by Astra Lynne
"Ok, it's ok," Amelia whispered to herself wiping the hot tears from her cheeks. She took several deep cleansing breaths to regain her composure and calm herself.
"You probably have a lot of questions," Ellen offered at last. "I would like to answer them for you. Some at least. I'm having some breakfast brought for you and we can talk."
"Breakfast?"
"Don't worry, it's all Earth food," Ellen explained with a bemused grin as if anticipating Amelia's concern.
"Oh, I didn't mean. . . “Amelia stumbled for the right thing to say. She was a bit embarrassed to be that obvious, but she only had cheesy movies as a guideline for what to expect from alien cuisine and that wasn't exactly comforting. Besides, she felt she was at her limit of new experiences for the moment.
"Its ok," Ellen assured her. "For now we are going to keep you as close to normal as possible. We hadn't intended for you to find out everything the way you did, but your study was quite conclusive. We no longer had a minute to spare."
"We?"
"The Council," Ellen explained. "We will talk more about that later. For now, let’s stick to the basics and how you fit into everything."
A strange beeping noise startled Amelia. "Sorry, I told them to knock, but it's not our way." Ellen explained going to the door. They, Amelia wondered. Of course, she thought, Ellen obviously wasn't flying this thing alone. Very large and dark magenta hands passed a tray to Ellen and hurriedly closed the door. Amelia was grateful for the courtesy. She didn't know if she could face an alien she didn't know. She wondered if that made her a horrible person, but all things considered, she hoped she warranted at least a brief pass.
"Come. Eat. You must be starved. It was better for you to have nothing on your stomach while we determined how you would tolerate the journey." Ellen placed the tray on the bed and motioned for Amelia to sit. She had to admit, the food did smell divine, and she was starving.
"Let's start with the most obvious questions first," Ellen suggested. "Why you?"
Amelia, wide eyed and mouth full of toast and bacon, nodded her head furiously. "You were chosen for several reasons. Not the least of which was your lack of . . . encumbrances," Ellen explained.
"You mean family," Amelia asked matter of factly.
"Unfortunately, yes. It made what would need to happen much easier if there was no one on Earth to wonder where you were. No one to ask questions, or for you to confide in if you happen to learn the truth." It was true, she had no family. Both of her parents died in a car accident shortly before her High School graduation, and her only sibling, a brother, had died of a drug overdose two years later.
"But we also chose you because you were brilliant. Even though you weren't the smartest, you were the most talented and the hardest working. You possessed a singularly brilliant and creative approach to Science, unparalleled among your contemporaries. Additionally you had amazing leadership skills that were both nurturing and uncompromising. These were all qualities we needed in the group we selected to transition your people into this endeavor."
"Group," Amelia asked. "There are others like me? People who are, at this moment, being told that little green men, or in this case, big purple women, are real?"
"Somewhat,” Ellen began. “Most of them are currently in cryostasis."
"Cryostasis?"
"Yes, we are putting most of the Science leaders in cryostasis until a few of you can be brought up to speed, as you say. Then you will be responsible for assisting with the transition of the others."
"And this…cryostasis…is safe? All the research on cytogenesis so far has been a failure."
"For humans. We perfected cytogenesis centuries ago," Ellen said proudly. "We had to, the Universe is vast, and even at our speeds, it wasn't practical to explore without it."
Amelia shook her head and sipped her coffee. Her head was filling with more questions by the minute. She wished she had a notepad to jot everything down because she was sure to forget.
"Let me start at the beginning," Ellen offered, pouring her own cup of coffee. "Several millennia ago, my people, in an attempt to find a planet to colonize, happened upon Earth. It was a surprise given how the rest of your solar system was largely uninhabitable, and Earth stood alone, practically pregnant with possibility. It did not take long, comparatively, to realize the error of our judgment to colonize. Your own planet was undertaking a massive evolution in several different regions. Back then we didn't have a directive that guided us and cautioned against interfering with the natural evolution of a planet. The decision was made to try and blend in with the evolution, to study it. It was hubris to think we would be the only species interested in colonization, however, and before we could stop it, several other factions had colonized other parts of the planet."
"Wait," Amelia questioned. "What do you mean 'other factions'? Other species?"
"Yes," Ellen smiled. "The Universe is vast. As a Scientist, what do you think the chances are that Humans are all there were? Most, that we have encountered, are like Earth, they think they are all alone in the Universe. Only a few have achieved the technological advances necessary for exploration to other galaxies."
Amelia dropped her fork. She had never felt so foolish and ignorant. A cursory calculation of the number of known galaxies and planets capable of sustaining life, even with her limited knowledge of Astronomy, the number was staggering.
"Many Earth Scientists got caught up in thinking life could only survive if it followed the rules on Earth. Liquid water, atmosphere, a limited distance from a star. But life is much more diverse out here among the stars."
"It seems so logical and obvious when you put it that way," Amelia smirked with slight embarrassment. It was true; she had followed a rote line in her belief about extraterrestrial life. She had always prided herself for thinking outside of the proverbial box, but it appeared, at least for this, she had swallowed the 'Earth stands alone' theory.
