by S A Pavli
There was a rush to leave the ship which accelerated as the word spread.
“Get out you bastards!” I shouted. And indeed something seemed to have happened. Eventually the military brass had understood what was happening and the order had gone out. The battleship came close and the landing crafts filled with retreating soldiers. Every ship was put into service to evacuate the ship.
I slumped back in my seat, relieved and at the same time surprised. What had persuaded the military? My Hianja friends were delighted and we all joined in a celebration, shaking hands and slapping each other on the back.
In the end, it was a close call. Everyone was evacuated, but some of the ships were not able to get far enough away when the Freylan blew. For a while, there was a new star in the heavens. The EDF battleship took some serious damage and there were casualties, but no deaths. The smaller ships were faster to get away and suffered minimal damage. All in all, it was a result!
Chapter 45
Some time later, when things had settled down and the Hianja delegation was touring Earth and establishing good relations, I got to talk again with Alfred.
“When you last called me Alfred, the Freylan was about to blow and kill hundreds of people. What did you do after you left me?”
“What makes you think I did anything?”
“Come on, spill the beans. The military suddenly got the wind up and evacuated. What changed?”
“A simple fact that no one had mentioned,” he replied.
“Go on Alfred. Stop playing with me.”
“I simply pointed out that at that moment in time, half the EDF was around the Freylan. If it blew, it wasn’t just going to kill the few hundred people on board. It would destroy half of Earth’s Defence Force.”
I leaned back and groaned in disbelief. We had all missed the obvious. Play on the military’s paranoia; they would obviously believe it could be a trap.
“Alfred, I confess, you are a genius. How the hell did you think of that?”
“I am trained in military tactics.” I laughed hilariously. I knew he was being cute; he had made the same response when we were on the run before, tongue in cheek of course, but it had become a standard joke between us.
“Alfred to the rescue again. What would we do without you mate?”
“Oh, you’d blunder around for a bit, but get it right eventually.”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll take that as a complement. Talk to you soon, and, very well done Alfred.
“Thank you. By the way Paul, something interesting has just come up.”
“I hate it when you say that Alfred. It’s always a presage of trouble.”
“Well, no trouble I think. Just something odd.”
“Go on. Although I think I’m going to regret it.”
“The Hyperspace comm centre on the far side of the moon has received an odd signal.”
“Odd, meaning?”
“Not belonging to any known source.” I sat up thoughtfully.
“Hianja perhaps?”
“Too weak. And coming from a completely different part of the sky.”
“Uh huh. Content?”
“A repeating digital signal. Four different digits repeated in groups of three. It runs for three thousand seven hundred and fifty six different patterns, then repeats itself.”
“Four digits in groups of three? Sounds like DNA?”
“Yes, well done. And it is a part of the Human genome.”
“Damn. Why would anyone transmit a known part of the Human genome over and over.”
“That is the mystery Paul.”
“From where is this coming?”
“From the Omega Centauri cluster.”
“Bloody hell! That’s 15000 light years away. What would they know about the Human genome?” And then I had this thought. It was bizarre and ridiculous, but as Sherlock Holmes said, if it fits, don’t mock it. Or words to that effect.
“Alfred, I have this idea.”
“I like your ideas Paul.”
“That’s why we are friends. My idea is this: what if this DNA sequence is one that we have in common with the Hianja?”
“In common with the Hianja?”
“Yes.”
“That would be an interesting thought.”
“Just a bit… Can you do it?”
“I do not have the Hianja DNA map, but I know someone who has.”
“Do it and let me know the outcome Alfred.”
Alfred disconnected and I spent a minute pondering what he had just told me. A message from the Omega Centauri cluster which was, if my memory serves me, about 150 light years in diameter, quite small by Galactic standard, with 10 million or so stars. And with a giant black hole in the centre. It was a mysterious object. Was it captured by our Galaxy, or did it evolve inside it? Neither Hianja nor Human had travelled there so what was the origin of the mysterious signal?
But this was the really scary bit: Was the DNA sequence one that both Human and Hianja had in common? I did not want to think about that until I knew the answer.
