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    Stories of First Contact
    Stories of First Contact
    Stories of First Contact
    Ebook124 pages1 hour

    Stories of First Contact

    By Phoenyx Lee, Coffee Quills, John Foster and JP Rindfleisch IX

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    About this ebook

    What happens when we're no longer alone in the universe?

    Embark on a journey across the stars, where the boundaries of known and unknown collide.

    In Stories of First Contact, a thrilling four-part anthology, explore the unforgettable moments when humanity's first encounter with alien life changes the course of history. From distant galaxies to strange, uncharted worlds, each story delves into the complexities of first contact-unveiling the wonder, the danger, and the profound questions that arise when two civilizations, worlds apart, come face to face.

    Through danger, wonder, heartbreak and triumph, Stories of First Contact will ignite your imagination and stir your soul. These are the stories that ask, What does it mean to be human when faced with the infinite?

    Step into the unknown. Discover what's out there.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherInExhaustible Media
    Release dateNov 27, 2024
    ISBN9781633100626
    Stories of First Contact
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      Book preview

      Stories of First Contact - Phoenyx Lee

      First Contact

      Science Fiction Adventure Anthology

      WriteTeam, Coffee Quills, Phoenyx Lee, John Foster, JP Rindfleisch IX

      InExhaustible Media

      Copyright 2024

      Phoenyx Lee, John Foster, Coffee Quills, JP Rindfleisch IX

      Cover by InExhaustible Media

      License

      This work of fiction can not be reproduced in part or whole through any means, digital or otherwise, without the expressed written consent of the copyright holder, or their representative. Any similarities contained within these pages to events, people, and situations that have occurred elsewhere are coincidences. Thank you for not engaging in the act of piracy, and respecting the rights, and hard work of the dedicated authors and their team.

      InExhaustible Media

      Thomasboro, Il

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Contents

      Title Page

      1.The Mnemosyne

      1. JP Rindfleisch IX

      2.Sounds of Adventure

      2. Coffee Quills

      3.You Can Dwell When You're Safe

      3. Phoenyx Lee

      4.Hard Contact

      4. John Foster

      First Contact

      Science Fiction Adventure Anthology

      WriteTeam, Coffee Quills, Phoenyx Lee, John Foster, JP Rindfleisch IX

      InExhaustible Media

      The Mnemosyne

      JP Rindfleisch IX

      Ry sat cross-legged on the soft grass, under the eye of a thousand watchful stars, holding a tarnished space crew pin they had found in the attic. Hidden in that metal were dreams of cosmic voyages and a history Ry yearned to uncover.

      Ouch! Ry yelped. A bead of blood welled up where the pin’s clasp pricked Ry’s finger. They stuck it into their mouth, tasting the copper.

      Someone cleared their throat behind Ry. What have you got there, little stargazer? The voice was warm, weathered by time.

      Ry turned to see their Great Grandpa approaching. He carefully lowered himself onto the grass, using a cane to steady his descent. In the silvery moonlight, his thinning white hair formed a halo around his face.

      I found it in the attic, Ry explained, holding out the pin. It’s like the ones in my books, the ones the space explorers wore.

      Gnarled hands reached out, cupping around Ry’s, cradling both their fingers and the pin. He let in a soft gasp, then smiled. So it is, he murmured. This little pin has seen some adventures, just like those stories you read.

      Ry’s eyes widened. Is it yours, Great Grandpa? Were you in space?

      I was. Nothing quite like it in all the universe.

      Ry’s gaze drifted upward, tracing the stars above. What was it like?

      Their great-grandpa leaned back, staring up at the sky. Imagine leaving everything behind, floating further and further away until you could cover every ounce of history you know with your thumb. Tens of thousands of years shrunk into a speck of dust. And then you see, truly see, the stars... He trailed off, gesturing to the sky above them. Each one has history we may never know, just another speck.

      I want to see that, Ry whispered, sticking their thumb up to the sky. But... is it scary?

      Their great-grandpa smile softened as he sighed. Oh yes. Terrified me right down to my bones. But sometimes being scared really shows you who you are. And who are your friends are.

      He wrapped an arm around Ry and brought them in close. Remember this, though. No matter how far you go, no matter what wonders you see, this place is your home.

      Ry nodded. I will, they promised. And I’ll come back to tell you everything I see.

      I’m sure you will.

      Ry lay back in the grass, staring up at distant galaxies as their eyes drooped.

      Someday, Ry murmured, their voice thick with sleep. Someday, I’ll be out there too...

      image-placeholder

      Vessel 55B-42 secondary waking cycle complete. Please state your name and designation.

