A screen opened in front of him, displaying an image of deep space. The arms of a galaxy, followed by stars shining in contrast to the black background.
He was always impressed by the number of stars in these environments. No wonder many worlds believed that this could only be the work of a divine being.
It was on one of these worlds that the screen slowly came into focus. A planet covered with white clouds, swirls of them, blue or lilac rays streaking across the white background and disappearing in a second.
In the distance, the light of that planetary system's star appeared on the horizon. It shone brightly, illuminating the outer layer of the planet's atmosphere. It was possible to see the outline of long strips of land emerging to the north, among them what appeared to be an ocean.
“So this is the planet?”
“Yes, Master Thar, it was one of those chosen for the experiment.”
“What is it called?”
“Zarkon C.”
“How long ago did the tests begin?”
“About a thousand years ago. The most promising ones were chosen: Zarkon B, C, and D. But the only one that ended up developing permanent life forms was C, which seemed to have the least chance at the time.”
The master leaned to the side, reading a three-dimensional text that appeared after the scientist finished speaking.
A second later, he knew everything about the subject, yet there were still doubts, gaps in information that made him suspicious.
“Why did we use the Voikhan method? Isn't it a very inaccurate method? It was already obsolete at that time.”
“Master Jhar considered it the best solution for the case. Zarkon C rotated on its axis very quickly. It would be impossible for any form of life to survive.”
“But the Kirkhan method was much more efficient and was already in use at that time.”
“Yes, but we had problems with resource constraints. There was a financial crisis, and the Federation did not approve the use of the Gravitational Beam.”
“Really! Isn't that in your records?”
“Not everything is recorded in the texts, as sir knows. Very sensitive political issues always generate this kind of censorship.”
“Well, but it worked! Very lucky, Voikhan can be more destructive than it is capable of generating habitable planets.”
"Master Jhar was an expert, and the conditions were favorable. In addition, the protoplanet met the requirements for translation, mass, and distance from Zarkon C. The odds were good, and it worked. The planet slowed its rotation and tilted at an almost ideal angle, which allowed seasons to emerge in that environment."
Thar went back to reading the three-dimensional texts, spending seconds reading thousands of pages. And he got to the heart of the problem. The reason why the Council decided that he should be sent urgently to understand what was happening on that “pale blue dot,” floating in the middle of nowhere, but which could be so destructive that it endangered the galaxy in which this tiny grain of sand revolved.
“Are you referring to a problem with the Monolith? We don't usually have problems with that device. What happened?”
“It was a combination of factors, actually. The software version was experimental, and the hardware also needed corrections. It was the MIB-6000 model.”
“We've always had problems with the 6000 series. Isn't that the translucent crystal model?”
“Exactly. However, combined with the temperature and pressure characteristics on Zarkon C and the beings that were chosen to make the evolutionary leap, unforeseen genetic mutations occurred that led to the problems we are now encountering.”
“The bipeds that existed at that time.”
“Yes, the Maymunlar, as they came to be known.”
“When was that?”
“About a hundred years ago.”
“And what was the problem with these bipeds?”
“Well, Master, they were more active and flexible than we expected. They ended up interacting with the Monolith much more than we anticipated.”
The head of the Advanced Research Center blinked his four eyes, cleared one of his throats, which made Thar even more suspicious.
“Interacted how? Be more specific?”
“Since they were very agile, they climbed onto the equipment and tried to damage it with their primitive tools, but what ended up affecting the Monolith's operation was... their excrement, master.”
“They shit and pee on our equipment! But isn't there any protection in them to prevent this kind of interference?”
“Not in the 6000 model, it was developed in a hurry, without proper quality control. From what we've gathered, its intellect received conflicting information, which caused the system to crash. In addition, it appears that there was bribery by the company that developed the model. The equipment's seal did not meet the standards required for this type of equipment.”
“But it continued to function? How is that possible?”
“That is a mystery we have not yet solved. The Monolith functioned for decades outside of its original specifications and ended up generating the problems we detected last year.”
“Almost a century to discover that we failed miserably, that is unacceptable!”
“Unfortunately, that's what happened, sir. And to make matters worse, it coincided with the height of the Great Crisis.”
Thar feels a sharp pain, a twinge in his head, and his three brains begin to ache at the same time. Always her, always the Great painful and infinite Crisis. It seemed that everything bad was still caused by that fateful moment in the history of the Federation.
