The Anzu: Alec

by Mary S. Sheppard

  Alec could sense the disappointment in the others.

  “Sir, would you like us to brief the next team on what we found?” asked Denabulus.

  “No. I will let them know what they need to know,” said the captain.

  Chapter 8: Alive or not

  The composition of all four planets in the system was similar and they each had aluminum as a major component so the planets were called Alumina 1, 2, 3 and 4.

  The name was temporary, as the Interspecies Galactic Designation Convention would designate their actual name at a later date. They would decide on a name as long as no life was found on the planet. If there was something alive, they would ask it for a name first.

  Only Alumina 2 was to be visited again. None of the other planets had anything as interesting or possibly alive. Rumors were flying about what had been found, but the next team was sent down before they heard too much.

  “All they were told is that the rocks have electric properties and that they should be careful,” said Tania.

  Alec had met her on his way to work the next morning.

  “The electric property part is kind of true,” said Alec.

  “Yes, but if they try to take a sample of the black rock, it may not be as forgiving as it was with us.” She was obviously in the ‘rocks are alive’ camp.

  “But, that would mean that the rocks have a memory of the previous time,” pointed out Alec.

  “Who knows? If they did, it would good for science, but not so good for the scientists taking the sample. I’m not sure they should take that risk.”

  “Yes. I see your point.”

  “Alec, I want to ask you some questions about what you saw down there, but I know you are on your way to work. Can we talk later?”

  “Sure.”

  “Let’s meet at the bar. I think most humans like it there?”

  Most of the humans did, but he had rarely seen Thesbes in the bar. She was doing it so he would comfortable. “No. Let’s meet in conference room C45.”

  “All right,” said Tania.

  “Sit down,” said Chief as Alec walked into his office that afternoon.

  Cate was already there, waiting. She nodded in his direction as he came in. “How was you trip to the surface?”

  “It was fantastic,” said Alec. “How was yours?”

  “Not as interesting as yours, from what I’ve heard. You found life?”

  “We aren’t sure it is life. Another team has been sent down to get a different viewpoint.”

  “What do you think?”

  “It looked pretty lively to me.”

  “As interesting as this is,” interrupted Chief. “We have discovered something about the life liquid and I wanted you to know about it right away.”

  It didn’t sound like good news and Alec sat down. “What is it?”

  “Other ships have also been affected in the same way.”

  That was not unexpected, thought Alec, as he waited to hear the rest.

  “All the infected ships are cross referencing all factors to try to determine what could have caused this and one thing stood out right away,” said Chief. “There are humans on board all those ships.”

  “Wait, sir, are the only ships infected the ones with humans onboard?” asked Alec.

  “Yes. Only the ones with humans,” he said deliberately.

  “How many ships is that?” asked Cate.

  “Four ships have humans crews,” said Chief.

  It was still four. That number had not changed since Alec had first been assigned, but he just had to make sure “So none of the other ships have a problem?”

  “That is correct. Of course we are continuing to look at all factors, but many suspect you are the reason for the life liquid problem. I’m afraid you might start to feel some repercussions.”

  “I don’t understand,” said Cate.

  “I do,” said Alec. “We will be blamed for what is happening even if they don’t know for sure.”

  “But how can it be us?” asked Cate. “The only contact we have with the life liquid is when we put on the suits, and those are disinfected and I’m pretty sure they are not permeable.”

  “They are impermeable,” said Chief. “We don’t know how it is happening, but if humans are responsible in any way, we will have to…”

  “Take us back to Earth,” finished Alec.

  “Yes we would,” said Chief.

  They sat for a moment in silence.

  “What did you find from the sample we took yesterday?” asked Alec.

  “I believe you humans call it a fungus,” said Chief.

  Damn, thought Alec. A fungus could very well come from Earth. “Do you know what type of fungus?”

  “Not yet. You might find this amusing. It was a human onboard the Garuda that found it to be a fungus. She is working with the medical team on that ship.”

  Alec had visited the Garuda once before. All four ships that had humans as part of their crew had been named after Earth’s mythological birds. Most of the other species didn’t care about names and the Zandus were trying to be accommodating to the humans that liked to name things.

  The Garuda was a creature that was part human and part bird that exists in Indian mythology. It was so brilliantly colored it was mistaken for the god of fire. In Japan this creature was called Karura and that was the name of one of the other ships. The fourth ship was named the Benu after the Egyptian version of the Phoenix.

  The theme for fire breathing birds also applied to the Anzu as that was the name of an ancient Sumerian bird with the body of an eagle and the head of a lion that could breath water and fire. In the Sumerian stories the Anzu stole the Tablets of Destiny and that gave him godly powers over the mortal world.

  “How many humans in those ships do what we do here?” asked Cate.

  “You mean swim in the life liquid?” asked Chief.

  “Yes.”

  “Humans have been selected to change the filters on all these ships. You are much better at swimming and you fit better than others in the conduits. On the ships without humans, the Lolas do it, like they did here, before you came on board.”

  Maybe it was the swimming action that was causing the fungus, thought Alec grasping at straws. They had to figure this out.

