By E. S. Foster

The Great Tar-Lo stood before the Bor-Ti Emperor, wrinkled hands resting on his staff. His three aged eyes scoped the multitude of plasma screens blinking out snatches of Alinia II’s landscape. He could feel Mar-Tu, the old secularist, glaring at him from across the throne room. 

“Great Tar-Lo,” the Bor-Ti gazed down at him. “We will now hear the Alinists’ stance on the matter.”

Mar-Tu took a step forward. Tar-Lo had to fight the urge to swivel his staff with impatience. 

“You must understand, Bor-Ti, the atmospheric scans are clear. Polar indication shows no molecular anomalies, no commuting brain waves. To put it simply: no life forms are present or will be present.”

Tar-Lo shook his head. There were some things the mechanical could never understand. The young ones had to know that if they read the Tomes of the Ancients. 

“It has been foretold,” he croaked, “Found in the twentieth chapter of the book of Lir-Gi, chronicler of the end times. ‘And the eyes of the enemy will be many. It shall seize empires with the great reach of its arm, devouring the earth with its claws. All shall be made a desolate waste under the fires from its mouth.’”

One of the youngest scientists, Var-La, crossed her four arms. “We know the Tomes. They had us read them for mental clarity and enlightenment at the Alish School. The problem is that there is no evidence that the end times are approaching. There is no great beast about to set upon us with its teeth of diamonds. Please understand this, Great Tar-Lo.”

Tar-Lo tried his best to remain patient. He knew even as he had hobbled down to the throne room that explaining himself would be difficult to the Bor-Ti. It had become a battle of wills, encompassing the gulf between himself and the advancements of progress. 

I shouldn’t have begun with words only I have tried to grasp in my time, he thought. He couldn’t blame the young people for spending time on other pursuits. From a certain point, they were correct; no life forms were visible anywhere near Alinia II. 

It would be better to take this from a different approach. 

“I do not say this to proselytise or in any way belittle Alinia II’s chief scientists. I say this only as a warning and as a possible source of enlightenment for all as we continue this journey. Our resources and newly uncovered technologies make us especially valuable to visiting —”

“We have no evidence of life existing on other planets or planetary systems,” Mar-Tu interrupted. “Even if there were life forms indicated on any of these screens, they would not have anything to do with the teachings that you speak to us. Bor-Ti, I urge you to consider the results.”

“I will not be offended if you do not wish to accept the teachings of the Tomes. I only ask that you take precaution as you continue to make scientific breakthroughs.” 

“Precaution!” 

Tar-Lo glanced at the Bor-Ti. The Emperor’s young face was deep in thought. Too young. 

“We appreciate your concern, Great Tar-Lo,” Mar-Tu broke in. “But if this is only a matter of personal belief in the end, then we will kindly handle our area of expertise while you handle yours. We see what we see with our own eyes, and the technology doesn’t lie.”

“I only offer you a choice while explaining —”

“If you offer us a choice, then we know where we stand.”

“It might be reasonable to take the teachings of the Lir-Gi into account,” Var-La broke in. “After all, the decision is left up to the Bor-Ti. We may not pick up on any life forms, but we should still be aware of the many teachings that have sustained us over the years. That is, with the permission and discretion of the Bor-Ti.”

She turned to the Bor-Ti and offered a reverential bow. One by one, the rest of the scientists did the same, apart from the Great Tar-Lo. He turned to the nearest window, gazing out at the teal-green sky, the fields of pink blossoms. Cottony clouds drifted through the thin atmosphere that exposed the stars. In the distance, along the murky horizon, the pillars of the last remaining temple glowed like crystals. He was one of the few to visit the remains. 

Behind him, the Bor-Ti’s robes rustled as he stood up, spreading his four arms.  

“I believe I have made my decision.”

The entire room held its breath. 

“We will trust the scans,” the Bor-Ti announced. 

The Great Tar-Lo sighed, staring out the window. 

***

Jason glanced up from the control panel he was monitoring. “Satellite 501 within orbit. Touchdown time estimated twenty-four hours.”

“Confirmed, Captain,” answered Alexa three seats away.  

He swivelled in his chair to survey the rest of the crew. He couldn’t deny the flurry of excitement that thrummed through his chest. It was an electricity that rumbled through the rows of panels as the New International Space Alliance remotely monitored the first satellite voyage through Canis Major. They had only just discovered one of the planets there, and he was anxious most of all to see what was there. 

Will, his right-hand man, leaned back in his chair. “Now we wait. Think we’ll find anything down there?”

“If we do, the satellite will pick up on it in a few hours,” sighed Alexa, who also leaned back. 

Jason stared at the massive monitors spanning the length of the wall, his arms folded. “If there is anything, they’ll be in for one hell of a surprise, that’s for sure.”

He watched Satellite 501 drift in full view of the deep green planet. He imagined the fiery rumble of its propulsion thrusters, its many robotic manipulators reaching out in clawing exploration, its outer skin gleaming like diamonds. 

Like a dragon, he thought before standing up to grab another cup of coffee. 

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