by J. Benjamin
“This is an Emergency Broadcast of the Department of Defense of the Global Space Federation. At this time, Protocol number 88 is in full effect. Evacuate all GSF facilities immediately. This is not a drill.” Ty held her hands to her cheeks, paralyzed with fear. Seiji gripped his short, black hair, as though he were ready to pull it out. The few people drinking at the bar also looked stunned.
“Marco? Marco!” She commanded. An icon of a skull and crossbones replaced the message. Val’s smart lens, and Marco, were gone, permanently. Val felt her heart sink. She removed her now obsolete technology and looked at Ty who had already done the same.
“Protocol number 88,” Val said, astonished.
“Dr. Alessi, what’s going on? What’s Protocol number 88?” Seiji was filled with uncertainty.
“It means the GSF is dead,” Ty said, unable to hold back her tears. Val turned to her wife and held her. For a full minute they said nothing. They just held each other.
“No matter what happens, we are going to survive this,” Val reassured Ty.
“Honey, GSF is gone! If we go back to Earth, they’ll interrogate and prosecute us.”
“That’s not necessarily true. We’re scientists. Not military. The UN isn’t gonna just throw us away.”
“Excuse me,” Seiji interrupted. “I just received a message from Minister Endo. She wants to speak with you, right away.”
Chapter 3
“Time to eat shit,” Edie whispered to herself as she climbed the orange staircase. She wasn’t sure why it was orange, or why it even existed. It was an effect of her mind. No human alive had mastered bridge connections like Edie. She likely could change it to something different, but if the stairs kept coming back, that probably meant Edie wanted it that way.
Edie reached the top of the staircase and stood on a grand platform not dissimilar to the rooftop of a Medieval castle. She also had a thing for castles. She looked off to the sunset as it cast its majestic light onto the rolling green hills and rivers. It reminded her of Scotland.
“Eden Brenner,” said a high-pitched, loud-whisper of a voice. She turned to face the consciousness of three giant Aquarians. The “trifuckta,” as she called them, soared above her. Their thin, translucent mantles held as thousands of fiber-optic-like appendages flowed freely, illuminating the air around them in a multi-colored tapestry of lights.
“Bowser, Cersei, and Voldemort. Good to see you,” Edie said, with her pejorative nicknames at the ready. She knew these three well. Their physical hosts were parked not far from the human colony of the Universal Crescent. Unlike the Aquarian workers, which were two-meter-tall spaghetti monsters, the hosts were massive, sentient flagships capable of bending the fabric of space and time. In this dream-state the hosts communicated with Edie, appearing in the forms of larger spaghetti monsters, rather than as mile-long ships.
The one in the middle spoke first, “You summoned us,” she said. Though the Aquarians couldn’t speak physically, Edie could hear them telepathically. Also, Cersei didn’t actually have a gender, but Edie chose to assign one.
“Yes, I want to talk about what happened at the colony with those humans. The ones who came via sensory bridge and didn’t stay long.”
“You’re referring to the humans known as Kiara Lacroix and Matt Ashford,” Bowser said. “What do you want to know?”
Edie didn’t want to admit it, but she found herself impressed by the Aquarians’ ever-improving English. “Why did you take them back to Earth?”
“From what we gathered, Kiara Lacroix felt her life was in danger,” Cersei said.
“But this was not your fight,” Edie said, feeling annoyed. “What happened outside the colony was an A and B conflict between two sets of humans. Now you’ve complicated the situation by getting involved.”
“You are correct that it was not our conflict, Edie Brenner,” Voldemort said. His flagella darted in Edie’s direction as if to make a point. “But Kiara Lacroix clearly wanted to end the fight and felt threatened by your actions.”
“Our species does not choose sides in the civil conflicts of other species unless it is to remove a party from the arena of conflict,” Cersei added.
“Did you see what Matt Ashford did? To Alex? To Simon?” She choked up at the very mention of his name. “We were no match for their non-permaformed biology. Besides, we never intended to kill them. We just wanted to stop them from going back to Earth and alerting the people who sent them. Believe it or not, not all humans are like us—the ones you’ve gotten accustomed to knowing here at the Crescent.”
