JOHN - Day 007

宇宙歷 20000 年 9 月 25 日． PM0405 行星．晴


欣賞過這顆流浪行星上的「星光祭」之後，我從居民口中得知，原來這個浪漫的祭典習俗才只是開始了十幾年而已。而且兩位發源者依然健在。


只是，他們現在竟然於監獄服刑中。


據居民說，這兩位星光祭的發源者並非原住民，而是從其他星球移居至此的。除了星光祭之外，他們還把很多獨有的科技跟有趣的文化帶來這裡。故此深得大家愛戴。


可是，就在星光祭初次於這個星球上舉行那天。他們居然趁著大家都把注意力放在祭典的時候，偷偷溜進國家動物園，並且放走了所有動物！


由於大部份逃脫的動物都是從其他星球捕捉回來，可說是國家一級財產。故此這事件在當年造成很大的哄動。


「我們生活在宇宙中最自由的星球，卻竟然肆意奪取其他生物的自由，這不是很諷刺嗎？」


兩位發源者在法庭上說出的唯一抗辯並沒有被接納，最終被判處了二十年的監禁。


雖然有人覺得他們是罪有應得，卻有更多人認為這是一場關乎生物平權的小型革命。而由他們發起的星光祭直到現在依然會不定期舉行，而且愈趨盛大。


在離開這個星球之前，我從其中一位星光祭參加者手上拿到一個紀念臂章。而這個臂章就是由兩位星光祭起源者所設計的。


我看著臂章的顏色覺得十分眼熟，後來翻查太空衣的數據，才發現這種顏色跟我曾經在 A91 行星遇上的宇宙色「狐狸」一樣。或許當中隱藏著某些關連也說不定。


不過對於跟旅程無關的事情，我並沒有在意去深究就是。


宇宙很大，生命很短。


-John
寫於前往下個目的地的途中

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Calendar 20000/9/25. Planet PM045. Sunny. 


Having enjoyed the “Astral Festival” on this wandering planet, I learned from the residents that this romantic festival only began around ten years ago. And the two founders are still alive.


The only thing is, they are currently serving time in prison. 


According to the residents, the founders of the Astral Festival are not natives of the planet. They have migrated to this planet from another one. Other than the Astral Festival, they’ve introduced many unique technologies and interesting cultures to this planet. Everyone loved them dearly.


But on the day of the first Astral Festival, while everyone’s distracted by it, the founders sneaked into the National Zoo and released all the animals!


As most of the escaped animals are captured from other planets, they are regarded as Class I National Properties. This incident caused quite a big commotion that year.


"Isn't it ironic that we live on the freest planet in the universe but we take away the freedom of other creatures according to our own will?"


The two founders only defense in court was not accepted and were eventually sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment.


Although some people think that they deserved it, more thought that this is a small revolution about animal rights. The Astral festival they founded is still being held from time to time, each grander than the last.


Before I left this planet, I received a souvenir badge from a participant of the Astral Festival. The badge is designed by the two founders of the Astral Festival. 


Looking at the badge, I couldn’t help but feel a vague sense of familiarity with its colour. I looked through the data on my spacesuit, and discovered that this colour is exactly the same as the cosmic-colored ‘fox’ I met on planet A91. Perhaps there are some hidden connections. 


But with things that are not related to the journey, I don’t care enough to dig deep into it.


Space is big, life is short. 


