She nodded, then turned to the console, retrieving a palm-sized computer from its slot, and then undid her harness. The captain also undid his harness. He looked back at the life support station and the sensors. “Dr. Nagamine, you're in command here. Dr. Garcia, I think you should accompany us."
Dr. Garcia undid his harness and pushed himself off, following the captain, Freeman, and Myra into the corridor. The four drifted to the ladder and climbed up to just below the shuttle bay. The captain reached out and turned on the intercom. “Are they aboard yet?"
"A ship just entered the shuttle bay and turned off its thrusters,” reported Nagamine from C-and-C.
"Close the door and re-pressurize the shuttle bay,” ordered the captain. Freeman watched the display next to them. Once the bay was pressurized, she opened the door and they drifted up through the hatch.
In the shuttle bay, a silver, egg-shaped craft sat on the deck, perched on three thin legs. It occurred to Jefferson it was identical to the photo from the disk they'd found on Mars. The door opened and a seven-foot tall creature in a silver flight suit drifted out. Like the creature from the Martian disk photos, it had orange skin and black eyes. Over its mouth was a purple mustache-like growth. The mustache wiggled of its own accord as though each ‘hair’ was alive. In its large hands, it held a device similar to the palm-computer Myra held. It typed some commands into the computer and a series of beeps emerged.
A set of words typed out on Myra's computer:
"I am [undecipherable] [uncertain: possibly leader]. Greetings."
"Can you tell it I'm Captain Jefferson of the Aristarchus. Welcome him—I guess it's a him—aboard."
"I'll do my best.” Myra typed the phrase, “Our leader welcomes you” on the computer and a series of tones sounded from her own palm-computer. More tones issued from the alien's computer.
The phrase “Please speak to one another” appeared on Myra's palm-computer.
"What's he mean?” asked Freeman. “We just need to stand around talking to one another?"
"I guess so,” said Myra. The alien typed something on his computer as they spoke. “I wonder if he has some kind of translation program on that computer."
"It's possible,” said Jefferson. “Do you suppose he's one of the keepers of the rings?"
"No,” came a voice from the alien's computer, startling the humans. “I am not keeper of rings. I am Rd'dyggian. Thank you for speaking. It has helped me to calibrate my translation program."
Jefferson looked up at the alien. “Red Dychian?” he asked, trying to get his mouth around the word. “We are humans, from Earth, the third planet of the sun."
"We know.” The alien captain spoke softly to his computer and it translated for him. “Earth is protectorate world of the Confederation. We acted to protect."
"Confederation?” asked the captain. “What confederation?"
"The Confederation of Homeworlds,” explained the alien. “My name is Alepex. How may I serve you?"
"I don't even know where to begin,” said Jefferson. His hand trembled. He wasn't sure whether it was from excitement, fear, or just adrenaline.
"Thank you for saving our ship.” Freeman pushed herself forward. “Is it possible for you to help us with repairs?"
"It is possible,” said Alepex. “Or we can return you to Earth. Whatever is best for you."
Another creature appeared in the doorway of the alien craft. It leaned down and spoke to Alepex. Jefferson and Freeman looked at Myra who had backed away slightly, putting a little distance between herself and the newcomers. She shrugged. “I have no idea what they're saying. They're not speaking in the binary language."
"They say they're not the keepers of the rings,” said Freeman. “That must mean the binary language actually belongs to someone else."
Myra nodded. “That makes sense. Perhaps the binary language is some kind of generic language used by a number of species in this confederation Alepex is talking about."
Alepex looked up at the humans. “We have been summoned to the world you call Titan by the keepers. They request a delegation from your ship accompany us."
Jefferson looked at Freeman. “Of the two of us, you're the diplomat. Take Myra and Dr. Garcia and go down to Titan."
Freeman shook her head. “You're the captain. You should go down."
Jefferson smiled. “Thanks, but I'm the captain of the ship. My place is here. You go down with them. Take a camera and send back lots of pictures."
She grinned at that. “Very well.” Then she looked up at Alepex. “Captain, do we need to bring survival gear?"
