The Third Craft

by James Harris

  “Beings have no will. They are not cognitive, but they are intuitive. They are not alive, nor are they dead because death implies having lived once, which they haven’t. They have existed always and have existed as organic finite creatures many, many times. Humans are their organic side. Once the Being is aware of the physical transitioning of the mind, it travels with the crypt-orb and reunites inside a new body. Immediately after transitioning, we ensure that the original body is vaporized. There is no returning to it. The Being can’t reunite with ashes.”

  Kor asked for more information about the new body he was about to transition to on the foreign planet.

  “As scout ships, your job is to report back to us when you successfully land and assimilate with the native population. We doubt whether there will be enough time for your scout ships to do this before our planet is destroyed. The plan is for the rest of us to evacuate after we have built several starships. We will transition the evacuees into crypt-orbs and set forth on a preset course following your three scout ships. We are certain there are a number of solar systems that contain at least one planet populated by humans who are sufficiently evolved. They are our target planets. The most important element is the safe and unobtrusive assimilation with the host humans on their planet.”

  “But no one knows if this will work, do they?”

  “Truthfully, we have had mixed success when assimilating with other humans. There have been setbacks and side effects.”

  “Such as?”

  “Insanity is the most common result of assimilation. The process works fine, mechanically. The part that seems to break down is the mental health of the subject. Consider two scenarios: One, the receiving subject is briefed and trained beforehand on how to accept the assimilation. This subject is a volunteer. In such a case we’d have a 10 percent estimated failure rate. Or two, the receiving subject is unaware of the assimilation beforehand and is not a volunteer. In this case we’d have a 20 percent expected failure rate.”

  “What constitutes ‘failure’? How bad is it?”

  “The subject almost immediately becomes disoriented and goes into convulsions, clawing at their eyes and throat. They make horrific gestures and sounds. In the end they almost always turn inward into themselves, simply curling up and waiting to die.”

  “Any clues on what causes this insanity?”

  “Yes, we have made encouraging progress lately. The root cause is two minds and their egos sharing space in one skull. Conversely, Beings sharing the same or similar space are easily accommodated in that plane of existence. There’s no evidence of conflict among Beings. That’s no surprise. Conflict is a manifestation of the human ego.”

  “Does the Being try to move away or escape when another Being joins their immediate proximity? In other words when the other new Being comes too close after two humans assimilate?”

  “No. Closeness, resentment of space, crowding, the sense of ‘mine’ are all manifestations of the mind’s protective ego.”

  “Does the Being flee when it encounters insanity?”

  “Sometimes. Most times not. Insanity is a relative term for humans. Hard to say who is sane and who isn’t. I get the sense that our Beings treat us with kindness and yet, at the same time, with an indifference. Beings love their human bodies intensely but are not overwhelmed when it expires. All biological bodies expire in a short period of time. Our Beings move on to the next, then the next, and so on.”

  “Will I go insane? I mean when I transition with another human. Is this what troubles my father?”

  “It is a concern, of course. Your father is more afraid that you will somehow miss the target and drift forever in space. He would miss you immensely.”

  “And I him, Asunda. I don’t wish to end up as some derelict spirit in the empty black coldness of space for all eternity.”

  “Rest assured that will not happen.”

  “So what’s the plan?”

  “We know that the universe is moving outward from a central point in time and space. If we journey back toward that central point, we are certain we will encounter planets like our own that are inhabited by humans. These planets will be considerably younger than ours and the humans that inhabit them will have experienced a far shorter evolutionary process. In relation to us, they will likely be extraordinarily primitive, making them prime candidates for assimilation.”

  “Why travel backward? Why not travel outward toward planets even older than ours? Think of what we could become through assimilation.”

  “First, we wouldn’t be able to travel far enough, or fast enough, relative to our position in space right now because of the velocity of all matter thrusting outward from the center of the universe. The outer limits of the universe are expanding even faster than the inner galaxies. Our spaceships couldn’t hope to travel far enough to encounter another human population. We’d be caught up in the outward flow and would only travel a relatively short distance toward our destination system. Second, we most likely would not be permitted to assimilate with their population. We would probably be evolutionarily backward compared to them. We could be repulsed and doomed to live in limbo.”

  “I get it: So if we travel back toward the core, we travel against the stream of the expansion of the universe. It’s like swimming upstream.”

  “Exactly. Thus, in relative terms, we travel faster and encounter a planet that is younger than ours far more quickly than would otherwise be possible.”

  “We travel back. Back to a planet populated with humans like ourselves but not as evolved?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  “Why is it that we are searching for other humans? Surely there are other intelligent species.”

  “Because, after hundreds of centuries of searching, we have found no other intelligent species in the entire explored universe. Nor have we found any new species of any living thing that could not be genetically coded back to our previously discovered genetic history here on Sargon. Every single-celled amoeba right through to multi-celled animal and plant life that we have recovered from distant planets and moons could be matched here on Sargon.”

