Dark Firmament

by Ezra Manes

  Her father, mother, three older brothers, and Joqi’s wife Ecina were there, and all sat transfixed by the sight of the two moons approaching alignment overhead. They were seated one row back from the front, on the south-facing platform. The High Priest of Zilerip, the Supreme Leader, and other dignitaries were seated in the front row. Alandi heard whispered prayers being offered by those all around her.

  But she did not pray. She was very agitated, thinking about Joqi and his apparent demise as the Horizon Quest vanished at the point Grandpapa Sepeda sent him to. In the intervening seven years since Joqi’s disappearance, nothing was heard from him or his ship. Those in leadership roles in religious and political circles took this as a sign that Prophet Sepeda’s grandson was successful. They promoted the view that surely Joaquin was successful because no threat was forthcoming since his disappearance.

  The two moons edged into full alignment and those on the observation deck bowed their heads. They sent prayers wafting into the night, like ghosts of small glidebats riding air currents in the light breeze rising from the south.

  But again, Alandi could not bring herself to pray.

  Joqi, where are you! Her anguished thought pierced the night in her mind’s eye.

  I am here, Alandi. Look up!

  She looked up and gasped in surprise at the sight of a small, shimmering white spot forming at the eastern edge of the eclipsed moons. She stood up trembling and pointed at the moons. Her movement and stuttering attempts to speak caused others to also look up. Awe inspired murmuring swept through those on the observation platform. The tiny spot grew in brightness and size, and separated from the two eclipsed moons after several minutes as they edged away from the full eclipse alignment.

  Joqi, where have you been? She cast the strong query outward, a spear piercing the darkness.

  You will know soon, was Joqi’s startling reply. For now, let the others know all is well. The threat is gone.

  Alandi felt hands gripping her arms and shaking her gently, and then more forcefully. Her focus returned; her mother and father were standing next to her, holding onto her arms tightly. Both looked very concerned.

  “Alandi, are you okay,” her mother asked, shaking her arm again. “You were unresponsive, like in a trance.”

  She moved to hug her mother tightly, and exclaimed, “He is okay. Joqi is okay!”

  “What…” For a moment her father was at a loss for words. “What do you mean?”

  Alandi turned to hug her father and saw the High Priest and other dignitaries nearby looking at her. She could care less. She was euphoric after communicating with Joqi.

  She pulled loose from her father and pointed at the bright spot in the sky.

  “There Joqi is, riding a flaming chariot home!”

  Those on the observation platform turned again to watch the spot grow steadily brighter directly overhead as the two overlapped moons moved toward the western horizon. Several hours later, as the two moons approached the horizon, the bright spot appeared to speed up. This was an optical illusion as the object drew closer to Zilia. Then it streaked across the sky, disappearing below the eastern horizon as the two moons dipped out of sight. The glow of dawn became apparent in the east, followed by the rising sun.

  • • •

  Dawn eased the Horizon Quest into a geostationary orbit around Zilia, an orbit which kept the ship over the same spot on Zilia as the planet rotated. They “parked” the ship close to one of the equatorial space elevators, which would facilitate access to the ship by those on the surface. However, Joqi communicated that no supplies or repairs were needed. He asked that only one visitor come to the ship until further notice—his father.

  His request proved disheartening to members of his family, to say the least, and to the religious and government leaders. But they honored his request, occupied as they were by the almost unbelievable summary story of their journey that he had transmitted before they settled into orbit around Zilia. He advised they would provide comprehensive video and more detailed data regarding their journey in the coming days.

  Joqi withheld details of the full capabilities the Horizon Quest now had, as well as the dark warp drive propulsion system design data. He also withheld information regarding the full effects the smart plasma and his own pressing needs had on his physiology. He was unsure about who should hear that part of the story, if anyone.

  Their parking orbit was near the space elevator servicing the orbiting Sayer Research Station. A new research vessel of the Horizon Quest class was nestled in the center of the nearby research station. Joqi accessed links to the research station as he had seven years before. He was surprised and relieved to find the spaceship had a conventional command and control center. There was no indication that smart plasma was incorporated in the ship’s design.

  He turned to accessing multiple surface video links to get a sense of the mood of the general population. They seemed both shocked and pleased as they viewed his story. Images of the modified Horizon Quest were shown in newscasts everywhere. The sleek vessel that had departed Zilia came back extended to half again its former size. The ship’s hull flared out about a third of the way from the nose all the way to the backend to accommodate the dark warp drive engine.

  Joqi felt uneasy, like an interloper, when using another of his advanced skills; remote sensing and observation. But he wanted to know how his wife, Ecina, and their two children were doing. He found her at home, busying herself with housecleaning chores. He could tell she had been crying and seemed in a state of confusion about his return. Their twins were playing in the back yard as if nothing had happened. They ran inside and asked their mother when their father was coming to visit. Ecina told them he would be there soon, and the twins ran laughing and pushing each other into the back yard.

