Shining light of hope
Hello all, it’s time for another of my freebie stories. This time it’s a Thanksgiving themed story set in an original universe of mine.
In the troubled times we live in I think we could all do with a bit of light and hope. So, allow me to deliver such to you with this story.
Captain Robert Blake, his crew, and passengers are heading towards a new life. Blake is a descendant of Christopher Jones the Mayflower's captain. He and his wife reflect on the way things have come to pass.
Even as the ship the Pilgrim's Pride sails through space towards new Terra. And as Blake wonders if he can be the leader that these people need.
Get ready as Shining light of hope begins now.
Robert Blake looked over the bridge of the ship Pilgrim’s Pride. The crew continued to sail it through the seeming endless void of space. In the distance a small blue orb drew closer to the ship.
Yet from what the navigation computer says we’re still a good day away from the world that’ll become our new home. He thought to himself.
The man scratched at his beard before he took his command chair on the bridge. Blake sighed not for the first time. He heard a set of footsteps behind him.
“A credit for your thoughts,” said the female voice from behind.
He turned to see a slender blonde woman. She wore the white jumpsuit that marked her as a member of the science team. She also wore a wedding ring that matched the wedding band he wore.
The man smiled and said, “Thinking of home and of how hard it was for us to leave.”
“I understand," she responded.
"Earth will always be the world of our birth but we had to leave you know. There’s no place there for us anymore. And you know my hypothesis on the state of things.”
“Fair point Rebecca," he conceded.
"I know this journey on Pilgrim’s Pride was necessary. But I guess I still regret the fact we couldn’t stay on Earth.”
She shook her head and frowned.
“With how authoritarian so many of the Earth governments are becoming we couldn’t take that risk. I’d rather we risked our lives setting up a new world full of dangerous freedom. Rather than living our lives in safety with tyrants.
“And I know enough Earth history to know it’s never ended well for tyrants no matter what form they take.”
She pointed at them and chimed, “You of all people should know that Captain Robert Blake.”
He chuckled and took the woman’s hands. “Noted Doctor Rebecca Blake.”
They turned and looked at the viewscreen showing the blue orb growing as the ship drew closer.
“There's New Terra, terraformed and ready to go.” Blake noted.
“Still, you can’t help but wonder how many people gave their lives to terraforming this world. How many people who were criminals and undesirables by Earth society standards.”
“We’ll find out when we land there. I suppose starting life on a new world is better than Mars or Titan as examples.”
Rebecca grimaced in disgust.
“Mars last I heard was on the brink of breaking away from the Earth Unified alliance. And Titan for all her promise is a glorified cesspool. Full of crime and the worst corruption anyone can think of.”
Robert Blake shook his head. “A pity. My great grandfather helped found Titan. He must be rolling in his grave right now at what it’s become.”
“I know. But remember who you’re a direct descendant of my dear,” Rebecca pointed out.
Robert couldn’t help but chuckle. “I still can’t believe I’m a descendant of the Christopher Jones who brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock in the 1600’s.”
“These genetic tests are pretty accurate my dear,” she chimed.
“But I’m not exactly a trader. I am or at least was an officer of the United Earth Alliance.”
“And you resigned in protest over the Piccadilly Circus massacre last year.”
“And traded everything in on this one chance,” he muttered wondering if this move was such a good idea.
Then he looked at his wife and asked, “And what of our other passengers in cryogenic suspension?”
“The Medical teams are going through now and reviving them from their cold sleep. I told you that investment in those new cryo chambers would pay off.”
“It was a good deal for some great tech,” he noted.
“But I still can’t help but think we’ll never see Earth again. I’ll never be able to visit Titan. We'll never see any of the gravesites of our family again.”
Rebecca added, “I know. But both our families would want us to live and thrive even if it means we risk our lives.”
The captain looked at his crew. "Navigator Bentsen how long until we reach New Terra?”
“According to the Navigational computers it’ll still take another day sir.” The jet-black haired man answered.
Robert Blake sighed and said, “Great. On the one hand I’m afraid of reaching this new world because starting over is going to be hard. And even with our replicators our resources are going to be a bit limited for a while.”
Rebecca added, “But you’re fearful of going back because of what Earth’s become.”
Robert nodded his confirmation. “I still haven't forgiven the U.E.A. for how they slaughtered the protestors at Piccadilly Circus! And among them were our own parents.”
"Captain if I may be frank with you and your wife?” Bentsen put in.
The Captain of the Pilgrim’s Pride answered, “Granted.”
The Navigator explained, “Sir my own brother and his fiancée died in the crackdown. If we had stayed the U.E.A. would’ve sent some of its lapdog thought police after us. Better to start anew someplace else.
“Someplace where free thinkers like us can grow and create our own civilization.”
Blake nodded and said, “A valid point. But it doesn’t change the fact we’re heading into the unknown and God knows what will happen on this new world.”
Before anyone could speak up the sound of the communicator from Blake’s command chair rang. The captain answered it. “Blake here.”
“Hey Captain,” came a voice thick with a Boston accent.
“You busy with something sir?”
Blake’s face furrowed. “Only casual conversation Spoons what’s up?” The captain asked of the ship’s head chef.
“You and the command staff best come on down to your dining room. I have a little surprise for you.”
Blake’s face furrowed. “Okay Henry,” he said in mild annoyance.