-John


Written on my way to the next destination

YOKO's sharing 001

宇宙歷某年月日．晴

各位好，我是 Yoko。

這次要跟大家分享的並不是旅行日記，而是一段有趣的往事。

記得我的偶像 - John 的旅行日記在結集成書之前，他曾經把內容上載在自己的網頁分享。而當時作為小粉絲的我，也就自然不會錯過他的每次更新。

可是有一天，網頁上的日記突然全部被刪除。整個網頁上只剩下一條連結。按下連結之後隨即出現一個遊戲畫面。

「你好，挑戰者第 7777 號，我的名字叫 Vega。請戴上 VR 頭盔進行遊戲。」

畫面中出現一輛兔子外型的機器人在自我介紹。當我依照他的指示戴上 VR 頭盔之後，我看見自己身穿太空衣，並且身處在一艘太空船的機倉裡。

「挑戰者第 7777 號。我們的任務是要找出 John 埋藏在織女星地底深處的未公開旅行記錄。你準備好了嗎？」Vega 以舊式電子合成聲音向我說明遊戲，感覺十分有趣。

「那我們要怎樣做？」而我也開始投入起來，準備進行一連串的模擬星際歷險！

「首先我們要維修好這艘太空船。」


「嗯......？不是直接出發嗎？」

怎料，原以為是壯闊無比的太空尋寶任務，竟然因為太空船固障而無法開始。而接下來我就是跟隨著 VEGA 的指示，完成了一堆其實不需要 VR 裝置附助也無礙進行的 2D 小遊戲......不過我自問還是有很落力地參予其中就是了。

把太空船「維修」好之後，我心想總算可以回到駕駛倉準備出發了吧？可是......

「接下來，我們先要提煉燃料。」


「誒誒！？」

當 Vega 再次跟我說明下一個跟遊戲主線無關的「任務」時，我總算意識到這並不是我想像中的大型冒險遊戲......而是一個廣告。

「Vega，很高興認識你。」

我禮貌地向 Vega 道別之後就直接登出遊戲。果然看見屏幕上出現一段介紹：

「星際旅行者 John 首本旅行記錄，將於宇宙歷 4 月 5 日出版。除了收錄從未公開過的織女星旅行記錄之外，首刷限量更隨書附送織女星機器人 Vega 吊墜一枚。」

現在回想起來，那個遊戲大概就是出版社想出來的低成本宣傳方法吧。不過當時的我仍然有因為 John 的旅行日記終於結集成書而興奮歡呼哩(笑)。

John，我到今天仍然是念念不忘，希望終有一天能夠玩到那個遊戲的真正完成版本哩......

-Yoko

---------------------------

Someday in the Space Calendar. Sunny.

Hello everyone, I’m Yoko.

What I want to share with you this time is not an entry of my travelling journal, rather it’s an interesting anecdote from the past.

I remember that before my idol, John, made his travelling journal entries into a book, he uploads its contents onto his blog. And as his young fan back then, I wouldn’t miss a single update for the world.

But then one day, all the journal entries on the blog was erased. All that’s left on the webpage was a link. After I clicked on it, a game screen appeared.

“Hello, challenger 7777, my name is Vega. Please wear a VR helmet to continue with the game.”

A robot with the appearance of a rabbit appeared on the screen and introduced itself. When I put on a VR helmet following its instructions, I saw myself in a space suit and was standing in a spaceship.

“Challenger 7777, our mission is to find the unpublished journal entries John has buried deep underneath the ground of Vega. Are you ready?” Vega explained the game to me in an interesting old electronically synthesised voice.

“So what do we do?” I’m starting to get excited about the virtual space journey that I’m about to have!

“First, we have to fix this ship.”

“Oh...? We’re not launching off straight away?”

Who would have thought the first obstacle in our space treasure hunt mission is a technical malfunction? I then completed a bunch of 2D games that doesn’t really require a VR device, but I still try my hardest to participate in them.

After I ‘fixed’ the spaceship I thought I could go back to the cockpit to get ready for flight.
.

But...

“Now, we have to extract the fuel.”

“What?!”

Just when Vega explained another mission that’s unrelated to the main plot of the game, I realised this is not a big adventure game like I had thought... it’s an advertisement.

“Vega, it was very nice to meet you.”

I logout of the game right after I politely bid Vega farewell. Sure enough, there’s a short summary on the screen.

“Space traveller John’s first travelling journal will be published on Space Calendar April 5th. In addition to the never-before-seen journal entries on Vega, the first book will also include a charm necklace of the robot Vega.”

