Standard disclaimer: I do not own these characters, I only borrow them once in a while. I intend them no harm and try to put them back just like I found them.
If you are interested in reading more Space 1999 fanfiction please go to www.space1999.net/fanfic
This story take place after the inhabitants of the runaway moon find a new home. Feedback is appreciated.
The Difference
by Paula Austin
The orange orb was sinking very slowly behind the timberline. What remained
shotb tendrils of color across the landscape painting it with a magnificent
pallet. A slight breeze blew, its air clean and untainted by pollutants. The
old man breathed in deep, savoring its flavor and reveling in the scenery.
His face, once young and handsome, was now marred by deep creases. Hair once
dark and full, was now white and thinning. Yet, despite this there was a
hint of handsomeness and strength.
He was so caught up in the his own thoughts that he did not hear the soft
footsteps in the gravel behind him. Only when he felt a light familiar touch
on his shoulder was the trance broken.
"I thought I might find you out here," Helena paused to take in the
beauty of the moment. "Each sunset seems more spectacular than the last."
"We missed so many. I never tire of the view," he replied, not taking his
eyes from the sky.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes. It was times such as these that
they felt the full gratitude for their salvation. Finally, Helena spoke.
"You have a young visitor. Do you want to come to the house or shall I send
her out?"
"Her?" he asked. "Oh yes, the young Morrow girl. Send her out. I'm
not ready to go in." Though the sun had gone down it would still be
twilight for a couple of hours. To John Koenig that was the most beautiful
time of the day.
"All right," she said as she leaned down to kiss his unshaven cheek. "I'll bring out some refreshments. Her name is Sandy."She called out over her shoulder.
He turned to watch her leave. Her petite figure was just as beautiful as the
day he met her. Despite the hardships they had encountered she had held her
age well. The lines of maturity that had defined his face had only served to
refine her own soft features. She was the perfect wife, the perfect mother
and the perfect doctor to him and her knew he was very lucky to have grown
old with her.
He turned his eyes back to the sky. The brilliant orange of the setting sun
had given way to cyan and azure of the twilight sky. Soon two moons would
make an appearance decorating the sky with their own color. It made him
think of his own moon and wondered what had become of it.
Hearing footsteps coming up the trail he got up and turned to face his young
visitor. He smiled as her began to make out her features in the dimming
light. She was fine boned like her mother and tall like her father.
"Good evening, Mr. Koenig," she said as she held out a hand.
He took the slender hand in both of his and smiled. "Sandy Morrow, you're
just as beautiful as your mother. It's nice to see you again. Why, I don't believe I have seen you since your graduation." He gestured her
towards a spot next to him on the rock bench he had been occupying. He sat
next to her. "How are your parents? It's been a long time."
"They're fine. They send their regards. They've been busy with Andrea.
She's due to have the first grandchild soon."
John looked thoughtful for a minute. "I remember when we were waiting for
our first grandchild. Helena insisted that Barbara come stay with us until
the baby came. Poor Jim, I'm sure he felt alienated, but you know mother's and their only daughters.
"I saw Barbara and Jim last week they were getting ready to go out on the
boat with Little John and his wife. I'm sorry, I forgot her name." she
blushed.
"Amy," they heard Helena call as she came up the trail with a tray of
drinks. She smiled as she approached them. "I wonder when he'll be old
enough to be just John. He's hardly little anymore." John Robert Koenig
Junior was a full six foot six inches. A full two inches taller than his
father in his younger days.
I suppose when I'm long gone." He took a cold drink from Helena. "Still,
it's a helluva name for a man in his position."
"I'm sure you're very proud to have your son follow behind you. He has
made a very good leader." She took a sip of her drink and offered Helena
and approving smile.
"Yes we are." Helena replied for him. "Tell us what you are doing these
days."
Sandy seemed to welcome the change of subject. "I work with Mum at the
History Archives. I hope one day to take over her duties as curator." She
leaned closer to make her words easier to hear. "That's partially why I'm
here. As you know, Mum has been working on an Interactive History. One
that will be interesting for the younger kids. So, We're interviewing the
original Alphans collecting facts, memories and ....well, trying to
fit it all together."
Helena turned at the sound of a vehicle approaching "That will be Barbara.
I told her I would watch the kids tonight." She got up and offered Sandy
her hand. "Please excuse me and give your parents my regards."
Sandy got up and took the older womans hand with obvious respect. "Thank
you, I will, Dr Koenig."
When Helena had disappeared down the path again Koenig reinitiated the
conversation. "I'm not sure what I could tell you that would be useful.
