By: Paul J. Lee

I gazed out at the blue sun of Kelos. I could not believe what I had been sent here for. I did not think they could be serious. As my ship settled into an orbit around the blue blazing ball, I could not help but wonder aloud. 'Could it be? Were there actually beings that lived on this sun?'� It seemed impossible to me but the message I received indicated that it was indeed so. I settled back in my seat, the wonder could wait. Now I needed to start the laborious task of charting this ball of gas.

A few good standard hours later the scanners were calibrated and tested green across the board. Once everything was in order, I engaged the computer, then sat back and waited for the first readings.

The first bits of data made the sensor station to my left in the cramped little survey ship come alive. What was being displayed sunk my hopes a little. The readings confirmed my suspicions, that this was nothing more than a small sun. Then suddenly, as if in response to my disappointment, just as the computer realigned my ship to start a spectral analysis, an amazing solar flare leap into space.

'My God what's it doing?'� It was the most beautiful thing I ever saw. As it climbed higher reaching almost desperately into space I found myself awe struck and wondering out loud again, "What is it doing?".

The flare hung in mid ark above the surface of the sun. With eyes blinking rapidly as brilliantly colored rays of light flashed out. I was in complete disbelief of what I was seeing. My mouth fell open as the flare slowly detached itself from the surface and began moving through space. It moved as if it had will. Once again gaining composure, I quickly reset every scanner on the ship to track the flare.

A shudder rocked through my tiny vessel as soon as the scans started. The ship began to quake even more violently throwing me from my seat onto the cramped floor of the ship. I knew the hull must be reaching its stress limits. I forced my way up back into my seat and disengaged the scanners. The shuddering ceased.

A strange thought occurred then, could I have hurt this thing? Out loud I reassured myself, 'No, no way. It's just a weird solar flare that's all. It couldn't feel anything. Could it?'� Was it plausible. The ship was racked violently as soon as the sensor array began sending data back and forth and stopped once I turned off the equipment. It was a flare though. An ejection of material from a star nothing more. But still I could not escape the feeling I hurt this thing in someway.

Gazing out of the forward view port to get a better visual on the strange phenomenon watching it as it just hung in space as if it were waiting for me to apologize another brief shudder ran through the deck plates and then all settled.

My mind clicked back into clarity and training began to take over. First thing was to ensure the outer hull didn't breach. Calmly and with practiced precision, I worked the control panel trying to locate any possible failing hull plates. There it was near the aft section the thing no space jockey ever wanted to find, hull breach indicator. In spite of being alone and no one to panic but my own self I yelled out, 'Why the hell didn't the alarm sound? Shit!'� A double check of all support systems revealed that all internal bells, whistles and alarms were dead. That was not all. The hole though small was beginning to grow causing the inner hull to buckle do to the competing pressures now struggling to gain the upper hand, the vacuum of space and the pressurized environment of the cabin. If the inner hull was not braced there would not be much time to do anything but die as the ship would quickly implode.

Getting the needed materials as fast as I could I thought I heard a voice. It couldn't be, no other ship was in communication range it had to be my mind playing tricks.

The voice came at me from everywhere just as I dismissed it as an aberration of a desperate mind. It seemed to emanate off every surface in my vessel. I thought I had lost my mind! The voice addressed me. It's words thundered in my head, asking me what my purpose was and why was I here.

It left me speechless for moments which seemed as if forever had taken it's own good time in passing by. Still unbelieving I stuttered a reply into the nothingness, 'Ah, who, who are you?'�

The shipped vibrated once more as the voice answered. In my thoughts I could hear it referring to itself as, 'That of the Energy'�.

The voice pounded my head again, asking my reason for coming here.

In spite of my disbelief I spoke out loud 'My name is Lieutenant James Maguire, of the Inter Agency Exploratory Fleet. I was sent here in order to ascertain if this sun supported life forms and if so to make contact with the inhabitants.'�

I did not get an immediate reply to my statement. It was as if the voice was considering what I had meant. Finally, the voice asked me why did I wish to make contact with 'That of the Energy'�.

Both of my eyebrows raised. The voice had a point. My mind raced, how could I answer this thing? I was here to initiate friendly contact, would this thing even understand me? I didn't know how to refer to it. Should I call it 'That of the Energy'�, as it had referred to itself?

Just as I finished my last thought, that thing's voice reverberated in my head again. It understood the concept of friends, saying I would now enter into fusion with them.

I found myself screaming words like, wait, stop, I was only thinking. I didn't want to become fused with anything. That would kill me.

All of a sudden, the flare expanded toward my position. I knew my ship could not handle such a large shock wave. Quickly plotting an emergency course out of the sector I made ready to get out of there hull breach or no. Just as I was about to punch it, the flare engulfed me.

Surprisingly, there was no shock. My ship held steady and powered itself down.

I felt a tingle in my spine. In a wink I was no longer me. I was part of the flare. I could see in through the ports of my ship. I didn't see my body. It was as if I was transformed into pure energy. I saw that I, I mean we, were drawing near the blue sun. In moments I felt myself become part of the sun.

Around me I experienced a universe unto itself. I saw endless energy patterns. They were living beings! I felt their energy flowing freely, fusing with everything. Fusing with me! I felt them becoming one with me, but somehow I still kept my own integrity. I became aware of all they knew. They became aware of me.

I saw the birth of their home. I witnessed them evolving and growing. I evolved and grew with them. I became 'That of the Energy'�..

Without warning, I found myself back on the ship. The chronometer indicated that I had only been gone for fifteen seconds. I thought, fifteen seconds! It felt like an eternity.

I slapped my face hard. I was alive!


The walls of the debriefing room seemed to close in on me. Being scrutinized by both the Admiral in charge of this section of space and by the companies C.E.O was not an enjoyable feeling. One man having the military cut and staunchness about him the other having the air of birth right about him. Both their persona's together made me want to vomit.

"So Lieutenant, this report of yours is very interesting. What are your impressions now that you have had time to digest your experience?" The Admiral played with his pen jotting down notes each time I spoke.

"Well sir, these beings, they are amazing, their wisdom and knowledge spans millions of years. If we could create a dialog with them we could advance our knowledge far beyond what we now have." The answer sounded more like a wide eyed child then a seasoned space jockey but it could not be helped seasoned lost it's meaning to me after my fusion.

After more questions and explanations then thanking me for my bravery and all the things one is suppose to say in these situations the Admiral and the C.E.O left the debriefing room and I was free to go soon after. On my way out heading home for a much needed rest, I over heard a bit of conversation that had the same effect as a punch to the gut.

"Now George I know this is a break through but you have to understand from a military perspective that this sun, whatever it is finds itself smack in the middle of the future sight of the biggest instillation we are planning to build thus far. We can not allow it to remain it must be dealt with. I am calling Head Quarters and telling them get the weapon ready."

That was the last I heard as I was escorted out by the guards who felt I had lingered to long. The fools. They did not know what they were up against. Someone had to be warned.


Copyrighted, PJL 2002

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