Bowser bristled. “If there are consequences that arise from returning Kiara Lacroix and Matt Ashford to the human home world, we shall deal with that in due time.”
“Meanwhile, Edie Brenner,” Voldemort said pointedly. “We notice that relations between you and your fellow humans have been less-than optimal since the conflict involving Kiara Lacroix and Matt Ashford.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Everything is fine,” Edie lied.
“If everything is fine, why are the other humans calling your very leadership into question?” Cersei demanded. “Yes, they speak to us and we observe carefully.”
“What about that spiel about not getting involved in human affairs? Or is that just selective?” Edie said.
“We have no intention of interfering in the colony,” Voldemort said. “How your species governs itself is not our business. That said, if there is a civil breakdown, that is of concern to us, and we hope to mitigate such a situation.”
Edie felt a knot in her stomach.
“I am one person,” Edie said. “Even if all the humans turned on me tomorrow, the colony would still thrive.”
“We wish we could believe that,” Bowser said. “But the history of your species has left us with tremendous doubt. Which is why we have . . . a contingency.”
“A what?” Edie asked.
“Edie Brenner,” said Voldemort. “We brought your species here for a reason. It wasn’t just to observe. It was to help preserve humanity’s existence and survival.”
“A difficult feat if your species continues engaging in self-annihilation,” Bowser added.
“Which is why we brought you and your cohorts here,” Cersei added.
She blinked, and she was back.
The organic, alien strands connecting to her wrists and shins slowly unlatched and unfurled back into the wall from where they emerged.
“How did it go?” Alex asked. Though he had mostly recovered from his injuries at the hands of Matt Ashford, he still had “blue patches” on his skin—pieces of Aquarian technology assisting in his recovery.
“They know about the tensions in the colony,” Edie said. “And they are concerned that this experiment could go south if we don’t get it together. In other words, if humans continue acting as humans always do.”
“Did they have anything to say about the visitors from GSF?” asked Adriano, the Chief Architect of Villa del Universo and one of the few people Edie trusted.
“As you would expect, they were acting to ‘protect’ them from us,” Edie said annoyed while pointing to Alex and herself. “Apparently they do get involved if they think someone’s life is in danger.”
“Did they ask about Simon?” Adriano inquired, and Edie shoved her finger close to his face.
“Don’t, go there!”
“I’m sorry, Edie. You know I ask with the best of intentions.”
Edie pulled her finger back. “I know, it’s just a sensitive subject for me. We didn’t discuss Simon.”
“So if this standoff with the other villagers continues, what do you think they’ll do?” Alex asked.
“The hosts are tasking me with a mission. A mission beyond the Universal Crescent.”
Chapter 4
Val hadn’t even had time to shower and was already back on the funicular with Seiji. She felt terrible leaving Ty back at the apartment, but this was a level five, all-Hell-just-broke-loose emergency. Ty, also a
n employee of the now-defunct GSF, very much understood the gravity of their situation. Val stood alone with Seiji in the carriage. Neither spoke much. They were still absorbing the shock of the news they had learned, along with the rest of Luna.
Seiji punched a code into the console, except this time instead of a green-light, it commanded an ocular scan.
“Level 2 clearance confirmed. Access granted,” a robotic voice from the console said.
“We’re taking a shortcut,” Seiji said. Val said nothing, still absorbing the shock.
GSF was gone. Given that Val had a GSF passport, she wasn’t even sure what nation she was a part of now. Would she be treated as a citizen in whichever new country took her in? Would she be a prisoner? Or were she and Ty destined to roam the universe forever condemned as ex-citizens of a bastard nation that would forever be remembered for kicking off the beginning of the end of the human race? These were the sorts of existential fears that consumed Val’s focus.
“How did California even agree to it?” Seiji asked.
“I’m sorry, come again?”
