Ennuturat was summoned to testify before the Unkari Council:
“We used to think that the universe branches out into the multiverse foam, with every possibility derived from quantum superposition becoming a reality in some universe. These creatures made us rethink all we know about the universe,” reported Ennuturat before the Council. “Apparently, they lock-in this part of the universe into a four-dimensional cage. How they do it? We don’t know. Is it a local phenomenon to this region of space? We also have no idea. But we observed them resetting the reality numerous times, choosing different actions if they didn’t like the consequences. They also do not die of accidents—if anything happens they reset the reality to avoid troubles.”
The head of the Joint Unkari Council sprayed several clouds of orange and blue powder in the air from the orifices on the side of his limbs, indicating both fear and confusion.
“Ennuturat, with all due respect, this is hard to fathom. Are you saying that they are immortal?” The grand hall of the Unkari highest collegiate governing body erupted in nervous commotion and various shades of colored powder. Soon enough they could hardly see each other literally drowning in their emotions.
“Order! Order, colleagues!” yelled the head of the Council, restraining himself from spraying any more emotions in the air. “Ennuturat, proceed.”
“They are not immortal, master Counselor. They die of old age, and I must add, their life span is as short as an elder’s breath. We believe that since they die of old age, they do not manipulate time. The only possible conclusion is that they switch quantum superposition like a light switch and anchor an alternative outcome from the ocean of possibilities to this four-dimensional reality”.
The five hundred Unkari elders present in the room erupted in so much nervous energy that the meeting was recessed. When the emotional air cleared up and the honorable elders returned to the room, Ennuturat concluded his report suggesting to destroy the entire race arguing that this race was too dangerous to be left alive.
The matter would have been settled unanimously if not for one dissenting voice. Immirtau, nearly the oldest living Unkari, was fragile, barely standing upright while addressing the honorable gathering. It took him tremendous effort to speak loudly enough so that everyone could hear. He persevered knowing that the message was so important, that even if he died right after the speech, it was worth the effort.
“How quickly you, my colleagues, forgot the principles of decision-making! How quickly you abandoned your logic in the face of fear! Don’t you realize that if the collective consciousness of these creatures locks the universe itself into a four-dimensional reality, where, and I hate to state the obvious, colleagues, where all of us exist, this may mean that without them the universe as we know it may revert to the primordial ocean of particles. Do you want to risk sliding into non-dimensional existence? Who among you can guarantee that the universe itself will not vanish?”
For the first time during this treacherous meeting silence penetrated the grand hall. Immirtau’s argument was just crazy enough to at least grab everyone’s attention. Upon several long recesses, the decision was to decisively attack and destroy the entire planet, but preserve some DNA for research. A few galactic rotations later, the Council received a report from the task force assigned to study the genetic samples. The results were not promising. It was clear that working with a small research sample in a lab was not enough to create genetic diversity and isolate the gene that was responsible for oscillation. The report concluded that they needed to move to the second phase of the research, using a planet-size research sample and allowing it to naturally go through evolution. It was clear that there would be no shortcuts in this project. The Council identified a planet capable of supporting carbon-oxygen life forms in the neighboring galaxy, the very galaxy that was ripping their home apart. The planet was seeded with the genetic material from the oscillating species.
And so the tedious research began: live, breed, die, repeat.
***
Back at the transporter, the two colleagues, who had just met each other in person, awkwardly prepared to share the small personal space of the government-issued two-person space can. More so, the two would have to share limited lab space on Earth for the duration of the entire shift. In order to keep their presence secret, Unkari established the outpost on the Atlantic ocean floor. Earth’s atmosphere was highly incompatible with the Unkari biochemistry, and from that perspective it mattered little whether the lab was on the dry land or under the water. One way or another, a moment of exposure to the boiling, by the Unkari standards, Earth would be enough to end them on the spot.
“What are the odds that the current sample will be successful?” Hundigar asked, going over the specifications of the route. Although to Ennuturat, Hundigar seemed ignorant, he was not new to the project. Hundigar used to be just a name attached to the faceless bureaucrat across the galaxy, who received routine reports from Ennuturat about the progress of the project. And now this faceless bureaucrat had decided to get his tentacles dirty. Ennuturat could not imagine what compelled young Hundigar to trade his secure office job on Lenauri for work on the site, which was considered a hardship post in the Unkari scientific circles. Except, perhaps, the fact that, for the first time in millennia, the project was showing success, and someone would be getting credit for it.
“All the data checks out. Compared to their ancestors, humans are still underdeveloped, but we reached acceptable similarity. The few previous iterations developed too many dead-end gene sequences. They were not viable for further research and were successfully eliminated from the breeding pool.”
“What was the elimination process?”
“Didn’t you read my reports?” sighed Ennuturat, considering to perhaps apply for a separate transporter.
“Uh, I definitely have read them,” lied Hundigar as convincingly as he could. “But it is always better to learn from someone who was there.”
“It was the usual combination of protocol-approved measures. Genetic viruses, natural disasters… the planetary scale action for the most part. As you know, we are short-handed here for individual interventions. I believe it was you who approved the latest budget.”
