Chapter No.3

"I am the breath of being,
The primal urge of things;
I am the whirl of star dust,
I am the lift of wings.

"I am the splendid impulse
That comes before the thought,
The joy and exaltation
Wherein the life is caught."

- Bliss Carman -

The day had come, and the intrepid adventurers were ready to go out into the unknown. Marty, Ninja, Rosie and Gem-Ado took their places in the X-501 and Tiana, Ferris, Noesa and Masai did the same in the X-502. The X-5001 mother ship was to stay in orbit around the planet while her children went off to explore. This was a very risky plan, but one very important aid to its success was a new wormhole communications system that was effective up to 50 parsecs. Signals sent through a singularity created by this system could be picked up at the other end with anywhere from a 10 to a 120 second delay. The only drawback was that the sending ship had to be running at a very slow velocity: under 50,000 kilometers per hour and the exact location of the mother ship had to be known.

"You have clearance to depart, Martin."

"Thank you, Delphi. Take us out of the hangar."

"Yes, Martin."

As the X-501 levitated and slowly drifted out into space, Ninja turned to Marty. "What is our destination?"

"It's a G2 class star 36.5 light years from here."

"Its spectra shows a high metal content," Gem-Ado said.

"Take us up to jump speed, Delphi."

"Yes, Martin."

"This star was my first pick," Marty said. "Ferris chose a G5 class star over 90 light years away."

"Thank you for picking me for this mission," Ninja said. "We are a team."

"Yes we are. We have seen much together."

"And, we have fought great battles together, Martin."

"Are we going to engage enemy?" Gem-Ado asked.

"You never know,"  Marty said. "I'll tell you one thing: these new 500-class fighters are packed with improved weapons. We not only have three Nova Busters but we now have two Supernova devices. Plus, we are faster, more manuverable and more powerful than the 400-series. And now we have a Dragon jump drive. We can go home ourselves."

"I give your people credit," Ninja said. "They have advanced combat to new heights more quickly than any other species. Your people have provided us with technological superiority."

"I've often wondered about that. Most of the technically oriented species are older than we are. They should be way ahead of us."

"It is because you value both of your genders and treat them equally," Gem-Ado said. "And, more importantly,  you treat other intelligent species with respect and value what is right. It is you, Martin. It is you who are responsible for our success. You have proven your love for us by your actions. We would do anything that you wish of us, even go to our deaths."

"She is right, Martin," Ninja said. "You have proven your bravery. You are as a god to us, a god of warriors."

"But, I am a mere mortal," Marty protested. "I am ceratinly not perfect, and I make mistakes like everyone else."

"This is true," Gem-Ado said. "But, you have one virtue that makes you a god: you are unselfish."

"She is right, Martin," Rosie said. "You have forgiven those who do wrong to you. This is a quality that is seldom encountered in this cruel universe."

Marty didn't know what to think of that. He had never thought that he was a god. The idea was blasphemous.

On the X-502, the mood was less philosophical and more pragmatic.

"Take us to jump speed, Delphi."

"Yes, Tiana."

"What are we supposed to do when we get to this star system?" Masai asked.

"We are to determine if it is a Dragon farm," Ferris said. "If it is the seat of intelligent life, we are to see if they know the location of a Dragon farm."

"This method of searching will require thousands of years to bear fruit," Masai said.

"You're probably right," Ferris said. "But, we must follow orders and do our best. It is the reason we are out here."

"What if we are accosted by a Dragon fleet?" Noesa asked.

"We'll defend ourselves," Tiana said. "We have very powerful weapons, including two Supernova devices, each of which is powerful enough to destroy an entire planet."

"I hope that we do not have to deploy these weapons," Masai said.

"It would only be used as a last resort," Tiana said. "We are under orders not to instigate a battle. We are on a search mission only."

The X-501 had already dropped out of jump.

"We are now in normal space, Martin."

"Take us down to 5000 kps, Delphi."

"Yes, Martin."

