Mysterious Disappearance
After 10,000 Earth years since the last visit, today was Earth’s turn. The Angelic Scientific Krew (ASK) chattered happily (telepathically) at how good the planet looked. Clean skies and water, lush vegetation of all kinds, and a full complement of fauna — but curiously no humans. It was surprising, as humans had a red asterisk on the list as dominant and dangerous to planet viability. There were no obvious clues to solve the mystery.
Agreeing that they didn’t have time to solve it with their overbooked itinerary, they loaded Earth’s black box onto the ship and headed for Mars.
[99 words]
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields is the inventive host of Friday Fictioneers.
Ohh I loved this! Great take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you very much, Shweta, glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
I knew it. My fridge is an alien black box recorder
LikeLiked by 2 people
🙂
LikeLike
I love that the fridge is the earth’s black box! So often we find the causes of the “crash”…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Dale. Glad you enjoyed the concept.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very much so.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like it. Bet they get a shock when they retrieve the data.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Anthony. I agree! We stand out like a sore thumb don’t we.
LikeLike
Loved your take on the prompt.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Sadje!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome
LikeLiked by 1 person
About as much attention as we deserve. Nice take.
LikeLiked by 1 person
lol Well-said. Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
since their last visit, i assume humans have evolved into different creatures all together. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Very possibly. Let’s hope if they did they evolved into a less capricious, less volatile species that won’t warrant a red asterisk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Lisa,
No wonder Earth is looking so clean and lovely. The bad stewards have left the building. Love where you took the prompt.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLiked by 1 person
Rochelle, thank you, and I’m glad you enjoyed where I took it.
Shalom,
Lisa
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Lisa. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful scenario, I wonder what we did (so many possibilities) to get extinct
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Irene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
clever. I sometimes think that the best hope for the planet wold be another asteroid. It would take more than that 10,000 to recover after a hit like that, but it might be better in the long term…
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Earth’s black box.” I love that. That’s ingenious.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Nobbin. When I looked at the picture, my first thought was “black box” and the sprang from there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome story I loved it! enjoyed reading it! Xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you enjoyed it, Carol Anne, thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, fun concept! I’m sure they’ll get around to investigating the black box eventually to find out what happened to us 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Or maybe never, as they see how well the planet is doing without us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope we do have a black box somewhere. Someone/something is going to want to know.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed this tale Jade
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Jude!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great take on the prompt. Good job they didn’t linger, they may have taken the virus away with them as well as the black box
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, and good point!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent Jade. We could do with a black box right now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Wow! But it also scared me Jade.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very creative direction you took with the prompt. Nicely done!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Brenda 🙂
LikeLike
OMG, don’t open that box! Great story predicting the future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, James!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great take on the prompt!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Earth’s Black Box! Science Fiction take on the prompt! You really did a great job with your imagination! Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So happy you liked it, Nan, thanks!
LikeLike
LOL! This was so “men in black”! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 Exactly, love your comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the fact that you used the fridge as a metaphor.
Nicely written …
Isadora 😎
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic ! Haha I giggled reading this one. I fear the Earth black box might be full of useless data
LikeLiked by 1 person
I fear you’re right.
LikeLike
Good story, an imaginative take on the prompt, loved the ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙂
LikeLike
Topical and the idea of it being a black box for a alien race was creative. I rather enjoyed this
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed it, Mike. Thanks!
LikeLike