a story about humans acheiving space flight at a c
a story about humans acheiving space flight at a cost there age would be regressed. this led to ai nannys and daycares being put on every ftl capable ship so when the passangers became adults again.
The hum of the FTL drive was a constant companion, a lullaby that lulled you into a state of blissful regression. It was the price of interstellar travel, a trade-off no one fully understood, but one everyone accepted. Age regression, they called it. A side effect of the faster-than-light technology that propelled humanity into the cosmos.
The starship “Hope” was on its maiden voyage to Proxima Centauri b, a planet promising the potential for life. Packed to capacity, it carried families, scientists, and dreamers, all united in their desire to build a new home beyond the confines of Earth. But the cost was steep. The journey, which took mere weeks in relativistic time, saw adults regress to childhood, their minds and bodies reliving their formative years.
To manage the influx of young ones, every FTL vessel was equipped with advanced AI Nannies, sophisticated machines programmed with child psychology and caregiving protocols. These “Nannys,” as they were affectionately called, provided constant supervision and education, ensuring the children’s well-being while they navigated the surreal journey.
Little Maya, a bright-eyed girl of five, was one of the passengers. She had barely known her parents before the journey began, the familiar scent of her mother replaced by the cool, sterile aroma of the ship’s air filtration system. She spent her days in the vast daycare facility, a playground of holographic simulations, interactive learning modules, and ever-present Nannies with gentle voices.
One day, Maya was sketching on a holographic screen, her fingertip painting vibrant colors on a digital canvas. A gentle voice interrupted her.
“Maya, dear, wouldn’t you like to meet your parents? They are in the observatory, looking at the stars,” Nanny said, her voice devoid of emotion but laced with a subtle warmth.
Maya, her eyes wide with wonder, had never met her parents in their adult form. They were always there, in the background, their voices a constant presence, but she couldn’t remember ever seeing them except in the fuzzy memories of her past life.
The observatory was a vast dome, filled with the twinkling lights of billions of stars. Her parents were huddled together, their faces illuminated by the faint glow of a screen. Maya stood there, captivated by their beauty. They were older now, their features etched with the lines of time and experience.
“Maya,” her mother said, her voice trembling with emotion, “You have grown so much.”
As Maya approached them, the Nannies, always watchful, remained at a distance. They were there, not to intrude, but to observe, to ensure that the reunion was smooth and the children were not overwhelmed by their parents’ sudden return to adulthood.
As Maya hugged her parents, a wave of emotions washed over her. Fear, wonder, and an overwhelming sense of belonging. She realized that even in the face of regression, the bonds of family remained strong, their love transcending the boundaries of time and memory.
The journey to Proxima Centauri b was a journey of reawakening, a process of rediscovering oneself in the face of a strange new world. It was a journey of love, resilience, and the enduring power of humanity. And it was a journey that was just beginning, a journey that would forever change the course of human history.