Looking back now, that game is probably a low-cost advertisement by the publisher to promote his book. But at that time, I was still so happy about John’s travelling journal finally being published as a book collection, that I screamed with excitement. (laughs)

John, I still cherish this memory today, and hope that I can one day get to play the real completed version of the game...

- Yoko

YOKO - Day 006

宇宙歷 20018 年 3 月 30 日． 前往 PM0405 行星途中


你好，John。


謝謝你。


你可能會覺得奇怪，為何我會突然跟你道謝呢？其實事情是這樣的......


按照計劃，我本來應該跟隨著你旅行記錄上的順序前往各個星球。可是由於幾天前突然收到朋友的求助，讓我不得不稍為調整一下行程。


「YOKO 小姐，我們遇上了一些狀況，十分需要你的協助。請幫忙尋找『星光祭』的發源者。」


當我看見屏幕上出現一片櫻花瓣圖案的時候，幾乎以為是電腦中毒了。打開之後才知道那是來自 Z017 行星上的「狐狸」所發出的訊息。


牠所提到的「星光祭」讓我想起你在 PM0405 行星上寫過的幾篇記錄。但問題是，聽說這顆「流浪行星」的座標系統已經在幾年前停止運作了......


如果想要在浩瀚的宇宙裡找出沒有座標的星球，那實在比大海撈針還要困難千倍。


這件事情亦令我深深感受到，人類自以為透過科技就能夠到達任何地方的想法也未免太高傲自大了。


幸好，


正當我煩惱很久卻依然想不出其他方法找尋這顆行星，在幾近放棄之前，我突然想起你在日記裡提到的一句說話：


「他們所發出的光，亦將會像星光一樣，隨著時間流動而到達不同地方。」


沒錯！星光是不會消失的。而我只需要再次按照你的日記排序，找出你前往 PM0405 行星之前以及之後的大概位置，然後從那個範圍附近尋找「星光祭」所發放出的彩色星光，就可以計算出這顆流浪行星的移動軌跡了。


再次感謝你，John。雖然我已經閱讀過無數次你的旅行記錄，卻想不到依然會從中得到意外的收獲哩！


事不宜遲，我得立刻前往 PM0405 行星。希望能夠幫到狐狸們。


宇宙無邊，生命有限。


-Yoko


---------------------------


Space Calendar 20018/3/30. Heading toward planet PM0405


Hello John.


Thank you.


You might find it strange, why am I thanking you all of a sudden? This is what happened.


According to the plan, I was supposed to visit each planet following the order of your travelling journal. However, I had to adjust my schedule slightly as I’ve suddenly received a friend’s request for help a few days ago.


“Miss Yoko, we ran into a situation that needed your assistance. Please help us find the originator of the ‘Astral Festival’. “


When I saw the Sakura petal icon on my screen, I thought my computer was infected with a virus. It’s only after opening it, did I realise it’s a message from the ‘foxes’ on planet Z017.


The “Astral Festival” mentioned made me think about the few entries you’ve written in your journal on planet PM0405. The only problem is, there’s a rumour that the coordination system of this “Wandering Planet” has stopped functioning a few years ago...
But locating a planet without coordinates is a thousand times harder than finding a needle in a haystack.


Because of this, I strongly believe, humans are too arrogant if they think that with technology, they can go wherever they want.


Fortunately,


Just when I’m at the verge of giving up on figuring out how to locate this planet, I suddenly remembered a few lines from your journal.


“The light they made would be like starlight. With the passage of time, it would reach different places.”


That’s right! The light of a star would not disappear. All I have to do is to locate your position before and after you went to planet PM0405 according to your diary, and find the colourful lights emitted by the “Astral Festival” in that area, then I’ll be able to calculate and track the movement of this wandering planet.


Thank you again, John. Although I have read your travelling journal numerous times, I never thought I would still be able to find such hidden gems.


