 |
STAR BOY: CHILD OF GALACTIC DESTINY
From Sullivan's Short Stories
By: Craig Curtis
Inside the engine room of a futuristic spaceship, we find a pair of space-goers hard at work. There are strange consoles with buttons and flashing lights everywhere, and large cylindrical engine core in the middle of the room. Near the core is a young woman in a silver space suit named EVE, and at the far end of the engine room is a tall man in a more retro-looking space suit. He is known as the CAPTAIN OF OUTER SPACE.
Entering the engine room through a sliding door is a younger man in his mid-20's who is wearing a space suit that looks to be for somebody half his size. He seems to be clearly uncomfortable in it, but intrinsically unable to do anything about it. He is STAR BOY.
Captain of Outer Space (COS): Star Boy! What are you doing in the engine room?
Eve: It's too dangerous! What if the core were to breach?
Star Boy (SB): If the core breaches, the whole ship will explode. I don't think it matters where I am on the ship if that happens.
COS: Even so Star Boy, you must be protected at all costs, for you are the Child of Galactic Destiny!
EVE: The Captain of Outer Space is right, Star Boy. You are destined to save the Earth from destruction.
SB: The Earth WAS destroyed fifteen years ago! Don't you remember me crying for like three days because you told me it was MY fault?
COS: How many times to I have to apologize for that?
SB: You haven't yet!
COS: Look I was just upset! Besides, that's because at the time, I didn't realize that you were fated to save humanity AFTER the Earth was destroyed!
SB: How am I supposed to save humanity AFTER it was wiped out?
EVE: It's your destiny, Star Boy. The Oracle-
SB: Eve, Please! Can you two stop calling me "Star Boy"? When the Captain of Outer Space and those other kooks kidnapped me, yes, I was an 8 year old boy. But I'm 24 years old now!
COS: Now's not the time, Star Boy. We've made a discovery! We've learned that Dr. Regret ... uh, do you remember Dr. Regret?
SB: You mean the guy that destroyed the Earth?
COS: Yes.
SB: And who implanted a detonator in the base of my brain and who stole a part of my soul last year?
COS: Right.
SB: Yes, I remember Dr. Regret.
COS: Well, we've discovered that he's invented some sort of quantum displacement device at his star castle orbiting New Saturn. He calls the device a "time machine" ...
The Captain of Outer Space pauses expectantly.
SB: So, you think we could use the time machine to back and stop Dr. Regret from destroying the world?
COS: Brilliant! You MUST be the Child of Galactic Destiny! I never would have thought of that!
SB: Yes, you did.
EVE: We should hurry, before Dr. Regret makes all of history's greatest legends evil!
COS: It's no wonder that I love you, Star Boy.
SB: Stop it! You do NOT "love" me! You're not gay! I'M not gay!
COS: But the Oracle said that it was my fate to fall in love with the Child of Galactic Destiny!
SB: The "Oracle" was some drunken derelict with syphilis standing on a street corner, ranting nonsense to anyone dumb enough to listen. I'm NOT the Child of Galactic Destiny! I'm NOT fated to save the world, and we're NOT destined to be married atop the summit of Mt. Rainier!
COS: Oh ... Star Boy ...
The Captain of Outer Space runs out of the room, sobbing uncontrollably.
EVE: How could you, Star Boy? You know how sensitive he is.
SB: Well, if he's the "Captain of Outer Space", maybe it's time for him to stop bursting into tears and leaving the room every time things upset him? That's exactly how I ended up getting violated by the Plant People of Pyrax V.
EVE: I remember that!
Star Boy rubs his behind
SB: Yeah, I do too.
EVE: Oh, Star Boy. The Captain of Outer Space gets so emotional about you because he believes in you. I believe in you too.
SB: Because some retard who you think can see the future says I'm the Chosen One?
EVE: It must be hard to understand.
SB: It's hard to live up to.
EVE: I guess it must be hard for someone like you to understand what such faith means to someone like me. Somehow, though, I just know that you're going to save us all. It's the only way our very existence can make sense.
Star Boy is struck by her earnestness, and moves closer to her.
SB: I just don't want you to be disappointed if I don't measure up.
Tears swell in Eve's eyes, and she throws her arms around his shoulders.
EVE: Oh Star Boy! I've looked up to you ever since we were both very young. I've believed in you ever since that day that we were both teleported away from the Earth by the Astroglider Brigade. Over the years, they've all gone except for the Captain of Outer Space.
SB: ... And us.
Eve smiles, then Star Boy smiles, and they move closer to kiss. Then Eve pulls herself away.
EVE: No! I must resist my improper feelings for you. Your heart belongs to the Captain of Outer Space.
SB: Oh, COME ON!
Suddenly, alarm klacksons sound, and the whole ship shakes violently as multiple impacts strike the hull. The Captain of Outer Space rushes back in.
COS: We've strayed into the Schumacher Asteroid Field. We need to get back on course!
EVE: Quick! We've got to get to the bridge so we can turn the ship around!
COS: We can't. There's been a hull breach in quadrant Gamma-L. Our passage to the ship's bridge has been cut off!
