The Undivided Galaxy: Book One of the Divinity Saga

CHAPTER 1

AT VOYAGE’S END

Dannick Sevore sat dejected. He tried to will the control panel in front of him to respond. Yet the only reaction he was granted was the blinking of emergency lights that bathed him in a deep red glow. A thousand questions raced through his mind.

What did I do wrong? What did I miss? What else could I have done? How did it ever come to this?

He closed his eyes for a moment, and then re-opened them. He pressed a button on his control panel, at least his communications system worked, and he spoke aloud.

I have made sixteen attempts to repair the velocity induction and course inlay system. I still have zero propulsion. My ship has been adrift for some time now.

Dannick paused as he tried to fight back the tears.

He strained to get his next few words out. I have made every possible attempt to get back on course. For now, my situation appears bleak. Without thrust or power, I cannot recover my ship and get back home. I will soon run out of life support. Please tell my family that I care about them. I made this trip for the benefit of all our kind. I hope missions into deep space will continue.

Dannick let his eyes wander around the cabin of his small, single-manned cosmic explorer, a lengthy, narrow room with wires, ducts and machinery that covered nearly every inch of wall and ceiling. He turned his gaze to the window at the far end of the cabin. Outside the window…the majesty of space.a few distant stars shined through the polished reinforced glass, beacons of light in the cold, cold darkness.

I hope after this problem is solved and corrected, missions will venture out as far as I have. He paused and took a deep breath. I hope one day our people will truly navigate the stars. Never stop reaching for what we believe in. This is Dannick Sevore, ending my last transmission.

Dannick flicked a switch on his control panel and ended the transmission. He placed his hands over his eyes and succumbed to sorrow.

Beautiful speech. I was very moved.

That voice came out of nowhere…who said that? Dannick’s head snapped up, his teary eyes wide open as he stared straight at its source—a man roughly six foot tall, black hair, wearing a sleek dark uniform with silver trim, but yet so different.

The stranger stood off to the side, near the window. He’s not one of us…Dannick thought. he doesn’t have the same flesh tone, much lighter, or the same markings across his forehead, the symbol of our race’s heritage.

But there was something else about him. This stranger was too perfect…almost out of place inside the ship, as if it were a rough, subterranean thing and not worthy to house a denizen of such refined being as he. It was almost as if he were an artificial. but surely he’s not. His skin was too vibrant, living. And who possessed the technology to make artificials?

Dannick jumped to his feet. He reached across the narrow cabin and grabbed a sephid, a powerful steel alloy weapon. Primitive but effective, it produced a chemical reaction that propelled metal projectiles at high speed.

Who in Geiphna are you!? Dannick yelled at the stranger. How did you get in here?

The stranger stepped forward and calmly spoke. Geiphna…yes, he was a prophet. He visited your world a millennia and a half ago and gave you the message of tolerance and unity. Quite remarkable.

Dannick glanced around nervously…where did this alien come from? Were there more?

The stranger pointed at Dannick’s sephid weapon. You came all this way to meet new life forms and you point a weapon at me?

The stranger smiled.

Dannick stared at him. I asked you a question.

As a show of force, Dannick primed his sephid weapon with a loud click, readying it to fire. The stranger put up his left hand, as if to signal there was no need for violence.

Relax. My name is Aeonon. I’m a Terran. Or more commonly called a Human. I’m from a planet on the other side of the galaxy, called Earth.

Aeonon took another step forward, glanced around the cabin, surveyed the equipment. Dannick just stared at him in disbelief.

Aeonon tapped his foot on the floor. I must say I’m impressed. Artificial gravity, at your race’s age.very impressive indeed.

How…how do you speak my language?

Aeonon shook his head. Technically, I’m not speaking your language right now.

What?

You see, we Humans are telepathic. To illustrate his point, Aeonon tapped on the side of his brow. My mind bridges the gap between languages.

A look of concern crossed Dannick’s face as he realized the implications of Aeonon’s ability.

You mean, you can read my thoughts?

Yes. But I’m not intruding on your private memories or anything, I assure you. I’m only concentrating on your thoughts that are directly related to me.

