The Celestial Minds (Spacetime Universe Book 2)

by J. Benjamin

  A ramp descended below the hatch.

  “You first,” Alex nudged.

  “Very well.” Though she played it cool, Edie still hadn’t gotten used to being the ‘first human’ in every new situation. Here she stood. Once again, she would be the first human to make contact with aliens, the first to cross the event horizon of a wormhole, the first to live among aliens, the first to meet aliens again, and now the first to step foot on another habitable world besides Earth. Edie never considered the Universal Crescent truly habitable, as it was really a world of partitions all being fed organic compounds by massive alien harvesters.

  But as Edie stepped onto the clay-like surface, it felt anything but habitable. There was no greenery as far as the unaided eye could see. There were no forms of obvious life, besides the ones with whom Edie arrived.

  She saw streaks of blue form beneath her feet. Agamemnon quickly went to work rooting themselves into the desert.

  “Is this soil?” Edie asked.

  “This planet has the organic compounds necessary for the building blocks of life,” Agamemnon telepathically replied. “Yes. This is soil.”

  “We’re breathing,” Alex said. “So there’s got to be water here somewhere. Or maybe ice?”

  “Where?” Edie wondered.

  “Looks Martian, but obviously isn’t Mars. Of course, if it is like Mars and there’s a ton of permafrost, it probably melted to a gaseous state, leaving enough oxygen for us to breathe.”

  “You were right the first time,” Agamemnon said. As they spoke, a holographic sphere emerged before them. It was a terrestrial world with a massive supercontinent, surrounded by a much larger ocean which consumed most of the surface area. “This is where we are.”

  “This?” Edie said. “This is a water world?”

  “When we emerged from subspace, we arrived much closer to the planet’s gravity than expected. You only saw the side with land on it,” Agamemnon explained.

  “Is there life in that ocean?” Alex asked. “Is there life anywhere here?”

  “Barely,” Agamemnon said. “What life exists on this world is bacterial. It exists in large quantities in the sea, in the air, and beneath your feet. Our presence here poses no threat to the pre-existing life. However, your existence very much depends on its survival.”

  “Because that bacteria are what’s breaking down the oxygen,” Alex said. “That’s how this planet is breathable, despite the lack of plant life.”

  As Alex spoke with Agamemnon, a swarm of workers emerged from the base of the Aquarian ship. Like every other time Edie saw them leave the hosts, they lifted themselves by their thin, stringy tentacles like it was effortless. The surface temperature here was much warmer and dryer than at the Krayasee or Universal Crescent, though. Edie was amazed they could survive outside their hosts in these conditions.

  Then she noticed why they left the ship. They approached the Hypernova, particularly the back-section where the terraforming engine sat anchored. The Aquarian workers propelled their appendages at the engine.

  “What the Hell are they doing?” Alex wondered as the workers’ tentacles dug into the edges of the round, A’biran invention. The humans heard a click and then the terraformation engine floated away from the Hypernova, held up by the workers.

  “I think that answers your question,” Edie said. She found herself impressed with the ease with which the workers lifted the heavy machine. They positioned the metal ball into the ground.

  “You are probably wondering why we removed the terraformation machine from your ship,” Agamemnon said.

  “This?” Alex inquired. “This is our new home?”

  “Yes,” Agamemnon said. “This planet will be yours. It is already breathable for humans. However, with this engine the process of biodiversity and seeding the planet with plant life native to your planet will rapidly accelerate.”

  “Incredible,” Edie said in amazement. “How long will it take to biodiversity this place?”

  “In human scale, a few decades,” Agamemnon said. “First, we must go to the nebula nearest this system to retrieve the gas minerals necessary to fully power this machine. Then we will be ready for the final phase.”

  “Ready for what final phase?” Alex asked.

  “To start the voyages for permanent residence,” Agamemnon said.

