Anthony DeCosmo - Parallels

"Do you consider that a surprise?" Evan asked.

"Senator Godfrey, it confirms that the basic building blocks of life are obviously the same. We may come from different planets, but we could easily have sprung from the same type of seed."

"Good God," Whitman burst. "You’re telling us that we have a lot in common with these things. I’m not sure I can accept that."

"However, during the course of studying alien DNA we came upon a find that may shed light on the nature of what has been happening to our planet. We were able to identify small-tiny-amounts of damage to the stem cells of the aliens that have come to our world. We believe radiation caused this damage, albeit a kind different of radiation than that attributed to the mass disappearances. Now, NASA had been studying the effects of stellar radiation on the human body to understand how it would affect long-distance space flight. They found a threat to stem cells in particular."

Whitman jumped in, "But the aliens here didn’t come on space vessels, they came through those damn gateways."

Evan held an impatient hand aloft. Whitman must learn when to listen and when to speak.

Anita responded, "I understand that. We believe that their travel through the gateway caused this damage to their stem cells. Nothing major, mind you."

"So we need to be worried about the aliens’ health? Maybe we should offer them free health care," Wasniewski joked but no one laughed. His smile faded fast.

She said, "Damage might not be the right word; perhaps 'marking' would be more accurate, but let's stick with damage for now."

"But..?" Evan wanted to move things along.

"But what’s interesting is the degree of damage done. We’ve identified several very specific levels of damage."

"Wait a second," Godfrey leapt. "You’re saying that different batches of these aliens were exposed to different levels of radiation."

"Consistently, yes."

"I’m lost," Whitman pouted.

Evan answered for Anita, "She's saying that we’ve been able to identify that different groups of aliens came from different points of origin. Am I right?"

Anita smiled in appreciation of his explanation and added, "Yes. For instance, we know that the creatures we call ‘Vikings’ come from the same environment that the animals nicknamed ‘Jaw-Wolves’ and ‘Rat-Things’ come from. And that Hivvans almost certainly originated from the same place as Gremlins. The amount and types of radiation damage to their stem cells links those groups together. It’s as if they traveled further through their gateways or through a different type of gateway…something."

"As if they all traveled on the same bus together," Evan put the final touch on her analysis. He then asked, "Have any we can communicate with-like the Hivvans-told us more about what they know?"

"Very little. We’ve never interrogated a high ranking officer. The most information we’ve obtained from these creatures is that they were either forced or volunteered to come through a gateway to get here. We believe the planets they came from are in our universe but the descriptions they gave of the environments and so forth indicate amazing ecosystems."

Evan said, "But all based on the same genetic framework. So they may look different and have different cultures but they are-biologically speaking-similar to human beings. They breathe air, drink water, and eat food for sustenance."

"Well said, Senator. One might even dare to suggest that we sprung from similar ancient gene pools, but evolution chose different appearances and some different traits, based on the planets each of us are from."

Godfrey asked, "Mrs. Nehru, how is it that aliens that have the technology to cross the galaxy don't have military technology that could wipe us out with the push of a button?"

"Senator, there are several possible answers but I think the most likely explanation is that the gateway technology did not originate with the invaders."

"Wait a second," Whitman waved a hand. "You said you can differentiate between groups of aliens coming from different places. How many have you identified?"

"We’ve identified four distinct damage patterns we feel indicate four points of origin. However, we haven’t cataloged even half of the creatures in the Hostiles Database at this point. That number could double before we’re done."

"Interesting," Evan mused.

"There are two other mysteries just as big."

They came to the end of the bridge. Anita opened the secure door there and they walked into a security station. Several guards with side arms worked there.

"Such as?" Godfrey prompted.

"First, we’ve seen only higher life forms. The smallest thing we’ve done battle with has been cat-sized cock roaches. While they are insect in appearance, they have more in common with tigers, lions, and bears than ants and millipedes."

"What do you mean? What is the difference?" Wasniewski asked.

"Insects perform a vital function in relation to soil and plant life; bees pollinate flowers, worms and beetles decompose organic matter. We’ve found alien carrion eaters but nothing that really lives at the background level. For example, where are the alien versions of spiders or flies? Where are the alien flowers? Or weeds? Just as important, where is the alien bacteria and archaea; those are the categories for simpler organisms that do not have membranes separating their DNA from the rest of the cell."

The expressions on their faces told Anita she might be throwing around too many scientific buzzwords. She decided to simplify.

"When Columbus came to America he brought with him nasty diseases and new viruses. Logic suggests that the alien invaders should have come to our planet with that type of baggage. But they didn’t. And our bacterium appears not to have an effect on them."

"I recall Trevor once suggested that the aliens went through a decontamination process and likely received inoculation against bacteria on Earth," Evan remembered.

"Yes, the obvious answer is that this was a well-organized, well-planned invasion. It also suggests there were parameters. Rules, if you will. Some agreement that dictated what could or could not come over. I mean, do you know how many problems Earth suffered from insect or rodent species changing ecosystems? Snakehead fish are a good example. Someone transported them from their native habitat in Asia to some North American waters. They had no natural enemies and almost destroyed indigenous species. Imagine what alien roaches or other pests could do to our environment. Or an alien disease so different it would take medical science years to understand it. We could have been wiped out without a single shot fired."

Whitman said, "Isn’t it possible that all of that is the same on their home worlds? Maybe insects have come, we just haven’t noticed because they are identical to what we have here?"

Everyone looked at Whitman, surprised at the thoughtfulness of his suggestion.

Anita answered, "That’s possible. It would explain how they survive here with minimal effort."

"You raise some interesting questions," Evan conceded.

"Ah, Senator Godfrey, if you think that’s interesting, now consider this."

She led them to one of the security monitors and told the guard there to "Punch up three."

The man pushed a button and the monitor displayed a "Mutant" in its pen. The humanoid creature wore a leather-like outfit over pale skin, had an oval-almost egg-shaped-head, a massive mouth, and tiny eyes positioned above small flaps that might have been nostrils.

"Just another alien invader, right?" She suggested.

"No," Evan said. His face went blank and, for a moment, he lost his statesman aura and shivered. For a moment, he was just another survivor with horrific memories.