Fur Suit. Chapter 15 of 24
Big Reveal!
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So... It wasn't a telephone they were building...
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Chapter 15: Inflection Point
To Doctor Karl’s attenuated hearing a sound exactly like a classic Apple Macintosh startup chord chimed from the assembled crystals and faded to silence. Likewise a flash of white and six other colour tones flashed into the enclosure then faded to a softer glow. Hastily the scientist adjusted his polarized lenses clear so he could see the gems arrayed around the hexagon.
“Uh… is that it?” he spoke into the wand microphone extending from his hearing protection.
“Was that seriously a Mac start-up ‘Bwah’ sound?” came Doctor Chand’s voice across his earbuds.
“Guess you were right, hun,” said Officer Wright. “Lights and sound, and we get to stand around looking foolish.”
“Wait… wait… the lights are modulating… I think there’s still…” Doctor Ash’s voice began, but was abruptly clipped off.
A perfectly normal voice, with a pronounced Australian male accent spoke across their audio link. “Doctor Karl, Doctors Ash and Chand… Officer Wright. Yes, and even you in the back, Officer Laidlaw. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Chase, first emissary of the Minds, and I need to speak urgently with you.”
“It’s a telephone then,” Officer Wright’s voice whispered across the link.
“Shush!” hissed Doctor Chand.
“It’s a bit more than a telephone you have constructed,” said the voice. “May we come through? I’d like to chat face-to-face.”
“Umm… I guess so. Sure.” Doctor Karl stammered to the crystal array.
“Do not… do not invite the alien here!” shouted Office Laidlaw into his radio.
“Kim, relax,” replied Chase’s voice through their audio channel. “I’m not a face-hugger – I’m no threat to any of you. If you don’t wish us to traverse the link just say so – you will never hear from us again.”
“Kim? His name is Kim Laidlaw? I didn’t even know that,” whispered Officer Wright.
“Please do come through!” both Doctor Ash and Doctor Chand said in unison.
“Officer Laidlaw? Would you like to meet a genuine alien? You’re welcome to brandish that crowbar at me while we talk.”
“Fucksake… fucksake…” muttered the senior officer. “Can this wait until generals, ambassadors, or government ministers get here?”
“I regret,” said the voice politely, “that the matter is considerably urgent. You people here, now, are who I must speak with. Particularly you, Doctor Karl.”
“What? Me?” said the scientist. “Why me? How do you even know us?”
“That will become abundantly clear when we meet,” replied Chase. “So… may we come through the link to meet with you?”
“Fucksake,” grumbled Officer Laidlaw. He was flustered and confused about what his responsibilities were in situations of a possible alien encounter. Part of his mind shouted that the security implications meant he should deny the aliens. But to be the person responsible for preventing first alien contact was equally daunting. “I guess we have to. Opting out now, forever, would be unthinkable. And given how advanced your tech seems I’m guessing if you were hostile you’d already be here, and we’d already be piles of smoking goo.”
Incongruously the voice chuckled, “While technically that is true, morally and ethically it is impossible for me to threaten you in any way. Our culture is somewhat less militant than yours. Now… Doctor Karl you will need to step well back – I need to reconfigure the machine for our transference,” the voice instructed. “Also, mentally prepare yourself – my shape is unlikely to be what you’re expecting.”
Doctor Karl hastily stepped back from the hexagonal array. “Oh, shit! Do we need to set up anything like atmosphere or pressure suits or anything… Do you know about our environment?... Of course you do… you know all our names…”
The gemstones shattered into glittering clouds of glowing shards. All seven crystal orbs expanded into whirling tempests of sharp facets sounding like tinkling glass. Each roiling, coloured cloud slowed then started contracting. The six outer clouds faded away to invisibility leaving just the glittering diamond centre cloud. A shape formed from the contracting facets – tall, upright and bipedal. The figure coalesced but its outline was difficult to see – refracted light through clear crystal blurred the features. Colour diffused through the glass like ink in water – golden brown and black flowed through the clear shape. The scientist discerned an elongated head, wide torso with two human-like arms. A long tail curled upward behind the form. The creature stood taller than the man on legs that looked more canine than human. At once the figure solidified and became animated. It staggered, lurching sideways as though dizzy.
