Dysonworld

Chapter One: The Discovery

In the 22nd Century, the Confederacy dispatched 33 Starxplorers into unknown regions of space. The crew of the SX12 was Captain Henry Hughes, his ex-wife Dr. Audry Reece, the captain's hologram science-officer; Mary and the doctor's hologram spiritual-advisor; Jon. Only the captain and the doctor were real.but that was not quite true either: They were synthetic-humans who, either purposely or psychologically, have forgotten their artificialness. They consciously believed that they were real human beings from the planet Earth. They are about to make a big discovery.

The SX12 was a crystal-powered ship that never needed refueling since it utilized the Electro-Magnetic energy within the sea of space. Their mission is to find life, report back to Confederate Command then wait for instructions. The SX12 was one of the few xplorers not to have found life. Some of the SXs have found up to 7 solar systems with intelligent life forms. The crew of two synthes and two holograms have been star-hopping for more than 3 months without a nibble. At CC, rumors spread that the 'rocky relationship and personal history of Captain Hughes and Dr. Reece' have contributed to their NO LIFE results. Then, suddenly, it happened:

'WEEEEEEEAAAALLLLLLLWEEEEEEEAAAALLLLLLLWEEEEEEEAAAALLLLLLL!!!' sounded a life-alarm. The alarm siren was muted.

'Can't believe it,' the doctor said as she sat at the science station on the bridge. She looked to her ex-husband.

'It's about damn time,' was his response. This was like the last place team finally won a game. The captain looked at his watch.

The doctor knew her partner's first thoughts. She interjected: 'Isn't this the perfect excuse for you to.call up your..honey?'

Captain Henry recognized the attiitude of the doctor's words and got a bit angry. 'Hey, at least she serves a vital purpose around here.'

'Huh!' Dr. Reece laughed in disbelief. 'Jon has been vital around here as well,' she said in defense of her hologram.

'Now, that was funny.'

The doctor got serious. 'Are we gonna find out what we just hit or stand around arguing all day?'

The captain relaxed; he knew that a positive life discovery will certainly help his not-so-good reputation among his colleagues. 'Let's get to it.' The captain was ready to push the little 'activate' button on his watch when the doctor stopped him.

'Please, Hank! Won't you let me do the honors of being the first to report this?'

He stopped his motion and said: 'Oh, ah..sure. You're right, you should have the.'

'Because I know what she would do, the bitch, she'd swoop in and take over.with her science skills like some cold robot.'

'Audry!' He paused. 'I said that you should do the honors.'

'Oh,' she smiled.

The captain walked around behind his blonde ex-wife. He viewed the screen as the information appeared. The SX12's scanners found a very small, weak, unstable, pink dwarf star. The star was the smallest known sun ever discovered!

Dr. Reece's finger went right to the screen and pointed. 'And there's life going around it. Intelligent life; they have space travel capability.'

The captain was equally amazed. 'No, that can't be right.'

The number of individual life forms was displayed.

She burst out laughing.

Captain Hughes' eyes bugged out as the NIL number for individual life forms was still forming. The number ran completely across the computer screen TWICE! Then, it terminated 2/3s of the way across a third line.

The excited captain asked his ex; 'Do you know what this means?!'

'Yeah, it's a flubbin record.' The doctor stood up from the chair, had an urge to hug the captain then changed her mind.