The Last Human

Today is April 31st. I have been living in this spaceship my whole life. I was born here while floating in space, within a space. This ship is equipped with all the necessary technology to keep me and my crew alive. There is oxygen to breathe, a water processor, and plenty of nutrient rich meals to last for up to 350 years. If I were to ever go outside into the darkness of space it will not keep me alive. There is no air to breathe out there and I would surly die instantly. But the darkness is all I've known which I find extremely comforting. Our ships glow-book reports there were 18 other members of our crew that began on this voyage. I know that time dilation and distance is a factor with space travel. I have come to understand that we have traveled a very great distance from home.

Our mission; to land on the distant planet Iya 34-102, that is suitable for us to survive on. It is equivalently the only planet that closely resembles our home planet called Valkyrie. Iya 34-102 is teaming with oxygen, algae, and a variety of crustaceous life forms. They like to live in large liquid pools of water. The planet rotates around its double star system within an 18-hour day to night cycle. Humans are wonderfully adaptable and can thrive in this environment. We are to make it habitable for the arrival of our colony before they travel here as well. It is important to continue procreating for our survival... or so I've been told. Our last message from Valkyrie was 164 years ago, but our objective is still clear. We are to land, send a message to Valkyrie Operational Control that we have arrived. Our mission is to build a base to shelter us from its stars, collect drinkable liquid water, and to harvest food for our bodies to use as fuel.

I finally see Iya 34-102 within the proximity of its glowing stars. It is close enough now to observe its surrounding rings. I look at it from a little opening through a transparent sheet of protective glass from the autopilot drive module. It's bright and round like a globe with a green and rusty colored atmosphere. It is bigger than anything I have ever seen before other than my own home of four metal walls with wires. I would express what is called excitement, but I am all that is left of my crew. They have all succumbed to older life. I guess, that is what just happens to us humanoids eventually. The glow-book explains that we are born, we live, we thrive, and then our bodies die. If we are lucky enough, the cycle continues to repeat that process.

The last human alive before me was my sibling. She told me I had a mother and a father but their life ended before I was old enough to remember them. The glow-book plays moving pictures of them for me when I ask. My sibling would always tell me; "Make sure you find a place close to a liquid source, on top of a large mound obscured from view in all directions. The bright stars will be above your head; there is where you send a message with your glow-book to Valkyrie that you have arrived." Over and over, she would remind me daily since I was young. My favorite stories the glow-book would tell us were about how beautiful our world was. How vegitation and grass would grow beneath your feet. The sound of waves hitting the rocks on a seashore, or how rain would fall from clouds on a cool day. How something like a flower would smell sweet, or the delicious taste of real fruit. To observe a large fusion of visible colors called a rainbow. I ask my glow-book to show me moving pictures of these things. But I finally get to compare it to when I'm actually there and experience it for myself for the very first time. First, I just have to complete my mission.

The ship has finally entered the atmosphere... this was it... I am ready.

"Glow-book, begin audio file"

"This is Subject 52386. I have landed on Iya 34-102. I believe I am somewhere near the northern hemisphere slightly out of the appointed landing zone. I am about to exit the craft and establish a spot for colonization and to send this message at the best vantagepoint. Upon stepping out of my hom.. er... the ship. I can visualize the color brown in all directions. I see endless soil and stone as far as my eyesight sees. I notice a body of liquid roughly 55 yards to my south. I'm beginning to walk towards that direction now."

"I have reached the body of liquid, and the stars are beginning to travel downward. *cough, cough* The sky is full of red, orange and purple... beautiful colors. I feel a breeze on my limbs for the first time. It's strange feeling something touch you that you can't see, it's just there pushing against my body... I really like breeze. I'm walking over to the closest mound next to the large body of liquid now. I have set foot on the mound, and it has started to rain.. *cough, cough* The liquid is transparent and cool. I.. I can taste the liquid that is falling from my hair and face. Is this what salt tastes like? It is wonderful! *laughs* I love the way this feels! Tell the colony I have made it. I am here at long... at long last and I am finally here. Send.. "cough, cough* sending... message... now."

*Pushes send button*

Silence.

*Words appear on screen*

Quantum uplink auto message.

Location- Iya 34-102

Subject- 52386

Message to Valkyrie mission control. Subject 52386 has made contact. Attached is audio file.

Carbon nutrient lifeform has landed in appointed fertile zone. Termination of lifeform authorized.

Panspermia established.

Estimated habitable forestation- 295-11

Mission complete.