“Well, what was the result on Zarkon C? What big shit did we make this time?”
The head of the science department scratched one of his four arms. Increasingly embarrassed, he took a deep breath, preparing for the worst.
“What happened was that the Monolith generated a species derived from the Maymunlar with a reasonably well-developed brain and relatively appropriate speech ability. However, they had limited ability to live in groups, but excellent adaptability to the environment.”
“But that was the least we could expect. What went wrong?”
"Well, master, they became more violent than we would have liked. They began to fight over territory, water, mineral resources, and even over females. It only got worse when they learned to cultivate the land. Since the Monolith did not function as it should have, the offspring of this species do not have the necessary antibody protection against viruses and other types of diseases that always appear in natural environments."
“They don't have a proper immune system!”
“That's right, master. The main problem with individuals of this species is that they don't have the durability we would like. They only live a few weeks by our count of time.”
“And why did it get worse after they reached the agricultural stage?”
“The demand for labor caused them to reproduce on a scale never seen before. The situation got out of control.”
Thar scratched one of his chins, staring at the floor as he floated through the laboratory where they were talking.
"Unbelievable, that's the conclusion. Beings with high cognitive ability and high durability are the minimum expected. In none of our experiments do the beings produced need to engage in agriculture. Much less do they need sex as an important element. This dependence on sex is only necessary for other beings on these planets."
“If the Monolith were operating as we would like. The situation worsened when they reached the industrialization phase.”
“Exploitation of mineral elements! These planets are generally poor in these resources.”
“But that's what they started doing. They ended up going far beyond the capacity of Zarkon C.”
“Environmental imbalance. Is that what you mean?”
"That's what happened, but the worst thing is that, from then on, sex produced absurd quantities of the species. What they lack in immunity, they make up for in reproduction. They have become a plague and are about to endanger the planet's existence. This is due to their excessive numbers, but mainly because the species' consumption exceeds the planet's capacity."
“What are they called again?”
“We call them Alukis.”
“So, these Alukis have sex more than normal, is that it?”
“Well, sir, let's just say they unusually practice sex.”
"They have become billions on a planet that should be home to a few hundred million at most. And your petition to the Council is for us to continue investing in a species that is totally outside the standards required by the Federation? Explain yourself, Ljar."
“Well, sir, we are actually asking the Council what we should do. As there is a chance that there will be a reduction in the number of Alukis in the coming months. We have noticed that they have developed a series of solutions of their own that seem to mitigate the effects of excess reproductive capacity.”
The scientist remains silent, fearful of the Council master's reaction. He stares intently at the translucent floor below, while Thar taps eighteen of his fingers on the table in front of him.
“And what solution have they found?”
“They call it ‘sex for fun’. They have begun to expend their sexual energy in orgasms, without any reproductive purpose. This has turned out to be a relief for the species.”
Thar bites one of his mouths, looking as if he hopes he has misheard.
“You want us to admit this species of violent and highly destructive sexual degenerates into the Federation. Is that it, Ljar?”
“Well, sir, after a hundred years of investment, billions of Tracmas spent, the science department considers it a waste. The Alukis could participate in the Federation, perhaps as observers.”
“Them? They reproduce as if they were Dovsans. And a Dovsan will never join the Federation.”
“Well, sir, but couldn't this new sexual modality be a reason to keep the species alive?”
“But they are the ones destroying themselves. The Federation has not yet made a decision. Which does not mean it will not do so in the coming weeks.”
“Wouldn't you at least like to see what this sexual modality is all about? Maybe the master will change his mind?”
Thar shakes his enormous head in boredom, yet a hint of curiosity arises in one of his brains. What is sex for fun? He has never known a species in all the galaxies that practiced such a modality.
“Do we have images? How did we get them?”
“They themselves are generating trillions of petabytes, and most of these images are of them having sex. It has become one of the main activities of their current economy.”
“That fuck Monolith, an extremely expensive project that aimed to spread highly capable beings throughout the Galaxy, developed a species of sexual perverts on this shitty little planet? Was that the best we could do?”
“Unfortunately, sir, but as I said, the current use of sex reduces reproductive capacity, and other excesses of the species, such as violence, wars, and even environmental greed, are greatly reduced.”
Thar looks suspiciously at the head of science.
"You're a terrible salesman, Ljar. Don't bullshit me with that nonsense. Show me what they do."