  The metal ball cracked open like an eggshell, revealing a magnificent, green crystalline structure. The crystals quickly brightened to a fluorescent glow. A blinding beam of green light fired into the sky above. Clouds quickly formed in the spot where the beam of light struck. Rain and thunder filled the sky faster than Edie could utter, “What in the unholy Hell?”

  Chapter 46

  New Tokyo - HAB 3 Common Area

  “A fucking energy wave,” Val said, still disbelieving the hologram.

  “Believe it,” Thomas said. They sat alone, facing each other at a table near the slow-moving water walls in the common area. “Look, it’s space. You know it better than anyone. It’s the wild west. It’s a nonstop roll of the dice.”

  “Yeah, but an energy wave? Really?” Val said. “It just doesn’t add up. The odds of such an event are rare.”

  “Not as rare as you think. We’ve had deep space drones come across such phenomena before. Solar winds, corona, the possibilities are endless,” Thomas said. “Besides, those old Pelicans from the thirties are crap compared to what we have today. It was a matter of time before one of the fleets got knocked down.”

  “It really sucks,” Val said. “I was so excited for Luyten. Every long-range spectrometer suggested Obama was the most earth-like planet of our neighbors.”

  “Even Kennedy?” Thomas quipped.

  “Kennedy was just an ice ball, but even that showed us what terrestrial planets are capable of. Obama is supposed to be warmer, and shows significant traces of nitrogen and oxygen,” Val explained. “Oh well, guess we’ll have to wait another forty or fifty years to find out.”

  “Cheers, to Luyten,” Thomas said, holding up a glass.

  “I don’t drink, remember?” Val replied.

  “Neither do I,” Thomas said, shaking his glass. “This is water.”

  “Oh.”

  “How do you think I’ve managed to avoid scandals my entire time in politics and the military?”

  “Okay, non-alcoholic cheers to Luyten.” She held up her glass of water and they clinked.

  “And you’re wrong by the way, about Luyten,” Thomas said. “The Earth governments can try their damnedest, but they’re not going to hold back interstellar jump technology forever. Before you know it, somebody, probably Dev Ivanov, will pull it off. Won’t be long till that somebody tries to one-up the Pelican fleets and beat them to their destinations. Luyten, Trappist, Alpha Centauri . . .”

  “Procyon, Capella, Tatooine,” Val finished his sentence.

  “Tatooine?” Thomas raised an eyebrow.

  “Oh come on,” Val teased. “You never watched Star Wars?”

  “Oh, I’ve seen all twelve of the canon films and every spin-off. But Tatooine? Good God, Val. You could have picked a thousand better choices than that. Might as well have chosen the Betelgeuse Nebula.”

  “Probably not a good idea,” Val said. “Ever since the supernova, it’s either a black hole by now or a giant irradiated death trap that would melt your flesh clean off your bones.”

  “Still beats Tatooine,” Thomas joked.

  “Fair point,” Val admitted. “To Betelgeuse,” she added.

  “To Betelgeuse,” Thomas replied. Once again, they toasted. “You know Val, I’m a bit disappointed that you’re leaving so soon.”

  “It’s time.”

  “I know,” Thomas acknowledged.

  “When Ty and I got here, we thought we were going to be political refugees, never to return to Earth again. Now that the dust has settled on that, I think it’s in Ty’s best interests to get away from Minerva.”

  “Yeah, I was meaning to ask about that,” Thomas said
. “How’s she doing?”

  “Honestly, this has been a very rough period for her. She’s seeing a therapist and is suffering from PTSD with episodes triggered by anything related to the Aquarians. It’s been very difficult to cope with what happened. Hell, it’s been difficult for me, and I didn’t have it half as bad.”

  “You did almost get your head blown off by a madman,” Thomas said.

  “True, but once I learned about what happened in the Research Bay, I think we got the much better end of the bargain.”

  “Indeed,” Thomas said. “So where will you go after here?”

  “I think we’re going to spend some time in Nairobi. Ty’s family is from there. After that, we’ll see. Might take up teaching,” Val said.

