Luna

By Martin Sercombe

 

Luna had always dreamed of going to the moon. Her parents and friends told her it was impossible, but she was determined.

She spent months studying physics and engineering until, with help from her local scrap metal merchant, she finally built her own spacecraft.

Luna blasted off into space, feeling the rush of excitement and fear as she left Earth behind. The journey was long and arduous, but the ship proved space-worthy.

Finally, she landed on the moon with a rather clumsy crash landing. Then, soon after she took her first tentative steps, she slipped and fell down a deep hole.

To her great surprise, she found herself in a massive, bustling city. It was like nothing she had ever seen before. Flying cars zipped through the streets, and people walked around with bionic limbs and glowing eyes.

She met a local girl called Cybelle, who showed her around the city. The locals had replaced many of their body parts with advanced cybernetic implants, allowing them to live without the need for an atmosphere. Knowing how troubled life on Earth could be, they had kept their advanced civilisation secret for centuries.

But when Luna returned to her ship it was clear it wouldn’t make the trip back home. Luckily, Cybelle had given her some special lung implants to replace her oxygen supply.

 

Luna was filled with mixed emotions as she gazed at her damaged spacecraft. On one hand, she was thrilled to have discovered a hidden lunar metropolis and the possibility of a new life. On the other hand, she couldn't shake the feeling that she had left everything and everyone she knew and loved behind.
 

With a heavy heart, Luna returned to the city and sought out Cybelle. She found her in a bustling marketplace, haggling with a merchant over the price of the latest neural implants.

"Cybelle, I need your help," Luna said, interrupting their conversation.

"What's wrong?" Cybelle asked, noticing the sadness etched on Luna's face.

"I can't go back to Earth. My ship is badly damaged. What shall I do?" said Luna. 

Cybelle smiled, "I’m sure we can fix it. But for now I have a job for you. We have a training school for our elderly pilots. They can get a bit carried away. Sometimes they even forget to bring their glasses! Do you think you could help them?”

A little later Luna was confronted by the sight of a dozen space-grannies careening and swerving through the sky above her head, narrowly avoiding disaster. It was like dodgems at zero gravity. 

She realised at once she had a mission!

 

Luna took a deep breath and steeled herself for the challenge ahead. She had never taught anyone to fly before, let alone a group of elderly pilots. But she was determined to help them and prove herself worthy of staying in Moon city.

She watched as the grannies weaved and dodged through the sky, bouncing off each other like pinballs. It was chaos, but they were all having the time of their lives.

"Alright, ladies," Luna said over the intercom, "Let's start with some basic manoeuvres. Follow me."

Luna borrowed Cybelle’s craft and led the group through a series of simple loops and rolls. At first, the grannies were hesitant, but as they gained confidence, they started to fly with more control and precision.

But then, disaster struck. Grinelda misjudged her trajectory and collided with a passing asteroid. Her spacecraft spun out of control, hurtling towards the surface of the moon.

Luna sprang into action, using a grappling hook to latch onto the stricken vehicle. She led the spacecraft to safety, avoiding obstacles and debris along the way.

"Thank you, dearie," she said, hugging Luna tightly. "You saved my life.

Now, I do believe it’s time for tea!"

 

After tea, Grinelda shows Luna her latest neural implant. Luna was impressed by its intricacy. It was a stunning piece of technology, with circuitry woven into the hood like an finely made tapestry.

"This is incredible," Luna said, examining the implant closely. "What does it do?"

"It enhances my vision and hearing," Grinelda replied, "I can see and hear things that no one else can. It's like having superpowers!"

"What sorts of things can you see?" asked Luna, excitedly.

Grinelda smiled and closed her eyes. "Well, with this implant, I can see the molecular structure of objects. I can also see distant planets and hear the sounds of colours. If I focus, I can even see the aura of living beings."

Luna's eyes widened with amazement. "That's incredible! I've never heard of anything like it before. What kind of aura do I have?"

Grinelda chuckled. "Well, let me take a closer look." She closed her eyes again and concentrated for a few moments before opening them again. "You have a strong aura, Luna. It's bright and full of energy, with shades of blue and green."

Luna smiled. "That's amazing. I've always been interested in auras and energy fields. Do you think I could get an implant like yours?"

"Of course!" Grinelda replied. "I can take you to my favourite store. It is your birthday soon, isn’t it?”

