Retreat from Earth //or// We Make our Own Aliens

Titan, 3563.

Lewis: “Well we couldn't figure out how to go faster than light. Of course, it's not like we stopped researching it, the funding still went down to the physics departments across the solar system, but unfortunately, in spaceships travelling a fair bit below the speed of light.”

[The crowd laughs]

Lewis: “Our hopes of finding alien life, and some real variety in our existence had faded. It's also worth mentioning at this point that Mr Dupell and his control systems had been helping to keep the population down significantly, so we were actually below 5 billion in 2078. Isn't that a wonder? So many souls.”

Rahi: “That's a huge amount of people, but then it was nearly twice that a few decades before.”

Lewis: “Quite astounding, of course you would know than me.”

[Lewis laughs, the crowd chuckles quietly]

Rahi: “Well, I mean, do you want me too? We all know early A.D. History enough, let's move on.”

Lewis: “Sure, let's.”

[Lewis waves his hand, the projector picks up and resumes his slides from yesterday]

Lewis: “So this, was the first set of drawings by a woman called, I think it was Marey, of a potential, as she called it, “retreat from Earth” scenario. The basic idea was pretty well explained in the title. We leave Earth, and let the natural ecosystem take over. In the 2100's they were already doing this, as most major industrial centres were off world at this point. But we remove all human life, and all essence of human life from Earth, and let natural selection do its work again.”

Rahi: “Yes, yes. I think you've nailed it there. Marey and later Williams both argued the same thing, we weren't going to find intelligent life outside of the solar system any-time soon.”

[A hand raises in the crowd]

Crowd member: “What of the colony ships of the 2200's?”

Rahi: “Oh they left as well, that was slightly, before? Before Williams, Prof. Lewis?”

Lewis: “Yes, yes. I think about 40 or 50 E-years before Williams spoke at the ERCO.”

Rahi: “Right. So it was reasoned, not just by Williams, but by many. Kabiuy springs to mind. Instead of searching far and wide for new life, we just use the resource already available to us, to do that.”

Lewis: “Think of the earth as a vein of coal. No that's stupid. Basically, the earth had created intelligent life already-”

Rahi: “Us!”

Lewis: “Yes, and just because we were made there, it didn't mean it couldn't do it again.”

Rahi: “Exactly. Biogenisis, hell, abiogenisis could happen on Earth and long as the sun burned hot. So we thought, why not? The ecosystem efforts and the explosion of people and industry in the great belt and  around Ceres meant more and more people were moving off world.”

Lewis: “Earth was basically becoming a tourist attraction. The ERCO was making sweet money off it but, well ask Prof. Rahi!”

[The two turn to each other, and laugh heartily]

Rahi: “So this is where I step into the picture, I suppose. I didn't do much, I-”

Lewis: “Oh, arse!”

[Laugher from the crowd]

Rahi: “No, it was a team effort! My lovely husbands also played a role!”

[More laughter, several cat-calls]

Rahi: “ We're loosing track. What I'm saying is that the ERCO was convinced to go along with out plan, and the remaining odd hundred thousand people moved off the Earth. Leaving only our small research teams to handle the biogenisis. We eliminated primates first of all, a little grim, I agree. But I'm sure they're all doing just fine on their enclosures on Mars. But we'd, literally, already been down that road to primate intelligent life. So, since then we've just been waiting! Waiting from some new life to poke its head out of the primordial soup.”

Lewis: “I think you've summed up magnificently there, Prof. Rahi.”

Rahi: “And, it's worth mentioning, that even halfway through the 3^rd millennia, the project is still going strong! And our organisation is not political! Keep outer rim disputes just there, in the outer rim, away from our little experiment!"

[The crowd claps and several photos are taken]

Rahi: "The question I'm usually asked, is which taxa, which types of life is showing the most promise for the next generation of interplanetary intelligent life? , and the answer is always the same. The dolphins of course!”

[Laugher from the crowd]

Lewis: “Thank you, you can find us all online and matr-ZERO at the addresses on the screen now. We'll be back next week! And remember, keep watching the ground!”

[The two embrace and walk off stage to laugher and happy chat from the crowd]

Written by me.

Otrera

“You'll need to go back to the pharmacist tomorrow.”

Andrea turned her head to the nurse.

“So soon? I was there yesterday, I've got my entire weeks-”

“No, no there's been a change in your prescription.” The nurse interrupted, leafing through the clipboard in his hand. “We're taking you off some of the somatostatins, but you'll keep taking them for the rest of the week. The pharmacist will tell you everything”.