  “That’s inconceivable. Each planet, star, and moon is a unique and separate entity. They are huge distances apart. How could they have the same genetic code?”

  “You’re assuming different origins for the stars and planets. That thinking is inherently flawed. All matter in this dimension has an identical origin. All matter and anti-matter begins or began at the same point in time and space. The sameness of everything is evolutionarily guaranteed. Randomness included. The genetic code of all life was determined at the instant the universe was no longer void. All animals, vegetables, and minerals are predictable and consistent through the galaxies. Oxygen and hydrogen, usually found in combination as water, are the source of all life. Without these elements, rocks and planets in space would simply remain barren. Water is the source of organic life.”

  “Asunda, I took that pod also. I know how planets and suns are formed. What you are postulating is that all life, since it has the same origin, must then have the same elemental schematic makeup.”

  “Logically, how could it not? Each creature, each plant has a recognizable genetic string, or encoding, similar to other life forms throughout the universe. Not only is the genetic combination surprisingly finite, mankind seems to be the species that will evolve ahead of all other species, no matter which planets it originates from. Not some intelligent lizard, but mankind.”

  “Then my mission to a new planet should be successful. There are bound to be several versions of Sargon out there someplace.”

  “Not as many as we first postulated. The challenge will be to select one where the human inhabitants are evolved enough for you to be able to form a cohesive society and yet not so evolved that they revolt against you.”

  “Stell leads one of the ships, does he not?”

  “That’s the plan.”

  “What a strange choice. You know he can’t be trusted. He’
ll fight me as soon as we transition on the target planet. It will be a mutiny, Asunda.”

  “Relax, it was your father’s express wish. I’m sure he has his reasons. There are three scout ships. You have the lead ship. Stell will command only one of them and will always be outnumbered. We will need his Gifts to adapt to the situation on the new planet. I’m convinced that, once you’re both transitioned, you two will join as one. You both will have the daunting task of paving the way for our future. There will be no time for fighting.”

  “We’ll see. Let’s see how Stell behaves at the summit on the moon Alpha.”

  CHAPTER26

  Asunda woke Kor with a gentle nudge. “We land in an hour. Are you up to a final review?”

  Kor yawned. “Of course.”

  Asunda went over some of the salient points of the upcoming meeting and the fine points of negotiation, especially with someone who knew Kor so well.

  “Stell is a royal with the Gift and as such has had the advantage of advanced learning and privilege. He trained with me and he continues his tutelage with an Abishot wizard. He is almost your equal. I’ve trained the two of you together, don’t forget.”

  “Not lately you haven’t.”

  “No, not lately. I’m aware that the House of Abishot has excellent trainers. I’m here to coach you. Before you argue, remember that Stell will have a coach, too. You must neutralize his advantage.”

  “I wasn’t going to argue! Well, maybe a little. Asunda, I can handle Stell. I’ve known him nearly all of my life.”

  “Yes, Kor, I know that you believe that. You are not Stell. You don’t think like him, nor do you act like him. You’re not capable of fully anticipating him because your point of reference is yourself. And therein lies your vulnerability. Since you can’t be him, it’s not possible to put yourself in his place in anticipation of his actions. You must understand that Stell will not play by the same rules as you. You need me in your corner.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Good. Take this and place it behind your left ear.” Asunda handed Kor a flat round piece of sticky material that resembled a flesh-toned bandage. It was about half an inch in diameter and thin as a sheet of paper. The center was raised slightly. It contained a bio-communication logic grid enabling one person to “talk” to another on a unique, dedicated frequency without any words being heard by those around.

  Kor took it and placed it behind his ear. He gave it a moment to connect to his brainwave pattern. It adhered to his skin perfectly, disappearing from sight.

 

  Kor jumped back holding both hands over his ears.

  Although neither had spoken, they had successfully communicated to each other using amplified brain waves channeled and transmitted by the Bio-Com patch. The patch had a buffer that scrambled the communications so that the ever-present computer monitors could not read the message or the intent in the sender’s brain pattern.

 

  “I understand,” he also said out loud.

  “Keep Bio-Com chatter down to a bare minimum. Stell’s councilor will probably assume that we are using the device, but she won’t know for certain. And the encrypted COM frequency code cannot be broken. Let’s practice until we land.”

  Several minutes later, the bridge hailed Asunda to prepare for landing. Asunda acquired the forward view screen and projected it on the wall of their tiny quarters. A large gray mottled moon loomed ahead.

  “Time to prepare for landing.”

