Ruby’s story - Space Explorers
Astronaut Profiles:
Isaiah Miles Blume. Age: 18
Description: Isaiah is a quiet, self-minded boy who minds his own business and loves space and geography. He is a daydreamer, and pleasantly kind to others.
Riley Arianne Queene. Age: 17
Description: Riley is a friendly and excited girl who loves running and is fairly loud. She likes telling Isaiah to “hurry up”.
Jude Marcus Allen. Age: 19
Description: Jude hates fights, and does his best to resolve them. He usually doesn't agree with others’ ideas, and only admits they are right if he is sure.
Aviary Janiss Keys. Age: 16
Description: Aviary is a calm, silent girl of 16 who loves animals, and pays more attention to them then humans, but she rarely is seen without them.
Explorer’s Report:
Cautiously, I lowered my left boot onto the swirling sand, and let it sink slowly in.
The air in my helmet was humid and slightly damp, because I was sweating with worry, but also from excitement. I was speechless, both with awe and a little shock, but mostly awe.
“Isaiah! Hurry up!” A slightly static voice crackled through the speaker, and I winced as feedback screeched.
A figure appeared beside me. Fellow astronaut Riley Queene grinned playfully after bounding up to me.
Tucking a loose strand of golden brown hair behind her ear, she looked at me, eyes glimmering like diamonds.
“Well, what are you waiting for, Isaiah Blume?” She asked, eager to start exploring the unknown world before us. I smiled. “Let’s wait for the others first,” I reasoned, trying not to show how excited I was to look around, too.
Jude Allen and Aviary Keys soon joined us on the edge of the sand, adjusting their suits and checking their air. “You’ll probably be able to explore for 24 hours until you need to board the ship again,” came the crackling voice of Reid Blackburn, the head technician. Even though he was a million miles away, he still had that nerdy touch to his voice, and still sounded like “I know I know it all, but I won’t show it”, as he usually would back on earth. “Reid, don’t make this so serious!” A motherly voice scolded. “This isn’t a grade nine exam, stay relaxed!” Cassidy Turner said in a disapproving tone. “You guys, stop fighting!” Aisha Nixon sighed.
“WILL YOU STOP ARGUING, ALL OF YOU!” Jude yelled, exasperated. You could tell Cassidy opened her mouth to say something, but didn’t, because she harrumphed. Then Riley spun around, hair flicked across her flushed red face (from enthusiasm) and gasped. “Aviary, wait up!” She cried and slowly stepped toward her then froze. The sandy landscape that had dust flying and twirling everywhere, had suddenly morphed into a shady and dense forest, with towering oak trees and bright green leaves hanging off crooked branches.
Aviary pointed to a tree of an unusual shade of pink, and sitting in a purple branch was a tiny, blue bird.
“Look!” She whispered, as the bird shimmered white, then it transformed into a small pink lizard and scampered up the tree. When it got to the top it went from pink lizard to maroon dragon, and swooped up to the sky, blending in perfectly. As it flew away, it gave off a powerful aura of strength. This happened repetitively with other animals we encountered, like racoons turning into squirrels, and rabbits turning into caterpillars.
Soon we came across a red pool of rippling liquid, which Emery Kluger at the space station identified as “Water.” Jude frowned. “Why is it red, though?” He asked, looking at the water like it was a dead kitten.
“I have no legit idea, bro,” I replied, curiously stepping closer. Griffin Kluger’s voice came out of the speaker, along with a healthy amount of supersonically loud feedback. He asked, “Can you pick up a sample in a vial for me, Isaiah?” I nodded, and out of a pocket I drew out a clear vial and knelt down next to the lake. It was just then that I noticed, the dragon from earlier was slurping up the liquid, along with the caterpillar and squirrel.
Shaking my head from the coincidence, I dunked the head of the vial into the water. But, my hand started to curl up more. I frowned, and brought my hand out of the water. I gawped. The vial was gone!
“According to my calculations, the vial melted.” Came the answer from Emery. She was very smart, hoping to be a scientist in a few years, when she is 20. I ran my gloved hand through the water and cocked my head to the side. “It’s not hot. Maybe lukewarm, but nothing warmer.” I noted. Jude raised an eyebrow. He bent down and felt the water. “He’s right.” Jude admitted sheepishly, like he hadn’t believed me. Then Aviary told us,
“Mission control sent me a message. We’re running low on air. We need to head back to the spaceship, ASAP.” Reluctantly we all stood up. As we bounced back to the ship, our feet thudding on the ground like a giant had entered the planet and was strolling around. As Riley, Jude and Aviary boarded the ship, I looked behind me, halfway up the stairs. The planet looked bare and barren, sandy and dusty. But I knew, deep in my heart, that if you travelled further down that sandy path, you would find more undiscovered things then ever before. “Isaiah! Hurry up!” Riley yelled from inside the ship.
After one last look, I smiled and yelled, “COMING!”
Story by Ruby (9 years old)
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