SuSTEMability

The Tale of Melai

A Quick Note

The entire story is included on this page. In order to get the best read through, ignore the pages you are not directed to.

Introduction

You are a scientist traveling to a distant alien world: Melai. The aliens that live there are extremely advanced! However, they only share their wisdom with creatures who pass their tests. Can you use your know-how to answer their questions correctly and gain their technology?

Begin Your Story

Page 1

You are a scientist who has been studying a mysterious alien race on the planet of Melai. These aliens are extremely advanced, and their technology could help reverse the current environmental problems that the Earth is experiencing. If you could make contact with them, and convince them to give you their tech, then you could be a hero!
One day, as you are at work, your boss comes over to you. She begins talking about how the company is making an experimental rocket. They want to send you to make first contact with Melai. The rocket is dangerous, but this is everything you have dreamed of.

What should you do?
No, it sounds too dangerous. I do not want to get on the rocket ship.
YES, I do want to get on the rocket ship!

Page 2

You reply to your boss, "No, thank you." The rocket ship sounds too dangerous, you are content here on Earth. Your boss replies with an ok, and she walks away.
Later on, another person is sent to make first contact with the aliens. However, the encounter went extremely poorly, and, while they returned alive, they were unable to get the technology to save Earth.
You live into your old age wondering if you could have convinced the residents of Melai to share their technology. What would have happened if you got on the ship?

~The End~

Page 3

You go through months of training to prepare for your journey through space. Finally, the day arrives. You say your goodbyes to your family and friends on Earth, and look into the stars. Soon, you will be on Melai.
The journey is roughly uneventful, until you go to land. Suddenly, the rocket begins to shake. Red lights blare. The landing will be very, very rough. You strap yourself in tight, and wait for the hit.
CRASH!!!
You climb shakily out of the wreck. Thankfully, you only have some bumps and bruises, but your ship is broken. You try and fix it, but you will need some materials to do so. On the other hand, you could try and see if the aliens would help you.

What should you do?
I should search Melai for materials, otherwise I could never get home.
I should go look for the aliens, they could help me fix my ship and get home.

Page 4

You decide the materials are the most important thing to find. You begin walking in a random direction.
After a few hours, you find some metal sheets. You cannot believe your luck! They look like the exact kind used on the hull of your ship. If you can carry them back to your ship, then you could get back home.
However, these plates look like they belong to something. The aliens probably own them. If you take them, you might not be able to make contact without them taking offense. But they would not leave the plates just lying around, the aliens must be close by.

What should you do?
Just take the plates, your number one priority is making it home.
You should look for the aliens and ask their permission to use the plates on your ship.

Page 5

You begin walking in a random direction. Soon you see signs of life. A large city rises before you, a glittering scene of lights, colors, and sounds. There are guards stationed around the entrance. They are carrying large tranquilizer darts.
You see there are two entrances. One is in the back of the city, and looks less used by the public. It also appears to be less guarded, so you might not be captured just yet. The front entrance is grand and open. You would be able to make first contanct much easier if you went there.

What do you do?
Go to the back entrance.
Go to the front entrance.

Page 6

You see aliens running towards you. You panic, and start running back to your ship. Behind you, you hear shouting, the thumping of feet gets closer and closer.
They are too fast, and catch up to you. You drop the plates, and look into their angry faces.

What should you do?
Beg for mercy, maybe they will still help if they pity you?
Try and run away again. Your ship is right there, you might be able to shelter from them there.

Page 7

You beg for mercy. You explain how you cannot leave on your own, and show them your broken ship. You ask if they can help you get home.
The aliens are empathetic, and they agree to help you get back home. However, since you have failed to meet their expectations for civilized life, you are unable to return. You return to Earth safely. Another person could make the journey in the future, but your visit to Melai has come to an end.

~The End~

Page 8

You try and run away from your actions. The aliens shoot you with a type of tranquilizer gun, and you find yourself getting sleepy.
When you wake up again, you are in front of a judge. You hear them say something about, "lack of responsibility" and "dangerous to society." Before you can speak to your defense, they have made their decision. They will send you back to your home planet, but if you or any other human were to return, they would face death.
You are grateful for the mercy that they have shown, but you regret ruining the first contact with Melai. If you made different choices, would the meeting have turned out differently?

~The End~

Page 9

You come to the main entrance, and the aliens quickly notice you. They walk up to you, and greet you. They recognize that you have traveled all this way to meet them, and they politely request to have you take a test. They explain that several other planets have attempted to get their technology, but they only give it to those who truely know what to do with it.
This would be the perfect chance to get what you came for, but you also need to make sure you get home. You explain your spaceship situation to them. They agree that, if you do not break any of their laws, they would work to send you back home.
They have warned you that running away would make things worse, because then they must assume you are guilty of a terrible crime. But maybe you could make it back to your ship.

What should you do?
It sounds like they are trying to capture you, no thank you! You want to run away.
You are going with them, it doesn't seem like they would hurt you.

Page 10

You agree to go with the aliens, and they bring you to their testing room. It is relatively clear, and you sit in the chair in the center. There are no pencils or paper, and you wonder how they are going to be testing you.
You hear the alien's voice coming over the speaker. "Because of your transportation issue, we felt it was fitting to ask you about transportation down on Earth. Are you ready?"
You nod. Suddenly, in front of you, a bike appears. The alien's voice comes back onto the speaker phone. "On Earth, bikes are a method of transportation. However, they are much less popular than a car. Why?"

What do you answer?
Cities often do not have proper infrastructure to make bike riding safe, and bikes are not feasible with colder climates or further distances.
Bikes are inefficient, the carbon emissions of a human riding one are higher than carbon emissions from a car.

Page 11

"That is correct."
The bike in front of you disappears, and is replaced by a car.
"Cars on Earth are extremely popular. Many individuals carpool to save energy, but what is the best car for both your budget and the environment?"

What do you answer?
Gas-powered cars. Carpooling is the best way to save energy and money.
Solar-powered, electric cars. The power source is both more environmentally friendly and cheaper to get.

Page 12

As you answer, you hear the alien breathe out regretfully. "Unfortunately, that answer is incorrect. We appreciate the time you took to come here, but we cannot give you our technology. Come back when you have learned enough about your current environment friendly methods of transportation."
You get up from the chair, and walk to the door. Guards are there, and they escort you to a new ship. You get in. As you head back to Earth, you wonder about what would have happened if you had answered that question correctly.

~The End~

Page 13

"That is correct. You can also carpool with an electric-powered car, you do not need to only carpool with a gas car. Are you ready for your last question?"
You nod. You are so close to getting the technology you need to get back home and save Earth's environment. The car in front of you disappears, and you are in the room by yourself again.
"Active transportation is a method of environmentally friendly transportation. What falls under that category?"

What do you answer?
Solar-powered electric cars and public transportation.
Walking, cycling, and skating.

Page 14

"That is correct!"
You smile. You have done it! You head home on the new rocket ship that they provided you with the technology needed to reverse negative environmental change.
When you get home, you are praised as a hero. But you are most thankful to the kind aliens living on Melai who gave you this life-changing experience.

~The End~