Ally or Alien: A Sci-Fi Novel (3 page)

Her consciousness offlined. 

Thousands of thoughts dropped to hundreds, shrunk to dozens, flatlined to only one: what was the object?

6

It was the last thought eLoom would ever have, because neither she, nor anyone else of her crew members, would survive this flight...

7

Over 56 Millions of kilometers away, another race 'learned' about the new life form entering the solar system. 

Planet Earth, the American Commonwealth (AC), Earth, 1210 hours EST, September 15th

The feeds of every authorized AC citizen burned with breaking news. Everyone wanted to know what had happened on Mars. One prominent media channel, the Raptor News Network, offered an exclusive look.

Fade to: Washington Prime, RNN studios.

A blonde reporter with bleached teeth and upgraded bosom smiled into cam 2. The spotlight gave her skin a relaxed tan. Yet, the anchor woman's voice sounded intense. Behind her elegant figure, a 3D screen pixelated into existence. 

"This is Lauryn Miller-Smith, reporting live for Right For You. According to the newest intel from the Space Intelligence Agency, an unknown life form has invaded our solar system. The alien has breached the territory of the Newtype-controlled Mars and destroyed one of their civilian spaceships. The unarmed vessel and its crew were on a scientific mission to discover new asteroids in order to explore the origins of our galaxy."

The anchor woman intertwined her hands and put up a sad face. No one in the studio doubted her words.

“Every crew member died in space. Our thoughts go to our distant allies."

She paused for dramatic effect. A faint melody played in the background, some atmospheric tune from a melancholic war movie. 

"The intel also states that the explorer ship has crash-landed on the Martian surface area called the Midlands. Experts believe the alien life form has survived the impact.”

The blonde anchor flipped open a 3D projection with the footage of the Newtype vessel spiraling down the thin atmosphere of the red planet. A trail of glowing debris floated through the layers. The video sample was shown over and over again. 

Anchor Lauryn continued.

"We have yet to see footage of the alien itself, but if the crashing cruiser is any indication, we're dealing with a hostile life form that kills humanoids and damages private property with no sense of remorse. The worrying question arises: since the alien has survived the impact on Mars, when will it reach Earth? And more importantly, will it be a danger to the brave citizens of the American Commonwealth? To stay updated on this issue, stay on our channel.”

She leaned back into her chair and expressed a pro smile that looked as real as her teeth.

"This is Lauryn Miller-Smith, reporting for Raptor News."

The skewed 3D letters of the Raptor logo blasted on the screen, followed by a thunderous special effect and ear-hammering sounds. A manly voice roared from the off.

"Raptor News—if you heard it from us, it must be right."

eQuality Media, located in the SoCal Collective of the AC's West Coast, shared their version of the first alien encounter. Two anchors identifying as transhuman, pronouns: xir, xiz, wearing metallic skin and cybernetic limb replacements, sat behind a transparent newsdesk. 

"This is Aiden LaCroix and JoJo Ming. Welcome to our daily Minority Report, live from the Los Angeles community."

Soothing blue tones flavored their cam recording and gave the two anchors a tinge of calmness. 

"PTSD-warning. The following footage may aggravate people who have a fear of civilian ships crashing down. Viewer discretion is strongly advised."

JoJo Ming added her comments.

"This is the greatest day ever, Aiden. A non-cis migrant life form has visited our solar system to meet our lovely Newtype siblings. Too bad the encounter was sabotaged by technical failure and thus negatively colored this very important moment of our history."

Aiden nodded and brushed through her short hair, reminiscent of black cables plucked into sockets.

"Humankind has waited thousands of years and now finally met another life form. Fellow earthlings, the dream has come true. We are still waiting for actual footage of the intergalactic migrant, but some experts claim that it has an extraordinary intelligence which probably surpasses ours."

JoJo agreed.

