Writer Unblocked

In memory of my father, Dr David Grant

The signal was strong, a song in a strange language. Space Sergeant Neville stared at the simulation cube, transfixed. Planet Evergreen, in solar system Stonehenge. The planet named for its striking green and blue colours, the first world identified as a potential cousin to Earth, and on their list for a future trip. However, no one had ever ventured that far. At least, not yet.

The name Stonehenge indicated the strange nature of the solar system: a string of planets in a perfect circle around their sun and three moons. A space stone circle.

The signal grew steadily stronger. Neville smiled, a light of hope in his eyes. Were an alien species calling Planet Earth? Could this be first contact?

Slowly, he switched the office to virtual reality mode, pinging his commander. This conversation just had to be face to face. Even if that face was his avatar. How he loved VR, a land of unlikely beasts, fairies and unicorns. The cradle of the unconscious.

**

Dr David Grant lingered in his study, the drum of discovery in his head. He was an alien life scientist, mapping out knowledge of other species, studying them, building a knowledge base of alien biology. He loved his job.

Suddenly the study turned in to a VR landscape, as a ping sounded in his head. The avatar of Neville Hammond confronted him, no less than a sabre tooth tiger. His golden Labrador barked in greeting.

“There is a mission,” proclaimed the tiger, its eyes gleaming. “Planet Evergreen is calling.”

Two days later, David boarded Space Sapphire, the ship that would take him to the edge of their universe. It was time to meet real aliens, not the imaginary ones he mapped out in his research.

It was time for Earth to grow up. The thought of first contact sparked tears in his eyes. History had hunted him down, while the future would smile or frown; it was up to him and the crew to get this right.

**

Ten months later, Space Sapphire entered the orbit of Planet Evergreen. Agate green land and azure blue seas glimmered below. It truly was a paradise, an Earth before climate change choked the ground. Three moons, blue, green and purple, glowed with inner light. Moonlight joined sunlight to bathe the planet in a pastel-coloured disco.

David smiled like a man who could see for the first time. Beauty bathed his brain, a vision of victory in alien ink, a new planet to discover, and the possibility of intelligent beings to partner with. He hoped peace would be their welcome.

They landed on the edge of an emerald lake, vibrant yellow and purple grass stretching to mountains on the horizon. This was a sister Earth, a better Earth, still a stranger to climate change. The rose-pink sun showered them in healing pink light. Awe hung on their faces, a necklace of the nectar of life.

An emerald green pod appeared above them, and swiftly landed. Five human-like persons emerged, two women and three men, dressed like Ancient Egyptians.

The leading woman approached them slowly, a beautiful and heavily made-up face smiling with welcome. She held a large quartz crystal in her hands. Her Egyptian etched eyes glowed with warm humanity.

“Welcome.” Surprise turned to shock in the eyes of the Earth crew. How did she know English? “This crystal is a universal translator. Whatever I say, you will hear in your own language. I am Emeralda, Supreme Leader of our planet, Paradise Lost. The name may appear odd in translation.”

David stared, enchanted. What a discovery, an Earth-like planet with a similar human species to their own! He could not wait to research them, to analyse their DNA. He hoped they would not think his request for samples rude. All in good time.

However, time would not wait. A giant spacecraft hovered above, seamlessly landing next to them. Emeralda clapped her hands in joy, her long dark hair shining in the pink sun.

The Earth space crew were bemused but not concerned. Their sincere welcome was a balm to any anxiety. They sensed no danger.

More Egyptian-like persons emerged from the spaceship. In fact, they looked just like ancient depictions of Egyptian Gods.

Emeralda and her welcome committee were ecstatic, bowing before the new arrivals. It was like they had not seen these explorers for centuries.

Then the story was told. It was a poetic portrait of Planet Earth. And it might just be true.

Emeralda has ordered a feast, and as they all reclined on blankets on the grass, she began her tantalising tale.

“Meet Isis and Osiris, your Egyptian Gods,” she began, nodding towards the leaders of the alien spaceship. “Dear Earth travellers, your human history is before you. Isis and Osiris and their crew are returned from your Ancient Egypt. The signal you found, that brought you here. It was relayed to Earth in your year, but also to Earth in the time of your famous Ancient Egypt. We were calling you, Earth of 2403, but also you too, our dear Ancient Egypt settlers. You see, dear Earth travellers, what you know as Egyptian Gods, what you believe to be a myth, were really our own kind! Thousands of years ago Isis and Osiris travelled to Earth, to instil our culture, to teach the then immature race. Here on Paradise Lost, we have monitored Earth ever since. Because we have the technology – unknown to your planet yet – to combine space and time travel, it was agreed that Isis and her team would leave Earth to travel back here, but a future here, when Earth is deemed mature enough to meet their Egyptian Gods once again, but this time as equals.”