SB: Can't we re-program the ship's auto pilot from here to turn us around?
EVE: Right! I'll get on it.
Eve rushes towards a control console, but the Captain of Outer Space stops her.
COS: No! Don't you see? This is a test of The Fates! They want Star Boy to prove his worth.
SB: WHAT?!
The hull impacts worsen, but Eve stops to listen.
COS: The forces of Galactic Destiny know that you doubt yourself, Star Boy. They have sent this asteroid field to show you that you have indeed been chosen to save us all.
SB: But I don't know how to reprogram the autopilot.
COS: Don't worry, you don't have to.
The Captain of Outer Space slams his palm down on a button. Instantly, several lights flicker and dim, and systems begin to power down.
Computer Voice: Auto Pilot deactivated. Manual Control enabled.
A small joystick emerges from the console.
SB: Are you insane?!
COS: No, but I'm insane with joy. For I now know that only Star Boy can save us, and thus, I know we are now no longer in danger.
A loud crash comes from elsewhere on the ship, and vents start pouring steam into the engine room.
EVE: He's right, Star Boy. Only you can save us now.
Star Boy takes a few deep breaths and takes the controls. With the slightest jostle of the joystick, the ship seems to rock more violently from repeated impacts. He immediately releases the controls.
SB: I can't do this!
EVE: Yes you can, Star Boy! I believe in you!
COS: You have the power within you. You have only to look into your heart to find it.
SB: My heart tells me that we should switch back to auto pilot.
COS: You must believe, Star Boy. You must believe ...
Reluctantly, Star Boy returns to the controls. Very gingerly, he pecks at a random button, and everything goes haywire. Sparks and steam are everywhere, and all the room is blanketed in dark red lighting, with lights on the consoles flashing "CATASTROPHE MODE"
Computer Voice: Catastrophe Mode initiated. Primary power failing. Ship will self-destruct in ninety seconds.
The Computer begins to count down from ninety, leaving the three ill-fated passengers standing silently, staring at one another. Finally, the Captain of Outer Space explodes in anger.
COS: What the f*** was that?! "Catastrophe Mode"?! That's your grand f***ing plan?!
SB: I don't know what I'm doing!
COS: I can't believe you! All this time you've been a f***ing fraud! You were never the Child of Galactic Destiny! Now we're all going to die, and it's all YOUR fault!
EVE: Now settle down, Captain of-
SB: All MY fault?! I TOLD you I didn't know how to fly the ship! I TOLD you to set it back to auto pilot! And I sure as hell told you that I'm NOT THE F***ING CHILD OF GALACTIC DESTINY!
EVE: Star Boy please don't-
The Captain of Outer Space sniffles for a moment, before bursting into tears. He flees for the sliding door, only to find it collapsed in rubble. Not knowing what to do with himself, he shuffles in a tiny circle until coming to a stop in the corner, sobbing into his hands.
SB: What does it matter now, Eve? We're done for.
EVE: It can't be over. Not now, not after all we've been through. There has to be a way, Star Boy!
The Computer Voice is down to thirty. Star Boy sighs and goes over to Eve, touching her gently on the cheek.
SB: Oh, Eve, don't you see? I'm not Star Boy. I think we might finally be able to say for certain that I'm not the Child of Galactic Destiny. So maybe it's time for it to be okay for you to call me Edward.
Eve smiles at him lovingly.
EVE: Edward ... Eddie ... Ed ...
Her eyes grow wide with realization.
EVE: That's it! Ed!
SB: What?
She runs over to the far side of the engine room and tears a plate off the wall, revealing a capsule entrance.
EVE: We can use the Ed-scape pod!
Star Boy is stunned, but not in a good way.
SB: We have pod all this time? Why didn't you say so in the first place?
EVE: I guess I forgot. Good thing you reminded me Ed- uh, Star Boy!
The Captain of Outer Space instantly recovers from his despair.
COS: Brilliant, Star Boy! You truly ARE the Child of Galactic Destiny!
The Computer Voice is now counting down from ten. The three of them rush to the escape pod's hatch, and Eve helps Star Boy inside.
COS: Wait! There may not be room enough for all of us in there.
SB: What are you talking about? There's got to be a dozen bunk beds in here.
COS: No, we can't take the risk. What's truly important is that YOU survive, Star Boy.
SB: But-
Before Star Boy can react, the Captain of Outer Space slams the hatch shut, and pulls a lever automatically launching the escape pod. Star Boy watches from a port as the ship explodes into thousands of particles. He looks away in sadness and regret.
Fade out
Fade back in to his escape pod crash landing on an alien planet. As the ship smolders in its resting place on the surface, the hatch opens, and Star Boy peeks out. He sees a vine-covered sign nearby. It reads:
"Welcome to Pyrax V ... Entrance in Rear"
As tentacled plant vines reach ominously towards him, Star Boy groans in exasperation.
THE END
Comment on this story?
We appreciate your feedback. Thanks.
Craig's website
HOME PAGE
Send E-Mail to: dhsully@gmail.com
Copyright © 2009 . All Rights Reserved