The Journal of Ingeborg P. Hoffman

May 4th, 2106

Since I saw Tommy by my door just over a week ago, I haven’t been able to sleep for more than four hours at a stretch. I woke up this morning in the darkness. I had thought to walk to my building to burn off my nervous energy. (It’s about an hour away by foot, on the other side of the island.) But as usual, Homer was already awake and waiting for me in the hovercraft outside the villa. I accepted the ride. 

When I saw the green light, full and strong and unflashing, my knees literally buckled. Homer had to catch me from falling to the floor. I found my feet and held the perfect black matte box in my arms and started to cry. 

“What you comprending, Ma ‘Yinga?” Homer asked, I think quite shocked at my behavior. 

“I think this means everything will be alright. I think we’re going to be just fine.”

I flashed the data from the box to the work console on my desk. I scanned the contents; 24 individual videos, at least one from each member of the crew of The Majestic. I’ve watched them a few times now; they are not positive. Each of them feels betrayed. But we expected this. And really, I didn’t care about their feelings at that moment. Each of their complaints and fumes and furies sends a new wave of relief coursing through me, like diving into the ocean on a hot day until you’re so tired that you lie down and bask in the sun.

In between their angry outbursts, an interesting picture of the dynamics of the group is emerging. They’re all rather cagey, distrusting of each other. It appears that Dr. Carver has tried to make friends with everyone, and Dr. Grünfeld most of all. However, this has not made him respected in the group, rather, just the opposite. Dr. Grünfeld, in turn, is rude to everyone and is respected for it. Go figure. I suspect that she and Kerrigen will become friends. Kerrigen O’Malley, the youngest of the Outernauts (if you discount Tommy), spends most of her time alone. She seems to hate Frederick Loop, because of the video cameras, which aren’t necessarily his fault. We had insisted on them.

The only one who any of them will talk to in any depth is the Captain. The Captain is is a mystery to all of us except Wiles, even after all this time. They entire crew seems to dislike Loop, except perhaps the speed-racer Stuart Allen Moss, who appears to be quite easy going so far. Moss is certainly the best liked, and seems to have made a friend in Trena, or rather, the TRENA system. There are no videos from Tommy. This was to be expected; we didn’t ask him to make any. Yet neither has any of the others made any mention of Tommy whatsoever. In short, he is unaccounted for.

I do have to say, the joy of the solid green light was short lived. It appears that the moment I flashed the data to my work station, the blinking red light reappeared. I noticed this when I came up for air about three hours later. I walked down the hall to Wiles’ office to discuss the good news (he has a box of his own), but he wasn’t in yet. I sent him a message, “They’ve arrived. They’re alive.”

Then I ran to the printing press. Ital was in his office when I arrived. I told him to begin production of the first run of The First Light. To be precise, I asked him to begin printing the abridged version, in one volume, which will be an essential element of our outreach. We intend to have copies of this in every library in the world. This time I couldn’t linger on the illustrated manuscripts; I had to return to the transmissions. Before I left, I gave Ital strict orders not to let Dr. Akuna into the area under any circumstances.

I was back in my office, obsessing over the testimonials, when Homer came to my door. 

“Ma ‘Yinga, surrender your eyes quick to Stream scan.” He flashed it on. “Dr. Akuna eloquating to that troublesome scribe. On the island too, moreover.”

I couldn’t believe what I saw. The gall of that man.  

“We need to find them. And now, Homer.”

“I know their place truly.”

“Good… But how the hell do you think they got past Ester?”

I still don’t know the answer to that questions. But, in any event, we ran out of my office and, soon enough we found him (with Han in tow, of course) walk Daphne Greenwald by (where else?) our printing press. In a frantic moment, I thought they were going to go in. I wanted to wring Akuna’s neck, and scream at him that media weren’t allowed on the island. But I had a better idea.

“Daphne! I didn’t expect to see you here,” I said, shaking her hand as I walked into the shot, grinning absurdly at the camera. 

“For my viewers who do not know, joining us is Ingeborg P. Hoffman, head of communications at Calliope Group,” the journalist replied. “Ms. Hoffman, we’re live.”

“I’m aware! I was watching from my office and thought it might be fun to drop by.”
“I’m surprised. We were told that you were unavailable for comment.”