I appreciate that. I guess your race must be very evolved, to have such capabilities.

We are, Aeonon nodded in agreement and took another glance around the cabin.

You said you are from another planet…so far away…Earth you said?

Aeonon looked back at Dannick. That’s correct, he replied.

On the other side of the galaxy?

About seventy thousand light years from here.

Dannick gasped in amazement. That far? He shook his head. No. There is no way you could reach here, given the impossibility of faster-than-light travel.

Your race is very intelligent, I’ll give you that. But you haven’t learned everything. We found another means of travel, or else it is true I wouldn’t be here.

Dannick’s eyes went wide at the prospect of an alternative means to cross the vast gulf of distance that separated star systems.

How? How can you travel faster than light when our science proves that it requires infinite energy? Did you find a way to create an interspatial trans-tunnel?

We used to call them wormholes. Very unstable. I don’t recommend them.

Then how did you come so far?

Aeonon shook his head. You have so many questions.

Dannick let out a frustrated gasp. Tell me how you got here, at least.

Aeonon pointed to the sephid, still aimed at him. With you still pointing that thing at me? Now you know if I wanted to harm you, I would have done it long ago. Put that away. We have to fix your ship and we don’t have much time.

Aeonon turned around. He walked toward the window and the airlock on the other side of it.

Dannick glanced down at his sephid, then turned and placed it on the rack across from him. He cautiously walked toward Aeonon, still not sure if he can trust him but willing to try in light of the present situation. Wait…you can help me fix my ship? he asked. How? I have used every tool, exhausted every emergency procedure.

You even went outside.

Yes, I did. The damage is too severe. I do not have the materials to fix it. The fire destroyed most of my inline relays and all of the thrust modules.

I have materials, Aeonon said with a smile as he pointed out the window.

Look out there. That’s my ship.

Dannick walked up to the window. He looked out at the most awe-inspiring sight he had ever seen.it almost brought a tear to his eye. a Human star cruiser, massive yet sleek, brimming with power yet floating, almost hanging in space as if it were so natural it had always been there.

It is the most beautiful thing I ever witnessed.

Thank you. I designed her. I also helped build her.

Dannick surveyed the lines, the subtle curves of the silver star cruiser. From its bridge section to its side sections to the rest of its hull, Dannick noticed its seamless design, as if it were one piece poured from a mold. It hovered between two bright stars, a benign masterpiece of celestial technology.

It must be more than thirty times as long as my ship.

She’s long, yes. She’s also very fast. You’d be surprised what she can do.

Of that, I have no doubt. Do you have a name for her?

She’s called the Mystic.

Dannick aimed a questioning look at Aeonon. Mystic?

On my world, in ancient times, a Mystic was a being who revered nature and held immeasurable power. They were as wise as they were gracious. That’s something I aspire to. Somehow I thought it was a fitting name for her.

Aeonon gestured to the Mystic. Dannick stared at the ship and nodded in agreement. Somehow, the name did fit.

I would certainly like to see her up close.

When we’re done fixing your ship, I’ll give you a tour.

Dannick turned back to Aeonon, a spark of encouragement in his eye. A tour? Thank you. I mean, I would really be grateful. I could never thank you enough.

Don’t worry about it. Now let’s get started, shall we? We’ll go outside to fix the critical portion of the damage first, so get your space suit on.

Dannick nodded and headed toward a closet on the far end of the cabin. He opened the door, revealing a bulky yet functional space suit. He took the suit off the hanger and slipped his feet into its legs.

Tell me one thing, if you will, Dannick said. How did you know who Gei-phna was?

We intercept your radio transmissions from time to time. You know they travel out into deep space, right? He’s often quoted and discussed.

Correct. I should have guessed that. He was our greatest influence.

Dannick donned the rest of the suit, attached the golden helmet and sealed it. He lumbered over to the airlock door and pressed a marking on the side doorframe. The door opened with a hissing sound and Dannick stepped into the airlock. Aeonon followed.

