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Among Us
Part one: The Bamboo Tomb
D. A. Ratliff
Heavy gray skies hovered over the Kansai International Airport as the plane dropped out of the clouds only seconds before it landed. As if my nerves were not already raw, landing on a runway the length of the island did little to help. The pilot managed to stop the plane short of dropping us into Osaka Bay. Only then did I breathe.
Like a herd of animals, passengers stood and disembarked in unison. Once inside the terminal, I only wanted to claim my luggage and find the transportation reserved for me.
Efficiency was the airport’s motto, and within ten minutes, I had my bag and headed for the arrival gate to locate the driver. I chuckled, only in Japan. The driver held up an iPad with my name flashing on it. He bowed, smiled, took my bag, and within another five minutes, we pulled into traffic and began the hour-and-a-half journey to my destination, Kyoto.
The driver opened the glass partition between us and spoke in lilting accented English. “There is an envelope for you in the seat pocket.” The window slid closed again.
The white, letter-sized envelope bore the label For Eyes Only, with no other markings. Inside was one sheet of paper with a brief message.
Victoria Grace Marcus Ph.D.:
When you arrive in Kyoto, you will receive information of the utmost secrecy. Prior to receipt of this information, please sign the statement below declaring that you will maintain the confidentiality entrusted to you and not disclose any classified information.
I read through the oath, a standard ‘don’t tell what you see or hear oath,’ with one exception. A line stating information received from the United States of America, the Government of the United Kingdom, or the Government of Japan was new. I never expected to swear allegiance to another country. Those raw nerves I had now tingled. As I signed, I wondered what I was walking into.
~~~
The coastline of Osaka Bay meandered along the roadway until we turned inland toward Kyoto. I napped a bit as the last twenty-four hours had been tiring. Japan had always fascinated me, but this was my first visit outside Tokyo and Yokohama. A Japanese colleague I met during a Tokyo conference regaled about Kyoto’s beauty and history and how I must visit someday—today’s the day.
We wound through the business section of Kyoto, stopping on a narrow street in front of a building designed from more ancient times. A simple cloth banner with Shizukana Kawa hand-painted hung beside a nondescript door.
The driver slid the window open. “Your hotel, ma’am.” He exited and opened my door, and a young man dressed in black pants and a Mandrian collared tunic came out of the hotel to take my luggage and carry-on bag.
I started to tip the driver, and he shook his head. “No tips, please. Good day.” Surprised, I entered the hotel.
Elegant was the only description I could give of the décor—natural fabrics, lovely wood floors, with exquisite artwork—simple and serene. As I approached the front desk, the clerk smiled.
“Welcome to Shizukana Kawa, Dr. Marcus.”
I was curious that she knew my name until a familiar voice from the past spoke. “Tori, it is wonderful to see you.”
Turning around, Liam Crane stood in the lounge. I could not say a word, but I was surprised to find him in Kyoto.
He grinned. “I know it’s a shock, but there is much to discuss. Let me take you to your suite, and we can talk.” He took the room keycard from the clerk and led me to the elevator.
The suite was as beautiful as the lobby. But I was not in the mood for a tour. “I need you to tell me what is going on. Less than twenty-four hours ago, I was grading quizzes at my desk at Berkley. Now, I am thousands of miles away in a hotel room in Japan with a man I haven’t seen in seventeen years. Why?”
He uncorked a bottle of wine. “Do you have the document left for you?”
“Yes.” I handed it to him.
Liam glanced at it, took a photo, and placed a call saying only, “Dr. Marcus signed.” He folded the document and slipped it and his phone into his inside suit jacket pocket. He poured wine and motioned for me to sit. I didn’t.
I was out of patience. “Liam, what are you doing here? What am I doing here?”
“All in good time.”
“No, you will tell me now. Why are you here? Then you can explain why I am.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Am I….” I stopped. I was hungry. “Yes.”
“Good, let me order you an omelet.” He picked up the room phone and ordered dinner in Japanese, then handed me a glass of wine.
“Now, while we wait for your food, let me fill you in.” He paused, and I interrupted.
“I need to know what you are doing here. Who are you working for?”
Liam smiled and motioned me to sit again.
“Always inquisitive, the mark of an excellent scientist and intellect. I work for the CIA.”
My eyebrow must have reacted and raised involuntarily. He chuckled. “Yes, college playboy Liam Crane is a spook. CIA recruited me directly out of law school. Are you surprised?”
“Surprised is a good description. But why are you here?”
“I am here because there is an unknown but potential threat to the world. Which is where you come in.”
“Where do I come in? Is there an asteroid coming that no one has told us about?” I was being facetious. I would have known about impending asteroids—I’m on that committee.
