The words shifted inside the glass bubble to read The People.
“Well, that’s helpful.” Vee almost giggled. She swallowed. Too much wonder obviously had similar effects on the human psyche as too much fear. “First contact. Complicated stuff. How about I try a more detailed question?” Without waiting for an answer, she typed in a new set of commands. Their screen read:
I am Doctor Veronica Hatch. What is your name?
More conferring between the aliens. One of them, whose feathered crest was mottled crimson and ivory, flapped its wings restlessly. The smallest turned toward their screen and spoke again. More new words.
I am Ambassador D’seun Te’eff Kan K’edch D’ai Gathad. With me is Ambassador T’sha So Br’ei Taith Kan Ca’aed. We are ambassadors of the High Law Meet of the People. We have with us our engineers and assistants. Are there others with you? What is your purpose?
“Loaded question,” said Josh.
Vee paused with her hands over the keyboard. “Can I ignore it?”
Helen raised her eyebrows. “I don’t think so.”
Vee nodded, chewed her lip thoughtfully, and typed.
With me are Doctor Helen Failia, Mister Adrian Makepeace, and Miss Sheila Whist. In the underground chamber are Doctor Joshua Kenyon, Mister Ray Sandoval, and Miss Heather Wilde. We are from Venera Base, which is a research colony for the people of Earth. She added a few extra commands. The pictorial diagram of the solar system reappeared with arrows and labels.
“Now may not be the time to get fancy,” remarked Helen.
“Now is exactly the time to get fancy,” shot back Vee. “One picture, one thousand words, you know? How are we doing down there, Josh?”
“It’s green and go in here.” His voice was both hushed and strained. Vee could practically feel his excitement vibrating through the connection.
The aliens flapped and hovered around the new scene shining in the holotank. They came within centimeters of its quartz surface but never actually touched it. Their control was incredible. Part of Vee’s mind was already designing the movement codes, trying to work out how to show them to the rest of humanity.
The words in the alien’s bubble changed.
Are you ambassadors? Do you speak for the New People?
Vee looked quizzically at Helen.
She puffed out her cheeks. Vee could almost hear her rehearsing different answers. “I don’t think we do.” She sounded slightly disappointed. “But we know who does.”
We call ourselves human beings. No, we ourselves do not lead, but we would like a message to take to our leaders. “Since I don’t think we can take them—” added Vee.
“You can be tactful after all,” murmured Helen. “I’m impressed, Vee. Would you do me a favor, please, and get the big question out of the way?”
“Right.” Vee knew exactly what she was talking about. She typed and the screen responded.
What are you doing here?
We serve life, answered the aliens, no, the People. Life helps life.
This time Vee didn’t bother to check with Helen. She just typed.
We don’t understand.
Three of the People had retreated from the screen. They perched in the contraption of sails, struts, and cables that had brought them here. It looked like a cross between a box kite and the old Wright brothers’ airplane. Smallest, Ambassador D’seun, etc., and Crimson-and-Ivory remained by the bubble, which probably meant Crimson-and-Ivory was Ambassador T’sha, etc.
The ambassadors seemed to be having a discussion. They leaned close together, muzzles almost brushing each other. As they spoke, their bodies swelled and shrank. Was that their breathing? Or a way of showing emotion? Dominance maybe? Even this far down, where the light was gray instead of clear, they sparkled. The black lines on their bodies and muzzles stood out sharply. Maybe they were tattoos. Wouldn’t that be a good one? If what humans had in common with aliens was body art?
A decision seemed to have been reached. D’seun spoke to T’sha and then the screen. Their spherical screen relayed the words.
We wish only community and cohabitation with the life of this world.
“Oh, my,” murmured Vee. She typed.
You are colonizing?
D’seun pulled his muzzle back momentarily before he spoke again.
We do not know that word.
Vee considered a moment. Definitions had never been her strong suit. She was aware of someone standing close behind her, of warm breath on her ear. She typed.
You are moving People here? You are going to live here?
Yes.
“Oh, my.” Vee’s hands went suddenly cold.
Helen touched her shoulder. “I think it’s time to bring in the U.N.”
“Yeah,” said Vee slowly. “I think you might be right.”