Sex in Sci-Fi Ch. 05

*

Chapter 3

Contact

Sam let me sleep for a full eight hours, she knew me well enough to know that although I can manage with less, a full quota gives me an edge, and it seemed probable that I'd need that during the hours ahead of us. She had a light breakfast ready and let me stay in the refresher for two cycles, after which I felt ready to take on just about anything the galaxy could throw at us.

'Report please Sam.'

'De-accelerating in nine point two minutes, atmospheric entry, forty five minutes. Transmission links still a concern but I need to test them to trace the error or fault. Updated analysis of planet six now available. Shall I give you that when you're ready for de-acceleration?'

'Yes please Sam. Give me a reminder in, oh, seven minutes please, and scrub the idea of a transmission test for a while, just in case.'

'Will do Jake.'

I fixed up the few things that had to be done before de-acceleration and atmospheric entry and was in fact ready before Sam's call. As I settled myself into the recliner and felt the restrainers press me firmly down into it, Sam's voice calmed whatever nervous reaction might have been about to set in.

'De-acceleration begins in two minutes Jake. Shall I give you the up-date on planet six now?'

'Just a brief verbal on the atmosphere for now please Sam, I'll get the rest from you a little later.'

'O.K. Briefly, you are clear for walkies, but you'll need a light suit.'

The reference to a light suit meant that the composition of the atmosphere posed no actual danger to me but that I might find it unpleasant, the light suit didn't provide me with total life support but included filtration and back-up air supply.

'Methane Sam?'

'Yes, it's a bit on the nose Jake.'

'O.K. get the suit and the dog checked and ready please Sam.'

The 'dog' was a personal joke between Sam and I. It was in fact an extension of her functions that scouts took with them whenever they left the ship. It provided access to on-board data and to many of the ship's operational controls. It could also provide quite a few useful services, if the scout got into difficulties of one sort or another and, if the worst came to the worst the ship could home itself in on it. So, because it was so friendly and always accompanied me when I went for 'walkies' it seemed only natural to call it the 'dog'.

'I already have Jake. Tell me, have you thought about a name for planet six?'

'A name? Why Sam?'

'Well if we, I mean if you do actually make contact here there'll have to be a name, for the Teev channels if nothing else. After all they can't go calling it planet six of system C49.806-922, can they?'

She was right of course, we'd have to think of a name, that was one of the few perks a scout had, if you found a planet with any sort of potential, you had the right to name it. Well to submit a name for someone's approval actually. But most of the time they were given the O.K and I had already named a couple of mining worlds. But this was different, this would be big-time, historic, and as Sam said, if we did make contact, the planet and its name would be remembered for hundreds, maybe thousands of years.

I'd have to come up with something really good - I couldn't just call it 'Jake's-world' or something equally dumb. I needed to come up with a name that had a real ring to it.

I was still thinking about that, when Sam gave me something else to think about.

'You'll need something to say too Jake.'

'What do you mean Sam?'

'First words. Greetings. That sort of thing.'

Sam knew as well as I did that included in the procedures there was a set speech already prepared, Sam also knew I wouldn't use that. So I now had two more things to do during the time left before we established whether I needed them or not.

The sharp tone of Sam's voice interrupted my thoughts.

'De-acceleration! Five, four, three, two, one - now!'

The ride down through the atmosphere was a little bumpy at first, mainly because of the steep spiral Sam had to use to keep the bulk of the planet between us and where we had seen the hot spot, but it settled down when we were a couple of klicks above the surface, and then we both concentrated on finding a suitable landing site.

My plan was for us to land a fairly long way from the site of the hot spot, keeping the curve of the planet between us, to begin a normal survey, start making a normal report. Then, in a series of low hops, to edge closer towards the site, checking for any transmissions that the other ship might make, if it were a ship that is. There had been a certain edginess in Sam's voice when I briefed her but she hadn't disagreed too strongly so that was what we did.