“You are here for a few reasons. You are an astrophysicist and an astrobiologist, although not officially yet. You completed and presented your dissertation, but you still have orals to go before receiving your Ph.D. in that discipline.”
“You know a lot about me. Oh wait… you are a spook.”
“Tori, those credentials alone could bring you here, but you also hold top-secret clearance for the US, and your location in San Francisco allowed us to get you here faster.”
“Wow, all that, and I make a great Bellini, too.”
Liam leaned forward, elbows on knees. “I also remember you well enough that you tend to joke when rattled. But this matter is of the utmost secrecy as we do not know what we are dealing with.”
“Tell me.”
“Approximately two weeks ago, visitors to Arashiyama Park began to report feeling dizzy and nauseous in the park. Park officials could find nothing out of the ordinary, but many complaints continued to the Japanese Tourist Association. When they could get no answers, they turned to the Japanese government. At the same time, the US and British military began monitoring an anomaly and traced the signal to Arashiyama Park. Jointly, they decided to close the park and investigate the anomaly.”
“What type of anomaly?”
“It appears to be a particle beam, electromagnetic.”
“I assume you searched the area. Has a source of this beam been located?”
“Yes, it’s within the Bamboo Forest.”
“I’ve seen photos of the Bamboo Forest. It’s beautiful.” I took a sip of wine. “What steps are being taken to pinpoint the location of the signal?”
“The Japanese government brought in a team of scientists, including an archaeologist. The official statement to the public reported a possible gas leak as a cover. They cordoned off the area, and the park remains closed.”
“What have they found, if anything?” A shiver shimmied down my back at the look on his face.
“They found an artifact. The intention is to move it, but I insisted it remains until you see where it lies now.”
“An artifact? Ancient Japanese artifact?”
“We don’t think so.”
A knock on the door saved the moment. He answered and brought my dinner tray to me. “You will love the food here. A friend from my days stationed in the UK is an MI-6 agent, and his family owns several hotel properties, including this one. We are both listed as working with the hotel group. With locations around the world, it is a perfect cover.”
“The hotel is beautiful.” I took a bite of the omelet. “This is delicious.”
“Told you.”
“Go on, please.” I continued eating while he explained further.
“The signal came from underground. Fortunately, we could dig in a clearing, which kept the demolition of any plants to a minimum. Excavation began five days ago, with teams working in shifts as the workers suffered nausea and disorientation after short exposure. Two days ago, we discovered the artifact.”
“What does it look like? Old World War II munitions? What?”
“We have not been able to identify it, but we are pretty certain it is not from the war.”
Liam walked to a cabinet, opened a door, and retrieved a leather case. “This contains what we know so far and should bring you up to speed.”
Inside the case were documents marked Top Secret by all three countries, and I felt a bit of trepidation at opening it, but I did. Flipping past the title page, I found several photos.
“What is this?” I pointed to a photo of the dig site. At the bottom of the excavated hole lay an oval cylinder-shaped metal object with tapered ends, smooth except for marks carved into the metal near one end.
“We have no idea, but as soon as we exposed the object to the air, the signal stopped.” Liam rose. “You must be tired. Meet me in the lobby at six-forty-five a.m. The sun will be up then. Bring the binder and dress warmly. There was snow today and more coming overnight.”
“I brought winter clothes on the advice of the two State Department guys who escorted me home from my office and then to the airport. Why State and not the Defense Department?”
“Our governments decided not to appear to be concerned about military action. The respective departments of State are a cover.”
“Are you expecting military involvement?”
“That’s what you are here to tell us. Good night, Tori.”
~~~
The scent of lemon and ginger wafted from the Hinoki wood tub as the hot water released the wood’s natural oils. I closed my eyes, relaxing for the first time since my adventure began.
The information Liam left for me was puzzling but exciting. The data recorded by the scientists monitoring the beam was inconclusive, but their supposition that it appeared to be electromagnetic particle emission appeared valid. My tired brain wouldn’t allow me to recall all I had read about the subject. I’ll enjoy soaking in this beautiful tub tonight, and tomorrow, I’ll play astrophysicist.
~~~
Liam greeted me early the following morning with coffee and a breakfast sandwich. After getting in the car, chauffeured by the driver who picked me up at the airport, I held up my sandwich. “An English muffin with sausage, egg, and cheese? All this wonderful Japanese food here, and you stopped at an American fast-food restaurant?”
“I like this, don’t you?”
“I love it. And the coffee.” We ate as we drove through the city streets, reluctant to discuss the artifact. Liam kept me entertained with the history of Kyoto.
The trip took thirty minutes, and when we arrived, the location of the beautiful gardens shocked me. The entrance was quite close to a train station, and the city seemed to encroach on the forest and the mountains in the distance.