Isis solemnly regarded the Earth crew. Her deep turquoise eyes glowed with wisdom, while her long hair rustled like a river of moving poetry. “I am your God, I am your wisdom keeper, your historic Queen, and if you agree, I will return to Earth with you. It is time to meet an evolved human race.”

“And I have bad news!” laughed Emeralda. “Pyramids went out of fashion very quickly.”

“Then there is much work to do!”

**

David and his colleagues enjoyed a restful two weeks on Paradise Lost, before returning to Earth – followed by Isis’ ship. The crew were ecstatic. The trip had exceeded the most eccentric of expectations. They were living in the heart of history.

David smiled as he held his DNA sample. He could not wait to start his research.

Earth turned electric with Egyptian enthusiasm. Isis and Osiris achieved super celebrity status within minutes. Social media was a sandstorm of Ancient Egyptian lore. Isis gave many solemn and insightful speeches over all communication channels. Quickly, a ghost-writer was recruited to write her bizarre biography.

“Isis: A Journey through History and Heaven” became an instant bestseller. Isis and Osiris became the crème de la crème of celebrity culture. They were invited to all red-carpet events, where they stunned with Ancient Egyptian allure.

Meanwhile, David ran tests on the Egyptian God DNA, with samples from current residents of Paradise Lost in addition to Isis herself. It was human DNA, but with subtle differences. When he told Isis and Osiris, they were not surprised. “We come from a similar planet with a comparable ecosystem. Of course, we evolved on a similar genetic journey.”

David analysed the differences in the DNA, however was perplexed. Something was not right. For months he ran test after test, creating simulations to chart how the DNA had developed. An irritating voice whispered in his head, that all was not as it should be.

Isis and Osiris announced a time travelling trip to a point three hundred years in the future, part of a wider “time” tour. However, due to the technologies of time travel, they would return in just one week. Time travel science has not been divulged as yet, although Earth’s leaders and scientists alike hoped they would be gifted this in due course.

A phenomenal party sent Isis and Osiris on their way. “We’ll be back within a week!” they laughed as they boarded their ship. They had now mastered modern day English, so no longer needed a crystal translator.

David continued to analyse the DNA, an obsession worming its way through his brain, tentative thoughts at last turning in to an absurd theory.

The DNA had been artificially altered. He was sure of it.

The Egyptian Gods had larger hearts, enhanced brains and super strong spines. This has been revealed by his initial physical scan of their bodies. However, he had now concluded that none of this was by genetic chance.

What did it mean? Did some far advanced human race, from yet another planet, initially populate Paradise Lost?

David could not wait for Isis and Osiris to return. Perhaps they would have some genius insight.

However, he waited and waited, as did the entire planet. Firstly, a week, then as it elapsed, another week, and another. Weeks mutated in to months. Months metamorphised in to years. Isis and Osiris never returned.

David decided to join the next expedition to Paradise Lost. Perhaps Emeralda would know something of the secret of her DNA. As the spaceship landed ten months later, he breathed a sigh of joy. The beauty of this planet could never disappoint. He disembarked under the light of three moons, a clear night sky of a million stars above. And Earth was one of them, so very far away.

Emeralda was intrigued by David’s research, and also perturbed that Isis and Osiris had not returned.

“Since records began, we have always been a high performing civilisation here,” she confided. “Unlike your own planet, where you chart your progress from apes. In our known history, we were always an advanced species. And therein muses a mystery.”

David spent many months in Paradise Lost, walking round its lakes, enjoying the very different yet not too dissimilar waterfowl. On his return to Earth, he resumed his study of the DNA. There were no new surprises. Just the one big question. Who had altered the DNA?

Isis and Osiris never returned. In his old age, David reclined by his artificial fire and dreamt of Paradise Lost. Then he made his decision. He would go back there, to finally rest on a planet so much more beautiful than climate changed Earth.

One summer evening, in long purple grass under three moons, he drifted to sleep in a cradle of magical light. And in his dreams, he met Isis and Osiris. They imparted many secrets, but David would never wake to tell their tale.

**

It was Paradise Lost, two million years in the past. Isis and Osiris arrived with inhabitants of Earth from year 2703, a planet perishing under cruel climate change, a civilisation at war with itself over scant supplies.

“We must do something!” screamed Isis to Osiris. They filled the ship and left, to return – again and again – to save as many as possible.

Earth’s best scientists were rescued, including those working on human DNA refinement. Larger hearts, enhanced brains, longer life expectancy. Osiris grinned. “I think Isis and I are living proof that you succeed.”

So, a new civilisation was birthed, an empty planet introduced to human life. “So we never forget Earth,” said Isis, “we will call this world Paradise Lost. And as we mourn for one world in flames, we rebuild another. A new dawn, a better destiny, and a new enhanced human race.”

The pink sun set on a world of natural beauty. Hope for a new beginning intertwined with tears for a paradise lost. The sunset shone in a still sky, as pink clouds turned red, a goodbye to yesterday. And in the dying light, there sighed a hymn to tomorrow, and a prayer for a paradise that would last forever.