Genesis. Beyond the stars

The outside world was unknown to her, but she could see a glimpse of it through the window in his room. It is beautiful to behold, beyond the terror of aloneness, this tiny view of the vastness of space.

“The saddest aspect of life right now is that science gathers knowledge faster than society gathers wisdom.” ~ Isaac Asimov.

Hi. My name is Genesis. I was the first one born on this ship. My parents have recounted the story of earth to me on numerous occasions.

In the 1960’s, scientists began measuring the planet’s rotation with high-precision atomic clocks. On June 29 of the year 2022, the Earth racked up an unusual record: its shortest day since the sixties, rotating 1.59 milliseconds less than 24 hours. There are 1000 milliseconds in one second, the result of this change would appear seemingly negligible, insignificant one may say, ....1.59 milliseconds, is but the minutest, almost invisible passing of time; but does it matter, we may have asked. We ignored warnings by scientists that the earth was spinning faster than it did half a century ago.

It should have mattered a lot, had we then seriously considered the consequences of the tiny vacillating shift in the tides and time of our world. To us back then, the information was but social trivia, another useless bit of information generated to clog our brain with more knowledge than we needed, mere drudgery, just there for the knowing, but not really needing to be assimilated as truth.

The spaceship Alpha-57 was completed in 2023 by Space Force, the national government space agency in the USA. It was the first in a series of ships being made ready for the initial efforts to colonize Planet Centurion GZX, which had been found to be the closest match to earth's atmosphere and geography. Astronauts and civilians from other countries made up the crew of the spacecraft. The ship contained the properties for self-preservation in case of any unforeseen emergencies which might render it's crew incapable of immediate return to earth. Life could be sustained inside Alpha-57 for up to five earth years, independent of outside assistance. Among the many and varied life sustaining provisions and entertainment offered on the ship, there was food, water, a gym, a small garden already growing vegetable and fruit trees in a closed environment, along with additional seeds for trial on the new planet. Cryo-sleep pods were available for every crew member, these could be adjusted for long or short-term rest.

No one floated around in a spacecraft anymore, lightweight suits, clothing and shoes made from special synthetic materials had long been developed for keeping the crew and passengers grounded. Inside these ships would be as comfortable as living in your home away from home.

The spaceship was large enough to house one hundred and fifty people for the initial journey, more after colonization had been certified achievable on Centurion. Both astronauts and civilians were on board. We took off from earth in June 18th of 2023. All went spectacularly well, the day had perfect weather and our final leg of the flight was met with cheers and congratulations all around for everyone. Communication between earth and the ship was clear, and all confidence levels were high.

It was projected to take three months to finally touch down on Planet GZX. Two months into our flight things started going wrong back on earth. The planet's rotation was slowly speeding up, every few days it seemed to spin a little faster. By the end of two weeks governments and scientists alike were in a state of extreme panic. Every idea to save the earth and it's people were being exhausted. The only viable option, the remaining spaceships, were months from completion. Would the only persons who occupied this ship at that point be the only survivors? The lucky ones on Alpha-57, way above the skies where they could do nothing to help anyone back on their home planet.

"Alpha-57 come in. This is Commander Jenkins, we have urgent and vital communication for the crew, over".

"Alpha-57 here, this is Captain Czenko. Yes Commander, we can hear you, everyone is eagerly awaiting news from earth".

"I am afraid it is not good. Our days are getting significantly shorter, we are barely sleeping. The animals have become rabid and are attacking people. It appears debris fell from space carrying some kind of mutated bacteria and some alien lifeform which is affecting and changing behavior in living things".

"Are there plans for evacuation or protection for everyone there, what is being done, sir"? Asked Ezekiel, the second in command on the ship.

"We are well beyond that point now. The satellites are being destroyed, falling out of the sky, I am unsure of how long before communication ceases. There is nowhere on earth that will be safe for life. As we speak most of the earth is being covered by water, many hurricanes and tsunamis are forming at extreme speeds, the oceans have risen and inundated all land mass". The commander stifled a sob as he tried to be professional in the face of the impending doom.

Everyone on the ship was in tears. They had already talked to their families, still, they harbored hopes of positive news and of returning home.

"Oh my God, the water is rising outside right now". Someone yelled. We could hear panic and terror in the many voices hoping to be saved.

They could barely see or hear the feed anymore from the ship, static was interfering with transmission.

"Hello. Commander! Anyone! Can anyone hear me"? Captain Czenko asked, frantically trying to keep communication going, tears streaming down his face.

"We are all gonna die"! Someone screamed

"I'm.............sorry guys. This is probably ......our last communication with y....... Goodbye.....luck up there. Ezekiel's face popped up grainily in the feed for a moment.

There were screams. Then total silence.

The screens all went black.

"No, no, no"! Many voices echoed around me. We watched in horror as the world died before our eyes.

We stood in shock for a very long time here on the ship. It would be a while before the reality of us being the last survivors of our planet sank into our thoughts and minds.

Were we alone in the Universe?

We did not have the immediate means to settle outside of this ship. Perhaps somewhere in the very distant future we shall. Perhaps, if we are lucky, we will finally find a thriving civilization existing somewhere in this vast lovely, incomprehensive beautiful ocean of nothingness or ocean of everything. It all depends on one's view of these wide, open heavenly spaces.

We had been spared for a reason which was not immediately clear in our minds. Soon the shock and pain will pass. Our lives would go on.

The ship is his. The windows are his. The Master of the universe and of everything holds our lives in His....Her hands.

There are many windows on our spaceship. Yet it matters not out which we gaze through to contemplate our present lives within any given moment. We are, as far as we now know, alone in the universe.

Thirty years have passed

We have not met any new life-forms, but have adapted the ship for survival using carefully collected space minerals for fuel. There have been many trials and perils along the way. Still we survive. Slowly and tediously we are planning on building a home on Centurion. One day we will return to earth. For now, we stubbornly survive and wait.

Mine will always be the view from inside his room, the room of the Universe, the room of the Creator. Beyond the last window to the outside world!

N.A. 12.19.2053 (2022)

Some information courtesy of UK's National Physical Laboratory.