Your mother interviewed me several years ago, while my mind was still sharp." He tapped a finger to his skull. "And the rest is in the archives."
"It's not about you really," She began to show unrestrained enthusiasm
for for her ideas. "There's another reason I'm here today. As you know,
they are dedicating the new observatory next month. The Victor Bergman
Observatory and I am trying to work up a bio for it. There isn't a lot of
information on Professor Bergman and he died shortly after planetfall was
made so there are no personal interviews. Everyone says you were his closest
friend. Since you knew him best, I would like your story of his contribution
to our world. Will you help me?"
He sat there silently for several minutes. Sandy began to think his mind had
wandered and his faculties were dulled as he had said. She started to open
her mouth to repeat her question when the far away look in his eyes seemed
to focus and he began to speak. At first she wasn't sure he was speaking
to her, but as he spoke a beautiful story unraveled.
"Victor? I don't know. Brilliant scientist, inventor, loyal friend,
surrogate parent. He was all those things I suppose, but I always thought of
him as the glue that held us all together.I can't count the times we were
condemned to certain death and he found a way out of it. Or through it. He
is the reason we're all here today."
Once again there was a long silence. Sandy watched as his expression changed
and he seemed twenty years younger. Then once again he started.
"We were worn down. We had been looking at every possible planet as a new
home and there was always something. Finally, Victor retired to his lab and
began mapping the stars. We didn't see him much during that time and one
day he paid me and unexpected visit...
The door to Command Center opened noisily and Victor entered whistling in his
own distracted way. He sat down on the edge of John's desk and placed a
stack of atronomical photographs in front of him. "Good morning, John,"
he said with more enthusiasm than Koenig could muster.
Koenig rubbed a hand over his weary face and took the stack of photos. He
looked at each one in turn, noticing nothing special until he came to the
last one. "What's this?"
Bergman beamed as his star student selected the more extraordinary view. "That, in my opinion, is likely our salvation..."
Koenig cut him off. He wasn't ready to raise the hopes of everyone again
after so many failures. Alpha just didn't have the strength. "Let's
discuss this in your lab."
Within five minutes they were standing in Victor Bergman's lab. John looked
around him, amazed at all he had been able to accumulate in their journey.
"OK Victor," he said finally, "Show me what you've got."
The older man, obviously prepared, started laying out photographs. As he
talked he became engrossed in his own thoughts, murmuring reminders to
himself here and there. "You see, these pictures here..."
Two hours later Victor had convinced Koenig to send out a long range recon
Eagle. The planet was at the edge of the Eagle's range so a refueling
Eagle refueled it half way out giving it time for a maximum of two orbits
and three hours on the surface. After that it would be irretrievably stranded.
Due to the high possibility of failure during this mission. Victor persuaded
Koenig to remain behind and make it a volunteer mission. The idea of staying
behind and putting others in danger was not popular with Koenig, but Victor
gave a convincing argument. Volunteers came forward quickly and soon Koenig
was at the pad seeing the mission off. For twenty long hours he paced
Command Center waiting for the team to make orbit.
Victor's voice boomed over the speaker finally. "It's beautiful, John.
Much like Earth must have been in man's early days. There are the polar
caps. Axis is stable and comparable to Earth's. Large continental land
masses and abundant water supplies. Wait...." He was speaking to someone
off to the side. "Well, this paints a pretty picture, indeed. Atmosphere
seems perfect. Almost a match for Earth's except for the pollutants. We're going to land now. I'll be back in touch soon." Before a warning could be issued the tiny screen went blank.
Soon was almost three hours later. When Victor's face returned to the large
screen at Command Center he was beaming. "Survey is complete, Alpha. We
are transmitting results to you. John, I recommend you initiate Operation
Exodus."
A cheer erupted in the Command Center. People began slapping each other on
the back and hugging one another. Koenig felt the presence of another
disappointment looming over him. It was too easy he told himself. He was
reluctant and Victor sensed it. An error would doom them to a planet they
couldn't habitate. There were no second chances here.
"John, you have to trust me on this. It's the one." Victor said softly.
Those words from that man were all John Koenig needed to hear.
Operation Exodus was initiated immediately and it wasn't long before John
and Victor were standing in the middle of a deserted Main Mission. The floor
was dusty from unuse. "This is where it all began, Victor." he looked
around the room he knew he would never see again.
"No," he pointed out the window in the direction of the planet "THAT is
where it all begins. Everything until now has only been prelude."