"I hope so, I really do. Plus, I'm really glad that it chose contact with the Newtype first. Our cybernetic siblings will properly deal with the migrant in a respectful and non-aggravating manner. Our so-called Commonwealth would have welcomed the life form with open nuclear silos. It would have vaporized any hope of peaceful interaction."

Both transhumans synced their nod of approval and looked directly at the cam. 

"Wah. Our newsfeed is already drowning in questions. But please, everyone, keep it clean and respectful. We do not want any macro/micro-aggressions sabotaging this epic event."

JoJo read some of the many questions, 1292 in total.

DVD, Die-Versity-Dave, wrote,

"Can the life form communicate with us? Does it eat, and if it can, does it eat meat or is it vegan?"

Aiden crossed its fingers.

"Jeez, I hope it's vegan. Maybe it can show some of our regressive old farts how to eat responsibly without killing another life form. That would spark a revolution."

"That would be sweet. The other question I'm asking myself is—which gender will the life form identify as, or will it be free of gender?"

JoJo shrugged.

"I don't know, but for the sake of our future, I hope it will identify as female/trans/liquid. Any other identification would be problematic and thus endanger the peace of our diverse population."

Both anchors could agree on that one.

They goodbye'd their audience with jazz hands and announced the next segment. Their logo carefully blended into the screen, albeit in a slow manner to avoid over-stimulation and PTSD-triggering. A whispering, asexual voice sounded from the off.

"Listen and believe the Minority Report—the voice of the downtrodden."

All the way back on the East Coast, Washington Prime to be exact, the most important and powerful people of Earth switched off the holo news and craned their heads at the most important leader of the free world...

8

"What the hell?"

Said the president of the American Commonwealth, Lucas C. Wright. He swiveled around his chair, but no matter how much he moved around, the president couldn't nail a comfortable position. He finally realized that it wasn't the elevated chair that caused him the unease, but the footage on the 110 inch wall-screen. No single media outlet should have had access to the footage that the Space Intelligence Agency had acquired from its confidential informants. Not even the outlets supporting his legislature. But with today's interconnectedness, not even the Agency could keep things secret anymore.

One leak and the intel was potentially available to every authorized citizen.

Bummer.

The president's elite staff sat around the square-shaped table and glued their eyes to the wall-screen. 

Some grumbled, some shook their heads. Everyone's face was flushed with worry. Including the Newtype representative’s. She played with her shoulder-long hair and said,

"Sir, language."

The president looked around in a melodramatic way.

"Why, are we live?"

His advisory board shook their heads in unison. 

"Then who gives a shit."

The president rewound the footage of the cruiser spitting debris into the cosmic void as it targeted a trajectory toward the Martian surface. He watched how the vessel crushed through the thin Martian atmosphere, over and over again. In fact, he watched the material from every satellite angle available, and the longer he stared onto that 110 inch screen, the more he hated it.

"I hope this is a special effect."

He shook his head in disbelief and addressed the Director of the Space Intelligence Agency.

"Is this some passive-aggressive decoy maneuver from our so-called allies?"

The Director played with his tie.

"I'm afraid not, sir. Our experts have already checked the footage multiple times. They say it's legit."

"Goddamn it."

He leaned into his chair and wiped his thick, sausage finger past the mighty chin.

"Where the heck is the life form? All I see is a damn ship crashing down."

"According to our CI, sir, we're dealing with a sentient life form that can manipulate electronic high-tech devices."

"That thing's sentient? What, can it talk?"

The gentlemen shook their heads.

"We don't know yet, sir. But it was intelligent enough to take out the entire vessel, despite the Newtype's precautionary protocols. According to our latest intel, the life form seems to be stationed at the Midlands area of Mars.”

The president leaned into his chair. The first sign of alien contact—an event that humanity had waited for aeons, and now the creature seemed to be an aggressor bent on destruction. Exactly like ancient Hollywood had predicted it.

Kind of disappointing. 