 

Soon they arrived at the implant store. Luna was amazed by the variety of helmets and attachments for every possible use. Grinelda led her to a small section at the back of the store, where a friendly technician was working on some advanced gadgets.

"I’ve been expecting you," he said with a smile. "Grinelda told me all about you." Luna blushed. She had no idea she had made such an impression on her new friend.

The technician showed her a range of choices, explaining each one in detail. “Most of these are removable. Sometimes you need a rest from your superpowers!”

"I'm not sure which to choose," said Luna, feeling a little flustered. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. After a few moments, she opened them and pointed to a simple headset that reminded her of the flowers in her Earth garden.

"That one," she said with conviction.

The technician smiled and nodded in approval. "Excellent choice," he said. "That one will let you talk telepathically with the plants and creatures that live on the moon."

 “…and I think I might just get this one as well!” said Grinelda, sporting a ridiculous moon frog helmet.

 

 

Luna laughed at Grinelda's choice of helmet. "That's hilarious!" she exclaimed. "Can you talk to frogs with that thing?"

Grinelda nodded, grinning from ear to ear. "Oh yes, and they're quite chatty, you know. Always hopping around, talking about this and that."

 

As night fell, the two of them went for a walk through the lunar forest, meeting the strange life forms that lived there.  Luna put on her headset and felt her senses suddenly expand as she connected with the lunar ecosystem. She could hear the plants whispering to one another in a melodious wash of sound.

 

 Luna approached a cluster of glowing mushrooms, their soft light pulsing in the shadows. She reached out a hand to touch one and was surprised to feel a gentle vibration under her fingertips. The mushrooms glowed a little brighter, as they welcomed Luna into their world.

Then she asked “What should I do next in this strange and wondrous place?”

"Luna, dear Luna," they said. "Your heart is your compass. Listen to it, and it will always guide you on your journey."

 And armed with that advice, the two friends wandered deep into the forest.

As night fell, Grinelda's weariness urged them to return to Moon City. As they made their way back, Luna couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Everything on the moon was so different from what she was used to on Earth. The landscape was alien, her breath implant felt strange, and she couldn't shake a feeling of isolation.

When they arrived at Grinelda's home, Luna was surprised by how cozy and welcoming it was. The walls were made of a strange, luminescent material that glowed softly in the dark. The furniture was made of a soft, pliable substance that seemed to conform to her body as she sat down.

As she sat on the bed, her mind drifted to thoughts of her family on Earth, and a wave of sadness washed over her. She longed to be with them once more, but the lure of the moon and all its secrets was strong.

She was torn between the two worlds, as the Earth shone softly through the window, casting a soft glow upon her face.

At daybreak Luna resolved to try and repair her spacecraft. She asked Grinelda for help, and together they explored the bustling streets of Moon City, passing by shops and vendors selling all sorts of goods and services. They saw aliens, robots and cyborgs from all corners of the galaxy.

Finally, they arrived at Galactic Motors. It displayed a haphazard mix of scrap metal bric-a-brac but some of it looked like it might be useful. They walked inside and were greeted by a friendly-looking alien. "Greetings, travellers! How may I assist you today?" he asked.

Luna asked if they had the parts she needed to repair her ship. “Ah, ha, earth technology eh? We don’t get much call for that here,” he replied, showing her to the antique section of the shop.

Luna examined each part carefully, finally settling on the things she needed. Back at the crash site, she began work.

Luna worked hard to repair the damage to her lunar module, but soon realised there was much more to do.
 

It was time for a break. Grinelda showed her a secret grotto where she could watch the Luminata float through the caves.

Suddenly an imposing figure appeared beside her. Half human, half amphibian, The Guardian of the Deep was a stunning sight to behold. Her eyes were the most striking feature, glowing with an otherworldly intensity.

Luna felt a sense of awe and reverence as she approached the Guardian. She could feel the power and wisdom that radiated from her, and knew this was a being to be respected and revered. The Guardian greeted her with a deep, rumbling voice that seemed to reverberate through the caves. "Welcome, young one. What brings you to my domain?"

"I'm just exploring," she replied, feeling a little intimidated by the Guardian's presence.

