The Million Day Forecast

by Darren Hunter

  The

  Million Day

  Forecast

  Darren Hunter

  The Million Day Forecast

  Copyright © 2015 by Darren Hunter

  Smashwords Edition

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever including Internet usage, without written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, or events used in this book are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, alive or deceased, events or locales is completely coincidental.

  Cover design by Jeanine Henning

  www.jeaninehenning.com

  Book design by Maureen Cutajar

  www.gopublished.com

  Print ISBN: 978-1511954921

  “Any advanced alien technology would be indistinguishable from magic.”

  —Arthur C. Clarke

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1: X7gTH5

  CHAPTER 2: GALACTIC BONOBO

  CHAPTER 3: THE NIGHT

  CHAPTER 4: THE FLEDGLINGS

  CHAPTER 5: SPACE GHOST

  CHAPTER 6: MEGA-FREAK

  CHAPTER 7: THE SATURN TURNPIKE

  CHAPTER 8: THE DANDELIONS

  CHAPTER 9: CHANGE IN THE FORECAST

  CHAPTER 10: THE VIDEO

  CHAPTER 11: THE REEDS

  CHAPTER 12: GOING AWAY

  CHAPTER 13: CONTEMPORARIES

  CHAPTER 14: SHE’S AWAKE

  CHAPTER 15: THE QUITTU

  CHAPTER 16: DR. SOREN

  CHAPTER 17: THE BRIDGE

  CHAPTER 18: SRENYI LIVE

  CHAPTER 19: THE M’S

  CHAPTER 20: THE ADDRESS

  CHAPTER 1

  X7gTH5

  Srenyi was observing a village nestled in the northern climes of earth. It was a place where persistent winter winds caused streetlights to cast moving shadows, and frozen hills meandered up to brightly painted houses that required repainting each spring. One particular dwelling was so compelling to him that he interrupted his mentor, Asphar, during his studies and asked if Asphar thought that the family house of Srenyi’s chosen humanite was strangely similar to that of his own.

  “My dear counselor, in your professional opinion, does this simple homestead not seem as if it was hurdled unscathed through the galaxies to somehow find rest on earth? With the exception of a misplaced pond and some oddly shaped outdoor furniture, I might add of course.”

  Asphar peered through the florescence surrounding Srenyi’s yote, an advanced version of a smartphone. “Perhaps it’s simply an uncharacteristic humanite spiritual connection that you are sensing. But yes, I’d say that this family unit does indeed bear a utilitarianism that would be reminiscent of a Quittu structure.”

  “I thank you Asphar. For your concurrence means more to me than you might imagine.”

  Srenyi was a young member of the Quittu, a gentle race about a foot tall. They resembled a fortuitous mix of a rabbit, beagle, and a koala with very large feet. His ancient ancestors within the Centaurus A galaxy were augmented by minerals from the same group of asteroids that once distributed the first microscopic forms of life to earth.

  Srenyi liked to say that where he lived, it always seemed like it was turning late in the year.

  Indeed, the craggy steppes of the north that he called home were far more rustic than the plush lowlands of the planet X7gTH5. These perennially inviting valleys of the south were home to the statuesque Allanze. They were inexorably drawn to the perfumed reeds that gently waved in the breeze, and turned a turquoise hue on countless numbers of warm days.

  The Quittu had split off from the Allanze on their planet 13.4 million earthly years ago. Despite evolving disparately in appearance from their stronger cousins, the tiny Quittu possessed a keener intelligence. They could also communicate with each other without difficulty—in fact, often without speaking.

  It was also instinctive for Srenyi to want to help the deserving – no matter the planet on which they resided. He had specifically chosen communication with ‘eh710lmwg/ds.erth.778211’ for a project that he had been assigned in galactic studies. She was an earthling that he had discovered quite by chance during extra observation. Srenyi was at the moment addressing his council elder, a 337 year old Quittu named Asphar about his selection.

