Dan & Phil Oneshots

Light Years Away (Part 3)

Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the Universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying. - Arthur C. Clarke

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Journal Entry: 20 October 3009 (Day 2,039)

Condition of Ship: Yikes

Coordinates: 31,639,859 X, 500,750,633 Y, 1,953 Z

Observations: .No contact with BAI yet

.Occupying destination (now informed it is called Sciencia)

.Alien species is strangely human like, but solid-black eyes, blue-ish and purple- ish markings (some aliens glow, some don't), lack of ears, but otherwise the same as us

.Buildings defy gravity and any known laws of human physics, held together by purple-ish, blue-ish glowing air

.Colored air turns out to be ions trapped in a controlled magnetic field, used to hold buildings together and soften skin

.Ruler: King Morenae

.Translator: Phil, also in charge of overseeing my stay, friendly

Peace Treaty Status: No progress made

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After dinner, Phil said I should rest up because I had a "big day" tomorrow. I was supposed to go to King Morenae to start pushing for a peace treaty, but he wasn't feeling well that morning. So, with Phil's persistent pleading, I allowed him to show me around town. "We do have personal transportation systems, but they go too fast to really take in the town. Besides, I always love walking in the mornings. Makes me feel awake." "Freak," I muttered as we walked out of the castle.

"Excuse me?" "How on Earth could you like mornings?" "You mean to say that humans don't?" "It's rare that someone does. We like sleep." "Who would ever like sleep?" I stopped and turned to Phil, putting an insulted expression on my face as my jaw dropped. He cocked his head and looked at me with an interested look. "So, humans value sleep. Why?" "It helps us reset. Helps us escape reality for a bit. There are other ways to do that, too, but sleeping is what everyone does. Sleeping helps you feel better if you're sick, helps you get over a bad day, and our bodies need it. If we don't get enough sleep, we can pass out from exhaustion or get seizures."

Phil nodded through my explanation of sleep until the moment I stopped. "So why don't, um, people of your race like sleep." He shifted his weight onto his other foot before explaining. "We enter this place called "The Haze." The Haze is a very foggy place where our deepest and darkest fears reside. Legend has it that someone died at night while they visited The Haze, so we all fear sleep. We only sleep for, in Earth terms, 4 hours. Every day when we wake, we are grateful that The Haze did not claim us in our sleep." "So...nightmares?" "Um, I'm not sure. I haven't researched that yet."

Phil wrapped his arm through mine again and led me out of the castle. The bright sunlight struck off of the roofs of buildings, creating a mystical yellow glow. "Beautiful, isn't it? I'm glad you woke up early enough to see this." I nodded and smiled, feeling in awe and at peace. "Shall we?" I looked over to Phil, whose markings flickered and faintly glowed as he looked at me. "Yea. We shall."

I allowed him to lead me down the main path towards the market, pointing out various shops and "eateries" along the way. I thought for a second he lifted a hand and touched his markings, but I couldn't be certain. My eyes were trained on taking it all in, every detail of this foreign planet.