“You’ve had the Command staff dining room locked up all day. What have you been up to?”
“Set the ship on autopilot then you and the crew get down here. I’ll be happy to show you.”
Captain Blake sighed and said, “All right Head Chef Bakersfield we’ll be right down.”
“See you then sir,” he called.
The comm switched off. Rebecca smiled in wry amusement. “What’s the head of our ship’s cooking staff up to now?”
Robert sighed and shook his head. “Even during our academy days, he always could pull a surprise or two on me.”
“He’s been as hush-hush with me too. I know enough about Bakersfield to know when he keeps a secret, he keeps it.”
Robert got up and said, “Well if that’s the way we’re going to play this then all right.”
He looked at the command staff and said, “Put the ship on autopilot and follow me to the command staff dining room.”
R ebecca asked, “Shouldn’t someone stay to keep us on course?”
A voice over the bridge loudspeaker spoke up.
“I heard that Dr. Blake. Have you no faith in my abilities?” The voice of the A.I. system called.
The A.I. who had a distinguished sounding British voice sounded hurt.
Rebecca giggled and said, “I keep forgetting about you Winston, sorry. It’s only you’re so quiet at times.”
“That’s because running this ship takes much of my time ma’am. Even with human operators you need an A.I. system to keep things on course and avoid space hazards. And someone must stay on their toes in case of trouble.
“That and the fact I don’t need to eat as you humans do.”
“I still get nervous about Winston. My fear is that he’ll go crazy like in those old Earth Sci-fi movies. The fact is he is a machine.” Bentsen put in.
“You’re quite correct Mister Bentsen. I am a machine and superior to you humans in many ways. But as I’ve said I would give it up to be human.”
Blake chimed in, “Winston I have faith in your abilities to help get us to New Terra.”
Rebecca added, “And don’t worry Winston. The bioengineers are working on a way to give you that humanoid body you can walk around in.”
“The sooner the better Dr. Blake,” Winston chimed in.
The group left the bridge of the ship and took an elevator down several levels. Then they headed down a long hallway towards a set of doors.
A sign beside the door read, ‘Command staff dining hall only. Passengers and lower-level crew members keep out.’
And that’s when Blake sniffed something. He thought it his imagination and sniffed the air again. “No, no there is no way he could’ve…” Blake thought out loud.
He opened the double doors. Before them stood the Command staff tables lined up. On them were dishes and eating utensils set up.
What they surrounded was something that filled Blake with awe. Before them in bowls and on large dishes was a traditional Thanksgiving meal. “Well, I’ll be…” Blake gasped.
A chubby man dressed in the attire of a restaurant chef came out of a doorway to the right. He carried a bowl full of cranberry sauce. The man set it down and turned to the staff.
“Surprise, Happy thanksgiving everyone!"
The command staff entered all in as much awe as Blake. How? Was all the captain of the Pilgrim’s Pride could think.
It was Rebecca who asked the question on Robert’s mind. “How in the name of God did you get all this? You didn’t raid the food stores, did you?”
The chef shook his head. “Nope."
Then he explained himself. "It happened before the U.E.A. abolished Thanksgiving as unproductive. I contacted a friend who works as a chef back home in Boston. He got all this to me and right under the noses of those damn U.E.A. pricks!”
Robert chuckled and said, “Son of a gun! You’ve always been the quiet one Spoons. I didn’t think you had it in you.”
The Boston native flashed a smug smile. “Hey, I may be the quiet one who gets stuff done. But even I love to stick it to the man sometimes.”
He waved at the tables.
“What the hell are you waiting for? No sense letting these Thanksgiving trimmings go to waste. I got them out because we’re near the end of our journey.”
Blake chuckled and said, “Well, you heard the man everyone. Take a seat and let’s dig in.”
The crew headed over and took their seats. But the chef pulled Blake aside. “Captain if you don’t mind my being honest with you sir.”
Blake’s face furrowed. “Okay I’ll listen.”
“Sir, I know this is a scary big deal. Y'know going to a new world to start over. But consider that you’re a natural leader.
"You’ll do great leading us into this new frontier.”
Blake snorted and said, “I wish I had the faith you did. Sometimes I doubt myself.”
The chef snorted and added, “If our illustrious leader didn’t have fears then I’d worry. I always remember what my dad said years ago.
“Get it done and if you fail get up and try again. And I got a hunch we’re going to do well here.”
The captain nodded and said, “I’ll keep that in mind. And thanks Spoons for the vote of confidence.”
“Hey, I still owe you for helping me find my niche. I'd have never become the chef I am without you."
He then pushed the ship's head back.
“All right Mister direct descendant of Christopher Jones big shot. Get over there and start celebrating!”
The captain of the Pilgrim’s Pride nodded and said, “Who am I to argue with the ship’s head chef.”
Blake headed back over to his wife and saw a familiar smirk on her face. Why do I get the feeling she’s going to talk to me about wanting to have some kids. We’ll we're married and we need to keep up our population, he thought.
He settled in and soon all were enjoying the feast. Blake’s thoughts on the shining light of hope they approached. And the promise of a better freer life.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this little story. Sorry if it was a tad bit slow. I’ll be putting up one more freebie around Christmas time.
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Until next time I’m Animeman73. Stay true to yourselves, stay classy, and God bless you all. Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone.
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