The Ark
J.J. Polson
(3 Parts. 3,000 Words)
One
Zon preferred to work in silence. No. He demanded to. He had not become one of the Ministry’s top investigators by chance. His station demanded respect. A discovery of this magnitude meant everything. Reward. Recognition. Status.
“Quiet!” he shouted.
Shirai didn’t hear him of course. Zon had been far too lenient with her. With purpose in his step, he crossed the length of the small chamber and put an end to the chaotic racket. It was hard to believe that Shirai hadn’t tired of the simplistic music of Earth.
“I told you to leave that on the ship.” Zon snatched the primitive device from Shirai. It was the latest in a long string of artifacts that had led them to Earth. The others had proven just as irritating. “How can you bear to listen to such nonsense?”
“Nonsense?” Shirai frowned. “Why must you always be so close-minded, father?” She gestured to the orderly contents of the chamber surrounding them. “You know as well as anyone that true insight of a species is gained through study of their art. Have you thought to incorporate the lyrics of these songs into your studies of the samples onboard the Ark? The humans must have carefully chosen each song. Why else disburse so many probes into space?”
Zon narrowed his eyes. “And what of the hundreds of redundant probes orbiting their planet? It is exceedingly likely that disbursing probes into space was the apex of human innovation.”
“They did manage to create a facility on their moon,” Shirai said with a smile. Her arm elongated and expertly plucked one of the millions of samples from storage. “Not many species care to conserve other lifeforms. This one is an insect known for transmitting disease from human to human. They didn’t understand its actual purpose in the food chain and decided to preserve it anyway. Humans were clearly thoughtful.”
“Careless is more like it,” Zon said. “The dominant species is responsible for the continued existence of their planet. The Ark is their way of seeking forgiveness. They practically begged for someone to find this place and absolve them of their failures.”
Still examining the vial, Shirai shrugged. “Worlds are prone to change, Investigator. Life is cyclical. Perhaps the humans send species to this ship when they fall out of favor.”
“And your explanation as to why a quarter of this ship is filled with human samples?”
“Subsections of humans who have fallen out of favor.” Shirai grinned. “Obviously.”
Zon was not amused. “What of the scans of the planet? Any signs of sentient life?”
Shirai returned the vial to its place and summoned an array of vibrant screens.
Zon sharpened the focus of his eyes and pointed to a flashing indicator on one of the panels. “What is that?” he asked.
“It certainly wasn’t there before,” Shirai replied. The image on the screen magnified. She turned to him with an expression of wonder. “It’s another message! Just like the ones that led us here!”
Zon allowed the message to repeat several times, then abruptly dismissed the display. “Absolutely not. We do have not have authorization to venture to the surface. I will not put our lives at risk to see what the humans had in mind for the Ark.”
“But dad! You’re the lead investigator,” Shirai said. “Isn’t this … part of the investigation? Aren’t you the one who wanted to see these creatures in their natural environment? Didn’t we come all this way so you could impress the Ministry?”
Zon sighed. “The discovery of this place is more than enough to do so. We can’t get overly ambitious. Who knows what the Ministry will decide to do with Earth.”
Zon turned as the door to the Ark sealed. The surface beneath him began to quake.
In disbelief, he watched as the Ark leapt from its perch on the moon and dove toward the surface of Earth. Thinking quickly, he detached his ship from the Ark and activated its automated landing program.
Shirai laughed. “Now this is exciting. I have just the song for the occasion!”
Two
Shirai waited until the Ark initiated its landing protocol before deactivating her personal shield. Suspended in midair, her father silently judged her as she used her screen to interface with the ship’s rudimentary controls. Unsurprisingly, he wouldn’t dare to place himself at risk of injury.
“Surprisingly well made,” Shirai said as they descended. She increased the size of her screen and allowed her father to see its contents. “We’re clearly headed for a specific destination. No malfunctions with the landing gear. Well done, humans. Well done.”
