Expedition 19-DIVOC, Milky Way Galaxy, Planet Earth, 22020

Data Entry 7

Discovered humanoid remains

within tall structure barricades.

Initial estimate is eight million,

beyond what myth dictates.

Data Entry 13

Despite no fields to grow their food,

quite little they sought to accrue.

Instead, they stacked up plant-based pulp on rolls

by bowls of white on stumps.

Religious offerings, were they?

A humble shrine to which one prayed?

Displays, though varied, seem to be widespread-

a thread I'll trace with glee.

Data Entry 42

The pictograms on each device-

though primitive, revived-

suggest a demon, Rona, caused the blight

that frightened and embalmed.

Their God, Commode, on porc'lain throne,

was inspiration for the clones-

they prayed quite often, begging to be saved,

and paid their pulpy dues.

Data Entry 56

Analysis of tissues shows

a concentrated viral load.

Mutations guaranteed mortality,

foreseen by no locale.

We've still not learned what masquerade

the fibrous rolls of tribute played,

but posit that their ink has been erased

as space and time infringed.

Data Entry 78

No ink discernible on pulp,

so now we dig beneath the sculpt

and follow where the curvy hollow leads.

My plea: no curse befalls.

Data Entry 94

Disintegrated remnants found,

stored mixed with waste far underground.

Perhaps a holy cleansing ritual

that lulled them into bliss?

Data Entry 1939

Our linguist picked the language lock,

translating data from The Docs

and found that when the novel virus jumped,

abruptly humans resupplied:

They traded printed Paper pulp

for rolls of pristine pulp in bulk.

A frantic dash for tribute offerings

that swings the tide of coughs?

Data Entry 2020

Command has ordered our return,

the excavation data firm.

These humans had no great intelligence;

percepts have been dispelled.

When imperiled by a menace

that was grim and overzealous,

they flout new orders and emerge, begin

hoarding toilet paper.