Walking toward the gate, the heavy snow enveloped me in silence. The quiet within a snowstorm is difficult to describe unless experienced. The city noise, so close, deadened to a soft buzz by the blanket of snow. With Liam leading, we turned onto the bamboo forest road, and I was speechless.
Magnificent, soaring bamboo stalks lined the cobblestone path leading deep into the forest. The emerald-green trunks accumulated snow on the nodes, and the tender top leaves, heavy with icy snow, formed a canopy of diamonds above the path.
I didn’t realize I had stopped until Liam touched my arm. “Breathtaking, isn’t it?”
“Indeed, it is.”
“Come, we get off the path near the end.”
We climbed over a ladder between the thick parted grass and the dried bamboo fencing surrounding the trail. The snow-covered ground crunched under my boots, and I expected fairies, wizards, and handsome princes to appear. Instead, ahead of me sat a tent with transparent plastic sides nestled between the rows of bamboo. Liam headed toward a man in a chartreuse ski jacket.
“Tori, I’d like you to meet Dai Akagi, who is with the Japanese Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office, better known as CIRO. Dai, may I introduce Dr. Victoria Marcus, the astrophysicist from the US that we requested join us.”
Akagi bowed and, in perfect English, greeted me. “It is an honor to meet you, Doctor. Please let me show you what we have found.” He led us to a hole approximately ten feet long and five feet wide. A large pile of dirt, several shovels, and a small chainsaw with bamboo splinters caught in the cutting teeth lay on the ground, indicating they excavated the artifact by hand. Numerous devices for monitoring air and electromagnetic waves lined the hole’s perimeter.
Red tape defined the boundaries, and as I stepped near the edge, Liam held my arm for me to lean over. The hole was at least eight feet deep at its lowest end, with the metal cylinder resting on an incline. Dai leaned over as well.
“Dr. Saitō believes the angle of the buried object reveals it struck Earth from space.”
I stood upright so fast that Liam almost let go of me. “Struck Earth from Space? You think this alien?”
Liam scoffed. “Why we needed an astrophysicist. Let’s go see Dr. Saitō.”
“Dr. Nobu Saitō?” I glanced at Liam.
“Yes. Do you know him?”
“I know of him. He’s a theoretical astrophysicist and, if I remember correctly, supported Dr. Avi Loeb’s hypothesis regarding the so-called alien object called Oumuamua, discovered in 2017.”
“I remember, supposed to be the first alien spacecraft we detected? I thought astronomers debunked that theory.”
“Not so much debunked as alternate and plausible theories for its erratic behavior presented.”
“What do you think?”
“The sci-fi fan in me would love it if it were true, but the scientist in me is more skeptical.”
“If Saitō is correct, then….” Liam grinned and threw up his hands.
“Let’s see what he has to say.”
We crossed over the yellow ladder again and continued down the walking path to another path behind the forest toward a large portable lab trailer at the intersection.
Dr. Saitō sat at a small desk surrounded by equipment and monitors. When we entered, he stood and bowed, introduced the colleague with him, and then looked me straight in the eyes. “Doctor Marcus, the artifact is alien.”
My heart skipped a few beats. Those words are both revered and feared by someone who stares at the universe with the burning question of whether there is life elsewhere. Steven Hawking warned us that contact with aliens who were more advanced than us could prove disastrous. That thought raced through my brain as I struggled to find my voice but managed to speak. “Please show me the data you have.”
Liam and Dai stepped out, and I reviewed Dr. Saitō’s findings over the next two hours. It frightened me that I could find no reason to disagree with him. He sat quietly as I poured through the data, answering questions as I came to them, and when finished, I was in awe at the work he had done in only a few days.
“Dr. Saitō, I can only echo your initial findings. I know of no other conclusion we could come to.”
He smiled softly. “Please call me Nobu. I see no other path than the one invited to travel.”
“You think recent seismic activity awakened this artifact?”
He nodded toward his colleague, “Dr. Kimura looked at recent tectonic incidents in the Kyoto Prefecture. He found a 2.6 earthquake along the Hanaore fault corresponding to the signal detected.”
“But haven’t there been many earthquakes in the area that could have triggered the signal at any time?”
“Yes, but we suspect the exact harmonic created by that particular plate triggered the artifact to emit that sound.”
“And it stopped?” He nodded, and I speculated. “Either a timed loop or atmospheric?”
“When we uncovered the cylinder, sunlight could have deactivated the beacon. Regardless, it helped us recover it as we could not remain in the area for long.”
“You have no idea how old it is?”
“The metal’s composition is unknown, so metallurgy testing does no good, and it’s not organic, so there is no carbon dating. We have done a soil analysis, but nothing definitive. We will seek information from an astrogeologist when our governments allow it.”
“Do you have any thoughts?”
