Word: Oort Cloud

 

Oort cloud

[ awrt-kloud, ohrt ]

 

noun Astronomy.

a region of our solar system far beyond the orbit of Pluto, in which billions of comets move in nearly circular orbits unless one is pulled into a highly eccentric elliptical orbit by a passing star.

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             Jack looked at the ever-shifting chunks of ice through the window. He had no idea how big they were, but given the distance between them and the ship, they were probably massive. He was not interested in them though. The view out the window shifted at a steady pace, and soon he could see what he wanted to. The Sun. A tiny, distant pinprick from his perspective, but still visible. He couldn’t see what he really wanted to though.

               It was not in view for long and soon vanished as the room rotated away. Jack sighed and moved. Walking still felt wrong to him. Supposedly the rotation felt just like real Earth gravity, but he could tell the difference. He never knew someone could miss gravity.

               “Hey, Jack. Still star gazing?”

               The speaker was one of his colleagues, Sally. She held a data pad, but was not really looking at it. She went to the small window Jack had just vacated.

               “It’s quite the view, isn’t it?”

               “Yeah. Yeah, it is.” Jack said.

               “Uh-oh, I don’t like the way you said that. Something wrong?”

               “Not really. Just thinking. What do you think’s going on back home?”

               “Who knows? Not like we can talk to them to find out. We could be the last humans alive, or we could end up meeting our descendants when they catch up to us in a faster ship. Kinda neat to think about, isn’t it?”

               “If you say so. Ever wish you could go back?”

               “Not even a little. I mean, come on, man, look where we are. The first humans to reach the Oort Cloud. And soon, we’ll be the first to leave to solar system. How cool is that? We’ll make history.”

               Jack gave a non-committal grunt.

               “Hey, Sally?”

               “Yeah?”

               “Is it possible we could send something back? Not a message. Something physical?”

               “What, like, open the airlock and set something adrift in space?” When he nodded, she closed her eyes in thought. “Technically, yes. But it’d be like shooting one specific water molecule at the bottom of the ocean with a shotgun. It can technically be done, but the odds of succeeding are as close to zero as you can get. I can go into why, if you want.”

               “No, no, it’s fine.” He couldn’t help but think about the possibility though. Sally moved in close to him, almost touching.

               “Come on Jack, what’s really bothering you?”

               “I don’t know. Maybe I should go back into hypersleep for a while. Use that to sort things out.”

               “Not really the best place to sort out your thoughts, is it?”

               At that moment, Sally got an alert on her pad. She took a moment to check it.

               “Got a broken sensor array. Not a big one, so it should be easy to fix. But—”

               “I’ll take care of it.” Jack said immediately.

               “Uh, Jack?”

               “It’s fine. Quick fix, right?”

               “Well, yeah, but there’s—”

               “Then it’ll be fine. Let me suit up.”

               An hour later, Jack was floating. No artificial gravity. Just weightlessness. He looked around, taking in the vastness of space. His eyes lingered on where the Sun was. Where Earth was. Sally’s voice came in over the coms. She told him where the break was.

               “And hurry up, there’s a micro ice storm coming our way.”

               A few practiced maneuvers with his suit’s jet pack brought him where he wanted to go. It really was quick fix, and only took a few minutes. It was then that the ice hit. Calling it a storm was generous. Each piece was small, around the size of a golf ball, and there was a lot of distance between each one. Easily enough to walk through without getting hit once. They would have to go over the hull to make sure it was not damaged, but that was about it.

               Jack took one last look at where he knew home was before heading back to the airlock. Then a piece of ice hit his life line. A large hole opened in the line, and then snapped as it became too strained to take his weight. Jack scrambled for a moment, trying to catch something to hold onto. He heard Sally’s voice shouting in his ear.

               The ice storm passed, leaving Jack drifting away from the ship slowly.

               “Jack? Jack, can you hear me?” Came Sally’s panicked voice. He could hear other members of the crew in the background scrambling around trying to do something.

               “Yeah, I can hear you.”

               “Great. Don’t worry, you’re still fine. Just jet back and we’ll send a drone to meet you. You’ll be on board in no time.”

               “Right, yeah.” Jack said. He looked around. It was quiet out there. Peaceful. Open. “Hey, Sally?”

               “Yeah?”

               “You said it’s possible for something to drift back to Earth right?”

               “Jack?”

               His fingers worked his wrist mounted computer. It was tricky thanks to how thick they were, but he managed. It took a few minutes for the data to be calculated and transmitted. All the while, he heard the crew shouting at each other. A small drone was launched out of the ship’s side, but it was not a fast machine.

               Jack hit a few commands on his keypad. A few tiny blasts of air spun him around. Spun him away from the ship and towards the distant Earth.

               “Jack, what’re you doing? You’re facing the wrong way.” Sally said.

               “Don’t worry, it’s fine.” His pack fired a few quick bursts, bringing him onto his desired course.

               “No! Don’t do it!” Sally screamed into his ear.

               For the first time in what felt like ages, a smile formed on Jack’s lips.

“I’m going home.” 

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Not sure if a story this short is enough to give the emotional weight I was going for, but I did my best with what I have. What do you think?

