The Keepers

The Keepers

Log date: 28.4.2373

Keeper Identification Mark: 21223413933

Keeper: KL00052997

Planet: 09072007

Planetary Name: Earth

Status: Unknown

Log: Time stamp: 0600

I am keeper KL00052997. I am a part of the restoration crew Alpha79. This is our first attempt to observe, scan, and record planetary status, anomalies, sustainability, and recommendations for restoration of planet 09072007

A brief history of this planet shows a wide range of cataclysmic events that led to its ultimate destruction and incompatibility to life as was known. These events were driven by multiple factors but ultimately fault lies with the predominant species known as “Human”.

Human consumption of natural resources, and their inability to redact the damages they caused to the planet, led to widespread changes in the planets ecosystem. Changes in climate became an insurmountable issue. Ocean levels rose and large amounts of the planets terrain were lost below the surface. Weather patterns changed and led to severe droughts. Wars over remaining resources broke out between different factions of humanity, and what is recorded as “Chemical Warfare” poisoned most of the terrain that was left, along with the inhabitants. The humans were infected with various diseases, which became global pandemics. The mortality rate plummeted further, and many humans become sterile.

Surviving members of the species attempted to come together in peace to find solutions for survival after the irreparable damages they caused to their planet and their species.

In the year 2077, humans launched several spacecraft known as the “Santa Maria II”, the

“Niña II” and the “Pinta II”.

Each ship was equipped with everything needed to colonize Planet 09072008, also known as “Mars”. Humans with certain knowledge in science, biology, chemistry, Botany, Physics, and various other skills necessary to life and survival, along with other fertile humans that were drawn from what is known as a “lottery”, set off on a one-way journey to save the species. They officially called this the “Great Hope”, but others called it “The Great Hail Mary”.

The missions were successful, and colonization of Mars began roughly 8 months after launch.

The difficulties of colonizing another world did prove to be formidable, as would be expected. Resources were slim and strictly rationed. Water was mined. Dome like structures were created for living as well as agriculture. The gravitational differences were a major factor that needed to be adapted to in several ways. The initial suits created for humans to survive, thrive, and adjust to the harsh conditions on Mars, had to be refined several times over to maintain compatibility with human life. Despite the adversity, the human species did survive and successfully created a home for themselves on Mars.

In 2091, first contact-

A buzzing sound interrupted the keepers recording.

“Come in”

The door opened, and Aaryn practically glided into my living quarters. She was tall with short, dark, hair, and very beautiful. Her skin had an almost silvery, translucent, quality to it, as if she were made of pearls. Cass always admired it when she saw Aaryn. It was so unlike her own, scarred, tanned skin.

“You aren’t suited up yet!?” Aaryn chimed. Her voice was high pitched, and melodic.

“I was just starting my log; I’m going to grab my suit in a minute.”

“That is so like you, Cass! Always working! You should be so excited!! This is EARTH! This is YOU! Well, in part it’s many of us, but CAAAASSS!!” She exclaimed, practically jumping up and down in excitement.

Cass had to smile at her best friend’s exuberance. “I know, I know. I’m going. I will have to come back to this log later anyway.”

Aaryn’s face lit up with an impossibly huge smile and winked at her. “You have to remember to wear the blue hyper suit! And stop thinking that!!!”

Cass whipped her head around towards her friend and narrowed her eyes “Aaryn!!”

“I’m sorry!! You weren’t guarding and your thoughts are so loud sometimes! I swear I’ve never met anyone that thinks about every little possible thing the way that you do! Plus, you are GORGEOUS, and that suit is so much more advanced than your old one. Also, I spent a lot of tokens on that for you! I want to make sure you are safe, and I’m tired of seeing it just sitting in your closet!” Aaryn crossed her arms over her chest and pushed her chin forward defiantly.

Cass let out a sigh, and closed her eyes, calming herself and taking a few deep breaths, drawing her thoughts back into herself.

“Okay, I promise I will wear the beautiful, expensive, gift you gave me, that I adore even though you don’t think so.”

This time Aaryn’s eyes narrowed a bit, but she didn’t say anything

“I do love it, you know it’s just how I am, and it does make sense to wear something updated with newer tech that’s more protective. So, thank you, very much, my dear, sweet, smart, and totally annoying, friend!” Cass said, with a dramatic flourish of her hand and a slight bow of her head.

Aaryn’s smile beamed, and her skin glowed briefly.

“OK then! I’m off to the armory. I’m going to pick up Arnold, and I’ll grab all your kits, do you need anything else?”

“Not that I can think of at the moment, but keep your com on in case”

Aaryn glanced at me with frustration

“Yes, your COM. I am guarding now”

“Fine! Although I will never understand why you won’t use your skills!”

