Ivan Kal - Out of the Ashes

Quvor looked as the small ship turned and went back to the bigger one, then the big ship slowly turned and left.

“I don’t really feel right leaving them like this. We have already done irreversible damage to their society.” Andros said.

Johanna felt the same, it seemed somehow irresponsible to her. They pass through their system, changing everything about their views of the universe, and then just leave. She chose to involve herself, to help an alien ship in need, because she felt that it was the right thing to do. She remembered what Fleets Master Reiss told her. That she was to use her own judgment, but not to endanger her own mission. But what about this alien world? It will change now that they know that there are other races out there. Johanna remembered all those movies and books that she so loved in her youth. In most of those, the advanced species would withhold knowledge, saying how the lesser race wasn’t yet advanced enough. It always seemed silly to Johanna. And now she was in that position. She knew little about these people, hell she didn’t even know what they looked like, what right did she have to change their world? But she had to pass through their system, because of the needs of her own people. The least she could do was give them something in return for shattering their reality.

“Turiel.” Johanna said.

“Yes, Fleet Commander?”

“I want you to put together a package of information…”

“Commander.” The Computer said.

“What is it?” Quvor asked.

“We are getting another transmission, from the unidentified object.” The Computer said.

“Well, play it.” Quvor said.

“It is a video message Commander, and there is also a data file.”

Quvor’s ears twitched and he reached over and played the video.

An Image of an alien sitting in a chair aboard some kind of control center appeared on Quvor’s screen. The alien had no hair on its face, only on top of its head and it was a long mane that fell was pulled back behind it. The alien started speaking but no sound came through, then after a short delay a synthetic voice started speaking. “ I wanted to keep the interaction between our people to a minimum. Because your people have not yet reached the level where you can travel among the stars. The things did not go that way, because I made a choice. And even if I didn’t make it, you would have still changed. ” The alien paused, “ The universe is a dangerous place. If you choose to join us out here, you will need to be ready to face the consequences of that course. So, I leave you with this small gift. I hope that you use it wisely. Farewell. ” The screen went black, and Quvor looked at the data file the aliens have sent. Most of the information was in an alien language, but there were a few files that were translated into his, along with a guide to deciphering their language. Quvor’s eyes widened. From what he could understand, this data will change everything.

“Did I do the right thing?” Johanna asked.

“I don’t know. I guess that we will see in time.” Andros said, and Johanna nodded. The aliens have been trying to contact them for the entire trip her fleet took through their system on its way to the trans-station. But Johanna never answered. What she gave them would have to be enough. There was little of importance to Olympus there, mostly things to put them on the right track. After the light cruiser Ajax returned to the fleet, they knew where to look, and once they passed their planet they could see the glare of her ships drives. Johanna tried to imagine what was happening on their world as they watched her fleet pass.

“We are ready for transfer Fleet Commander.” Navigation Handler said.

“Notify the fleet, we are clear to begin transfer.” Johanna said.

Quvor was glued to his screen watching the feed from his home planet. They used a much more powerful telescope that was in the orbit of his home world to watch the aliens. And he had access to that feed. There were ten ships in total, and Quvor was amazed to see that the ship that helped him was one of the smallest ones. The largest was more than ten times bigger than Quvor’s ship.

Things have already changed drastically back home. At first the government wanted to keep the knowledge of aliens a secret, but such things can rarely be kept. The information leaked to the public, and the impact was monumental. Some people rejoiced in the knowledge that they were not alone. That there were others out there. Others took to the streets, rioting. But as aliens kept going without answering any communications, the situation calmed down a bit. Things were changing. Quvor looked at the alien fleet and wondered how different his life would have been if they didn’t happen by. If he managed to figure out what was wrong with his ship on his own he would have continued on his path to Rofvax. If everything went according to plan he would have been the first person to step on Rofvax. And now he was ordered to turn back, the mission he once thought would be the greatest achievement of his life was now forgotten. His name would be remembered in his peoples history, but not as the first person on Rofvax, but as the first Trivaxian to make contact with an alien race.

Then, as he watched the alien fleet a flash of violet appeared among the ships, and in the next moment they were gone.

August 2171 – Earth

The stench of the city was rotten, so Aileen adjusted the mask on over her mouth. She walked among the filthy and the sick. People lying down on the street in makeshift cots, dirty and thin. Their grimed faces hiding bleak expressions. Few bothered to look up at Aileen as she passed. They cared for nothing, living only out of habit. Aileen called them the walking dead, because that was what they looked like to her. Ra’a’zani left them alone, they were insignificant to Ra’a’zani needs. When they need slaves for the breeding camps or the mines, they go after those healthy and young. Mostly those who managed to come together in communities, whether in the cities or out in the wilderness. They were what Aileen referred to as free slaves, in her own private thoughts. Free because Ra’a’zani leave them alone for the most part, trusting their irregular patrols and inspections to keep them in check. These people have long ago learned that trying to hide weapons and anything else that the Ra’a’zani banned, was a quick way to get entire communities killed. Instead they go about their lives, such as they are, and accept that at any moment they can be taken to the mines or the breeding camps. The next level of slaves were the ones Aileen referred to as entitled slaves, those who have sold out their fellow humans when the Ra’a’zani came. They did whatever the Ra’a’zani wanted them to do. Build, serve, some even joining suspect communities in order to later expose them to Ra’a’zani. They had privileges, food, water, power, all in exchange for their freedom. Aileen was good with that, she was after all an entitled slave. She heard speeches from the other slaves about what freedom is, and what it means. But it meant nothing to her, she was young when the Ra’a’zani came. And before she lived on the streets, much like some lived now. For her things didn’t change much.

Finally, after walking another few blocks she came to her destination. She entered the small gray brick building. Cots were arranged inside on the both sides of the room. She knew that the ‘owner’ of the building allowed people to come inside and sleep during the night, usually different people every night. As it was now day, it was mostly empty. Aileen spotted the person she was here to see and made her way to him. The black robed figure heard her steps and turned around. Once he recognized her, his face split in a welcoming smile.