Instinctively the scientist jumped forward and reached out a hand to grab the arm of the creature, steadying it.
“Ugh. Shit, thanks Leon,” said the alien, bracing his other arm on the shoulder of the shorter scientist. “That was quite the long journey.”
In his audio feed Doctor Karl heard a jumble of competing exclamations, “My god… my god…”, “Holy shit!”, “We’re recording this, right?”, “… first contact with intelligent aliens!”, “Do not touch…”, “… a dog?” The scientist scrabbled to remove his headphones to quiet the babbling voices. “Ah, welcome to Earth, I guess?” said Doctor Karl, marvelling at the creature who was leaning on him for support. He released the creature’s arm and appraised the alien shape. “I… ah forgive me for staring but you look like a mix of one of my Great Dane dogs and human.”
“Yes, that is exactly true,” said the creature. Doctor Karl marvelled at the way the creatures square jowls formed perfect English words. “I’m Chase.” Incongruously the alien held out his hand.
Every action of the alien, the way he looked, the way he spoke seemed perfectly attuned to put the scientist at ease, to be non-threatening. Nonplussed, the scientist took the proffered hand and shook it. “I’m Leon and it really is a pleasure to meet you.” He again appraised the alien’s form. “Uh, do I need to get you a robe or coat?”
“No! Clothing is morally offensive and your offer is a transdimensional insult,” said the alien with a snarl.
The scientist looked mortified and backed away. “I’m so sorry, I meant no insult! I was concerned you weren’t…”
Chase burst out laughing. “Okay! Relax! I was joking! You don’t need to walk on egg-shells around me.” He chuckled quietly and his long tongue lolled out one side of his muzzle. “But the look on your face was priceless. I’m quite comfortable in my body so I do not require coverings.”
“Seriously, I have no clue how I’m supposed to act around an alien creature,” said Doctor Karl, relaxing slightly.
“Treat me like a person who looks a bit like a dog,” said Chase. “Now… I’d like to meet the rest of your associates. We have a lot to discuss and the circumstances are urgent.”
“Of course… of course. Ah, follow me.” Doctor Karl tossed his goggles and hearing protection aside as he led the alien creature through the maze from the soundproofed enclosure. They left seven toppled plastic cups and a hexagon shape outlined in tape on the floor. No remnants of the crystal orbs remained.
A gaggle of excited scientists, technicians and officers crowded around the enclosure’s egress point when Doctor Karl emerged followed by Chase. The tall creature’s tail wagged enthusiastically as he greeted each person by name and held out his hand to shake theirs. Only Officer Laidlaw refused to take the creatures hand, standing back from the throng and holding a crowbar. The alien winked at the surly officer and grinned. After introductions Chase said, “Is there a room where I can sit down? I’m exhausted from my journey and we really do need to discuss why we’re here.”
“Of course, of course,” said Doctor Ash. “Everyone except Doctors Chand and Karl, Officers Wright, Carrington and Laidlaw, back to work! There are approximately two mountains of data to analyse and collate.” He motioned to the tall canid. “Mr. Chase, we have a conference room on the mezzanine floor.”
“Thank you, Brian.” The canid nodded toward Doctor Ash. “Lead on.”
Six humans and one alien strode up the stairway to the conference room. The tall canid flopped into a chair with his tail drooping to the side. “Man, I’m knackered,” he sighed. “Getting through the interface was a bugger.”
Doctor Chand closed the door and joined the other scientists and officers around the desk. “Can I get you anything? Do you drink water, or…” she offered.
“Double-shot short macchiato coffee, no sugar. In a cup, not a bowl thanks Janice.” Chase winked at the flustered scientist.
Doctor Chand returned to the door and spoke to an aide standing outside then sat at the desk. “Forgive our awkwardness. We’re uncertain how to address you – you’re the first alien life we’ve encountered,” she said.