***
“Professor Branch, I'm getting more and more distressed, it seems that...”
“It seems what, Hazard?”
The frail girl in her late twenties writes another sequence of mathematical symbols on the blackboard in the room, the chalk between her fingers squeaking as if it were increasingly painful to write those symbols and numbers.
Finally, she stops, looking tired, almost discouraged. The girl tucks strands of blonde hair behind her ear and turns, crossing her arms over her breasts.
Branch smoothes his white goatee. His dead fish stare gains a slight glimmer. The awkward, skinny girl had become more and more appealing to the lonely old man over the years.
“It seems like we always reach a dead end. It seems like we always have one of our arms tied behind our backs.”
Branch shakes his head and sits down, trying to hide his desires for the girl.
Hazard Cooper throws away what's left of the chalk. She claps his hands to clean off the dust and comes closer. Branch crosses his legs, hiding his inconvenient erection.
The girl laughs, having long been aware of the old man's interest in her. She has never paid much attention to relationships, much less with young men. They are ridiculous idiots who seem unaware that they have brains inside their heads. They only do what the government tells them to do.
Plant this or plant that. No one knows how to think, but the old professor, systematic, detail-oriented, and a brilliant mathematician, is actually quite an admirable figure. Why isn't he desirable?
“You're not the only one who's distressed by our limitations. I, too, would like everything to be resolved as quickly as possible. Otherwise, Plan A can never be implemented.”
“I'm worried about them. What if they can't come back?”
“It makes me tense too, you have no idea, Hazard.”
The young woman flashes a strange smile, a furtive glance that makes the old professor even more uncomfortable. Did she notice? He thinks, forcing a smile. She takes two steps and stands a foot away.
“I know you're very tense, stiff. That's not good, professor. Especially for a man your age.”
“What? I don't understand.”
The girl's voice becomes more modulated, more provocative. Branch feels his heart racing, his breathing shortening. He must be dreaming, but she...
“Relax, professor. We both need to relieve this tension. It's bad for our health.”
“Hazard, I think... Aaaah! Uuuhh!”
“That's right, what's the problem? You're still a man, no matter your age. Every man needs it.”
The small hand caresses the phallus still trapped in the loose pants. Sweat drips down Branch's face. Shame is written all over his face as he feels Hazard's fingers pull his hard cock out of his cream-colored pants.
Like an expert in the field, she jerks him off with dexterity. She twists the head of his cock with her delicate fingers, rubbing his shaft, making it even harder. There's no denying his state of arousal.
“Haz, Hazard! I, I, I think...”
“Sshhh, professor. It'll be good for both of us. Relax, distract, fun.”
“Aaah!”
“Strengthen our relationship. Bring us together, isn't that why everyone fucks? Why not us?”
“Oooh! Baby, then sit down. Sit down.”
Hazard bites her lower lip. She blinks her angelic blue eyes. Her hand was still squeezing the old man's cock. A hot cock from which a lubricating juice oozes.
Hazard gets rid of her clothes so fast that he thought it was a magic trick. Suddenly, Commander Cooper's daughter was naked before her master. Small breasts, a golden-haired vagina.
Hazard Cooper arrives, settles down, and sits. She sits on the teacher's lap.
“Like this, Branch?”
She uses two fingers, holds the hard member, and sticks it in.
“Aaah!”
She swallows the mature man's cock.
“Hmmm! Cooper, aaah! Girl...”
“Ssshh! Aaah! Branch. What a delicious cock, darling!”
Hazard rolls her hips, pushing the old man's rod deeper inside her. Deeper into her tight womb. The teacher's cock gets sticky, slobbering in the juices that drip from her young pussy.
It hurts, it burns. Especially because she's almost a virgin, and the old man's cock is wider than she thought. The member entered, tearing her young vulva.
Cooper fucked her hard, thrusting the professor's cock deep inside her. He grabbed her small hips and sucked on her breasts.
"Oooh! Hmmm! Branch! Aaah!
Wet orgasms came in jets. She came hard, releasing her moods, her hormones spreading through her body, burning away the toxins.
“Girl, I think I'm going to.”
“No! Wait. Not inside, better not to risk it.”
Agile as a cat, Hazard got down on her knees. She flashed a lewd smile and swallowed his phallus. A kiss at the top and slowly swallowing the shaft. That drooling in her juices. She swallowed with her eyes closed, sucked thirstily, dreaming of the teacher's hot cum, finally.
