The Explorer Diaries
Day 1
I wake up, coughing my lungs out. My wife has told me I should quit. No matter how well she hides them, I always find them. She has no idea what stress I'm under.
It's at 9.50am I get the phone call...
"Rotecol Mechanique, this is The Chief. I'm emailing you an assignment I think you'll like..."
I read through it carefully, knowing full well I'll have to destroy it. He wants me to design and build a warp vehicle to "right certain wrongs and to prevent a potential threat to our planet".
Day 5
I forgot to explain what "The Warp" actually is. The truth is in all the excitement of design I completely forgot to tell you what I'm dealing with.
The warp, as the name suggestions, is a contortion where light, space and time are all connected. As well as the means of travel, it can also be a fuel, amongst other things.
Essentially, because it is technically outside our existence, we can make it whatever we want it to be. Which basically means I can go a bit wild...
Day 12
I barely notice my wife, except for the ever presence of coffee in my favourite mug (the one with the photo of Shantyville on it). She has stopped lecturing me about smoking. Come to think of it, she hasn't spoken to me at all.
But this doesn't concern me as much as it should, since I've finally come up with a design.
This car is beautiful, combining a wonderful aesthetic form with pretty much any function you can imagine. I hesitate to call it a car, since (if what The Chief tells me is true) this car will provide the ultimate benefit for animalkind.
I think I'm in love with this car...now all I have to do is build her.
Day 21
My ears are full of the noise of building. I can't remember if I've slept or not, and eating has taken a back seat for some time now.
Day 26
Every time I finish something with this, I think of something else- Today I've put in an inflatable raft- one button push and this thing is seaworthy. Given this thing is
meant for multiple dimensions, I need to account for every eventuality.
Acid proofing, I need acid proofing!
Day 30
I got a shock today. First it was the sheer need to stop, even though my hands twitched like crazy.
But as I walked up the stairs, I saw unwashed dishes, dirty clothes, unopened bank statements and a pile of newspapers that could probably have had tramps hidden in it.
It was while looking through the latest statement I realised- two grand was missing, the amount my wife had in her account when we were first married.
Day 33
For three days, I've taken a break. I tried to call my wife, my kids, nothing. I cleaned up everywhere, made it look nice. But no, she didn't come back.
I sit, looking at the dirt hole I call my house. This is the best it's going to look, and I'd be ashamed if anyone saw it.
It's then it hits me- this machine has cost me my life- if I don't get it right, I'm jumping in the river.
Day 37
Ow, ow, ow. My body is in actual pain, given that I've been on my back for the past four days.
But this beaut is worth it. No pain, no gain and all that.
It's worth it, Rote. Keep telling yourself that.
Day 41
The kids came round today. They didn't have a lot of fun, since I didn't let them in the garage like I normally would. On top of that, all my other jobs have been cancelled for this, so there is no more money.
I really don't want another day where I tell my kids I can't afford ice cream. Then again...No, I can't do that. I can't change the fabric of time and space just to impress my kids.
Day 44
Ah, the final touch. After all the nuts and bolts, I can be a bit creative. A little Cadillac-style fin would be cool.
Have pondered painting it black, but that's a bit too cliche for my liking. Decide on silver- classy!
Day 45
The Chief called and said the finest words to me- Rotecol, we need you to test drive the car. And since you've worked so hard,we'd be honoured if you named it.
The name has been in my head since we've started, to the point where I even made headed notepaper with it.
The Explorer goes on its first ride tomorrow
Day 46
I wave the kids goodbye as I rev up. The engine purrs like I dreamed it would, the paintwork glistening, the sunlight bouncing off to form the perfect glare.
In case you hadn't figured it out, this car feels pretty darn good to drive. Was it worth the collapse of my marriage? At this point in time, not thinking about it, yes.
Day 47
I am in shock. I have just stopped myself from suffocating myself. What I saw yesterday nobody should have to see.
As the warp engine blasted through, as I charged through the portal I saw it.
There, a man in a purple suit turned what looked like a frog into a pineapple and wore him as a hat.
He then picked up what (I guessed was a phone) and said something truly chilling
"You want them to know? Seriously MF, you know you could destory this planet in your sleep. Oh...so they told you about the girl?"
Don't ask me how I heard this. The warp was not the wonderful place I imagined. It hit me hard- someone out there was using it for a far darker purpose...
Day 49
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
The Chief's yell rings through my ears. I tell him again, as calmy as possible.
"I wrecked it chief. It's destroyed and I'm not fixing it."
"Rotecol, do you have any idea what danger you've put us in?"
"Chief, believe me, if Rodriguez got his hands on this..."
Rodriguez is dead, Rotecol. His son is missing. Our scientests found traces of an unknown metal and his last words were "Mega Fox"
It then hits me even harder, like a kangaroo punch to the gut.
"Chief, our planet is in danger. We need to find..."
"The girl, Rotecol, I know. Her name is Veronica Hannah McAllister. And we need to find her before..."
"Don't worry chief, I'll find her."
Day 53
The house is sold, as well as the scrap parts that were once my pride and enjoy. I have enough to get me to Shantyville.
After all I've seen, I still find it hard to believe one girl can have super strength, speed, the ability to steal energy, project shields from her mind...It all sounds insane.
But then, at last, if I find her and protect her, my life will have a purpose once again...
Jennifer says:
I was hooked until Day 46 - the plot twist needs to be fleshed out a little more so the story doesn't lose its humor and human touch.....
Plot - 15.5
Characters - 17
Mechanics - 20
Enjoyment - 19.5
TOTAL - 74
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