"Awrr~gh~, e\f~lr;#OOd;# o~~ ~h~ ~~aU1~~r
A~
Sutton
The roaring boom of the engine was muted to a slight grumble as
the Ark decelerated and settled into a Gl configuration orbit around
the cloud. Keeping at least 500 Kliks distant from the shadowy
perimeter, a multitude of BioProbes, core-samplers, and various other
gadgetry, were directed into the cloud .. and disappeared from the
tracking screen.
"Kluf-melters! It's like the bloody Bermuda Triangle from the History 13ook!" the Captain swore as he glared over the shoulder of the
1st Communicator at the tracking screen.
"I don't understand The beacon just disappeared as if it had never
been there." The Communicator muttered beneath his breath as he
fiddled with the knobs and buttons, obviously restraining himself
from giving the panel a swift kick in the chunk
The Captain stalked over to the main display vid and leaned on
the polyply cover with fists clenched in frustration. With a snort of
disgust, he whirled and scanned the faces of the crew. "Well, here we
are, surrounded by the best instruments and do-hicks our scientists
can dream up, and we can't figure out what the hell is out there."
There \Vas a light ping! followed by a shallow thrumm! as the starboard port opened to emit a tall, voluptuous blonde. "Captain Noah, 1
have the reports from the Tech lab that you wanted," she reported as
she jumped onto the Bridge Platform with a snappy salute. TI1e door
pinged and thrumed shut in the dazed silence that followed the
bouncing leap.
"Er-Thank vou, Eve," the Captain mumbled as he accepted the
folder and \Vat~hed as the Morale Officer turned and left the room.
··she certainlv lifts mv morale!''
With a grin ~t the le~ring young man, the Captain walked over and
threw the folder on the console. "Concentrate on this instead, Adam.''
Several minutes later the Tech looked up and shrugged. "This
report says that the blob out there had no mass. The lab thinks it
might be a traveling Void or a power surge. They suggest using the
Photon Probe to collect an energy reading."
"A Void? But those are only theoretical! No one has ever seen a
Void"
··well, Sir, your 'the01y' is just outside this ship and will reach the
Earth in ..." glancing at his wrist scam
the ETA "-no less than 28 minutes."
Swearing softly, Captain Noah tun
ton, plot a course 20 degrees south o
t\VO photon charges."
The crew watched pensively as th
the charges fired. The twin arches oJ
heading for the heart of the Void, wt
flash.
The crew gaped at the display vid
happened. They had struck somethi
nothingness. The Captain fell back i.
career was over. He had broken the
firing upon an unidentified vessel w
"Oh God, what have I done?" he whi~
An answering CRACK! filled the r<
walls in deafening waves. A gray mi:
the Bridge. The crew stared in numt
shift and a glmving pale yellow swirl
Slmvly at first, the boiling cloud beg<
startled eyes of the Ark's crew, stood
humanoid in appearance, with short
skin. Yellow eyes glowed beneath s;
fumbled with digital belts that secun
hips.
"We were about to announce our~
hurt sniff. "You didn't have to do tha
that Power Poke, that Royal Rea-"
''Shud up Oth, we gots a job to do,'
the ofiicers on deck he pulled some
dangled at his waist. "I'm Theuth Fat
he said, jerking his thumb at his com
Stepping forward, the Captain sw<
disturbing yellow gaze. "I am Captai1
this vessel and responsible for her ac
"'Pleased ta meetcha, Don. Would
Theuth asked as he shoved an envelc
"What is it?"
Oth pushed past his brother and 1(
reallv Politics vou know," he simpere
.
.
: ~!he
amaranthus 53
IPJ~a~rrle~r
::: was muted to a slight grumble as
o a G1 configuration orbit around
ks distant from the shadowy
~, core-samplers, and various other
oud.. and disappeared from the
ly Bermuda Triangle from the Hise glared over the shoulder of the
;creen.
1 just disappeared as if it had never
11uttered beneath his breath as he
s, obviously restraining himself
in the chunk
main display vid and leaned on
ed in frustration. With a snort of
1e faces of the crew. "Well, here we
nents and do-hicks our scientists
out what the hell is out there."
:l by a shallow thrumm! as the staroluptuous blonde. "Captain Noah, I
) that you wanted," she reported as
,rm with a snappy salute. TI1e door
1zed silence that followed the
in mumbled as he accepted the
Officer turned and left the room.