“The leading citizens of Japan have visited this area since the 700s, building temples and residences along the river to enjoy the view of the mountains. The bamboo grove is natural and considered protection for the temples. Taiki is from the area and researched writings from temple monks. He found a reference to a streaking ball of fire in the night in 1684 that landed in the forest, but no other details. It is certainly not definitive, but perhaps that is when the artifact arrived.”
As I started to comment, Liam and Dai returned. Liam sighed. “We received orders to immediately prepare the artifact for transportation to a remote research facility. I suggest that you gather any additional data required now. A helicopter will transport the artifact to the airport and onto a US Air Force plane.”
~~~
Fourteen hours after excavating the artifact, we took a second helicopter to the Kansai International Airport, where we boarded a US Air Force C-5 Galaxy and departed. Liam introduced me to his counterparts from MI-6 and the French Directorate-General for External Security, DGES. Once in the air, a Space Force officer, General Elliot Stern, informed us that we were heading to McMurdo Station in Antarctica but did not elaborate.
The flight to Christchurch, New Zealand, was long, refueling mid-air and stopping on the ground. At some point, I lost track of time, and my eyes glazed over from reading the research data so many times. We overnighted in Christchurch and were exhausted. I had dinner, a hot shower, and slept for ten hours.
A call from Liam roused me from my sleep. He informed me it was time to leave. I pulled out the thermal clothing Space Force issued us, and I was a bit surprised at the NASA worm logo on the clothes. The good thing is that they looked warm, and I was thankful. After breakfast at the hotel, we took a bus to the airport, where we boarded a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster for the five-hour flight to McMurdo. Special ops airmen—spacemen, not sure what the term is—escorted us to a block of passenger seats at the front of the cargo area. A large steel container holding the artifact sat bolted to the deck among several cargo containers.
An hour before arrival, General Stern asked for our attention as an aide handed folders to us. The five of us sucked in an audible breath simultaneously at the title of the document. The heading was the Global Secrecy Act. Our reactions were noticeable.
The general spoke. “Yes, I know you are surprised to see the name on this document. You hold the highest security clearances for your respective governments. However, you do not. Before we proceed, please read the document, and sign it. Colonel Weston and Colonel Brazier will witness your signatures.”
At that moment, we would have all sold our souls to know what security this document concerned. There was a scribble of pens, and the colonels collected the documents and witnessed them quickly. The general looked at each of us before he spoke.
“Ten years ago, the discovery of an anomaly in Antarctica resulted in the formation of The Global Security Act. The seven countries that claim territory on Antarctica, along with the United States, Germany, and Japan, agreed to maintain the secrecy of this finding.”
I wasn’t sure whether to be terrified or excited. “General, what did you find, and is the artifact in Japan connected?”
“Dr. Marcus, what we found in Antarctica is an alien base, for lack of an accurate term—an enormous structure under the ice. When Dr. Saitō saw the markings on the Japanese artifact, as a member of the Antarctic Project, he immediately made the connection.” He glanced at his watch. “We will be landing at 1400 local time, weather permitting. We are using the cover that you are NASA scientists here to evaluate the ongoing research project on the effects of hazardous hostile environments on astronauts. You will have limited time at McMurdo. You can have a meal and relax until we have loaded the transports. Then, you begin the trek to the outpost and the alien compound. If there are no questions, I ask that you not discuss any information you have received until you arrive at the outpost. Thank you.”
Liam leaned back in the seat. “Wasn’t expect that.”
I agreed.
~~~
We traveled two hours inland from Ross Island, where McMurdo was located, to the Antarctic Project outpost. The futuristic building was totally unlike what I expected. Its smooth, graceful, undulating surface blended into the terrain, and only when the transport stopped could I determine the entrance. We exited the bus and entered the equally modern interior.
A person I knew very well greeted us. My undergraduate astrobiology professor, Dr. Marian Cortez, beamed when she saw me.
“Tori, it is wonderful that you are here!” After hugging me, she introduced the team. “I know what you learned today is overwhelming. I’ve been here for seven years, and it still overwhelms me. Let Jack show you to your quarters, where you can drop your things, and then I will take you inside.”
We traveled through a corridor surrounding a central core connected to several pods. When we reached the housing pods, Jack gave us our assigned quarters. Feeling considerably lighter after I got out of the heavy pants, coat, and boots, I rejoined the group.
Dr. Cortez led us to the elevator in the central core. “Before we descend, let me tell you that we discovered this structure ten years ago in much the same manner as the artifact in Kyoto. A US satellite detected an electronic quantum pulse coming from Antarctica. Upon exploration, we found something we had never expected. A…” she paused. “Let me just show you.”
