The alien technology had relied on geothermal power as its chief source of energy only, it was later learned, after natural fuels had been exhausted and the environment severely polluted. The ship’s master engineer pointed out clusters of antennae used for wireless transmission, as well as a number of free energy receivers. He assured the Captain that much of the city’s power system could easily be restored. Within a week, Khatami had that restoral accomplished to provide the necessary electricity for an on-site research facility.
The greatest discovery was made in the largest and most beautiful building in New Copan, a monolithic edifice perched in the exact center of town. Its more familiar cubic structure consisted of megalithic slabs of a polished marble equal to Carrara marble in quality. Its walls rose skyward to heights of over ten kilometers. The men dubbed it the “Archive” due to the archival treasure trove found within its more than one hundred rooms. Anyone entering one of those rooms automatically triggered a device that projected an animated holographic image into the center of the room. Each room’s recording described a different phase of Cathdenian history, science, or culture, the overall repository constituting a audio-visual library of the alien culture. The majority of the holograms were sound recordings, although many were accompanied by delineating texts inscribed in both hieroglyphs and pictographs on tablets of argentine metal affixed to the walls. The interior walls and floors, fashioned from a material reminiscent of plexiglass, bore neither decoration nor furnishing beyond the inscribed tablets.
Niles, as linguist, had nearly forsaken all hope for a spoken alien language, but after sampling the holographic soundtracks, he identified the mellifluous clicking, whining, crying, and howling recorded thereon as a highly complicated form of interpersonal communication. Apparently the aliens had been capable of producing a wide range of ululations that delineated their peculiarly ritualistic language.
Even before returning to the ship, the various experts began planning the preservation of the libraric treasures. The irreplaceable information to be gleaned in every room of the Archive could be fed via Optical Holo Scanner into the Perception’s complex computer system for later study and interpretation.
Within days, a research facility had been established in the confines of New Copan. Dr. Chandra supervised a team that funneled the holographic material directly into the ship’s computer. Dr. Tara Devlin, a computer scientist, was assigned to create the software necessary for such a project; her previous experience with deciphering codes proved invaluable.
Although Captain Khatami fully expected to receive regular progress reports on the translation project, none had been forthcoming. He sought an update from Niles, only to learn that none of the participants in the translatory project were permitted access to the results. Niles could only confirm that although copies of all the holographic records now resided in the computer memory, only Dr. Chandra could access them, having doled the information out to the rest of the team in small, unrelated pieces. Niles offered to pay a visit to Dr. Devlin, Chandra’s software whiz.
Dr. Devlin greeted Niles with an open, friendly smile. He had expected a female version of the laconic Chandra, but on the contrary, the pale young, platinum-haired Dr. Devlin turned out to be an eager conversationalist.
Unfortunately, she knew very little about the progress of the translation, having confined herself to the software work necessary for its implementation. She did think it odd that Niles had not been intimately involved in evaluating the alien linguistics.Her straightforward manner appealed to Niles, so he ventured to ask if she thought Chandra had excluded him from the project because of his differing lifestyle.
She did not seem to regard the question as extraordinary. “He definitely has problems dealing with unfamiliar social situations,” she agreed, “but I assure you that yours is not the only situation unfamiliar to him. I can’t believe he would permit his personal prejudices to affect his work though. He’s not that much of a bigot!”
Niles laughed, relieved that she did not share Chandra’s homophobia. He felt he should have gotten to know Devlin long ago. Still, he was glad he had kept his mouth shut after learning that Chandra and Devlin had been lovers for many years. It was difficult now to imagine the two of them together, and he wondered what qualities Devlin saw in the acerbic little man who had to be twenty years her senior.
Almost seeming to read his mind, she added, “You mustn’t judge Chandra too harshly. He was raised to despise and distrust other people, so he’s spent most of his life trying to avoid the world. Contact with other people has been difficult for him, especially now that his search for aliens has proven futile.” She smiled. “He only agreed to join this expedition because he hoped he could find an intelligent species he’d like better than his own.”
She paused thoughtfully before continuing. “Chandra’s never known anyone gay, so you might consider remedying that situation; you may be surprised at the wonderful man he can be when his guard’s down.”
Again Niles laughed. “Wonderful man, huh? I’d be surprised, but I’m willing to give it a try.”
A week later, the increasingly impatient Khatami directed Chandra to send him the translations to date, and was surprised to receive a three-hundred page report two days later. Along with the report was a request to meet with Khatami once he had read it. Chandra wanted to discuss “an unexpected aspect” of the findings, implying that it was of some importance. They met three days later.
Khatami greeted Chandra formally, intent on taking the initiative once they were both seated. “It is essential that this meeting be conducted free of the deprecatory attitude you’ve previously displayed; my choice of lifestyle in no way affects our meeting here today. Are we in agreement on this, Doctor?”