Manera and I had done our best to shun the limelight, but my apartment was constantly besieged by reporters. To avoid them, the SES had rented us an apartment overlooking the river at St Paul’s. It was sumptuous and roomy and superbly located for enjoying the sights of London, which Manera took full advantage of. I enjoyed showing her my home town, even doing some shopping with her. That must be the definition of love; being prepared to go shopping with your partner!
We could not avoid our official commitments, particularly Manera, who was after all a full member of the Hianja Delegation and had to play her part. Which meant she was often away from the apartment, staying with the other delegates. The old adage, it’s Wednesday so she must be in Australia, became sadly a truism.
She was away on the day I spoke to Alfred, but I was expecting her back that evening. I got a call from my school friends on the 3D and they berated me for not coming to see them. I promised them an evening with myself and Manera.
“Can’t believe you fooled us,” said Brian. He put on a funny high pitched voice. “Can’t quite make out her ethnicity!” he squeaked. This caused derisive laughter from the others.
“Don’t blame yourself Brian. You got closer to the truth than anyone else,” I said.
“Just make sure you bring her to see us before you go gallivanting off to some other bloody star right?” said Christine severely.
“Promise,” I agreed. “She likes you guys.”
We chatted a while more before signing off with a promise to meet up. It gave me a warm feeling to be with my old chums and I enjoyed it for a bit, with a chilled cocktail on the veranda. The view of the Thames was spectacular, with the beautiful dome of St Paul’s to my right and the curve of the river ahead. To my left, the thrusting skyscrapers of the City business area. Downriver I could see the spires of Tower Bridge, renovated and re-built a dozen times.
I felt, at that moment, a part of history. That is, history in the making. The great city of London had seen its share of history. Good, bad, happy and tragic, and today, I was as one with it.
“Cheers London. Keep right on going old girl.” The London traffic answered me with a cheerful muted hum.
My superiors had persuaded me to write an article for a national newspaper. They had promised it would be polished up by professionals, and I had reluctantly agreed.. I had been putting it off for a while and this seemed a good time.
A couple of hours later and I uploaded it to the appropriate department and freshened my cocktail. I had hardly taken my first sip when I heard my front door open. I leapt out of the chair and grinning broadly galloped to the entrance hall to find it full of people. Well, Hianja to be precise!
“I brought some friends darling,” said Manera, coming into my arms for a warm kiss.
“Disreputable looking lot,” I said with a grin. “Where did you find them.”
They were all there, Krusniet and Kemato, with Colrania and the tall lanky Ham
olatonen I greeted them all warmly and invited them in.
“They wanted to visit us,“ said Manera.
“Welcome to how the other half live,” I said, waving my arms at the sumptuous apartment, its broad picture windows and the magnificent view.
“Paul, is this your apartment?” asked Colrania, skipping from one corner to the other and dashing out to the veranda to admire the view. “I love it, everything is so quaint and old fashioned. Look, a real church!” She was pointing at St Paul‘s dome with delight.
I chuckled at her enthusiasm, whilst feeling slightly miffed that this, the most advanced and cosmopolitan city on Earth should be considered ‘quaint’.
“It is like a trip back in time,” said Kemato, giving me a charming smile. “Hian was like this ten thousand years ago.”
“And do you know,” said Krusniet. “I think we miss it. It has so much charm and character. This may provoke a revolution in architectural styles back home.”
I was trying hard not to feel like a native who had invited rich tourists to his humble home. I was sure they were not being patronising, that was not their style. What you saw was what you got with the Hianja.
“I love London too,” I said. “It has seen a lot of history.”
“Come, let’s allow Paul to make us some of his famous cocktails and we can enjoy the view from the veranda.” Manera shepherded our friends to the veranda and left them to admire the view.
“Did you miss me baby?” she whispered, giving me an intimate hug and warm kiss.
“Nah. Found my old black book and looked up some of my past girlfriends.” Sharp teeth almost took a chunk out of my neck. “Ouch, joking, only joking!”
“I have had a large number of offers,” she whispered confidentially. “Everyone wants to try out ….. Inter species sex. Men women, and other … indeterminate types.”
“What! Bastards.” I almost spilled the drinks in my agitation and she giggled uncontrollably.