"But I digress," Ellen continued. "Other factions had begun colonizing other parts of Earth and that was interfering with the natural evolution of the planet. The Council decided we should leave and try to set things back to the way it should have been. It was a disaster. Some factions were greedy, others wished to dominate and exert an ownership they did not deserve. A war was fought that lasted hundreds of your Earth years, and when peace was finally achieved, it was decided a conglomerate of those factions, headed by Mari-Ur, would oversee the development of humans and the planet for as long as was necessary."
"So all of these 'factions' have been living among us for centuries?"
"Yes. We have been a guiding hand now and again, gently pushing your species towards what you needed to achieve based on what the projections had predicted. We recruited people, inventors, politicians, humanitarians and scientists, such as you, to achieve our goals. It was foolish of course. We hadn't counted on some of those factions still trying to exert their dominance over the planet and guiding it towards their selfish ends." Ellen poured herself another cup of coffee and gently touched a place on Amelia's nightstand. "Some of those selfish choices have led us to this point of no return, and quite possibly, the brink of another war."
"Why another war?"
"Not everyone is willing to give up their interests in your planet. Additionally, there are many protests on my own planet about our endeavor."
"Why?"
"Many reasons. Some think our initial colonization was wrong and we should have just abandoned your planet completely. Some think we are overtaxing ourselves by hosting an entire planet for 300 centaleps - that's what we call our year," Ellen explained as an aside, as if she had discussed this whole crazy story multiple times.
Amelia remained silent. Stunned and slightly ill, she scarcely believed she would ever be able to wrap herself around the entire concept. "300 years," she managed after what she felt was an awkwardly long time. Did that mean she would never see Earth again? Would everyone be safe? Ellen said an entire planet, so how big was the planet she was
going to if they could evacuate everyone? Would they evacuate the animals? What about the ecosystems? Oceans?
There was the beeping again. "What the hell is that beeping," Amelia squeaked.
"It’s the door," Ellen soothed, rising tall and elegant to answer it. "I summoned more coffee."
"When?"
"Just a few minutes ago . . . when I touched your nightstand." Ellen waved to the nightstand but Amelia did not see what she touched. "Here," Ellen continued and touched a spot on the wall. Instantly the room was transformed into a stark white box beneath a thin blue line of light. All that was left were a few pieces of furniture.
"Ok, I have to admit, the holograms are cool," Amelia whispered.
"More coffee," Ellen asked. Amelia held out her cup. She could feel her curiosity taking over her anxiety. She wanted to know more.
"And there are more humans on board," Amelia asked
"Yes, almost 5,000 for this journey, but this isn't really a cargo vessel." Ellen's voice was almost matter of fact. "Only 50 have been hand selected to act as Ambassadors." Ellen took a sip of her coffee and smiled. "Coffee is one of my favorite things about Earth. I hope they bring some back to Mari-Ur."
"Can I meet the others," Amelia asked.
"Of course, when you are all feeling a little better. Not everyone tolerates the sedation the same."
"How long will it take us to get to your planet?"
"Approximately 3 Earth months."
"How fast are we traveling?"
"We are approaching light speed. About 78 percent of light speed. But we aren't just traveling linearly. There are also Worm Holes," Ellen chuckled watching Amelia's eyes alight with wonder. "I know you have a lot of questions, but you really should rest."
Amelia gave a derisive laugh. How did Ellen expect her to rest after all she had just told her? "What am I supposed to do in the meantime?"
Ellen smiled and produced a black tube from her pocket. She held it up to Amelia, "Read," She commanded. "It will explain a lot and keep you occupied." Ellen touched the side of the tube and a projection the size of a tablet sparked to life. She ran her finger over the display to demonstrate before giving it to Amelia. Amelia took it and regarded it with awe.
"Well with that, I will leave you for a bit while I go check on the others. If you need anything, just touch here on your nightstand and say what you need." Ellen pointed to a small button on the nightstand. It must have been what she pushed earlier for coffee. "But you didn't speak when you used it," Amelia observed
"I can communicate with it telepathically. You will learn how to do that with time, just speak for now."
"Hmmm, what if I want to look out of a window," Amelia asked.
"Do you want an actual window, or a scene from Earth?"
"Earth I've seen, I want to see space." Amelia scrambled to her feet and observed Ellen's every move.
Ellen nodded and touched the nightstand. In an instant the room was filled with a faint sound similar to a sizzling pan. In an instant the back wall of the room opened up and revealed the vastness of space. Ellen observed Amelia's awe with a self satisfied chuckle.
Amelia turned to Ellen at last and blushed. "I must seem terribly simple to someone like you,"
"Not at all. Even I am amazed at the stars. You will never lose that sense of wonder, no matter how much you learn about them."
"Can I leave it like this," Amelia asked.
"For as long as you like." Ellen touched Amelia on the shoulder and turned to leave. It was a lot to take in, but Ellen was confident Amelia would be ok.