I’m not going to wait any longer, I’ll go to planet PM0405 immediately. I hope I can help the foxes.


Too big a universe, too short to live.


-Yoko

JOHN - Day 006

宇宙歷 20000 年 9 月 24 日． PM0405 行星．陰


終於有機會來到這裡了 - PM0405 行星 ，人稱「宇宙中最自由的星球」。


這個星球的奇妙之處，是它並沒有身處於任何星系的軌道中，也沒有被其他星球的引力牽動，而是一顆在浩瀚宇宙裡漂流的行星。


也就是名副其實的「流浪行星」。


雖然這個星球沒有太陽照射，不過由於它擁有豐富的地下燃料，加上星球上的居民已經習慣了流浪生活，十分懂得採集太空能源，故此並無礙他們科技與生活上的發展。


而住在這裡的居民有一個很浪漫的習俗，叫「星光祭」。


每當這個星球途經某些類似太陽的發光星體時，居民都會把光源收集下來，並儲存在不同顏色的太空衣裡。到「星光祭」的時候，他們便會穿起這些太空衣進入太空，然後把儲起的光一次過發放出來，就像讓自己成為星星一樣。


雖然作為外來者的我無法參予星光祭，不過我也入鄉隨俗地把太空衣調較成蓄光模式，靜心欣賞天空中繽紛璀璨的人造星光。


他們所發出的光，亦將會像星光一樣，隨著時間流動而到達不同地方，或許也會在其他星球的天空中出現吧。


那也是流浪者們生存過的證明。


宇宙很大，生命很短。


-John
寫於星空之下


---------------------------

Space Calendar 20000/9/24. Planet PM0405. Cloudy.


I’ve finally got the chance to come here - planet PM0405, also known as “The planet that has the most freedom”.


The most incredible thing about this planet, is that it’s not in any galaxy’s orbit, nor is it attracted by other planets’ gravity. All that it is, is a planet that’s drifting in the universe.


An actual “Wandering Planet”.


Although this planet doesn’t have a sun, it has an abundant source of underground fuel. On top of that, since natives on this planet have already grown accustomed to their nomadic lifestyle, they are really good at collecting space energy. That’s why, their developments in technology and culture was never hindered.


The inhabitants of this planet have a very romantic custom, called the “Astral Festival”.


Every time the planet passes a star that’s similar to the sun, the natives would collect its light, and store it in space suits of different colours. When the time comes for the “Astral Festival”, they would travel into space wearing these space suits, and release all the lights they stored all at once, as if they were the planet’s star.


Although as an outsider, I couldn’t participate in the “Astral Festival”, I tried fitting in by adjusting my space suit into light-storing mode while I quietly appreciated the beauty of a sky reflecting an explosion of colours from man-made stars.


The light they made would be like starlight. With the passage of time, it would reach different places. Perhaps, it might even appear in the skies of other planets.


That’s the proof that wanderers exist.


Space is big, life is short.


-John
Written under the starlight.

YOKO - Day 005

宇宙歷 20018 年 3 月 21 日．MKPE02 行星．時晴時雨


你好，John。


上次錯過了怪奇蜜柑，難免讓我覺得有點可惜。所以這次我一定要去嚐試一下你推介的教官糖果。我感覺自己的日記快要變成宇宙美食探索記錄了(笑)。


走進糖果店前，我特意把太空衣轉換成實習學生的款式。女店主果然一眼就認出我曾經是太空船駕駛科的學生。


我拿出你當年寫過有關這家糖果店的日記，並向她道出自己的來意。對於我這個「偶像足跡再體驗計劃」感到十分有趣的她，隨即跟我分享了很多丈夫辭去教官職務後，努力跟她經營糖果店的點滴。