Dannick took the end of a steel fiber cord, a tether line, and attached it to a hook on the inside of the airlock.

Aeonon waved his hand over the door panel, seemingly aware of how the technology operated. The airlock door shut with a hiss.

Dannick turned to Aeonon with a look of grave concern. No, wait. I only have one suit. What about yours?

I don’t need one.

Yes, you do. Now I still have no idea how you got in here, but unless you have an atmospheric containment suit, you are going to have to wait inside.

Dannick raised his arm to open the inner airlock. Aeonon blocked him.

Don’t worry about me. I told you, I don’t need one.

Dannick’s eyes went wide with a mixture of shock and doubt. Are you trying to tell me.Look, I may not be as advanced a being as you are. And we Yes-honi’rae may be much younger and less experienced than you Humans, but I know what I know.

Dannick pointed outside the airlock window.

And that is a vacuum. Nothing living can survive out there. There is no oxygen and no air pressure. Not to mention the temperature is extremely cold.

Aeonon sighed and shook his head. He raised his arm.

Touch my arm.

What?

I said touch my arm.

Why?

Just do it. It won’t hurt you.

Dannick slowly raised his hand and touched Aeonon on the arm.

The result was as shocking as it was instantaneous…sparks shot from a blue layer of energy covering Aeonon’s skin. Dannick quickly drew his arm back in surprise.

What is that? Some kind of energy field?

Good guess. It’s all around me, so the vacuum won’t affect my flesh.

Oh Geiphna.how? How can you produce something like that? An apparatus?

Aeonon smiled and looked Dannick in the eye. You’ll soon learn that every living being generates energy on a small scale. We Humans have learned how to draw on energy and manipulate it on a large scale.

That is…incredible. Does it hurt you? I mean, do you feel any pain or sensation from the energy?

No pain. There is definitely a tingling sensation. It’s quite nice once you get used to it.

But what about oxygen? You need to breathe out there, right? Dannick pointed to outer space.

Aeonon shook his head. I require very little oxygen. You’re correct to point out that space is a hazardous place but we learned long ago how to deal with hostile atmospheres, or the lack thereof.

So you are telling me you do not breathe air, Dannick responded.

Not exactly. Most living things needs air. But over the centuries, we genetically engineered our body’s cells so they require less oxygen. What little air I have trapped between my energy field and my skin is more than enough. I could go for three or four days without requiring more.

I.I simply cannot believe it.

In time, you’ll learn about all these things. For now, do you want to know every little thing there is about me or do you want to fix your ship?

Fix my ship.

Good. Then let’s go.

Aeonon waved his hand in front of the marked panel on the outer airlock door. It opened with a hiss and a whoosh of escaping air. Aeonon pushed Dannick out into the frigid zero atmosphere that awaited them.

CHAPTER 2

SPACE WALK

Dannick glanced out across the stars as he gripped his tether line. He pressed a series of raised markings on his forearm, control triggers for maneuvering thrust-ers. Two small nozzles on the side ofhis suit fired, sending out a gaseous nitrogen mixture that slowly propelled him back toward the ship’s hull. As he neared the hull, he activated two more thrusters on the opposite side to stop his motion and keep him floating steadily, a few meters above the hull.

As he hovered in space, Dannick contemplated how dramatically his life had changed in the last few minutes. He stared at the Mystic, anchored not too far away, and in the distance…that small reddish brown dot.could that be Sivicas? The nearest planet in his solar system?

It was none other.

At least I made it this far.he thought. His dream had been to walk on Sivicas, the first of his kind to set foot upon another world. His ship carried large stores of supplies and building materials, a precursor to the second launch that would send ten others to Sivicas behind him. They would depart in another ship, three months later, and arrive to a small yet fully functional research station that Dannick was to construct from prefabricated components. It was a mission that had been planned for over twenty solar years. And now it was over. His priority must be to get his crippled ship repaired, if possible, and make it back home. His dream would have to bow to survival.

At that moment, Aeonon seemed to glide up out of the airlock and onto the hull. To Dannick’s great surprise, Aeonon walked toward him, seemingly unaffected by the lack of gravity and atmosphere.