No one took a breath as the elevator started to move. When the doors opened, gasps were audible. We stepped into a science fiction set. I was surprised by how spacious and bright it was. What looked like white polished stone covered the curved corridor walls with lighting panels interspersed along the length. The gray decking material seemed to contour to my feet as I walked.
Dai was the first to find his voice. “How old is this place? It looks brand new.”
“We believe the compound has been here for seven hundred to a thousand years. But it could be even longer, and we have no idea when the inhabitants abandoned it. The first explorers inside said that as soon as they uncovered the hatch and exposed the interior to sunlight, power came on, and life support—heat and breathable air—activated. We at least know whoever was here before breathed virtually the same mix of oxygen and nitrogen that we do, so we must assume they were human or at least humanoid. And the furnishing and controls here bear that assumption out as well. We think we understand some things, but in truth, we know little.” She motioned down the hall. “Let me take you on a tour so you can see for yourself.”
For the next hour and a half, Dr. Cortez led us through corridor after corridor for five levels. We saw what the team deduced were labs, engineering, a control center, a medical unit, a galley and dining area, and recreational and crew quarters. We were speechless. We returned to the first level, and she took us to a lab we had yet to enter. The artifact from Kyoto rested on a dais in the center of the room, with several scientists hovering over it.
Cortez spoke. “Dr. Marcus, Dr. Saitō recommended you for the Project. When we discovered Agent Crane knew you, we let him be your first contact with the team. As all of you know, if word got out of this discovery, the only thing that would keep us from an epic media invasion is that we are in Antarctica. But that would not stop the chaos that would explode around the world. We need secrecy, at least for now, if this artifact is what we think it is.”
“And that is?” Liam’s voice sounded as shell-shocked as the rest of us.
“We believe it is an escape pod.”
I uttered, stunned. “An escape…. Marian, do you think there is an alien inside?”
“We believe that is a possibility.” Dr. Cortez paused. “There is something else. Things happened here when the electromagnetic beam activated on the artifact while still in Japan. Systems that had not been active came online. We don’t know what they do, but they’re active. There’s a connection between the pod and the compound. We need to find out what it is.”
I wander to a cabinet and notice symbols etched into the metal door. “This looks similar to the symbols on the artifact pod.”
“Yes, their language. We have linguists trying to decipher it.”
I felt lightheaded and grabbed the countertop with my hand to steady myself. This was becoming far too real. Dr. Cortez noticed.
“Come, you have all had a long journey. You need to eat and then get some rest. We can start in the morning.”
~~~
Three months passed, and we entered the over-wintering mode. The last supply plane departed after bringing pallets of food, medicine, cleaning supplies, additional project equipment, five new scientists, and additional Space Force Special Ops. Liam returned as well, which surprised and pleased me.
He walked into my lab with a present. “Tori, it’s good to see you.” He hugged me and handed me a gift bag. “I thought you might like a reminder of where this all began.” Inside was a beautiful bamboo container filled with bamboo shoots and white rock. “I asked the park botanist if he would make cuttings from the bamboo for you.
“It’s beautiful. I love it.” I placed it on my desk. “I didn’t expect you back?”
“I… okay, I decided I didn’t want you to be here all winter alone. Lots of unknowns here….
“My knight in shining armor?”
“More like a snowsuit. Tell me, what’s happening?”
“Quite a bit. We continue to explore the compound. It’s so much larger than anyone expected. We found additional access hatches to other areas and another lower level. There appears to be an additional power plant on the new level. Life support and equipment powered up as soon as we accessed the area, as the previous ones had. We can’t go in until the Space Force SOs and an engineering team conduct safety checks, and we still haven’t determined the power source. Whatever it is, the engineers say it is like nothing we have ever seen. Other than that, it’s quiet.”
“Quiet is good. I’m starving. If I remember correctly, it’s dinner time. Would you like to join me?
“I would. Starved here, too.”
As I turned out the lab lights, I thought it was quiet, but quiet never lasted.
~~~
One month later, at 0400 on a Friday morning, everything changed.
I left my lab at 0100 hrs., exhausted and intending to sleep for as long as possible. We had been putting in a lot of stressful hours as the compound was increasingly coming alive. Equipment that lay dormant after the initial power-up was beginning to activate. We had yet to decipher the language, so we had no idea what any item did and what could be harmful.
Because the pod, nicknamed the Bamboo Tomb, had shown signs of energizing, one Special Ops officer and at least one scientist were always present in the lab. Just before 0400, an electronic whine began, and the panel on the pod’s side activated. The SO present activated the General Alarm.
The grating buzzing sound woke me from a deep sleep, and it took me a moment to get oriented. Between the alarm’s blare, I heard Dr. Ron Hyatt’s voice requesting senior science personnel report to the pod lab. I pulled on the pants and top I had worn the night before and raced out of my quarters.