The Guardian smiled, her eyes shimmering with amusement. "Exploring, hmm? That's what they all say. But I can sense something more in you. A yearning for knowledge, perhaps? Or maybe something deeper?"

Luna nodded. "Yes, you're right. I want to understand this world, to learn all I can about it."

The Guardian nodded in approval. "Then you have come to the right place. The moon's labyrinths hold many secrets and mysteries. They simply await the curious seeker.”

Luna looked into the Guardian's eyes and saw nothing but kindness and wisdom. She took a deep breath and plunged into the water.

Luna emerged into another vast subterranean world with rock formations towering far above her. She felt quite alone, as Grinelda had decided to wait behind.

 

As she looked around, two swirling towers of mist and light, slowly materialised at the far end of the cave. Luna stood mesmerized as the towers pulsed and swayed to the beat of her own heart. Gradually they shifted shape, forming into strange light forms and gentle faces that beckoned her forward.

As she approached them, images flashed through her mind - memories of the moon, its people and its secrets. She saw the struggles of the first settlers, the growth of Moon City and a kaleidoscope of dramas unfolding through the years.

Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared, the lights dissipated, leaving Luna standing alone in the cave.

But somehow she felt changed, more attuned to the mysteries of this strange new world and her place within it.

Grinelda announced that she was hungry, and suggested they visit the fruit market. She asked Luna to choose ingredients for a stew.

Luna explored the market, feeling overwhelmed by the variety of strange looking vegetables she had never seen before. She finally decided on some slender ripple-beans that glowed with a soft blue light, a bunch of lunar leaves and a bag of plump pintelli berries that emitted a sweet fragrance. Meanwhile Grinelda was haggling over the price of a large, ripe moon melon, finally parting with the last of her small change.

Pleased with their choices, they headed home. Over dinner, the conversation turned to how Luna might get safely back to Earth. The module was almost repaired, but there was still the problem of rocket fuel.

“I really don’t want to see you go, Luna dearie, but I have an idea!” said Grinelda.

 
The next morning Grinelda took Luna to an amusement arcade hidden in the back streets of Moon City. Luna was rather baffled by Grinelda’s choice of pastime. Then she remembered her time training the space grannies to fly, and it began to make sense.

Grinelda seemed to know exactly what she was after. She led Luna to a machine with a garish display and a console of brightly coloured spheres. She proceeded to play furiously on the machine, groaning each time she lost and grinning madly with each small win.

“I know I can do it. I just need more time,” she said, giving Luna a handful of small change. “Go and have some fun!”

Half an hour later, Luna was startled by a loud cry from across the arcade.

“I’ve won, I’ve won! I knew I could beat the machine! I am the Queen of the Gamers!”

Luna hurried over to see what the fuss was all about. Grinelda proudly held up a glowing orb.

“Just look at that!” she said.

“Lovely!” exclaimed Luna, “But what exactly is it?”

“This is one of the rarest jewels to be found on the moon” declared Grinelda.

“It’s the source of almost boundless energy, trapped inside a quantum anomaly. You can use it to power your ship on its journey back to Earth. All you need is a few simple modifications.”

Luna took the orb and studied it closely. “But who has the knowledge to perform such a feat of engineering?” she asked.

“Why, Krooglix, the owner of Galactic Motors, of course!” replied Grinelda. “He owes me a few favours”

With Krooglix’s help, Luna completed the final repairs and adaptations over the next few days. 

Her departure drew closer.

 

Luna gave Grinelda one last hug and thanked her for all her help and kindness. She boarded her spacecraft, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. She knew that the journey back to Earth would be long and challenging, but the modifications to her ship gave her a newfound sense of determination.

As she lifted off from the moon's surface, she felt the power of the jewel coursing through her ship's systems. She marvelled at the smoothness of the ride and the speed at which she was able to travel.

For days, Luna travelled through the vast expanse of space, grateful for all the freeze-pack meals Grinelda had insisted on giving her. Her heart performed cartwheels as she thought of all the tales she would soon share with her family.

As the ship entered Earth’s atmosphere, she felt the friction building up around her. The heat shield did its job, and soon Luna was dropping gently into the garden of her old Earth home.

Then just as she started walking towards her house, her interstellar mobile started buzzing. It was Grinelda.

“You have to come back! There’s a serious emergency, and you’re the only one who can help us!”

