lost on earth

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Lost on Earth

Chapter Seven Fall 2008 Edition

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Lost on EarthChapter Seven Fall 2008 Edition

By:

Rob Diaz II

Jodi Cleghorn

Cara MouldsDale Challener Roe

Ani Chibukhchyan

Karen Maxwell

Virginia Diaz

A Write Anything Collaborative Story


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Copyright 2008 by Write Anything(writeanything.wordpress.com)

Creative Commons LicenseAttribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 UnportedYou are free:

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No Derivative Works. You may not alter, transform, or build uponthis work without the authors permission.
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Chapter OneBy Rob Diaz IIBob Price fought violently against the panic he felt welling up within his belly.

What am I going to do now?, he thought as he leaned back against the door andwatched her walk to the kitchen, placing the wet umbrella on the floor and thetray of cookies on the table. He closed his eyes and listened to her humming asong he did not know as she went familiarly to the cabinet to pull out plates.Reopening his eyes he saw his car keys hanging on the hook by the door andconsidered grabbing them and retreating back to the peace and quiet and safetyof his office, where he could submerge himself into the piles of data streamingthrough the SETI projects satellite systems. But looking at his already cold, barefeet, still wet from having just slogged home through the rain, and hearing thecontinued pounding of the rain outside his door, he shook his head and slowly

walked into the kitchen to be a polite host to his neighbor.

Sorry for the clutter, he said awkwardly as he picked up piles of papers andstacked them precariously on the piles that were already teetering on the otherend of the table. I havent had a reason to clean up in a while. Oh, and, Im aslob. I guess that could be a larger factor in the equation.

Dont worry, said Nico, laughing lightly. Its all fine. Im not here to see howclean your kitchen table is or determine if you leave your socks on the floor all thetime. Bobs eyes drifted slowly to the dark sock draped over the side of thecouch. Im here to visit you, Bob. Besides, we all have to put our dirty laundry

somewhere, right?

Right, said Bob, moving first to stuff the dirty sock under the couch cushion andthen back into the kitchen. He poured himself a cup of coffee and got a glass ofwater for Nico.

You remembered! said Nico. How nice. Most people forget that I always wantwater.

Of course I remembered, said Bob. It still surprises me, though, that you havenever had anything to drink besides water.

That makes me sound so uptight, said Nico with a dismissive wave. Ive justnever found anything to satisfy my thirst the way water does. So, you know, whybother with anything else?

To each their own, I guess, shrugged Bob, taking a big drink of his coffee.
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They sat quietly for a few moments, Nico eating a cookie while Bob mostly brokehis own cookie into tiny bits on the plate. Feeling awkward about the silence, Bobasked, Work okay?

Yes, came the reply. Its great. Yours? Find any aliens yet?

Well, said Bob laughing uncomfortably. I guess only time will tell.

You must have the most amazing job imaginable, said Nico. You are there,seeking out first contact with the universe, searching for intelligent life outthere among the stars. Im sure that people must envy you when you talk aboutyour work.

No kidding, said Bob with a sarcastic laugh. He pushed his round, somewhattoo large glasses back up onto his nose and said, Im sure everyone is slightlyenvious. Im a slightly overweight, slightly balding, slightly-older-than-middle-aged guy who spends his days, nights and weekends locked in a room deep insidesome non-descript building, talking only to a computer as it mindlessly spits outbits of data that it, in its artificially intelligent way, thinks might be interesting tosomeone like me. Who wouldnt want to be me? But seriously, if I ever actuallyfound something in the bits of data now that might be something people wouldbe interested in.

I think youre underestimating the value people place on your work, said Nico.Then, more hesitantly, So, have you ever thought that you might have foundanything in your bits of data?

She knows that I suspect something, he thought and he felt the nerves buildingup within him again. Well, he said slowly, trying to contain the thoughts thatwere firing rapidly across his brain.

Sometimes Ive imagined order where the data seemed to be only chaos. Youknow, the problem with what I do is not a lack of data that could be significant oreven marginally interesting. There are plenty of data feeds that might be real,legitimate signs of intelligence, but then they may be nothing but so muchrandom noise.

So, how do you tell the difference between noise and intelligence? she asked.

You know, said Bob with a sigh, I dont know. The problem is that we donthave the funding or the public support to really further the science of SETI. Welisten for patterns of signals that originated somewhere else and we theninterpret them in our own way, trying to force them to mean something to uswhen we arent even sure that they meant anything wherever they originated. Inthe movies, if we encounter intelligence, all we ever see is some kind of numericsignal, usually binary and, sadly, usually a countdown to doomsday or something


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like that. At this point, were nothing more than bad cosmic hackers, trying tosteal a password when we dont even know what it is for.

What do you think the answer is? asked Nico. I mean, is there intelligence outthere and are they communicating with us?

Oh, Im sure theres someone out there, said Bob. They might even be nearby. Idont think theyre sending us random streams of numbers, though. I think theywould be sending pictures and music and words, just as we would do.

Why do you think there isnt more support for your efforts? asked Nico. Surelyeveryone wants to know whats going on out there. She looked away and said,Well, at least I want to know whats going on out there.

Well, continued Bob, taking Nicos interest as permission to continue talkingabout his work, it comes down to the current state of the nave assumptions wemake about the universe. While we might all say that yes, we are wondering iftheres someone Out There and yes, it is unlikely that we are the only life to havecome to be, accidentally or not, the reality is that most of us dont want to face thelarger questions that this knowledge could bring along, about our origins, aboutour place in the universe, that sort of thing. You might even find that the majorityof us are absolutely certain that there must be someone else Out There. Butwhen push comes to shove, youll find that the same majority of us is largelypaying so little attention to whats going on that we either wouldnt believe it ormore likely we wouldnt notice if someone from Out There were standing infront of us with eleven tentacles, purple skin and laser vision, wearing a sandwichboard advertising their planet of origin while singing disco hits.

So, you think people from another planet would have eleven tentacles, purpleskin and laser vision? asked Nico, with a laugh that sounded forced. I mean,they wouldnt look human?

No, said Bob. Well, maybe. Im sure people around the universe come in manydifferent shapes, sizes and colors. He hesitated for a moment, willing himself tostare straight at Nico as he continued. They might even be larger than theaverage human, have blue-gray skin, wings and two antennae on their hairlessheads.