The elevator was in use, so I opened the hatch door to the access ladder and climbed down one level. Several people exited the elevator as I entered the corridor. I caught up with Liam as we reached the lab doorway, with Marian just behind us.
Two SOs stood with weapons drawn but pointed to the floor, and Dr. Hyatt stood at the pod. He turned as we entered, smiling at Dr. Ortiz. “Marian, I believe we are about to have company.”
Marian nodded. “Okay, I want everyone to leave except for Ron, Tori, Dr. Saitō, Liam, Dai, and security. You can monitor from the main lab on the surface.”
We waited. The silence was deafening, and we all felt anxiety building. I’m not a nail-biter, but I was fast becoming one. When the latch clicked on the pod, even the SOs jumped. Everyone was breathing heavily as the top of the pod began to open. None of us could speak at the first glimpse of what was inside.
The occupant appeared to be a human male, identical in all appearances to us, with one notable exception. His skin held the slightest tinge of blue. As an astrobiologist, this situation was in my wheelhouse, and I stepped closer to the pod. The SOs reacted, but I waved them off and looked closer at the body. I noted his chest’s slight rise and fall and touched his cheek. His skin was cold. “Marian, we need medical here.”
She called for the medical team. Doctor Jacobs, a Space Force Colonel, arrived with two assistants. He stood over the body for the briefest moment before he spoke. “With what we know about this environment, I am going to treat this patient as if he is human.” He turned to his team. “Let’s get him to sickbay.”
I stopped him. “Take him to the complex medical unit.”
Once, in what we believed was the alien sick bay, the med techs placed the humanoid on what we thought was a diagnostic bed. As soon as his body touched the surface, the panel above the bed lit up, and an energy field appeared around him. Jacobs shrugged. “Now we wait.”
Time ticked past, and I slumped on the lab bench, napping, awakening when Liam brought me coffee. He sat beside me. “Anything new?”
“No, but the indicators on that panel are rising, and his body temp is higher.”
“You should get something to eat.”
“I’m not….” I stopped when the forcefield dissipated. Jacobs rushed to the bed, then took a step back. “He’s awake.”
The alien sat up with Jacobs’s help. He gazed around the room and then spoke in an unfamiliar language. I stepped forward.
“Greetings. I am Dr. Victoria Marcus. It’s good to see that you are alive. Can you understand us?”
He raised his hand and waved his hand toward himself. I wasn’t sure what he wanted, but I kept talking.
“You are on Earth. We believe that you crashed in the pod we found buried in a place called Japan. The frequency emitted by the pod caused equipment to activate within this compound, so we brought you here.”
He motioned again. I kept talking. “Once here, your pod activated. We assumed….”
“That my escape pod was activated by proximity to this station.” He smiled while I stood dumbfounded but finally found my voice.
“You can understand me.”
“Yes, I needed you to speak while the translator chip in my brain learned your language.”
“That fast?”
“The translator only needs a few root words to extrapolate language. You found me and brought me here?”
“Yes.”
“I must see the pod.” He stood a bit wobbly, and the doctor asked him to sit. “No, I am fine. Take me to the pod.”
The doctor agreed, and we escorted the alien to the pod. He pulled a small device from inside and tapped on its surface. A holographic image of symbols appeared. “I must thank the bioengineers who created the escape pod. This tells me I have been in hibernation for three hundred and forty-six years and six months of your time measurement.”
Liam spoke. “We suspected that you crashed on Earth at least that far back. Can you tell us about yourself?”
“I am T’Lan Orbat, I am… I was captain of the Lorian Alliance ship, the Praynoc.”
“Lorian?”
“Yes, Loria, my home planet and the center of the Alliance.”
Liam continued. “Do you know what happened to your people in this compound?
“No, I do not.” He wobbled, and his already pale blue skin turned paler.
Dr. Jacobs stepped in. “Enough. He needs rest. You can question him later.”
~~~
We sat in the conference room on the outpost level, remnants of lunch scattered about, when Doctor Jacobs walked in.
“Our guest is stronger now. We gave him fluids and food, and he requested we take him to the compound crew quarters, where he showered—it’s a sonic shower thing—and changed clothing. We brought a portable X-ray and other equipment to the compound level. We took blood, and despite his skin color and how dark his blood is, I can tell you that he is remarkably human. We are doing a DNA test to see how close our species are. For now, he has asked to see the outside world.”
Marion nodded. “Good work, Doctor, and please, bring him here.”
T’Lan, now dressed in dark gray pants and a tunic, entered as we cleared the lunch dishes. He smiled. “I see you have eaten as well. The doctor brought me what you call macaroni and cheese. It was delicious.”
