NaNoWriMo: Day 1 − 1 November, 2007
http://www.nanowrimo.org/
For my novel, I decided for a bit of fan fiction, rather than working on a purely original storyline. I do have a road story that I'd like to tell someday, but something based on a pre-existing universe (actually several universes) will be easier to manage for a 30 day "race against time". While the primary framework is derived from the television series, "Lost In Space", I'm going to throw in portions of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos and a dash of the Old Testament. Should be an interesting blend (even if the resulting story is virtually unreadable!).
Here's what I hacked up for Day 1:
Prologue
Hot. Damnably so.
He stopped to wipe his brow with the sleeve of his velour tunic and thought about timing.
“Too late?”, he let go with a rueful laugh. “Too late?”
The whole world has died and you just happened to arrive too late to drive the final nail in the coffin. Well, Zach, that’s just like you. Always snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. You traded the lives of six billion people for this glorious opportunity to take the ultimate walk of shame. Enjoy your trip. Oh, by the way, don’t forget to say hello to the Rob-“.
“Be quiet, be quiet, BE QUIET!” He fell to his knees as his eyes misted from anger and regret. “Why can’t you just leave me alone? Haven’t I paid enough?”
Not by a long shot, Zach, m’boy! Never fear, Smith is ALWAYS here.
Shaking his head in a vain attempt to cast out the voice, he slowly drew himself up and resumed his journey. Shortly, he spied the remains of an old sign which had been freed from its post by the constant winds. Clearing the sand away from the half buried metal, he was able to make out the blasted lettering:
Government Reserve
Authorized Personnel Only
THIS IS NOT A GREEN ZONE!
USE OF DEADLY FORCE AUTHORIZED!
The term “Green Zone” meant nothing to him, but there was no doubt now that he was on the right path. Nothing to do, but keep moving. As he mounted a small rise, his destination came into view. A high chain link fence crossed the road perhaps a half a mile from his position. Just beyond the fence was a nondescript white cinderblock building. A Jeep was parked beside of the structure. His pace quickened, bolstered by confidence.
Chapter 1
October 17, 2007
“This is Major Griggs.”
“Code five Romeo. Repeat. Code five Romeo.”, the voice on the other end intoned with sterile proficiency. A click signaled the end of the conversation. He rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, letting the import of the message sink in. Just as the comfort of his warm bed threatened to release him to Morpheus once more, he threw a leg over the edge and slowly made his way to the shower.
As the heat of the water and the tang of the chemicals used by the recyclers hit him full in the face, a feeling of dread crept into his wakening mind. The message indicated the presence of an unspecified threat to national security. Given his responsibilities with the Intelligence Division of the United Earth Space Probe Agency, such threats could hardly be taken lightly.
UESPA had been formed as an adjunct to the United Nations some seventeen years prior in response to the growing threat posed by population pressures and global warming. The stated goal was to bring the greatest minds of the world to bear on the search for a site for possible colonization. Griggs’ contribution to the effort had largely been one of making sure that no one attempted to seize the technology developed by UESPA for personal or national interests. It was a role that he was proud of and one in which he had been received numerous commendations for. Still, he could not shake the feeling that his legacy would be one of ultimate failure.
Since the disappointment of Project Alpha and the subsequent loss of the Jupiter 3 follow-up mission, UESPA had been roundly criticized by the press as a “road to nowhere”. Famine had erupted on a global scale, with only the nations of the First World, still managing to keep things in check; remaining just one step ahead of martial law themselves. Despite rising sea levels, inadequate transport methodologies rendered desalination efforts moot in all, but coastal regions.
The Earth was dying.
“Major.”, General Strathmore motioned Griggs to take a seat at the conference table. Several other agency personnel and a couple of civilian advisors were already in attendance. Each participant had a blue folder in front of them. Griggs only made out the words on the cover of his copy before the General continued.
Three Rivers Incident Response
“Let’s begin. Yesterday, at approximately seventeen thirty, personnel at the Three Rivers installation were alerted to the presence of an unauthorized individual approaching the facility on foot. Security teams were scrambled and the individual was apprehended without incident.”
The General paused while he considered his next words. “The individual identified himself as Doctor Zachary Smith, currently attached to the Jupiter 2 mission.”
A murmur of whispered voices spread throughout the room as the impossible news was assimilated. Smith had died ten years ago as a result of an accident shortly after the launch of the spacecraft. Something about a high voltage conduit explosion during a final inspection of environmental control equipment.
“The individual in question…”, Strathmore raised his voice to signal an end to any satellite conversations. “The individual in question matches the physical description of Doctor Smith, but given the sensitivity of this incident, we must proceed with the utmost caution. I don’t want to convey any false hopes until we know what we’re dealing with.”
“Doctor Price”, the General directed his attention to a thirty-something woman seated just to his left. “You will conduct a thorough physical examination of the subject. I want to know if there is the slightest chance we’re dealing with an imposter – or worse.” , his last words hung menacingly in the air.
“Major Phillips.”, a middle-aged man with graying temples looked up from the briefing notes. “Your team will proceed with a complete review of all telemetry from Jupiter 2 up to the point of its disappearance. We haven’t looked at that data in a long time. Perhaps a fresh set of eyes will uncovered something we missed.”
The General then turned his attention to the end of the table. “Major Griggs. You will be responsible for interrogating the subject. PAMS is already en route to Three Rivers. You will join them and conduct your interview on-site.”
Great, Griggs thought to himself. An assignment like this and I’m going to be shadowed by a shrink. The members of the Psychological Assessment And Mission Selection team were difficult, at best, to work with. They held traditional intelligence gathering techniques with disdain, preferring to psychoanalyze their way to the truth.
The last time he was ordered to participate in a joint operation with them, he had nearly came to blows with the team lead. From what little he knew about Dr. Smith, however, they were going to have a field day.
His reverie was interrupted by Strathmore’s stentorian tones. “Everyone will find a brief overview of Project Alpha and the Jupiter 2 crew manifest in the folders in front of you. You will also find a directive sheet which will provide additional instructions. I will remind everyone that the information contained herein is Level 1 Non-Disclosure. Thank you for your time.”
