned of the time and the manner our arrival would be. They warned that a strong force opposed us, a great and terrible force to prove us false. Their people had brought us here several times before us, and they had given us sufficient warnings. They had sent us a treasure of wisdom, the person on this planet who was to guide us."
As my heart beat a little harder, I grew curious and feared for the worst. "This is very worrying."
"It is actually positive. We're here, it's happening. We can't always stop it."
"I'm worried, Anne."
"If I'm right, we're really not in trouble."
"I'm still worried."
A small smile crept onto Anne's face. "I know that look. I've seen that look many times."
"What look?"
"That look when you realize that you're in over your head."
"I am in over my head." I said with conviction.
"Do you know why?"
"I don't."
"You started out this journey thinking it was a one-way trip, young. You're going to make a great captain one day." She swept her hand over the Earth again and grabbed my fingers. "I'm not worried about you."
I couldn't stop my heart from beating faster.
This was so big. It was so huge that Anne couldn't see it.
"Come one, young. There's nothing to worry about. Let's go before we see any inhabitants."
We headed back to our ship and to the captain's quarters. I was feeling a little better, but Anne said it: We were going to make it. Nobody would hurt us. Nobody would even know we were ever there.
That was a different matter.
We took the closest pass. Once we were close enough for the ship to get the best view of the planet, I took the time to get comfortable. Anne was more focused on the planet. She was nervous and I was nervous. I didn't think she could see all that it was, but even I would never have thought this planet was like this.
One by one, the crew took a look.
Their hearts did not beat much faster than mine.
We all knew this was our last look for a long time. I was very happy to see most of our crew was close to me. I was happy to see that Karen was feeling better. We played all sorts of fun games, but our hearts could not stop beating. We could not stop our minds from thinking. A few tears had been shed, but the memories we gave each other were only just beginning to sink in. I was starting to miss the crew already. It hurt to have to leave these people so soon. But it was about time for me to leave for real.
For now everyone was with me and we were in this together.
When we told them what was happening, they understood and they took it very well.
"We'll be back soon." I said. "Don't worry about us."
"Don't you worry, young one. It's an exciting time for you. Enjoy it, because it won't last for long."
I would have replied, but I didn't want that look to come back.
I saw the twinkle in Anne's eyes as we looked at Earth one last time. The great, blue sky was beautiful.
It was my last chance.
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