Bob watched Nico as she caught her breath and looked at him, unblinkingly. Was

her unwavering stare the acknowledgment he was seeking or was she waiting forhim to continue? Bob listened to the ticking of the old grandfather clock in theliving room and it felt like each second was taking several minutes to go by.Finally, Bob broke the silence, saying, Im going to ask you something crazy,something you probably would have figured you would never be asked in yourlifetime.


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What is it, Bob?

Nico, are you an alien? Bob felt his face flush red hot with fear andembarrassment and wished he could catch the words before they reached Nicoswonderful, completely human ears. What if he was wrong? What if he was right?

He hadnt thought through to his next step. Nicos expression hadnt changed atall. But he couldnt be wrong, he knew what he had seen.

What would make you ask such a thing? asked Nico quietly, looking down.

Taking a deep breath, Bob explained. I walked over to your house a few days ago,maybe a couple weeks ago now. I was bringing you a bag of tomatoes from mygarden because I knew you enjoyed them last year. I heard you humming in thebackyard and so I let myself in through the gate.

I remember, said Nico. The tomatoes were fantastic.

Good, said Bob. Im glad you liked them. So, as I came around, I sawsomething, I mean, someone, wandering around the patio. I assumed it was you,since I heard your voice humming, the same song you were humming when yougot here today, actually. But theperson seemed too large to be you. As I cametoward the patio, I noticed pale-looking skin, kind of blue-gray. I saw wings onher back. I apologized for intruding and turned to leave, but then you called myname. I turned around and you were, well, you again.

I am always me, Bob, said Nico. We can never escape being ourselves.

Ive tried to explain it away. I have been telling myself that it was just that I hadnot had enough sleep, that you were, perhaps, involved with a CommunityTheater or something, that maybe I was working too much in a field where myjob is to find alien life in every burst of background radiation I see. But I haventbeen able to shake the feeling, the image. For a moment, there, in your yard,when you called my name, I- I was sure I saw my back as though I was standingwhere you had been on the patio, watching me leave. And I know that I didnthear your voice; it was more like I felt it. Bob sighed heavily and looked atthe floor while he waited for a reply he knew would not come. Feeling foolish, heforced himself to laugh and continued. Im sorry, he said. Im obviouslymistaken. Sorry for embarrassing you and me.

Nico remained quiet for a few moments as Bob headed to the kitchen to warm hiscoffee. Returning to the table where Nico was waiting, he looked up and droppedthe mug filled with scalding-hot coffee, ignoring it as it shattered across the floorand onto his feet. Standing before him was Nico, only she now had blue-grayskin, wings and antennae. She was nearly as tall as he was now, perhaps taller.Suddenly, as Nicos words filled his mind, Bobs vision split, as if he was seeing


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with two sets of eyes, one set looking at the tall, hovering creature before himwhile the other was looking back at him.

I am Nicomeda, Empress-designate of the ThUrn.

The words did not come to him through his ears, they were an integral part ofhim. Bob stood there, unmoving, barely breathing, as he watched Nicomedabefore him and also watched himself at the same time. The words coalescedaround his consciousness in a way that conveyed their meaning, the emotions ofthe speaker and more. The words expressed relief, as if a burden was lifted.

Bobs sight returned to normal as he watched her shrink back to her normal form,at least the form that was normal to Bobs eyes, and continued in a spoken voicethat was normal to Bobs ears. At least thats who I was, before I came here toEarth, she said.


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Chapter TwoByJodi CleghornBob reached out for a chair to steady himself as Nicos confession splintered his

world and shook him to his core just as the strange shift in perspective that hadaccompanied her step out of the closet had done.

There really are aliens among us. Christ one of them lives next door to me, Bobthought, feeling it safer to explore it all in his head before he dared to open hismouth. Now was not the time for one of his infamous foot-in-mouth forays hedprefer to begin this interplanetary relationship without a gaff on his part.

While he explored the possibility of the impossible every day, sitting therelogically attempting to interpret the volumes of data in his small cave-like office,part of him really debated whether life beyond the known universe was feasible.

While part of him fantasised about it the other part, the analyst andmathematician knew there had never been a probability of an oversized, blue-grey, insectoid creature dropping by with cookies in the middle of anunseasonable downpour because it was the neighbourly thing to do. Hed come toSETI on the strength of his resume and the challenge that the project presentedhim, rather than a passion for planets or all consuming beliefs about life existingin the big beyond. It seemed the mountain had come to Mohammed in thatregard.

Nico stood looking at Bob, his facial expression oscillating with his thoughts, butgiving her no fixed indication of what he was feeling or thinking. Neither Nico nor

Bob felt comfortable or uncomfortable in those precious minutes as each of themprocessed what had just gone on. It was as though they were paused in time andspace, existing in the microcosm of the kitchen, grappling with the widerimplications. All was silent even the cacophony of the rain on the iron roofseemed to be muted.

Nico waited patiently for Bob to say something, but when it became obvious hewouldnt or couldnt, she looked at the shattered coffee cup and the slick tide ofcoffee making its way across the worn linoleum of the kitchen floor and asked,Do you have a dust pan and broom? A rag? I dont want you to step on thebroken mug and cut yourself.

It took a moment for Nicos simple statement to register with Bob. He lookeddown at the floor, his anemic white feet were pock marked with splattered coffee.For the first time he felt the small fiery pin points of pain, where the coffee hadburnt the top of his feet.

Ahh, in the little cupboard beside the fridge.
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With quiet efficiency Nico cleaned up the mess and poured another brew for Bob,who had sat down at the table. He sat sipping his coffee slowly and deliberately,while Nico played with a cookie. In a sudden flurry of activity, Bob pushed hischair back, so violently it fell backwards as he moved with uncharacteristic speedaway from the table, returning with his briefcase. A moment later the lock was

opened, and the case sat lid up in front of him, obscuring the petite form of Nicofrom his line of sight. He took out a pile of data printouts the type that rolled offin one continual stream, each page punctuated with a line of perforation, andpushed the briefcase to the side. He searched through the pages, his doughyfingers moving expertly through the paper jungle, as he searched for the pagesembellished in pink highlighter, biro marks scribbled in the border.

He looked up, pushing his heavy glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. Arethere others here Nico?

Others like me or just others?

You mean there are more aliens? It was difficult to keep the astonishment outof his voice.

I prefer the term extra terrestrial.