“What is this now? Is the reproductive organ in the mouth of females?”
“No, master, it's just another form of stimulation. Massaging the male with the mouth. Sometimes reaching the throat.”
“Seriously! All that effort to get pregnant?”
“On the contrary, to avoid it. As I explained, they began to enjoy sex for momentary pleasure.”
“Sex for fun?”
They were interrupted by the old man's screams. The cries of a wounded animal, cumming in spurts into the mouth of the young woman kneeling at his feet.
Hazard displayed the perfect teeth and milky tongue of a slut. The translucent slime dripped from the corners of her mouth. The girl finally swallowed the cum of the man who could be her grandfather. She smiled naughtily, savoring the taste of the professor's orgasm.
“Well, master, as my lord can see, they have found a solution to reproductive problems on a large scale. I think we need to consider this point of view. We can't just get rid of them.”
“And who said anything about eliminating the Alukis? That will still be evaluated by the Council, but according to your reports, it won't even be necessary; they are about to do it themselves.”
They both remained silent for a while.
“And is that the only way they have to prevent reproduction?”
“There are other means, several others, to prevent reproduction. Pills and other contraceptive methods.”
“Really! I thought the only solution was to drink the male's orgasm. It's still interesting, I thought they were more limited.”
“They're smarter than sir, and the Council thinks.”
“But they're still very dangerous, excessively violent for my taste, at least from what I've read so far.”
“But they haven't blown up the planet yet.”
“Not yet, but they came very close. That's what your people wrote in their reports. And it wasn't just once or twice. Imagine a species like that spreading across the galaxy?”
“I still think the Alukis can develop self-control. It's a matter of time, perhaps with the application of Triklina on promising individuals?”
"Don't be naive, Ljar. Triklina is an extremely expensive procedure. And its actual effectiveness is under investigation."
“Really? I didn't know that, master.”
“Well, now you do. I know you like them, but they are troublesome, unstable, and belligerent. If only they didn't reproduce like a virus. A few long-lived and resistant ones would be enough.”
“They are resistant, but they never became long-lived. They ended up surrendering to sex and multiplied beyond the planet's capacity.”
"That's not what we were looking for when we invested our Tracmas in Zarkon. Our goal is to sow life, select the most promising species to explore new dimensions, and not continue creating beings with low potential. They can't even understand the mechanisms of the Universe. Worse, they only understand the four basic dimensions. That's almost nothing for those who should conceive of the existence of multidimensional universes. Unacceptable, Ljar."
“Well, master, they are trying, albeit slowly. Some, at least, most still think they live inside a flat circle with a dome above.”
“You see, their depraved side is even funny, but their cognitive limitations make them ineffective and, on top of that, extremely violent.”
Ljar crossed his four arms on one side of his enormous body, deep in thought. His hopes of including the Alukis in the next interstellar integration program were falling apart. But he was pulled out of his reverie by his master's curiosity.
“What else do you have to show me? Or is this only just how they have fun? Swallowing the males' cum.”
“There's no shortage of images, master. The Alukis are quite inventive when it comes to sex.”
“Then show me, since the Council sent me to your lab. What else are they capable of?”
***
She woke up feeling chills and a slight headache. The white lights of the spaceship irritated her eyes.
“Dr. Branch, Dr.?”
The male voice was familiar, but her memory couldn't place it. And she could hardly see anything.
“Wake up, Emilia!”
“Huh! Where are we?”
“On the ship.”
“Are we there?”
"No, the computers say no. It seems there was a problem with the hibernation system. It looks like we traveled farther than we should have."
Emilia, with her upturned nose, realized she was hugging the mission commander. Gordon Cooper had broad shoulders and curly golden hair. It was comforting to find herself hugging him while still sitting in her hibernation chamber.
“We should have been woken up when we reached Saturn.”
Cooper nodded yes. The scientist's hand was on the back of his neck. The delicate hand of an interesting woman.
“I'm still checking, but according to the data, we're beyond Uranus' orbit.”
“What?”
The friendly brunette looked like she was about to cry. Her dark eyes became moist.
“What about the others?”
“They're fine, but I thought it best not to wake them. I'm still evaluating the life support systems. We don't have enough oxygen for everyone.”