“I think you’ve got it wrong there, Daphne. Actually, I can’t wait to tell everyone what’s been going on at Calliope. Speaking on behalf of the senior staff, and the entire station, we are so pleased that Dr. Appiah has decided to take the initiative.” 

“I doubt that. Dr. Akuna has just described a culture of silence and intimidation on Calliope Island. How do you respond to the allegations, from those closest to the Outernauts and your own Chief Physicist no less, that Calliope Group, and yourself in particular, offered bribes to deceive the public about the true destination of The Majestic?”

“As I said, Daphne, I can’t think of anyone better to tell our story. Dr. Akuna Appiah is a brilliant physicist. And for all those who say that he only got his job because of his father. Well, that’s just not true. It’s malicious, if you ask me.” I said this beaming right at the camera. 

“But, Ms. Hoffman, how do you respond?”

“There’s nothing to respond to! The position of Calliope Group has not changed." 

“And that is?”

“Daphne, please, this is just silly.”

“I remind you that we are live to over five million viewers around the world."

“As I said, as we speak, the Outernauts are en route to the destination we intended for them to travel to.” 

“Not this again…” Akuna said.

“Please Dr. Akuna, try not to interrupt. It’s my turn to speak.” My smile was now gone. “As some of your viewers might know, Daphne, we used to be married. What can I say, I suppose some things don’t change! I’m sure many of your female viewers can appreciate that.”

“Please, Ms. Hoffman, answer the question.”

“That’s what I’ve been wanting to do. As Calliope Group has maintained on countless occasions, the original estimates for the length of time it would take for The Majestic to reach it’s destination appear to have been exaggerated. Unfortunately - and I hate to put you on the spot here on live television, Dr. Akuna - but, as Chief Physicist of Calliope Group that day, that was your error.” 

“This is absurd!” Akuna said, somewhat losing his composure.

“But at Outersky and Calliope, the buck stops at the very top. Mr. Gregory takes full responsibility, as he has always done. ”

“What about the flight path? Inge, why are you doing this?”

“Please Dr. Akuna, I’m trying to explain. I’m sorry for this, Daphne, I’m afraid it’s rather personal between us…”

“You’re unbelievable…” He murmured. 

  “I hate to bring this discussion to this level,” I said, barreling on. “But, essentially, what all of this craziness amounts to is just a matter of ego, plain and simple. I don’t think Dr. Akuna wants to admit that he made a mistake. And that’s understandable. And actually, at Calliope Group, we don’t like to penalize failure. We encourage it. We believe that’s how people grow.” 

Then I nodded at Homer, who picked up the cue. He moved to my side and whispered in my ear, quietly so only I could hear, “You snapped, Ma ‘Yinga.”

“Is that so? Thanks Homer,” I said, nodding gravely. “I’m so sorry for this, Daphne, but it appears I’m needed elsewhere.”

“Just a few more moments, please. What about Dr. Appiah’s specific charges, like the flight path? And what about the testimony of the friends and family of the Outernauts? What has happened to the crew of the Majestic? Are they even still alive? The world demands answers!”

“Okay, just one more, I suppose,” I was so pleased to have been asked that final question. “And I’d like to speak directly to those closest to the Outernauts now. I can tell you, for a fact, with 100% absolute certainty, that your loved ones are still alive. And not only that, they are thriving.” 

“But how do you know that?”

“I’m sorry Daphne, this has been such fun. Thank you!” 

With my head full of steam I arrived back at my office, where I found Wiles waiting. He apologized for what he “imagined was a stress filled week.” 

“It’s all okay! We have proof the crew are alive!” Then I asked him, “Surely it’s time now to unveil our response?” 

“No,” he replied, once again. “Not yet.” And that’s where we left it. 

I rewarded myself with a glass of wine at the villa, and some mindless fiction scans. I noticed that the one I watched just so happened to be an Outersky Entertainment production. It was police procedural set in my old neighborhood in Oslo. The plot was that an old professor of mine was kidnapped, and the stars of the show had to find her, and hunt down her kidnappers. I shouldn’t watch the personalized scans, I know; they’re so manipulative. But they’re so good. And sometimes you just need a little comfort.