Captain Vistyz Stausk paced the command center of her ship. It had been her father’s ship, but he had passed onto the next multiverse a Sastorian year ago. Captain Stausk missed Sastorus, but she missed her father more, and thus stayed with his ship. She had been given a commission to either find and destroy or rehabilitate particularly malignant species. Sastorus and its brother planet, Castea, had been attacked by an unknown entity that left as quickly as it destroyed. This was one of the more far-reaching and broader missions to stop both their attackers and the general malice in the universe. So far, they hadn’t disintegrated anyone, but they also hadn’t found any civilization that didn’t need serious help. The crew’s morale was low and what they needed just then was to come across a kind and loving race that they could ally with. They seemed to be in luck, as Captain Stausk’s co-captain, Naeq, came in with a report: “Smallish blue planet off the starboard side. Looks to be inhabited. Should I organize a scouting party?” Captain Stausk thought for a minute before replying. “No, just set up gear and a landing pod for us two.” ~20 minutes later~ Vistyz and Naeq unboxed the high-tech, to-be-reserved-for-special-missions, highly-adaptable camouflage suits for the seventh time that voyage. They lamented their one-size-fits-all label as they squeezed their six limbs inside and climbed into a two-person landing pod. As they sat in the dark interior of the white, bubble-shaped contraption, hurtling towards the little blue planet, they both thought about how wonderful it would be if the inhabitants were nice. How perfectly lovely it would be if they could negotiate an alliance. How highly likely it was, based on the laws of statistics. Sadly, they were wrong. The first thing the two noticed was that the planet was divided up into nations, each with a different language and different customs. Of course, though they would be much stronger united as a whole planet, they had to be forgiven for this fault because of the language barrier. Yet another thing they noticed within their first “week” (a term used to describe seven days on that planet) was that most of the world’s leaders were power-hungry and corrupt. They didn’t work together peacefully, as would have been best for all on the planet; instead, they squabbled among themselves childishly. Many of the humanoid inhabitants were without basic necessities, while others had an almost disgusting surplus of material wealth and currency. The planet itself was polluted and littered, which took its toll upon the flora and fauna, which had done nothing wrong. Even worse, some beings were considered less than or more than other beings simply because of trivial surface traits! And when Vistyz and Naeq began to perform experiments of moral character and look into the minds and psychologies of many, they found irresponsibility, avarice, malice, and many more things. Captain and co-captain were saddened by the fact that so many vibrant cultural traditions and kind, loving people were overshadowed by the much larger amount of bad. Back aboard the ship, Vistyz called a meeting with all of her advisors, counselors, friends, and trusted allies. They argued about the fate of the planet for many earth days, talking in turns, sitting in reflection, screaming at each other, and then laughing about it afterwards. Finally, they came to the conclusion that they could neither destroy, nor heal, this planet. There was too much wrong and sadness to be fixed by an outside force, but the goodness and kindness was enough that it could not be destroyed. So, they isolated it: they placed a special barrier around it, preventing interaction with any other planets or societies until the good in this planet became enough to destroy the barrier. They had a chance to change. And so Captain Vistyz and her ship went on its way, but this violent little planet, violently good and bad, had left its impression on many. Some were significantly saddened by the wrong and the dirty, but others were uplifted by the good and clean and pure they had seen there. Many were confused, others convinced that they had done the right thing. All would remember it. Arabella McClendon, 13Racine,WI Hannah Parker, 13Burlington, VT
October 2018
Found
The fire-colored butterflies Flying drunkenly Silently sipping on the budding milkweeds. Snowflakes delicately falling Landing on open mouths of youth. The lake, calm and tranquil Silently discovering the ocean. The smallest trail of smoke Making its way to the sky. Fate isn’t sealed Like an envelope, Instead it guides Like the rails on a cliff To prevent falling Into a never ending Darkness. Or the stars Dotting the sky like freckles To prevent the sailors From stumbling into a whistling whirlpool. Not all maps Must be followed. Maya Wolfford, 13Cincinnati, OH
To Contradict
The waterfall, thought as brave, Viewed as unwearable, unstoppable, ablaze, Secretly cowers and hopes to end its days But continues to roar and never strays. The brambles, viewed as fierce and tough, Ignorant, guarded, as if they’ve had enough And stay like that until they wither, Pretending to be cool and tastelessly blither. The garden, swaying with the wind Seen as vulnerable, flimsy, weak, and thin But only leans with this harsh blow Because it has learned to go with the flow. The ocean, scrubbing away at the sand, Knows it could do something much more grand But still tries to reach for the land With a watery, frothy, desperate hand. The dirt, seen as filthy and rotted, With jewels and gems its depths are dotted But still it chooses to follow the dark way For it’s afraid to be seen with a happy day. The pebble, smoothed down by the stream, Seen as solitary, so hadn’t tried to join a team And as it tried to let out a scream Beneath the waters, it was held, serene. But the rose, viewed as superficial behind thorns Was expected to laugh with pity and scorn At the ugly weeds as they were promptly picked But instead it didn’t, thoughtful to contradict. And until this very significant moment It had been waiting for the bestowment Of the gift it had long ago earned: The petals it has, since young age, yearned. And this is how the rose gained its beauty, For performing a kind act, a necessity, a duty, And now you look at the rose and think pretty Instead of low, arrogant, and gritty. Maya Wolfford, 13Cincinnati, OH