“I don’t like anyone in my head, and I don’t like intruding in other beings heads”

Aaryn rolled her large, dark, eyes. “Well, I agree, you are definitely guarded”

“Go get Arnold, you Zork!” I laughed. Arnold was her pet name for her favorite weapon. Ever since we were in the academy together, studying human culture for this very mission, she became obsessed with a certain group of films called “The Terminator”

Aaryn smiled. “Oh, I’m a pile of gelatinous and foul-smelling goop from the outer quadrant? I see how much you love me!” She winked at me. I laughed.

“OK, I’m off, I’ll grab you some goodies too! Meet you in the bay in 30? By the way, last time I saw him, Xander was suited up and looking quite handsome, if I do say so myself. He was heading to the pod to perform the systems check”

I tried to hide my blush, but Aaryn knew me too well

Aaryn let out a laugh, “See you later, lover girl!”

I heard the door open and close, and her laughter echoing back to me from the hall.

I sat back and closed my eyes. “Breathe in, breathe out” I reminded myself.

I walked over to the closet. “Open” I commanded. The doors slid open. I walked into the space, and I stared at the incredible blue hyper suit in the holding chamber. It was a beauty. The material was light weight and allowed for movement yet was so strong that even a blast from a destroyer would barely cause a scratch. The camouflaging was superb, the suit automatically blended in with your environment with just a thought. Gravitational and environmental changes were not even a concern, as the suit adapted to almost anything. This took a pretty token. Aaryn was always so good to me. She was the first being that was even remotely friendly to me when I moved into the academy. Many were afraid of me. I was after all, partially human.

My mother hailed from the very survivors of Earth that I had been speaking of in my log. My ancestry started there, and then went onto Mars. When first contact with humans happened in 2091, my family were leaders on Mars. It was not an easy transition. Humans were very careful as to what they allowed, usually acting with aggression. A standoff went on for a few years until finally my mother made an alliance with the “Others” as humans called them.

My father was from the Andromeda galaxy. The planet’s name has no way to be translated into something the human tongue can pronounce. The meaning of the planets name would be akin to “Source of the light workers”. Humans just called them “Lighters”. I had inherited many things from both parents, however there were some things that had to be kept secret. Obviously, my age was not one of them. Lighters lived for millennia, even though full physical maturity was usually reached by the first century. All aging slowed to barely a trickle after that.

My parents worried about what their biological differences would mean for me. It seems that I inherited my father’s gifts and life span. Physically, I was tall, like my father, but my skin did not glow with my emotions, as they did for Lighters. I had my mother’s tanned skin. However, the biggest difference was the fact that somehow, I had maintained my mother’s fair hair and eyes. You see, blue eyes and blonde hair had all but disappeared over time spent on Mars, and it was not something seen in many other beings. It’s a strange thing, being that there are so many differences in the plethora of species out there, yet somehow my eyes and hair were considered taboo. They were acquainted with aggression, destruction, and a race of people that killed their own planet and practically sent themselves to extinction.

I had the gift of telepathy, as all Lighters did. What was not known, a secret I had hidden, was the fact that I could control other’s feelings and memories. I could do this through compulsion with my mind, but the memories took touch to absorb. It’s part of the reason I had to be so careful with who I allowed to read my thoughts. It was stupid of me to be so unguarded earlier, but writing my log caused me to get lost in my head. If other beings knew what I could do, I would be feared even more so, possibly cast out. It was not something I wanted to risk. As a keeper, we were tasked and trusted with recording the stories, cultures, and histories, of all species and known planets. If they only knew why I was so good at my job!

I allowed the suit to conform to my body. It fit like a glove. It was so beautiful though. I looked in the mirror and frowned a bit. As I expected, the blue color only accentuated the aqua blue color of my eyes. Aaryn was always trying to get me to accept what I considered to be an abnormality. I knew that’s why she picked this exact suit for me. “Oh Aaryn” I sighed.

I went over to the drawers that filled the side of my closet. There was a secret compartment that only I could gain access to. I opened the compartment and stared at my most prized possession. My hands shook as I pulled it from where it hung. I slowly opened the gold heart-shaped locket, that once belonged to my mother. In it were pictures of her and my father. I ran my fingers over the pictures. I closed my eyes and I let the memories of my mother wash over me. She’s been gone for so long, but I was still able to feel her, see through her eyes.

“I miss you mom, I whispered”

I put the locket on, my suit covering it, adjusting to the contours until you could not tell that I even had it on.

“I’m coming home, mom. I’m going to finally see with my own eyes, what I’ve seen so many times through yours.” She would be so happy, so proud. A single tear slid from my eye. I let it fall.

Deep breathe, I reminded myself. Time to go. With that, I left my quarters and walked to the bay to meet up with Aaryn, Xander, and my team. Coordinates set. Destination, Earth.