Chandra nodded solemnly, stating that many of his attitudes had been greatly altered in recent days. “But,” he said, “we will get to that soon enough as it is.”
Khatami told Chandra he had read the entire report, but he still had questions about the aliens.
“You’ve compiled an excellent overview of the alien anatomy, physiology, and social structure, but I felt the most vital issues were not addressed directly.”
The attentive Chandra gestured for the Captain to continue.
“I need to know what happened here, Doctor. What sort of power wiped an entire species from the face of a planet without destroying everything else as well? The report assumes there were no survivors at all. What didn’t they survive and how can you be sure there’s not even one alien still extant? There’s something you’re not telling me.”
For a moment they stared at each other in silence, each sizing up the other. Khatami suspected something was rotten in Cathdeny and only Chandra could tell him what it was. As commanding officer of the expedition, it was vital that he be aware of anything that affected the safety of those in his charge, not to mention the billions back on Earth.
“I can state with absolute confidence that no Cathdenians survive, which brings us to the very crux of the matter I wished to discuss with you. However, you must allow me to provide you with the necessary background,” Chandra replied. “No one else is aware of what I am about to tell you.
“As stated in the analysis, we have achieved a generalized understanding of the Cathdenians, thanks to the detailed written, auditory, and visual records they left behind.
“That material has made it obvious that, apart from the obvious physiological differences between the Cathdenian and human species, which can be discounted as environmentally determined, the two species have much in common, to the degree of being nearly identical psychologically,” Chandra continued. “The differentiation between the two is so insignificant as to suggest that the capacity for higher reasoning functions in a uniform manner regardless of physical circumstance.”
The Captain interrupted, “We think alike. Could it be that both species share a common ancestor?”
“The odds against that are even more astronomical, Captain. It is appears
that parallel evolution, at least in reference to intelligence, is demonstrated here. The thoughts and feelings of the Cathdenians differed from those of humans no more than yours differ from mine.” Chandra smiled to indicate his amusement at the comparison.
“The Cathdenians shared our overall sensibilities, perceptions, and most importantly, our demeanor toward our environment.” He paused until the import of his words was felt.
“Doctor, are you telling me that …?” Khatami allowed his words to trail off.
Chandra nodded intently. “Yes, Captain, despite our obvious physical differences, the Cathdenians were virtually human and vice versa. Psychologically and emotionally, we and the Cathdenians have evolved along parallel lines. Not a very pleasant thought actually,” he added.
Khatami motioned for him to continue.
“Unfortunately we share a dominant philosophical attitude with the Cathdenians. We both believe that our intelligence sets us apart and above the rest of Nature. Considering ourselves the pinnacle of evolution, we have dominated every other species on our planet, exactly as the Cathdenians did. They shared our total disregard for their environment as well. We have systematically subjugated, exploited, and obliterated every other life form, just as they did. We see ourselves as the crown of creation to which all else is subservient, existing only for our benefit.”
Khatami caught himself leaning forward, totally absorbed in Chandra’s explanations. As he eased himself back in his seat, he observed a momentary expression of pleasure on Chandra’s face. At least, Khatami considered, he was not being buried in scientific jargon; maybe things were improving between the two men?
“And like us,” Chandra continued, “they senselessly exploited their ecosphere, annihilating species after species until environmental havoc had been achieved. With their land depleted, their water and air polluted, they turned to technology for substitutes, but by that time they had rendered their planet uninhabitable.”
Khatami mumbled, “Just as we have rendered the Earth nearly uninhabitable.”
“In order to survive, the Cathdenians would have to abandon their own planet to seek sanctuary on other worlds — also as humanity has done.”
“They all picked up and left the planet, just like that?” Khatami had a difficulty accepting that premise.
Chandra held up a hand to indicate the Captain had gotten ahead of him. “No, Captain. That is what they planned and would have accomplished had it not been for a major factor that is distinctly Cathdenian.
The scholar ran his fingers through what remained of his thinning hair. “The records describe a small group of highly gifted individuals who were elevated above the general population by their sincere dedication to rightness. Their entire existence was spent in the contemplation of deeper truths and the secret wisdom of Nature, much as Earth history claims our saints and mystics have done throughout the millennia.
“But unlike Earth’s holy men, these beings abandoned themselves completely to the inner existence, allowing their bodies to age and die in their utter distraction. As their physical bodies perished, their individual consciousnesses melded into a spiritual Gestalt to which the Cathdenians paid their highest allegiance.”
Chandra rose and paced the floor. He obviously felt the burden of the story he was imparting. Khatami waited patiently, unwilling to hurry the older man. Eventually, Chandra was able to continue, having carefully considered his next revelation.
“The Gestalt of purified consciousness was aghast at the decimation of an entire world. It encountered a cosmic dilemma: should such an unnaturally self-involved species be allowed to disseminate through the universe to violate an endless number of worlds? No justification was found, and rational thought was adjudged a mistake of Nature rather than its pinnacle.”
