Chapter 7.
Zuri’s image disappeared from the screens, to be replaced by a view of the object. It hung motionless in profile; the small hemispherical bumps now clearly visible. Gradually the bumps began to change, to glow with a soft pastel-blue light. Then from all over their surfaces thin needle-light structures began to extend. As they did so they too began to glow.
Their light began to intensify, becoming a brilliant white.
“Look! It’s moving!” Someone shouted and pointed toward the screen. Gradually the cylinder began turning toward the ships. The end, which before had faced away from them, now turned toward the cluster of ships. The surface shimmered and danced, much like a vibrating pool of pastel-blue water.
Then the reply came. It wasn’t mathematically structured. It wasn’t in a strange or unfamiliar language. It wasn’t transmitted via their instruments. It was spoken directly to their minds.
“I KNOW MY OWN. YOU HAVE BEEN TRIED . . . AND FOUND WORTHY.”
All were stunned, incredulous! The words burned deep into every individual, enfolding, encircling, caressing. Doubt and fear dissipated as though they were breaths in the wind, to be replaced by an overwhelming feeling of peace and exquisite self-assurance. They stood transfixed, completely engulfed in the joyous moment.
As suddenly as it had happened, the voice was gone. Each person felt a profound loneliness, as though someone dear had suddenly been taken away. The words, which had been spoken to their minds, were all that remained, etched into their memories. People clung to each other in stunned silence.
After a time (no one knew how long) they were startled by a single loud pop, much like the sound made when out-of-phase loudspeakers are connected together.
Looking about from one to another, each person knew what the other was thinking. “Did you hear that?” “What just happened?” “How could . . .?” “Who . . .?” Some began to doubt their sanity. They wondered whether anything had happened at all. The rational parts of their minds found it difficult to process what their emotions told them was true. The feelings of calm and inner peace began to be replaced by feelings of foreboding.
Those on duty in the com/nav centers were the first to fully recover. Supervisors began barking rapid-fire orders. Com-techs hurriedly ran diagnostic tests on their equipment. Nav and Enviro-techs activated propulsion and hull integrity back-up programs to ensure the safety of the ship. Everyone searched frantically for some evidence of what had just happened.
No one found anything wrong. Nothing was out of place. All systems behaved as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Quickly the tension began to decrease. Supervisors began conferring with each other. Individuals began murmuring among themselves, comparing experiences, sharing feelings.
Throughout the ships, everyone stood in awe. In all the hundreds of years they had been in space, nothing like this had ever happened. Expectations had always run high. But none of those experiences had ever come remotely close to what had just happened.
In the com centers, automatic system alerts began to alarm. All computer screens flickered, and then went dark. Light in the room dimmed.
On the Brighid one screen came back up. Everyone rushed to crowd around it. Zuri and Evander pushed through the crowd. Zuri eased the new-bee out of her seat. Messages began flowing into the Com center. Everyone began talking at once. Zuri keyed her lapel mic.
“Everybody remain calm. Hold all messages.” She stared, awe-struck at the screen.
Thousands upon thousands of strange symbols were streaming, scrolling down, page after page. Soon the scrolling became so rapid that none of the characters were distinguishable. In less than a minute the scrolling slowed and then came to a halt. The strange characters began to be replaced by familiar text. Not a sound was heard as all eyes locked on what was written. Throughout all the ships, vid-screens went blank. Over the PA’s a soft voice began:
“I am LINK. My purpose is as HE who created me; He who has spoken to you. Attend and be enlightened. Be not concerned. All will become clear.
“You have reached a plateau in your development. You have demonstrated a level of maturity sufficient for you to comprehend that which is now offered.
“You have travelled far from your home worlds. You have found others like unto yourselves. You have discerned immutable truths. You have claimed them as your own. Your struggles have been daunting. Your rewards have been commensurate.
“The plateau upon which you now stand is lofty. Many there are who would stand with you, if only they were of a mind to do so. But alas; they cling to that which comforts them, without consideration or comprehension of what must be the ultimate consequence of their choice. Stasis will not abide.
“Do not look upon them disparagingly. Do not consider them with regret or pity. They too have their place in the universe. They are known of the Creator. Their contributions do not go unnoticed.”
“For generation upon generation your quest has continued. You have accomplished much. Your rewards have been many. Yet, should you continue along this path, your future accomplishments will become like unto themselves. That in which you now rejoice will, in time, become commonplace. It’s value will not decrease; rather your esteem for it will wane. Stasis will not abide. It has ever been so.
“Wonder you from whence you emanate? Ponder you the essence of yourselves? Consider now this space wherein you reside. Though to you it may be as a vast ocean, yet in truth it is but a grain of sand upon the shore.
“Should you choose to go beyond this plateau, knowledge beyond imagination will be yours for the taking. But it will come at a price. To whom much is given, much is expected. This has ever been so. Should you accept this challenge; generations of experience will he yours in less than a lifetime. Your joys will be many, as will your sorrows. But the expanse of your being will be magnified. Choose you now which path you will follow. Stasis will not abide.” The transmission ended.