“What about our ship? I was barely able to save it.” Zon growled. His angled face contorted into what Shirai knew to be rage. However, his shield distorted his features, casting him as a frightened child instead. She tried her best not to laugh. “I told you not to touch anything!”
“Is that really how you made lead investigator? By not touching anything?”
“That’s exactly how!”
Despite her best judgement, Shirai stretched her arm and probed her father’s shield ever so slightly. The shield reacted as she knew it would, spinning to counteract the newly introduced force.
Now upside down, her father glared at her. “I knew I shouldn’t have taken you along. I knew you weren’t ready for this.”
“As I recall, you didn’t have a choice, father,” Shirai said, adjusting the ship’s controls to slow the landing process. Ensuring the safety of the samples was only one reason for the manipulation. She enjoyed getting under her father’s silver skin far more than she would ever admit. “I finished at the top of my class this year. I earned the right to accompany you on this expedition. You would never break the Ministry’s rules.”
He closed his eyes, defeated. “We must return to our ship with the samples and depart as soon as possible. We have accomplished our goal of locating both Earth and the Ark of the humans. We must place the samples in the hands of the Ministry.”
Shirai sighed. That didn’t sound like fun. She hadn’t come halfway across the galaxy to not explore an undiscovered and formerly-occupied planet. This was the exact type of adventure she had been hoping for, one that would make her renowned throughout the Settled Worlds. Shirai could already hear her own voice describing her journey, could already see her face inside every Shooting Star ship.
Exactly one minute after the Ark landed, her father dismissed his shield. Shirai retrieved the collection kit and tossed it in his direction, then activated the door before he could utter a word of protest.
“You finish cataloguing these samples. I’ll go and retrieve our ship.” She gave him an exaggerated salute, then stepped into the unknown.
*
Standing outside the Ark, Shirai observed her colorful surroundings. She maneuvered her retinal screen, ensuring that every angle of the impressive beach was documented. White sand. Blue water. Blue sky. This was the sort of beautiful world that existed only in movies.
What will my movie be called? she thought. More importantly, who will play me?
As she sorted through potential candidates, Shirai altered the features of her body to mirror the characteristics of the humans as they appeared on the images within their probes. Tall with slender legs and defined arms. Large eyes, incapable of hiding emotion. Two rows of white teeth. Unfortunately, Shirai didn’t possess the ability to grow hair. That seemed to be optional.
Shirai selected a new song then began a leisurely stroll down the beach. After realizing the song was disrupting the integrity of her scientific recording, she redirected the oddly-seductive melody to her inner ear, allowing her to absorb the beauty of Earth as the humans once did.
The quaint state of the world inspired curiosity. Shirai wondered how long ago the humans had perished in order to allow Earth to restore itself to such a vibrant existence. There was also the small possibility that her father had misinterpreted the human language and their stated cause of extinction. Perhaps they had not literally ruinedtheir world. Languages were rather fickle.
So many questions, Shirai thought as she continued on her way.
Her sharp eyes discovered a multitude of birds perched in the branches of the trees growing beyond the beach. With some effort, she was able to pick out a different species flying above the water of the sea, attempting to hunt for dozens of species of fish existing beneath the water.
Were any of these species on board the Ark? Perhaps I should try to catch one.
By the time Shirai located the Ministry-issued ship, she had decided to convince her father to take a pass across the surface of the planet. It was vitally important to document those species that had survived and compare them to the species housed in the Ark. Something like that anyway. Shirai would derive the most logical reason before speaking to her father again. There was always a better—
Shirai stopped in her tracks. Surrounding the ship was a group of creatures standing on two legs. Humans. Humans who had already seen her.
Dad’s going to kill me…
Three
Alright, Shirai. You can do this!
Shirai studied the eight approaching humans. They were shorter than she had anticipated. Each held a wooden spear topped by a sharpened rock. She could have killed them in seconds. Of course, such a needless act of violence was prohibited by the Ministry.
Remember your training, Shirai thought firmly. You must communicate with them.