  The pair entered the bridge and took their seats. The forward viewer had enlarged the picture of their target-landing zone. Directly ahead was an ancient derelict space trawler once used to haul precious minerals from Alpha to Sargon. It was a sorry sight; its fuselage was riddled with pockmarks where space debris had pummeled it over countless centuries. It lay where it had crashed those many years before. Its nose dug into the side of a small hill and its archaic thrusters twisted near the rear portion of the hull. Otherwise it was perfectly intact. Over time, the wreck had been used more and more as a neutral meeting spot for Sargon’s important conferences. There was a large meeting room on board the old craft, and many of the internal functions had been restored to operational levels. It had recently been equipped with an Aura Shield to protect the occupants from harmful solar radiation and heat.

  “The House of Abishot awaits our arrival,” the pilot said, observing the spaceship parked next to the trawler.

  “So it seems,” Asunda murmured.

  “May I remind both of you that radiation levels are on the rise,” the pilot said. “You are advised to establish a personal protective aura before leaving this craft. My crew has instructions to accompany you.”

  “You are to leave two men here as garrisons. The other two can come with us.”

  “Yes, Master Asunda.”

  The approach was smooth. The royal ship touched down gently a few feet from the entrance. A green aura was now visible shimmering about the trawler. The ship was secured and Kor, Asunda, the captain, and one crewmember disembarked from their craft. The clustered group was protected under a single collective aura as they walked from their craft to the entrance of the ancient trawler. They entered and shrugged off their protective shroud. The trawler’s shield would suffice.

  Asunda halted and hailed and connected with the trawler’s computer grid. The entire ship was equipped with monitoring devices linked to the on-board computer. The computer brain scanned their intentions and fed directions to Asunda’s eye screen. Seconds later, in his right eye monitor, Asunda saw that Stell and another person awaited them in the ship’s main meeting room. He led the small band of Narok toward the room.

  “Greetings, Stell,” Asunda said as he walked. Only he could see Stell glance up at the monitor screen to confirm the arrival of the group.

  “Master Asunda.”

  Stell’s voice echoed slightly in his head.

  “We welcome you.”

  “You brought the queen’s personal wizard as your councilor.”

  The other person smiled but didn’t look at the monitor. She spoke but her lips did not move. She, like Asunda, was connected to the ship’s main computer. “I see you, Asunda. I sensed your presence as you approached Alpha. I bid you welcome.”

  “Master Amonda, I see you also,” Asunda said. “As you are aware, we will be there momentarily. I look forward to seeing you again.” He asked the two crewmembers to wait outside the meeting room. Then he and Kor entered the room.

  Stell and Amonda were standing at a huge composite tablet table, waiting behind their high-backed black chairs. They placed their right hands across their chests in greeting. Kor and Asunda reciprocated the gesture. Asunda and Amonda smiled and nodded respectfully at each other. The two youth princes stared stonily at each other. Formal introductions (for the record) followed, and everyone took their seats at one end of the table. Designed to accommodate two hundred people, its expanse was somewhat unsettling.

 

 

  “I thank everyone for making this journey to Alpha,” Asunda said. “For security and climatic reasons, it was thought unsafe to meet on Sargon. This meeting will be brief. Surprisingly brief, considering the time that it took to travel here.”

  “We thank you, Master Asunda,” Amonda said. “Brevity is always appreciated.”

  Asunda smiled wryly. “Let’s begin with the latest news on the status of the planet. It is far worse than we had projected. The nova sun has corrupted communications and its radiation has begun to infiltrate our strongest protective shields.”

  “Ours also,” Amonda said.

  “The sun’s radiation is causing sy
stems and equipment failure. The radiation causes extreme molecular displacement. So far, there have been only a few cases of radiation sickness. Humans can expect their internal organs to be annihilated even by indirect exposure to the rays. Since our bio-shields are fractionally organic, they are corrupting at a molecular level. They are deteriorating on a daily basis. Our repair teams are dying in the field. Their sacrifice to mankind is honored.”

  Everyone murmured as if they were praying.

  “I assume that everyone is aware of and has been briefed about our plans to immediately launch three scout ships into space in order to find a suitable new home for the evacuees from this planet?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “The scouts are almost space ready and must launch as soon as possible upon our return. The evacuation of the population must not be far behind.”

  “This is years sooner than we had anticipated,” Amonda said. But was foretold, she thought.

  “True, Master Amonda. Our simulation models did not predict this disaster accurately. They used the average mean time and ignored the anomalies. Unfortunately, our star is deteriorating faster than normal. It is going super nova at ten times the average speed.”

  “Is immediate departure necessary?” Stell asked.

  “The three scout ships must leave upon our return. Crews are being readied as we speak.”

  “Three?” Stell said.

  “We can only muster three Alpha Class scout ships on such short notice, Prince Stell.”

  “Three? That’s it?”

  “These are scouts, advance exploratory spaceships. They don’t carry many evacuees. The War of the Houses has decimated our intermediate fleet. We were so busy fighting each other, we ignored the immediate peril of the sun’s collapse. We are now focusing on the galactic cruisers. They hold more people.”

  “Surely we can build intermediate range cruisers.”