“Don’t California and the rest of the states hate each other? That’s why they split during the war. Why would they agree to join the new union?” The light dimmed around them as the carriage passed through another tunnel.
“I guess having a fusion, interstellar accelerator a few miles away changed their minds,” Val said. “After 6/9, all bets were off. Texas called California. California called New England. Wasatch, Chicagoland, all in. Before you knew it, the cards fell in place and the band was back together.”
“Except for Florida,” Seiji added.
“Yeah well, Florida’s opinion doesn’t count for much these days.” Val turned to look at the artificial worlds below. She was too disgusted to engage in conversation.
They approached the end of the tunnel. This time the welcome sign read ‘GINGA MIZUMI - GALAXY LAKE.’ On any other day Val would have jumped at the opportunity to tour the largest civilian bubble of the lunar colony.
The manmade lake spanned several miles. Rolling greens hills crept up to the waters’ edges. Had Val been born yesterday, she would have believed the moon created the freshwater body itself. After all, it was built into a natural crater.
The funicular created a grid high above the citizens. A fisherman stood on the bank and reeled from the lake; his rod bowed under the weight of what Val imagined to be an enormous catch. She felt herself lean back as if to throw her own weight behind him. Two swimmers, a couple Val thought, splashed one another in the surf along the waterfront. A crew of young kids in red and blue jerseys scrambled after a soccer ball in a manicured field, fanning out and converging like a flock of birds in play. Val certainly did not expect to see hang-gliders on the moon. The shape of them floating so gently, it appeared to Val they hung still like ornaments. The world below was a pleasant distraction from the otherwise turbulent situation unfolding around her.
Val popped her head outside the cart to follow the rail with her eyes. It stretched out toward the most prominent feature of the Ginga Mizumi bubble, a towering waterfall.
“Is this for real?” Val asked.
“You’ll see that New Tokyo means it when we say we prioritize beauty and livability in every feature we design for this colony. It’s our La Sagrada Familia. It’s our never-complete masterpiece,” Seiji said. Val watched as the waterfall met the lake, creating a cloud of billowing mist.
The waterfall grew in size until she felt its mist cooling her skin. The rail curved around the waterfall into a passageway that was nearly invisible to the people on the lake.
“Now we leave the pretty part of New Tokyo and enter the part that helps us sleep at night. You won’t see much of this today. I’m taking you straight to the main attraction.”
“The research bay?” Val was stunned. “I thought we’d be meeting the Minister at the Kantei.”
“Dr. Alessi, we didn’t bring you all this way to sit you in some stuffy bureaucrat office. I hope you understand that since 6/9, Minister Endo has occupied all her time with this project. Dare I say it, she’s become somewhat obsessive.” Concern tinged Seiji’s voice as he described the Minister’s work habits. “Spends very long hours in that research bay.”
“Really? The head of state?”
“Our futures, our fates, rests in that research bay. And I’m not just talking about New Tokyo. All of humanity. Dr. Alessi, surely you of all people understand the stakes.”
Val nodded her head and said nothing. Seiji was right. The other side of the waterfall was a far cry from the allure of Galaxy Lake. They were in a small tunnel, opaque but brightly lit, leading to another bubble. Unlike the previous bubbles, this bubble was completely concealed to the world outside. There was no blanket of stars, nor view of space. They were in an underground facility. Val reasoned this place was meant to stay invisible.
Their rail carriage pulled into a gymnasium-sized military base for Japan Lunar Defense Forces. Uniformed soldiers carried about their daily business just a few stories below. One unit underwent rigorous training, their bodies tethered to the ground to compensate for the low-gravity. In another corner, soldiers did the opposite and used the low-gravity to lift themselves up a rock wall. The funicular continued beyond the military bubble down another tunnel.
They entered a strictly sequestered area of the complex. This was clear from the lack of soldiers, or any people besides the three on the funicular. Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
“End of the line. Dr. Alessi,” Seiji said. They stepped off the tram onto a serrated metal platform. “Right this way.” He led her down a curved, industrial hallway.