Shirai skimmed the notes she had taken on the information cached inside the human probes. Obviously, the humans wouldn’t be able to speak any of the twelve major languages, but their coordination suggested they had developed at least some level of verbal communication. Unfortunately, language had never been Shirai’s strongest subject.
After dismissing her screen, Shirai stood statuesque, waiting for the humans to surround her. She forced herself not to sing the song ringing in her left ear. It was impossibly catchy. She wondered if it would be featured in the soundtrack of her eventual movie. Wait. Would it be better as a documentary?
Focus!
One of the humans stepped forward. The woman was beautiful. Seashells were strung through her golden hair. The distant sun had bronzed her skin. Her eyes gleamed like distant stars. She said something and pointed at Shirai. Then, she spoke again and pointed to herself.
Shirai worked feverishly to decipher the language. The data from the probes had been written … yet Shirai felt as if she was on the verge of understanding the humans. How was that possible? She needed far more data to decode a language.
Oh, the songs. Duh.
The human woman repeated what she had said before. “You.” She pointed at Shirai. It was clear the woman had previously interacted humans who spoke a different language. “Keeper of the Ark.”
Shirai’s eyes widened in surprise. They know about the Ark?
“Me.” The human pointed at herself. “Rosa.”
Shirai breathed a sigh of relief. She had figured out their language. The songs of the humans were not only entrancing, they were helpful. She grinned at the thought of telling her father.
Stars above! This adventure won’t be a movie or a documentary … this must be a musical!
“Hi, Rosa. My name is Shirai. I am a Keeper of the Ark,” Shirai responded, forcing herself to speak slowly. She was careful to keep her tone level and her words simple.
The Ministry would have a fit if they discovered she had identified herself as a deity. Then again, the humans had been the one to make the assumption. Clearly, they had retained some knowledge passed down from their ancestors.
Rose pointed to the nearby ship. “This ship is not the Ark. What is it used for?”
Shirai thought quickly. She decided there was no need for an unnecessary lie. “My father and I watch over the Ark, but it is not all that we do. That ship is our way back home.”
Rosa nodded in understanding.
Shirai couldn’t believe her luck. Not only did the humans know of the Ark, they knew of ships and accepted that there were worlds other than their own. This interaction could have gone much worse. It was fortunate that her father hadn’t run into the humans first. He would have done something foolish — within the rules of course, but foolish.
“By now my men have claimed the Ark,” Rosa said. “We will meet them there. You first.”
Shirai begrudgingly turned and took a step back the way she had come.
She did not take another.
*
Shirai awoke in an unfamiliar place. When her body didn’t respond to her commands, her mind darkened with fear. Had she really been bested by the humans?
“Shirai.” It was her father’s voice. “Are you okay?”
Slowly, Shirai managed to bring herself to her knees. She was in a large cage made of green wood. Her father sat before her, a mixture of judgment and concern in his eyes.
Shirai managed a weak smile. It was nice to know that he cared.
“I’m sorry, father,” Shirai said. “I didn’t see what hit me.”
“Poisoned dart. I watched them pull it out of you.”
Shirai groaned. “It is … a strong poison. What about the Ark?”
“Sealed it upon my surrender. I haven’t yet been able to decode their language, but we did exchange names. I believe we’ll be able to extricate ourselves without incident.”
Shirai continued to stimulate her body, directing antibodies toward the last of the venom. Unfortunately, the poison had stolen control of her facial features, allowing her father to easily uncover her guilt. Stupid poison. Stupid humans. Stupid Shirai.
“The humans seemed peaceful enough,” he said. “What did you do to incite them?”
“I…” Shirai trailed off. Honesty would presumably be the best way forward. Her father had likely been in far worse situations, and he had always returned home alive. But she would never tell him that she had been one to send the Ark to earth. He would disown her for that.
“I’ll send over the language syntax. I was able to derive it from their songs,” Shirai said. Now for the hard part. “The human leader thought that I was a Keeper of the Ark. I … didn’t deny it. When I turned my back, they struck.” She cringed. “Before you say anything, I know that was against the rules.”
