Chapter 3
1210 Words
Chapter Three
Daniel sat on his chair on the bridge. His right leg was over his left knee and he stared at his shoe. It was bright blue and green, and untied. He didn’t like shoelaces. They were annoying. Most people didn’t even wear laced shoes anymore. This was well past the twentieth century. Why should you bother getting shoes with laces, when you can get the ones that auto-adjust?
“Your shoes are so bright,” Shawn said.
“Thanks.”
“Why?”
“They’re Seahawk colors.”
“Seahawk?” Shawn asked.
“Yeah…the football team.”
“Football?”
“You know what,” Daniel said, “never mind.”
“Sure,” Shawn drawled out.
“Anyway, what is our estimated time of arrival?”
“Three more days.”
“So, now I just have to find stuff to do for the next three days.”
“I mean, you could sit on the bridge the entire time if you want to,” Shawn said.
“Screw that. This isn’t an episode of Star Trek. We don’t have to be on the bridge the entire time.”
Shawn shrugged. “You could read a book.”
Daniel tilted his head. “Read any good ones lately?”
Shawn rubbed his chin. “I’m reading a series called Dragon’s Call. It’s about three sisters who have dragon guides who help them unite three kingdoms who are at war with each other.”
“Interesting. Is it any good?”
“Yeah, I’m really enjoying it. Each sister has a magical enchanted weapon. The first book is called Dragon Sword and I’m almost finished with it. After that, I’ll read Dragon Bow.”
“I want a Dragon Bow, that sounds cool,” Daniel said.
“Screw the bow. I want a dragon.”
“Like a pet dragon?” Daniel asked.
“Totally.”
“You’re allowed to have a pet in your room if you want. You can get like a lizard or something.”
“But lizards don’t breathe fire,” Shawn complained.
“True…but if you catch your room on fire with a dragon, I may just have to kick you off the ship and find a new navigator.”
“What if it only catches on fire a little bit?” Shawn asked.
Daniel rubbed his temple. “Anyway, I’m going to go find something to do for three days. Ben, you have the bridge.”
“Yes, Captain,” Ben said.
Daniel went through the door and stepped into the hallway. It was empty. Lights flickered above him. He wondered what that was about. Shrugging, he began skipping down the hall.
He didn’t make it very far when a door opened on his right side. Daniel abruptly stopped skipping and glanced to his right.
Jasmine stood, staring at him with wide eyes. “Were you just skipping?”
“Yes. Yes, I was.”
“Why?”
“I was off to see the wizard.”
Jasmine furrowed her brows. “The wizard…? Do you mean Shronan, the space mage?”
“No, the wizard of Oz.”
“What?”
He shrugged. “Never mind. I’ll keep my skipping to myself.”
“I think that’d be best for everybody.”
Daniel continued walking down the hallway. He tapped a button on the side of his ear and music began to play through his bone conduction wireless headphones. His head swayed side to side as he continued down the hallway, walking this time.
Walking wasn’t as fast as skipping, and he didn’t like it. He looked at the cold, gray floor underneath him and wondered if he could paint hopscotch on it. Then everyone would be forced to hop around. That was the unspoken rules about hopscotch. If you saw a hopscotch game in chalk on the ground, you had to play it. It was the rules. Totally.
He reached the door he was looking for. Spencer. Priest.
Daniel knocked.
“Come in,” a voice said.
Daniel strolled into the room. The priest sat behind an oak desk, a tablet in his hands.
“What are you up to?” Daniel asked.
“Praying.”
Daniel smiled. “Of course, and the tablet?”
“Making notes for my next sermon.”
“What will you be speaking of?”
Spencer pointed at him. “To know that, you’ll have to show up to Wednesday night service.”
Daniel huffed and sat on the chair in front of the desk. “Fine.”
“What brings you here?” Spencer laced his fingers.
Daniel rubbed his fingers together. “Well, I just felt like I needed someone to talk to.”
“What would you like to talk about?”
“I’ve been having a hard time concentrating lately. Ever since planet 23752-2, I’ve been struggling with my faith.”
Spencer scratched his chin. “I can understand that.”
“People have noticed I’m a bit off. Even the president. I was mandated to talk to someone about our previous mission.”
“And have you?”
“Well, we have a ship psychologist now.”
“So, you talked to Katie? Did it help?”
Daniel shook his head. “She can’t help with issues of faith. She isn’t entirely convinced herself. All she wanted me to do is talk about myself. She just sat there with a notepad and pen.”
Spencer laughed. “That’s what psychologists do.”
“Yeah, well that’s not what I need.”
“Tell me what you’re struggling with.”
“We’re not the only ones out there. Humans aren’t alone in the universe.”
“You already knew that though, didn’t you? You’ve known for a long time about Clyde.”
Daniel raised an eyebrow. “Did you know about Clyde?”
“Of course.”
“You knew about him before I did?”
Spencer laughed. “He doesn’t really hide it well.”
“Still, Clyde was one person. We just explored a planet with an entire civilization and met another race in space orbiting the planet. If we ever find Clyde’s people, then that’s at least three different humanoid species that aren’t human.”
The priest nodded.
“And you’re okay with that?”
“What’s not to be okay about? It’s not like we can change it. The past is written. We can only go forward into the future.”
“The bible says man is created in God’s image.”
“Yes.”
“So were we created first, or were they?” Daniel asked.
“Why does that matter?”
“Only one of us could have been created in God’s image. If they were created first, then what went wrong that he came to create us? Or if he created us first, then why did he go off and create others?”
“And what do you imagine God to look like?” Spencer asked.
“What do you mean?”
“You said that God created us in his image. Do you imagine God to look more like you or me?”
“I don’t know. If we look like him, then I imagine him to look like a man.”
“And you believe that the other races we met weren’t created in His image?”
“How could they be if we were?”
Spencer smiled. “God can not fit into a box. He cannot be defined. God does not look like a man or a woman or any of the other species we have met. Yet, we all look like him. How is that?”
Daniel shrugged.
“God is divine. He transcends explanation. He is the great inventor, and like an inventor, he will never stop creation. We weren’t his first, and we certainly aren’t his last.”
Daniel tilted his head. “We weren’t his first?”
Spencer chuckled. “He created the stars and planets before he created us. Humankind was not his first invention. And like any great inventor, after a day of rest to reflect on his beautiful creation, I have little doubt that he continued to create. The universe is expanding. What do you think is the cause?”
Daniel blinked. “Most people would say the big bang.”
“And what do you think caused the big bang?” Spencer asked. “For every action, there is an equal and opposite re-action. It is Newton’s third law.”
“This is a lot to think about,” Daniel said.
“Faith isn’t easy. That is why we call it faith.”
“Thank you, Spencer. You’ve given me a lot to think on.”
“You’re welcome. I’m always here to talk.”
Daniel stood and walked to the door.
“Captain Daniel?”
Daniel turned around.
“I’ll see you Wednesday night”
Daniel chuckled. “Yes, sir.”
- Writer