Under normal circumstances I would have been quite excited, getting out of the confines of the ship, starting to see whatever new things the planet had to show me, guessing there would be a worthwhile bonus for me because of the potential the planet had as a home-site world. The methane was generated from vast, swampy areas and even I could see that it would take very little terra-forming to fix that problem, and at one landing point I was able to open the suit and breathe quite normally, proving that the natural atmosphere was more than adequate for humans.

But, as we edged closer to the target site all I could think of was, what would we find there? And got more and more despondent as Sam's scanning picked up absolutely nothing. Not a peep, not a blip, not any sign of life at all.

It was approaching mid-afternoon and we were just one horizon away from the site, about eighty klicks and although I had no intention of walking that far I did want to take some more readings before making the next hop. Luckily the ground at that point was not swampy, a gentle incline sloped up ahead of me for the next four or five klicks and seemed to level out beyond that. I had told Sam what my plan was, so I wouldn't have to transmit back to her with the dog, estimating I would need four or five hours to cover about a third of the distance. Sam would make the short hop just as the sun set behind us, which I hoped would provide a little extra cover for the small burst of energy the ship's movement would create. We would then have the hours of darkness, during which I could either get closer or decide what to do next day, depending on what I had established by then.

I had either over-estimated my fitness or the effect of the increased gravity and, having reached my planned position I had hardly any time left to scan ahead of me before the sun began to set. Not that more time would have made any difference, the ground stretched ahead in a continuing level plain before rising to form a series of low hills, and the site was just beyond those hills. So for all my efforts I had really learned nothing new and as I finished going through the scanning routine I heard the approaching sound of Sam's low-energy hop, then she touched down just a short distance away.

I climbed back on board, tired and frustrated and asked Sam if she had anything new to tell me, and although her voice sounded as tense as I was feeling, she hadn't, the silence had been total. So I had a refresher, ate and settled down to re-think our next move.

I must have dozed off for only a few minutes, but was brought back to reality in an instant by Sam's voice, its tone was unusually urgent, and then it was cut off in mid sentence.

'Jake! Jake there's a message...'

*

Chapter 4

Peter

There were a series of whistling peeps, then.

'......... ..... ... .... welcome, hello. I greet you in no fight, you bring peace too. You speak, slow. My machine will make clear your words, my words. No fear - speak slow, now.'

It was Sam - but it certainly wasn't Sam! And strangely enough my first concern was for her.

'Sam, what's happening? Are you all right?'

The voice answered. 'Your machine good. Speak slow.'

It was obvious that whatever it was had over-ridden Sam's controls and perhaps, all of our security systems too. If so I should be worrying about myself more than anything else, but the adrenaline had started pumping and the suppressed excitement made it difficult to think of too many different things at the one time. So, having checked that all the screens were really as dead as they appeared to be, I found myself answering with the little speech Sam had reminded me to prepare.

'Welcome to you too. On behalf of my species I greet you in peace and bring to you and your kind the good wishes of my people.'

The voice answered, and I was amazed at the almost instantaneous improvement in both its pronunciation and vocabulary.

'More good. Soon my species' machine will speak more close to your words. Language coming quickly now. Complex, non-logical, making for slow translation. Good wishes accepted and returned again. You are alone.'

I couldn't tell from the tone of the voice whether the final words were a question or a statement - in either case their interest were cause for concern. Were they nervous - or hungry? I decided to follow the simplest path, the truth.

'On this planet, apart from the machines, I am alone.'

'Let them chew on that for a while.' I thought. The cavalry might be cruising nearby or be a million light years away, if they were peacefully inclined it should make no difference. After a brief pause, I added.

'And you, how many of you are there?'

There was another pause, whatever it was on the end of the voice was obviously going through a process similar to mine before answering.

'I also am alone, on this planet.'

'A stand-off.' I thought. 'Sentient?' Perhaps. A machine could be programmed for such inflexions of language. But if it wasn't just a machine! Jackpot! All I had to do was flash the information to the beacon and I'd soon be famous, rich!

