A Conversation Between Two Aliens, 2005

by M.J. Clooney

When Jolan heard the news about what had happened to the latest probe from Earth, his antennae quivered with anger. Without hesitation he took the next flight down to the surface to confront Skaneb directly -- Skaneb had promised to not interfere with any more probes until the Iphesian petition had been reviewed by the Confederation.
       “Skaneb!” Jolan bellowed at the sight of him.
       “Calm down Jolan. I assure you, we had nothing to do with this one.” |
       Jolan knew that Skaneb was telling the truth, this time, but still felt obligated to remind him of his past actions. “One, out of how many now? Is it fifty you’ve destroyed? Never mind the occasional sabotage of their manned vehicles. Don’t think we don’t know about your alliance with the Grays.”
       “I wouldn’t be so high and mighty Jolan. One of the Earth’s leaders has just announced a new initiative to send manned flights to Mars. Several more leaders have just agreed to the plan. They’re coming, Jolan. And you know as well as I do it’s too soon.”
       Jolan knew Skaneb was right. But what to do about the human problem. And from the Ipheisan viewpoint, it was an Iphesian problem as well, since the humans carried a trace of Iphesian DNA, making them in effect their children. Jolan especially saw humans as the Iphesian’s children, and like children they sometimes had trouble realizing their own limitations. Of course their destiny was the stars, but because of a mistake they had gotten a hold of a dangerous toy -- a “toy” which had brought them too far ahead technologically.
       And now Jolan had the displeasure of confronting the very being who was responsible for the glitch -- a short, hairy bellicose creature whose lack of refinement the fairy-like Iphesian found particularly repulsive.
       “As I recall, Skaneb, the ‘Roswell’ contamination occurred under your watch. The probe should have been equipped with a self-destruct mechanism, just in case the pilots were incapable of sacrificing themselves, which seems to be what happened. If the humans hadn’t reverse-engineered the germanium point contact diode, they never would have jumped ahead so far technologically. They even have diamagnetic gravity generation figured out. You know as well as I do, that without the proper evolutionary maturity...”
       Before Jolan could finish his sentence, Skaneb rudely interrupted him. “Yes, Jolan. How could I ever forget Roswell with your constant reminders.”
       Jolan’s translucent antennae were vibrating from his emotional state. “And I will keep reminding you, especially when there are rumors of extermination as an option, instead of the Confederation taking responsibility for their mistakes! And you believe you are so morally superior. Why, some humans believe in sacrificing their own lives to save others, unlike the cowards in that probe.”
       “And humans also believe in sacrificing their lives to kill others. Where is the morality in that? You like to profess of the superiority of your ‘children,’ but you sometimes forget the primate DNA is more prevalent than the Iphesian genetic material your ancestors implanted in them.  What makes you think that they won’t revert back to their more primitive forms?”
       “Faith Skaneb. Faith in the plan of the Creative Intelligence.”
       “Oh yes Jolan, cling to your belief that somehow dark matter has an intelligence. You’re as deluded as the humans sometimes.”
       At this attack on his beliefs, Jolan became speechless. Skaneb, however, did not have the same problem. “The Confederation should be making their final decision any day now. You will hear from me then,” and with that, the burly Nargosian turned around and walked away, an act which only reinforced Jolan’s belief that the Nargosians were louts.