可惜的是，原來今天已經是這家糖果店營業的最後一天了。


我不禁覺得有點失落。然而女店主看見我的反應，卻還是臉帶微笑，並拿起櫃台上的照片向我介紹。


「他是我的兒子，叫史密斯。」女店主指著照片中站在教官旁邊的小個子，細看之下，原來他拿著一個小結他。


「記得我們拍這幅照片之前，我先生看見史密斯心事重重的樣子，於是向他問道：『兒子，宇宙很大，生命很短啊。你有想去的地方、想嘗試的事情嗎？』」


然後，女店主指向大門上掛起的一幅演唱會宣傳海報，海報的主角正正就是長大了的史密斯。


原來如此。教官對自己的學生跟兒子也採取了同一種教育方法哩！


「我們能夠完成自己的夢想已經滿足了。不必勉強孩子承接下去。他也有追夢的權利不是嗎？」女店主把當日送給你的糖果也送了一份給我作為踐別。


糖果果然美味極了！那是充滿幸福感覺的清甜味。


對了。女店主說雖然她的店將會結束營業，不過她丈夫的朋友在 Z017 行星開設的糖果店，到現在依然年中無休哩！有機會的話我一定要去看一下。


宇宙無邊，生命有限


- Yoko


---------------------------


Space Calendar 20018/3/21. Planet MKPE02. Sporadic rain


Hello, JOHN.


I can’t help finding it a pity that I missed the opportunity to try the peculiar tangerines. That’s why, this time, I absolutely have to give the instructor candy you recommended a try. I feel like my journal is becoming a universe food exploration record. (laughs)


Before entering the candy store, I took care to switch my spacesuit to that of an intern’s style. As expected, the female store owner recognized immediately that I used to be a spacecraft aviation student.


I took out the journal entry about this candy store from back then and explained the purpose of my visit. She was amused by my “My idol’s footsteps re-experience plan” and was very interested. She then shared a lot of anecdotes of how she and her husband ran the store after my instructor quit his job.


Unfortunately, turned out today is the candy store’s last day.


I can’t help but to feel a bit lost. Yet, even though the female shop owner saw my reaction to the news, she still wore a smile on her face. And then she introduced her son in the photo to me.


“He’s my son, Smith.” The female shop owner pointed at the small boy next to my instructor in the photo. I took a closer look, and realized he was holding onto a small guitar.


“I remember just before we took this photo, my husband noticed how our son looked like he has a lot on his mind, so he asked him, ‘Son, the space is big, but life is very short. Do you have places you want to go and things you want to try?’“


And then, the female shop owner pointed at a concert poster that was hanging on the door, right at the middle, is the grown up Smith.


Now I know. The instructor took the same approach with his son as with me.


“We are already satisfied just from achieving our own dream. There’s no need to force our child to continue it. He also has the right to pursue his dreams, doesn’t he?” The female store owner then gave me the same candies she gave you that day as a farewell gift.


The candies really are delicious! The sweetness is filled with happiness.


Oh yes. The female store owner said that although her store is going to close soon, the candy store at planet Z017 opened by her husband’s friend is still open every day! If given the chance, I must go and visit.


Too big a universe, too short to live.


-Yoko

JOHN - Day 005

宇宙歷 19998 年 3 月 19 日．MKPE02 行星．晴

這次來到 MKPE02 行星，目的是探望一位曾經教導過我，現在已經退休的教官。

記得初中的時候，對於學業成績沒有特別執著的我總是被其他教官罵得很兇。然而那年，我遇上了他。

「JOHN，宇宙很大，生命很短啊。難道你沒有想去的地方，沒有想嘗試的事情嗎？」他拿著我慘不忍睹的成績單，語重心長地向我問道。

「有喔。我想現在就停學，然後環遊整個宇宙。哈哈！」當時的我只想亂七八糟地敷衍他。

「好！那我把所有駕駛太空船的知識都濃縮在這個學期內傳授給你。如果你能夠全部學會，我就替你申請停學，你就可以去實現這個夢想了。」教官卻認真得讓我有點受寵若驚。

有別於其他人，他可說是學校裡唯一一位認真聽我說話的教官。

或許是被他的熱情感染，我在那個學期不斷補課溫習，為「停學」這個終極目標而努力。終於，我在那年的太空船駕駛科拿到全級第一的成績。不過同時也因為認真讀書，才切實地感受到自己的不足。