  “You could have any research or teaching position you want. Anywhere in the world,” Thomas said. “Have you considered the new United States?”

  Val felt slightly uncomfortable by the mention of a place whose government she knew Thomas held in contempt.

  “Haven’t considered it yet,” Val said. “I assume you’re wondering about my communications with the President.”

  “Val, you know how I feel about that man and what he did to the GSF,” Thomas said. “You know I think his entire government is a charade that won’t last. But I don’t doubt for a second that your discussions are in good faith. Even if I don’t agree with his stances on the GSF, I know you’re in it for the right reasons.”

  “Thank you.” Given the tensions and sensitivity of all that had transpired between the world leader and the now-former world-leader, she sought to stay above the fray. “Have you considered returning to Earth?” Val asked.

  “We’ll see,” Thomas said. “I agreed to help Minister Endo with the transition back to peaceful relations with the global governments. After that, I will probably do something in the private sector. That is, if anyone will hire a disgraced military leader.”

  “Come on Thomas, you’ll land on your feet. You always do.”

  “I appreciate the vote of confidence, Dr. Alessi.” He held up his glass for one more toast. “To the future.”

  “To the future,” Val repeated.

  Chapter 47

  Cosmineral Skunkworks Station - Saturn Orbit - April 14, 2083

  Three years of endless research, billions of credits poured down the drain, countless dead mercenaries, a union strike, an investigation, a temporary exile, and several cyber-attacks later, Dev Ivanov reached his greatest breakthrough. One week ago, his chief science officer confirmed a discovery so extraordinary that it made any destruction that Cosmineral had left in its wake worthwhile. Now he prepared to bask in the glow of their accomplishments. His accomplishment.

  He sat within a portioned-off section of the potato-shaped skunkworks station, behind a partition that would protect him, Sook, and Carlos.

  “Got the champagne ready?” Sook asked as she floated over to Dev.

  “Right here,” he said, pulling out a clear bag of yellow liquid. “And it’s not champagne. It’s actually Sauvignon Blanc. Not big on bubbles in zero-gravity. Gives me the biggest fucking headaches.”

  “Uh, are you sure that’s the right bag? That stuff looks pretty yellow,” Sook joked.

  “Very funny,” Dev said. “This is from New Zealand and given the shipping costs to get it all this way, could be one of the most expensive bags of wine in the galaxy.”

  “Whatever,” Sook said. “Quit your yapping and pour, pour, give.”

  “There’s no pouring involved,” Dev said. He unveiled another identical bag and handed it to Sook. “You drink straight up, so that it doesn’t get everywhere.”

  “Cheers bitch,” Sook said.

  “Cheers,” Dev replied. They touched their bags and enjoyed the white wine which had spent eight weeks on a skipper.

  “How we doing, Carlos?” Dev asked of his science engineer, his head buried in holograms.

  “Lasers charged to ninety-five percent. Reactor coolant working as expected. Trans-abyssal sequencers are stable. Everything looks good on our end,” Carlos said with confidence.

  “Glad to hear it,” Dev said. “Because after today, the three of us are going to be world famous. I mean, we’re already famous. I’m already famous.”

  “Looks like the wine is already kicking in,” Sook said.

  “I’m serious!” Dev said passionately. “This is so much bigger than anything Cosmineral has ever done. Forget space mining. This is fucking Christopher Columbus level shit. Except not genocidal colonial shit. But this right here is the shit people will remember in a thousand years.”

  “If you say so Dev,” Sook said. “First we have to actually make it happen.”

  “Should I make a speech?” Dev asked.

  “Ahem, I am the Chairwoman,” Sook said. “So I went ahead and took care of that. Everyone on the Herschel and Titan is already seeing it. Should arrive at Earth in an hour.”

  “You gave the speech?” Dev asked, completely flabbergasted.

  “Yeah, you have a problem with that?” Sook asked.

  “Nope!” Dev said, hands up in surrender. “Besides, they probably don’t want to see my tipsy, bloated face. What did you say?”