~man, the Captain walked over and
:oncentrate on this instead, Adam."
ooked up and shrugged. "This
had no mass. The lab thinks it
1rer surge. They suggest using the
reading."
oretical! No one has ever seen a
tside this ship and will reach the
Earth in ..." glancing at his wrist scanner the Tech quickly calculated
the ETA "-no less than 28 minutes."
Swearing softly, Captain Noah turned to the Senior Navigator. "Milton, plot a course 20 degrees south of the second quadrant and set up
t\VO photon charges."
The crew watched pensively as the orders were carried out and
the charges fired. The twin arches of blue light sizzled through space
heading for the heart of the Void, where they struck with a winking
flash.
The crew gaped at the display vid, beginning to realize what had
happened. They had struck something solid hidden in that black
nothingness. The Captain fell back in his chair, closing his eyes. His
career was over. He had broken the First Law of the Space Code by
firing upon an unidentified vessel without warning or provocation.
"Oh God, what have I done?" he whispered through dry lips.
An answering CRACm filled the room and rolled off the curved
walls in deafening waves. A gray mist sat suspended in the middle of
the Bridge. The crew stared in numb fascination as the mist began to
shift and a glowing pale yellow swirled outwards from the center.
Slmvly at first, the boiling cloud began to condense. Then, before the
startled eyes of the Ark's crew, stood two identical beings. They were
humanoid in appearance, with short, stocky bodies and thick gray
skin. Yellow eyes glowed beneath saggy eyelids as short fingers
fumbled with digital belts that secured the loose togas about their
hips.
"We were about to announce ourselves," the closest whined with a
hurt sniff. "You didn't have to do d1at-give us that Energy Enema,
that Power Poke, that Royal Rea-"
"Shud up Oth, we gots a job to do," the other interrupted Facing
the officers on deck he pulled some papers from a pouch that
dangled at his waist. "I'm Theuth Fathoo and dis is me brudder Oth,"
he said, jerking his thumb at his companion. "Who's in charge here?"
Stepping forward, the Captain swallowed nervously and met the
disturbing yellow gaze. "I am Captain Donovan Noah, commander of
this vessel and responsible for her actions."
"Pleased ta meetcha, Don. Would ya sign these here papers?"
Theuth asked as he shoved an envelope in the Captain's hand.
"What is it?"
Oth pushed past his brother and leaned close. "It's just formality
really Politics you know," he simpered, offering the use of his writing
5~
amaranthus
stylus.
··what is this-an eviction notice?" the Captain asked in confusion
as he'd began to read the first page.
··wok Don, you know perfectly well what's in that contract,"
Theuth insisted, "and what's more, you shouldn't be surprised. Now
hurry it up. Demolition begins in 18 minutes."
''I don't know what you're talking about...perhaps you have the
wrong people."
With a doubtful look at the crew, Theuth thumbed a button on his
belt and a hologram of the Earth hung in the air, spinning slowly on
its axis. "Is this your planet?" he demanded.
Studying the barren planet with its dying seas and the spattering
of polyply-domed cities, the Captain nodded to confirm that it was
indeed his homeland. "But I'm not signing anything."
Theuth re-absorbed the hologram with an angry snort and
opened his mouth to say something. His brother laid a restraining
hand on his arm and whispered something in his ear. With a slight
nod, Theuth mumbled into his wrist communicator.
Another CRACK! and the appearance of the weird cloud formation
announced the arrival of another Being.
This one "'·'Ore soft leather sandals and a maroon toga.
··\Xrhat seems to be the problem, gentlemen?" he asked theoccupants of the Bridge.
These guys say they dun no wha-"
··who the hell are you and what is this evic-"
Holding up is hands to halt the argument, he bowed slightly. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am AI Ah, the senior manager of
BioStrucLs Construction Co. These two," he said, motioning to Oth
and Thcuth, "are part of the demolition crew and were sent down to
inform you that you are being evicted because you violated your
contract Is everything clear?"
"I have no idea what 'contract' you're talking about We have no
record of anything like that.''