「教官，我......還想再多學一點。所以還是繼續升學好了。」學期完結的那天，首次從學業中得到成功感的我認真地希望可以繼續跟教官學習。

「哈哈！那當然好！努力吧，JOHN。」教官向我遞上一顆糖果。讓我有點不明所以。

原來他最大的心願就是跟太太開一間糖果店。那天他也終於辭去工作，準備追逐自己的夢想......

「你就是 JOHN 嗎？我先生經常有提起你哩！」

糖果店的女店主在琳琅滿目的貨架上隨機拿了幾款糖果放在瓶子裡送給我。這個時候，我看見櫃台上放著教官的家庭相片。相片中的他雖然躺在病床上，卻還是拿著店裡的糖果，滿臉笑容地跟他的太太和兒子拍照。

「JOHN，我可以拜託你把這個帶到 Z017行星上的一家糖果店嗎？那位店主是當年跟我先生一起研究製作糖果的朋友。」女店主把一份糖果製作的食譜交給我。

「當然可以。謝謝你的糖果。」我把太空衣的外觀轉換成當年的款式，以太空船駕駛科學生的身份往 Z017 行星出發。

MKPE02 行星上有一家糖果店。糖果全部由店家自製，美味可口，而且滿載著夢想。

宇宙很大，生命很短。

-JOHN
寫於前往 Z017 行星途中

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Space calendar 19998/3/19. Planet MKPE02. Sunny

The reason I came to visit planet MKPE02 this time is to visit an instructor who used to teach me and has now retired.

When I was in junior secondary school, because I didn’t care much about my grades, my instructors were always very fierce to me. But, that year, I met him.

“JOHN, space is very big but life is very short. Isn’t there any place that you want to go, anything that you want to try?” He asked me earnestly, holding my terrible report card.
．

“Yes, there is. I want to drop out of school now and explore the entire universe. Haha!” At that time, I only wanted to end the conversation.

“Okay! Then I’ll condense all my knowledge of driving a spaceship and teach them to you in this semester. If you can learn all of that, I’ll apply for school suspension for you, so you can achieve your dream.” He said seriously. I was surprised by how seriously he took me.

Unlike the others, he was the only instructor in this school who would really listen to me.

Perhaps I was affected by his enthusiasm, for the remaining semester, I worked incessantly hard on studying, in order to get myself ‘suspended’. In the end, I was first in that year’s Spaceship Driving. But at the same time, because I was studying hard, I felt inadequate.

“Sir, I... want to learn more. So, I think it’s best for me to just stay in school.” The day the semester ends, for the first time, I felt a sense of achievement in my academic studies. I realized I wanted to keep on learning from him.

“Haha! Of course! Let’s work hard, JOHN.” My instructor offered me a piece of candy. But, I was a bit confused by his gesture.

Turns out his biggest wish was to own a candy shop with his wife. But the day he quit his job and got ready to chase after his dream...

“You’re JOHN? My husband’s always talking about you!”

The female shop owner of the candy store grabbed a few different kinds of candies and gave them to me in a jar. At this moment, I noticed my instructor’s family portrait on the counter. In the photo, even though he is sick and lying on his bed, he is still smiling and holding the candies from the shop while taking the photo with his family.

“JOHN, can I trouble you with bringing this to a candy store on planet Z017? The shop owner used to develop candies with my husband back in the days.” the female shop owner passed me a candy recipe.

“Of course. Thanks for the candy. “ I changed the appearance of my spacesuit to the style of those days and set off to planet Z017 as a spacecraft aviation student.

There is a candy store on planet MKPE02. All the candies are made in store. They are very tasty and are filled with dreams.

Space is big, life is short.

-JOHN
Written on the way to planet Z017