  “Do you want us to continue to survey the other areas?” asked Cate.

  “No. We still need to see the condition on the other conduits, but it is too risky to have you do it. I am going to have X and Z do it.”

  “But they won’t fit,” stated Alec and then remembered to add, “Sir.”

  “I have made an organic extension to the recorder and Z will be able to record parts of the narrow conduit using that. Of course it will not cover the entire length, but it should give us a good idea of the condition of the conduit.”

  As they walked out of the office, Cate turned to Alec. “What do you think? Is there a way we could be responsible for what is happening?”

  “I don’t see how. The Lolas wore the same suits, and they had no issues. One thing I have noticed is that some are not too friendly towards humans and this might give them an excuse to make it tough on us.”

  “I think we can handle it.”

  “I am hoping we will.”

  Z did not seem happy about going in their place. “I think humans are not to blame for the fungus. Who ever said that is wrong,” he said.

  Z was sounding very pro-human, but it might have been because he would have to swim in the goop now.

  “Z, I agree with you,” said Chief, “but right now I don’t want to take any risks.”

  Z’s three eyes were scrunched into a scowl as he climbed down the hatch. He was carrying an extra light and the extended recorder.

  The Lolas were powerful beings and Z swam through the larger conduits quite easily, even with the additional weight. Alec and Hazel tracked his progress watching the recording. He stopped near the narrow conduit near the fans and extended the recorder.

  “What is t
hat?” asked Hazel.

  “I don’t know, it looks really dark,” said Alec. “Z, do you have the light on?”

  “I do Alec. The walls in the conduit look totally black.”

  Hazel gasped.

  The conduits near the fans were covered in black fungus.

  “This is very bad,” said Chief when saw it.

  “How soon before we run out of food?” asked Hazel.

  Without the life liquid, the converters would be useless. They would have to resort to stockpiling a wide variety of food to cover the requirements of all the species on board. Not only would it be a nightmare to keep things fresh and edible, in terms of warehousing and storage temperatures, but cooking all these items would also present a problem. The ship’s mission of space exploration was at risk.

  Chief didn’t answer Hazel’s question. “I am going to inform the captain of our findings.”

  In the meantime Z came back up the hatch and his scowl had been replaced by worry. He already knew what his findings meant. “By the way, the life liquid seems to feel thicker than before,” he said.

  “That is what I felt as well,” said Alec, “but I thought I was imagining things.

  “You weren’t,” said Chief, “the viscosity of the life liquid has changed.”

  The mood in Engineering was somber the rest of the day.

  “I can’t wait until quitting time,” said Cate. “I need to get a drink.”

  “We too,” said X, speaking for Z.

  Alec had noticed they were doing that more often.

  “How about you, Alec?” asked Jamez.

  “I will definitely go with you tonight,” he said. His days on the ship might be numbered.

  “Wow,” said X. “On one hand we have bad news about the life liquid, but on the other Alec is joining us to the bar.”

  “That does not offset it,” said Z. “It is still negative all around.”

  Chapter 9 – Internment

  Alec did not make it to the bar later. All the humans on the ship were rounded up and relocated to one area of the ship. The aliens tried to make it seem it was an ordinary event that could happen on occasionally, but it wasn’t.

  The ship was also heading back to Earth. It wasn’t that he had felt the ship change direction, one did not feel those types of movement on board, but Chief had informed them.

  “All the ships with human crews are heading back,” said Chief. “We think it is best that you stay on Earth for now. Please be clear that we are not blaming you for what has happened to the life liquid.”

  Yeah, it would be hard to blame humans for being humans, thought Alec.

  “But we cannot continue on our missions without the life liquid and until we clear that up, we are just being cautious,” said Chief. “You will not be required to do any more work and you will be placed together, in better quarters.”

  Alec tried to not smile at the alien’s description of being imprisoned.

  “Alec, you have been with us for close to one year and your dedication and work is to be applauded. I have written a commendation.”

  That wasn’t going to help with any job on Earth. On the contrary, there might be a lot of resentment towards the humans being returned as having messed it up for everyone else. Damn, he had loved working on board this beautiful ship.

  “If we resolve the liquid life problem, you would be invited to return, so look at this as a temporary situation,” finished Chief.

  Alec had a hard time believing it. Chief had never lied to him, but this is something humans would say when it was never going to happen. Alec stood up.

  “I don’t know how they can blame you and the others for the problems with the life liquid,” said Jamez.

  Alec thought it was funny he would say that. Jamez didn’t look so human anymore. He had changed to look like a cross between the Lolas and the humans, just like the other shape shifters.

  “How many days until we get to Earth?” asked Cate.

  “Eight days,” said Chief, “but first we are finishing investigating Alumina 2.”

  It should have taken sixteen days at medium speed, thought Alec, so they were going to go back at a much faster speed. They must be anxious to get rid of the humans.

  Hazel offered to show them their new quarters and they went to pick up their things, but there wasn’t much. Alec didn’t have too many personal items and Cate, in her tiny cabin, had even less, so soon they were on their way up the levels to the officer’s quarters. They went through a pair of large doors he had never noticed before and Hazel showed them to their new rooms.

