Wednesday, April 21, 2021

WEP & Jardin


Thanks so much to the WEP team for selecting Jardin as the runner up this time around! Congrats to Toi for her powerful entry and the emotions she evoked!

Jardin


Jasta woke well before her alarm. In reality she wasn’t sure she’d actually slept. Who could sleep when Freedom Morning was so close?


Jasta shoved out of her bunk and slipped into the bathing chamber to prepare for the day. She rushed carefully through her preparations. She wanted to look her best when she dreamt back on this day.


At her first stop in engineering, she found grinning crew members, sparkling equipment, and enough data to confirm that Freedom Morning was a go.


The air in Esperanza was now completely Jardin’s air. Terran air was left far behind.


In medical, she confirmed there were no longer ill effects from the new combination of hydrogen, nitrogen, and what their scientists called jardigen. A molecule never seen back on Terra. At least from the records she had. Records from seven generations ago.


Hard to even imagine the changes in knowledge over that time frame. Leaving behind a burning husk of a planet in search of a future.


A future about to be realized.


Jasta checked in several more sections before heading to the gallery. The largest room on Esperanza was filled with her people. Not everyone fit, but she knew the others were watching from the screens. She doubted even one was asleep.


Jasta moved to the front of the room and grinned at the spontaneous round of applause.


“We’re here. We’re ready. This morning will begin a new chapter in humanity’s tale. We’ve got things to prove. We’ve been given a second chance. A second planet. We’ve all pledged to ensure we don’t harm this one. We’ve studied, we’ve learned.”


Her voice trembled and Jasta took in a deep breath before beginning again.


“We’ve read about wind and weather. We’ve seen vids of mountains and seas. We’ve heard the calls of fauna and smelled the scents of flora, but from a distance. Today, we experience all of those in a new way. In the best possible way. On Jardin, our new home.”


A cheer resounded through the room. Jasta blinked away the tears of pride in these people she loved.


“We’re going to dream better. We’re going to do better. We’re going to be better.”


The gallery rang as the people echoed her words. The promise they’d pledged every morning of their lives.


“It’s time.”


Jasta led the way to the nearest exit and for the first time in seven generations, the door opened.


Jasta tried to keep to a sedate pace, but joy and hope sent her into a run within only a few steps. She whooped and threw her arms to the sky.


Felt the wind.

Smelled the planet.

Saw the mountains.

Touched the grass.


And believed.


Freedom Morning was their chance.

And they weren’t going to screw it up.


***



The above story is part of the WEP Challenge


Have you participated in the Challenge before? It's always fun and productive. Not only is it good to flex those short story muscles, the real bonus is reading all of the amazing stories springing from a single prompt. Follow the link to read more!



54 comments:

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
Your story is very futuristic. I hope that all their plans to do better actually take place.
Shalom aleichem

Ornery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost said...

A nice science fiction write. I wish that people would learn to take better care of this planet before searching for a new one.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Jemi - sounds so hopeful ... if only, I'd sadly say. but I love the way you drafted it - and gave Jasta and her community their chance for a future. Well done - Hilary

nashvillecats2 said...

I enjoyed the read Jemi. Wonderfully written.
Sorry about the deleted comment....... made too many spelling mistakes.
Yvonne.

Elephant's Child said...

How I hope that they have learned. And that we, in our time, do too.

Jemi Fraser said...

I hope they do as well!

Jemi Fraser said...

That is indeed the hope!

Jemi Fraser said...

If only...

Jemi Fraser said...

LOL - I hear you on the spelling mistakes. I've done that more than once myself! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

I hope we do as well - humanity is a bit of a mess and is making a mess of so many things.

Sanhita Mukherjee said...

Very positive story of hope and joy. I am thrilled about jardigen.

Olga Godim said...

Love it, love it! I hope they won't foul this new planet of theirs.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Sanhita! I knew it would be a heavy month from the prompt and thought a bright spot might be welcome :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Olga! Me too!!

Mason Canyon said...

Great story, Jemi. If only we can learn from our mistakes for future generations.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much, Mason! I hope we can learn!

Nick Wilford said...

