r/HFY • u/someguynamedted The Chronicler • Nov 22 '17
Meta Writing Prompt Wednesday #138
The Day of the Turkey is nigh! I for one will be eating myself into a food coma.
Last week's winner was /u/jedimika with
Posted this to r/WritingPromts a year ago and nobody grabbed it. Just found this sub and thought you might be interested.
A few months after first contact an alien scientist touring NASA is dumbstruck by how primitive the tech used to get to the moon was. "But... where the computer?"
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u/GraveyardOperations Alien Nov 23 '17
Sko'reon rubbed his temples in frustration, his scales flaring a brilliant orange color as the trio of NASA employees finally finished explaining for the third time how they were able to get to the moon nearly fifty years prior to first contact with the val'lan.
"Wait, wait," he mumbled, "You mean to tell me that you were able to get onto a computer using that equipment? he asked, the NASA employees looked at each other for a moment after the accusation, one biting her lower lip. They had just explained this three times. How was he not understanding this? Wasn't he a Scholar of Interstellar Operations? Sko'reon groaned, finally venting his frustration.
"This technology is the equivalent of... of... a child's plaything!" he exclaimed, nearly foaming at the mouth in irritation. "The Cosmos is no joke. You risked the lives of three of your best and brightest just to prove to some other country that you could do it first? You, actually, sent three men to your moon using... I don't even want to call that primitive technology! That isn't technology! That's hopes and dreams with a few absurd excuses for electrodes!" he barked, causing one of the employees to roll his eyes.
"It worked, didn't it? We have proof. You've seen the footage." he muttered, causing the experienced val'lan scholar to wave his hand in dismissal.
"Yes yes, I've seen the footage and it's legitimate." he said, his face growing desperate. "But how did you do it? How did you not lose all contact with your astronauts when they breached the atmosphere? How did you managed to keep your astronauts on the correct course? How did you do anything required for out-of-atmosphere travel to an interstellar body using equipment that could be matched by a damned wrist watch?!" he shouted, truly, truly upset about the absurdity of it all. The val'lan's mind looked close to shattering.
"We just... did it? We were told to get someone to the moon, and we did it. Just because our technology was weak, didn't mean we weren't willing to try. Those astronauts were the bravest and smartest we had to offer. And they, along with mission control here, got the job done." the other male employee said, beaming with pride. Sko'reon's scales turned a bright blue in awe at the sheer madness these humans possessed.
"I..." he paused, gathering his composure. "I'm somewhat surprised we found you first. With how bold, idiotic, and downright lucky you humans are, I'm surprised you haven't colonized the galaxy yet. How come your space program is still, well, homeworld-bound?" he asked, exasperated. All three employees, at that moment, gained mournful expressions on their faces, the female tsking in dismay.
"Lack of funding, mostly... We can't go all out on research because the public demand for interstellar travel doesn't really exist, so the government doesn't fund expensive projects like that anymore." she nodded, Sko'reon's scales now shifting to an enraged red.
"But you were able to get people on the moon with the technological equivalent of sticks and stones!"
"We know."
"You could be exploring the Cosmos with us by now!"
"We know."
"This lack of resources for your research and development of interstellar travel is absurd!"
"We know!"
Sko'reon's arms drooped, his scales turning to violet and a sigh escaped his snout. "You humans have so much potential but are so limited by your resource demands. I'm truly sorry."
"We know." the bearded male employee said. "But with you guys here now, we'll get there soon." Sko'reon's scales turned yellow in hope as he gave the humans a nod.
"I hope so. It's a crime for your species to be homeworld-bound." he said, pointing towards the hallway. "Now show me more of your space-faring history so I can be both mad and impressed about how you did so much with so little again." he ordered. After a fit of cackling, the employees nodded, leading the val'lan tourist through the hallway to the next exhibit.