PC3: That is no problem. For us, consciousness of self is no different from consciousness of anything else. A self here is an individual self yet also a self among other selves. C2 selves vary from moment to moment from self-grandiosity to self-refusal, from being the infinite great self in the world to being the worst and the least self — because C2 selves don’t know who they are.* Perhaps your difficulty comes from the sensory mode which you call “seeing.” You “see” things. But can you “see” yourself? Who are you?
EARTHSHIP: I’m the second officer, the communications officer.
PC3: No, I mean, who are you?
EARTHSHIP: You mean my name? Captain—
PC3 (patiently): No. Let’s begin with C-type. What’s your C-type? Are you C1, C2, or C3? You will not be given permission to descend until we establish that.
EARTHSHIP (after a pause): What’s a C3 consciousness?
PC3: A C3 consciousness is a C2 consciousness which has become aware of its predicament, sought help, and received it.
EARTHSHIP: Help?
PC3: If a C1 meets with disaster, falls into the pit of itself, and becomes a C2, it must become aware of its sickness and seek a remedy in order to be restored to the preternaturality of Cl. Well?
EARTHSHIP: Well what?
PC3: Which are you?
EARTHSHIP: That is hard to say.
PC3: Perhaps we can help you arrive at an answer. Would you answer a few questions?
EARTHSHIP: Yes.
PC3: You say your civilization has five superpowers.
EARTHSHIP: Yes.
PC3: Is there peace between you?
EARTHSHIP: There was when we left.
PC3: Aren’t you in communication with Earth?
EARTHSHIP: We were until two years ago.
PC3: Isn’t that strange?
EARTHSHIP: Yes.
PC3: Then you have reason to believe something is wrong on Earth?
EARTHSHIP: Yes. (Quickly) Do you know anything?
PC3: (evasively): Let’s get on with the questions. How many wars have you had in the last hundred earth-years?
EARTHSHIP: Big or little?
PC3: Well, big.
EARTHSHIP: Two — that we know of. Do you know of a third?
PC3: How many lives were terminated before their natural C2 deaths?
EARTHSHIP: You mean how many were killed?
PC3: Yes.
EARTHSHIP: Around a hundred million.
PC3: Now you fear there might have been a third.
EARTHSHIP: Yes. Do you know?
PC3: What is the size of your crew?
EARTHSHIP: Twelve in the beginning.
PC3: How many of each sex?
EARTHSHIP: Six.
PC3: How did you arrive at the sexual distribution?
EARTHSHIP: We felt that sexual needs must be taken into account, just like the needs for food, water, a stable environment, and so on. And though none of us has any prejudice against homosexuality, we were not yet sure enough of the dynamics of a homosexual group to take chances with the mission.
PC3: Is there pair bonding among you?
EARTHSHIP: No. Ours was designed as a communal and transcultural group interaction. Through extensive prelaunch exercises, we discovered we could get beyond the usual cultural and sexual hang-ups.
PC3: How has it worked?
EARTHSHIP: Among the nine survivors, very well until just recently.
PC3: Nine survivors? What happened to the other three?
EARTHSHIP (after a silence): They died.
PC3: Were they killed?
EARTHSHIP: Yes.
PC3: Were they men?
EARTHSHIP: Yes.
PC3: Were they killed in quarrels over the women?
EARTHSHIP: Yes. How did you know?
PC3: We’ve had some experience with C2s. How are things now?
EARTHSHIP: Fine. Each man has two women. We think we’ve made a valuable contribution to prolonged heterosexual group dynamics.
PC3: What’s that?
EARTHSHIP: Men are less monogamous than women. Men are happier with more than one woman, and the women don’t seem to mind, once they’ve gotten past cultural hang-ups.
PC3: Interesting. Now, you say you’re the second officer.
EARTHSHIP: Yes.
PC3: Can I speak to the commander?
EARTHSHIP: I’m afraid not.
PC3: You mean, the commander didn’t survive.
EARTHSHIP: He survived, but he’s, ah, ill.
PC3: What’s wrong with him?
EARTHSHIP: He’s out of it. Flaked out. He sniffs coke and reads Rod McKuen and Richard Bach. He’s not functioning. We need to land. Request permission.
PC3: Did you say two women are assigned to each man?
EARTHSHIP: Not assigned. That’s the way it worked out. At first.
PC3: What happened? For example, what about the commander’s two women?
EARTHSHIP: They’re okay. When he lost interest, they turned to each other. They have a relationship.
PC3: Who is the other officer?
EARTHSHIP: He’s the exec.
PC3: What’s he doing?
EARTHSHIP: Screwing his brains out.
PC3: What about you?
EARTHSHIP: I’m too damn busy flying this ship. Request—
PC3: Then you’re in trouble.
EARTHSHIP: Yes. We have to land before we even consider returning.
PC3: No, I mean your species is in trouble. You don’t even know whether you have a civilization, and the chances are you do not.
EARTHSHIP: That is correct.
PC3: My question is this. Clearly, you are a C2. We need to know how you stand vis-à-vis your predicament, that is, knowledge of it and remedy for it. E.g., do you have such knowledge? Have you requested help? Has help arrived? Did you accept help?
EARTHSHIP: Help? What help? We don’t ask for help. We help ourselves. We are the triumphant emerging species on our planet, and though we are not as far advanced as you, we are not ashamed of our scientific and technological and artistic achievements. If we were not a tough, self-sufficient, inquisitive species, we wouldn’t be here.
PC3: Then help was not requested and has not arrived?
EARTHSHIP: Are you talking about religion? If so, I can only reply that we have progressed beyond sectarianism — which caused many of the troubles you speak of. We have selected many of the values of the World’s Great Religions — such as meditation, caring, sharing, interpersonal warmth, creativity — and we have rejected sectarian claims of exclusivity and anthropomorphic gods.
PC3: I see. Any other immediate troubles?
EARTHSHIP: My two women are fighting. Both were thought to be culturally liberated and were so certified by the screening procedure. But one has reverted to the old monogamy and wants the captain to marry us. The other one wants to screw the captain and me at the same time and also run the ship.
(Sotto voce conversation near PC3 transmitter overheard by earthship officer who has learned a bit of PC linguistics, and of which he can make out only: “—My God, we need these people like a [word not understood]—Get them out of here—”)
EARTHSHIP: I’m sure the difficulties of these women are not genetic and would not present a problem for you. One is undergoing a neurotic regression, the other a manic-erotic episode. I’m afraid our screening procedure was inadequate. The goddam shrinks screwed up as usual.
PC3 (sorrowfully): Permission denied. Please resume your mission or return.
EARTHSHIP (frantically): We can’t return. There is nothing to return to.
PC3: That is correct. I suggest you proceed to PC7, which is also a C2 civilization. You can take your chances with each other. They, too, are a curious, inquisitive, murderous civilization, NH3 breathers, nuclear, but not as advanced as you. They are sentimental, easily moved to tears, and kill each other with equal ease. Uncognitive of their predicament and pre-help. Paranoid mind-set. Two superpowers, ideological combat but not yet a nuclear exchange. They like wars too, pretend not to, but get in trouble during an overly prolonged peace. Right now they are bored to death and spoiling for a fight. They are divided into two hostile powers. You would be welcomed by either as a sensational diversion — for a while. There would be parades. You might talk one or both parties into permitting your entry, but each will suspect that you are a spy for the other. Good luck. You have one hour to vacate orbit. Over and out.