Look at that.Dannick thought as he continued to stare at Aeonon. Given the highly developed state a culture would have to maintain to build a star cruiser such as the Mystic, when Aeonon told Dannick about his ability to survive in space, Dannick took him at his word. But to actually see such a thing, it left Dannick dumbfounded. Such a thing defied everything his science had taught him. Sivicas suddenly seemed trivial.

Dannick took a cursory glance over the hull of his ship. We’ve come so far.he thought. in just the last twenty solar years. He recalled how the Yeshoni’rae built Malvid-Cei Thrusters to escape their planet’s gravity. Then they established orbital stations. Next, they had constructed lunar bases on both of their moons. Finally, the pride and joy…Dannick was selected to be the sole pilot of his ship, the Caase’mor, destined for the closest planet to his own world.

Dannick looked up at Aeonon, who stood on the hull and smiled at him. How far we’ve come.Dannick thought.but how much greater they must be. One look at the Mystic and even an ignorant would know that these Humans from the distant planet Earth must have a power and sophistication that made children of Dannick’s race in comparison.

What of their purpose .Dannick wondered. Did they intend to enslave us, as our wild stories of fiction tell? Surely not. This Aeonon seemed anything but malicious. He couldn’t be nai’ve though, Dannick reminded himself. At the first sign of any aggression or hostility, he decided he would detonate his ship to save his world.

Dannick looked over at the Mystic. Detonating the ship would most likely not achieve anything.. .he thought. Even if the explosion were to somehow kill Aeonon, and Dannick was not sure anyone who could survive so easily in the vacuum of space could be killed, it would not affect that ship. Even if he crashed into it while his engines self-destructed, Dannick mused, he would be lucky to even put a scratch on the surface. He would still try, if necessary, but he hoped it would not come to that.

By the way, you can communicate to me by simply speaking aloud and I’ll pick up on it, Aeonon proclaimed.

How did I hear that.Dannick wondered. when space is a vacuum and sound does not travel? He realized at once that Aeonon had not been moving his lips when he spoke. Even though Dannick heard his voice as if it had been spoken aloud, the words must have been delivered by thought energy. Very powerful thought energy. Human telepathy at its finest.

Like this? Dannick asked.

Perfect, came the mouthless response.

Dannick activated his maneuvering thrusters, then turned and glided down the surface of his ship. Aeonon walked behind him.

How do you stay on the surface of my ship without flying off? Some kind of electromagnetic field?

Very good guess, Aeonon responded. I am generating a weak electromagnetic field around my feet so I can stay attached but still walk.

How in the name of Geiphna do you do that?

Another time. Let’s fix your ship first.

Another time, then.

Dannick stared downward as he came upon the damaged section of his ship, a huge tear in the surface of the hull near the rear engines. It was a deep impact, caused by a heavy object traveling at remarkable speed.

Dannick used his maneuvering jets to come to a stop over the hole. He activated his work light, on the side of his helmet, and peered down into the damaged section.a large cavity roughly three feet in diameter with scorch marks around the perimeter. It went so deep into the hull, Dannick had to aim his work light in to see the end of it.

Shame of Ul’rocht. Dannick proclaimed, using an ancient curse. I still cannot believe this happened. Do you suppose it was an asteroid that struck my ship?

Probably not, Aeonon told him. In a large area of deep space like this, your chances of being hit are relatively small. And that doesn’t look like a large enough strike to have been caused by an asteroid. More likely that something struck your ship while you were leaving your planet’s atmosphere. Perhaps some small piece of metal or other debris.

Oh.now it makes sense. I should have guessed as much, Dannick said. We have had problems with space debris in our atmosphere. We had a couple of relay drones break apart due to bad structural design.

Dannick took a deep breath as anger built inside him.

Four solar years ago, a colleague of mine was killed by a small joining bolt that struck him while he was fixing a receiving rod during a space walk. It was flying so fast…I guess you know about the high speed objects in orbit travel and the kinetic energy they gather.

I do.

The bolt went straight through him. His suit depressurized.he was my friend, understand?