Semantics, Bob muttered, running his finger along a line of data thatterminated in a string of hand written numbers, ignoring Nico who hadsuccessfully reduced two cookies to neat piles of crumbs.

I thought I was mad, Bob said and passed the printout to Nico. Its in thesilence not in the chatter when you did what you did to me, that temporalspatial shift in perception. Now I understand.

What do you understand Bob?

Bobs jaw dropped. Nico sat there rearranging the pile of cookie crumbsnonchalantly, but he was certain that shed spoken to him.

Did you just say something to me?

Yes I did Bob.

He looked at her in disbelief.

Surely youd have suspended all your atrophying beliefs by now Bob.

I can hear you in my head.


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This is the way we communicate on my planet. There is little need for spokenwords most of the time. We move through time and space in silence.

Nico reached out and took the printouts from Bob, reading the data with growinguneasiness. The breaks the periods of silence. When did they appear? she

asked.

About three months ago. I thought that they were a by-product of static, spacestorms, electrical disturbances, a programming error, but theyve become moreregular there is a pattern.

Theyre searching for me.

Your people?

They are following the psychic trail I left behind. And it ends here - Earth.

Then they will come here?

My people only travel with their minds. We do not leave our planet. TheEmpress will send others to get me and take me home. Or negotiate with yourgovernment to have me sent back.

But you travelled here?

I followed another. He came with one of your kind who was a scientific envoyfrom Earth.

So the urban legend is true.

Yes, Bob.

So your people they could come if they chose.

Technically - yes. But - no. It is not our way.

Bob took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes that were sore and itchy. His headwas aching, and the excitement of the evening was giving way to a deep sense ofexhaustion, that was invading each and every bone and muscle in his body. Hissedentary, non-eventful existence was unused to this sort of drama. The closesthed had to any excitement in the last year was a bag of microwave popcornexploding and the inevitable argument with his mother about another of thosehand-knitted jumpers shed given him for his birthday.

Has the signal stabilized? Has it become regular, like a beacon? Nico asked,peering over the top of the papers in her tiny hands.


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No but it cant be far off. Based on the rate of normalization over the past threemonths, it cant be more than a few days, a week at most before your people get alock on Earth.

Nico paled, laid the printouts on the table and clasped her hands together on top

of the table, hiding Mount St. Cookie. The alabaster white of her knuckles was theonly other indication that her graceful poise had been shaken.

I suppose that I should turn you in Nico. Bob said the words with a halting,palpable discomfort, more from a sense of duty than a true desire to do so. Yourpresence here could

It will be a moment of, what do you call it here first contact. Well publiccontact because its obvious that your government knows more than its lettingon.

Nico its greater than first contact. He paused, fighting to try and find the rightwords, not wanting to offend Nico. Are we harboring you?

Im not exactly a criminal, a fugitive. Im more a refugee a political or religiousexile.

How so?

Can I have another glass of water? Her mouth felt dry and the enormity of whatshe had done finally seeped all the way through her being. In the past three yearsshed never been called to account for the decision that shed made, much lesscasually discussed it over cookies and drinks. There had been no one to talk toand shed been able to delude herself that she had every right to choose to leaveif she wanted. She lived in a society now that put selfishness on a pedestal. Noone disagreed with the concept of free will here. Bob would not judge her for whatshe had done. He would understand, unlike those on her home planet.

Bob stood up and filled a jug with water, placing it on the table in front of her.Nico poured herself a glass of water, swept Mount St. Cookie into the palm of herhand and brushed it onto a plate the shifting sands of the Great Cookie Desert.

She was lying to herself about Bob. It did matter what Bob thought. If he wasunable to empathize with her position, hed turn her over to the authorities. Hed

earn the respect of important people. And she knew how important respect wasfor Bob. If Bob did not care about her decision, then hed get a crack at beingsomeone important for the first time in his life.

My people are unlike anything you can even begin to imagine. We are boundfrom birth to follow the path into which we are born. Free will is a totally foreignconcept and we have never had cause to question it. Our first and only priority is


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to she struggled to find the right word. to the Hive. We are born as one - wedo and think as one. We are interconnected through genetics, through work andunited psychically through a thought bond. We are a collective and no one personis more important, even the Empress, than the Hive.

Three years ago, a human came among us, sent from Earth as a Science andCultural envoy. She changed the way in which one of our men thought and thatvariation, like a virus, infected him. He was to be my mate and the change in himaltered me, too, through our psychic connection. It made me see for the first timewhat lay ahead of me as Empress. And I chose to leave to follow him here toEarth.

Why Earth?

Because I knew nowhere else to go. I followed his psychic trail as my people arenow following mine. I found a home here on Earth - one that allows me toindulge my need for individual freedom without guilt or reprise.

What happens to your Hive without you?

Our Empress is old, but not so old that she could not train another. There was agirl born in the last generation who came with the mark of Empress her wordspetered out and she poured another glass of water. She will take my place.

What if the Empress dies before that?

Nico chewed her bottom lip and looked up at the light bulb, trying to focus herattention away from the question, playing with the electrical current and makingthe bulb flicker in response to the change in the voltage pattern. The Empresswould not allow herself to die.

You know what, its late. Maybe we should both sleep on this, Bob suggested,scooping the printouts back to his side of the table and re-arranging them back inhis briefcase. He realized it was none of his business if Nicos people lived or died.It was probably rude to ask anyhow. And he was sure hed gone and put his footin his mouth by asking. Who was he really to ask - he was just an analyst. He wassure that there were others, somewhere, who were far more qualified to decideNicos fate. He clicked the case shut and spun the little dials on the lockingmechanism.

Nico stood, folding the tea towel to keep her hands busy. Keep the cookies. Iknow they are your favorite. And thank you for listening. Ive carried this burdensince I arrived here.

Bob collected her umbrella. Its still raining. Really unseasonable. Bob thoughtit best to return to small talk. He unlocked the back door for her and held it as she


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Chapter ThreeByCara MouldsRaindrops hit her head as she walked back to her house but Nico didnt bother

opening the umbrella. There was no rain on ThUrn and she remembered the firsttime she experienced it on Earth. It had been a cool summer evening like this oneand the water droplets tingled when they hit her scalp. She remembered beingscared at first, especially when she saw other people carrying large discs overtheir heads to protect themselves, running indoors to escape the onslaught. Thenshed seen a little boy running down the sidewalk, ahead of his mother, jumpingin puddles and laughing, and she realized the wet drops werent dangerous. Itwas one of many things shed had to ask Anakin.