But to do that I needed Sam and it was obvious that Sam wasn't quite 'with me' just then. I wondered if any of what was happening was being recorded somewhere. So my best plan seemed to be to keep talking to whatever it was I was talking to, find out whatever I could and hope that I could somehow get control of at least some of Sam's operational capacity.

'It's a lonely life in space. Are you far from home?'

'I cannot talk of that. Not approved. You?'

'I cannot answer either. Is this your first visit to this place?'

'Mine yes, my kind have been here once before. You?'

'No. We are scouts, explorers if you like.'

'We? You said you were alone, speak the truth please.'

I managed a chuckle. 'The ship is a combot. That is it has computerised robotic functions, some of them are what we call 'humanised', it appears to have a personality. We become accustomed to referring to such ships as 'he' or 'she', which are terms for the sexes of our species. So it is natural to refer to the ship and myself as 'we'.'

'I understand. This is not approved for us - but still many do the same. Some need such partnerships more than others.'

'So then you will also understand that I have concern for the well-being of my ship, not just as a machine but as something that is close to being a friend. I am concerned you may have harmed it in some way.'

'Have no concern, your ship is safe, I am doing no harm.'

'Then why not return some controls to me? Why not show yourself on the screen, so we can talk more directly, face to face? This meeting is important to us, my people I mean, you are the first contact we have made.'

Even as the words came out I wondered if it was something I should have said - anyway it was too late now. But at least it triggered more information from the voice.

'Your first contact. Ah, now I understand. When I first entered your ship I found many things that were strange to me, machines of war, some turned inwards. Now I see why. You will need to make records, and later, send news. All that will be done, soon.'

The words whirled around in my head. 'Entered your ship' 'Machines of war' 'Some turned inwards' - whoever, whatever it was must have gone down through the deepest levels of our security. To all intents and purposes I was a prisoner in my own ship, it was just as well I hadn't tried to bluff my way out.

'Jake.'

It was Sam's voice.

'Sam! Its good to hear your voice, is everything all right?'

'Mostly. The alien is using a system I do not fully understand. There are unrecorded periods, not all functions are operable but there appears to be no immediate threat. However, we may now communicate more freely Jake.'

'Jake. Is that your name, title or function please?'

The question was asked by a new voice, not the variation of Sam's that I had heard before. Obviously it still wasn't the alien's own voice but I thought perhaps it might be closer to how that might sound to me.

'Jake is my name, scout is my function, I have no title. May I ask your name?'

A whistling chord sounded, I don't know much about music but I could tell it was in a minor key, which gave it a strangely yearning tone. 'That is how my name would sound to you - as best as my machine can translate it, my name would be Peter.'

'Peter. I wish I could sing your name properly it is the most beautifully sounding name I've ever heard.'

There was a distinct pause before he answered. 'Thank you Jake, but I assure you that amongst my people it is a very ordinary sounding name. But to more important things.

Soon now you will have need to communicate, particularly since this is your first contact - and you will be expected to answer many questions. I may provide answers to some of the more simple of those, but most of them will need to wait until contact is made with others. There will be many meetings between our people. In our experience the process of information exchange can take many years.'

Things had been happening so fast I had almost forgotten the impact that the events would have on humanity, Peter's almost casual reference to meetings and exchanges of information brought me back to reality, with a rush.

'Yes, well that will be the start of a whole new series of problems, for me anyway. So far I've broken just about every rule in the book, from failing to communicate when Sam first identified the hot spot that was presumably caused by your engines, to allowing my ship to be entered. So, why don't we continue to get to know each other for a while longer, worry about the rest of our people in a little while? Apart from anything else it'll give me time to think up some rational excuses for what I have done.'

What I can best describe as a melodic whistle came through the channels, I assumed it was untranslatable, and hoped it might be the equivalent of a laugh.

'I see, yes you undoubtedly have strict rules to follow. Even we do, and we have now had many such meetings.' Then the tone of voice changed, to one of concern. 'Will you be in serious trouble, punished in some way?'

