Writer Unblocked

Corona Creations

By Rachel H Grant

Dedicated to my first class scientist father, thank you for igniting my love of sci-fi fiction

The planet Pyrena sparkled in the sky, a beacon of universal hope, a lighthouse in the cosmos. The planet’s scientists were the best, of anywhere, spearheading technological and medical advances that other planets would queue to buy.

Today, however, a cloud of gloom had formed over the Interplanetary Science Regulatory League building, its silver spires pointing at the sky like accusing fingers. Forensic feelings poured down their righteous rain. It was a day of reckoning.

Supreme Scientific Commander Timius regarded the assembled group with dark eyes. His translucent green skin bulged around his angry mouth.

“So it is true? You have launched a Level 3 experiment on Planet Earth with no assessment and approval from us? What has possessed you? This is an outrage, a cosmic crime!”

“But the circumstances,” protested Space Commander Meritus. “Earth is on the red list of countries capable of causing its own extinction event. We are therefore allowed to interfere without requiring approval.”

Meritus’ sea-green eyes glinted. “And we have only the best of intentions; we are there to help, not to harm.”

“Help? No harm?” stormed Timius. “Earth has a global pandemic that has killed millions and you tell me you have done no harm?”

“The casualties are very regrettable, yes. But a fraction of what would occur in a nuclear war. And we have made real and meaningful progress.”

“Meaningful progress in what, exactly? Introducing a new alien virus to a planet still too backward to be at the intercosmic table? Where is the choice and consent?”

“Our programme has involved a virus yes, but one which has no or very few symptoms in a majority. In that part of the experiment we have succeeded. The rate of transmission has ensured the success of the project. This virus – whether the carriers have symptoms or not – has and is enhancing the capacity of humans to love. It is a very powerful heart booster. The casualties, yes we regret them very much. But the experiment has worked.”

“But why choose a virus to disseminate heart energy? Why not choose a safer vehicle of transmission?”

“Because a virus is perfect. It will become endemic, every new generation will be exposed to a low degree and their hearts opened like a beautiful flower by the sun. A virus will never be suspected as alien. Earth will never know what has happened, the medicine that is at work. But the planet itself will know. As its population passionately combats climate change; as the psyche of the world is horrified at the prospect of nuclear conflict and takes all measures to stop this. Yes, each death we regret, but the bigger picture has saved Earth. This, we really believe.”

Meritus and his team continued to monitor the pandemic story on Planet Earth. Vaccines were not viewed as an obstruction: no, they were an opportunity.

“What can we add to each vaccine?” asked Meritus.

“They can be a further stage of our experiment,” suggested Nomina, a first class scientist who had mastered many breakthrough discoveries. “Each type of vaccine can be given its own ingredient: one for empathy, one for intelligence, one for reason, one for leadership, the list is endless, with every new vaccine we will introduce a new quality to boost.”

“And the persons who don’t take the vaccine?”

“They are also volunteers for our scientific experiment: they are our control group.”

Meritus nodded sagely. “It is the perfect scientific experiment. Scientific Commander Timius won’t like that we are interfering even further.”

“Then we only tell him when the results are in.” Nomina’s azure blue eyes sparkled with wisdom, like little oceans of yet to be discovered science, secrets deep in the shimmering waters.

Labs were entered and vaccine supplies were altered, all by invisible cloaked hands in the deep of night, the dark ocean time on Earth when the paranormal prowled – or, to be more exact, when intergalactic agents performed their tasks.

Data was sifted, analysed and some persons were placed on the of interest list. This was the real agenda: to find the Earth warriors, those who would change Earth’s future for the better.

A miracle child, with the intelligence boosting vaccine turned in to an adolescent genius. She was top of their list. Her name, aptly, Hope. Hope Smith.

Hope concerned herself with world peace, a small town activist as she grew up. At University, she studied bioscience. Meritus’ team were so impressed by her, they even considered first contact. That would be a historic moment, and she was the right person. However Earth was not ready yet. It would be too quick to bomb first and banter later.

Hope embarked on a PhD, studying the pineal gland and its role in spirituality and moral values. Meritus’ team were ecstatic. The human pineal gland was high on their research list, and here was a young woman carrying out this very research but without the important input of the universe’s leading minds! No, all by herself she created the pineal gland cure.

Hope dissected a pineal gland, her smile trying to reach her ears as her long ash blonde hair stroked her shoulders. This was the answer, she knew it. World peace in a gland.

She discovered that an enhanced pineal gland awarded humans with great moral and spiritual insight and premonition abilities. In short, those with a boosted pineal gland both saw the possible future, a possible global war. With their increased spirituality, they also knew how to avoid it.

Her PhD paper became a bestselling book: “The God Phenomenon: The Purpose and Presentience of the Pineal Gland.” Hope’s ambition: to give all world leaders the pineal gland boosting drug she had developed. She toured the world and gave interviews, fame circling her like wolves ready for a meal. They did not devour her, they gifted her a dream come true.

Most world leaders took the pill, and were televised and screened doing so the world over. The population began to demand it too. Soon, the whole world wished to enhance their pineal gland. And as they did so, leaders and subjects alike embraced world peace. Peace in the community, peace internationally, peace everywhere.

Hope sat still as a rock, a shadowy figure on the twilight seashore. As she gazed in to the dark depths of the ocean, she felt her heart cry with joy, burning tears like hot coals inside. Had she really achieved this? Had she lit a fire that would save them all, flames burning the old and creating a new, a better society?

“Hope.” The voice was low, the accent strange. Slowly she turned. A cloaked figure approached her, a face in shadows. However deep green eyes shone like little drops of shining ocean in the night. “I have waited a long time to meet you.”

In the still night, Hope, Earth scientist and peace activist, made silent history. First contact with an alien life. However, this time, there would be no bestselling book. This time, the secret was just for her. To the end of her life, she told no one.

Every week at nightfall, Hope visited the ocean, her favourite place. She gazed on the stars above, and smiled. One day, just one day, her friend might return, and take her away. One day, she would cruise the stars, swimming among them like a mermaid in the ocean, far from home but immersed in the impossibility and incredible depth of the cosmos. One day. For now, the sea would do, and as it gently stroked the shore, it listened to her secrets. And in the depths of the sea, secrets slept like a blessing still to be born. Because science never ends, there is always more to discover. And there is always hope, the lighthouse at the seashore that will guide us all home, a beacon of possibility in the night. Far above, the planet Pyrena sparkled in the sky. Hope sighed as a new tomorrow dawned.