I left John to enjoy the sunset by the lake, focusing my attention inward. I hadn’t truly made and progress in deciphering the capsules. The capsules' few similarities in both general language and specific symbols meant that they were most likely sent from the same source. While the few symbols that matched meant that they should be the same language. It also allowed for a better possibility to decipher them. If the message was the same on all of them it would be even more difficult.

I had been attempting to use what few advancements the humans had made in their astronomical studies to find a universal constant that fit the language. However, the humans had made even less progress than I had initially thought. They had dozens of theories but few actual observations that could be called a true understanding.

Their theory of relativity didn’t account for quantum particles, their theory of gravity couldn’t explain black holes, and the possibility of dark matter and dark energy even existing seemed less and less likely.

The few things that they did know for certain were the periodic table of elements. However, going through every single element, using nearly every combination of proton, neutrons, and electrons didn’t seem to give any reasonable meaning.

Moving on to attempt to use their flawed theories of the universe, I used the force of black holes, gravitational constants, and even the motion of the galaxy through the universe. They all still failed, none of the processes seemed to fit with whatever the capsules used as a constant.

I had been working on this problem when I had the time and attention since John had seen the pattern on the first capsule. Yet I still wasn’t any closer to figuring out what the civilizations used to attempt to translate it. If they even used a universal constant to translate it, Niki could be right and these were scribblings. They could have been made without a reason if all the species were here simply because some advanced civilization was bored.

This isn’t helping, I may as well look in on the others. Perhaps they needed my help with something. So I could actually do something useful, rather than banging my head against a wall.

Looking in on Nate and Rein they continued their little obstacle course, it was something they had made from watching movies. Holes in the ground to represent tires, ropes tied to trees, and the goal was to get through it all, climb a tree and grab a small piece of red fabric.

While playful in nature it would be a good idea to have a method for practicing new abilities. A training ground or gym that would allow new methods of defense or movement to be tested without the risk of harm or property damage. I made a mental note and let them continue their bonding time.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

While Nate and Rein were playing the girls were still sitting together in the central shack talking. The conversation itself wasn’t anything truly meaningful. Unlike John, most people seemed to enjoy casual conversation about events that occurred over the day. It was their way of bonding and socializing, although it seemed Niki was fading in and out of it.

She, like John and I, were more focused on new plans or figuring out problems. She was less interested in events that she had already experienced or could see through her connection to the others. When an idea struck her it seemed her mind wouldn’t let go until she solved it.

Currently she was interested in the future applications of the species, since she was spying on John and my conversation from before. Although her focus was less on the moral and societal aspects, and more on the technological advancements we could make without more conventional methods of mining.

I was reluctant to start down any road that would inevitably lead us back to the human path. It was understandable why they had gotten where they are, lack of foresight combined with ease and comfort. They were all things technology allowed them to have, with greed and pride getting in the way of furthering any relevant cause. The ones on top were afraid of changing the system, it meant they would be lower on the societal ladder.

I thought it was idiotic, even if they weren’t able to buy a yacht or have a dozen houses. I just couldn’t understand willingly hurting others and the environment for such a useless cause. If they were willing to do so for technological progress or the betterment of society that I could at least understand. But all they did it for was themselves, no amount of natural want to protect yourself and your family would allow you to burn the rest of your species. There was seriously something wrong with those that ran most of the human societies.

However, Niki was focused on the true possibilities. She saw the vision of the other-worldly colony and set out to answer how that would occur. Since we couldn’t mine we would have to find another way to gather elements and other minerals. Many plants sucked up minerals from the ground, iron was the most common although some even absorbed nickel, like the Pycnandra acuminata. It absorbed nickel into its leaves possibly due to the toxicity of the metal, it would store it in some tissue to avoid the more sensitive functions of the plant.

This could be a possible method of obtaining materials, although I was more in line with the idea of growing most of the factories and materials we would need. The diversity of plant and animal life throughout this planet was more than enough to create a society more advanced than humans.

While using advanced genetics and species like the tardigrade could allow us to be an easy space faring race. Although I saw where the concern came from, most materials to create solar and wind were still mined from the planet. Something as advanced as fusion reactors couldn’t be created with simple materials. They needed advanced magnets, heat resistant walls, and the ability to harness the energy created.

Doing something like that even with advanced genetics and hybrid plants was likely impossible. I mean even the capsule I was sent in was some advanced material or alloy, which meant that the stars would be full of advanced tech. Although eventually we would be able to bring asteroids into Earth’s orbit, mining them for resources instead of the planet. That would probably be the main way of creating space colonies, asteroid mining.

I suppose I should tell Niki, or else she is going to forget to eat again.