Lucas C. Wright had always hoped to meet a more humanoid alien. Some advanced type I or II civilization that would share its progressive technology to help with the nation's high unemployment, health and poverty issues.

Of course, the universe had other plans.

"So, first contact was a let-down, I get it. But why the emergency meeting?"

The Secretary of Space Defense finally spoke up.

The big man with the ashen-skin wore his military uniform that wrapped his demi-god body.

"Sir, based on the footage, it's clear we're dealing with a hostile creature. It took down a well-equipped ship, landed on a colonized planet with sentient life forms and is probably planning its next attack. This is just the beginning of a much larger threat."

The president shrugged.

"So? Let the Newtype deal with it. It's their territory, so it's their problem."

The Secretary of Space Defense rolled his eyes. He pressed his lips and hesitated with the answer, which seemed almost passive given his impressive stature. 

"I'm afraid it's not that easy, sir."

"Then make it easy. I've got five more appointments on my to-do list today. Not to mention that presidential election that keeps haunting me. Our Commonwealth faces enough struggles as we speak."

All eyes around the table went to the Secretary of Space Defense.

He better deliver, the president thought.

"Sir, have you ever heard of the ecophagy?"

"Sounds like an STD."

"Ecophagy means 'eating the environment'. It's a popular science theory where self-replicating robots consume all matter on Earth while building more of themselves, thus turning the planet into a wasteland."

Lucas Wright nodded.

"Sounds scary. But again, this thing isn't anywhere near Earth, so why should we care?"

The Secretary breathed in heavily. Swapped glances with everyone around the group and launched another attempt.

"Sir, we still don't know where this creature comes from, but it seems to be smart and advanced enough to travel across the solar system. It could very well originate from a type I or even a type II civilization. Let me repeat—it has destroyed an armored ship and survived a crash-landing. Once it takes control of the Newtype-controlled Mars, it can, and probably will, spread to another planet."

He forced a melodramatic pause into the moment so the last imbecile would understand the gravity of the situation.

"Earth will be next."

Boom.

That statement had impact.

The president nervously licked his lips and swiveled. He addressed the Director of the Space Intelligence Agency.

"Is that possible?"

"Well, it's not likely, but there's indeed a slight chance the organism could spread to another world, should the optimal conditions occur."

The Secretary of Space Defense hit the table and ground his teeth.

It was true—he was surrounded by imbeciles.

"It's not a slight chance, you moron."

The president hovered his hands.

"Gentlemen, please behave. This is not a war room."

The Secretary ignored him and focused on the Director.

"You have seen the ship getting torn apart. Which peaceful creature rips apart a vessel upon first contact? Only a vicious one."

Now the Newtype representative chimed in for the first time.

"It is in Newtype territory and thus off-limits to any military force from Earth, including the AC's. Must I remind you how fragile our peace treaty is?"

She smoothed her voice.

"Sir, we have worked over a decade on establishing a cease-fire between our two races. We've already breached our treaty by acquiring confidential intel from their network and that so-called CI. Let me assure you—the Newtype know that we spy on them. If we engage with military force, we will deescalate the situation into another war."

She emphasized the word 'war' so that everyone with a malfunctioning hearing aid could pick it up. The Secretary wasn't satisfied. He stood up to gain a dominant position that trumped all members of the emergency meeting.

"They're Newtype. They tricked us once and they will do it again. It's foolish to believe that they will handle the alien threat in a proper matter."

The representative groaned.

"Now that's the exact attitude we don't need in unstable times like these."

She cooled down and smiled at the president.

"Sir. This is what I suggest—the Newtype have excellent technology—they'll find a way to deal with the organism. Let's have them use their time and resources. If, for some unknown reason, they can't keep the life form at bay, they will ask us for help. Collaboration is in their nature."

She paused.

"And then we'll look like saviors, helping our new allies and thus cementing the next level of our peace talks. This is a win-win situation for your party, the AC, and for every free nation on Earth."