A/N: Hello everyone!
This story is a bit of a passion project. I left the countryhuman fandom for a few years now, but I hope to be back with this book. I know a lot of people were really interested in my other story, Addicted, but I started writing that when I was a new writer, and I never made a plot outline. Every chapter was just me winging it, and to be honest, it was just a way for me to vent. This story is MUCH more thought out I promise. I hope to update chapters every week, and I hope you all enjoy this as much as I enjoy writing it!
I wanted to thank all of those who read my other book, it meant a lot to me when I was writing it. It's a shame that I lost interest in writing it but it was fun while it lasted! I hope by now my writing skill has increased as well haha :]
ALSO PLEASE NOTE: If you didn't already read this from the book description: This story has some ideas and themes inspired by the TV show Stargate SG1. Enjoy!
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(POV: Germany)
Static pulled at my face and clothes, ripping and buzzing as I fell through the atmosphere. The intense wind brushed and whipped my shoulder-length hair in front of my eyes, the cold abrasive feeling of compression all around me. Tingling sensations spread throughout my entire body, ice and heat coming together in a confusing mix. I felt like I was in a hailstorm, before being met face-first with coarse grass.
The wind blew gently. My clothes stuck delicately to the grass. Aromatic musk and humid salt spray were evident in the air. Breathing in, I could feel the moisture enter my lungs. The breeze brushed the shell of my ear, softly reminding me of home. The salt smell gave the indication I was not where I was supposed to be. I stiffly got up, golden grass beneath me. Looking around, dark green Eucalyptus trees towered overhead, and the dirt was coarse and dry. Turning my head, I could see the deep infinite expanse of a great body of water. The crashing of waves far below reached my senses. The baby blue sky overhead was clear of all clouds, with no indication of rain. The light cascaded over the water in golden ribbons, blanketing the blue like marble.
My hands rested at my sides, feeling the unsavory material of my clothes. The work dress code was strict and uncomfortable.
The sight before me was undoubtedly a sight that only a lucky few had seen on the job.
Oceans were a thing of the past. Earth was a thing of the past.
I knew Earth had oceans but never got orders to visit Earth anyway. No one had. It was considered off-limits.
Even then, it was particularly uncommon for a planet to have an ocean. I wonder which planet this is.
Breathing deeply, I could smell things. Plants, the salt in the air, the sweet smell of flowers.
In the artificial habitats back home, all you could smell was the pungent taste of iron and chemicals.
Looking down, I saw my satchel on the yellow, crisp grass. Picking it up I rummaged inside looking for my way home.
I certainly wasn't where I was supposed to be, and that was an issue.
An ocean wasn't in the description of the drop location, and there were no signs of civilization just by quickly glancing around.
At last, I pulled out a small, opaque golden capsule, with a small plate screwed onto the side.
This was my last one. I needed to get back home and get more, maybe if I explained I dropped in the wrong timeline, they'd forgive me.
Running my free hand through my black hair, I could already feel sand between my fingers. Quickly I stuffed the pill back in my bag and threw the satchel around my shoulders. The plastic plate over my chest was beginning to annoy me. The stretched and synthetic grey fabric underneath pulled taught over my skin. I seriously couldn't begin to think how this was an effective field outfit.
Taking a few steps forward, the ground sloped downward before steeply dropping off 60ft (About 18 meters). Below was the crashing of waves on black rocks. The white frothy saltwater could be tasted in the wind.
Everything about this scene was awe-inspiring. I'd had the pleasure of visiting times and places where oceans were prevalent, but none compared to the beauty of this planet.
I wonder where exactly I am.
Looking to the right, I could see a bay wrapping around the cliffside and a faint silhouette against the darkening waters.
A boat!
I'd never seen one in person before, only in the history books. Squinting, I squatted down on the cliffside and tried to get a better look.
The boat looked like a passenger boat, coming into the bay.
So there is civilization here.
I wasn't sure if the feeling that overcame me was fear or curiosity, but I ignored it either way. I'm sure the Board wouldn't notice if I wasn't back for a few hours. Maybe they haven't even realized their mistake yet.
Carefully I got up and bounded down the other side of the cliff, which slowly but gradually led down to a road that I hadn't noticed before.
The road wrapped around the corner of the cliff and led farther inland, farther into the bay.
I walked on the heated pavement on the winding road for a few miles (Around 3 km). Nothing in sight except the stark difference between the golden cliffside ahead of me and the esoteric waters below. The black pavement was bleached by the sun, along with the yellow paint. I assumed that because there was a road, there would be some sort of automotive around, but I had no idea what it might look or sound like.
The machinery of that type was lost in the history books, inaccessible to most of the population. A small vehicle that ran on fuel rather than electricity was unfathomable by most. Fuel was only used to power space shuttles. Otherwise, almost everything was solar-powered.
The idea that you at one point could own your own automobile was extremist.
I figured if I could find an intelligent lifeform, I could ask what year it was. Then I might know how to deal with my situation, and whether or not to go straight home.
Certain planets and time periods could be extremely dangerous.
Finally looking ahead, I could see the outline of buildings. About 100ft (About 30 meters) inland, there were buildings and roads, and to the left were shipping docks. Ships lined the blackened waters, unmoving except for rocking back and forth.
A small stretch of beach to the right had small figures walking along the shoreline, and a pier extended from the beach out to the water. People were on the pier with lines extending out to the water, connected to long poles in their hands. At least these organisms looked to be humanoid descendants.
Whatever time period this was, humans seemed to have no structure or authority in their daily lives. It looked like this was an activity of recreation.
Walking farther along the road, the warm sun kept the chilly breeze at bay. Eventually, I could see a building on the left, off of the cliff. It had an asphalt lot with automobiles parked in a neat line.
I'd never in my life seen anything like these vehicles.
Deciding the best place to find someone to talk to was in this building, I pressed on and crossed the road to the lot.
The delicate sound of men and women talking and chatting with each other surprised me, they looked completely human. Plus, they were loud. Looking at the building, the massive wooden square blocked the sun and cast a shadow on me.
Walking up to the doors, people looked at me weirdly, scoffing and laughing quietly. I assumed it was because of my attire, not exactly inconspicuous. Everyone around me had on pressed suits or dresses and heels. The women had their hair up and curled neatly, and the men ranged from wearing full suits to only wearing simple crew necks with overalls or jeans.
I anxiously entered the building, the cool air hitting me in the face. The bright pink and teal colors shrouded the space, and a counter with seats lined the front of the restaurant. Tables and booths lined the sides, with couples talking over food I couldn't identify.
No one paid any mind to my entering.
I stepped up to the counter and took a seat, looking around.
A strange, aromatic smell filled the space. I searched for the source, and just as a woman in a dress and apron walked by holding a cup, I knew.
They had coffee.
The smell filled the entire building, and suddenly the extent of the noise and chatter of these individuals filled the space along with my mind.
Coffee was a luxury only afforded by the rich. All of the supply taken from Earth was grown into coffee plants on an expensive space station inaccessible to those who didn't have enough money.
The odd part was, the only planet I knew of that had coffee plants naturally throughout history was Earth. But this couldn't possibly be Earth, so where was I?
The woman walked passed and set the two steaming cups on a table across the restaurant. She returned behind the counter only to get two more cups and fill them to the brim with a huge pot under a humming, metallic machine.
I was speechless.
The goods my people have been deprived of are abundant and taken for granted in this timeline.
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1644 words.
Thanks for reading!