The nurse opened the curtain, and Andrea slipped down off the bed. At this level, she towered a mighty two feet over the nurse, as he wrote something on his clipboard.

“I was wondering,” started Andrea, but the nurse cut her off.

“I'm sorry lieutenant, but I really don't know anything more than that, report to the pharmocology building tomorrow for-”

“No, I had another question.” Broke in Andrea nervously. She was suddenly filled with trepidation, and wished she hadn't said anything. She knew exactly what she wanted to say, but here, in the moment, she couldn't bring herself to do it. She wrung her hands together, aware of how sluggish and unwieldy they were.

“It's nothing” She said to her feet. “I'll see you next week Finn”.

“Sure” muttered the nurse, now back to writing on his clipboard.

Andrea walked out of the medical building absolutely furious with herself. After last week, when Finn had complemented her on her hair, she'd been excited. She'd always though he was cute, and a scan of his social media only warmed her heart, as she found similarities in their interests. She had been wanting to ask him out for weeks, but she couldn't face it. Why would he ever accept, she asked herself. Andrea knew she was hideous, some kind of monster. 7 feet tall, muscled like a god, and with a low rough voice, she was no lady. The drugs and regimes she took had stripped her of her femininity, she knew that, but she had still desperately wanted to ask the nurse out on a date. The argument inside her had been running on for 4 long years, since she started the program. She always knew she would never be the same, never have the lithe figure and attractive eyes she celebrated in her youth. They'd warned her about how her appearance would change, and it didn't take her long to realise she'd have trouble with men. But she was so excited for Finn, she had been replaying conversations in her head every day for the last week. She was so sure she could somehow talk him into it, without his laughing or wryly declining. But in the end the problem wasn't him, it was her. “The superwomen, too scared to utter a word” she sadly muttered to herself, allowing herself a slight smile.

“Lieutenant Walker!”

Andrea turned, and immediately stood to attention as the General strode confidently across the tarmac towards her.

“At ease, Lieutenant”. He said, and Andrea relaxed.

“How can I help you sir?” Andrea asked, as she cleared her head of thoughts about the pretty nurse.

“I'm afraid we're rescheduling your press conference for this afternoon for tomorrow. There's been a change, one of the larger networks has announced it wants a full interview”

“An interview?” Replied Andrea, trying not to let her excitement show.

“Yes, I can't say who, but I'm sure you can guess” The general said, smiling. “The presentation our team in London did yesterday about your counterpart across the Pond caused quite a stir.”

“Anything concrete, sir?”

“No, no.” The general sadly looked away across the courtyard to the tall wall surrounding the compound. “I'm still hope Ms Lawrence can be persuaded back into the program, but we'll have to see”. He turned back to Andrea, and smiled again. “Walk with me for a minute will you?”

He walked leisurely down the pavement, Andrea awkwardly following his slow gait.

“Now, in the event that you do get a full interview, I'm afraid there's certain things we'll need you to say”.

Andrea's heart fell, and she suddenly new that she wouldn’t be allowed to say anything she wanted tomorrow. Yet again, she would just be another microphone for DARPA, and it's female combatant program.

“Of course sir, the usual?” She asked despondently.

“Yes, yes. Drug use, fitness programs, the works. I won't bother briefing you again, I'm sure you remember.”

He stopped by the wall of the compound, and turned to Andrea.

“You realise, that if you say the right thing, this could mean a serious cash bonus to us. The program, the entire initiative, and eventually you. Just if you keep your silence.”

Andrea didn't scowl, it was unprofessional, but couldn't help tightening her lips a little.

“I see you don't take well to the news?” The general said, before continuing. “It's all a matter of appeasement you see Lieutenant. If you say everything you know they want to hear, they'll all be delighted.”

“Who will, sir?” Asked Andrea, slightly confused where the general was going with this.

“Oh you know, all those who paid and supported us. The Vice-president for one, she was a huge supporter of the program. And of course the non-profits that kept us afloat during the early days. And I suppose it'll shut the Germans up, bleating on about how the female body's only capable of 60% of the male body.”

The general looked up at Andreas massive arms, and her barrel chest.

“You're quite something Walker, I ever tell you that?”

“Often, sir” Said Andrea.

“Well then. You know what to do.”

Andrea did, but she didn't want to.

Written by Me.