Welcome to end to the night. I'm nary your guide on to day's excursion
down a twisted path. Be careful not to get lost. Be it dark
or light, It's easy to lose your way. Are you ready, then
let's begin out of this world. Shena Wells looked upward as the warmth of
a summer day glistened against her skin. She loved this time of year,
and her spirits lifted, knowing this would be the first of many such days.
Gone were the darker and gloomier days of winter that tugged on her soul
until she fell into depression. Spring and summer made the world feel new and
alive again, and now, with summer's arrival on the horizon, she felt
nothing but happiness. She hummed a tune her mother sang to her when she
was young. It brought back good memories, and it often came to mind
when she had plans to do something special. Today was one of those times.
This afternoon she would be off on a grand adventure with her favorite person
in the world. Her grandfather, a pre eminent scientist and engineer, offered
to take Shena as his honored guest to the facility where he worked. He
and his team of scientists worked for NASA and unveiled his latest project, a
hypersonic rocket that they hoped would take the manned crew out of the atmosphere for
the first time. He'd brought Shena many times to the test launches of various
projects he supervised, but he promised her that today amounted to the crown jewel
of his career. I'd like you there with Musina. You've been my biggest
supporter since your grandma died years ago. It only seems right to have you
with me. Doctor Wilfred Heidemann was no ordinary man. His research development earned
him numerous prizes and recognition around the world, and Shena took great pride in
being his granddaughter. Grandpa, I'd be proud of you even if you weren't
a rocket scientist, but it sure is exciting that you are. Thank you,
my dear. I hope some day you'll follow after me and continue my
research. I have high hopes for you. I think you will be the
one to take us farther than anyone has imagined going. You're so smart,
and I see a lot of the young me in you. Shena swelled with
pride. She valued her grandfather's praise above all else. Their circle felt small
ever, since her mother, father, older brother, and grandmother passed away.
They didn't die at the same time, but during a five year stretch
of grief and tragedy, Shena and her grandfather clung to each other for support.
As she watched him age, sharp pains of preemptive sadness flooded over her,
so she tried to lie and tell herself that the man she loved and
admired would never die. She couldn't make it through life thinking otherwise. Shena
grew up listening to his dreams of reaching out of space. Rumors flew for
decades that aliens existed, and Wolford found the concept fascinating. While some people
discounted the possibility of alien life forms inhabiting the realms outside of our atmosphere,
others swore they'd seen unidentified objects that defied understanding. Shena's entire family believe the
sightings, at least some of them, were true. One woman's story captivated
Shena's imagination. As a child, traveling home one evening, just as the
sun disappeared in the horizon, the woman heard a whorrying sound. It wasn't
loud, but it was loud enough that I knew something was coming, she
told Shena's family. I stopped and looked around, but then I heard a
strange boop boop boop sound, and I saw an elongated craft sail past me.
I don't know if they saw me or not, but I definitely saw
it. Others claimed to have seen unusual crafts that disappeared just as quickly as
they arrived. Some had flashing lights, some were silent, others emitted sound.
No one had a reasonable answer for what these crafts were, and hundreds,
thousands even of reports told of encounters with them throughout the years. Now,
Shena, I know that not all these stories are true, but some
of the witnesses are esteemed members of society, college professors, law enforcement officers,
teachers. Shena's mother gave her daughter a reassuring hub. I don't want
you to be afraid. However, I don't think they, whatever they are,
mean us any harm. Well, Grandpa find one some day, Shena
certainly hoped he would. Well. For years, your grandfather and his associates
at NASA have worked to fly out of our ap fear, and physicists tell
us that there is a vast universe outside of our reach. Galaxies hundreds or
thousands of them could exist. It's been your grandpa's life work to go farther
than we've ever explored before. Her mother's eyes sparkled with excitement and anticipation for
what he might accomplish. Shena's chest swelled thinking about the pride her mother had
and her father and his life's endeavor. Her mother loved the fact that she'd
been raised by one of the brightest men around, and she took delight in
her own daughter's interest in his work. Shena, some day you'll follow in
your grandfather's footsteps. He's a great scientist, and one day you will be
too. She stared out across the landscape, lost in thought, with memories
of when her family remained whole washing over her. Her mother was a beauty,
and while many admired her, she felt absolute devotion towards Shena's father.
