"Welcome to the Andromeda Galaxy", said a seemingly humanoid figure, standing 6', with a finely trimmed beard, and wearing leisurely clothes. The figure was Zander Corvus, the sole member of an otherwise unknown species. He says this to his good friend Paul, a 6'2" tan-colored alien with two huge, ornamental horns that stretch from the very top of his forehead into a point over the back of his cranium, as his vessel dropped out of faster-light-speed with them both aboard. Paul was another unique specimen, and it's his ship that they're on, which he sees fit to mention quite often. "I know where we are, Zander…" says Paul, placing his thumbs behind his black, leather suspenders with a golden firefly pin on the right strap as if he was the proudest being in the universe at that moment "…This IS my ship after all & I AM the one piloting it." "I know that", Zander replied as he continued, "I was just making it official. We're the first people from our home in the Milky Way Galaxy to come this far on purpose, and intend to stay for quite a while." That's when Paul reminded Zander of the many mistakes in that statement as he responded with "No. Even though I'm not from this universe, I'm still from THIS galaxy, and we have ZERO ideas where YOU are from." Zander responded with his usual impeccable logic, "Since you're not from the universe in which this galaxy is contained, you are technically not from THIS galaxy either. Also . . ." He continued as Paul rolled his eyes at Zander in defeat. ". . . I have no memories before waking up in the Milky Way Galaxy, and therefore the only life I have ever known is there. I must therefore be considered to be FROM there because all of my entire collection of memories to-date start FROM there." Paul conceded defeat on a few of these points, but ended this part of the conversation with "Yeah, but you said I was from there, too. I ain't." Zander realized he had lost, yet again, to the horned menace known simply as 'Paul'."
Paul continued his inquiry. "And what IS our purpose here anyway? It's been about 6 months since we left, and with all of the monotony of piloting a couple of egg-headed sissy-men through deep space, I can't even remember why we came here." Asks Paul, as he finished initiating the procedure for once again entering sub-light speed. "We are here to find some answers." Zander replied, as he took a seat next to Paul with his eager eyes pointed toward the great unknown of this region of space, which remained uncharted up to this point to them and even to the Humans . . . so far. "What kind of answers are you intending to find?" Asked Paul as he turned his seat facing Zander's & grilled him about why exactly he had dragged Paul what may be millions of light-years away from their previously established new home. "I hope to find some answers about who I am, what I am, and what my purpose is in this universe, if possible. I also intend to find out more about you, old friend, as this IS your home galaxy." Zander said with a slight half-smile on his face. "Well…" Paul began to reply to Zander's smart-mouthed comments, ". . . Just because I'm kinda home again, doesn't mean we're welcome here. Just remember that." "I intend to do that as well." Zander replied as he turned his own attention to the sensor screen, and began scanning the empty blackness of the region ahead of them for some answers; ANY answers.
Just then, Lee Myers walked into the small, functional bridge, with a notebook, as Human as the next guy . . . as long as the next guy wasn't Zander or Paul, that is. As such, he instantly began joking around about what they might encounter out there in the middle of what to them was nowhere. "So…have we run into any green women yet? It's getting kinda lonely in here with just you two guys and my drawing pad." He said jokingly as Zander got up out of Lee's usual seat and offered it back to him. "Not yet…" Zander replied in an equally jovial manner. "…but you never know." As Lee sat down, Paul jumped into the conversation. "Not like it matters anyway. The guy in the Captain's Chair always gets them, and since this is MY ship, that's ME. However, I think you have to be a bad actor with a cheap rug as well. So I guess that leaves ME out as well." Zander did a face-palm as he responded. "Can we stop referencing cheesy, 60's Earth Sci-Fi shows and get on with our journey?" Immediately following that statement, an alarm sounded on Lee's console, alerting the crew, which at the moment was only those 3 entities, that it had found some rather unusual readings on a planet ahead. "Wow. Now ask for some women, booze, and a lotta money!" Paul exclaimed, but everyone else was too busy looking at Lee's console to respond. "Great. Let's just look at all the pretty lights then." Paul said, obviously feeling a bit ignored. "Sir…" Lee began. "We're not working for those guys anymore, Lee. You can just call me 'Zander' now." "Of course. Sorry, but our sensors have picked up some very out of place readings on a nearby planet." "How are they out of place?" asked Paul. Lee answered with a solemn look on his face, perfectly aware that these readings were quite out of place indeed in what to them was a completely alien galaxy. "They're life signs, and they appear to be . . . Human." Paul and Zander both looked at each other with looks of surprise & confusion as Zander gave the next order. "Proceed to that planet. THIS, I've gotta see." "Right away, Cappy!" said Paul as he fired up the Minkowski Field Generator and they set off at faster-than-light speed or "FTL", towards the enigmatic readings.