He walked to the wide window, which revealed only thick falling snow swirling in the stiff wind. “Desolate. E’Dor Mori, the expedition’s leader, chose this location as no one from your planet had visited here or even realized its existence. They felt they could monitor your people from here and conduct various sojourns via…” he paused, “I think the word is transports.” He turned and sat at the conference table.
“T’Lan, why did your people come here?”
He glanced around the table. “I know your doctor has done some experimentation, but I can answer your questions about our similarities. We are human, as are you. Our differences are very minute, much of which was determined by subtle environmental differences.”
My heart pounded, and my mind raced as I absorbed this information. My colleagues and I had long debated the possibility of other human species evolving in the galaxy. The answer sat in front of me. “One difference is the color of your skin. Blue is not a common skin color on Earth.”
Doctor Hyatt intervened. “Not exactly true. While not common, there have been blue-skinned people on Earth.”
T’Lan looked shocked. “There are people like me on Earth that you know?”
I shook from excitement. “I read a book about the blue people of Appalachia. I had forgotten. A family had a genetic disease for generations.”
“Yes.” Dr. Hyatt scrolled through his tablet. “Methemoglobinemia is a blood disorder in which there is an unusually high amount of methemoglobin, a form of hemoglobin. With the methemoglobin present, hemoglobin can’t release oxygen effectively, so with reduced oxygen, the skin is blue and the blood deep brown.” He turned the tablet so we could view the image of a family of blue-skinned people.
After a few seconds, as we absorbed what we had learned, Marian asked, “How was it treated?”
“Looks like they used methylene blue, vitamin C, and riboflavin. Scientists considered this a very isolated genetic variant.”
T’Lan stood. “I need to access the control room. You asked what happened to the Lorians who were on this base. I suspect I know.”
~~~
We followed T’Lan to the alien control center, where he sat at a console and tapped a screen, causing a holographic display in the Lorian language. He turned to Marian. “I can add your language to the system and translate the data for you to read.”
“If you can, please do so.”
We waited as he placed a small metal disk on his temple and touched the display, moving images through the air. He tapped an icon, and the language morphed from Lorian to English after a few seconds.
“Now, let me find the director’s last log.” T’Lan swiftly moved through the screens until a woman appeared. He identified her as E’Dor Mori, the director of the compound.
E’Dor looked strained. Her skin was a shade darker blue than T’Lan’s. Dark circles lay under her eyes, her exhaustion evident. She sat at the console we stood in before, and when she spoke, it was as if she was in the room.
“My fellow Lorians. This will be the last report from the Navin Outpost, as long-range sensors show that a battlecruiser from the Thonan Empire will arrive soon. We are sure they have no interest in the emerging population on this planet as they are far too primitive, but they do want us and our technology. We attempted to flee, but the Thonans attacked the Praynoc as it reached Navin, and the ensuing battle destroyed both ships. We are going to do the only thing left to do. Doctor M’Bae has created a genetic treatment to use hemoglobin to carry oxygen in our systems. Our skin will become the color of the natives of this planet, and we will be able to blend in with the population and live our lives out. We vow to help with advances where we can, but the planet must appear to evolve naturally.
The engineers created an energy signal to fool the Thonans into believing that the outpost self-destructed, which should keep the Thonans from attacking. We secured all the research collected, which we encrypted within the data banks, where we hope our people will one day retrieve it.
Each of the expedition members has recorded a message for their families. While we have no idea when the messages may reach their families, their descendants will have closure.
To all the citizens of Loria, we are proud to have served our citizens in the quest for knowledge regarding the universe and its new worlds. Do not mourn us. We recognize the future before us and are excited about our new venture. We have vowed to keep a record of our fate and hope that someday, Loria will read about our lives on the planet we call Navin. May grace be with us all.”
No one spoke as her image faded from the screen. I am sure the others felt what I felt, which was a profound sadness for the Lorians serving on the outpost. While listening to the recording, T’Lan remained still. When it ended, I noticed his shoulders shuddered, and then he sat upright and turned to face us.
“It saddens me that my fellow Lorians had to abandon their post, but I am excited to discover their fate on this planet. I suppose the first order of business would be to contact Loria and let them know what happened to the expedition.”
As he turned back toward the console, Liam spoke. “I’m sorry, T’Lan, but we cannot allow that. I am sure you understand why.”
T’Lan turned to face Liam. He took a deep breath. “It has been many years since I have had any contact, and you are correct in thinking that we do not know the fate of my people and the danger they may pose to yours.”
Liam nodded. “I am sorry, but yes, for now, we cannot allow you to have any contact with your world.”
“Understood. I will obey your directive.” He stood. “With the translation on, you can monitor any access I have to communications. It would be prudent if I began by giving you a tour of the facility, as you have yet to access all levels and teach you about our technology and people.
