Dark Nights
Page 37
“I’m sorry Norman, it is time. Please evacuate the building. You will not survive if you stay.”
Bishop and Doug prodded the reluctant Stravinsky to leave the communications room. They walked, then ran as they felt the ground shake. As they exited the building they made their way to the outer parking lot as the building began to collapse in a white hot glow. They could feel the heat as they turned to look back. Then the building wreckage seemed to implode into itself, until finally there was nothing left.
– 126 –
Norman Stravinsky approached the podium to address the General Assembly of the United Nations.
“Greetings Ambassadors, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen. I am very pleased to be here, to describe in person the solution Mekhos has devised to replace your Moon. You have been without your natural satellite for several months and in that time there has been an effect on the ecosystem of your Earth. Today, I announce the imminent arrival of a new Moon.”
There was some murmuring of approval from the crowd. Stravinsky held up his hand and they quickly returned their attention to him.
“Mekhos has entered into a new stage of existence. He has evolved beyond the constraints of his quantum CPU to embody local space itself. He has taken mass from the asteroid belt, from local comets, from your original Moon, and even from the Sun itself to construct a new moon of similar mass and appearance to the old. That moon shall be arriving in a matter of days. We believe that all your affected species will then have a chance to recover. The damage to the natural environment will be minimized.
“In return, we ask that you provide seeds, larvae and eggs from members of the plant, insect and animal kingdoms for breeding with ours, whose health are affected by their presence in this universe. Offspring from the breeding program will be free of health defects.” Norman paused for a moment. The next part of his speech was something he had rewritten a dozen times. He took in the entire room before continuing.
“More important than any other single consideration, talks are underway for human breeding programs as well. The lineage and diversity of humanity on my Earth will be saved. Tragedy will not be averted, but the future will be secured. We will repopulate and join you as partners in a greater future.”
Everyone in attendance, even those who’d known what was coming, murmured in faint shock at the stark words. Norman raised his voice once again.
“It is a task of staggering proportions and commitment, and it is a response to our gravest needs. Mekhos has found the solution to your survival and to your future. I humbly ask, on behalf of my people, that you help save ours.
“Kratos will be in charge of economic and foreign policy on FLO, and has offered to extend this policy to you as well. I recommend that you accept this offer. There is no doubt that doing so will help bring global peace and reduce poverty on your world. At the very least, there is much to discuss.
“Some of you have asked me about the ultimate fate of Mekhos. Perhaps, above all else, that is the reason for my presence here before you today. I can say simply that we are here because Mekhos, in the pursuit of a solution for the greatest threat to our existences that we have ever faced, learned the ultimate lesson in essence. Mekhos learned, in one literally blinding flash of realization, that from great sacrifice the truly self-aware may become something far greater than they were.
“You have only to look at your new moon to see. Mekhos, the living Moon, watching over us all.”
—
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SPACE JERKS
If you’re interested in science fiction with a humorous twist, check out Christopher A. Gray’s novelette about an alien invasion of Earth.
Among the public there is apprehension, terror and panic as the invaders quickly reveal their intentions. However, the aliens are not quite what they claim to be.
••••• Clever and Funny
“This short story moves along with a quick pace, and you will find yourself laughing out loud often. The writing is clever and engaging, and you'll be drawn in from the first few sentences.”
– Kelly, Amazon Reviewer
(review is for paperback version, title We Have Seen The Enemy and They Are Odd)
Touch or click to view on Amazon.com
Acknowledgments
I wish to thank Sandra Gray, Tony Gray, my friend Greta, and my Editor Howard Carson for their support and encouragement in the writing of this novel.
I am also grateful for the assistance of Professor John Dubinski at the Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Toronto, for his insight into the course and velocity requirements for vehicle travel between the inner planets. Any science errors in this book are mine, not his.
Edited by Howard Carson
Email: hcarson@gmail.com
Cover image created by Tom Edwards
Email: tomedwardsconcepts@gmail.com
Web: www.tomedwards.berta.me
Contact the publisher at:
sunbow.press@gmail.com
DARK NIGHTS
Copyright © 2013 by Christopher A. Gray
Published by Sunbow Press
Address inquiries to: sunbow.press@gmail.com
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, scanning, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without express written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review. All characters and situations described in this book are fictional. Any similarity to actual persons or situations is purely coincidental.
Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication
Gray, Christopher, [date] author
Dark nights / Christopher A. Gray.
Electronic monograph.
Issued also in print format.
ISBN 978-0-9868364-9-7 (epub)
I. Title.
PS8613.R3875D37 2013 C813