by Eric Swanson
“Exploring space is one thing…” Hanani said with a sly smile. “But that wasn’t the mission they left Ceres with…”
Micah let that sneaky grin fade, sure that Hanani wouldn’t leave a mystery between them.
“I sent them to the stars, my friend, to find evidence of the Third World.”
As breathless as mentions of Earth had made Micah lately, the Queen just speaking the phrase “Third World” almost physically struck Micah. Throughout the mythology of the Ceran God, creation story and the Aspects, the Third World existed as a more fantastical element of their faith. The history of the Ceran people was intertwined with that of humanity’s and Earth itself. Seeding the human race on another world, stowed away across the stars for future use, the concept and knowledge was gifted to the Cerans by God. Care and stewardship of both planets and their “progeny” race were honored duties faithfully executed for thousands of years.
Three was an important number in the Ceran faith story: three distinct aspects of their God, three separate species (Cerans, humans and Hybrids) and some religious scholars interpreted mention of the “another land” in their creation story as proof of a third planet’s existence. Conventional interpretation called the “other land” the Afterlife and most theologians moved past the Third World idea. The idea that the Third World was an actual planet capable of supporting life was routinely laughed out of discussions in academic and mainstream theology circles.
“You’re a Thirder?!” Micah hoarsely asked. For the first time in a while, his hood’s presence made Micah glad; the Queen couldn’t see his bugging eyes. After hundreds of years of interstellar exploration (slowly paced exploration, due to the lack of faster than light travel) and less than a whisper of evidence that suggested the Third World existed, Thirds that hoped for it were ridiculed often.
“I have read documents few even know exist, Micah.” Queen Hanani spoke with steel-backed conviction. “I have studied with Ceres’s greatest theologians and many of them have privately come to believe what I support and fund publicly: The Third World exists and we’re meant to find it.”
“I hope you’re right, my Queen.” Micah bowed slightly again. One of the most prevalent theories about the Third World was that it would serve as a sanctuary for the Hybrid race, separate from the planet that exploited them and their former home that would surely reject them.
The Queen let a thin smile slip across her face and she nodded back.
“My Queen…” A white-clad Carer spoke softly from behind the Queen. The demure woman’s aged face and silver hair were contrasted by striking light purple eyes. Her eyes fell away from the Queen’s face as the Royal turned and the Carer gestured toward the thrones. “It’s time, your Highness.”
“The rest of this discussion seems destined for another time, my friend. Soon?”
“At your leisure, my Queen.” Micah bowed deeply as Hanani and her escort moved toward the thrones.
Dozens who had entered during Micah’s discussion with the Queen milled about the Court hall. Their commotion settled as Court observers and others made their way to seats. Queen Hanani sat in her throne, the other three empty for a moment. She smiled as Susa appeared with her group of Carers from the Royal entrance. The princess joined her mother in her throne with a warm nod.
“I believe we are ready to begin, Ryann.”
Rarely addressed by a Royal (even more rarely addressed by name), the Court caller paused in surprise for a beat. “Before Her Highness Queen Hanani and Her Highness Princess Susa, Court begins!”
“Our discussion with the explorers Pollai and Kaymar shall commence shortly. Does anyone have business to bring before the Crown before our celebrated wanderers join the Court?” Hanani asked, silence the only reply. “That being the case…” She nodded to Ryann.
“Long live King Artax, the Just!” Ryann gestured toward the two occupied thrones. “Long live Queen Hanani and Princess Susa! The explorers Pollai and Kaymar come before the court!”
A quiet murmur moved through the crowd of Court as Pollai and Kaymar made their way down the aisle to the stone lectern. Just before the large wooden door croaked shut at the rear of the room, a hand stopped it. Micah’s heart sank a bit each time he saw Sanballat and this instance was no different. The Courtier quietly made his late entrance and slid into an open space on the bench furthest from the lectern.
“My Queen and Princess!” Pollai said, arms spread wide, wild red hair jostled with his movement. “How well today has treated you, you are both radiant as ever.”