Aeonon nodded. I understand. It’s been a long time since I’ve lost someone I cared about, but I know how devastating it can be. I share your loss and your pain.

He sounded sincere.Dannick thought. This Aeonon might have a conscience. Probably he could be trusted.

This is all our own fault. Sieivi’karia! Dannick yelled, using another ancient Yeshoni’rae curse. Our own short sightedness caused this to happen!

At least you survived it, Aeonon offered.

Yes.I survived. Dannick pointed to the hole. And as I said before, the impact severed the control relays from my velocity induction system to the vectored thrust modules that control the engines. That explains why the engines kept going after they reached shutoff point. Then the failure and fallback sentry modules in the rear shut the engines down when they sensed I was off course.

And your main power cells were also damaged. They eventually gave out.

Dannick shook his head. I got a warning signal after I passed our second moon, a power drain. I could have aborted then.

But you chose not to.

I did not want to. I had waited all my life for this. Understand, this was my greatest dream, to be the first of us to walk on another world! Then when the engines shut off.

It was too late.

Dannick nodded. I could not get back on course. I could not re-start my engines. I started to drift. I was heading out toward the edge of the solar system. I thought the initial power drain was small, nothing to worry about. How wrong I was.

Aeonon glanced at the hole, then back to Dannick. What’s done is done. That’s an old Earth saying. Now we can fix the damage and get you back home.

My backup systems should have given me access to my engines…when my emergency power came on. I should have been able to at least turn around and get back home.

Maybe the impact damaged the backup systems as well.

Dannick shook his head in disagreement. No. They were on the other side of the ship.

I’m afraid I’m not familiar with your ship’s design. But your main power was cut off. Perhaps the systems were damaged irrevocably, in other words they couldn’t reset when your emergency power came on. Something like a short out.

That is possible. But something like that…I would say it was very unlikely.

"In any case, perhaps we should just fix what’s wrong and get your ship moving.

Dannick took a deep breath as he surveyed the damage.

Even if you have the necessary parts and materials, this is going to take a while. A lot of hardware has been damaged. And I do not know how well any parts or modules you possess would work with mine, considering the vastly different technologies. Shall I go to your ship now to take a look?

Not necessary. You have all that you need right here.

Dannick shot a questioning glance at Aeonon.

What? How could I? The main control relay wires alone.

Dannick trailed off as he noticed Aeonon’s outstretched arm, his finger pointed at the side of his head. Dannick turned his head.and saw a small white oval shape that floated next to him. It glowed with blue lines, interlaced upon its surface.

Where did that come from!?

Aeonon grinned. My ship. Just guide it into the hole. It’ll do the rest.

What do you mean? How?

Watch and see.

Dannick looked back and forth between Aeonon and the floating oval…doubt rose in him, but only for a moment. If this Aeonon can be taken at his word…Dannick thought.then he could show me wonder upon wonders that I never even imagined. The entire universe could be unlocked through him. That alone was worth the risk.

Dannick grasped the oval and pushed it down into the hole.

To Dannick’s amazement, the oval seemed to come alive. Fibrous branches, some energy, some a kind of shiny metallic substance that Dannick had not seen before, shot out in all directions. The blue glow grew brighter. Dannick turned on his maneuvering jets and backed away from the hole, just to be on the safe side.

To Dannick’s further amazement, new metallic material began to appear, sealing up the hole, healing the damage. At first thought, he believed what he was seeing to be impossible. He looked up to ask Aeonon what technology could possibly produce something like this, only to see Aeonon headed back toward the airlock.

What’s done is done. Let’s go back inside and see the results, came Aeonon’s telepathic voice.

Dannick turned on his maneuvering jets, took one last look at the hole, almost fully sealed, and followed Aeonon back into the ship.

Dannick had more questions once he had his suit off.

How was that possible? I saw it, but nothing can work like what I saw. What was guiding it and where did it get the raw materials?

Aeonon smiled…Dannick had sophistication mixed with childlike innocence.

That small oval device, was it some artificial mechanized being? How could it fix my ship without prior knowledge of its mechanics?

