Round 1 - Smackdown Word count 1360

Write a story with a maximum of 1500 words based on the following quote:

Our meeting place was out in the forest next to the lake, far from the city. My body seemed to drag as I pulled it along to meet Joe. I had slept maybe two hours or so and I could feel it. I had been on guard duty for days and days now, some days they expected us to do 24-hour shifts.

I scanned the forest with my eyes for any heat signatures. In this baltic weather, I didn't expect there to be any out here, apart from Joe. It wasn't dark as it had stayed light since the cogs appeared but it seemed to be murkier out here. The forest was creepy and animals always made strange noises.

I could see Joe, his body showed up red and yellow from the heat he gave off. He was stood behind the trees next to the lake. I bent down and grabbed a stick and threw it at him making him shriek.

"Morgan! are you trying to give me a heart attack?" I giggled as I climbed up the tree sitting on the branch "Sorry Joe, I couldn't help myself, you know me"

Joe sat back on the icy log, his hands were shaking and his face looked white

"you're serious about this?" I straightened up.

"Yes! can you scan the area again Morgan?" I could see heat signatures and I had regenerative power, but only my close family and friends knew that I had two gifts. Those were my gifts. Joe had strength that was his gift. I was special apparently because I have two and most of us have only one but my parents didn't report it as a child because I would have been sent to the palace, to live with the King. They didnt want that for me.

"It's all clear" I rubbed my hands together to try and warm them.

"The King is sending me into space! He wants us to find another planet to move to as a plan B. He doesn't think this one will survive and we can' seem to find the answers we need about these cogs. I'm taking you with me, I can get you in! it's our only way out Mogan, staying here is a death sentence"

I watched his mouth moving and then stop as his eyes looked brightly at me for a reply

" Space?" I gave him a confused look

"I know it sounds crazy and only a handful of us have ever been up there in the past, but now is the time Morgan! we have to try"

"How can you get me in Joe, I haven't even passed my training yet and the fact I'm from outer lands Joe, we do menial work and are poor people. It was a miracle I was allowed to go into training"

Joe reached out and grabbed my hand "Don't worry Morgan, you are coming, and I'm afraid it's happening now. you don't have much time. Go back and grab a bag of clothes and bits and then come to mine"

Joe was from The great city so he wasn't poor, his family were rich. But that didn't matter anymore because we were both guards now, the classes didn't seem to matter.

I looked at Joe's hands as he held mine, his were soft and clean. Not like mine, from years of working the land with my parents.

"Well let's go then, so I can go pack" His lips stretched into the biggest smile 

"your coming?"

"Can't let you die in space, can I?"

I packed as quickly as I could, it wasn't hard, my quarters were tiny.

"That you Mogs?" My mother burst into my room with her contagious smile 

"How was guard duty? why are you packing?"

I pushed her shoulders to sit her down, on the bed "I'm going to find us an answer mum, I'm going up to Space with Joe and we are going to look for another planet" She looked shocked and hurt at the same time.

"Space?" She ran the teatowel she was holding through her hands as she thought "I always knew you were different Mogs, you were meant for greater things. I know you have had a hard year Mogs, finding out the truth about your childhood but I think this could be what you need. Go and be great" Her eyes were sad as she pulled me into her arms.

"I love you mum, you know that?" She smiled as a tear rolled from her cheek "I know Mogs, I know better than anyone" She placed her hand on my chest and cried, her gift was feeling emotions "I love you. Please take care my darling" I held my hand up making a fist and she did the same in return, it was a symbol of love and friendship on our planet.

I left without saying goodbye to the rest of my family, that was all I could take.

The ship was huge and like nothing, I had ever seen before. I stood there overwhelmed, frightened and totally out of my depth. I had no idea how Joe had got me on the crew but by some miracle he had.

A tall guard stood waiting for us "Scan your cards here, please" I walked over to him and scanned my card nervously " Clarke, Morgan. Here is your uniform. Get into your uniform and then report to the main bridge" I nodded nervously and wondered what team Joe had gotten me on.

The uniform was tight fitting and very warm, it hugged every inch of my body but felt comfy. It was a strange material I had never seen before. My boots were a little on the heavy side but seemed to fit well. I walked along the ship corridors in ore, running my fingers along the walls until I had reached the bridge.

"Morgan Clarke reporting for duty sir" I looked at the tall, dark haired captain who was busy pressing buttons " Ahh Clarke, the last-minute addition. Nice to meet you. Have a look around the control room and find your bearings. You are going to be the Systems navigation specialist. I know you will have not had practise on a ship like this, but I'm sure you will be able to handle it"

navigations specialist! what was he thinking. I can't do this, this is crazy.

"Clarke, you ok? you look a little white" I took a deep breath and nooded "Yes sir, just a little overwhelmed"

"Of course, I understand. This is all new, to all of us, but its the only way to save our people. Come over here" The captain led me over to a large screen that sat on a small desk with a heavy looking chair "This is your station, this is where you guide us and navigate us on this screen, you will get used to it in no time"

"Thank you sir" I sat down looking at the screen breathing heavily. Others entered moving over onto other stations in the large room. The window was huge and ran along the whole width of the room making it look even larger than it already was.

I pressed the screen trying to find out what was what on this machine. It seemed a little less complicated than I had initially thought. I was good with machines. Our planet was sat between 5 other planets, we had only ever made it as far as the second because we didn't have the technology but now... now we did and we were going to be the guini pigs testing it out.

"Ok crew, buckle in, prepare for lift-off. Let's see what's out there, into the unknown....

Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.

let's see if we can find a new home"