  “Asphar, it would seem that I should at least let one good humanite become aware of the clusters.”

  Srenyi’s request puzzled Asphar. “The earth dwellers seem to have already chosen a similar fate, and by their own accord no less.”

  Now it was Srenyi who was perplexed. “Why did they choose to leave the cosmic family? Just why is humanite nature this way?”

  “That’s not exactly known, my son. Sadly, they have chosen to shun the ancient practices, and instead they instinctively seek incessant war. The cold truth is that the universe would have a little bit more peace without an earth.”

  “But Asphar, you’d agree that even among the Allanze there were once a few admirable souls?”

  “Many, many years ago Srenyi, yes, I shall grant you that.”

  Srenyi saw his window of opportunity. He had already been permitted the use of one gravitational wave that would allow him to communicate with the one from earth. However, he required special permission to provide his chosen humanite with anything more than the profound insight of being the only person to know for certain that humans were not alone.

  “Asphar, can we agree that the only way for the good ones on earth to propagate beyond the arrival of the clusters would be for them to start working on a solution immediately?”

  “Affirmative Srenyi. Though allow me to remind you that your homework assignment was to be an outreach project whose charter was the sharing of creative ideas with an intergalactic contemporary living within a unique culture—not to be some sort of species succession planner or intergalactic pond design consultant for that matter.”

  Srenyi knew that Asphar had a point. Plotting a course for an entire species that lived galaxies away was not the assignment. Still he pressed on, “But they would have no way of discovering the clusters on their own until it’s far too late, right, Asphar?”

  “That’s correct Srenyi, but even by then a two hundred year storm is likely to have commenced. There’s not much we could do anyway—at least not directly. That would need to come from within themselves, and I dare say I’m not hopeful about the prospect. In fact, it’s unlikely they possess the necessary fortitude to reach agreement on a way forward.”

  “But what if they could at least be made aware of the clusters? Perhaps it would even inspire a discussion on what a possible continuance would require. After all, we all come from somewhere else.”

  Asphar seemed at least willing to provide some guidance. “There is only one possible way, and as you’re already acutely aware, it once allowed for our own continuity as well.”

  “You mean via what the humanites refer to as an Einstein-Rosen Bridge?”

  “Yes Srenyi. Successful implementation would enable a portal to a new world. Though I fear it already may be too late.”

  Srenyi continued to press Asphar for official permission. “Would there be any limitations to what I may communicate through the use of a gravitational wave? After all, the wave itself is already permitted.”

  Asphar glanced up at the three suns, whose infused reflections danced off one another creating a wondrous multi-colored late morning sky.

  “Srenyi, instinctively you seem to know that I shall remain forever committed to the furtherance of that which we hold sacred. However, you must also always remember that the Allanze are an inscrutable breed unto themselves. They will like
ly view your contact with a humanite as an existential threat, and you could put yourself in great danger.”

  “So you’re saying…?”

  “I didn’t say anything. I wish your earth dweller well.”

  “And Asphar, I may consult with you?”

  “That is all Srenyi.”

  Srenyi knew he had been granted all that he needed for the moment. He was also sure that receiving this knowledge would be an incredible burden for any humanite. Srenyi stared at the grainy hologram of his chosen earthling emanating from his yote, and it provided him a palpable sense of just how far away in space and time they truly were. Still he felt as if he had no choice. “The clusters,” he said to the heavens – “they must know about the clusters.”

  By virtue of a random search on a stormy galactic night, he believed he had found the mind he was looking for – one that he deemed to also possess an incredible soul.

  Srenyi theorized that the humanites desperately needed to believe in the art of the possible, and as his coordinates honed in on a small meadow that sat above Clarella Court, he dearly hoped that their quest for survival was about to begin.