The two stared at each other. Emilia agreed with the decision but found it strange that he had chosen her and not one of the others to wake up. Her doubt was written all over her face, so much so that the astronaut smiled enigmatically. Between the seductive and the rude.
“Better get dressed, doctor. I'm making our coffee.”
She cleared her throat, not daring to continue staring into those seductive blue eyes, and headed for the ship's bathroom.
She washed, combed, brushed, got ready, and returned.
The handsome astronaut took his eyes off the equipment and admired the female figure wearing clothes comfortable enough to enhance her appreciable curves.
“So, Coop, what do we do now?”
“Technically, the mission is aborted. We'll need to go back, but I don't know if we'll be able to reach the vortex that's parked at Saturn, and the probability of returning to Earth is even smaller.”
“How long have we been traveling?”
“The clocks show more than twenty years.”
Emilia Branch is speechless, her head is spinning, and she thinks about the mission to save humanity from environmental disaster. And the only thing she can say at the moment is a swear word that slips out without her realizing it.
“Holy shit!”
They both laugh and hug each other. It's comforting to be in a man's arms again. Especially one like Commander Cooper. She just didn't expect his reaction. A natural reaction in a man who hasn't touched a woman's body in so long. Gordon is embarrassed.
“Emilia, I think we need to assess the current situation. Maybe wake Roy and Doyle from hibernation when we know more about the ship's condition.”
Emilia flashes a seductive, even captivating smile, her eyes sparkling. And the commander reacts like any male of the species. As has been the case since the beginning of time, more than five million years ago.
His cock throbs and grows inside his tight pants. The man blushes and turns away, pretending to examine the ship's control panel screens. Emilia feels her pussy come alive, getting wet inside her new panties.
Twenty years without fucking, without fucking a hot man. And there she is, facing the mission leader. The two of them alone, the others sleeping in their hibernation chambers, and even KARS was turned off and tied up downstairs.
“Don't be like that, Coop. I understand, why not?”
“What?”
Gordon Cooper tries to pretend he doesn't understand what she's talking about. Dr. Branch's eyes mesmerize him. The man feels his heart beating like a drum, his cock growing uncontrollably, rising like a mast.
“Yeah, Coop, what's the problem? You need it and so do I.”
She speaks in a tearful voice, but silence fills the room. She smiles. The smile of an experienced whore, and he becomes shy like a boy on his first time.
“Can I?”
Emilia stretches out her arm, holds him firmly, and squeezes him affectionately. She masturbates the seductive man, the heat of his phallus warming her palm. Her pussy is wet, pulsing, and she wants to fuck the only male awake at the moment.
Emilia's features are changing, from innocent seduction to the fury of a female in heat.
“Emilia, we need to think about the problem.”
“Twenty years, Cooper! Twenty fucking years! What are a few minutes of madness? Come on, I want you on your back.”
“Dr. Branch, I'm not used to these things. I'm more traditional.”
“Well, I'm not. I like to be the active one. My men always obey me. Go on, get on your back.”
“These images are being recorded; one day, someone might see us.”
“Too bad! You could have chosen someone else; there were three of us, but you chose me. Why is that? Am I the only one who gives you a hard-on, at least? Turn around, Cooper, I know you'll like it. The others don't need to know. Relax, darling.”
Gordon Cooper was stunned; he had wanted to fuck the doctor ever since they left Earth. But this was disconcerting.
The scientist's fixed, sparkling gaze made Cooper turn his back. Emilia knelt behind him. Greedily, she pulled down the seductive forty-something's pants. His firm ass, his balls holding his cum-filled balls. His asshole is hidden deep between his buttocks.
Everything she wanted most at that moment.
Emilia salivated with delight. Finally, the commander's ass was at her disposal. She spat once, twice, spreading it with the tip of her middle finger. Smoothing the entrance, preparing her male to receive what he deserved, a good finger in the ass.
“Emilia. Aaaah!”
Cooper felt a chill run down his spine. He felt the delicate hand caressing the head of his cock, twisting, rubbing, and jerking it hard. He never imagined that the professor's daughter was a slut. Not even in his most depraved dreams.
“Oooh! Uuuh!”
“That's it, boy, moan, boy. I love it when my men suffer. It turns me on so much, you know? Even more when I stick it in the middle, like this.”
“Haaanh! Aaahh!”
Two fingers in a man's ass. Good, isn't it?"
