The Circadian Rhythm Method

Day and night, like gravity, can be simulated on a spaceship. Alternating periods of light and dark make us feel closer to “normal.” But there are other worlds spinning around other stars and naturally they don’t all spin at the same rate. What’s normal for us is not normal for them.

Our internal clocks aren’t perfect though. Our days and nights can be gradually lengthened or shortened. Our minds and bodies will adjust to the change. It only made sense then after first contact was established that we match the schedule of the alien planet. So during the first half of our journey each day and night was altered by a few minutes and we have been living on alien time since.

We are scheduled to arrive at our destination in about half an alien day. I’m still not clear on the conversion factor between home time and alien time. I only know this: we attack at dawn.

Follow Friday Flash Fiction on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and FridayFlash.org

Looking for a way to track progress on your writing projects? Get Writer’s WiP Calc now for free.

25 Responses to "The Circadian Rhythm Method"

marc nash says:

2012/08/03 at 06:40

very nice Tim. I’m reminded of that bit in The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy when an army is about to invade the Earth for some perceived spoken insult where language didn’t travel well, only for them to misjudge the dimensional scale and end up being eaten by a dog! These calculations are so very important.
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/03 at 17:58
  
  Thanks, Marc. One of the things I love about my dog is her ability to protect me from aliens. ~Tim
Larry Kollar says:

2012/08/03 at 11:26

What a twist! It sounds at first like they’re planning to assimilate themselves. Maybe they’ll get eaten by a dog (or a dawg, if they’re invading Planet Georgia).
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/03 at 18:01
  
  Thanks, Larry. How ’bout them dawgs?!?! ~Tim
John Wiswell says:

2012/08/03 at 12:44

Well, do we have to stay planetside? What if we just carpetbomb and then zap the enemies from the ionosphere? Then we can sleep in, in simulated earth hours.
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/03 at 18:03
  
  Thanks, John. You are hereby promoted to Commander in Chief. ~Tim
Deanna Schrayer says:

2012/08/03 at 15:52

I like John’s idea – we’ll just sleep in. Great voice in this Tim!
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/03 at 18:05
  
  Thanks, Deanna. IRL, I’m a night owl, but when I have to work I’d just as soon get up early and get it over with. ~Tim
Steve Green says:

2012/08/03 at 16:59

All I can say is..

I’m definitely not a morning person, so they better not wake ME up at dawn…

Or they’ll be sorry…
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/03 at 18:06
  
  Thanks, Steve. You are hereby promoted to Chief Diplomat and Negotiator. ~Tim
  1. Steve Green says:
    
    2012/08/04 at 06:53
    
    Hahahahaha!!!
    
    Thanks Tim, but if they decide to wake me up at the crack of dawn, anything I have to say to them would be far from diplomatic, and very likely non-negotiable too.
    1. Tim says:
      
      2012/08/04 at 09:26
      
      Perfect!
Carrie Clevenger says:

2012/08/03 at 21:38

Great beginning to your new novel. :}
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/03 at 22:27
  
  Thanks, Carrie. There is a larger story behind this, but I’m not sure yet whether it’s novel-length. ~Tim
Helen says:

2012/08/03 at 23:37

Oooh do I need to take cover? ^_^ Nice flash!
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/04 at 09:28
  
  Thanks, Helen. I don’t know, but since we’re on opposite sides of the earth I suppose one of us will be able to sleep right through. ~Tim
The #FridayFlash Report – Vol 4 Number 10 | Friday Flash says:

2012/08/04 at 11:13

[...] The Circadian Rhythm Method by Tim VanSant ~ @TimVanSant ~ Science Fiction [...]
Tony Noland says:

2012/08/04 at 12:29

Great twist at the end, but I’d go with the nuke from orbit option, too. It’s the only way to be sure.
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/05 at 12:08
  
  Thanks, Tony. You are hereby promoted to chief military strategist. ~Tim
Danielle La Paglia says:

2012/08/04 at 21:10

I love it when I’m completely surprised by a twist. That was as far from where I thought this was going as can be. A fun little flash.
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/05 at 12:11
  
  Thanks, Danielle. Early drafts had some foreshadowing that this was not a peaceful mission, but I like it better with the neutral tone. I think it gives that last sentence much more impact. ~Tim
Icy Sedgwick says:

2012/08/06 at 12:20

I love that it all seems so innocuous, and well-timed for the time difference problems of vacation jaunts…and then you deliver that final line. Perfect pacing.
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/07 at 01:09
  
  Thanks, Icy. I was tempted to drop some darker elements in earlier in the story, but I like the innocuous tone better. ~Tim
lime says:

2012/08/06 at 21:32

just be quiet when you get up. i don’t need you waking me at the crack of alien dawn!
1. Tim says:
  
  2012/08/07 at 01:11
  
  Thanks, Lime. Sure, we promise to be quiet. And maybe we’ll figure a way to have the aliens awaken you. They’ll never know what hit them! ~Tim

Comments are closed.