It had been nearly three years since shed communicated psychically and it feltweird to do so with Bob. When shed first arrived on Earth shed found Anakin by

calling to him psychically, but he had quickly warned her about the dangers andtaught her how to speak with her voice. She hadnt really liked talking but Anakinknew that the Empress would have to send scouts to find her. They might nothave bothered looking for him but they would surely need to find the Empress-designate and they would start by tracking psychic conversations.

Anakin had settled in quite happily with Lisa Silverman, the astronaut who hadvisited ThUrn. She had helped him learn the ways of Earth and had even secureda job for him as an expert on artificial intelligence with SETI, working in a moreclassified division than Bobs. After so much time, both Nico and Anakin haddecided the Empress wasnt going to pursue her but would just train another as

Empress-designate.

Now it was clear that this wasnt the case. She arrived at her house and let herselfin, pausing to look at her living room and kitchen. She loved this house. She lovedthe way it was decorated - the plump, overstuffed sofa shed picked out from JCPenneys, the artwork shed bought from students at the arts festival two yearsago, the books on the bookshelves lining an entire wall. Thered been so much tolearn once she realized how little she knew. There was so much more to learn, somany more books to read. She didnt want to leave this house or this planet.

She couldnt go back. She couldnt be the Empress.

She wondered whether Bob would help her or turn her in. Even if he was going tohelp her, she would need more help than that. She would have to contact Anakinnow and might as well do so quickly since her soundwave silence hadntprotected her after all.

Anakin, I need to talk to you. Theyve found me.
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*****

Reg Rosnik heard the ding from his computer signaling a new email but he didntcheck it right away. He was testing a program hed written that would allow himto play streaming video without the network monitor catching it, which was

important if he was going to watch the Steelers football game next Monday nightwhen he had to work. He was still pissed about working that night. Finally, heclicked over to his email and saw a Code Green from Bob Price.

Hey Larry! he hollered to the next cubicle. I just got a Code Green from BobPrice.

Larry burst out laughing. Well, drop everything and get right on that one.

Reg laughed as he went back to his program. The Steelers game was moreimportant than another Code Green from Bob Price that would turn out to benothing. He finished keying in the code and started a test run. He switched backto the email and opened it. Holy crap, Larry. Wait til you hear this one. BobsCode Green is a pattern of silence.

Youre kidding, right, Larry said, standing up to lean over the cubicle wall andget a look at Regs face.

I swear I am not kidding. The attached data file shows a unique pattern ofsilence. Thats his Code Green, Reg said.

Its probably just a short in one of the transmitters. Holy cow. Thats prettydesperate, Larry said, sitting back down. I suggest you spend your time workingon a Steelers program, my man.

Im with you on that. Ill just forward this big Code Green on to more importantpeople than myself.

People who are important enough to work days and not miss Monday NightFootball.

Yeah. Lets see what Anakin does with it, Reg said as he forwarded the emailand went back to his football program.

*****

Bob paced behind the sofa as the phone rang.Pick up, please be home, hethought. The only person he could talk to about any of this, or anything at allreally, was his twin brother John. On the seventh ring, John said, Hey Bob.


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Oh, thank God youre home, Bob said, breathlessly. Youre not going to believewhat I have to tell you.

What? Whats wrong, John asked, with an edge in his voice. It took a lot to gethis brother upset, or excited, or whatever he was. He almost didnt recognize the

voice on the phone.

Just as Bob was about to speak, he stopped, realizing the enormity of thesituation. Every spy movie hed ever seen flashed through his mind and in hishand, the cell phone betrayed him.I cant tell you on the phone. But I need your help. Can you come over rightaway?

Ill be there in 15 minutes, John said.

Good, good, Bob said, about to hang up. Oh, and pack a bag, he said quickly.I might be going somewhere. And you might want to come with me.

*****

Anakin read the email twice. Then he stood up, walked across the room and backto his seat to read it a third time. He couldnt believe it. He opened the data fileand looked at the symbols of silence. It read like a symphony to him, but in alanguage he had long forgotten. Then, suddenly, a single serenade filled his beingas he heard his name in a way he hadnt heard or felt it in years. Anakin. Itechoed within him for several still seconds as he swirled within himself, lost inmemories.

Anakin, I need to talk to you. Theyve found me.

Slowly, he emerged from his reverie as her words reverberated with meaning.Yes, they had found her. And nothing would be the same for either of them again.He sat frozen in that moment, hoping that if he were still and emptied his mind ofthis knowledge, it would go away. Back to the way it was ten minutes ago, beforehe read the email, before he understood the message. But it was too late.

Anakin, I need your help. Theyve found me.

He replied,Nico, the Empress is dead.


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Chapter FourByDale Challener RoeYou did WHAT?

For the past hour, John had sat on the ottoman in the middle of the living room.Bob frenetically paced across the cheap shag carpeting and laid out the wholestory, watching his brothers face journey from stark disbelief to shock and backfull-circle to disbelief.

Bob knew the story was outlandishat bestbut he also knew John wouldbelieve him. As identical twins, they had always shared some sort ofwell,psychic would be the wrong wordbut there was a connection on a level othersdidnt have. And while it wasnt even on the same planet with what Nico had doneto him, he knew that he and his brother could always tell when the other was

lying.

As Bob wrapped up his story, they had switched placesBob sinking down ontothe ottoman, while John leapt up and took over the duties of wearing tracks intothe carpet. Now John was staring down, uncomprehendingly at Bob.

Why? John pleaded.

Bob jumped up. Its my job. And its one of the most important discoveries ever.I cant keep it quiet. He sounded confidentfar more confident than he felt. Infact, he was having serious misgivings about having sent the email.

John put his hand on his brothers shoulders and waited until Bob met his eyes.You love this girl.

No, Bob replied reflexively.

It wasnt a question, Bob. You love her.

I do not, he said rather more weakly than hed intended.

When was the last time you even so much as mentioned a girl to me? Grad

school? And all you ever told me about her was her name and how cute youthought she was in her glasses. For the past two years youve barely had aconversation with me where you didnt mention her. Its always Nico and I this,and Nico that. Christ, by now even I know she only drinks water.

Bob laughed but quickly stopped himself. OK, maybe I have been a littleinfatuated, but thats all different now.
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Is it? Maybe it is. I dont know. Maybe you cant love someone from anotherplanet, maybe you can. Were not going to solve that problem here tonight. But Iknow, for damn sure, you can be friends with one.