In mere seconds, the ship arrived at the planet. This particular planet resembled Earth, somewhat, but in a more war torn state. "Readings so far, Lee, aside from the Humanoid life signs?" Zander inquired.
"The planet seems to have stable tectonic plates. However, despite the perfectly moderate weather and a somewhat functioning marine eco system, the vegetation seems to be exhibiting signs of a drought."
"How so?"
"Well, see for yourself." Lee then put the planet's image on the main view screen.
Zander's expression turned to one of sheer horror as he gazed upon the scene ahead of them. He understood all too well what it means to see a planet covered in browning vegetation despite its spring-like weather. "This IS rather odd. Paul, what have YOU got for me?" "Definitely signs of war! There's burns all over the planet that were likely caused by some sort of radiation that is not naturally present on or below the surface of the planet, and our sensors are picking up traces of what seems to be blood all over the area around the equatorial belt. There was a massacre here, Cappy." Zander was very concerned while hearing this news, as well he should have been. After being strangers in an alien galaxy for only approximately one hour, they may already have found themselves enemies. Zander asked Paul further about his analysis. "How do you figure that there are signs of blood? I wasn't aware your ship's sensors were THAT accurate." "Well, there's a lot you don't know about this ship." Paul replied, with his own smart-mouthed attitude.
Lee went on to explain, being the resident scientist extraordinaire. "Basically, it picked up biological patterns that seemed to be DNA. These patterns were scattered across a large area without any normal signs of self-contained, biological, and possibly sentient vessels." "What he said" Paul said, while pointing in Lee's direction. "What?!" exclaimed Paul, as he was suddenly hit with the realization that what Lee said made absolutely no sense to him. Lee put it into layman's terms for Paul, whom is somewhat highly intelligent himself, but Zander & Lee's unique brands of techno-speak still leave some of the smartest people a bit lost at times. "There's DNA all over the area, but no bodies." "Well, why didn't you just say THAT?!" Asked Paul as he turned back to his console, and Zander continued his inquiry. "Are there any signs of a current struggle, Paul?" "There don't seem to be any energy weapons, that we know of, no signs of nuclear weaponry, and other than what might just be some very complex clocks, there doesn't seem to be any small machinery whatsoever that could be used to launch small projectiles, or in layman's terms, from a non-brainiac, rocks, bullets, grenades, or missiles. It seems perfectly safe . . . for a blood-soaked battlefield." As Zander heard this data from Paul, he felt in his heart that there was a human down there that may very well be in trouble. As such, he gave the next command with as much conviction as he could muster. "Find that Human. If they're in trouble, we MUST assist them."
As Paul & Lee scanned the planet's surface and attempted to decipher the readings in order to determine if the Human was indeed in trouble, Zander retreated to his personal quarters and found himself deep in thought, meditating about this development as if he were having a conversation with himself.
What is a Human doing in another galaxy? It makes no sense.
Then again, WE'RE here, and WE'RE not expected to be here either. Maybe they've met my people before. Maybe they can help me find my answers . . .
. . . or maybe they're more clueless than WE are.
Regardless, we have to help them, if we can, but I didn't come out here to be a hero again. I just want to know who & what I am. Their fight is not my fight, and I want nothing to do with it. We need to help them long enough to get our answers, if any, and then walk away.
However, I can't just walk away. Can I?
As he thought that last thought, Paul called out through the ship-wide communication system:
Attention, shoppers! Zander Corvus, please report to the front of the ship.You're party is waiting. Zander Corvus, to the front of the ship.Your party is waiting!
"I've always wanted to do that!" Paul exclaimed to Lee as Zander got up from his seat, and headed back into the bridge. "You're so immature, and that means a lot coming from someone whom is 5 years your junior" replied Lee to Paul as Zander stepped back into the bridge, now more determined than ever to get his hands on that Human. "What?! You ain't MY Junior!" exclaimed Paul as Zander interrupted them. "Status, Paul?" "The status is that this kid is ticking me . . ." "I meant on the situation on the planet below." "Right. Multiple particle-weapons fire from about 30 different sources, the Human life-form is moving in erratic patterns all over the place, and there is no known particle-weapon signatures coming from the human life-form. Also, there are primitive explosives going off all around the area. In short, it's a war zone and it all seems to be focused on that unarmed Human". Paul responded. "I see." was Zander's only reply as he took it all in. "Orders?" asked Lee, as Zander became even more torn over his next decision. Zander responded in a very commanding tone of voice, even though his eyes may have played him as still being quite unsure of the situation. "Head to the Descendent, and prepare to undock!" Both Paul & Lee answered with a simple "Aye, sir." As they headed out of the bridge with Zander following shortly behind, after giving one last glance at the sensor readings and stating "Hold on. We're coming to save you . . . I hope."