  One thing was true; they had been upgraded. They might not have much to do for the next eight days, but they would do it comfortably.

  “These rooms are really nice,” said Hazel as she looked around.

  Alec agreed.

  “There is also an area where you can socialize.” She pointed to the officer’s lounge at the end of the hallway and Alec could see that people were there already.

  “Alec and Cate, I hope we resolve this mess quickly and we can work as before,” said Hazel.

  “I hope so too,” said Alec. “Hazel, I was supposed to meet with Tania at eighteen hundred, can you let her know?”

  “Tania?”

  All Thesbes went by one name and with only seven on board, everyone knew who they were. “Yes, Tania.”

  “She’ll know. The ship has been informed about the relocation. In fact one of these rooms was hers.”

  “Oh?” Alec had not known Tania was an officer.

  “Tania went down to Alumina 2 with you, didn’t she?”

  “Yes, that’s what we were meeting about. Has the team returned from there?”

  “No. I think they were still observing. Well,” she paused.

  She was probably deciding how to say goodbye tactfully, thought Alec. “We’ll see you soon,” he said.

  Hazel turned and went out the doors that led to the rest of the ship. They locked right behind her.

  “Come on, Alec, let’s go check the lounge,” said Cate.

  “Yeah.” He had to keep upbeat about this situation. As they walked in, he did a quick count; there were twenty-five humans. All were here.

  “Alec. It has been a while.”

  It was Jennifer. The Jennifer he tried to avoid by going to the bar in the late hours. “Hello Jennifer.”

  “Hi,” said Cate introducing herself. “I work with Alec.”

  “We have that in common then,” said Jennifer. “I too have ‘worked with Alec’ and we did have fun didn’t we?” She used her hands to show the quotes.

  A look of confusion passed over Cate’s face and then she looked away.

  Jennifer was wrong in assuming Cate had had sex with him. He had not, and the way things were going, he might not ever.

  With Jennifer, sex was not personal, it was just sex. She didn’t do it for money; it was just a biological urge. That is what she had led him to believe. Luckily he realized humans were still humans, even out in space, and he had ended it before it became anything. Alec did not like conflict and avoiding Jennifer was the way he handled that.

  “Gorgeous, let me introduce myself,” said George introducing himself. “I was thinking, now that you are no longer officer material, you might reconsider your options, especially since we’re heading back to Earth. You can hang out with a lowly engineer or with a pilot with a degree from one of the most...”

  Alec tuned George out. He had heard it all before and he remembered this was the second reason to avoid going to the bar early.

  “Thank you George, I think I will do fine by myself,” Cate smiled. “I think I’m going to go to back to the room, I am a bit tired.”

  “Wow, she sure showed both of you,” said Jennifer after Cate left. “I’m surprised you didn’t make your move earlier Alec.”

  She shouldn’t be surprised thought Alec. She didn’t know him. Suddenly he also felt tired, dreading the long, long eight days.

  He stayed in the lounge
a bit longer and after talking to several the people he went back to his room. He needed to figure out a way to fix things, so they could go back to where they were supposed to be.

  The doors to the officer cabins were special. You could leave them open, close them solid or close them transparent. The last option allowed one to see through them, but not to hear and this option was used when one had a meeting and didn’t want to disturb others. He left the door to his cabin open and Tania found him later.

  “Hi Alec, can we meet now?”

  “Yes, sir, I am quite available. Come in please.”

  “I’m sorry you have been relocated.”

  “I’m sorry you were relocated as well, sir.”

  She sat down. “Tell me exactly what you saw and please don’t call me sir. Most Thesbes prefer to be called by their names. It’s easy since we only have one name.”

  He told her about seeing the crystalline structure in the sedimentary rock.

  “And while you were looking at the crystal, it moved?”

  Alec didn’t say anything.

  “The team that was sent to the planet has returned and although they spent hours observing the crystalline structure, it did not move.”

  “I touched it.”

  “You touched the crystal with your glove and it moved?”

  Thesbes have a unique property, which helps the gentle species survive. They are natural lie detectors. Hazel had told him that they could see the aura around many species and that they could interpret the colors they saw as the truth or lies. In any case, he wasn’t planning on lying.

  “I took my glove off and touched the crystal with my hand. I know I shouldn’t have, but something about the surface and the striations underneath made me feel like touching it. Also, we knew there was nothing alive on the surface, so I didn’t think it was dangerous.”

  “Our monitors were not calibrated for this type of life form. They are now,” said Tania. “Well another team is going down and I will tell them what you said.”

  Alec nodded and remembered to say yes.

  She stood up and as she was leaving she turned to him. “Alec, have you ever touched the life liquid without your suit?”

  “No,” said Alec surprised she could even think that.

  She studied him for a moment and then said, “Good.” She turned and left.

  Damn, was that what everyone was thinking? That he or some other human had contaminated the life liquid? Actually it was strange no one had asked him that question before.