''No record... ?" A! looked startled and then added wearily, "Oh dear,
I'm aft·aid this may take a moment." Speaking into his communicator,
he ordered that the Earth's landlord be sent to the ship. With an embarr~tssed smile AI turned to the Captain. "You see, we've been
receiving complaints from your neighbors about the trashy state of
your planet We sent over an inspector and he reports that all the
tnsic:s are in need of replacement. The plumbing is ruined, the at-
mosphere is gone, and all the mine
surprised that you humans were so
be good tenants. I'm sorry to tell yc
to the Thorans and that you have tc
"You can't sell our planet!", Capta
"''m afraid we can. You see, you
have revoked your lease."
With a wet POF. someone drop1
floor. Al Ah rolled his eyes as he be
feet. "This is Jay Hova, your landlor
one of your tenants."
"Pleased ta meetchya," Jay mum!::
'jay was on the original crew tha
Jay began to grope about inside his
injury in an explosion while he was
installed him on the moon as the la
an easy job. Apparently he didn't de
said, interrupting himself and glanc
time to begin the demolition." He s
"\P:;1il/f"Captain Noah shouted, "T
th:tt planet!''
Theuth grinned as he pushed at
St::uing in shocked horror at the
watched as the surface of the earth
great cloud. As the dust settled, all t
No people, no domed cities, no evi(
rything was gone.
·you destroyed the human race,'
belief
"Not quite," Al corrected, noddin
"You and your crew are still here ... jt
·'Hmv? We have no place to go.
Al put his arm around the Captai
"Perhaps I could interest you in a qt
Polar- Arm of the gala-;:y? Of course
st:tllccl yet and it's a little humid in t
The End
amaranthus 55
~?"the
Captain asked in confusion
well what's in that contract,"
you shouldn't be surprised. Now
18 minutes."
tg about...perhaps you have the
v, Theuth thumbed a button on his
.ung in the air, spinning slowly on
manded.
1 its dying seas and the spattering
in nodded to confirm that it was
signing anything."
1m with an angry snort and
1g. His brother laid a restraining
>mething in his ear. With a slight
ist communicator.
ranee of the weird cloud formation
3eing.
als and a maroon toga.
, gentlemen?" he asked theoc-
l-"
is this evic-"
argument, he bowed slightly. "AlAI Ah, the senior manager of
~ two," he said, motioning to Oth
ition crew and were sent down to
:ted because you violated your
ou're talking about. We have no
:1 and then added wearily, "Oh dear,
"Speaking into his communicator,
d be sent to the ship. With an emlptain. "You see, we've been
~ighbors about the trashy state of
::ctor and he reports that all the
The plumbing is ruined, the at-
mosphere is gone, and all the mineral ores are depleted. Frankly, I'm
surprised that you humans were so careless. We thought you would
be good tenants. I'm sorry to tell you that your planet has been sold
to the Thorans and that you have to be out in 10 minutes."
"You can't sell our planet!", Captain Noah sputtered
·Tm afraid we can. You see, you humans were just renters and we
have revoked your lease."
With a wet POF. someone dropped through the air and fell to the
11oor. Al Ah rolled his eyes as he bent to help the newcomer to his
feet. "This is jay Hova, your landlord. jay? jay1 This is Captain Noah,
one of your tenants."
··rleased ta meetchya," jay mumbled, squinting up at the man.
·'jay was on the original crew that built the planet." Al explained as
Jay began to grope about inside his toga, "He received a severe head
injury in an explosion while he was making land formations, so we
installed him on the moon as the landlord. We figured it would be
an easy job. Apparently he didn't do a very satisfactory job. Well," Al
said, interrupting himself and glancing at his display e1ystal, "I see it's
time to begin the demolition." He signaled for Theuth to begin.
"\v~1iUf"'Captain Noah shouted, "There are millions of people on
th:~t planet!"
Theuth grinned as he pushed a button. "Not anymore."
Staring in shocked horror at the display vid, the crew of the Ark
watched as the surface of the earth crumbled and blew skyward in a
great cloud. As the dust settled, all that remained was a ball of dirt.
No people, no domed cities, no evidence of life could be seen. Everything was gone.
·You destroyed the human race," the Captain whispered indisbclief.
"Not quite," AI corrected, nodding to the people on the Bridge.
"You and your crew are still here ... just start over again."
··.Hmv? We have no place to go. Nothing is left."
Al put his arm around the Captain's shoulders 'With a sly smile,
"Perh:.tps I could interest you in a quaint little planet down the South
Polar- Arm of the gal::e-,·y? Of course, the plumbing hasn't been insullccl yet and it's a little humid in the summer, but we could.. ."
The End
(...or is it the beginning?)