That’s what it was designed for, to mate with alien technology, Aeonon explained. To repair and utilize another race’s functional engineering.

Wait…Is that why you were so eager to fix my ship? Dannick had a horrible thought. He pointed an accusing finger at Aeonon. You just wanted to get your technology in…to take over mine?

"No. Don’t be ridiculous. I was eager to see it work, yes, but not for the reason you think. We’re not interested in forcibly acquiring your technology. In fact,

we re going to give you ours.

That caught Dannick off guard. Here was everything he had ever dreamed of. But this was too easy.

"You mean you will just give us every knowledge you possess? Why? I would think such an advanced race would guard their secrets closely."

And keep others in the dark? You asked me about that oval module you put into your ship. That was just a delivery device. It wasn’t a mechanized being, or robot as we call them. It housed the beings. We call them nanites.

Nanites?

Aeonon explained the principles of nanotechnology to Dannick, a very old science but one so practical that the Humans continued to use it. As microscopic biomachines, designed and built by the finest molecular physicians, they were useful and capable. They had repaired Dannick’s ship, as Aeonon outlined, utilizing basic molecules of matter taken from the Mystic’s stores via interdimensional link.

Nanites. Dannick said with disbelief. Microscopic machines.

Indeed.

An interdimensional link.you mean they transported raw material directly from your ship?

Through the dimensions of time and space, yes. They’re linked up with the nanites already on board my ship. Thus, they coordinated the transfer.

Coordinated the transfer? You said they were microscopic!

Yes, but they’re also intelligent. They are among the many things we’ll show you how to create and use.

Dannick stood in speechless silence. This human was full of surprises.

Now shall we get underway? Aeonon pointed to Dannick’s control panel.

Dannick shook his head. Not yet. I have to get my course inlay systems back up and running. It might take a while.

Dannick pointed to a series of instrument panels and readout screens next to his main control panel. Aeonon glanced over them.

We had devices like this long ago. Computers we called them. Terribly inefficient. They were also prone to breaking down. We finally did away with them.

So what do you use to control your ship’s functions? Or to run computations with?

Our minds, of course.

Dannick smiled in disbelief. Come on, even assuming you can run that huge ship with your mind, how can you calculate such a complex computation like a launch window and course vector?

Easy. Forget about this thing. Aeonon pointed to the course inlay system. I’ll feed the necessary information into your navigational computer myself.

Dannick started to protest, but Aeonon waved his left hand over the control panel and bright white energy shot from his fingertips. Flashes of light appeared in his eyes. The navigational systems panels came alive, long sequences of coordinates fed into them.

Dannick took two steps back.

Oh by Geiphna.In Geiphna’s name.

You’re really fond of this Geiphna fellow, aren’t you?

Aeonon smiled. Dannick pointed to the control panels.

What you just did.How does that work?

Do I have to explain everything?

Please.

Aeonon reached behind his head with his right hand. He moved the back of his collar aside, brushed his hair back with his fingers and revealed a deep blue glow underneath the surface of his skin, on the back of his neck underneath the base of his skull. Dannick’s eyes went wide with shock.

What is that!?

Bioneural implant. More old technology. We almost don’t need them anymore, our minds have evolved so far. But I guess they come in handy in situations like this. They, along with the nanites living in our bodies, allow us to interface with all manner of technologies. They also help us to control energy.

Control energy?

That’s correct. Hence, the energy barrier you saw earlier. It’s a certain talent that takes quite a bit of practice, I assure you.

Dannick took a moment to absorb what he had seen thus far. "This is nothing short of incredible. I just cannot find the words to express what I am feeling. Throughout the years, we developed many theories regarding some of the things I witnessed you perform; possibilities and technology that we thought would only exist in our far future. But I have actually seen it…you have our boldest dreams in practice. Our future is your present. We can really learn so much from you."

Aeonon nodded. And you will. Trust in that.

And with that, the ship’s engines fired…a bright yellow and orange glow came through the window. The ship moved forward, then began to slowly turn. Dannick erupted into cheer.