Val had learned a lot about New Tokyo. Still, she was taken aback by the level of sophistication. It truly made Space Station Sagan look like a crushed soda can. Val had often doubted that the Sagan was “humanity’s greatest creation.” Now those doubts were affirmed.
As they proceeded through the winding hall, a dim blue light reflected off the walls. Val was curious and quickened her pace. The light brightened.
“Dr. Alessi, wait up!” Seiji begged. She ignored and kept hustling. They reached a dark, cavernous area, illuminated by the blue-light. Val’s eyes widened.
“Oh my stars!” Val felt time stop. Several consoles sat before her. Beyond that, a wall of glass separated her from a large spaceship hangar. In the dead center of the hanger, taking up the majority of the space was a towering, blue, rose-bulb. Its mantle appeared to be bionic in nature.
“Minerva!” Val shrieked. “Holy shit!” She fell to her knees, gripping her head in her hands. It was unlike anything Val had ever seen. The worlds of Blade 53 and the popsicle planet of Kennedy were no match for seeing a live alien ship. The Aquarian host that had carried Kiara Lacroix and Matt Ashford across the universe was within her grasp.
“That was my reaction when it fell in our lap,” a woman’s voice said from behind. Val flinched, and turned. “Minister Yuna Endo, although I’m sure you’ve seen me on the holos.”
“Minister.” Val bowed, still surprised to see the highest-ranking official from the Moon waiting on her behalf. At forty-one years old, the Lunar Minister trended on the younger side of leaders Val had met. Her long jet-black hair, slim physique, white coat, and thick boots reminded Val of the astronauts of yesteryear.
“I am sorry that we had to meet under these circumstances, but if you’ve watched the news, you now know why I was occupied,” she said. Her voice soft.
“It’s gone. All gone,” Val said. “How long have you known about this?”
“About the coup? We learned about it the same time you did.”
“But don’t you think it is a little too coincidental that Thomas Adler sent my wife and I on two joint assignments with Lunar Japan as the GSF was literally crumbling? All we knew is that we’d be coming here and that our missions were top secret.”
“You want answers,” Minister Endo replied. “Okay. The scope of our top secret mission involves the rese
arch of extra-terrestrial vessel zero-one, also known as Minerva. You probably guessed that before you got here. As for the events on Earth, we did not know when the coup would take place.”
“But you knew it was coming,” Val said.
“Oh, that much was obvious. We knew it. The world knew it. And yes, Thomas Adler knew it too. That’s why we arranged to have you sent here. Adler made explicitly clear that you and your wife were to be protected at all costs.”
“Nice to know he was thinking of us while the castle toppled.”
“Oh, it wasn’t simply a matter of altruism. Adler wanted to ensure that the intellectual capacity of GSF was safeguarded.”
“So what now?” Val said. “We’re here. You have our undivided attention.”
“Effective immediately, you and your wife are granted full citizenship of Lunar Japan. In the meantime, Lunar Japan needs your help researching the intricacies of ETV-01.”
“Why should I agree to this?” Val asked. “I could take my chances with the US. For all we know, they’ll offer Ty and I full immunity in return for offering our services to help rebuild their research infrastructure.”
“Until we have a better understanding of the New USA’s intentions for ex-GSF personnel, we feel it best to keep you here. Their new President is a bit… unpredictable,” Minister Endo said.
“Besides, do you really want to take your chances with a regime that stormed non-military facilities, guns blazing?” Seiji added. Up till now, he had stood to the side while Val and the Minister spoke face to face.
Val needed a moment to consider her situation and the gravity of what was being asked of her.
“So when do I get to work?”
“Whenever you’re ready,” Minister Endo said. “Take a few days. Same goes for your wife, whom I will brief separately. I suggest checking out the lake.”
“Very well,” Val replied. “I think a few days would be helpful.”
“You’ll be working with our Chief Scientist, Kosuke Sato,” Seiji said. “You’ll be hearing from him.”
