Chapter 45
Scarlet
There was nothing sentimental about the melodic beeping of a dialing number. Nothing at all. Yet, somehow, the familiar sound was like a punch in the chest.
They had been discussing this for days. She knew what was about to happen.
She even had some basic understanding of the science of what was happening – very basic, even Havali didn’t understand it completely.
But, somehow, she still wasn’t ready for the moment that familiar dinging echoed through the conference room.
That was the sound of a phone number being dialed.
And that!
That was the ringing of the phone.
Two sounds she hadn’t heard in so long. She didn’t think it was possible to miss something so mundane and unimpressive, but she found her eyes to be wet, a hard lump forming in her throat, as she listened to the familiar, obnoxious sounds.
A more beautiful symphony she couldn’t imagine.
That was the sound of home.
A gentle touch at her neck turned her eyes up to Havali. He was smiling at her indulgently, understanding, like he knew what she was going through. It took everything in her not to throw her arms around his neck and thank him for this.
Then, the ringing suddenly stopped.
For a second, she couldn’t breathe. One second, but it was an eternity.
A thousand thoughts flitted through her head as she waited, tense, belly clenched, uneasy, hopeful, yearning, fearful.
Every way this could have gone wrong – the call could have been dropped or the connection could have failed – ran through her mind in that single second.
Then-
“This is President Townsend. Who am I speaking with?”
That was English! That familiar voice was one she had heard on the news all the time! That was a human male’s voice!
Laughing through her tears, Alanna answered shakily, “Uncle? Is that really you?”
There was another beat of silence. Shocked and surprised.
“Alanna!” He yelled. Something was upended on the other end. “Baby, is that you? Where are you? Are you hurt? Tell me where you are.”
“Uncle, calm down,” Alanna laughed, wiping her eyes. “I’m okay.”
“Tell me where you are, Alanna. I’m sending someone to get you now.” Something could be heard moving in the background. Scarlet could just imagine him gesturing to other people that must be in the room with him.
“Well, that’s kind of complicated,” she chuckled, sniffing. “Er, uncle, I don’t have much time-”
“Stay on the line as long as you can. I’m tracking you now. Did someone take you, baby? Give me any information you have.”
“Uncle, stop. You’re not going to find me.”
“Just keep talking.”
“Listen. Uncle! Listen to me!” She had to raise her voice to be heard over the sound of whatever was going on.
There was a beep like someone else had joined the call, though they remained silent.
“You can try to track me, but you’re not going to find me.
Okay? I just need you to listen. I have something important to talk to you about. ”
He made a sound like a wounded animal. “Alanna, you know I can’t… I love you, baby. Like you were my own daughter. But you know I can’t negotiate.”
“Aw, I love you, too, Unc. But this isn’t a negotiation. This is a notification.”
His voice hardened again. “Who is with you? Tell me their names. Any identifying features you can see. Any information is good.”
“Uncle.” Alanna’s own voice hardened, surprising Scarlet.
She didn’t think Alanna even knew how to take that firm tone.
“Listen. What I’m about to tell you is going to sound impossible.
It’s going to sound crazy. I need you to listen to the end, okay?
I don’t have much time and there’s a lot to say.
So, just let me talk without interrupting. Can you promise me that?”
“I promise to listen,” he agreed immediately. Probably still focused on tracking their signal.
Alanna took in a deep breath and sat up straight. “The night I went missing, I was abducted. My abductors were… aliens.”
She said the word quickly, like that would soften the blow. The silence on the other end proved that it had not. But President Townsend remained quiet, as promised. Alanna continued-
“They were a rogue group who found Earth completely by accident and took four other women from the same city on the same night.
Their names are Scarlet Callahan, Peony Hoffman, Holly Roberts, and Hattie Sweet.
We were taken as prizes and put in a brig on a starship to be taken to their homeworld as proof of their skills and prowess.
There was another in the brig with us. A different alien, from a different species, whom we rescued.
In return, he overpowered those who abducted us and brought us to his home planet instead.