True Bobs voice trailed off in a tangle of unspoken thoughts.

Or, at least you were in love.

Meaning what?

Bob, you turned her in. You got the chance to tell someone that you, Bob Price,found a signal from outer space, and like that, he snapped his fingers, youturned her in.

No, I didnt turn her in. But John didnt look convinced. In the email I toldthem about the signalor more precisely, the lack of signalbut

But, what?

But I never mentioned Nico.

A wide, smarmy, smile spread across Johns face. Sounds to me like youvealready made up your mind to help her.

Bob looked his brother squarely in the eye. So?

So what are you still doing here?

Bob started to say something but thought better of it. He smiledan odd,mischievous smile John hadnt seen on his brothers face since childhood.

As his brother watched, Bob picked up the overnight bag John had brought withhim and ran out the door.

****

As soon as Anakin had given her the news, Nico felt the panic welling up inside ofher. She immediately stepped out of the house and started to walk, intending justto go around the block to clear her head. Now, Nicos walk had turned into amarathon. When her mind was troubled nothing helped more than a long walk ina drenching rain. The cool water falling on her head calmed herstopped herfrom spiraling down into panic.

The Empress was dead. And they were coming for her. To drag her back to herhome planet. To make her take up her position as Empress. To leave the life shereally wanted.


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After three years on Earth the thought of entering back into the Hive sent shiversfrom the tips of her antennae out to the spines of her wings. The voiceseverywhereconstant. Everyone always looking to her. Here it was so peaceful. Itwas wonderful to make her own decisions. Without the input of hundredsorthousandsof others. And to have her decisions affect only her.

She hadnt listened to others voices for so long that, now, she had to concentrateto hear them. Even the brief conversation with Anakin has been less like a psychicconnection and more like a psychic discussionno more than each of themsending words rather than speaking them.

Deliberately, and with careful thought she reached out to contact Anakin.I dontwant to go back.

His answer was immediate. He had obviously been waiting for her to call to him.What about your duty?

Dont lecture me about duty. Without meaning to, she stomped her foot in apuddle attracting the attention of a woman huddled under the roof of a bus stop.We both abandoned our expected roles when we left.

Nico, I am not lecturing you. It was you who spoke of duty when we left. It wasyou who wondered what you would do when they came for you and you had tomake a decision.

She noticed that she had her finger to her mouth. Even though she had nofingernails, she had taken on certain human habits.Do you know who has comefor me?

Not precisely. But I do know that there is one ThUrn among them.

That was worrisome. ThUrn rarely left their planet.How do you know?

I can hear him.

How is it that he cannot hear you?

He is a messenger and not psychically strong. He is not looking for me, so unlessI announce myself he will not find me. He is only looking for you.

Reflexively, Nico looked around for anyone following her.Does he know where Iam?

No. But

What are you keeping from me?


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Nico, I have found out why he is here.

Dont we already know that?If she had been speaking her voice would have shotup an octave.Hes here to take me back.

Yes, but that is not the complete truth. Back on ThUrn when I met Lisa andstarted to speak and work with her, the contact inadvertently affected mesome of the ThUrn said she had infected me. And because of my connection withyou, you became affected as well.

Her impatience was growing. This was all old news. What does this have to dowith anything?

Everything. It now seems evident that Lisa did not leave soon enough. Orperhaps we didnt.

Soon enough for what? Why are you speaking in riddles?

There was a long pause before Anakin answered.Nico, there is an epidemic onThUrn. A plague is wreaking havoc.

Oh no. The humans brought some sort of disease?

No. This is a plague of the mind.

I dont understand. Tell me whats happening.

There is a plague of individuality spreading through the Hive.

Nico was silent as she tried to understand what he was saying. Was individualitysuch a bad thing? She and Anakin had certainly taken well to it.

Nico, the Empress didnt simply die. She was killed. By her own people.


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Chapter Five

ByAni Chibukhchyan

Nico felt weak and helpless when she heard the news. Strange emotions welled up

inside her until she felt like she was going to explode from the pressure

She took off at a full run in an attempt to distance herself from her confusion andfear.

She realized that in only three short years, her entire existence, her old way oflife, had completely changed. Her planet was in a revolutionary crisis and verysoon, they would start over, destroying old traditions, creating new rules andliving by different expectations and when compared to the drone-like existencethey had now, that could only be a better way of life, right? Or would it only seembetter. What if it wasnt? What if, in a desperate attempt to live independently,

her people realized they couldnt handle it? After all, they had lived andfunctioned a certain way for thousands of years, what if trying to change theinfrastructure of their civilization failed? Would that mean the end of herspecies?

Although it was her duty to go back and assume her rightful position, Nico had nodesire to be involved in a revolutionary war, even for the sake of her own peoplesfreedom she was more determined than ever to stay on Earth and fight for hernew-found independence.

In her mind, she was no longer ThUrn.

Nico returned to her house and stopped to catch her breath in the shadowydoorway. She was soaked to her human skin. She bent over and placed her handson her knees in an attempt to catch her breath.

This is ridiculous, she muttered aloud. I am not a coward, why am I acting likeone? Ive never run from a challenge she stopped. She had never really beenchallenged until she arrived on Earth. Up until that point, she had simply movedthrough life in a trance-like state, doing what she was told and never questioningauthority. There was never any reason to run before.

In fact, her life had been pretty peaceful until she had left her planet, peacefuland predictable.Nico stood up and brushed water droplets from her eyes. What will Bob do?Nicothought. Will he turn me in, or will he help me hide from the ThUrn? And do Ireally want to spend the rest of my life running?
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She reached into her back pocket and pulled out her house key. She stepped intoher safe haven, flicked on a lamp and concentrated on resuming a normalbreathing pattern.

Nico looked around once again at all the nice things in her house, things that she

had spent quite a lot of time shopping for and learning about; she loved everysingle thing, not just for the materialistic value, but because she, and she alone,had decided to buy them. She had made her own decisions and she quite liked theindependence and the thrill each item gave her. They somehow verified herexistence. Her people were not allowed to have identifiable emotions and thosewho had the defect, as their doctrine labeled any thought that was not includedin the collective masses, simply disappeared. Most were never seen again.