Chandra sighed, seemingly exhausted by the intensity of involvement. The Captain had become equally concerned with the ramifications of such momentous disclosures.
“The Gestalt concluded that no species has the right to annihilate any other irresponsibly for self-serving reasons. It determined that all species are bound together, a living interdependent whole from which none may set itself apart. And so, …”
Khatami interrupted, finishing his sentence for him. “And so the Gestalt was obligated to destroy that which it could not redeem. Am I right?” he asked.
Chandra nodded. “They were obligated to correct what they saw as an error of Nature, a malignant mutation that must be aborted before it could destroy all of Nature.”
A sudden revelation caused Khatami to yell, “The satellite!”
“Yes, Captain, it was created to act as a self-correcting mechanism dedicated to protecting the universe from the pervasive evil inherent in any creature capable of reasoning self-awareness.”
“None of the Cathdenians objected! No one told the Gestalt to go to hell as he packed his luggage for a long trip? No one?”
“No,” Chandra insisted. “A semblance of responsibility had finally come over them, but unlike humans, they didn’t ignore it or fight it. They united in their resolve to remove the terminal factor and to ensure such a disaster could never be repeated.”
Frustrated with disbelief, Khatami pointed out that their acceptance of responsibility defined a change within the Cathdenians that belied any need for their destruction. They had changed.
“They knew themselves better than that,” Chandra scoffed. “In a week, a month, a year, sooner or later they would have returned to their old ways and they accepted that fact.
“The satellite is attuned to detect the presence of certain chemicals in the brain that betray rational mental activity. At well-defined intervals every creature possessing a specific chemical combination would be incinerated regardless of its planetary location. The action would be instantaneous and painless; an intelligent species could never again gain a foothold should another evolutionary leap happen to occur. The Cathdenians vowed to make amends through voluntary self-extermination, in the hope that the planet could replenish itself thereafter, which it apparently has done.”
Chandra suddenly chuckled to himself.
Khatami asked to be let in on whatever was so amusing. When Chandra was able to regain control, he explained: “It amuses me that I was taught that homosexuals are the deviants, aberrations, and mistakes of Nature. It seems the joke was on me, for now I see that we are all mistakes of Nature! What a pompous ass I’ve been! I can only offer my sincerest apologies to you and your Professor Niles. All of us are the same, and if there is hope for one, there must be hope for all — but only if we work with, and not against, each other.”
In the months that followed, Khatami and Chandra studied the records together, learning the timing and the mechanism of the next planetary cleansing. They learned how to alter the programming and thereby prevent their own annihilation. The purge was scheduled for the very day they planned to depart this world for their return trip to Earth.
Khatami, Niles, Devlin, and Chandra became nearly inseparable friends during that time, spending the greater part of their off duty hours together. Inevitably the discussions centered around what they called the Cathdenian Dilemma. Khatami and Chandra had told all to Niles and Devlin, but they felt it necessary to keep the fate of the Cathdenians a secret from the others lest problems arise from the realization that the proverbial Sword of Damocles hung in the sky over all their heads.
Recalling his Hindi upbringing, Chandra compared the Cathdenian satellite to Vishnu, one of the triad of divinities comprising the ancient trimurti: Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. Given to symbolism, he pointed out that the dancing Shiva bore an extra pair of arms, which he compared to the Cathdenian physiology with its six adroit members. A Cathdenian could easily have imagined his own body set in the traditional pose of Shiva dancing within a ring of perpetual flame. Khatami had to admit that the image was reminiscent of the schematics which depicted the satellite in action, though he had difficulty envisioning its lasers a
s eternally purging flames. Chandra even equated the aftermath of the planetary cleansing to Brahma and Vishnu bestowing new life and protective vigilance, respectively. Khatami humored him for the most part, though Niles and Dr. Devlin actually enjoyed such flights of fancy. Niles teased the Hindu, pointing out that these gods were male but also had female aspects; Chandra agreed that the gods differed in their definitions of “normal,” just as he and Khatami once had done.
The members of the small but intimate group debated nightly, considering the dilemma from every possible approach. Each took turns playing the Devil’s advocate in these discussions, as they proposed various approaches to the philosophical problem. None of them would champion the Cathdenian’s own solution but conversely, none felt they had the right to halt the periodic planetary “cleansings.”
The day arrived when “Vishnu” altered its position in preparation for the next cleansing. The group had predicted the event, telling the others that the satellite was only performing periodic self maintenance and overhaul.
Khatami and Chandra made the subsequent trip to Vishnu in a gnat craft specially modified to carry passengers. The satellite dropped its impenetrable protective shield as they approached, and for three days the two humans endeavored to reprogram Vishnu’s prime directives. Niles and Devlin greeted them upon their return, and over dinner the four of them toasted the success of the mission. They were scheduled to leave for Earth the following morning.
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