Kaymar shrunk a bit, as Pollai’s manner seemed to almost physically strike him. The reserved wanderer locked his eyes on the stone floor and waited for Queen Hanani to address him.
“Thank you, Pollai.” The Queen accepted his platitudes with a nod and pushed on. “During your last address of the Court, you spoke of the state of Earth. Its people sickened, protection the root of their undoing.”
“That’s right, your Grace.” Pollai drew a breath and seemed prepared to launch into a monologue.
“Pollai,” Queen Hanani said with a hand raised a bit. “I’d like to take our discussion in another direction.”
“Of course, Highness.” Pollai didn’t miss a beat. “We are yours to command.”
The Queen smiled and nodded curtly. “Thank you. I believe we know all that is necessary to know of Earth and its people. I’d like to know more about the true purpose for your expedition.”
“Ah.” Pollai flashed his entertainer’s grin once again. “Kaymar is more intimately familiar with our research on that topic, Highness.”
At the mention of his name, Kaymar lifted his head and grinned awkwardly at the Queen and Princess. His face then twisted into a strange grimace, traces of the smile remained and gave his visage a very odd appearance.
“Kaymar, Great Friend and Resource of the Pillar,” Susa spoke before the Queen. “Your gifts afford you a place of honor in this Court.”
Susa’s entry into the discussion surprised her mother but her daughter’s grace pleased the Queen. She gave Susa an affirmed nod.
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Kaymar straightened and took deep breaths before he spoke again. “It is critical that we begin this discussion with the fact which matters most to it…” In his pause, Kaymar looked down once more, shamed. “We did fail you.”
Pollai nervously laughed behind Kaymar and made a move toward his partner, intent upon retaking the spotlight. Kaymar sensed Pollai’s approach and held up a hand without turning back toward him. The rare display of resolve from Kaymar caught Pollai off-guard, but he stepped back all the same.
“Your Grace, my partner and I were sent to the stars with a single true mission: to find evidence of the Third World.”
A surprised clamor whispered through the Court crowd. Several of the Faith Council seated in the front row of benches near the thrones exchanged wide-eyed glances of deep concern. Boleen sat at the end of that same row, an assured smile directed toward the Queen. He nodded once and she nodded back.
Queen Hanani raised her hand and the whispers stopped like a breathless runner. After calm and quiet had retaken the room, the monarch gestured for Pollai to carry on.
“Of course, Highness.” Pollai waved his hand and blue black-lit displays lit up to both sides of the throne platform. A star map filled the screen, Ceran marked with a shaded gray arrow. The green, blue and grey cloud swirled marble began to spin and rotate. The display pulled out and Bet, the elder orange star of their planetary system took half the screen. Pollai spent almost as much time ensuring that his models were to scale as on the rest of the design. “As we ventured out of the Betan system, reading sweeps for star systems with possible habitable bodies began.”
“We also made use of the wonderful telescope Your Highness sent with us!” Kaymar offered, game-show host grin in full force.
“Indeed.” Pollai nodded. “The Elon-2 was entirely invaluable to us, my Queen. With it, we identified a planetary system previousl
y uncatalogued just after our furthest Betan outpost. The seven planets in this system appear to all be gas giants of varying size. Obviously, those do us little good.” The animation on the screen fell upon the third gas giant in the star system and zoomed until a handful of lunar bodies came into view. “These bodies, however, may…”
Pollai nearly twitched with excitement behind Kaymar. As Susa watched him lightly bounce, amusement got the best of her. She laughed for barely a moment but long enough for her collected and regal mother to turn to Susa. The look of silent admonishment vanished the moment Queen Hanani turned back toward the Court audience and Susa wondered if anyone but her had seen the expression.
Someone had, but Susa didn’t mind in the least.
Garreous stood at the back of the Court Hall and took into the proceedings. Intrigued by the Queen’s committed belief in the existence of the Third World, he resolved to quietly observe the discussion. In an effort to arrive unnoticed, he slipped into the Hall as the Caller announced Pollai and Kaymar.