I'd like to think they won't screw it up, but I don't know... inspiring, nonetheless!

Jemi Fraser said...

I figured. it was going to be a dark month of entries - a little hope seemed important!

Denise Covey said...

Hi Jemi! Your bright spot was indeed welcome, although I do also love reading deep and meaningful takes on this and any prompt. I love Jasta's voice in this and her exuberance. A lovely, hopeful flash set in the sci-fi world.

A Hundred Quills said...

What makes me enjoy reading sci-fi and fantasy is the hope, hope for a better tomorrow. It's all we have, don't we? A promising read Jemi. Thank you!
-Sonia from https://soniadogra.com

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Denise!
There are so many deep and thoughtful pieces this month - excellent reads!

Jemi Fraser said...

It is indeed, Sonia. Hope is one of the defining characteristics of being human.

N. R. Williams said...

And humanity survives. A lovely tale of hope. Well written.
Nancy

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Nancy. We all need some hope these days!

Yolanda Renée said...

Didn't bode well for Terran. Here's to hoping the lessons were truly learned. But time is the true lesson, generations mean change. Lovely tale, and worth the study for a book! Great job!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Yolanda! I have so many SF ideas floating around - just need a ton more time!!

Kalpana said...

The hope and excitement running through this story were invigorating. Honestly, what Sonia said is true - science fiction looks to the future and is hopeful (mostly). History, or the present can sometimes drag one down. What a well-told tale.

Nilanjana Bose said...

Well crafted and engaging, as always. Great interpretation of the prompt. Like the optimism and elation running through the story, but has humanity learnt its lessons truly?

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much, Kalpana. I've been in the mood for a little hope

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Nila. I don't know what it will take for humanity to truly learn. Greed always seems. to get in the way

L.G. Keltner said...

This is so bright and hopeful! I can only imagine what it would be like to set foot on a planet after spending your entire existence on a ship. I truly hope they do better with this fresh start.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

A whole new planet to explore. Miracle they found the one ingredient to make it livable.

Christopher Scott Author said...

An engaging, futuristic, and optimistic take on a possible future for humanity. Too bad most people are stubborn about environmental issues on Earth. Well done, Jemi.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Laura - I needed a spark of hope with the world being crazy right now!

Jemi Fraser said...

Miracles are always good!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks Christopher. If we would shape up, the planet might tolerate us for a little longer!

Toi Thomas said...

Great sci-fi entry. It's hopeful, and yet, a bit sad. I hope we don't destroy this world, but if we do, I hope a future generation really does do better on Jardin (love that name!)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Toi - I was in need of a hopeful writing session and this was the result. I hope we don't mess this one up permanently too!

J Lenni Dorner said...

Excellent sci-fi! Seems like a good ending to a story about a generation ship taking humans to a new home. Lots of hope and happiness. Good work.

J Lenni Dorner~ Co-host of the #AtoZchallenge, Debut Author Interviewer, Reference& Speculative Fiction Author

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, J Lenni!
I've always had a couple of generational-ship stories running through my head - one day I'll get one on paper!

Steph W. said...

A beautiful message of hope mixed with the bitter truth of why they needed a second chance. Well done.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Steph. I hope we don't need a 2nd chance, but if we do, I hope it goes like this!

Jemima Pett said...

I like that. I hope we do get to have a second chance.

Jemi Fraser said...

I hope so as well! Although I hope we fix our messes first!

Toi Thomas said...

Congratulations on your WEP recognition and award. Well deserved.

Christine Rains said...

Congratulations, and what a wonderful optimistic view of the future. You did very well having the hope surge through in the emotions.

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much, Toi!
Same to you!! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks, Christine - I figured we all could use a little hope right now!

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

Oh, I like it. And I so very much hope that 7 generations was long enough to change humanity enough to not screw it up!

A Hundred Quills said...

Heartiest congratulations on the win Jemi!
-Sonia

Jemi Fraser said...

I hope so too!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much, Sonia!!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Jemi - the first day of their free future ... such a thought of the new world to come ... freedom and freshness ... well done - Hilary

Jemi Fraser said...

Thanks so much, Hilary! It's good to have hope!