  CHAPTER 2

  GALACTIC BONOBO

  Emma Hayes, Darci Donato, and Ranger McShane had a class together at Aldan Farm High School, where their twelfth-grade physics teacher referred to the trio as the three musketeers. One afternoon they were lounging around, as usual after school, in what they referred to as their fort. This fort happened to double as guest room and library within Emma’s modest purple-painted house that sat atop a winding driveway that lead to 51 Clarella Court.

  “Was Mr. Shively’s class intense today or what?” asked Darci. “I mean that stuff was heavy. Shively thinks that when he types something on his laptop, it appears exactly the same way to someone who look identical to us somewhere out in the multiverse… whatever that is.” Darci said, rolling her eyes. “He said that infinity means that everything is replicated, but man I hope he’s not!” “That’s funny,” Emma said laughing. “At least you were paying attention. So do you believe that God exists outside of the human mind?” “Like, if we all suddenly died at once, would God still really exist? You’re tripping me out, Emma.”

  “Sorry, sorry, but yeah, that’s what I mean. Have you ever wondered why we’re here?”

  “To survive I guess?” said Ranger with a flash of concern in his voice, “but what are we surviving for if it’s all only gonna end? I mean, why bother if there’s only gonna be a big crunch like Shively said could eventually happen? If it does end that way, the whole universe will just collapse back into a tiny little rock.”

  “That’s impossible. My ass ain’t shrinking down to a little rock. This thing could barely shrink down to a big rock! ” said Darci.

  “Ha!Your butt’s not that big, Darce. But seriously, do you think there’s a God, or did we just create gods to watch us? I mean, like that’s a big universe out there, and it couldn’t have invented itself,” offered Emma.

  Darci thought for a few seconds. “I think there was once a God, but he took off. He got fed up with our crap.”

  “Wow that’s deep!” exclaimed Ranger sarcastically.

  “Yup, and now we’re stuck here without any sign that there’s somebody coming back for us.”

  “Well even though there’s a lot of weird crap happening here, I’m really glad we’re on earth. I mean it’s an awesome place when you think about it,” said Emma.

  “Even so, Shively thinks any record of earth is going to totally incinerate. Will anyone even know we ever existed? Whether we’re alone in the universe or not, it’s creepy to think about. Shively did say there might be fish in the oceans on one of Jupiter’s moons or something.”

  “Ranger, whether the fishing’s good on Jupiter or not, our solar system isn’t exactly located in the cultural hub of the universe. It’s in a sort of mote suburb of the Milky way,” said Emma.

  “That would explain all of the malls!” chimed Darci.

  “Good one, Darce!”

  “Emma, did you hear your boy Josh Finn say that we’re more closely related to the bonobo than African elephants are to Indian elephants? Is that right? That can’t be right, right?” said Darci.

  “Wait, you mean to tell me that a bonobo is our great grandfather?” asked Ranger.

  “Sort of, but so are a bunch of other creepy things like half-monkey fish,” responded Emma. “Wait, so that monkey fish thingy is our great- great grandfather too?”

  “No that’s Mr. Shively’s grandfather!”

  “Ranger that’s so wrong!” responded Darci instantly. “But really, the fish-monkey is related to us too?”

  Emma’s response took the three back to a scenario even earlier in time. “Just think… if 300 million years ago two lizardy looking things, that couldn’t decide between staying in the ocean or pulling themselves miserably through the mud, didn’t do the whole shebang at exactly four thirty-seven in the afternoon directly in between saber tooth tiger attacks, we wouldn’t be here. Except saber tooth tigers didn’t even exist until millions of years later, but at least we were done being single-celled little bores.”

  “Girl, that’s just crazy talk!”

  “It’s true Ranger,” – Emma wanted to make a bigger point – “we think we’re only connected to our parents, grandparents, kids, and grandkids. But really we’re a little piece of zillions of people from the past. And if I ever get a date with Josh I might be the reason for zillions more of them getting to this place in the future.”

  Darci had a different perspective. “My dad said that the only people that should matter to you are your family, and all of those ancestors are about as relevant as the man on the moon.”