The creature leaned forward and rested his arms on the table, clasping his fingers. “First rule – treat me like a human guest. I know I look odd. Get past that… talk to me like an associate colleague. Pretend I’m an experienced scientist from a distant foreign land,” he said. “We have a lot to discuss and dancing around trying to avoid offending each other is going to impede our ability to speak frankly.”
“Why do you look like a dog?” blurted Officer Wright.
Chase grinned. “Good question, Rob. Ah, coffee!” he paused when the young assistant brought in a small steaming cup. Taking a sip he grimaced then raised an eyebrow. “Wow. That tastes different to what I was expecting. Good though.” He looked at the curious people staring and itching to ask questions. “I’ve never tasted coffee directly before. This is the first time I’ve had a body… I’m getting ahead of myself though.” He inhaled the aroma of the coffee, sighed and took another sip. “Why do I look like a dog… Okay… I’m from an expanded dimensional space – you can call it another universe. My species requires assistance from universes in lower-energy states to breed. Around fifty years ago we determined your planet had species capable of assisting our reproduction and that they would be compatible with our breeding”
“What… like a parasitic wasp?” asked Doctor Chand.
“Nothing like a parasitic wasp,” the canid addressed the scientist. “But thank you for being straightforward. The crystal orbs are part of our reproductive system. Yes,” he said looking at the dawning realization on his audience, “you have been wearing my reproductive organs.” He chuckled at their reaction. “Relax, there are no lasting effects and you’re not going to get galloping knob-rot. As you correctly surmised, the orbs are attuned to certain species and the humans attracted to them. It’s no coincidence I look like a Great Dane dog – Leon wore my organ when he mated with the German Shepard bitch, Stellar, and produced my offspring. The canid form echoes my alignment, modified to reflect the human society we’re now in. My offspring became a unique person when Leon and Rob conjoined two sets of reproductive crystals.”
“Did… ah… did you force me to mate with a dog?” asked Doctor Karl.
The canid turned toward the scientist and smiled kindly. “You know the answer to that.”
“Why are you here?” asked Doctor Ash. “What’s the urgent matter?”
“Right.” Chase took the final sip from his small cup and wiped his long tongue around his square muzzle. Then he sat back and looked at the ceiling, gathering his thoughts. “Normally when our species interacts with another they help us breed and we subtly help them survive. Your universe is flat, and resource-sparse. You evolve through competitive selection. Fighting over dwindling resources is the mechanism that makes you intelligent. It is also what ultimately wipes out virtually every intelligent race in this universe and others like it. The very mechanisms that cause intelligence to rise are the ones that snuff it out again. You can see you’re already on the path to destroying your biosphere.” The scientists nodded along.
“The Fermi Paradox,” said Doctor Karl. “We’re here so assuming an homogenous universe why aren’t aliens everywhere in the universe…”
“Right. Stripping resources from a planet to create machines to go forth into the universe is exactly what prevents it.” Chase paused for a moment. “In my universe we are not so constrained. Practically, compared to yours, we have infinite resources. My species evolved collaboratively – cells forming groups, forming cooperating herds, forming a society of uplifting minds. Mutations that don’t collaborate wither and die alone.” He glanced around the sceptical faces of the scientists. “I’m over-simplifying here – just accept that Darwinian evolution of ‘Survival of the Fittest’ doesn’t apply in every universe. As a collaborative species we work to uplift minds in constrained universes like yours. We don’t coerce or force anyone – we offer suggestions and hints of technologies, point in directions and you are free to follow or ignore our clues. If we ignored you Rob would be alive to witness the beginning of the great die-off that ends your species. You have less than a generation before starting an irrevocable process of wiping yourselves out.”
“That’s quite a depressing pronouncement,” said Doctor Ash.
“It happens almost everywhere intelligent life develops. They cannibalize their own society to death,” said Chase. “It’s one of the answers to your Fermi Paradox.”
“You’re saying we’re living through The Great Filter?” asked Doctor Karl.
“