“I... I didn't expect that, Emilia. I've never done it.”
“Liar, your asshole isn't a virgin, boy. And I know that deep down you love it. Look how good it feels.”
She pushed deeper and rubbed the commander's prostate. His erection became even harder.
“Oooh! Emilia.”
The girl laughed loudly, thrusting and twisting her fingers as she jerked off the commander's cock. Cooper began to drip his cream from the head of his cock. His precum wet the teacher's daughter's fingers.
He was startled when she kissed his ass with her tongue. A slobbery, spit-filled, licked kiss. A lewd kiss from a naughty woman, a little slut who likes to command her men. And savor the ass of a beautiful man.
“Branch... Aaah! I, I don't know...”
“Calm down, Cooper. You're a lucky man, finding a girl three billion kilometers from Earth just to caress you. A caress so deep and exciting. What are you complaining about?”
She licked like an slut cat. Using the tip of her tongue. The hard tip opens the commander's most intimate orifice. Gordon Cooper's cock throbbed, and he began to drip his man cream. The astronaut was trembling, vibrating as if he were a virgin.
He closed his eyes, concentrating not to cum, imagining the scientist's pussy. That tight, sticky, sweaty thing, waiting for a thick trunk, his.
The astronaut decided to take charge of the action. He grabbed Emilia by the hair and pulled her up. He made the girl stand on end, and they faced each other, studying one another. Their mouths were inches apart. Emilia smiled wickedly. He looked like an outraged male.
They kissed, their mouths stuck together as if glued. They licked their tongues, bit, and sucked. The taste of ass mixed with the scientist's saliva.
Until Cooper made Emilia turn around and lean on the counter. The offended male ripped the young woman's pants off. He left the scientist almost naked.
“Are you going to fuck me, Cooper, from behind? Like a savage?”
Crazy, mad with desire, the astronaut grabbed the hot brunette's waist and thrust hard. He pierced the girl's pussy.
“Aaah! Hmmm! Coop, darling.”
That vagina was boiling, cooking his penis. A stifling heat like a sauna. The thrusts became frantic, the moans growing louder.
Emilia hugged the commander's neck as he tore her shirt, exposing her generous breasts.
“Oooh! Aaah! Emilia!”
“Come, darling, fill me with your cum, boy.”
The thrusts became even faster. It didn't take long for the astronaut's cock to regurgitate his semen, spitting out jets of cum that had accumulated over the years into the vulva of the snobbish-looking scientist.
He suffered while clutching the girl's breasts. She felt the cum running down her thighs, mixed with her juices. The pleasure of a satiated woman came along with it.
“Hmm! Coop...”
“Doctor.”
“They are very inventive. The females are more active than those of other species.”
“Yes, master. Both sexes devote themselves to sex with great... enthusiasm.”
“It seems that the ass is very attractive to them. Is that right, Ljar?”
“There is a worldwide preference for the anus. Something that has become more widespread in recent times.”
“But are females who prefer males' hips to getting fucked in their vaginas!?”
“Anything goes with this species. But males have a preference for anal sex. And they seem to make no gender distinction when it comes to asses, master.”
Thar's four eyes widen at the information. Nothing he read or saw about the Alukis seemed to help save the species from itself. An air of concern takes over their broad faces. The explanations became even more serious.
Ljar scratches one of his ears as he watches the master return to admiring the scenes of the planet appearing on the big screen. In the background, it's the only natural satellite. Huge, shining as if it were a huge melting cheese.
“These two scenes seem to show that they are developing some project to leave the planet. Or have I misunderstood?”
“Yes, master. The climate problems on Zarkon C are forcing the Alukis to look for solutions elsewhere.”
“Have they discovered the second Monolith?”
“Fortunately not, master. It seems they thought they had found an anomaly near Zarkon F. But there is nothing there. There was a misinterpretation or something like that. The Alukis are not very efficient in astronautics. They guess more than they can interpret the data that appears.”
Thar does not seem very satisfied with the information. He remains suspicious of the Alukis' capabilities.
“And where was Chaleb installed? Wasn't it the one the Alukis detected?”
“No, master, Chaleb was installed on Zarkon E., and it remains inactive, as my Lord knows, only after activating the Monolith on its natural satellite will the portal open.”
Thar walks thoughtfully, two hands crossed over his chest on one side of his body, two others crossed over his chest on the other side. Both faces look thoughtful, concerned. It seems too much of a coincidence that the Alukis are looking for a portal. Ljar understands the implicit message.