Word; Samhain

 

Samhain

or Sa·main, sa·mh'in

[ sah-win ]

 

noun

a festival of the ancient Celts, held around November 1 to celebrate the beginning of winter.

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               It was time. She could feel it. The turning of the seasons was upon them. The true season of winter had not quite arrived yet. There would still be color in the world for several weeks. But that did not matter. The turning was there.

               She rose and looked out at the world for the first time in months. She reached out and felt the world as the chill came to the air. She looked at the children nursing belly aches from an overabundance of sweets. She scoffed at their foolishness, but she could not really blame them. Children would be the same regardless of the year.

               It was comforting, in a way. To know that no matter how humanity changed, children would always remain the same. They would always find joy in the simplest of things, like a few extra sweets once a year. A rare smile crossed her lips as she watched, if only briefly.

               But that was past. All Hallows Eve was gone. The time for revelry was done. The time for pretending to be something more was over, even if the effects lingered. Now was the time for the real thing. Oh, the humans thought their little festival was the day when black magic was closest to them. Good. Let them think that. She knew better. All those like her did as well.

               She wondered how many were still around. She had not seen any in far too long. The rites and rituals were still being done, she could feel it, so there had to be at least a few more. But the numbers did not matter. As long as she lived, the old ways would still hold sway.

               She left the window and went to prepare the ritual. The magic would be done on this, the true turning of the seasons. When warmth and life give way to cold and death. That was when the magic would be best.

               It was a simple matter to get all the needed items together. She had been preparing all year, since the turning to the warmer months. She set up the ritual with practiced ease and reached out to what few sisters remained. Fewer than last year, but more than they needed. It was as she expected.

               She heard a few children run around, having eaten yet more of their colorful treats. Sometimes she wondered if any of them could be trusted with the rites. Maybe one of them had the gift, leftovers from a distant ancestor and just waiting to be woken. Perhaps once the ritual was done she would try and find one.

               She shook her head. The magic was building. She needed to focus. This could only be done today, and she had to do it properly.

               Outside, the world went on as normal. All Hallows Eve had ended and its festivities were over. But for her, in her home, they were just getting started. Halloween was done and gone until the next year. Now it was time for Samhain. 

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It was only recently that I learned how to properly pronounce this word. I always said it as Sam Hane. I mean, that's what it looks like it should be pronounced, right? Guess ancient Celtic language doesn't really adhere to English rules, does it? 

Word: Cantrip

 

cantrip

[ kahn-trip ]

 

noun

1. Chiefly Scot. a magic spell; trick by sorcery.

2. Chiefly British. artful shamming meant to deceive.

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               The great wizard Maligut took in the battlefield in a single glance. His allies were fending off the ravenous hoard of the undead. The monster’s putrid existence was an offence to all that lived, but him in particular. The creation of the undead was such a bland form of magic. Why waste the effort of creating a few shambling meat puppets when one could command the forces of nature? He would make sure to show the superiority of the elements as he burned the abominations to the ground.

               Oh god, Dave, just take your turn and move on.

               Hey, let him have his fun. We don’t interrupt you when you monologue.

               Mine are actually entertaining.

               Maligut looked inwards, checking his stores of magic. A cold chill ran through his being. One that had nothing to do with the approaching hoard. His vast magical powers had been drained during the day’s adventures! He had nothing but the simplest spells at his disposal.

               Wait, you’re out of spell slots? How did that happen? We barely fought anything. Great. Just great. Right when we need a fireball. Fine, just cast the damn cantrip so we can get to dying. And we’re having a long talk about spell management after this.

               The great wizard, even without his normally great powers, was still far from helpless. His hands moved in arcane patterns that few could hope to understand. His voice spoke the words of power that would unleash his inner flames, echoing in time with the world itself.

               Really? All that for a fickin’ firebolt?

               Okay, roll to hit.

               Within the palm of his hand, an arrow of pure fire formed, so potent that it was almost solid. While he knew it was hardly the greatest expression of his will, it would be more than enough fo r this task. He cast it forth at the nearest undead abomination. It flew with the speed of an arrow, aimed squarely at the creature’s putrid head.

               That’s a hit. Roll damage. And that’s a kill.

               The lance of flame struck true, taking the nearest creature, perfectly on target. Its foul odor filled the air as it began to blaze like the noon sun. The flames surged around its rotten form, consuming it to the bone. Maligut smirked. Even the smallest dregs of his power were enough to overwhelm the misuse of magic. Although without sufficient power, it would take a few moments before he could collect enough to cast another bolt of flames.

               I’m guessing that means your turn is done.

               Finally. Seriously, I have no idea how you take so long to do that.

               The great wizard Maligut ignored the petty complaints of his allies. They did not understand the ways of magic, nor its great burden. Perhaps someday he would endeavor to educate them, but he was not hopeful. They had their uses, but tapping into the vast powers of the cosmos was perhaps beyond their limited cognitive ability.

               You suck. You know that, right?

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DnD games can get very entertaining if you have the right party. Of course, finding that party can be tough, but the right group is out there for all those who are interested.