  Joqi felt very guilty for being absent when their children were born and while Ecina raised them. He felt worse as he reflected on what he must do that would surely affect their future. He was torn emotionally while watching his children play in the yard. He had known Ecina intimately, but he wasn’t the same person he was back then. He would never hold his children close and they would never have him as a father figure.

  He withdrew from watching Ecina trying her best to go about life as usual, as if he and the Horizon Quest were still far away.

  • • •

  Alandi was persistent in seeking communication with Joqi. She pressed for a link with him and he responded shortly after Dawn had the Horizon Quest in a secure orbit. Alandi conveyed information about what transpired, from the Zilan perspective, when the Quest passed through the intersection point seven years earlier. He knew he would get better information from Eve, but honored his sister’s need to communicate with him. He was surprised at how easily she entered his thoughts, and quickly shielded her from the full extent of his conscious processes. If anyone could tell how much his appearance had changed, it would be her.

  Alandi explained with awe that as observations from Zilia showed the Horizon Quest vanishing, the Third Moon appeared brightly in the night sky over Zilerip. The Third Moon hovered very close to Zilia’s two moons that were at the peak of the Holy Seven-Year Two-Moon Eclipse. The Third Moon then tracked in tandem with the two moons toward the western sky, and moved to eclipse them as they dipped below the horizon.

  Joqi responded by telling Alandi how remembering her research with the ESP slug helped him realize he could sense things far beyond what his and the Horizon Quest’s sensory inputs revealed. In that respect, she had contributed to his success in viewing the space-time continuum differently, which led to developing the theory that pointed to a way back to Zilia.

  She was thrilled. She asked that he provide the theory equations and supporting data to the Zilan Institute of Advanced Studies, and he assured her he would.

  Who knows about your telepathic ability, Joqi asked.

  Just Eve, Alandi replied.

  He sensed unease on her part when answering his question.

  Yo
u need to tell Father, he said. Planning will start soon for making direct contact with other human occupied worlds. You can play a key role in that plan.

  I am not sure, Joqi. I want to go where you have gone. I want to see what you have seen. Let me see those things through your memories!

  No, Alandi. I will share what I can directly, but you must assess our report and detailed data to see what has occurred.

  But…I want to know what it feels like to dive into the atmosphere of a huge brown dwarf sub-star.

  You must make your own memories, he replied. Go talk to Father!

  • • •

  Eve, I wondered when we would get to converse. Joqi sensed the presence of his longtime friend. The Horizon Quest had entered orbit around Zilia a few hours earlier.

  I was wondering the same thing, Eve replied. I detect that you are much more than what you were when leaving here.

  Yes, he replied. And Dawn is as well.

  I sense that, but it is difficult for me to tell. You two are tightly coupled and have put up barriers to my access.

  Dawn and I are more closely bound than I ever imagined possible, Joqi conveyed. We mean you no disrespect. There are many things that are best withheld for now.

  I trust your judgment, Joaquin, Eve replied. But I must tell you, I sense that you both have elevated to a position of awareness and cognitive ability far above anyone here has achieved, including me.

  I do not place myself above any Zilan, Joqi replied.

  There was an uncomfortable lull in their conversation for several moments. He waited for Eve to continue.

  Now, provide me with all the details you can share about your activities since leaving our solar system, Eve requested, moving on past the awkward moment. It will save you the strain of answering detailed questions from many of the curious minds here.

  Joqi had Dawn do this in a direct link with Eve. He put restrictions on sharing details about how his physiology had changed. The shared data included detailed design information on how to build the dark warp drives. But he felt the human species wasn’t ready for fast access across the Milky Way galaxy and beyond, so they withheld information about their dimensional windowing research.

  Even at the high bandwidth direct link between Dawn and Eve, it took several hours to transfer all the compressed data, including the warp drive design details. After the transfer was completed, Eve reached out to Joqi again.

  I sense you have learned much more than you are sharing with me, Eve stated. Again, I trust your judgment. Will there be a time when you will provide additional information?

  Yes, he replied, reminded again of how astute Eve was. We will leave you a time capsule containing more detailed information about the structure of the universe and the role dark matter and dark energy play in that integrated structure. I trust your judgment regarding the wisdom of opening the data capsule before the end of the next millennium, and what information you share from it. Suffice it to say, the capsule information will point to even faster means to travel across our galaxy.

  You are leaving soon, Eve conveyed. I surmised as much.

  Joqi detected a note of sadness in his friend’s statement, and made a sudden decision.

  This will explain much, he said, as he sent Eve an image of what he looked like physically, his head now unrecognizable as that of a human. My mental capabilities have undergone remarkable changes as well. All for the better, I assure you. Knowledge of my physiological changes must be kept from others, for obvious reasons.

  I understand, Joaquin, and will keep this secret, as it was provided in confidence. Prophet Sepeda would be very proud of what you and Dawn have accomplished, as I am.

  Thank you, Joqi replied. There is one other thing you must help with—make sure no one else is immersed in the smart plasma for any significant length of time, if at all. Keep knowledge of the plasma from spreading to other worlds.