CHAPTER 3

LUCIDITY

It takes an enormous amount of concentration and control. Aeonon spoke to a captivated audience that included the operational staff of the Yeshoni’rae Orbital Station YOS-2 where Dannick’s ship was currently docked. It is a highly involved process and can’t be done by amateurs. In fact, there are very few races throughout the galaxy that have mastered it. As a result, for long range transportation, many species depend on us to get them where they need to go.

Having brought the Caase’mor in at record speed, Dannick greeted a tearful and relieved group of Yeshoni’rae astronauts, his friends and comrades aboard the YOS-2. When he introduced them to Aeonon, there was a mixture of shock and uncertainty, the usual questions regarding the sudden appearance of an alien life form. The Yeshoni’rae had always suspected, or even believed, that life existed on other planets. But given the vast distances in space, none of them ever guessed they would meet such life forms in their lifetimes. Now the aliens were coming to them.

And Aeonon found himself giving a lecture on how to travel faster than light, much to Dannick’s delight. It took the other four Yeshoni’rae, Commander Eiven Uouva, Concept Authority Gannierae Kimminsheo, Mechanical Specialist Olevrek Misoor and Operations Officer Nectiime Soenima, a while to get over the fact that Aeonon was fully telepathic and could break their language barrier using the basis of thought. And Concept Authority Kimminsheo flat out refused to believe that the barrier of light speed could be broken, until Aeonon made things clear.

There are fractures in the fabric of spacetime…cosmic strings as we call them.

Strings? Dannick asked. He had never heard such a term before.

That’s our name for them. They formed when the universe first expanded. They are fundamental structures, thinner than an atom, having great length but only a tiny cross-section.

We have projections on this matter, Kimminsheo put in. These strings, as you refer to them, are microscopic-intensive filaments that we hoped would explain many of the gaps in our concepts of physical existence. And you believe these cosmic strings were stretched by the expansion of the universe?

Exactly, Aeonon answered, with admiration of her understanding. Our science revealed these cosmic strings to us, thousands of solar cycles ago. They have immense density and are under enormous tension. As such, they generate an unfathomable amount of gravitational energy that can act on any object that passes over or across them.

Kimminsheo nodded in agreement. This explains a lot. We had always theorized, but we had nothing based on fact. We simply had no capability to test such theories.

I know, Aeonon responded. You can’t observe strings directly. But rest assured, they’re out there. And spacetime shortens around them because their gravitational force distorts spacetime itself. If two strings are found close enough to each other, that effect more than doubles.

Wait, Dannick cut in. I know something of’science’ myself. You have to in my position. You are talking about traveling through the dimensions of space and time, correct?

Aeonon nodded. Essentially, yes. Just look at it this way for now…once we locate a cosmic string, we use it to catapult through spacetime itself. We harness their tension to cheat distances, arriving thousands of light years away only seconds later. That’s a basic if somewhat condensed explanation.

Somewhat condensed? I already have enough information here to keep me busy for a full solar cycle! Kimminsheo proclaimed as she held up her notebook.

Don’t worry, there’s more. A great deal more. And we’re going to provide all the information you need to learn how it’s done.

This is.a dream come true. Kimminsheo observed as she wiped a tear from her eye. She always got emotional when it came to concepts of space and time.

I think I speak for us all when I say thank you, Dannick offered. From the very depth of my being.thank you.

You’re very much welcome, Aeonon accepted.

Astonishing.Aeonon thought as he looked them over. that they obtained such unity when our kind never did. Before him stood five distinctly different Yes-honi’rae, each with different backgrounds. Yet one would not know it at first glance. There were small physical differences, yes. Commander Uouva had brown hair whereas Dannick had black. Engineer Misoor was at least three inches shorter than Dannick. And Science Authority Kimminsheo had copper-colored hair worn in the latest female fashion. Yet all of them had the same striking similarity of skin color. Despite the fact that three of them were born on different continents, as Aeonon gleaned from their minds, they showed no sign of ethnic difference. They all belonged to the same, homogeneous race.the accepting and tolerant Yeshoni’rae.

