The Guidance System

There is huge excitement and disruption in the lives of people all over the globe - discovery has been made as to how to travel great distances in space in relatively short periods of time.  I am on the team that is to go off-world soon, and am busy, along with my team mates, preparing myself for this historic journey.  Our destination is a far-off planet on the opposite side of the galaxy.

Something happens, and I am suddenly told that I am not going to go any more.  I feel shock, rage, and huge disappointment.  My face is streaked with tears and my heart is breaking.  The officials try to console me, telling me my contribution, both up until this point and what I will do, is invaluable, but these are just empty words to me.

I pull myself together when one of the officials sternly reminds me that I am still on the clock.  My professional face in place again, they now tell me they have something to show me, and take me through a very crowded hall.  There are people from all nations there, excited to be able to see such incredible launch of a ship that will be first to traverse the galaxy.  I feel irritated by the happy chatter, knowing how much has gone into this project, and how much is at stake.  "They're all like children", I think to myself, "not understanding anything but the outer shell of bling."

The room I'm ushered in has a huge window looking out into the night sky.  Here, all is quiet, even though it's full of scientists and technicians working on the last minute preparations.  I am led to a small platform, and we all get on it. The platform then is raised half-way up the room and is very close to the window - I get the sensation that I'm floating in the darkness.

"There", one of the men says, pointing to something I cannot see at first.  I look more closely and see a slender rod, about a meter tall and inset with some flashing LED lights.  It hangs in the nothingness like the beacon it is.  "This is what you designed, this guidance system," he continues, "and this is what will guide them all home."  I am in tears again, this time from a feeling of deep humility and gratitude.  Memories of working on this piece that would make this all possible flood me - how could I have forgotten!? - and I feel very grateful these people took time to remind me.

The mission is a success, and the aftermath blurs into some time in the future.  I am walking through what appears as a car lot with brand new shiny cars all ready to be sold.  A group of giggly girls are clustered around one car in particular, and my curiosity gets the best of me.  I approach them and they show me what they're looking at - a car of gleaming sapphire blue is fitted with a slender rod about a meter tall and inset with some flashing LED lights.

They're still giggling and making childish phallic jokes, while I'm standing stunned again at how quickly my invention is forgotten, that it is now used as a decoration for some jock's car.  "This opened up the skies for us, took us to worlds unknown," I say sadly, "And you still don't understand..."

I walk away...