"What's going on, Grinelda? What kind of emergency?" Luna asked, her voice trembling with concern.

"It's the orb," Grinelda said, her voice frantic. "As soon as you took it away from the moon our energy matrix went off balance. The whole city is losing power. I had no idea the grid is so sensitive. No one has removed a piece of it before.”

“That’s awful! I’ll come back as soon as I can! Can I just explain things to my Mum and Dad first?”

“Sorry, Luna, there’s no time for that. The grid could blow at any moment!”

In a panic, Luna made preparations for take off. As she lifted off from the ground, a deep sense of dread and weariness overcame her. What terrible danger was waiting for her?

The Moon City that Luna returned to had changed into a very different place. Sparks were flying from the power grid. Lights were flashing on and off. Cyborgs were dashing everywhere making adjustments. Luna ran directly to Grinelda’s house, dodging through the crowds in the darkened streets.

“I’ve brought the orb with me. What should I do with it?” she asked, breathlessly.

“Just leave it here.” Grinelda replied. “So long as it stays on the moon, it doesn’t matter where it is. Now we must stabilise the matrix.”

The two made their ways deep underground to the central control room, where Luna was confronted by caves full of electrical machinery.

“This looks like it was built in the Stone Age!” exclaimed Luna.

“It was built by the first settlers, aeons ago.” replied Grinelda. “It was the power of the orbs that kept it working…until now that is.”

“But I haven’t the slightest idea how to fix it.”

“Yes you do! Think back to the day you met the Guardian of the Deep. It was in her caves that you learned about the moon’s history.

“It was just an avalanche of data and images!”

“And somewhere hidden in all that information is the key! Still your mind and try to remember.”

Luna took a deep breath and closed her eyes. A few minutes later, she began work.

Driven by what looked to Grinelda like a supernatural intelligence, Luna busied herself, twisting dials here and adjusting settings there. An hour later she paused and breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s done!” she said.

“You are truly amazing.” replied Grinelda.

Far above them, the lights of Moon City stabilised, the wild sparks subsided, and everything returned to normal.

“And now, I do believe it’s time to celebrate,” continued Grinelda.

“What would you like to do?” asked Luna.

“Let’s go on a shopping spree!”

Luna laughed, relieved that the emergency was over and grateful for the chance to unwind. 

"That sounds like a great idea!" she said.

Grinelda led Luna out of the control room and into the narrow side streets.

“Everything looks so much cosier now the lights are back.” said Luna.

 Luna and Grinelda spent hours exploring the shops, trying on outlandish outfits, and marveling at the technological wonders on display.

“How do I look in this?” asked Grinelda.

“Totally over the top!” laughed Luna.

In the next shop, Luna tried on a magnificent spiked helmet imported from Saturn.

“This should protect me from any falling meteorites!” she quipped.

 

Never one to be upstaged, Grinelda quickly assembled a glittering outfit that would turn heads at any fashion parade.

“Now come on Luna, admit it. Am I not the most glamorous grandma in all of Moon City?”

“Of course you are, Grinelda,” replied Luna, giving her a big hug.

Further down the street, they came to a shop filled with fashions inspired by the cave luminata. Luna tried on an outfit that changes colour according to your mood. As the helmet touched her head, everything turned to pastel shades of pink and mauve.

“It matches your aura, Luna dear!” said Grinelda

“And it even makes my hair turn blue!” giggled Luna.

As the day drew to a close, Luna and Grinelda sat down in a small café and enjoyed a meal of pintella beans and lunar cider. They recounted their adventures on the moon, and Luna shared stories of her life back on Earth.

Once again, Luna felt a mix of homesickness for Earth and excitement about her new life on the moon.

“Grinelda, how will I ever return to Earth without the power of the orb to help?”

“I’m sorry Luna, dear, I don’t have an answer to that question. But for now, I think the moon needs you more.”

 

Meanwhile, in a small suburban garden in southern England, two middle aged parents were busy discussing some strange marks in the middle of their lawn.

“I was sure I heard the sound of jet engines in the middle of the night.” said Mother.

“It was Luna’s ship, I’m sure of it! What else could those scorch marks be?” replied Father.

“So, she must have made it safely to the moon and back!”

“But why didn’t she stay and tell us all about it?”

“We may never know, dearest. But wherever she is now, I feel sure she is having lots of fun!”