[ NewWorld ] Part 1: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1092693871/ Part 2: You are here Part 3: https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/1115188833/ An original story by PokemonGL17569 Hey again and welcome to part 2 of NewWorld! A few things: The story is now in 3 parts, not 2. So this is not the end of the story. Also there is a NewWorld chapter archive now: scratch.mit.edu/studios/35988517/ Note: Inner thinking is asterisks, like this: *I am awesome.* Thats all! (Story in Notes and Credits)
Part 2 The comms room was a mess of wires and levers. Screens and speakers took up so much space that you could hardly see out the window. *But then, I guess interstellar audio transponders are pretty complicated.* Alvin fired it up, but he just got static on the screen. “Huh? No signal?” Alvin was confused. Had he flipped the wrong switch? He flipped everything off and tried it again. But there was still no signal. *Why isn’t it working? If we can’t communicate with Mission Control - or with anyone in the solar system - we’re stuck here!* Alvin flipped the switches on and off frantically. Screens beeped on and off. Static filled the comms room. But nothing would come through except NO SIGNAL, NO SIGNAL, NO SIGNAL. Suddenly he realized that there was something else on one of the screens: Bright red, big, burning letters that read CONNECTION FAILED. “Connection Failed? Why isn’t it working?” Alvin desperately turned the switches on and off, faster and faster. “Just work already! It has to work!” Beeping filled the room. “SIGNAL OVERLOAD. Please activate emergency shutoff.” A robotic voice emanated from the flashing screen, calling with urgency for Alvin to stop. But he would not listen. “NO!” Alvin screamed. And he punched his arm right through the screen. The screen went dark. Electricity flew out of every wire. The lights overhead flickered out. Smoke hissed through the room as the discharge of energy blasted apart the room. When the smoke cleared, the machine was a pile of detritus and rubble. Sarra and Victor came rushing in. “We heard that beeping. Is everything…” Sarra’s voice trailed off as she saw the damage. She and Victor stared openmouthed until Alvin interrupted the silence. “We’re stranded.” 01:02:56:58 POST HYPERDRIVE COMMENCEMENT D H M S “We’re toast, aren't we?” “No, Victor, we’re not toast.” Sarra, calm as ever, was trying to stop Victor and Alvin from panicking, but it wasn’t doing much good. After making sure the ship hadn’t sprung a leak, they had gone back to the living quarters to make up a plan. *How can she be so calm all the time?* Alvin wondered. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE'RE NOT TOAST!? WE’RE 97 LIGHTYEARS FROM ANOTHER HUMAN BEING WITH NO COMMUNICATION!” “Well, for one thing, the hyperdrive still works. So once it’s charged up, we can head back to Earth. But…” Even Sarra was on edge. “But what?” Sarra announced, “The hyperdrive needs a week before it is ready.” “A WEEK?” The look on Victor’s face as he glared at Alvin could have melted stone. “Thanks a lot for getting me into this mess, Alvin. How can we possibly survive a week?” Alvin glared back at him. “I’m the mission commander around here!” “Well, it’s your fault that-” “ENOUGH,” Sarra cried, piercing the tense atmosphere, “The only way we can do this is if we do our jobs and not argue. So let’s get to work!” 01:22:23:47 POST HYPERDRIVE COMMENCEMENT D H M S Later that night, Alvin was coming back from a spacewalk when he overheard Victor and Sarra talking. He had a feeling they didn’t want him listening, but he paused when he heard his name. Victor whispered, “Sarra, I don’t trust him. I know Alvin has good intentions, but I don’t want him running this ship anymore. What if he blows up the hyperdrive next?” “I know you want me as commander, Victor. It’s not happening. Alvin has my full confidence that he can do the right thing and bring us home.” “His impulsiveness and anger got us stranded. Now we’re just supposed to forgive and forget?” “I know Alvin deserves our support. How will we make it home otherwise?” “We can’t keep him in charge when he makes such rash decisions. That’s my final say.” Alvin went to his sleeping bag with a lump in his throat. *I don’t know if I can do it,* he thought, *but I have to try.*