The years on Earth had changed her so much that she had become someone inbetween those two completely different worlds. Nico was not only a part of theThUrn, she now considered herself half-human, at least on a psychological level.It was a bittersweet realization because now she wasnt sure where she belonged.

And thats when she realized that part of the reason she felt compelled to stay onEarth was not only the freedom of choice, the house she adored, or the lifestyleshe had gotten used to it was the man she never thought would become soimportant to her.

A simple human man named Bob Price her neighbor, her friend, and nowsomeone who had the power of her life in the palm of his hand.

She frowned. What if he chose to destroy her? Or perhaps sacrifice her for hiscareer? Would he do that? She still didnt feel like she knew enough about humanemotions to presume anything, and even though Bob had never said anything toher directly about how he felt about her, still, there was something

Nico sighed and walked into her bathroom to retrieve a towel. She beganvigorously rubbing her hair dry. The short ebony strands stuck together to formsmall spikes all over her human skull. Her human skin was beginning to itch andshe suddenly wished she could simply discard it and assume her natural shape.

But of course, she could not do that. And if she stayed on Earth, she would haveto retain her human disguise and become someone different. Was she willing toforfeit her identity all for the sake of being an independent being?

She released another slow, sad sigh while tossing the wet towel on top of herwashing machine. If Bob helped her and she was allowed to stay, would anythinghappen between them? Did she want it to? Was she capable of feeling humanlove, or better yet, was she capable of returning human love?The knock on the door squeezed a squeal of surprise from her lips.


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The pupils of Nicos human eyes dilated and she ran her tongue over her lipsnervously. Who could that be? Had the ThUrn messenger already found her?How would they react if she fought them? She narrowed her eyes and clenchedher jaw in determination. She wasnt going back.

She shook her head. I cant do this, she muttered. I should do this, its myduty. She couldnt be selfish, her people needed her. Didnt they? But if thewhole planet was rebelling, they didnt need her as their Empress, did they?

Nico continued staring intently at the door, indecision gnawing at her stomach.

Another hurried, brusque knock echoed off the door and Nico jumped nervously.She blinked and then issued a quiet, self-depreciating chuckle. If it was theThUrn, they wouldnt know enough about human customs to knock wouldthey?

Nico cautiously moved toward the door and sticking her eye to the peep holelooked out to see who it was.


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Chapter SixBy Karen MaxwellNico could only see the outline of a body on her front stoop. She tried turning her

head to one side, then the other side in an attempt to gain a better perspective,but it was no use, she simply couldnt determine who, or what, was outside herdoor.

Who is it? she asked softly. Her voice sounded strange, almost hollow in pitchand she felt a peculiar squeezing in her stomach.

She placed a hand flat against her abdomen and nearly forgot about the personon the porch as the peculiar sensation persisted. She tried to decipher what shewas feeling fear perhaps?

Hmm, thats an interesting emotion, she muttered quietly.

Nico, its Bob, his voice hissed through the door. Let me in, we need to talk.

Nico placed her palm on the doorknob before pausing. How did she know it wasBob? What if it was the messenger trying to trick her? Was that even possible?First, she wasnt aware of any trick to turn a persons voice into someone elsesand secondly, how would the messenger even know about Bob to begin with?

Her fingers curled around the handle and she slowly turned the knob. Taking abreath, she eased the door open a few inches and peered out.

Nico recognized the slightly overweight, slightly balding, slightly-older-than-middle-aged guy standing on the other side and with a relieved smile, usheredBob into her house. She gave the outside a hurried, cursory glance before shuttingand locking the door behind him.

Thank Jtis, its only you, she said as she faced him.

Bob cocked his head in confusion. Thankwho?

Nothing, she said over her shoulder while walking into her bedroom. I need to

change out of these clothes; Ill be out in a minute.

Right, Bob called after her.

Nico peeled off her wet clothes and stepped into a pair of loose-fitting jeans and apastel t-shirt. She left her feet bare. She padded back into the living room andsank onto her sofa.
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Wow, that was fast, Bob said with surprise.

Fast?

When women say theyre going to be back in a minute, that usually means half

an hour.

Ah well, Im not like other women.

You could say that again. The couple stared at each other for long momentsbefore Bob cleared his throat and sat on a nearby, high-backed chair. Look, hebegan, pausing to gather his thoughts before continuing. Im not sure where togo from here. I mean, this is so youre so he grunted in frustration and ran aplump hand over his scalp. I think I might have done something I made amistake. I wasnt thinking.

Nicos back straightened and her stare changed from slightly amused to wary andalert. What do you mean?

I emailed a Code Green to my colleagues, he said, his expression apologetic, hisvoice coated with regret.

A Code Green? Nico repeated with confusion.

Bobs fists clenched and he explained through gritted teeth. Its code forsomething is off, weird, strange, he quickly corrected himself. And Imrecommending they take a closer look, see what they think.

And what do they think?

I dont know. I havent heard back from them yet. Which is sort ofdisappointing, Bob said.

Why is it disappointing that you havent heard anything? Maybe they Nicosuddenly stopped and her face lost all remaining color.

Say, are you alright? Bob said while pushing himself out of the chair to sitbeside her.

Nicos eyes remained on the chair that Bob vacated; in fact, she didnt appear torealize he had moved at all.

Nico, said Anakin, he is close.

How close?


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Three blocks away.

Nico jerked back to awareness and moving at a slightly inhuman speed, shegrabbed Bobs hand and dragged him to her bedroom.

Hey, wha what are you where are we going? Bob sputtered in surprise.

We have to leave, now, hissed Nico as she released Bobs hand and stuffed herfeet back into her damp sneakers. He will be here soon.

He? Bob squeaked. Whos he?

The messenger, Nico responded and raced to the kitchen.

The what? Bob repeated and stumbled after her. What are you doing? Whereare we going? What the hell is going on?

I cant explain right now, Nico said while shoving four water bottles into acanvas tote bag. You will need food, she said absently as she threw granola barsand a tube of Pringles potato chips into the bag.

Hes on your street, Nico. Get out!

Whos coming, Nico? Whats going on?

They have come for me, Bob. I cant let them take me. Not now. Not before Ifigure out what Im going to do. She began racing toward the back door. Shepaused, the bag slung over her shoulder, her hand on the doorknob before sherealized that Bob wasnt behind her. She turned.

Are you coming?

Bob chewed nervously on his lower lip. They couldnt have figured out what wasgoing on so fast, Nico. Im sure its nobody. I just sent that email an hour

Not yourpeople, Bob. Nico said, her voice surprisingly steady, my people.

