Dark hair swirled around me. My ripped jeans slowly soaked through from the dew on the grass. Looking up into the sky at high noon, Circadia could be seen hovering just outside of our atmosphere. Appearing much like Earth, the bright green and blue hues mixed with hints of a mysterious purple, and stood out against our bright blue sky beautifully. The magnetic fields of the planets repelled each other just enough to protect us from a terrible death. It was gorgeous.
The world took a collective sigh of relief, and regret.
Soon after the tragedy was averted, the media went wild. Now that we had a new neighbor, everyone wanted to know everything about it. Was it inhabited? Was it livable? What was life like on Circadia? It was the forefront of everyone’s attention, and never left anyone’s thoughts. Always visible from above, and always trending on social media or the news, there was never a moment without Circadia. You couldn’t go to the grocery store without seeing the enormous planet looming in the sky. At any given time, it took up half the view of the stars as if to say, you will not forget about me.
Due to the recent failure of most of Earth’s economies after the false alarm, there wasn’t a lot of funding available to go discover a new planet. Any money not necessary for the basic functions of the nations was put toward judicial fees to prosecute the guilty people who had thought our world was coming to an end, and acted as though there would never be any consequences for their actions. Judgments were harsh, which brought a lot of resentment toward the governments.
Everyone assumed once the crisis was averted, they would be able to seek refuge in assistance programs, but were turned away instead. All of the money was gone, even for civilian resource programs. Riots were frequent, and tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Some people were doing just fine despite the recent depression, though. The world hadn’t really ended, and nothing really changed except for the split-second decisions people had made under false pretenses. The difference between those who were doing well and those who weren’t brought about more anger and hostility, but a common thread united them.
People demanded—out of both fear and curiosity—that the new world be explored, but NASA had shut down. All funding for any kind of conservation or sciences was cut. The world had planned for an end to its existence, so further exploration wasn’t needed ...until it was. Of course, nothing trumps government like the internet. Crowd funding began for a new reality TV show, Grow.
The premise of the show was to send a hundred people up to this planet using private space programs and equipment, and follow a select group of them to be filmed. It was designed as a survival drama showing the stress of building a new civilization on an alien planet. The entire world jumped at the opportunity to experience the new world and emptied their pockets into Circadia’s reality TV show.
The world had just experienced the ultimate depression and they were ready for hope. People needed the excitement, even if it wasn’t their own. They needed something to look forward to each week that could join everyone together in one quest, and Grow would do that. I hated people, or any kind of social movements, but I had to admit, I got wrapped up in it too.
Funding for the program was available six months after the incident. Entertain Now’s producers began to acquire some experts in various fields who were willing to be on reality TV while exploring and essentially colonizing the new planet. Many of the world’s leading experts refused to join the journey due to it being completely voluntary and the lack of organization. I watched on the news as they interviewed the experts that had turned them down.
“It’s not so much the money that’s the problem, it’s the lack of caring,” one expert said during an interview. “They do not care if you are stranded up there without the supplies you need, because it makes for good television. I wish whatever poor souls they con into doing this mission luck and grit.” I couldn’t help but think of the endless adventure awaiting those ‘poor souls’ or how colonizing a planet would be something to reflect back on and be proud, despite the warning.
After the big-name experts started refusing them relentlessly, the show’s producers began looking at the smaller fish in the pond. That’s when I got the call.
“HELLO?” I ANSWERED the call from the unfamiliar number.
“Hello, yes, is this Aella Toms?” the stranger asked. “Did I say that right?” The woman then proceeded to enunciate, “Ay-ell-uh?”
“Yes...”
“Great! So glad I got ahold of you! My name is Patricia and I am a talent scout for Entertain Now Productions. May I have a moment of your time?” The lady at the other end of the line sounded bubbly and excited.
“Oh, I think you have the wrong number. I’m not an actor, sorry.”
“No, wait! We’re not looking for actors or actresses. You’re an agricultural specialist, correct?”
Silence hung on the line for a bit. What could they possibly want with me?
Finally, I answered. “Yes, well, I’m an agronomist.”
“Wonderful, then, just the lady I was looking for! So, I’m sure you have heard some buzz about the new television series Grow? Well, we would love for you to join us on the show and provide expert insight into your field, as