"No,” said the alien captain. “Our atmosphere and yours are similar enough. Come now, we must not keep the keepers waiting."
Myra hesitated a moment, then pushed herself off the back wall, holding up her palm computer. “I'll get some pictures for you."
Freeman, Myra, and Dr. Garcia followed the alien captain into the shuttle. Jefferson watched the door close behind them. With some regret, he turned and climbed down the ladder, sealing the hatch behind him. He turned on the intercom. “Dr. Nagamine, depressurize the shuttle bay and open the door. Our guests are departing."
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Chapter 23
The Keepers of the Rings
Aboard the alien shuttle, Natalie, Myra, and Garcia found chairs much like those aboard the human shuttles. However, as they sat down, the fabric of the chairs seemed to morph around their bodies, holding them to the seats. Dr. Garcia let out a yelp of surprise. Natalie reached over and put her hand on his shoulder, reassuring him. There were only two of the aliens aboard the shuttle—Captain Alepex and his lieutenant. Through the windows of the shuttle, they saw Jefferson leave the bay. After a few minutes, the shuttle bay opened. The aliens worked the controls in front of them and the shuttle departed.
Once outside the ship, they saw just how bad the damage to Aristarchus actually was. It no longer looked like a pristine metal flower. If it looked like a child's pinwheel at all, it was one that had been out in a hurricane and was now ready for the trash. The sails were broken, bent, and torqued, all at different angles. The central sphere was burned and pitted. Natalie Freeman caught her breath. She knew it would be bad, but for the first time, realization dawned on her just how close they had come to dying.
The shuttle turned away from the planet and made its way toward Saturn's largest moon, Titan. At a distance, the reddish yellow world looked like Mars. As they came nearer, it became apparent the world was vastly different. Its color came from clouds, not from barren ground. The shuttle smoothly entered the atmosphere and dove below the clouds. The terrain made Natalie think of a mix of West Virginia and Arizona. She saw smooth, rolling hills with lakes here and there. However, there was no vegetation on the hills, they were as barren as the hills of Mars.
Myra leaned over toward Natalie. “You'd think that as far from the sun as we are, there wouldn't be liquid water out here."
"I don't think that's liquid water,” said Natalie. “I've been reading up on Titan. Those are lakes of liquid methane."
Myra swallowed hard. “I take it you wouldn't recommend stepping outside without a jacket, then."
The shuttle approached a rise. As it cleared the hilltop, they could see silver domes stretched across the plains to the horizon. Countless vehicles moved between the domes. Natalie tried to count the number of shuttles lifting from the domes into space over the course of a minute. She lost count somewhere after twenty.
"This is a busy place,” said Natalie, astonished.
"It should be,” said Alepex. “It is the capital of the known galaxy."
Natalie's jaw dropped, Myra gasped, and Dr. Garcia shook his head. “That's impossible,” he said. “If there had been intelligent life on Titan, we would have known about it. We may be the first humans to have come this far, but we've had probes out here for over a century."
"You are but primitives,” said Alepex. “It is easy for ones such as the keepers of the rin
gs to hide themselves from you, just as you might hide yourselves from animals in the forests of your planet."
The shuttle approached one of the domes. The top of the dome irised open and the shuttle dropped inside and landed on a platform. Alepex opened the shuttle's door and stepped outside. The chairs released Natalie, Myra, and the doctor. They stood and followed the Rd'dyggians.
"Gah,” said Natalie as she stepped up to the door. “What is that smell?"
"Sulfur, if I'm not mistaken.” Myra wrinkled her nose.
"And ammonia,” said Dr. Garcia. He looked up at Alepex. “Are you sure this atmosphere is breathable?"
"Similar nitrogen oxygen content as your world,” said the seven-foot tall creature. “However, we adjusted the atmosphere of our shuttle to match your world. Here in our dome, the atmosphere is much closer to that of our world."
"Doesn't sound like a pleasant place to visit,” said Garcia. “At least to us humans."