To Shirai’s surprise, her father smiled. “There is a reason for rules, daughter. Especially the rule about deities. Statistically speaking, most species do not have a high opinion of their gods. Use the toxin as a lesson. Never cast yourself as a deity, and never underestimate a sentient species.”
Shirai nodded. “Thank you, father.”
“I’m impressed that you were able to decode their language so quickly. Your exam scores in language were far from perfect.”
Shirai rolled her eyes. That was more like him.
“The human leader will return soon. Listen closely, daughter…”
*
As the single sun neared its peak, Rosa and two muscular males carrying a metallic box between them approached the cage. Rosa directed the men to place down the box, then took a seat atop it. She stared at the two captives for some time without speaking.
Shirai broke the silence. “I’m sorry. I lied to you. My father and I are not Keepers of the Ark.”
Rosa toyed with one of the seashells strung through her golden hair. “Then what are you? Why are you on Earth?”
Shirai explained the situation exactly as her father had instructed. “We are a species known as the Eridani. Our job is to investigate anomalies throughout the galaxy. We encountered a series of ancient probes that led us here.”
“Do you know a being by the name of Ouma?” Rosa asked.
Shirai shook her head.
To her relief, Rosa smiled. “I believe you, Shirai and Zon of the Eridani.”
“So easily?” Shirai asked, suddenly skeptical.
“The Keepers of the Ark were supposed to be humans. If you were human, you would be dead.” Rosa laughed a lovely laugh. Apparently, the comment was intended to be humorous.
“Since you survived,” she continued. “I am certain the Eridani are beings of significant power. I have no desire to challenge you in combat or to keep you imprisoned. There is a reason I did not take you to my village. Most humans are unaware of the existence of life beyond Earth.”
“How do you know about life beyond Earth?” Shirai asked. The interaction was going well. She didn’t see the harm in going a little off script.
Rosa tapped the box beneath her. “These instructions were left to us from the humans who existed before the First End. For generations, my family has passed down knowledge related to the Ark and its contents. My forebearers built our village here, waiting for the Keepers to arrive. Tell me, Shirai, was anyone aboard the Ark?”
Shirai shook her head.
“As I suspected.” Rosa stood and approached the cage. “I propose these terms. You and your father will leave Earth at once in your ship. You will leave the Ark behind. You will tell your masters that Earth is uninhabitable and ensure that we have no more visitors.”
For the first time, Shirai’s father spoke. “What happens to the Ark?”
“I will destroy it,” Rosa replied. “The past is best left in the past.”
“And if we refuse?”
Rosa smirked. “I have my strongest men surrounding your ship. They may not be able to destroy it, but they can certainly damage it before you arrive.”
Shirai smiled inwardly. She liked this human.
“We cannot guarantee that Earth will be left alone,” her father replied after due consideration. “However, if you allow us to take a portion of the spoiled samples stored on the Ark back to our home world, it is unlikely that any investigators will return here.”
Rosa unlocked the cage and opened its door. “Agreed. I wish you good fortune, Eridani.”
*
Zon watched the Earth disappear in blessed silence. Shirai slept soundly on the control station beside his own. Despite her mistake, he was proud of her. She had performed admirably.
He summoned his screen and began to modify his previous reports. The Ministry would believe the experiment of the humans had failed, just as the species had itself. Besides, there was now a far more important detail to report. A discovery that made their lengthy journey worthwhile.
Do you know a being by the name of Ouma?
Few in the Ministry knew of the existence of the COMET organization. Fewer still knew the name of Ouma. Zon wondered what COMET could possibly want with Earth.
Zon turned at the sound of Shirai’s groggy voice. She often talked in her sleep.
“I’m sorry, father,” she said. “It was … stupid to send the Ark to Earth…”
Zon smiled. One day, Shirai would one day become the Ministry’s top investigator.
He was certain of it.
THE END