Innocence

Innocence

This was written on 6/10/2009 for the Monthly Writing Contest on Newgrounds.com. The rules for the contest are as follows: 1.  Must take place on a relatively small island 2.  The plot must include the fact that an island is involved 3.  Word count minimum:  1000 words 4.  Word count maximum:  4500 words This was the first story I had written in a long time and the idea had just popped into my head while reading the rules.  Therefore, I decided that I was going to challenge myself.  Here are the additional rules I imposed on myself: 1.  Must finish the story within 1 hour, including editing time 2.  Do not ask anyone to review the story before submission 3.  No editing the story except for basic spelling and grammatical fixes At the end of the contest, I didn't win.  However, the scores I received from the judges made me feel good about this story.  I received a 6/10, a 7/10, and a 5/10. I decided that I should post this story in a location that is more easily accessible than the Newgrounds forums.  Let me know what you think. ---------------------------------- Word Count: 1,110 ---------------------------------- Captain's Log - Entry 3200 This journey began with a lot of nervous researchers and very few military men. After an eternity flying through the vast emptiness of space, we have finally found a planet capable of supporting our race. This ship, that has been our home for these last weeks (Months? Years?), shall have to be our home for a little while longer. We have begun scanning for lifeforms and viable habitats. Early findings show nothing in the way of landmasses. This means we will have to expend valuable energy to reform the ship into an island capable of withstanding the unknown conditions of this planet. Entry 3205 A momentous occasion occurred today: our first flyby. I took the liberty of sending out a small research team in one of our small transport crafts. This team descended to the planet, sending back data on surface conditions. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I believe we should make planetfall tomorrow. My first mate disagrees, stating that we don't know enough about weather conditions and there is still no conclusive evidence pertaining to lifeforms on the planet. I will take these considerations under advisement, but I still believe planetfall is the right choice. People are becoming restless after being stuck in this ship for so long. It will be good to feel sunlight on faces again and the wind rushing over the ground. Entry 3208 After what seems like hours of flight time, we have finally landed. Our mobile habitat has come to rest in an astounding amount of water. Nothing is viewable in the horizon. Just water for what seems like forever. The reflection of the sun on the water makes the horizon seem white, that's how bright it is. We are now the only landmass on new planet and presumably the only lifeforms, since we picked up no signs of life during our initial scans. Shortly after landing, I began the transformation of our starship into a landmass ideal for this planet. We will begin contacting our home in the next few days, once we have determined everything is safe. Entry 3215 A week has passed since we began this experiment. Our little island has been buffeted by waves and we've may have spotted hints of life. Large shadows passed over head and splashes were heard in the distance. My people are beginning to have serious doubts about landing here. Some have reported hearing voices, but it may just be a cry for attention. Everyone is so busy preparing for the initial report home that no one is sleeping much, in an attempt to finish their work. My first mate has even claimed to have spotted a large object in the distance. When I went to verify the sighting, the object has disappeared. Let's hope its just stress. Entry 3218 Last night, torrential rains nearly destroyed our island. Between the waves and the weather, this may not have been the best location. I should have listened to the advice of my first mate (deceased) and performed more scans of this planet before we landed. During the storms last night, my first mate attempted to rescue some researchers performing tests just off shore. He bravely gave his life to save them. Without his sacrifice, some of our best scientists would have been lost. It may just be the effect of this tragedy, but I have started to see things that can't exist. I've begun to see the shadow he described so vividly to me. Each spotting seems to bring it closer, but that may just be a trick of the light. Entry 3219 We have achieved contact with a native lifeform! This large creature showed up on our shores in the night. Its basic shape seems to suggest that this was the shadow both I and the first mate "hallucinated". Our inital observations have led us to the conclusion that this creature subsists solely on the water of this planet. It has been naturally curious about us and, although communication seems impossible, has allowed some of our people to climb on its back and go further away from the island, faster. With its help, we have found evidence of technology (primitive). A caricature of an ancient seafaring vessel was found just sitting in the middle of this never-ending ocean. Entry 3230 Everyone is becoming a bit stir crazy. Our large friend (named "Nessie" by one of the more light-hearted biologists) has been very patient and helpful. She (it is assumed) has carried everyone part of this mission out to sea at least once. Unfortunately, this isn't enough. We've used these opportunities to observe the vessel we found, but no new information has been obtained. Tomorrow I will ask "Nessie" to take an observation party closer. Entry 3234 After a few more days of observation, nothing seems to be happening in regards to the vessel. A strong wind picked up yesterday and that has pushed the vessel closer to home, which has angered some and pleased others. The explorers are angry because it means the don't get to travel as far each day, while those of us interested in studying the vessel are pleased that it is coming closer. If this keeps up, we will be able to guide it into our docks. Entry 3280 This will be the last entry. The captain is dead. Most of the researchers are dead. Nessie has abandoned us. Our food and water supplies are very low. We don't even know if we have enough power to get off of this planet. This was a mistake; we never should have landed here. The vessel seemed abandoned, but when we pulled it into the dock, these creatures poured out of it and began slaughtering us. So many dead. How much longer until we can escape? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Time to get out of the bathtub, Michael; you'll get all pruny. Let's put away the bath toys. We'll just pick up the island playset with all of these toys on it. You take the pirate ship and the rubber ducky. Did you have fun playing? Mommy, the little men were attacked by ghost pirates!! Were they honey? Did they win? No, they all died. But now they get to go home! That's nice dear. Let's get you dried off. You can play with your toys later. We have to go meet your father for lunch. I can't wait to tell him about my toys!! Make sure you do, he'll like that. I'll get the picnic basket. You can carry the flowers for the grave. Mommy, can I leave one of my toys for daddy? Sure honey. Now let's go. Daddy's waiting for us.