      Consciousness peeled off of them like a weighted blanket, threatening to pull them back under. They blinked, their eyes wincing at the sterile light flooding the enclosed pod. They pulled at their face mask; the air flowing in smelling faintly of antiseptic and metal.

      Vessel 55B-42 secondary waking cycle complete. Please state your name and designation.

      Ry… Ryn Solano, member of cule 12.

      The seal of the pod cracked open with a hiss, and oxygen-rich air flooded inside, leaving a slight buzz in their head. Disorientation clouded their mind, caught between faint memories and the cold metal of the ship.

      Welcome back, crewmate Solano. There was an issue with your waking cycle. Ouroboros is out of warp and Kepler-442b is on approach, the automated voice said in a cheerful tone. All crew of cule 12 to the bridge to prepare for stellar entry.

      Ry sat up, their heart racing with a sudden surge of adrenaline. They were already out of warp? How long had they missed? They pulled themself up and out of the pod, standing in a skin tight compression suit. Their legs wobbled, straining to find balance as they looked around at the hundreds of other pods, still closed, their occupants still slumbering.

      Ryn? a voice crackled over the intercom. You awake yet?

      Yeah, I’m up, Ryn replied, their voice hoarse.

      Good. Come to the bridge. Your pod didn’t want to thaw, so you’re a week behind. Approaching the threshold in an hour.

      Great, Ry called back. They grabbed a sealed uniform from beside the pod and headed toward the lockers.

      ***

      Ryn adjusted their flight crew pin as they stepped onto the bridge, sticking themselves with the pin for the millionth time as they wiped away the last vestiges of cryo-sleep. They sucked on their thumb, tasting blood, as the hum of machinery overhead mixed with the strong acrid tang of ozone hinted that someone had already started tinkering with the life support systems. After a thousand years in stasis, white walls and metal floors were both familiar and alien.

      Liora hunched over the console, fine tuning one knob while Kian opened a plastic case filled with packets of seeds. Aelin, the last of cule 12, stifled a yawn as she sat in the pilot’s chair, eyeing the screen that mapped out the Kepler-442 system before them. Warmth spread in Ryn’s chest, seeing their loved ones once again. They were all back together.

      Liora looked up, her dark eyes scanning Ryn as she pulled back her long curly hair into a ponytail. You look like shit, she said, a smile tugging at her lips. Vitals stable? We had to run the slow wake protocol because one of your cylinders jammed. Took a week to get you thawed.

      Little foggy, Ryn said, then paused. A week? They’d missed the initial excitement. Hey wait. I look like shit? Rude. They approached Liora and planted a kiss on her lips, trying to shake off the feeling of being left in stasis.

      Kian came up behind Ryn and turned him around at the waist, pulling them into a bear hug, and kissing their neck, his auburn scruff tickling Ryn. Welcome back to the world of waking. Missed you.

      Ryn inhaled Kian’s earthy scent, and the undertone to the antiseptic they all still smelled like from cryo-sleep. Aw missed you too, love. Even though we were all in cryo for the last thousand years. And with that, thoughts crept in. A thousand years, warping across the galaxy. Earth, now a distant memory.

      Aelin cleared her throat, but the warmth betrayed her stern expression in her eyes. Alright, get over her, kiss me too, and then let’s get to work. We’re about to cross the heliosphere.

      Ryn complied, pulling away from Kian’s grip and finding Aelin’s lips as she gave them a playful bite. Ryn played with the top of Aelin’s shaved head, tickling her until she pushed them away, laughing. It was comforting to be back with their polycule, and back on a ship, but even now, Ryn couldn’t shake the feeling of being slightly out of sync.

      Then, they all moved to their stations, moving with the synchronicity that only a poly crew with years of experience could manage. This reason is why they were selected for such an important mission. Not only bonded by crew, but by a love that would keep them pressing forward even in the most difficult of times.

      Ryn initialized the heliospheric analysis program, watching as data from Kepler-442b streamed across the screen. The numbers blurred, and for a moment, they were back in the dream among the stars.

      Ryn? Liora’s voice cut through the memory. See any anomalies?

      Ryn blinked and looked down at the panel. A few things to check, but overall good for a millennia-old ship. Looks like we might have been scraped by some debris at some point, but it wasn’t enough to trigger any protocols. They paused, frowning at a particular readout. There’s an unusual ping, though. Might be worth investigating once we’re settled.

      Liora nodded. Engine three is underperforming. I checked it and we’ll be fine to cross, but looks like that will be my first project now that we’re out of warp.

      There was a ding on the computer, and Aelin announced. Alright, full throttle ahead. Magnetic shielding is nominal. Time to earn our keep, loves.

      Ryn pulled up the panel, watching the avatar of their ship approaching a digitized barrier.

      "Transition window in

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