following the direction of her gaze.
“Are you really from E’rth ?” the younger female piped in excitedly.
Dallas smiled at her exuberance.
“Rabika-,” the older woman silenced.
“It’s quite alright, I don’t mind,” Dallas interrupted the scolding. “Yes, I’m from Earth but how do you know of it?”
“We have received your spheres for many generations.” The older woman answered.
“Spheres?”
“Aye, the round metal devices carrying information about your home world.”
It took Dallas nearly a full minute to catch their meaning. “You mean the probes?”
It was the women’s turn to look confused.
“I’m pretty sure we’re talking about the same thing. Our planet has launched hundreds into the solar system in the hopes of learning more about the universe. They have always included information about our planet on the off chance a probe falls into the hands of intelligent life forms. A lot of them went offline.”
“We have received many of these devices in fact they are very popular on our planet.” Rabika informed.
“But I do not believe anyone thought an actual E’rther would come. Especially not a female.” The younger one added.
“It was quite by accident I assure you,” Dallas provided.
“Nevertheless you are here now and we will be your initiators. My name is Khimar and this is Rabika,” The older woman introduced.
“I’m Dallas. Um, but before we begin this initiation you mentioned I’d really like to talk with someone about my ship,” she replied.
“The High Commander would be the authority to grant such an approval,” Rabika answered.
“All right, where can I find him?” Dallas asked standing up again with no residual side effects.
“Presently, he is preparing for the claiming challenge, but you are a guest in his home,” Khimar answered.
“Okay, maybe I can meet with him after. When will he be finished?”
“That remains to be seen. The challenge is scheduled to take place in one sun rising but the number of participants may make it extend to two,” Khimar answered.
Two more days. She didn’t like the sound of that. Who knew what state her ship would be in by then? If an alien craft came to earth the government and plenty of other organizations like the IAC would be chomping at the bit to tear the thing apart and discover its secrets. Somehow she didn’t think it would be much different on this planet.
“Is that standard?” Dallas asked hoping for a way to get in to see him sooner.
“Not usually.” The older woman replied. “Claim challenges are usually no more than a few hours, however, this is a unique situation.”
“Unique how?” Dallas asked.
“It is of no consequence at this moment.” Khimar replied effectively cutting off her companion’s answer which only made Dallas curious about what the younger woman would have said.
“You said one sun rising, so perhaps he can see me tonight?”
“I am sorry but the preparation round is scheduled to go very late. Now, it is time we began. There is much to be done,” Khimar insisted.
She didn’t argue the point with the older woman, choosing instead to see if she could discover a way to meet with their High Commander before her ship was reduced to a series of metals and bolts.
***
If Dallas had known initiation would mean a near room by room tour of what could only be described as a palace and a crash course lesson about the Chezarian home world she would have asked for the cleft notes version. Khimar was like a super charged instructor switching from their origin story to culinary habits. The latter, unfortunately, went into great detail about how to prepare various meals with ingredients that held absolutely no meaning to Dallas. She’d never been much for cooking on Earth. Her motto was if it couldn’t be ordered, delivered or graphed it didn’t belong in her mouth.
Dallas found herself tuning most of what the older woman said out since she really had no need to
“Are you really from E’rth ?” the younger female piped in excitedly.
Dallas smiled at her exuberance.
“Rabika-,” the older woman silenced.
“It’s quite alright, I don’t mind,” Dallas interrupted the scolding. “Yes, I’m from Earth but how do you know of it?”
“We have received your spheres for many generations.” The older woman answered.
“Spheres?”
“Aye, the round metal devices carrying information about your home world.”
It took Dallas nearly a full minute to catch their meaning. “You mean the probes?”
It was the women’s turn to look confused.
“I’m pretty sure we’re talking about the same thing. Our planet has launched hundreds into the solar system in the hopes of learning more about the universe. They have always included information about our planet on the off chance a probe falls into the hands of intelligent life forms. A lot of them went offline.”
“We have received many of these devices in fact they are very popular on our planet.” Rabika informed.
“But I do not believe anyone thought an actual E’rther would come. Especially not a female.” The younger one added.
“It was quite by accident I assure you,” Dallas provided.
“Nevertheless you are here now and we will be your initiators. My name is Khimar and this is Rabika,” The older woman introduced.
“I’m Dallas. Um, but before we begin this initiation you mentioned I’d really like to talk with someone about my ship,” she replied.
“The High Commander would be the authority to grant such an approval,” Rabika answered.
“All right, where can I find him?” Dallas asked standing up again with no residual side effects.
“Presently, he is preparing for the claiming challenge, but you are a guest in his home,” Khimar answered.
“Okay, maybe I can meet with him after. When will he be finished?”
“That remains to be seen. The challenge is scheduled to take place in one sun rising but the number of participants may make it extend to two,” Khimar answered.
Two more days. She didn’t like the sound of that. Who knew what state her ship would be in by then? If an alien craft came to earth the government and plenty of other organizations like the IAC would be chomping at the bit to tear the thing apart and discover its secrets. Somehow she didn’t think it would be much different on this planet.
“Is that standard?” Dallas asked hoping for a way to get in to see him sooner.
“Not usually.” The older woman replied. “Claim challenges are usually no more than a few hours, however, this is a unique situation.”
“Unique how?” Dallas asked.
“It is of no consequence at this moment.” Khimar replied effectively cutting off her companion’s answer which only made Dallas curious about what the younger woman would have said.
“You said one sun rising, so perhaps he can see me tonight?”
“I am sorry but the preparation round is scheduled to go very late. Now, it is time we began. There is much to be done,” Khimar insisted.
She didn’t argue the point with the older woman, choosing instead to see if she could discover a way to meet with their High Commander before her ship was reduced to a series of metals and bolts.
***
If Dallas had known initiation would mean a near room by room tour of what could only be described as a palace and a crash course lesson about the Chezarian home world she would have asked for the cleft notes version. Khimar was like a super charged instructor switching from their origin story to culinary habits. The latter, unfortunately, went into great detail about how to prepare various meals with ingredients that held absolutely no meaning to Dallas. She’d never been much for cooking on Earth. Her motto was if it couldn’t be ordered, delivered or graphed it didn’t belong in her mouth.
Dallas found herself tuning most of what the older woman said out since she really had no need to
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