After fifteen minutes, Gem-Ado was ready to report her findings. "There is a habitable planet at 1.2 AU. It is the third planet and has an atmosphere that contains water and oxygen."

"Take us to the third planet at maximum safe speed, Delphi."

"Yes, Martin."

"I cannot detect any signs of enemy vessels in this system," Ninja said.

"I've picked up an organized signal," Rosie said. "It is familiar."

"How so?" Marty asked her.

"It resembles that of my people," she said.

"Do your people have colonies over here in Andromeda?"

"Our species originated in Andromeda."

"The third planet has an average bolometric temperature of 289 K," Gem-Ado said. "The albedo of the planet is 0.37."

"I have extracted video from the planet's signal," Rosie announced before switching it to the main screen.

"Wow! They look just like you, Rosie," Marty said. "I think that you've found your origin."

"I am most fortunate to be here," Rosie said. "None of my people have ever seen this."

"Better yet," Marty said. "You will get to talk to them."

"That will truly be a historic event for my people."

On the X-502, the fun was just getting started.

"We have entered normal space, Tiana."

"Reduce our speed to 5000 kps, Delphi."

"Yes, Tiana."

"This star system has twelve planets," Masai said. "Five are inner planets and seven outer. I think that the fourth planet is a good possibility."

"It has the proper temperature," Noesa said. "The others are either too hot or too cold."

"Take us to the fourth planet at maximum safe speed, Delphi."

"Yes, Tiana."

"The planet's spectra exhibit water, oxygen and chlorophyll," Ferris said. "I should be able to refine the data when we get closer."

"Are we picking up any signals from the fourth planet?" Tiana asked.

"I have detected a signal, but it is still being analyzed," Noesa said.

"We can relax," Tiana said. "I am not picking up evidence of enemy vessels in this system."

"I have a sync to the RF signal from the fourth planet," Noesa said. "It resembles the modulation that our people use."

When he switched a video feed from the signal to the main screen, both Masai and he were astounded.

"They look like us," Noesa said. "Why would a species like us be in this galaxy?"

"The only logical conclusion is that your species came from this galaxy," Ferris said.

Noesa turned to Masai. "I wonder if they treat males like our people."

"That will be most difficult to determine," Masai said. "The practice of punishment is a secret on our home world."

"You know about it," Noesa said. "You have punished me many times."

"I punished you because you violated our rules of conduct. It was my duty to do so."

"You did your duty with the highest level of skill," Noesa said. "You are unequaled in your ability as administrator of correction."

"Thank you."

Tiana and Ferris exchanged glances.

***

"We are in stable orbit, Martin."

"Launch atmospheric and oceanic probes, Delphi, and send a message back to the X-5001 with our status."

"Yes, Martin."

"There is no evidence of any space capability on this planet," Gem-Ado said. "If these people are the originators of Rosie's species, I do not understand how that could have been accomplished."

"Maybe individuals from this planet were forcibly taken to our galaxy," Marty said. "Basically, they were seeded like we believe that humans were."

"There is nothing in our historical records that indicate that premise," Rosie said. "Although, there are many historians who believe that the records are flawed."

"The atmospheric readings are coming in," Gem-Ado said. "The pressure at the surface is 1100 millibars. The temperature is 20 C. Oxygen concentration is 19%."

"Did you ever notice that a lot of these habitable planets have oxygen concentrations not all that different," Marty said. "They're in the 18 to 22% range."

"I think that it has something to do with the evolution of plant life on these planets," Rosie said. "Most plants and bacteria convert carbon dioxide into energy and emit oxygen as a product. The optimum concentration must have something to do with a balance between oxygen and carbon dioxide."

"The oxygen concentration is important to the evolution of intelligent life," Gem-Ado said. "Without proper oxygen, life based on the creation of proteins that make up our bodies would not happen. Oxygen is also necessary for the development of the brain, which consumes most of the energy that the body develops."

"All of this points to a plan," Marty said. "And that plan was devised by the Creator."

"I see no evidence of violent or threatening behavior," Ninja said. "I think that it is safe to make contact."