Hundugar did not see a jab coming in so soon. Awkwardly mimicking and trying hard not to spray his emotions, Hundigar tried to move on with the conversation but the transporter slowly filled with the clouds of powder.
“Please, contain yourself,” added Ennuturat, an insult to the previous injury. He couldn’t believe that Hundigar worked in the government. The best Hundigar could do was to pretend that nothing happened.
“How exciting, Ennuturat. Are you excited? We may achieve success in our lifetime!”
We. Indeed.
“Let’s focus on the coordinates, colleague, shall we?” snapped Ennuturat.
Ouch, thought Hundigar as he finished updating the coordinates. Ennuturat is simply jealous. Ennuturat used to report to him, while Hundigar supervised his project on the Committee, and the two had developed an ego riff the size of the Itarian nebula!
Hundigar was shaking his head, thinking how Ennuturat had treated him unfairly, patronizing him like a small offspring, while they carried the same rank.
Lost in his thoughts, Hundigar did not notice that his limb hit one key erroneously. Not that it would dramatically change the destination point, but it was bad enough that they might miss the landing platform at the destination point.
And so it happened.
***
“Where are we?” yelled Ennuturat as the transporter exited the vortex and crash-landed, obviously, in the wrong place.
Hundigar did not answer. The transporter crashed into the foot of the ocean volcano. The impact made the ocean floor ripple. The impact also caused Hundigar to hit his head on the console so hard that the life force left his body.
“Poor bastard…” mumbled Ennuturat. �
�At least he will not have to go through the embarrassment of disqualification.”
With those words, the senior Unkari scientist shoved the lifeless body to the floor, manually started the transporter again and drove it away from the impact scene as fast as he could. The scanners demonstrated a horrific development: because of the impact, the ocean volcano became active. Eruption was imminent. Ennuturat was not worried for his own safety, as he was entering a fortified lab dock. But the most promising research sample would be destroyed when the tsunami hit the land. Galactic rotations of selective breeding to obtain a strong genetic sequence would be lost. Ennuturat was nearing retirement, and with that his hope of witnessing the initial results of his entire life’s work was dwindling away.
YEAR 2275.
THE UNKARI RESEARCH LAB, ATLANTIC OCEAN
“Master Ennuturat! You need to see this! I have identified a research subject that is going through the final stage! Look at his brainwaves during the sleep cycle!”
Old Ennuturat slowly got off his reclined chair and proceeded to the monitor, where his young assistant was pulling up various databases on someone named Otis Solarin.
“Hmm … The coefficient of the thalamus activity correlated with the oscillation ability is extremely high. Are you sure he has the gene?”
“Positive! I am so excited! This is the first time we have received this good of a result since the subject named Carl Jung, although the gene was not passed onto either of his five offspring. Otis Solarin, on the other hand... The gene runs in his family.”
All the excitement and exuberant youth of Ennuturat’s new assistant reminded him of the late Hundigar - not a compliment in Ennuturat’s vocabulary. Ennuturat gazed outside the large transparent force field of the research lab that separated them from the ocean. A large school of fluorescent fish hurried by, casting shadows on the rippled sandy ocean floor, lit up with the green lights surrounding the lab building. He would never admit it to anyone, but he had grown to love this view and the serenity of the ocean floor. Sometimes he would open the sound channel and flood his personal quarters with the sounds of the ocean. The songs of the aquatic species worked miracles for his old body. “Presuming it is so, and all checks out, do you think he can oscillate when awake?”
“Hmm… I don’t know, master. We haven’t found anyone who could yet. But I know someone on Erinozhan who is creating an artificial field that if successful would amplify the brain waves and simulate the collective network effect of their ancestors. Perhaps he could oscillate in the field. But in any event, his descendants, a generation or two away, will be able to. The projections are unanimous.”
“We need him then. As soon as possible.”
“Master…”
“Is this going to be an ethics lecture?”
“Master… You know as well as I do… Abductions are ruled illegal by the Council.”
“Black hole on their heads! When we are so close, they decide to fall for this ‘human rights’ nonsense.”
“I know, master, it is extremely frustrating, but we have to follow the protocol.”
“So what do we do?”
“Well, we discussed the First Contact for some time now. Maybe this Solarin presents a good reason to officially introduce ourselves. He may willingly agree to join our research project. With a little white lie of course, but willingly nonetheless.”
“What if he doesn’t go with us? Our presence will be revealed.”
“Master, it is only a matter of time before they discover us anyway. We could move operations to the Moon, but you know how much this would complicate our work. We need to be proactive. I think at this point, the best course of action is to reveal ourselves and make a good story to go with it. Say, we are looking for partnership. Let them think they actually decide something.”
“There might be hope for you after all!” smiled Ennuturat. Ennuturat was old school. Negotiating with the lab animals was beyond his comprehension, but he knew one thing for sure: this universe belonged to the new guard, for better or worse. And the new Unkari, with their evolved vision of these humans, would have to deal with their dangerous ability. Looking towards eternity, Ennuturat had resigned to this new vision, despite what he personally thought of it. “Hmm… First Contact you say. That should be fun… I’d like to see their reaction when we come out of the ocean.” He smiled mischievously. “Alright, send a memo to the Council. If they approve, we’ll have some fun before I drift to eternity.”
