marvel o-o

Part 1

It was unsettling.

The emptiness, and loneliness colliding in a way I had never experienced before. We didn't even get the chance to reconcile...

They left me alone in orbit with only one other of their kind after what went down with my crew, but I was sure they would return soon.

___________

Seventeen months ago I had been drafted into space to accompany a group of scientists and astronauts to ensure their safety, 6 years after our first encounter with sentient life beyond the milky way. After immense planning, training, and preparing, NASA made the decision to what I would like to call, "Hitching" a ride to their home planet.

They call themselves Aven and live on the planet Hyle. The most uncanny part of all of this, was how human they were, and how quickly they caught onto speaking Earths languages, and for our sake mainly English. Through digital communications and months of deciphering how to translate their technology, the Aven and NASA got into contact, starting the long process of communications. Since it was so far away, it would take weeks for a reply. A year or two after this, they came to a mutual agreement to meeting, and visiting Hyle.

Only a short year of travel in space did we finally cross paths, where we then officially met and coordinated the remainder of our travel. Their space crafts were undeniably further advanced, so the next seven months were not spent in haste. Or at least, a week or so ago.

Upon officially meeting, it was apparent that the different forms of measurements were not communicated properly. The group of Aven that came to greet us were undoubtedly larger than us, but for the most part held the same anatomically correct qualities. Our crew, rounding out to an average of 5'9, many shorter or taller, the Aven towered over us by at least four feet. The two tallest, soldiers, were measured at 10' feet. It was quickly concluded it was due to the slight lower levels of gravity due to the size of their planet, and somewhat higher heat. With our research, if humans all of a sudden lived in an environment with lower levels of gravity, our bodies would have to adapt to stay strong, ultimately larger in mass and weight. These were the two ingredients to larger beings and plants all round. We knew this due to the significant shrinkage of certain animals before our ice age, like the titan boa or extremely large insects and arachnid. From there on it was decided we would adapt to their levels of gravity on the ship, since overtime it may cause issues for the Aven if they adapted to ours. That, and humans were proven to be fine in lighter gravities.

Luckily, both chosen team's were vaccinated beforehand, so we were able to immediately mingle. It took a lot of getting used to. To be fair I still don't think I'd get used to it, but it slowly became more bare-able. Not only that, but we wouldn't have communications with NASA until we arrived and landed on Hyle. Their computers and receivers were better built there, so we would have to become sitting ducks for the next 7 months with a foreign group of extraterrestrial.

Later on, I got to officially meet them all. You would think that because I was somewhat of a glorified body guard I'd be ignored, but it was quite the contrary. The chosen team from Hyle consisted of a select few soldier like candidates, and one scientist. Due to this, we soon clicked. Of course it was difficult, on account of all the scientists inquiring and asking them many things constantly. Their English translated names were Steve, Bruce, Clint, and Bucky. Steve, Bucky and Clint were soldiers, something we found out was a common and respected status, and Bruce was what we would consider a scientist.

The next seven months were both exciting and exhausting. Getting used to the extremely high ceilings and equipment was something we all had to get used to. To meet such intelligent creatures so achingly similar to our own species was never even considered, yet here we were. I never really saw much of Clint. Despite the obvious differing... traits... He was extremely good at hiding right in your peripheral, just watching. He was nice and all, but to say it was startling would be an understatement. Bruce was nice too, and it was interesting to hear what he had to share. Aven culture and history was so much different than earths, and seemed overall much more successful. Personally, I would say, from what I've heard, that the Aven were far more domestic and reasonable. They didn't have anything we could consider a world war, and have tackled political, environmental and other issues with ease. For example, things like different beliefs, or exploring sexualities within their own race was not looked down on. It happened in a number of their own creatures just as earth, and was clearly biologically proven to be present, so why fret about it? It gave me faith that Hyle is a nice place to live. From Bruce's descriptions and digital photos, it was very beautiful. The trees and plants alike were very large, and their society happened to have many western similar qualities. I couldn't wait to see it for myself. It was only a miracle we could breath within the same oxygen levels safely. It made bunking on the same ship as them so much easier.