“They can make exploratory trips in their solar system. They even visited your satellite, but never settled there. At least not until now.”
The master puffs out his broad chest, relaxes, but remains tense.
“This is worrying, Ljar. What if the mutations have made the Alukis more imaginative than rational? They are even more dangerous than we are predicting.”
“And what do sir think the Council will decide? Is there any chance that the Alukis will be immediately exterminated?”
“I don't think so, it's an extreme and unnecessary solution based on what you've shown me so far. It's more likely that they will destroy themselves. But the possibility that they might attempt an escape that is beyond our control is still worrying.”
“But if they escape to another planet in their own solar system, there is a chance that other life forms on Zarkon C will survive.”
“Don't be naive, Ljar; billions of Alukis are going to live on another planet. Which planet?”
"We've seen that they're very interested in Zarkon D. Of course, not all of them, because as I said, some of them don't even believe they're living on a planet. Many think their world is flat.
Thar laughs and scratches his chin, seeing the apprehensive look on the face of the head of the science department. He speaks in a tone of voice more like a father than a superior.
“Are you afraid of losing your toy, Ljar? The planet will not be destroyed by the Alukis' nonsense, rest assured. At most, they will become extinct. The other species of local fauna and flora that resist the Alukis' greed will eventually adapt to the new conditions. We cannot interfere in situations like this, not if they do not attempt to escape their planetary system.”
Ljar shows a certain air of sadness on one of his faces, while the other side shows much more relief.
“Yes, master, it's a pity we'll miss the chance to get to know them better. It would be interesting to study them more closely.”
“The Monolith's failure distorted the experiment. And speaking of the Monolith.”
Thar points one hand toward the satellite that now fills the screen.
“Better to remove the device before they can discover the equipment. You said they visited the satellite, didn't you?”
“Yes, but they only visited. It was a few weeks ago, but they haven't settled there yet.”
The master's gaze becomes more serious. Ljar shrinks back, fearing the worst.
“If they visited, it means they may return. Better not to risk it.”
“Well, sir, that was one of the reasons we sent the inquiry to the Council. What to do with the second Monolith?”
"Remove it right away. We can't waste time. If those clueless morons find the Monolith, they could activate the portal, especially with the problems in version 6000. Imagine what could happen if they succeed?"
“But it will still take weeks before they can begin occupying your satellite. As I explained, they're not very good at teamwork. They've always been very suspicious of each other.”
“The guys are flying almost at the edge of their star system. What if they discover signs of Chaleb when they pass by it on their return? Very dangerous.”
“Well, sir, these Alekis that appeared in the images are among the most advanced of their species. At least they can develop rudimentary formulas for unifying fields and particles. And their spaceships are reasonably reliable. Couldn't we take advantage of their proximity to Chaleb and admit them into our community, at least these few, to study them and understand what motivated the unwanted changes?”
Thar raises his four arms as if what he just heard was nonsense.
“We can’t take that risk, Ljar. Even if they were kept in a controlled environment like this lab, there would always be the risk of them escaping and multiplying. That could become a disaster beyond our capacity to contain a crisis. It would destroy far more promising worlds.”
“But would there be a chance for them to find a solution to their environmental disaster? Which, if they succeed, could save not only the species, but the planet.”
"And how would they do that? From the formulas they were writing, it's obvious they have no idea how gravity works. A hundred years of evolution, and they still believe in gods as the answer, or else they believe that basic science has the answer to everything. Too imperfect, Ljar, apart from this endemic need to multiply."
“But all species go through the same stages. Maybe the Alukis take a little longer.”
Thar shows his two smiles. He, too, was a scientist at the beginning of his career, also passionate about discoveries.
"I understand your interest, Ljar. They have become your pets, but the images make it clear that they are much more limited than they should be at this stage of their evolution. They never managed to make the necessary leap, especially with their sexual uncontrollability. We have to admit that the Monolith didn't work; it's better to leave them where they are."
“Isn't it better to wait for the Council's decision before destroying the Monolith?”
“We can't risk them establishing permanent bases on the satellite. The risk that they might spread is no longer hypothetical; it's real. Destroy Ljar, destroy and forget these beings. Too bad, but we have others that are more promising. And without this risk of the spread of a limited and out-of-control species.”
