Lemuria

At sunset, the Lemurians started construction of two towering shapes on the horizon. Hyperbolas, both of them in excess of ten kilometers tall, they dwarfed the city like a Greek colossus. While Kat and Vigo had been out of the ship, the power output of a neutrino source below the planetary surface began increasing exponentially. Wondering at the significance of the activity, Helga and Vigo had sat up together in the conference room, watching the progress of the strange construction.

“This planet is bone dry” Vigo pointed out as the silhouette of a hyperbolic curtain wall gradually grew by increments. “Nearest I can deduce, based on what Tat swabbed off of the suit, their cells are composed of metallic and silica crystals suspended in a hydrocarbon ooze. In our own cells, the hydrophobic domains of proteins face inward and the hydrophilic parts face outward to form a layered wall. Perhaps their own system is the opposite, with polarized positive and negative domains of crystals pointing inward to face each other, and uncharged silica faces outward.”

He motioned to a dark spire that had been growing at the horizon. “Look at that, by selectively polarizing and depolarizing the components of their bodies, they can flow forward, precipitate iron or other metals, or generate electric currents. Perhaps their brains work on the same principal as a solid state computer.” An intense blue aurora lit the horizon. Queer lightning gathered on the ground and flashed upward into the sky. Against the bright background, dark shapes grew in silhouette.

Helga changed the subject “Tat says we’re free to go any time we like. The magnetic field holding the ship here is a repulsion field negating the effects of the planet’s gravity and keeping it from falling to one side. We wouldn’t have to risk damaging them with the engines. We could shoot out of here at escape velocity using the magnetic field the ship uses to deflect interstellar particles.”

Vigo’s face turned white “Then, why are we staying? This feeling, that they could crush us like a bug at any time. It bothers me. Sooner or later what is to stop them from going too far and killing us? What do you suppose they intend to do with that hardware out there? Do you have any idea?” He was more exasperated than bitter, but undeniably angry.

“Three reasons.” Helga‘s tone was calm and philosophical. “First, because if have a use for us down here, they could just pick us out of space and drop us back here. Couldn’t they? Second, because this information is too valuable to pass up, regardless of the risk. Humankind has encountered alien life before, possibly even extrasolar intelligence, but nothing like this.” She paused and looked him right in the eye “Third, because we’re tough creatures, Homo sapiens, and I want them to know it.” Helga got up and slapped him on the shoulder as she climbed off to her cabin “You keep an eye on them a while longer if you want.” A woman who knew how to pick her battles, Helga seemed inclined to stay and play a dangerous game.