Before she lost her parents, brother, and grandmother, she'd lived an idyllic
life, and she hoped, by remembering the good times, she would keep
their version of Camelot alive. No one could ever replace her lost family members,
but she hoped that one day she'd have a husband and children of her
own who could fill the boys she felt every day. Grandma feels the same
loss that I do. No matter what, I have to keep his fields
up. I can't let him seem me depressed, even though some days I
just want to curl up and cry. She checked the time and hurried inside,
I can't keep grap awaiting. This is his feet day. Grabbing her
keys, she rushed off to meet him at the launch site. She arrived
at the facility, checking herself in the rear view mirror, and jogged across
the parking lot. Knocking at his office door, she gave Wilfred a hug
when he opened it. Ah, Shena, you're right on time. You
seem a little out of breath, though anyway, I was cutting it close,
so I ran to your office from my car. I didn't want to
keep you waiting. His eyes sparkled. You have perfect timing. I'd have
kept the whole launch on hold until you got here. You're the most important
part of this day to me. Happy tears glistened on her lashes. Oh,
Grandpa, you're so sweet. This is your big day, though,
I'm here to celebrate you, not the other way around. Now, let's
fix your tie and make our way to the launch. Sank. You have
to look good for the cameras. You're the big news of the day.
Let's just hope this ship does what we've designed it to do, and it'd
be a shame if it just flopped over, fizzled out. He chuckled and
picked up his hat from the table by the door, placing it on his
head. He smiled at Sheena and ushered her outside. Together. They walked
across the complex, where cheering fans gathered to watch the historic launch. People
flocked to the famous rocket scientist and asked for his autograph. Look, Grandpa,
you're famous. The old man blushed, but his chest puffed out with
pride. He had worked his entire career for this moment. Staring out across
the complex, he thought back to when this was no more than a dream
in a young man's imagination. He squeezed Shena's hand as the countdown began ten
nine, eight seven. The roar of the rockets drowned out the shouts from
the crowd. The world rumbled as the ship thrust upward and became a living
beast, enveloping everything in its force. Onlookers felt the lift off as much
as they saw it. Wilford subconsciously placed his hand over the NASA patch on
his uniform. The flames from the boosters illuminated the magnificent NASA emblem that dominated
the side of the mission control building. Shena leaned her head against her grandfather's
shoulder as she watched his life's work launched from the pad and hurtled through the
water toward the great unknown beyond their realm. She thought about the magnificence of
the organization he helped to build, Nelson, the North Atlantic Space Agency,
Gray Pause, taking us beyond the water's surface. Maybe we will find a
new civilization out there and whatever exists outside the ocean. Her heart pounded in
anticipation. On board, the crew cheered in amazement. Control. You aren't
going to believe what we're seeing up here. There are cities and strange flying
machines. We believe there's proof of intelligent life outside the ocean. We believe
life is abundant on Earth. We read you. You're making history today,
gentlemen. The ship banked and circled as the crew explored an entirely new environment.
On this day, the inhabitants of the sea ventured out of their world
and into ours. Thank you for joining me for this episode of the Into
the Night Anthology podcast. Written by Caroline Giamanco, narrated by Nari Quok,
Theme music by Nico Rodriguez, all other original music, sound design and editing
by Omenhawk Studios. You can find our links in the show notes. Into
the Night is on your favorite podcatcher, so make sure to like, subscribe
and leave a five star review to help other excursionists to join us. I'll
see you next time, and remember, whether in the shadows or in the
daylight, all twisted paths lead you into the night. Into the Night Anthology
is a creative typo entertainment production.