Chapter 5
Construction on the Hive carried on without ceasing. It was said Constructors were trained to continue working for an entire sun and moon cycle before needing rest. Luckily for him, Mattaki's training at the Academy involved sleep deprivation, otherwise he would never be able to keep pace with the Constructors Even still, he would need rest sooner than they. He admired the skill, craft and pride each one had in their work. It was hard, physical work but Mattaki welcomed the ache of his muscles each night, the physical fatigue that caused him to collapse exhausted in his bed and the instantaneous sleep that kept the thoughts of the human woman away most nights. The work on the Hive was almost complete, but there was still much to do in a short amount of time. The first ship with the Human Ambassadors would be here in less than a single lep, and more ships carrying the sleeping would be coming shortly after. In less than a centalep, the Hive would be home to over 7 billion humans in cryosleep, and among them would be the human woman he was destined to have as his own. How would he find her? The task seemed impossible, but if he didn't put some faith in Fate, none of it mattered. He shook the thought from his mind and continued to his jobsite. He and his brethren had a daunting task to accomplish, and he would get nowhere lost in his fantasies of her.
As he rounded the corridor, he could see Susuda speaking to one of the Constructors and emphatically pointing at holographic diagram of something. Despite their less than friendly relationship, Mattaki could not deny Susuda's easy way with the Constructors and the skill with which he performed his assignments. Susuda had been born Constructor class, but had shown great skill at the combat games as a child. As a result, he was one of the few first generations accepted at the Academy. Despite that accomplishment, or perhaps because of it, Susuda held a great deal of contempt for those, like Mattaki, who had not had to, in his opinion, work for their commission to the Academy. He made no display of hiding his contempt and it often caused him difficulty with some of the other warriors. For his part, Mattaki held no malice towards Susuda, viewing him as any other of the brethren. He had been raised to respect all classes and the part they played in the success of the Mari-Ursian society and history. But even he was not so naive as to not understand some classes carried with it an unspoken cache in the social and economic hierarchy of their world. Councilors and Politicians were near the top, followed closely by Science and Warrior class. Constructor, Administrative and the other Service classes were near the bottom. It had not always been so. Many millennia ago, before technology, the ability to work with ones hands, was honored for its traditions and Science had been much smaller. Warrior class, however, was revered above all others. Warriors were the protectors of all Mari-Ursians and other species everywhere. They were trained to give all they had to battle, and if necessary, sacrifice themselves for the lives of others. But then, there had been numerous wars and conflicts throughout the known Universe. Countless species needed protecting from other factions wishing to exploit their resources. The Great Edicts and Treaties had been designed to do away with such need for War, allowing Science and Exploration to blossom in its place. There were still wars to fight, but the Council had done much to eliminate much of the costly effects of those Wars, and many species had flourished under their direction. The accolades the Council now enjoyed were very much deserved, but Mattaki believed, as his mother and father had taught him, everyone was vital to their planet. Though many would deny it, Mattaki knew his was not a popular opinion.
Susuda jerked his chin towards Mattaki in greeting, cutting off the conversation he had been having with the Constructor abruptly. The Constructor regarded Mattaki for a long pause before jerking his own chin up in greeting and ambling away. "Do all Constructors hate Warrior class, or is it just me they hate," Mattaki asked.
"It is just you," Susuda quipped, throwing a bag of tools over his shoulder and tossing another to Mattaki.
"At last some humor from you. I was beginning to think you incapable."
"It was no humor," Susuda responded quickly. Mattaki could not help but snort at the response. "We will be inspecting the ventilation system today," Susuda continued. "I have added a map to your communicator. Try not to get too lost, I do not wish to be confined by the council for letting the golden one hurt himself." Susuda turned on his heel and began walking briskly away. "Come, keep up," he commanded and continued.
"You seem to enjoy giving orders," Mattaki mentione
d, throwing his bag of tools over his own shoulder.
"Probably the only orders you will ever have to take, so perhaps I should enjoy them."
"What makes you think that? Because my father is the High Commander? You do not know my father very well. He will make sure I follow more orders than any other Warrior."
Susuda snorted derisively.
"You do not believe me? Perhaps you should ask him when he is here next," Mattaki joked.
Susuda stopped walking and turned slowly, deliberately to face Mattaki. Mattaki was much taller and more muscular than Susuda, as was a characteristic of most Warriors. Susuda, for his part, was leaner with sinewy muscles and sharp facial features betraying the look of Constructor class. Despite his seemingly demur size, what Susuda lacked in physical presence, he more than made up for in speed, agility and endurance. Mattaki had seen for himself many times during their training at the Academy, a larger Warrior being bested by underestimating Susuda in combat. "You think I should just address the High Commander. To ask him if he is more demanding of his progeny than other Warriors. You think, if I, a lowly born Constructor class, ever have the opportunity to address the High Commander, I should waste that opportunity on such a trivial question? You see 'brethren' that is what separates you and me. I do not have the luxury of being flippant with my time."