The planet had been more than they could have hoped for and soon crops were
planted and the former castaways were building houses and starting families.
The planet's resources were abundant and for the first time it looked like
good fortune had smiled upon the Alphans. Victor studied the planet finding
new and better ways to utilize their resources. Suddenly, instead of
surviving they were thriving.
One day when Koenig was in the fruit orchard near his house he heard
footsteps behind him. He turned around to see Victor ashen and thin. He
urges his friend to sit down immediately, but was waved off. "You've
been working too hard."
Victor breathed in deeply and smiled at his surroundings. "It's nearly
done. And been well worth it. What a wonderful planet."
"It wouldn't be possible without you. You found it and convinced me to
settle here. If not for you we would probably still be out there." Koenig gestured toward the sky.
There was a hint of sadness in Victor's voice. "It was a stroke of luck
is all."
"Perhaps," He smiled at his old friend. "I have some news that will
cheer you up. We haven't told anyone yet, but I know she won't mind.
Helena's pregnant."
Victor smiled and put a paternal hand on his friends shoulder. "That's
great! So, we begin anew. A new planet, a new chance. It's up to you to
guide them in the right direction. Don't make old mistakes." Victor
started back the way he had come. "Give Helena my love."
"The next morning the found him in his bed. He had passed on during the
night." Koenig paused to take a sip from his drink and gather his
composure. "On his desk were plans for solar energy plants, hydroelectric
plants and long term high endurance batteries for our vehicles. He presented
us with alternatives to ruining our new home by polluting it." Koenig
stood up and pointed to the west toward the skyline. "All that you see
here out owe to him. You breathe fresh and clean air because of him. And" he pointed
to the last rays of color bordering the skyline. "You see that unblemished
because of him."
He sat down again. "All we have been able to gain since we have been here
we owe to a man that only lived here briefly. We all have nice houses, an
abundance of food and are able to pursue hobbies that we could only have
dreamed of before."
Sandy watched as a sleek sailboat sailed accross the waves trying to make
port before the last light had vanished. Off to the east the lights of the
village were coming on, illuminating the shape of the new observatory under
construction in the distance. She looked up at the sky in time to catch a
gimpse of a shooting star crossing the horizon. Then she knew how lucky she
had been to be born in this time and how others had toiled to give her this
home. How one man CAN make a difference.
Paula Austin
September 13, 1999
If you are interested in reading more Space 1999 fanfiction please go to www.space1999.net/fanfic
This story take place after the inhabitants of the runaway moon find a new home. Feedback is appreciated.
The Difference
by Paula Austin
The orange orb was sinking very slowly behind the timberline. What remained
shotb tendrils of color across the landscape painting it with a magnificent
pallet. A slight breeze blew, its air clean and untainted by pollutants. The
old man breathed in deep, savoring its flavor and reveling in the scenery.
His face, once young and handsome, was now marred by deep creases. Hair once
dark and full, was now white and thinning. Yet, despite this there was a
hint of handsomeness and strength.
He was so caught up in the his own thoughts that he did not hear the soft
footsteps in the gravel behind him. Only when he felt a light familiar touch
on his shoulder was the trance broken.
"I thought I might find you out here," Helena paused to take in the
beauty of the moment. "Each sunset seems more spectacular than the last."
"We missed so many. I never tire of the view," he replied, not taking his
eyes from the sky.
Neither of them spoke for several minutes. It was times such as these that
they felt the full gratitude for their salvation. Finally, Helena spoke.
"You have a young visitor. Do you want to come to the house or shall I send
her out?"
"Her?" he asked. "Oh yes, the young Morrow girl. Send her out. I'm
not ready to go in." Though the sun had gone down it would still be
twilight for a couple of hours. To John Koenig that was the most beautiful
time of the day.
"All right," she said as she leaned down to kiss his unshaven cheek. "I'll bring out some refreshments. Her name is Sandy."She called out over her shoulder.
He turned to watch her leave. Her petite figure was just as beautiful as the
day he met her. Despite the hardships they had encountered she had held her
age well. The lines of maturity that had defined his face had only served to
refine her own soft features. She was the perfect wife, the perfect mother
and the perfect doctor to him and her knew he was very lucky to have grown
old with her.
He turned his eyes back to the sky. The brilliant orange of the setting sun
had given way to cyan and azure of the twilight sky. Soon two moons would
make an appearance decorating the sky with their own color. It made him
think of his own moon and wondered what had become of it.
Hearing footsteps coming up the trail he got up and turned to face his young
visitor. He smiled as her began to make out her features in the dimming
light. She was fine boned like her mother and tall like her father.
