“What choice do you have?”
“There are many options, Sensor Male; are you ready to die?”
The Sensor Male thought about the question and replied, “If I had a choice, I would prefer to continue my existence. I just don’t see how we can avoid our fate.”
“We may not be able to avoid it but we can delay it as long as possible.”
“How?”
“I’m thinking about that but while I’m thinking I want you to turn off the communications bank.”
“Are you sure that’s wise, First Fang?”
“I’m sure it isn’t the smartest thing we could do but we’re dead either way. I would like some more time to enjoy my existence.” The Sensor Male reached over and turned the power off the communications bank. Now, I want you to go back to the engine room and disable the tracking console.”
“What is that?”
“It’s a tracking device that is installed on all of our main ships so they can be seen in other universes. I also want to remain hidden as long as possible.” The Sensor Male left the command chamber and went to carry out his instructions. When he returned the Ship’s Male said, “Recall all ships immediately and return to the system where we lost our transport.”
The Sensor Male turned his head upside down indicating his confusion but issued the orders. “What are you going to do?”
“Try to have a conversation.”
“Matt, the mother ship has recalled its ships and is turning away from the planet they were moving in on.”
“What do you think they’re doing, Al?”
“I have no idea.”
Matt thought a moment and then commed Melanie, “I need you to come here now.” Ten seconds later Fly Girl appeared just off his port side.
“What’s bothering you,” Melanie asked?
“The invaders have recalled their ships from a planet they were going to harvest and are moving out of the system. Do you have any idea why they would do that?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Well, come aboard and let’s see where they go.”
Five hours later the mother ship jumped to the Hugon system and stopped two hours inside the jump limit. The mother ship opened all its external doors and left them open. “What are they doing,” Melanie asked?
Matt thought a few minutes and then said, “Let’s teleport into that system.”
“Why?”
“They have opened their doors exposing the inside of their ship. They are telling us something; I’m just not sure what. What does an open door normally mean?
“It is usually an invitation to enter.”
“Let’s go check it out.”
The two small ships disappeared and emerged into the Hugon system an hour away from the mother ship. The huge ship continued to hang in space with all of its external doors open. Matt thought a moment, “Does anyone have a suggestion?” No one said anything. “I’m going to ask them what they’re doing.”
“Do you think that’s wise,” Fly Girl asked?
“All they can do is not answer. They cannot get close enough to harm us so I see no real harm in asking.”
“Matt, this is weird.”
“I know, Melanie but unless you have a better idea I’m going to ask them what they want.”
“Go ahead; let’s see what happens.”
Matt directed his thoughts at the mother ship, “Is there a reason you’ve opened your doors?”
The Sensor Male and the Ship’s Male jumped in their chairs. The Ship’s Male held up a leg telling the Sensor Male to remain quiet and then he thought back, “I am trying to communicate with the life form that has destroyed three of my ships.”
Melanie’s mouth fell open and Al almost dropped his screen.
“I didn’t know your species ever communicated with anyone,” Matt said.
The Ship’s Male was surprised that this being knew about his race, “We don’t normally but these are not normal times.”
“What do you mean?”
“The ships you’ve destroyed have caused the destruction of my family.”
“I don’t know what you mean by family.”
“It appears you possess some knowledge about my species so you probably know that a major harvest is scheduled for this universe.”
“I am aware of that.”
The Ship’s Male was shocked by this news but continued, “One family is used to harvest each universe. My family was scheduled to come and harvest but the destruction of those ships angered our Nest Mother and she consumed every member of my family except for those on this ship.”
Matt was stunned. “How many ships like yours did she consume?”
“More than eight million.”
Melanie thought, “Oh my ancestors.”
Matt thought, “That seems like a terrible waste of life but after observing your actions here I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“No, I suspect you wouldn’t be. My species does destroy numerous life forms.”
“So why are you communicating now?”
“I have decided that I am not ready to just submit to being killed. After I had that thought it dawned on me that whoever had destroyed our ships probably felt the same way toward us. I must confess being on the other end of this has the effect of changing one’s point of view. I decided to try and talk with you about it.”
“You know we could have destroyed your ship when you opened your doors and ignored your attempt to communicate.”
“We’re dead either way. The Nest Mother will never let us live after what I’ve just done.”
You mean communicate with another species.”
The Ship’s Male was surprised how quick this being caught on, “Exactly; I’m struggling with what to do and I’m uncertain about what path to take for my children on this ship.”
All of the millions of Eight Legs on the ship could hear the conversation and there was great anger among them hearing of their family’s destruction.
“Why don’t you just leave our universe and go hide?”
“It’s not that simple. They will find us and in the end we will die. I just can’t bring myself to yield to that destiny.”
“What do you expect from us? Surly you know we are angry about the civilizations you’ve destroyed. Do you think you can just come in and kill as you please without consequences?”
“Up until this moment I’ve never really thought about it from that perspective. I looked at my actions as gathering nourishment for my children and didn’t really consider how our meal was affected by our harvest. This experience sheds new light on that position.”
“You have to have known you were killing beings with intelligence.”
“Does your species consume protein?”
Matt hesitated but answered, “Yes, but not from intelligent beings.”
“Then help me understand the difference.”
“Give me a moment.”
“Take all the time you need. We’re not going anywhere for the near future.”
Matt thought to Melanie, “Can you help me with this one?”
Melanie shrugged and said, “Sorry, he’s right. Does a cow feel any different from an intelligent being about being eaten?”
“Melanie, there is a difference.”
“Sure but not one you can explain logically to a being that looks at all life as being a meal; some meals are just more tasty than others.”
“Ask Sprig,” Al suggested.
“Sprig, have you got a moment?”
“Sure, what do you need?”
“I’m having a conversation with the Eight Leg Commander of the mother ship and..”
“You’re what!!”
“Calm down, we’re discussing the difference between eating lower animal life forms and intelligent beings and he has asked me to explain the difference.”
“Are you out of you mind! That is the enemy. He now knows we exist.”
“He knew anyway. He parked his ship and opened all his ports and left them open to try and open a dialogue.”
“Give me your coordinates.”
“Al, send them.”
Five seconds later Sprig, Twig, Tag, Danielle, and Stem appeared on his bridge.