"It is lovely,” said Alepex. “Many more colors than you have on your world. We even have a ring around the world much like the planet you call Saturn."
With that, Alepex led the humans through a set of twisting, turning, silver corridors. Natalie was reminded of the Pentagon on Earth and mentally kept track of their route. Of course, she reminded herself, she was now at the mercy of Alepex. Even if they returned to the Aristarchus, there was no way the ship would be able to make it back to Earth on its own.
Alepex showed the humans to a window that looked out on the surface of Titan. Wan, reddish light illuminated a mechanical contrivance. Natalie lifted her eyebrows as she recognized the object. “That's the Huygens probe!” Fiber optic lines ran to the cameras and sensors on the primitive craft that had landed on Titan in 2005.
"Yes, it is a probe from your world,” said Alepex. “It was intercepted and fed images of the primitive parts of Titan. As I explained earlier, it is easy for ones such as the keepers to hide themselves from ones such as you.” He led them further down the corridor and into a room.
Myra stopped cold and Natalie sidestepped to avoid running into her. She looked up and saw what caused Myra to stop so suddenly. A creature stood in the center of the room. It was quiet and looked like a five-foot tall Teddy Bear. It turned and faced the group. “Welcome, Alepex,” said the creature in greeting. As it spoke, it revealed frightening, serrated teeth. Myra and Garcia each took a step backward.
As the creature spoke, it flickered slightly. “It's a hologram,” said Myra as wonder apparently overcame fear.
"This is Rodasa of Titan,” said Alepex. “She is the protector of your world. What you might call a game warden."
"Indeed.” Rodasa turned to Myra. “Dr. Lee is correct that the image you see is a hologram. However, rest assured that I am very much real. You see, I am a native of this world and breathe its air. Your atmosphere is toxic to me.” She turned toward Alepex. “Alepex of Rd'dyggia, you know the fines for interfering with creatures from protectorate worlds."
"I am aware, my lady.” Alepex gave a slight bow at the waist. “However, I could not stand by and watch these creatures die."
"They are primitives,” said Rodasa. “Their ship was failing because they began fighting among themselves. They are not ready to know about us yet."
"They are much like the Rd'dyggians,” said Alepex. “They have nearly the same technology as we did when you contacted us."
"Yes,” said Rodasa slowly. “They are warriors and imperialists just as you Rd'dyggians. I can understand why you'd have a fondness for them.” She snorted. “You were not ready for contact with us. They are even more primitive ... even less ready for contact."
Natalie stepped forward and imitated Alepex's bow. “Ma'am, I respectfully submit, we've already made contact. We live in the same solar system. We'd like to pursue relations between our worlds. Perhaps we can discuss trade or—"
Rodasa raised a clawed paw. “You have nothing we want,” she said. “You should have died in the atmosphere of Saturn. You should not be here."
Myra raised her hands to her chest, her eyes going wide. “You're not going to kill us, are you?"
Rodasa turned to face Myra. The black button-like eyes seemed as though they could bore a hole through the biologist. “Unlike you, we are not primitives.” She then faced Alepex. “We will allow Alepex to return you to your world.” Then she turned to face Natalie. “Now that you know about us, we are certain you will return in due course. Let us hope that in that time, you can become a bit less primitive."
"Thank you.” Natalie made a diplomatic bow and then took a deep breath. Though she, like Jefferson, was angry at Pilot for his actions, taking over the Aristarchus, she knew she could not come all the way to Titan without asking a question. “There is one among our people who sought particles we call chronotons. Your world is surrounded by the particles."
"Yes,” said Rodasa, slowly. The air next to her shimmered for a moment and the three humans gasped as Pilot materialized next to her. He stood, wide eyed looking from side to side. “Thomas Quinn, the architect of this voyage,” announced Rodasa.
Dr. Garcia reached out to touch Pilot, only to discover he was as insubstantial as the Titan—a hologram. “This is amazing,” said Pilot, looking at Garcia. “I was in my quarters and they dissolved around me and now it's as though I'm standing right here, with you.” He took a step forward and crashed into something. Natalie thought she saw the brief outline of a chair.
