Europa Syndrome


 At some point in the past, it was postulated that the universe either harbors extraterrestrial life, or it doesn’t, and both scenarios are horrifying. If aliens exist then we must accept their existence; if not then we’ll remain in perpetual isolation.

The truth, it turned out, was far worse. The truth was, we couldn’t accept them.

The probe finished drilling through the last few feet of Europan ice before sinking into the icy depths below. The images it recorded were relayed back to Earth, where scientists watched with baited breath. They expected to see clusters of floating sediment, or perhaps rich geological features. Some of the more fantastical-minded scientists thought they might even see small organisms.

What they didn’t expect to see were monsters. Not aliens, but terrifying nightmarish creatures squirming and squelching and oozing. No matter where the probe pointed, there were tentacles, blobs, pustules, spines, spikes…Eyes that were hollow, mouths that were gaping holes lined with teeth at every odd angle.

It took a little over a minute before the last scientist’s fear overcame his curiosity and he rushed from the room. Later that day, with nightmarish visions floating in his mind’s eye, he’d take his life. Many of his coworkers would soon do the same.

The recordings were meant to be kept secret, but as these things tend to go the footage was leaked, copied, and broadcast to every corner of the globe. The genie had been let out of the proverbial bottle, and with it came a spike in suicides, anxieties, and phobias. Everyone who’d seen the monsters reported nightmares, and sleep deprivation became the norm. Legislation was rushed through every world government banning anyone from sharing the footage. Numerous economies began icing over as mental health declined.

A term was coined: Europa Syndrome, so named after the icy moon that had started it. It seemed humans were incapable of thriving while they were aware of Europan Life.

No one is quite sure who first suggested bombing Europa, but the idea quickly spread. Elected officials would offhandedly mention the idea as a joke, but when they saw how their constituents applauded, these jokes quickly took on a serious tone.

Bombing something the size of Europa was no easy feat, and with the economy in shambles the endeavor would be far more difficult. Calculations were made. Simulations were run. Destroying Europa was possible…It would be tough, but possible.

The nightmares continued. Mental health continued to plummet. Large groups of people slipped into a catatonic state.

Eventually it was agreed that something drastic needed to be done. The world turned its economies toward a single pursuit: Construction of The Moon-Buster.

Workers were subjected to dangerous work, long hours, and slave-like conditions, but no one complained…Anything to make the nightmares stop… To destroy those monsters…

It took four years for the rushed project to come to a head. By this point over a third of the planet had perished… Deaths from a lack of resources… Deaths from strained manpower… Deaths from their own hand… The nightmares; the never-ending nightmares!

Several researchers warned that the Moon-Buster’s rockets hadn’t been tested, and that there was a decent chance it would be incapable of escaping the atmosphere. In such a case, it would destroy the planet. Some suggested they spend the next year testing the thrusters.

…Another year…Another year with the nightmares. If the weapon failed, if it did destroy Earth, then at least the nightmares would disappear.

The Moon-Buster was launched as soon as it was completed, and there was a great sigh of relief when it escaped the Earth’s gravity well.

…And then they waited.

…The rocket passed the moon, then Mars. The rockets continued spewing mass; continuously accelerating toward its target.

…Past the Asteroid Belt…

…Eventually Jupiter came into view. Shortly after, the Galilean Moons became visible.

Faster, faster, faster, the rocket rushed toward Europa…

…A million miles…A hundred thousand…A thousand…

Footage and telescopic images confirmed the Jovian Moon had been destroyed, and with it, so too had the alien life. Nightmares continued, but in knowing the creatures responsible for them had been driven to extinction, they carried far less mental anguish.

The world returned to a kind-of normal. People returned to jobs, food was grown in fields again, and some of the catatonic were even roused from their shocked states.

…But mankind continued to live with the knowledge that the universe did indeed harbor life, and that our primitive minds were incapable of allowing us to thrive knowing this life was out there. Our brains, evolutionarily ill-prepared to comprehend the exotic forms extraterrestrials would take, would forever damn us to remain isolated.

The Moon-Buster was the last rocket to ever leave Earth. From that moment forward, mankind collectively agreed to keep to themselves.