The pair exchanged silent greetings from across the Hall. Susa raised her right eyebrow and Garreous returned the gesture. Since childhood, this back and forth served as a way to acknowledge one another in even the most public setting.
“We believe several of these moons may not only possess habitable atmospheres but meaningful amounts of water in all forms.”
“I see.” The Queen struggled to mask her disappointment. “Do you have reason to believe that anything you recorded may lead to our agreed-upon objective?”
“No.” Kaymar replied plainly, his gaze locked onto the Queen’s shining blue eyes. “Your Highness—”
“My Queen!” Pollai retook center stage without warning. “Certainly, my partner didn’t mean to speak so definitively…” Pollai shot Kaymar what was intended to be a withering stare but Kaymar’s eyes didn’t leave his Queen.
“I did.” Kaymar spoke quietly, but with conviction. “I meant it. We found nothing.”
“Thank you for your honesty, Kaymar…” Queen Hanani said with a respectful nod. She straightened and addressed the rest of the gathered Court. “I know that many in this room consider my pursuit of this objective somewhat unconventional. I believe, steadfastly, that the safest path for our society moving forward is one that takes us to the stars… A new hope and a younger sun.”
Silence fell over the Court.
In nearly any other setting, the mention of the Ceran home world being abandoned would have been met with a unique level and tenor of vitriol. Clearly, no one in the audience had any desire to scream “Heresy!” at their queen.
The Queen broke the quiet herself.
“Some in this room stood in the way of this mission.” The Queen, stone-faced, made eye contact with several members of the Faith Council before locking eyes with Sanballat in the back row. “…and its failure likely encouraged some.”
A dry chuckle came from Boleen’s left. Bright white hair and silver-blue eyes lent Namann a severe look but the High Priest of Va used his unique aesthetic to draw attention and unnerve some. Queen’s gaze fell upon Namann and his chuckle shifted to a dry cough, hand over lips. Namann’s eyes darted around the room for a moment before returning to the Queen’s withering stare.
“Who do we believe occupies this Third World?” The Queen asked.
“There are a number of theories, my Queen…” Pollai spoke without truly considering where his words might take the conversation. He verbally stumbled for a beat and Garreous leapt into the audible gap.
“The most commonly accepted interpretation of those chapters is that the Third World will be home to the next iteration of our people.” Garreous stood at the back of the hall and leaned against the rear wall for support. He only spoke out of turn because he’d been locked in a quiet juvenile staring contest with Susa for the last few moments and felt far more comfortable than he should have in Court. “So… No one occupies it, I suppose.”
“But that phrase… no one really knows what it means.” Susa said. She fell into the same social rhythm as Garreous, even in court and separated by almost a hundred feet of granite lined holy space.
“What do you think it means?” Garreous asked as he pushed himself off the wall. He walked toward the lectern, the Thrones and Susa.
“I’m not certain, Gar.” Susa replied. She paused in thought a moment. “But isn’t it possible that the Third World is simply how our Holy Scripts describe the afterlife?”
“You refer to the Shift, Highness.” Namaan stood then bowed slightly to Susa. “The point at which all of us become what we’re meant to.”
The core belief of those who followed Va was a near worship of change itself. To many outside the Vaan faith, the sect’s perspective on transformation bordered on madness.
Boleen shifted in his seat for a moment as a debate within him weighed the merits of upstaging Namaan. His gaze met the Queen’s and she gave him a quick nod. Boleen stood and the Court crowd murmured in surprise as Namaan drew back from his counterpart.
“But the training you and I received together taught something far more grounded about the Third World, Namaan.” Boleen smiled warmly at his former cohort.
His warmth and grin were not returned. A deadpan Namaan took a deep breath and replied.
“Our educators taught us much which held little value.”
“In this, I think they were probably pretty accurate.” Boleen said before he turned to face Susa. “Your Highness, conventional thinking in the faith community suggests that the Third World is a physical place on our plane of existence. We simply haven’t found it.”
Namaan rolled his eyes and let out a lengthy sigh. Boleen glanced in his direction but ignored Namaan’s frustration.