'Oh the initial reaction will be to haul me over the coals, sorry that won't make much sense to you. My superiors will want to discipline me in some way. But once the media gets hold of the story and it becomes news, and that will be almost instantaneously, there really won't be too much they can do about it. And I suspect they will all be too busy trying to get their picture on the Teev screens alongside me.'

'There are things there I do not fully understand yet Jake but it is of no great matter, I understand the principles, so what do you suggest?'

'First, I'm sure you have been watching me all this time, why not open the screens and let me see you?'

'It is true, I can see you, and you are not unattractive people, you look, well - nice. Do all your people look the same?'

I grinned self-consciously. 'Thanks Peter, I'm glad I don't look like a monster to you, that'll help us to get along with each other. As to all of us looking the same, well, we all have two arms and legs, a head with two eyes and ears, that sort of thing. But there are shades of colours from white through to almost black, we come in a range of sizes, both height and weight and even though they've been trying to standardise it for centuries now, we still speak a variety of languages and have a variety of customs. I guess the best thing to say is that we are essentially, similar.' Then I remembered the most obvious difference. 'Oh, and there are two sexes, male, I'm one of those, and female, which give birth to our young.'

There was quite a long pause before Peter responded.

'That is most interesting Jake. It seems that we have a number of things in common, even though we are separate species. But even so, before I show myself I would like us to talk a little more, it is possible my appearance may shock you and that could interfere with our 'getting along', as you called it. I suggest we just talk a little longer, about our way of life, personal things, as you might if you met someone at a social gathering, get to know each other as individuals, not as representatives of our species. I will vacate some parts of your ship to enable you to record that if you like.'

Peter's words suddenly stirred an idea. 'Peter, when did you first start blocking some of Sam's systems, the comms, I mean communications, recording, transmitting?'

'Progressively, starting with identified transmitting capacities, from just after you entered the system, more areas were controlled as they were safely identified after your landing, full control was not established until you vacated the ship.'

'So that was why Sam was reporting possible transmission faults. I couldn't have flashed, even if I'd wanted to.'

'Will that reduce your risk of being coal hauled Jake?'

I chuckled at the way Peter's concern was expressed in the translation. 'I should think so, wouldn't you Sam?'

'Yes Jake. The events were totally beyond your or my capacity to alter them.'

'Now Sam, when precisely did your internal recording capacity stop, please check.'

The reply was virtually instantaneous and meaningless of course but when I had Sam relate it to our track into the system I gave a little whoop of satisfaction.

'Great! Now Sam, once Peter hands back those systems, what will your records show?'

'A blank period.'

'So there will be absolutely nothing to show what has happened, no flight details, nothing, starting from the time you just said, and finishing whenever Peter hands back?'

'Correct Jake.'

'O.K. Peter, do you have any objection to being what we call, the villain of the piece? What I mean by that is...'

'I understands the meaning Jake, and no, I have no objection. So far as my people are concerned I was fulfilling my duties.'

'Excellent.'

'But what is the point Jake?'

'The point is we can continue to get to know each other, as you said. I can also prepare a short sub-routine for Sam that will be entered into our Log, that's the ship's report, which explains what happened. That way we should avoid all the official unpleasantness, I'll tell a few fibs, say I got Sam's report of concern about transmission capacity and holed-up behind that moon to check it. Having no success and being unable to fix it I decided to press on anyway. Sounds a bit more heroic than it was but it's essentially the same thing as happened, except I didn't really want to transmit. You understand Sam? You follow my line of thinking Peter.'

'Yes Jake.' Their voices replied in unison. Peter's continued. 'You are quick thinking, innovative and resourceful, if the rest of your people have that capacity you will do well once you are free to mix with the rest of us. So, what now, we just talk?'

And that's just what we did. For the next hour or so, and as Peter suggested we tried to keep it as personal as possible. Both of us were obviously being wary about giving out information that we shouldn't, and I was very conscious that although my systems were still down, Peter's were obviously going at full power, so he could make use of everything I said. Still, I felt it was worth while and as the conversation continued I began to get the distinct impression that Peter had taken a liking to me personally, the way you sometimes can even when you have met someone for only a short time.