On the bridge of the Mystic, Stephaan Von Keidreich turned to Enisaera Ganniego.

This is pointless, he said. We’re running out of time. He was always the worrier.

Enisaera sighed. He knows what he’s doing.

These younglings don’t have what it takes, Stephaan declared. We should just destroy their planet and get it over with.

Dannick, Commander Uouva broke his silence. Our Senior Prime wants to speak with you as soon as possible. I think we should contact him now.

Of course, Dannick replied. Right away.

Within a few minutes, the head of the Yeshoni’rae space program, Senior Prime Cevonifn Naederal, appeared onscreen at the YOS-2 telecommunications array, with an eight second delay.

This is truly a momentous occasion in our history, the Senior Prime stated. He had taken great care to practice his speech before presenting it to Aeonon, whom he was told was the leader of the ‘newly discovered alien species’. He remembered the report he received.

I am the Supreme Commander of the Europan Interstellar Forces, Aeonon had explained to Commander Uouva earlier. I am responsible for all affairs of stellar security and military. There is a Sovereign Leadership Council that governs all of our planets and colonies and it is my duty to respond to their needs and requests. Over the years, we’ve worked together well.

Simple yet effective, the Senior Prime had thought upon reading that in his report. Now he hoped to make a good impression.

We welcome you to our world, the Senior Prime declared. And hope that we can establish permanent and strong relations with your truly advanced kind.

Certainly, Aeonon replied. Aeonon was, after all, used to dealing with other races and something of an ambassador himself. I think our races could learn much from each other.

How in the universe does he think that?.. .Dannick wondered.And what could a great stellar-traveling race like his possibly learn from beginners like us?

Of course, Aeonon was just being cordial. And what the Senior Prime had done his best to hide was the fact that the knowledge of Dannick’s contact with an alien species had spread like wildfire, despite the space administration’s attempts at secrecy.

And the Earth star cruiser Mystic had been observed, floating near the first moon, by the satellite and monitoring systems the Yeshoni’rae possessed. Some amateur science students had even seen it through their stellar-viewing scanners (akin to ancient Earth style telescopes). The word was out that the aliens had come and that made the Senior Prime nervous and apprehensive. What would be the consequences if he could not control the situation?

Aeonon’s next statement made him breath easier. I regret that I can’t stay any longer. I have urgent business in another star system and I must leave immediately.

So soon? The Senior Prime was not sure whether to be disappointed or relieved. He did welcome the chance to correspond with an alien species, to establish ties and trade, but the whole thing had just happened too fast.

Yes. I am sorry, Aeonon replied. We have sent word to one of our explorer ships. A team of our scientists and ambassadors will be here shortly. They are our best representatives and they will handle everything from here on out. They will coordinate with your world and provide you with unlimited access to our technology.

That last comment made the Senior Prime wonder…what was the catch? An advanced race willing to share its entire secrets, gathered over who knows how long? And they are asking nothing in return? The Senior Prime was skeptical, but certainly not willing to do or say anything that could jeopardize such a gift, if indeed it was real. Better to play along in this game and hope he was not in over his head.

Dannick had been skeptical as well. But he was also torn. He was divided between his feeling of caution and his feeling of wonder. Aeonon and the

Humans offered great gifts, but in his experience, the universe did not give something for nothing. He could have said no at any minute and put a stop to the whole thing. He might have risked Aeonon’s anger, but better not to risk his entire world. Was it worth the risk?

Dannick knew the risks but decided to wait. It was a gamble he hoped he would not regret.

The Senior Prime addressed him. Dannick, I understand from your initial report that you believe it was a large piece of space debris that struck your ship and caused the malfunction?

That is correct, Dannick replied. We have had relay drones break apart in the upper atmosphere. I suspect one of the fragments struck my hull as I was accelerating.

The Senior Prime shook his head. Terrible shame. I am truly sorry. This ever-increasing field of space junk is a monumental obstacle for us.

I could do something about that, Aeonon offered.

What do you mean? The Senior Prime asked.

"My ship’s weapon systems could easily target and