“Some disagree with conventional thinking by force of habit.” Boleen poked at Namaan but still smiled at the Queen and the Princess.
“Nothing we have seen in our travels suggests the existence of inhabited worlds or other races, Your Majesty.” Pollai said, less bombast in his voice. The explorer’s face suggested no emotion.
Disappointment fell over the Queen’s face for a beat before Kaymar spoke in a near whisper. He gestured to the black shining stone under his feet. “That would be much like saying that this single tile being unoccupied suggests no existence of extra-planetary life anywhere in the Pillar.”
Pollai started at Kaymar’s display of resolve but remained silent. Over the course of their travels, the explorer pair frequently debated the topic of extra-planetary life. Both argued with passion, detail and logic. Those animated discussions were a far cry from the subdued back-and-forth taking place in the Court Hall.
“The Ferengi Equation.” Pollai said, more exasperation on his face.
“Fereng.” The Queen and Pollai corrected Kaymar at the same time.
The Fereng equation used settled science as a basis for an educated guess at the number of civilizations that exist out in the starscape. The astronomer who developed the equation, Fereng, spent decades searching the skies for signs of life. After several interstellar journeys left Ceres and returned with little discovered which indicated intelligent life’s existence beyond Ceres and Earth, Fereng’s curiosity overtook him. He studied the appearance of Earth through long-range orbital telescopes and used the images and readings from that research to analyze other stars.
Adopters of the Fereng Equation pointed to the thousands upon thousands of likely worlds inhabited by intelligent civilizations as near certain evidence of the existence of alien life. Detractors pointed to Fereng’s lack of hard data and the reality that his equation was really a series of guesses based on a single data set (Earth).
“As I’ve said to my esteemed partner on many occasions, Your Highness, this equation is nothing more than a series of very educated guesses made by a genius.” Pollai said.
“Some of us choose not to dismiss the life’s work of a genius so readily.” Kaymar said. Conviction steeled him and gave his voice a bit more volume. He took a deep breath
and pressed forward, eyes locked onto his Queen. “Your Majesty, I believe that we are not alone in the universe. There are other civilizations awaiting us in the stars.”
A low conversational clamor spread across the Court Hall’s gallery.
“In theory,” Garreous began as he stepped through the small gate that separated the general seating area from the lectern. The dark wood squeaked a bit at the hinges as it swung shut. “Any civilizations from pre-agricultural all the way to pre-stellar would be exceptionally difficult to locate or identify due to a lack of energy signatures or emissions.”
Garreous stepped to the left of Pollai and the quiet Ceran nodded to him, a gesture of both respect and gratitude. Susa playfully jostled her head back and forth, lips curled in a small, tight smile. Another of their inside jokes, this was Susa’s way of poking fun at her gifted friend: ‘Look how smart I am!’, it meant.
“Our society has existed for millennia, Your Highness,” Sanballat stood as he spoke. He walked toward the gate and the lectern. “I find it a difficult concept to accept that we can’t find other races simply because all of them are still living in filthy hovels.”
A dry chuckle rose from the audience and Sanballat let a cocky grin slip across his lips as he made his way toward the Thrones.
“Pre-stellar societies hardly live in hovels, Sanballat.” Garreous said just as the Courtier pushed open the squeaking wooden gate.
“Indeed.” Sanballat joined what was now an unusually large gathering around the lectern. He nodded at Garreous with cool, dismissive eyes.
“Isn’t is also possible that some civilizations have come and gone, lived their entire lifecycle and either faded away or destroyed themselves?” Boleen asked. He looked to Garreous for a response. The young genius nodded before opening his mouth –
“Look at how many times the Humans have nearly obliterated their world.” Namann jumped into the narrow band of silence. “It’s just as likely other races on other mudballs like Earth couldn’t outrun the pace of change and died in a planetwide fire.”
“That’s dark.” Susa spoke plainly, a dry look of a surprise on her face. She started a bit at the realization that Namann’s proper title hadn’t been part of her reply. Royal or not, Susa owed the holy man the respect of his title. “High Priest.”