“Your face!”
“Bloody hell, is this what it has come to? The greatest event in Human history will turn into starships full of sex tourists.”
“Cementing Human Hianja relations,” she said smiling.
“No, there is love and there is prurience,” I scowled.
“Darling. I was joking. I love you and have no interest in anyone else. Okay?”
I allowed her to reassure me of her love for a bit. It was very pleasant after all!
“Hoi you two, where’s those drinks? Anyone would think you haven’t seen each other for a year.” Hamolatonen’s commanding bass startled us back to the present.
“Coming up, coming up!”
We settled down on the veranda and made conversation. They talked about the different countries they had visited, their talks with politicians and dignitaries, and how they had been received. There was still some hostility, particularly from a small vociferous section of the media who twisted the facts to blame Hianja for the rogue Peacekeeper attacks. There was as well the usual crackpots and extremists. But it appeared that the responsible political forces and media understood the facts and appreciated the efforts that the Hianja forces had put in to neutralise the rogue Peacekeepers. The excitement of first contact and the prospects it opened up were too exciting to resist and Humanity was embracing it enthusiastically. I was so happy, I could cry!
Then I got the call from Alfred, and I remembered that other thing My heart thudded with anticipation.
“I’ll just take this call from Alfred,” I excused myself and went into the lounge.
“Alfred, what’s new partner?”
“Hello Paul. We have done the analysis of the DNA as you suggested.”
“Go on Alfred.” A thousand butterflies had invaded my innards and I shuddered in anticipation.
“That section of DNA is one that both Humans and Hianja have in common. It is what is called the third level DNA structure. The one that controls the external development of the body. The way we look in other words.”
“Dear God.” I muttered, unconsciously.
“I don’t think it’s God Paul. Unless he also prefers to communicate via HCD.” I snorted my amusement at Alfred’s inadvertent joke. Or was it inadvertent? Alfred seemed to be becoming more and more Human these days.
“Alfred, this is something that needs to be released to both Human and Hianja authorities. It’s big mate. Really big.”
“Yes I agree Paul. I will contact Admiral Crozier and proceed from there.”
I went back out to the veranda and sat down. My head was buzzing with the possibilities and I found myself toying with my drink, the conversation a background hum of voices.
“Paul, what did Alfred want? Are you alright? You seem distracted.” Manera leaned towards me solicitously.
“Oh yeah, fine, darling. No worries.” I paused for a moment for a lull in the conversation. “Listen everyone, something has come up.” There was an exchange of interested looks.
“Nothing bad I hope,” said Kemato, her beautiful face showing her concern.
“No, not bad. Just very interesting.”
“I like interesting,” she laughed. I smiled back.
“I was contacted by Alfred yesterday……,” I went on to describe our conversation from the previous day.
“A HCD message from Omega Centauri. That’s bizarre.” Hamolatonen scowled into his drink. “Is it possible that we have sent a probe there sometime in the past?”
“But why would it transmit just a DNA sequence?” asked Colrania. “Unless…”
I knew she had got it, and Manera followed suit immediately.
“Paul, is that what Alfred just told you?” she asked.
“Yes. It’s a DNA sequence that both Human and Hianja have in common. And this source in Omega Centauri knows about it.”
“And they have chosen now to tell us,” said Hamolatonen.
I stood up and went to the balcony. The sun had gone down and it was a clear night. I gazed into the night sky in the direction of the Omega Centauri globular cluster. I could not see it with the naked eye, but I knew roughly where it was.
“The conclusion is that our two species, have been the subjects of Genetic engineering. By whoever lives up there.” I pointed up into the night sky in the direction of Centauri. “We have to go and have a look. Don’t we?” I grinned at Manera.
Her azure eyes went from me to the sky and back again.
“Go and have a look?” she whispered. “Oh dear. Here we go again.”
THE END ?
Look out for the final instalment to the Space Scout trilogy:
SPACE SCOUT
The Makers
What will the expedition to Omega Centauri discover? Is it the home of the mysterious Makers? Who are they? How many other species throughout the Galaxy have they created? Why have they disappeared from the galaxy for thousands of years. And why have they sent this signal to the Solar system now?
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