  “I kept it inspiring,” Sook said. “Wasn’t JFK’s ‘we choose to go to the moon’ but also not some boring corporate speech that you hear most CEOs give at a seminar in a two-star hotel. I talked about our common goals as a species. I explained how no matter where we are in the multiverse, or universe, that we’re all in this together. It was a theme of unity.”

  “Unity is always good,” Dev said. “Especially with a bunch of people who don’t want any unity with us.”

  “Exactly,” Sook winked.

  Carlos continued laboring at the holograms. Dev had many thoughts running through his head. Chief among them was just how uneventful the entire moment felt.

  When Dev had envisioned this moment, he expected they’d be on the bridge of the Herschel, with all the employees of Cosmineral watching together. He’d envisioned parties, and countdowns, and vivacious celebrations.

  The nonstop deluge of cyber-attacks from Earth made that vision an impossibility. They had to be inconspicuous. The skunkworks station was a digitally impenetrable fortress. Dev would have to make peace with a far more subdued affair.

  He also thought about his mother, Heather Zel. He knew his reputation would never be that of hers. His mother discovered the first alien civilization. He created an interplanetary corporation. It was great if money was what one valued. In the grand scheme of things, even Dev knew it would never have the lasting impact of the scientific discoveries unveiled by his mother. People would never remember his net worth. But they’d never forget those who discovered planets, such as Galileo, or the first woman in space, Sally Ride. CEOs certainly made their mark on history, but only if their achievements included the first personal computer, or the invention of steel. Otherwise, Dev feared he would always be seen as just another rich guy in a long list of forgettable rich guys and girls.

  “Beams at one-hundred percent,” Carlos said. “We’re ready!”

  Dev’s attention came back to focus. “Very good. Activate the sequence.”

  “Affirmative. First, you both might want to put on your eyewear.”

  “Good call,” Sook said. She and Dev put on large protective glasses.

  “Any last words before he pulls the trigger?” Sook asked.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact,” Dev said. “Universal Crescent, here we come!” He charged his left index forward at the air.

  “Initializing sequence,” Carlos shouted. “Activating coolant.”

  On the other side of the glass, Dev and Sook watched as liquid nitrogen poured, creating a thick cloud of cool air.

  “Coolant released!” Carlos bellowed. “Activating lasers four through sixty in three . . . two . . . one. Lasers activated!” A loud humming noise filled the station as the clouds on the other side of the clear wall turned bright red from the lasers whic
h could barely be seen.

  “Everything looks good. Ready to activate the anti-gravity accelerators. On your order.”

  “Do it,” Dev said.

  “Sook,” Carlos added. “Sorry, Chairwoman has to give the command.”

  “Go!” Sook shouted impatiently. “What are you waiting for? Do it!”

  “Activating anti-gravity accelerators in fifteen . . . fourteen . . .”

  “Sook, I want you to know something,” Dev said. “If I had to do this all over again, I wouldn’t have done it with anyone else.”

  “I love you Dev,” Sook said. “Even if you’re a pain in the ass.”

  “I love you back,” Dev said. They held each other’s hands.

  “Three . . . two . . . one… zero,” Carlos finished.

  Peace and calmness filled the room. Then, Dev flew straight into the graphene wall, still holding Sook’s hands. They smacked into the glass. The entire station shook.

  “Dammit!” Dev shouted. “Should have had seatbelts for this. You okay Sook?”

  “I’m fine,” she pushed herself up against the glass wall. Her eyes widened. “Oh my stars. Look!”

  On the other side of the glass, the exhaust from the liquid nitrogen quickly dispersed toward the lasers, as though it was being sucked out by a vacuum cleaner. The shaking suddenly stopped. All that could be seen now were the criss-crossing lasers and the central point they had focused on.

  The central point itself became impossible to look at as the light inside became too bright, even for their special glasses. They closed their eyes and turned away. After a few seconds, Carlos finally spoke.

  “The light, what happened?”