"Okay, Delphi. Let's go down to the surface."

"Yes, Martin."

Marty took control and fired breaking engines to plunge down into the planet's atmosphere. He flew through puffy cumulus clouds to emerge above a rolling green landscape with trees that resembled conifers. Many lakes and rivers permeated the land, and they were encircled by structures and roads. He sat down near a cluster of structures that resembled a city.

A group of aliens approached them as soon as they exited the fighter. These aliens were small in stature like Rosie and they were dressed in flowing cloaks of metallic material. When they saw Rosie they stopped in their tracks.

"Why do you hesitate," Rosie told them in her language. "I am obviously one of you."

"Your speech is strange to us," one of the aliens said. "How is it that you are with these strangers?"

"I am from the galaxy that is near this one. I come from a series of planets contained in that galaxy that house many of my people. I travel with these people on a mission to find the home world of a dangerous species that hunts and kills other species."

"We do not travel beyond our world," the alien said. "We prefer to avoid contamination."

"You are the genesis of my people. How is it that you do not travel to the stars?"

"Our ancestors did travel to the stars, but we have abandoned that practice. Travel into space is filled with dangerous consequences."

Marty turned to Ninja. "I hope that the X-502 crew is having a better time of it."

The crew of the X-502 was just getting started.

"We are in stable orbit, Tiana."

"Launch atmospheric and oceanic probes, Delphi, and transmit a report back to the X-5001."

"Yes, Tiana."

"There are structures on this planet that are organized into cities," Noesa said. "I can see no evidence of threatening or violent behavior."

"Data is coming in now from the probes," Masai said. "The atmosphere is breathable with a 20% oxygen content. I am detecting lightening in a storm and heavy rain is falling."

"Sounds like your typical habitable planet," Tiana said.

"Appearances can be deceiving," Ferris said. "We will wait to make sure that it is safe."

"The oceans have life," Noesa said. "Most of it is able to breath in water."

"These people look very similar to you, Masai," Ferris said. "Perhaps they speak your language."

"We'll have to take that chance," Tiana said. "Transfer control to me, Delphi."

"Yes, Tiana."

Tiana fired breaking engines to enter the planet's atmosphere. The X-502 experienced some roughness at 3000 meters when it flew through a thunderstorm, but Tiana dived down to 1000 meters to search for a landing place. She found one near the city in the form of a large paved circle.

When the crew exited the X-502, they attracted no attention at first. Masai and Noesa stood out away from the ship so that they would be the first people any aliens would see.

A large crowd formed, but they stayed back. Only four aliens approached, and when they saw Masai and Noesa, they halted.

"Who are you? Where did you come from?"

"We are from the collection of stars near this collection of stars that you are in," Masai said. "We came here to warn you of a dangerous species that has ravaged many species in our collection of stars and who we believe may be in this collection of stars."

"Your speech is not like ours, but yet we understand you. How is this possible?"

"We are a species similar to yours," Masai said. "We are related."

"We have heard the stories of how people from this planet left to find a new planet, but we dismissed it as myth."

"It is not myth, and we are proof of it," Noesa said.

"Who are these strangers you are with?" the alien asked.

"They are the ones that we travel with. They are here to search for the evil creatures who kill and eat people like us."

"We know not of any such creatures, however, we have experienced many disappearances."

"You have been violated by the evil creatures," Masai said. "Your people have been taken away and killed for food by these creatures."

"Come, and we will have you talk to those of us who study the heavens. They may be able to help you."

The crew followed the aliens to a building that resembled an inverted dome. The strange structure appeared to be precariously balanced on a point. Inside, they beheld a huge complicated device that Masai reasoned to be a telescope. They entered this observatory and stood in awe of its massive size.

Ferris' first impression of these aliens was that they were ruled by a committee of both male and female. There was no evidence of Masai's peoples' matriarchal mistreatment of men. That anomaly had to have developed after Masai's progenitors had left this planet.