"Good evening, Mr. Koenig," she said as she held out a hand.
He took the slender hand in both of his and smiled. "Sandy Morrow, you're
just as beautiful as your mother. It's nice to see you again. Why, I don't believe I have seen you since your graduation." He gestured her
towards a spot next to him on the rock bench he had been occupying. He sat
next to her. "How are your parents? It's been a long time."
"They're fine. They send their regards. They've been busy with Andrea.
She's due to have the first grandchild soon."
John looked thoughtful for a minute. "I remember when we were waiting for
our first grandchild. Helena insisted that Barbara come stay with us until
the baby came. Poor Jim, I'm sure he felt alienated, but you know mother's and their only daughters.
"I saw Barbara and Jim last week they were getting ready to go out on the
boat with Little John and his wife. I'm sorry, I forgot her name." she
blushed.
"Amy," they heard Helena call as she came up the trail with a tray of
drinks. She smiled as she approached them. "I wonder when he'll be old
enough to be just John. He's hardly little anymore." John Robert Koenig
Junior was a full six foot six inches. A full two inches taller than his
father in his younger days.
I suppose when I'm long gone." He took a cold drink from Helena. "Still,
it's a helluva name for a man in his position."
"I'm sure you're very proud to have your son follow behind you. He has
made a very good leader." She took a sip of her drink and offered Helena
and approving smile.
"Yes we are." Helena replied for him. "Tell us what you are doing these
days."
Sandy seemed to welcome the change of subject. "I work with Mum at the
History Archives. I hope one day to take over her duties as curator." She
leaned closer to make her words easier to hear. "That's partially why I'm
here. As you know, Mum has been working on an Interactive History. One
that will be interesting for the younger kids. So, We're interviewing the
original Alphans collecting facts, memories and ....well, trying to
fit it all together."
Helena turned at the sound of a vehicle approaching "That will be Barbara.
I told her I would watch the kids tonight." She got up and offered Sandy
her hand. "Please excuse me and give your parents my regards."
Sandy got up and took the older womans hand with obvious respect. "Thank
you, I will, Dr Koenig."
When Helena had disappeared down the path again Koenig reinitiated the
conversation. "I'm not sure what I could tell you that would be useful.
Your mother interviewed me several years ago, while my mind was still sharp." He tapped a finger to his skull. "And the rest is in the archives."
"It's not about you really," She began to show unrestrained enthusiasm
for for her ideas. "There's another reason I'm here today. As you know,
they are dedicating the new observatory next month. The Victor Bergman
Observatory and I am trying to work up a bio for it. There isn't a lot of
information on Professor Bergman and he died shortly after planetfall was
made so there are no personal interviews. Everyone says you were his closest
friend. Since you knew him best, I would like your story of his contribution
to our world. Will you help me?"
He sat there silently for several minutes. Sandy began to think his mind had
wandered and his faculties were dulled as he had said. She started to open
her mouth to repeat her question when the far away look in his eyes seemed
to focus and he began to speak. At first she wasn't sure he was speaking
to her, but as he spoke a beautiful story unraveled.
"Victor? I don't know. Brilliant scientist, inventor, loyal friend,
surrogate parent. He was all those things I suppose, but I always thought of
him as the glue that held us all together.I can't count the times we were
condemned to certain death and he found a way out of it. Or through it. He
is the reason we're all here today."
Once again there was a long silence. Sandy watched as his expression changed
and he seemed twenty years younger. Then once again he started.
"We were worn down. We had been looking at every possible planet as a new
home and there was always something. Finally, Victor retired to his lab and
began mapping the stars. We didn't see him much during that time and one
day he paid me and unexpected visit...
The door to Command Center opened noisily and Victor entered whistling in his
own distracted way. He sat down on the edge of John's desk and placed a
stack of atronomical photographs in front of him. "Good morning, John,"
he said with more enthusiasm than Koenig could muster.
Koenig rubbed a hand over his weary face and took the stack of photos. He
looked at each one in turn, noticing nothing special until he came to the
last one. "What's this?"
Bergman beamed as his star student selected the more extraordinary view. "That, in my opinion, is likely our salvation..."
Koenig cut him off. He wasn't ready to raise the hopes of everyone again
after so many failures. Alpha just didn't have the strength. "Let's
discuss this in your lab."
Within five minutes they were standing in Victor Bergman's lab. John looked
around him, amazed at all he had been able to accumulate in their journey.
"OK Victor," he said finally, "Show me what you've got."