Bobs lips formed a slight O shape and before he could utter a sound, the frontdoor began to jiggle.

Someone was trying to break in.

Anakin, hes here! Nico screamed silently.

You have no choice, you must fly.


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But what if someone sees me?

What if he catches you?Anakin shot back.

Bob! I need an answer! Nico yelled and her human shape began to melt away.

She stretched and spread her beautiful wings. Her blue-gray skin looked slickwith moisture. Will you help me or not?

The front door shuttered and groaned as the being on the other side of it began tothrow its weight against it.

Nico threw open the back door and held out her hand to Bob. You must trustme, she said.

Bob stared at her and then looked back over his shoulder to the front door. Therewas a long, jagged crack down the left panel

If he catches me, I will be forced to return, Bob. I will likely die. I cannot escapethis without your help.

A low, inhuman sound screamed through the house.

He is agitated. Messengers are not very quick, but they are persistent, and whenagitated, quite dangerous. We must go now!

Beads of sweat broke out on Bobs forehead and he visibly swallowed. Handshaking, he reached for Nico.


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Chapter SevenByVirginia DiazWith a loud crack, Nicos front door gave. The ThUrn messenger was inside and

all but upon them, crossing the small house quickly.

Oh- what is that? Bob asked, shocked into stillness by the sight of the great,black-shelled alien that was suddenly menacing them. Messengers were large andslow and dumb, but their thick shells made them nearly indestructible. Nico, fullytransformed into her ThUrn self, grabbed Bobs hand, pulled him through theback door and into the screened-in porch that led to the backyard, realizing thatshe now had to face the messenger and at the very least hear his message.Pushing Bob behind her, she issued a command.

I am Nicomeda, Empress-designate of the ThUrn. Reveal your message!

Allowing the dimwitted creature to deliver his message would both lull him intobelieving that she would cooperate and, hopefully, give them time to try andescape.

As Nico stood waiting for the message, she had a niggling feeling that somethingwasnt quite right. Despite that premonition, it was Bob who regained his nerveand slipped am arm around Nico to pull her back as the messenger struck outwith one of its powerful front legs.

Nico, honey, we have to move, he shouted. He continued to pull her with him as

he backed away from the creature, maneuvering them so as to put the picnic tablethat was there between them and the messenger, in the hopes it would act assome protection.

What are you doing! Nico screamed at it inside her head.Reveal your message!she again ordered.

The messenger lashed out at her again, striking the redwood picnic table, whichsplit into pieces as he finally answered Nico.

No Empress may be left, he told her and she saw his memories inside her own

head along with the connection- the death of the old Empress, of the waitingpotential Empress, of ThUrn after ThUrn who had stayed loyal to the monarchy.

No! Nico gasped, reverting to speech as she tried to sever the connection, triedto push the images back out of her head.

The messenger hopped forward, flapping his wings to rush in faster, breakingthrough the thin awning that served as the porchs roof so that rainwater rushed
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down on him. Nico glanced up at the lamp that hung from the ceiling in themiddle of the room. It took only a moments concentration to send the currentfrom the light bulbs socket arcing down into the form of the messenger, makinghim twitch and fall to the floor stunned.

What did you- how did you do that? Bob shuddered.

Ignoring Bobs astonished question, she said, Hurry, Bob, he wont beunconscious for long.

Coming back to himself, he responded, Uh- my cars waiting, we can be out oftown in half an hour.

They were halfway down the block when Nico put a hand on Bobs shoulder andsaid, Wait. We have to go back.

*****

Anakin spent several minutes accessing the SETI mainframe and setting off thevirus hed installed several years earlier. It was his contingency plan for just sucha day as this one. He had designed it to not only wipe all traces of him from theofficial SETI records, but to search out and corrupt any and all ThUrn typepatterns snatched from the reaches of space by the radio telescopes. It would takea few days, but the virus would eventually propagate to all systems connectedwirelessly to the mainframe, as well. Anakin had used an old ThUrnprogramming language that no one on Earth could have even a passingfamiliarity with, making the virus practically unstoppable.

Then Anakin wiped his laptops hard drive and telephoned his wife. There wasntanything more Anakin could do to help Nico- even if he had rushed to where shewas facing the messenger from ThUrn, he knew he would come too late. It wasall he could do to protect them- Nico, Lisa and himself- from the Earthsgovernment scientists.

Hey Ani, whats up? Lisas sleepy voice came through the phone. She must havebeen napping again.

Coming home early. Hows your back? he answered nonchalantly. It reallywouldnt do to start the pregnant woman worrying before he had to- the

messenger wasnt actually after them. You need anything?

Ice cream would be nice, but no, I really dont need anything.

Ill see what I can do. Anakin pulled a box of the good cookies out of his deskdrawer to bring home to her. He wasnt coming back there to eat them anyway.Say Lisa, did you get a chance to check the suitcases this morning, like you


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planned? The suitcases had been packed for a good three weeks in anticipationof when they would have to go to the mountains for the birth.

Yup, everything we need to disappear until little Luke or Leia can mastercamouflaging him or herself as human, just like dear old Dad does, Lisa chirped

cheerfully. It was good that she felt safe enough in all this to view hiding in arustic mountain cabin for five or so years as an adventure. Anakin reckoned goingto another planet all by her lonesome put something like that in perspective. Ithad for him.

You know we arent using either of those names- it was cruel enough of you toname me after a movie character for your amusement, he chided.

Your people had no names- I needed some way to keep you all straight in myhead. How was I supposed to know yours would stick?

Dont worry, Im changing it when we go away.

Uh-huh. Spoilsport, she groused.

Coming home now, he responded, deciding that he could spring the news thatthey were heading to the mountains a couple of months early, once he got homeand could do it in person.

*****

That ought to hold him, Bob pronounced, double checking the knots they hadtied on the garden hose that was currently serving to bind the ThUrn messengerso that once he woke, Nico could talk to him.

If not, I can always apply more electricity. Its primitive and brutal, but so is he.She gestured to the slowly stirring beetle-like ThUrn that was lying on the floor.

Right, so- uh What are you going to say to him? I mean, hes essentially anassassin here to ensure you cant try and take the throne. How do you even startwith something like that?

Im not so sure. Maybe I can start by showing him how much Id rather be herewith you, Nico muttered more to herself than to Bob.