“Don’t say that, Master. You have many galactic rotations ahead of you,” coaxed the young Unkari scientist, fully aware that he was lying. But what’s a little white lie, when someone’s peace of mind is at stake?
***
Back at Anglers, Ny’s eyes sparkled like twin supernovae in the night sky. The reality of the ring on her finger refused to sink in. The sides of the diamond were catching fire, juxtaposed with the background scenery of the angry Atlantic and reflecting high luminescence of the restaurant’s ambiance. However, the storm was getting stronger, and Ny focused on the horizon. Otis was waiting for the bill to pop up on the small table screen, as Ny was scrutinizing the waves. When the number pinged, Otis leaned forward allowing the system to read his retina and authorize the payment, when Ny yelped and gripped his hand, driving her short-cut nails in his skin.
“What is it, dear?” Otis asked her.
“Otis, look, I think it’s a tsunami!”
2
NOT ALONE
YEAR 2275.
MONROVIA, LIBERIA
Moments later…
Ny looked outside the panoramic glass window, and there it was: not the actual tsunami, of course, but the wall of water big enough to give her tsunami nightmares. The restaurant descended into chaos. Many ran outside to the parking lot, some stayed put in their seats, frozen in shock.
Otis and Ny did not run either. Perhaps they subconsciously were hoping it was a dream or a trick of their imagination. One way or another, everything happened in a span of a few seconds, and then the hurling wall of water just dropped like a curtain, leaving behind a cloud of vapor.
Anglers was overlooking the beach, where seconds ago hundreds of tourists peacefully sipped their pina coladas and soaked in the African sun. Now, tripping over the sun beds, umbrellas, and each other, all these folks bolted away from the ocean front. That’s when those, who fell behind, started noticing something in the cloud of steam, where the wall of water came from.
Curiosity won over fear, and Otis and Ny rushed to the beach. Working in the opposite direction to the frightened crowd, they made their way close enough to make some sense of what was going on. There, they saw a row of the coast guard officers, dispatched as the first responders to the unknown external threat, who were assuming a defensive position and pointing their weapons in the direction of the ocean. Between the narrowly spread officers, Otis could see patches of the ocean front. There, fifty meters into the water, he saw eleven domed structures glittering in the sunlight. They floated on the waves in a V-shaped formation, with the V-tip towards the shore. From what he could see, they were at least five meters tall, spherical, with mechanical limbs on the sides. Multiple joints swiftly snaked through water creating all that foam and steam around them.
One of the coast guards yelled: “On my mark! Don’t shoot without my command!”
The rest of the soldiers were tensely motionless, keeping their weapons in the ‘ready’ position.
The nearest dome slowly started approaching the shore. The coastguard commander asserted: “Hold! Do not fire!”
Meanwhile, two helicopters approached from the downtown area. In a matter of moments, they were doing laps around the area of the ocean, looking tiny and frankly worthless compared to the domes. By that time, the majority of the civilians were gone, but the few who remained huddled together behind the line of the first responders, recording and broadcastin
g the event live.
Ny was clinging to Otis’ shoulder, her face paler than ever. Otis asked Ny to stay behind and stepped towards the crowd. She silently shook her head, eyes big and still, but Otis insisted. Pushing through the crowd, Otis stepped on someone’s foot.
“Watch out, old man!”
An angry teenager shoved Otis to the side, because he was obstructing the view. Otis wasn’t tall enough to see over the heads of the huge coast guard officers. He decided to lay on the sand and get his view between the soldiers’ feet: this was a good strategy because disciplined soldiers did not budge.
Otis stretched forward his wrist, directing the wristlet to begin the recording on the maximum zoom, and watching the events on a small holographic display in his field of vision. Thanks to the zoom and good video quality, he could get a close-up look at what was there, in the ocean. He pointed at the leading dome and carefully examined the details.
Otis could clearly see that the semi-transparent surface of the dome was designed to host one single creature, unmistakably alien, sitting at the control dashboard and operating the vehicle. The creature’s body was barely seen, and it looked as if it was wearing a protective suit. Otis could only see the helmet, and the tentacles operating the controls. The mere sight of the helmet made him feel queasy: it appeared to have three red glowing eyes. Otis was convinced that the three red glowing eyes could not be good. The domes looked identical. They were floating at a distance, probably waiting for the command from the front leader, just like the human soldiers.
For some time, the scene did not change, except more and more ground troops arrived, and Otis was rapidly losing his visibility. The newly arrived soldiers formed second and third rows behind the frontline, covering the gaps. Recording the event was getting increasingly difficult. When the next batch of soldiers arrived in their armored vehicles and sprinted to provide the reinforcement, Otis decided to move closer and get a better view. A huge officer with shoulders so broad they made him look nearly square, noticed Otis crawling forward on the sand, and decisively waved him to stay where he was. Otis waited until the officer turned around and advanced a bit more. The next time his advances were noticed, the soldier got annoyed, swiftly stepped towards Otis and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, lifting him from the ground like a kitten.
329 Years Awake Page 2