Recollections: A Star Wars Story

Voice Beyond Reason

Konan had stayed up all night in his office for the last three days. Ever since his boss pulled him into a completely new job post, Konan could do nothing but read the file over and over again in disbelief.

The most striking of these entries were the verbatim transcripts of some of Captain Gregory Luc's logs, which he was required to keep in the name of research and safety.

For the past few days we have been searching for Earth-sized planets in this galaxy, and our calculations have shown millions. That is not surprising to us, as telescopes like Kepler have shown these stats before. What is shocking is that, as we record this, we are on a planet that we have decided to call Santificteur—Hallowed—because we just found evidence of an entire civilization on this thing with technology that leaves us looking like toddlers with building blocks. There is a massive monument structure in what seems to be the heart of a city, and tomorrow we shall try to check it out in the name of science.
~~~
It astonishes me that we've been exploring for six weeks and every single world we land on is breathable. Today we visited a forest moon, not unlike Germany's Black Forest.
~~~
Even the desert planets have unique creatures never before seen by mankind! The scientists on the expedition were gawking like children on Christmas when they realized one of the planets had two suns.

Konan also saw page after page of pictures. Each contained buildings, tools, artworks, armor, machines and even some ships—enough findings to keep a whole research team occupied for a century or more.

The file instructed Konan to choose one recording at random, and connect its contents with as many artifacts as possible. Additionally, the document let the astonished intern know that he was part of a whole team including the Board of Directors, the crew of the Lekki I, and a few other select genius interns like him. He was urged over and over in the file to not tell anyone outside the project of something so monumental as an entire galaxy that was developed beyond humanity's dream before Earth became a planet.

"Office, open my screen and pull down the blinds," Konan commanded. He knew he would never feel ready, so he should probably choose his recording while he still had a brain to analyze it with.

Yes sir. His AI assistant blackened the office and pulled up a computer monitor on the surface of Konan's desk.

"Pull up the P.I.B audio files."

These files are encrypted. They require your confirmation.

"Another happy landing," Konan said, grinning nervously.

Access granted. Select a recording.

"Randomize," Konan breathed.

Command verified. Shuffling. . .

Konan looked down at the screen as hundreds, maybe thousands of document titles careened past his eyes. Like a wheel of fortune, they slowed down until the landed on a file called "Student Holocron 238-Z.1."

"It worked. . ." Konan said in awe.

He returned home for the day, because he knew his mind was too muddled to concentrate any longer.

~~~~~

"Did you know you are the first to choose a file?" Grandma Xing said proudly.

"Really?" Konan said without looking up from the burger he was wolfing down.

"Yes. Not even the Directors have chosen," she sighed, clearly pleased. "That means you'll be first to present."

Konan almost choked on the chunk of meat in his mouth.

~~~

Konan diligently researched everything he could before presenting. His grandmother had informed him that it would be best if he listened to it for the first time along with the Board of Directors.

The night before, Konan could hardly sleep, and when he managed to do so, everything went wrong in his dreams.

~~~

Konan breathed deeply and opened the door to the most important place of his life. Even though his grandmother was present, she was not here to cheer him on. She, along with Erik Lekki his idol, were ready to hear something revolutionary.

Summoning everything he managed to study about public speaking, Konan arranged his equipment on a table front and center in the room.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to hear the first recording of an extraterrestrial being ever known to man. This is history!"

With trembling fingers, Konan Beck clicked the play button that would decide the fate of his career.

Playing—Student Holocron 238-Z.1

So, um. . . Master Plo told me I should talk to this recorder thingy.

*The speaker clears her throat.*

I'm Zara! No, wait—too casual. My name is Zara Ga-ra-shee. Ugh, I still can't say my last name right! Anyway. . . I'm, uh, like two weeks away from turning seven, my class training starts tomorrow, and I really want a lightsaber! But only the big Jedi get those.

*Zara lets out a wistful sigh.*

And their own R2 unit, and a starfighter. . . and a lightsaber. . . or two. . . Hold on, did I already say lightsaber?

I haven't seen my mommy and daddy in a while, but Master Plo says they will get to meet me soon! He also said this thing was a di-a-ry? No clue what a diary is. My guess is that it's something grownups talk to when they're bored. I overheard Master Mace talking to his! He doesn't really like me.

*Faint sounds of clicking beads creep into the background noise*

I'm bored. I wonder when we get foo-

*A loud beep sounds*

FINALLY, DINNER! Okay, bye! Log off!

*The recording clicks off*

Recording Ended.

Konan's head was reeling. Before him, the Directors of NASA sat in front of him, leaning forward—flabbergasted.

"D-did you guys hear that i-i-in English?! Cuz I'm pretty sure that was, uh, English," Konan begged his audience to agree with him before he lost his mind.

"We did. . ." they replied in dumbfounded unison.

"Can we safely—scientifically—uh, sanely! Yeah that's the word—sanely! Can we sanely agree we're dealing with aliens now?" poor Konan asked, blushing harder with each word.

"Mr. Beck, I think everything humans ever knew about outer space is now out the window," groaned one of the directors, rubbing his forehead.

"Dismissed," said a thin Swedish-looking woman. "We'll review your newer findings. . . sometime soon."

Konan gave a little bow, collected his things and scurried out of the room. Now he was more confused than excited.

*Star Wars Main Title intensifies*