"Welcome to our observatory," a male alien said. "We understand that you are searching for possible habitable planets near here."

"Yes," Masai said. "We are not familiar with this galaxy and it is too large to explore in a reasonable time."

"We will give you some choices. These are stars that we know to have habitable planets."

"We appreciate your help," Masai said.

The X-501 crew was not having the same success. They had been taken to a pyramid-shaped building with no windows. Marty assumed that it was a government building where the affairs of the planet were determined because twelve aliens sat behind a long curved table and it was obvious that they ruled.

"We have been told that you claim to have come from the galaxy near us and that you are an ancestor of people that came from this galaxy."

"That is correct," Rosie said. "The progenitors of my people came from this planet. I travel with these people to help them find evil creatures that kill and eat them. I am responsible for determining where these evil creatures are."

"Your responsibility will be a difficult one," one of the seated aliens said. "This galaxy is large and has many stars."

"We were hoping that you could provide us with some direction," Rosie said. "We are not familiar with this galaxy."

"We may be able to provide you with some surveys of the space near our world, but we can not guarantee that it will provide you with the location of these alleged evil creatures."

"We will appreciate any aid that you can give us."

"We have reason to believe that these creatures that you say are killing and eating you do not exist. There is another species that has destroyed them and their world."

"We have heard of this," Rosie said. "They are some sort of machine beings that have a disdain for biological species and are systematically executing them."

That caused the seated aliens to look at each other.

"This is distressing to us," a seated alien said. "We are not a violent species and do not wish to be involved in a violent conflict."

"You may have no choice," Rosie said. "These machine beings will eventually find you and destroy you. We are dedicated to annihilating any species that is considered opposed to life and we have the means to destroy an entire star system."

"That is impossible. Your small ship could not possibly possess that much power."

"Our small ship has enough power to completely destroy your planet. However, we are only a scout ship from a much larger and more powerful vessel."

"We do not wish to earn your wrath," a seated alien said. "We are a peaceful people."

"We have no desire to harm you," Rosie said. "We are not conquerors. We came here for your help. If you do not wish to help us, we will leave in peace."

"We understand. We will give you whatever you want."

"Thank you," Rosie said, smiling in her alien way.

The crew of the X-501 was treated to a tour of the alien city. Each building served a separate function. Some were for the construction of devices. Others processed food. Still others had clerks busy with record keeping. Inside one building, they were shown a chamber where rule violators were punished and several aliens stood in a line to wait to be punished.

"Why are you showing us this?" Rosie asked.

"We are a closed society," a female alien said. "But, we have no secrets. Our citizens are expected to obey the rules of society. Those who do not are punished."

"By what method are they punished?" Rosie asked.

"You are familiar with it," the alien said.

When they entered the chamber, Marty and Rosie found a naked alien strapped on a metal table. Another alien was busy cutting something on  its body.

"What's going on here?" Marty asked Rosie.

"That is a male. They are excising his sex organ."

Marty's eyebrow rose. "Oh my! I thought that your males had no organs."

"Their organs are protractile."

When Marty saw a large round bloody tubular object being held up so that the victim could see it, he cringed. "Damn, that's an extremely cruel punishment."

"It is the main punishment method for males on my planet," Rosie said.

Marty swallowed hard. This would be equivalent to having his penis cut off. That was an ugly thought that he wasn't prepared to consider.

"This punishment is not permanent," Rosie said. "His organ will grow back. He will not be participating in any sexual activity for a while."

That's for sure.

As disturbing as that was, the next large buiding held more horror. Inside was a zoo containing hundreds of displays of various living intelligent species, including several species of pseudo-human and human, Drak, Dragon and many unknown species.

"I thought that these people didn't go out into space. Where did all of these come from?"

"Obviously, they are stock from past times when they did go ito space," Rosie said.

Marty peered into the display that held several humans. They looked back at him with curious eyes. These zoo humans were dressed in rags much like those humans that inhabited Dragon farms. Some pregnant females were naked as were the children. Marty wondered what it would be like living in one of these zoo displays.