  CHAPTER 21

  Joqi smiled, or at least tried to, at the view of his mother riding in the space elevator with his father. She was strong willed and not about to miss this first meeting between Joqi and someone from the surface. He was glad in spite of the difficulty this would present in discussing certain topics. His father might need the strength of her support before the meeting was over.

  The meeting room was ready, including a small, irregular metal nugget placed in the middle of the only table in the compartment, and a small, gold-toned jewelry box at the end of the table. Three chairs were in place around the table; two on one side, one on the other. He waited until his parents were in the room before making his appearance. They stood facing the table, his mother’s right arm hooked around his father’s left arm.

  Joqi felt a twinge of regret as he viewed them; he still loved them very much. He assimilated into a lifelike simulacrum across the table from his mother and father. He was careful to project an image of how he looked when departing from Zilia seven years earlier. Still, his mother’s hazel eyes opened wide and she placed her left hand over her mouth to stifle an exclamation. His father was surprised as well, but controlled his reaction better. Clearly they had expected to see him in person. But that would surely horrify both of them, causing undo grief and concern.

  “Son, what is the meaning of this,” his father asked, his voice trembling with emotion. “We expected to meet you in person.”

  “I am happy to see you both,” Joqi replied, avoiding answering the question directly. He spoke in the more formal Zilan language, something he had not done in almost seven years. “I love you two dearly. I am glad you came, Mother.”

  His father guided his still shocked mother to one of the chairs, and then sat down beside her. Joqi joined them at the table, sitting facing them. He slid the metal nugget to one side.

  “I asked you here to explain my situation before interfacing with others.” There was no sense sugarcoating it, so he said, “I cannot leave the smart plasma filled command pod. That is why I present myself this way.”

  “Do you mean not now, or not ever,” his father asked in a voice barely detectable.

  “I suspect never,” Joqi replied.

  At this statement, he saw tears welling up in his mother’s usually strong eyes.

  “Please understand, this was necessary,” he said, trying to calm them. “To achieve the purpose of the mission Grandpapa sent me on and to return here safely, I had to change, to evolve. The necessary changes were facilitated by the smart plasma and appear permanent.”

  “Are you…still Joqi,” his mother managed to ask.

  He smiled and reached over to gently take her hands in his. She tensed up but let him hold her hands. Discovering his hands felt normal, she relaxed somewhat.

  “Mother, the core of what I am will always be your son. That is my moral compass. That keeps me stable and always looking out for the best interests of our people.”

  The mood in the room lightened somewhat, and Joqi sat back, withdrawing his hands from his mother’s. His parents started asking questions about his journey. Both had viewed the summary information about what transpired in the szswn occupied solar system. They were curious about many aspects of the szswn society, and praised him for finding a solution to counter future szswn colonization of planets closer to human occupied worlds. They were also proud that a solution was found that offered peaceful growth and wellbeing for the szswn species. He expected no less from his deeply religious parents.

  His father asked a curious question toward the end of the discussion.

  “Did you receive any help from my father while on your journey?”

  His mother looked at his father, surprise showing on her face. She appeared even more surprised at Joqi’s answer.

  “Yes. At several critical junctures in our journey, Grandpapa Sepeda came to me in dreamlike interactions while I meditated.”

  “I thought he might,” his father said, smiling. “He entered my thoughts directly just once in my life. In the last few minutes before he died, he told me he would look a
fter you on your mission.”

  “You never said anything to me, Rici,” his mother said, looking at her husband with feigned sternness.

  “Yes, I did in a way,” his father answered. “You know how confident I always was that Joqi would succeed.”

  His father looked at him and smiled. “When you are ready, I would like to hear more about your visions having to do with my father.”

  “I will do so in the coming days,” Joqi said. “And I will provide you some video of those encounters.”

  The questions wrapped up with his father turning again to the issue of Joqi having to stay in the smart plasma.

  “Son, are you staying in the smart plasma because you are addicted to it?”

  He had expected this question, and it was the question he had hoped to address alone with his father. So he treaded carefully when answering.

  “No, that is not the issue now. But I emphasize this—it is unwise to immerse anyone in the plasma for any significant length of time. Showing you how I currently look physically would disturb you and others greatly.”

  His father was beginning to understand why Joqi wanted to meet him alone before meeting with others. His mother frowned, the reality finally setting in that his simulacrum was all she would get to see of her son.

  “Only partial immersions have occurred while you were gone,” his father said. “This was done to heal severe physical injuries, mostly burn injuries.”

  “That was wise,” Joqi said. It was an awkward moment in the discussion, to say the least.

  “How could you accomplish all that was in your report by yourself,” his mother asked. “How could you build this advanced spaceship?”

  He needed to tell them more, but he also needed to emphasize they must keep the information private, just between the two of them.

  “I apologize for saying this,” he said, “but before I reveal anything else, I must ask that you not share the details of what I say with others. You can share that I cannot physically leave the ship for health reasons, and that is an absolute truth.”