The older man, obviously prepared, started laying out photographs. As he
talked he became engrossed in his own thoughts, murmuring reminders to
himself here and there. "You see, these pictures here..."
Two hours later Victor had convinced Koenig to send out a long range recon
Eagle. The planet was at the edge of the Eagle's range so a refueling
Eagle refueled it half way out giving it time for a maximum of two orbits
and three hours on the surface. After that it would be irretrievably stranded.
Due to the high possibility of failure during this mission. Victor persuaded
Koenig to remain behind and make it a volunteer mission. The idea of staying
behind and putting others in danger was not popular with Koenig, but Victor
gave a convincing argument. Volunteers came forward quickly and soon Koenig
was at the pad seeing the mission off. For twenty long hours he paced
Command Center waiting for the team to make orbit.
Victor's voice boomed over the speaker finally. "It's beautiful, John.
Much like Earth must have been in man's early days. There are the polar
caps. Axis is stable and comparable to Earth's. Large continental land
masses and abundant water supplies. Wait...." He was speaking to someone
off to the side. "Well, this paints a pretty picture, indeed. Atmosphere
seems perfect. Almost a match for Earth's except for the pollutants. We're going to land now. I'll be back in touch soon." Before a warning could be issued the tiny screen went blank.
Soon was almost three hours later. When Victor's face returned to the large
screen at Command Center he was beaming. "Survey is complete, Alpha. We
are transmitting results to you. John, I recommend you initiate Operation
Exodus."
A cheer erupted in the Command Center. People began slapping each other on
the back and hugging one another. Koenig felt the presence of another
disappointment looming over him. It was too easy he told himself. He was
reluctant and Victor sensed it. An error would doom them to a planet they
couldn't habitate. There were no second chances here.
"John, you have to trust me on this. It's the one." Victor said softly.
Those words from that man were all John Koenig needed to hear.
Operation Exodus was initiated immediately and it wasn't long before John
and Victor were standing in the middle of a deserted Main Mission. The floor
was dusty from unuse. "This is where it all began, Victor." he looked
around the room he knew he would never see again.
"No," he pointed out the window in the direction of the planet "THAT is
where it all begins. Everything until now has only been prelude."
The planet had been more than they could have hoped for and soon crops were
planted and the former castaways were building houses and starting families.
The planet's resources were abundant and for the first time it looked like
good fortune had smiled upon the Alphans. Victor studied the planet finding
new and better ways to utilize their resources. Suddenly, instead of
surviving they were thriving.
One day when Koenig was in the fruit orchard near his house he heard
footsteps behind him. He turned around to see Victor ashen and thin. He
urges his friend to sit down immediately, but was waved off. "You've
been working too hard."
Victor breathed in deeply and smiled at his surroundings. "It's nearly
done. And been well worth it. What a wonderful planet."
"It wouldn't be possible without you. You found it and convinced me to
settle here. If not for you we would probably still be out there." Koenig gestured toward the sky.
There was a hint of sadness in Victor's voice. "It was a stroke of luck
is all."
"Perhaps," He smiled at his old friend. "I have some news that will
cheer you up. We haven't told anyone yet, but I know she won't mind.
Helena's pregnant."
Victor smiled and put a paternal hand on his friends shoulder. "That's
great! So, we begin anew. A new planet, a new chance. It's up to you to
guide them in the right direction. Don't make old mistakes." Victor
started back the way he had come. "Give Helena my love."
"The next morning the found him in his bed. He had passed on during the
night." Koenig paused to take a sip from his drink and gather his
composure. "On his desk were plans for solar energy plants, hydroelectric
plants and long term high endurance batteries for our vehicles. He presented
us with alternatives to ruining our new home by polluting it." Koenig
stood up and pointed to the west toward the skyline. "All that you see
here out owe to him. You breathe fresh and clean air because of him. And" he pointed
to the last rays of color bordering the skyline. "You see that unblemished
because of him."
He sat down again. "All we have been able to gain since we have been here
we owe to a man that only lived here briefly. We all have nice houses, an
abundance of food and are able to pursue hobbies that we could only have
dreamed of before."
Sandy watched as a sleek sailboat sailed accross the waves trying to make
port before the last light had vanished. Off to the east the lights of the
village were coming on, illuminating the shape of the new observatory under
construction in the distance. She looked up at the sky in time to catch a
gimpse of a shooting star crossing the horizon. Then she knew how lucky she
had been to be born in this time and how others had toiled to give her this
home. How one man CAN make a difference.
Paula Austin
September 13, 1999