You would? Bob asked, just a little shocked that she had phrased it like that. Hewasnt much of a catch and even worse, he had betrayed her. Why would shewant to be with him?

Nico smiled slyly at him and took his hand. Of course.


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The messenger made a sharp hissing sound as he came to, distracting them fromtheir conversation.

All right, Nico said, determinedly, You keep an eye on him and warn me if helooks like he might be getting loose. Ill do what I can to convince him Im not

interested in the Throne of ThUrn.

Wait, Nico, how will I know how you are doing? I cant know what youre sayingto him psychically, Bob questioned.

Nico bit her lip and considered for a moment. Youre right. You better be in onthe link, as well, she decided and suddenly, he was.

Bob could see Nico from both front and back, although from the back (his owntrue vantage point) she looked perfect and beautiful and from the front (themessengers view) she looked menacing even as she still looked like herself. Thelink must be subjective, Bob thought to himself. He could also see the messengeras Nico saw him- not the repulsive black-shelled beast that Bob was so terrifiedby, but one of her own- a cousin who was trying to serve his people. Bob also sawhimself the way both of the ThUrn saw him- Nicos warm, familiar friend (heseemed to have more hair in her minds eye than he did in the mirror eachmorning) and the messengers barely acknowledged annoyance (Bob wassomehow a little blurry to the messenger).

I, Nicomeda, Empress-designate of the ThUrn, renounce my claim to theThrone of ThUrn. Nico began.

No Empress may be left. The messenger repeated the images of the revolution tothem- the Empress and the potential Empress dying along with those still loyal tothem.

I do not wish to be Empress, Nico sent her words along with her own set ofimages- the first time she felt the rain on her skin, the taste of cookies and freshtomatoes, the joys of discovering Earths art and literature, the pride she had inher pretty little home.

No Empress may be left, was still the reply. The images of death ran continuouslyout from the messengers mind like a horrific piece of performance art.

I want to stay on Earth- stay among the humans.Nico tried sending images ofall the people she had come to know and care for on the planet- her coworkers atthe health food store, the children she knew from the neighborhood, and Bob, theman who she had let so far into her life that he was now sharing this dangerousmoment with her.


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No Empress, the messenger send to her again, but with a hint of doubt, as if itwas a question instead of an order. The images slowed and stopped.

I dont want to go back to ThUrn. I want to stay with Bob.And then the imagesshe produced were just like how she had seen Bob moments before- warm and

familiar. Bob accidentally backing over her garbage can the first day they met andoffering to buy her a new one, Bob bringing her lush, overripe tomatoes, Bobpulling her back from the messengers own threatening blows.

Bob was overwhelmed by these images- the way Nico saw him- there was onlyone word for it- Love. She loved him! Empowered by this knowledge, Bobthought his way into the conversation.

I want her to stay with me, too, Bob sent out to them. He thought about Nico ashed seen her the first time- carrying an armful of wildflowers across her frontlawn, about how she had looked months later when they had baked Christmascookies together- covered in flour with colored sprinkles in her hair and laughingso hard she couldnt breathe. He thought about how she looked earlier that veryday when she had let her true form roll over her- skin rippling to her true bluecolor, wings and antenna sprouting back into their rightful places (she wasbreathtaking).

No Empress. This time the messenger said it with surety and the images heattached to it were those Nico had sent out earlier- Earth and her life in gloriouscolor.

Yes, came from Nico.

Stay on Earth. Stay with Bob, the messenger added and a mix of Bob and Nicosloving images washed over them, the mental pictures bleeding together.

Yes, Nico acknowledged again. Youve got it. You can go home now. Andabruptly, the connection severed.

Bob was back in the wreckage of Nicos back porch watching Nico lean down towork at the hose that tied the messenger down.

She turned to smile over her shoulder. You going to help me here, or are you justgoing to watch? she said with a wink and smirk.

Oh- right. Here, Ive got the scissors, Bob answered and stepped up to help.

Five Years Later

It was a bright, clear day- unseasonably warm for February, when the ThUrnambassador and her delegation arrived. Among the honor guard from ThUrn


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was Bailey, who was one of the few who had been to Earth before, although hismission then had been to eliminate the potential Empress to ensure that shecouldnt challenge ThUrns fledgling Individualistic Government. Baileys hard,black wings shone iridescent in the noontime sun. As he landed beside the lithe,delicately winged and blue skinned ambassador, Bailey thought greetings to those

Earthlings hed come to know.

Nico stood beside her mate, Bob, who held their small offspring- a girl namedTabitha. She was very small and squirmy, her skin colored a light purple. Shewore a traditional ThUrn headdress wrapped around her small antennae andshe, like most little ThUrn girls didnt seem to like it. Bobs brother John, whohad been a particular friend to Bailey when he had been there five years earlierand recovering from electrocution, was next to Bob. John waved his small pinkhand, but Bailey resisted returning the human gesture since the occasion was soformal.

The ambassador moved forward to greet the Earths representatives (there were adozen of them or more, since the humans didnt have one government, buthundreds). Bailey took the opportunity to note the other ThUrn-Human hybridfamily that stood watching the signing of the alliance treaty. The Silvermans-Lisa, Anakin, and their two offspring Leia and Michael stood to the far side ofNicos family. Both of Anakins children fidgeted between their original and fullyhuman forms showing their impatience to be somewhere else. As honored as hefelt to have played his small part in making peace with Earth, Baileys feelingswere similar to the childrens about all the pomp and circumstance they had towait through to get to the cookies.

Bailey didnt mean to intrude on Nico and Bob- he had meant to pay attention

when the ambassador and each of the Earth leaders were signing the treaty andgiving speeches (the Earthlings words being translated into accurate thoughts byAnakin Silverman), but hed connected with them despite his intentions.

Been a long time coming,Nicos proud and grateful thoughts includedmemories of her flight from ThUrn, the day she convinced Bailey to not kill herand hours upon hours of mental meetings between Earths governments andThUrns envoys for which Nico served as a translator.

Worth all the work?Bob asked her, flashing his own memories of the last fewyears- their continued courtship, his new responsibilities advising his

government on interplanetary affairs, the birth of Tabitha.

Every bit of it.

And the sun smiled down on them all, ThUrn, human and offspring, as theyembarked together on a new chapter of peace and prosperity.


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This concludes the Chapter Seven

Fall 2008 Edition

Thank you for reading!

lost on earth

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