There, he adopted us and made us the promise that he would find Earth so we could go home.
“To keep that promise, we had to petition the Coalition.
The Coalition is a group of over two hundred alien species that came together for the purposes of trade and understanding.
Earth does not qualify for membership. We are not advanced enough.
However, Earth can be made a protectorate.
With the allies we made, we were successful in our petition to do just that, and they have agreed to approach Earth with the offer of becoming a protectorate of the Coalition to be debated amongst our leaders.
“This is our first contact with you in that process. By now, you’ve already tried and failed to trace this call. We are many galaxies away from you and we have hacked into a communication satellite to place this call. You’re not going to find me on Earth, Uncle.
“But you don’t have to, because we’re coming to you.
After this call ends, the delegation from the domini species, the ratchi species, and I will be leaving to make our way to Turv – the domini home planet.
There, we will gather everything and everyone we need for this trip.
We will be coming on a starship that will have no weapons that can be used against Earth, though it will have defenses in case of attack.
These aliens come in peace, and they come with an offer to join them in the greater universe.
To expand our understanding and help our species grow.
“We will be traveling through subspace, which takes very little time. We will be emerging near Jupiter as it is the largest, non-star object in our solar system and therefore the easiest thing to target. Once we reach Jupiter, we will begin moving at a slower rate of speed, so that you can still track us, as we approach Earth. By Coalition law, Earth boundaries extend only so far as human feet have touched. So, they will not cross the moon and enter our territory. They will, instead, begin orbiting Earth just beyond the moon. Once in place, we will re-establish communication and begin the negotiations for Earth’s position as a protectorate.
We will not descend to Earth unless invited.
Similarly, no human, creature, or object from Earth may come to the starship without permission from both the contact delegation and Earth itself.
“Currently, the timetables we have indicate that we will be emerging near Jupiter within twenty Standard days. By our math, there are two hours in a Standard mark, and ten marks in a Standard day. Therefore, we should be arriving near Jupiter within eight hundred hours, or just over a month.
“It is requested by the Coalition that you have a singular individual who will speak on behalf of the Earth. How you chose this person or what role they fill is up to Earth, but Earth must present a single voice for ease of communication.”
“There are two separate species coming with us who are Earth’s sponsors.
The domini, who adopted us as citizens of their planet, and the ratchi, who are close friends.
Among the domini, their leader is named Dominani Atem.
He is the one who adopted us. He will not be the one negotiating, but he is coming with us.
The ratchi leader, Haviss, will also be attending.
They are frightening at first appearance, but they are kind and understanding and good.
I vouch for them. For whatever it means, I know they’re trustworthy. ”
She paused, wetting her lips before continuing, a little less formal than before.
“I know how this sounds. I know what you’re thinking.
And I don’t blame you. I also know this is definitely being recorded.
Uncle, I request that you do not keep this phone call a secret.
I, and the Coalition, give you full permission to release this audio, undoctored, in its entirety.
We’re sending this message now to prevent a panic.
When we arrive near Jupiter, we will be obvious.
The starship we’re traveling on is huge.
You won’t be able to miss it. Let the people know so they won’t be surprised or afraid.
Let them mock me, because I know they will.
Let them doubt me and call me crazy. That’s fine.
Just release this audio so everyone will be prepared. ”
She blew out a breath. “Uncle, Atem would like the chance to speak to you. He doesn’t speak English, but I speak Standard, so I will act as translator.”
She looked up to the screen and nodded. On the other end of the holovid, Atem said, clearly and confidently-
“It is my honor to speak to you, uncle of my sister. Alanna and the others did me a great service. I am eager to repay this favor by offering them their home once again. There are many things that will be discussed going forward. I’m sure you have questions and concerns.
Please know that we mean you and your people no harm.
We seek only to expand our knowledge, to make allies, and to return a kindness that was given to us. ”
Alanna finished her English translation before clearing her throat. “That’s what he said. Thank you for listening, Uncle. I’m finished now.”