  Emma disagreed. “I guess I just think that we’re so much more connected than that. Just think, if 40,000 years ago our great, great, great to the X grandfather ran one way instead of the other way from that saber tooth, the whole chain of events that lead to you and me would never have happened. You need to multiply that by a thousand, then by a million, and then by almost infinity to come up with the chances of us being here. It’s off the chart guys!”

  Darci stood up. “No way. None of that stuff mattered. God doesn’t give two craps about what some caveman running from a wooly mammoth did a zillion years ago. We were going to get here no matter what.”

  “Yes, but I believe that it all still matters, and so does everyone before and after us. They’re all part of who we are and why we’re here! So I’d just send a big ‘THANK YOU’ into the universe to my 550,000 to the X, half-human/half-monkey up in a tree grandpappy, for gettin’ yo freak on at exactly nine seventeen in the morning, 6 million years ago. Because if you hadn’t, the musketeers wouldn’t be here!” said a laughing Emma.

  “Oh-ohh-ohh-eee-eee, get me a banana!” Darci began to jump around the room.

  “Ha-ha. Shake it! Don’t break it, bonobo girl!” exclaimed Ranger.

  “You’re a galactic bonobo!” responded an out of breath yet still inquisitive Darci. “So wait, if we get a little better looking and smarter with each generation, why does Shively’s father look so much cuter than he does in that old family picture on his desk?”

  “Oh well, I guess it’s not always an exact straight line of gorgeousness.”

  “Except for us!”

  “Totally!”

  Emma’s smiled waned as she took on a more reflective tone. “Though, I guess the sad part is that as soon as we’re past our mating zenith we start to fade.”

  Ranger chimed back in. “Yeah, my mom said that eventually the bloom starts fading off of the rose and it sucks.”

  “I think it’s kind of so parents don’t compete with their kids.”

  “What? My mom snags my makeup all the time.”

  “Ranger, you definitely could use more mirror space around that place, that’s for sure!”

  CHAPTER 3

  THE NIGHT

  The night air was cold, but a calm wind and a picturesque sky se
rved to conjure up romanticized memories of winter’s past. Emma walked alone to the top of the hill in the field between neighboring houses and drank in the intoxicating oxygen. She clutched her tablet and stared up at the quickly moving white clouds that illuminated the darkened canvass of sky. The seventeen year old had no idea that by some inexplicable providence there was to be an introduction on this night from an extraterrestrial being. Srenyi of the Quittu from X7gTH5 was about to make contact.

  Emma spoke aloud to herself. “Okay where the heck is this cello virtuoso I need to watch? Wait… what is going on with this thing!?”

  Her tablet was suddenly emanating a million bizarre pixels that resembled the loud snow that suddenly appears on television screens when a connection was lost.

  “Well hello there,” said Srenyi. “Hello Miss Emma Hayes from earth”.

  “What the hell? Is this a joke or something?”

  “My dear friend, do I look like a comedienne?”

  “Get the heck out of here man! Okay Ranger. Knock it off! I know it’s you!”

  “Miss Emma, I implore you to momentarily suspend all disbelief. My name is Srenyi, and I am at present communicating with you via a gravitational wave from the distant galaxy Centaurus A—specifically from a planet your astronomers know as X7gTH5.”

  “Cut the crap, Ranger!” Emma reached into her pocket for her big framed glasses and tried adjusting her tablet, but the familiar icons were not visible. “Okay what are you doing to my tablet?”

  The engaging little creature responded. “Do not attempt to adjust your television set. That was my first ever attempt at earthly humor. Not too shabby, wouldn’t you say Miss Emma?”

  “Okay calling me ‘Miss Emma.’ It makes me sound like I live in the Little House on the Prairie. You’re cute though whatever you are, and your hat is adorable I’ll give you that. Except that I know you aren’t real. So who’s messing with me? I know you’re just trying to freak me out!”

  Srenyi knew that he had to convince Emma quickly so that they could move on to the task at hand.