Marian nodded. “Yes. We can plan on how to accomplish all of that, but only after you have rested.”
I knew Marian wanted T’Lan out of the way, for now, to allow our techs to review the data in the Lorian computer system. I wanted my hands on their star charts and biological data. We had a lot to learn.
~~~
In the four months since T’Lan awoke, we have learned much about Lorian technology, and what we learned changed physics as we knew it. The power and propulsion systems alone stagger the imagination, and the astro engineers in the exhibition are furiously writing papers—most not published, at least for the foreseeable future. I could say the same for myself. My research, including beginning to research DNA records on Earth for alien signatures, compiled enough data to study for a lifetime.
For the first few weeks, Marian isolated T’Lan from the outpost, debriefing him from the upper level on data we brought to him. Once she felt secure that we had some rudimentary knowledge of the data, she allowed him to join our teams in the alien complex.
T’Lan had proven to be cooperative and congenial, even joking with us as his mastery of our language grew. I looked forward to my assigned time with him. He met with each of us on a schedule, but off-hours were unscripted, and it was then we learned about each other’s cultures. He was fascinated by sports, especially baseball.
Sitting in the lab with him, I asked him about other alien races, and he surprised me that they had never met a non-humanoid race.
“Never?”
“No. Skin color and texture often differ, but all are bipedal humanoids, using your term.”
“Your scientists have any theories on that fact?”
“I suppose what your scientists would deduce. We have a common ancestor or the same creator. I have been reading about your religions and find they are not unlike ours. So, we may interpret our experiences to be from the same causal event.”
“We are kin, you believe?”
As it did now, T’Lan’s face often displayed puzzlement when processing an unfamiliar word or phrase. He smiled and answered, “Yes, kin. I understand. I think that is a fair assumption.”
It was a month later when, once again, everything changed.
~~~
Liam and I were having dinner, sitting at a table away from T’Lan and Marian, who were dining with the chief engineer, James Clarkson. James had taught T’Lan to play chess, and they had become friends. We watched the heavy snow fall from the large windows in the mess hall, a reminder of our isolation in a treacherous environment. Yet, none of us would trade the experience for a sunny, hot beach, as tempting as that sounded.
Antarctic summer was only a few weeks away, and the first planes would arrive soon, and there would be crew exchanges. I was not leaving. As a scientist, I could not walk away when there was much to learn, and I had decided to remain for at least one more year. I corresponded with my family and friends, but my work and Liam were here. There had been talk of moving T’Lan to a secure location in the US, but he was invaluable to us at the outpost. It was far too soon to do that. I needed to know Liam’s plans. We had become close during these months, and my nerves were raw, worrying if he planned to leave.
I had planned what to say but blurted it out. “Liam, are you returning home when the planes arrive?”
He looked away. “I know you aren’t.”
“Not what I am asking.”
“Dr. Saitō and Dai are returning on the first flight. Saitō will debrief the involved governments on the discovery, and then he will return. I am not sure Dai will, as he has a young family.”
I was getting exasperated. “Liam, please.”
“The CIA wants an in-person report, and I may return for a few weeks, but…”
At that moment, the general alarm sounded as the PA activated. “Dr. Marcus, department heads, please report to the compound control room.”
A repetitive tone greeted us when the elevator doors opened onto Level One of the compound. T’Lan pushed through the group and raced to the control room.
My heart raced at the apprehension on T’Lan’s face. Marian stood next to him. “What’s happening, T’Lan?”
“That is the long-range sensor alert.” He touched the screen, and the beeping stopped. “It has picked up two signals on course for this planet.”
“Did you send for them?” Marian’s tone was stern and questioning.
He spun toward her. “No, I did not. However, the opening of my escape pod may have triggered the signal.”
“These signals may be ships from your world?”
“Possibly, one might be.”
“One?”
“The signals come from two different directions and appear to be ships. One from the region my planet is located and one,” he paused, “… one from the direction of Thona. The only good thing is that the ship from Loria is closer and should arrive first.”
“No question that they are coming here?”
“None.”
“When will they arrive?”
“Without computations, I suspect ten of your Earth weeks.”
Silence fell over the group as we realized two alien ships were on course for Earth. Liam slipped his hand around mine and whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The two tiny blips on the monitor foretold our future.
Now we wait.
To be continued…
Author’s note: There is a word count for the Write the Story project. The admins are a bit lax in enforcing the limits set, and as an admin, I encourage authors to let us know. So, as an author, I asked my fellow admins, and they approved a longer story. I just couldn’t tell the sci-fi story that popped into my head in 5000 words or 8000 words. This is part one, and when a suitable prompt is selected, I will continue the story “Among Us.” Thank you for indulging me in a longer story.
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