"I suggest you stand in one place,” said Rodasa. “What you are seeing is holography. You are still in your quarters aboard Aristarchus."
"What is this place?"
"This is the Rd'dyggian dome on Titan.” Rodasa looked into Quinn's eyes and snarled. “Thomas Quinn, you have endangered your fellow humans on a greedy, foolish quest."
Pilot shook his head quickly and wrung his hands. “Not greed. I never sought to make a profit from the chronotons. I was curious about them. I wanted to study them."
"Chronotons, as you call them, are part of nature,” said Rodasa. “I believe you observed them on your own moon, where you already had facilities."
Pilot nodded and licked his lips. “But there were so few and they were transitory. I wanted more, so I could study them, learn about their properties."
Rodasa's massive head bobbed up and down. “And what is greed if not that? Your father's perhaps less greedy than you. When has he ever sought something without concern for his fellows?"
"His only concern is money!” snapped Pilot. “He only cared about me when I became Thomas Alonzo. I sought the chronotons to advance humankind."
"You sought the chronotons because they gave you an excuse to build the ship you wanted,” said Rodasa firmly. “You are a mere cub who undertook this adventure to seek glory in the eyes of your father."
Pilot hung his head. “I am no cub.” A note of bitterness was in his voice.
"From our perspective, your whole species are cubs,” said Rodasa. “Do not despair, though. All cubs grow up. Humans will, as well. There are more chronotons on your moon than you know. Capture a few and you will unlock more secrets. You will find soon enough that you will be able create them yourself. You do not need to collect them from our orbit."
"When you say ‘you,’ do you mean me personally or others like me?” Pilot's brow furrowed as his image shimmered and vanished, the question unanswered.
Rodasa turned back to Alepex. “We will contact you about fines. Now you may take the humans back to their world."
"Wait!” called Myra. “There's one thing I have to know.” The Titan swung its massive head around toward her and she recoiled. “If humans are too primitive to establish a relationship with the Titans, why are you talking to the whales of Earth?"
"The whales of Earth are more advanced than you,” said Rodasa, simply. Just as Myra was about to question further, she continued, “They do not build tools, but they compose poems and songs beyond compare. Their stories are among the most sought-after in the galaxy. It i
s from them that we know the ways of humans."
Myra's mouth fell open. “You know about us from ... the whales?"
"How can you expect to be citizens of the galaxy when you can't even speak to all of the people of your own planet?” Rodasa heaved a great bellowing harrumph. “You have much damage to repair in your relationship with the whales. I can think of no one better equipped to start that work. That too is part of growing up.” She looked at Alepex and inclined her head.
He bowed low in response and the hologram of Rodasa vanished. “It is time to go,” said the Rd'dyggian captain.
* * * *
Back aboard the Aristarchus, Myra, Natalie, and Dr. Garcia floated out of the Rd'dyggian shuttle followed by Alepex. Jonathan Jefferson and Neb O'Connell were in the shuttle bay. “We will tow you back to Earth,” explained Alepex. “Our ship can travel much faster than yours, but our analysis shows your ship won't handle the stresses of our cruising speed. Still, we should have you back on Earth within the month."
Jefferson nodded. “Thank you, Captain Alepex."
Alepex looked at Natalie. “Rodasa is right about one thing. Our two species are very much alike. We look forward to getting to know yours better,” came the voice from his translating computer.
"When we're a bit less primitive,” scoffed Dr. Garcia.
"Primitive, yes, but advancing quickly,” amended Alepex. “The keepers of the rings think they know everything. However, I have a feeling you humans may have something to teach the keepers before it's over.” He started to return to his shuttle, then turned. “I look forward to the day when humans and Rd'dyggians will be friends."
"I think we already are.” Natalie Freeman smiled.
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Epilogue
Looking to the Future
A few days later, as the Rd'dyggian ship towed the Aristarchus back to Earth, Myra Lee was sitting in C-and-C when Lisa Henry drifted through the hatch and pulled herself to the worktable next to the communications station and grabbed on.
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