...And then it happened

    Space is big. I mean really big, if you think that a trip to the pharma was a long way you can’t conceive on how big space can be …

     My grandfather gave me a book about a book that began like that. He gave that book to every one of his 167 grandchildren. It was a very funny book about the adventures of two men caught in odd situations with occasionally funny excerpts from the aforementioned fictional book. He gave me that book when I was 10 and would quote a line or two whenever he visited to see if it was read.

    Like every other of my cousins and siblings, on my 18 birthday He asked me, “What is it you liked most about the book?” Most of my family had forgotten completely about it, other remarked that they had reread it when they needed a good laugh, but those answers would always leave him sighing and shaking his head.

    I had said,” I liked the idea that the Guide was always in state of being updated and little changes can mean great adventures.” He froze and a big smile lit up his face “ Jhon m’boy you just got the golden ticket. I knew you were one of us” he gave me a big hug and left me very confused, but I was happy that he was happy. That night I gave the book a quick reread and dreamt of infinite improbabilities.

    I woke to find myself curled up in a life pod wearing a new no-frills exploration/survival suit.  I sat up and looked around. A moment after examining the controls, I found the pod I was in was never ejected. It was placed here in good condition. With no immediate danger around me.

    “Ok, personal safety, assessed as green,” I said to myself “what are my assets?” looking in all the storage areas of the pod I laid the found items in my lap. A helmet and a pair of gloves to complete the suit, and what looked like a gun in a holster.  When I put the helmet on, it lit up like a Christmas tree. HUDs started displaying information. I pulled the gun out of the holster. The display told me that I was holding a multitool. It had three settings, combat, mining, and scanning. I put the tool back in the holster and belted it on.  

    The last Item on my lap was a satchel with a green and gold insignia bearing the letters “BC”. Inside was a ruggedized electronic book. Upon activating it. the words “Not all who wander are lost” flashed on screen before for settling on a title page “Fogg's Field Guide for NMS Explorers by Prof. Phileas Fogg IV.” There was one message unread. From the screen rose a holographic image of my grandfather.

    “Good morning sunshine,

                Let's get this out of the way. I am not going to apologize for putting you in this position. If anyone should it’s your mother for trying to stifle your wanderlust. She was going to put you on the fast track to academia. Well if anyone is going to decide your future it’s going to be me. “

    The hologram calmed down. “You are currently somewhere on the ass end of the galaxy. How you got there is not important. Neither is getting back, because you know what is here already, and like me that bores the crap out of you. Don’t think I hadn’t noticed how you dive into things until you know the answers. This book is from my days as a Bedouin Cartographer for you to fill, change and update you can keep your logs in it as well.  I, Phil and the gang had a lot of fun getting stories to swap.” He clears his throat.  “You heard some of them already. There are mysteries out there, seek them out . The only advice I can give you is, be smart, trust your instincts, and take care of your equipment. Now in the best possible way I am telling you to GET LOST”

    “And don’t forget your towel.”

    The image flickered then disappeared.

I slid the book back into the pouch shaking my head with a smile just like he does “That old bastard.” When I put the pouch into my pack I saw scratched into the leather in large letters “DON’T PANIC”

    With a final check of my equipment I opened the hatch into the great unknown.