“I’m off the phone, guys,” Eli called to Mira and Bataar, who had been waiting patiently outside the room so he could have some privacy talking to his mom.

They came back in and he handed Bataar back his phone.

“Thanks.”

“No problem. Hey turn this up,” Bataar replied looking up at the tv.

The graphics on the screen cut to a pair of news anchors. They sat at the news desk, looking excited and a tad nervous. The hum of activity and shuffling of papers could be heard in the background. The camera focused in on one of the anchors, who looked purposefully into the camera and began to speak.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to this extraordinary broadcast. As many of you have heard, visitors from beyond our very stars have been conducting a series of meetings with world leaders, scientists, and cultural ambassadors over the last several weeks.

“Today, as the world watches in awe and anticipation, these visitors have a message for all of mankind. But fear not,the message these beings bring is one of peace and friendship. We now go live to the press conference where the alien delegation is about to address humanity for the first time.”

The image on the screen cut to a large auditorium, filled to capacity with journalists from around the world. The stage was set with a long table, behind which sat world leaders from various countries.

At the podium in the center of the stage stood three extraordinary beings, marking the first time humanity and extraterrestrial life have come together in such a public forum.

The first alien, standing with an elegant poise, resembled a tall, abnormally slender woman. Her smooth, dark red skin seemed to absorb the stage lights, casting a soft glow around her. Her eyes, large and expressive, surveyed the room with an intelligent and gentle gaze, capturing the attention of everyone present.

Beside her stood an alien with an uncanny resemblance to a humanoid quokka. This creature’s round, friendly face, complete with a perpetual smile, was instantly endearing. Its fur, a soft brown, shifted slightly as it looked around, small hands comfortably clasped in front of its waist.

The third member of this interstellar delegation appeared to be a humanoid dove, its feathers a pristine white, exuding a sense of peace and tranquility. It stood tall, with wings folded gracefully at its sides, and its head, crowned with a tuft of feathers, tilted slightly as it listens to the murmurs of the crowd.

As the conference began, a hush fell over the auditorium, all eyes fixed on the stage. The presence of these beings, so different yet so familiar, left Eli with an uncanny valley vibe that tempered the awe of seeing aliens for the first time. The red woman began to speak with the formality of an aristocrat.

“People of Earth, we come in peace.”

“I knew she was gonna say that,” Eli said.

“Shhhh,” Mira hissed.

“We are explorers and scholars from the star cluster you know as Lynga 7. For millennia, we have traversed the cosmos, seeking to reconnect the vast web of life throughout our galaxy in an endeavor we call The Second Seeding. We travel not by means of great ships though space, but through an advanced portal creation technology. A technology we hope to share with the people of this beautiful planet, just as we have done with thousands of sentient races before today.”

“Hope to?” Eli asked with a frown.

The woman continued.

“The leaders of the great nations of this world have generously agreed to provide assistance in our noble project. Today, we step forward not as conquerors, but as friends, hoping to forge a bond that will enrich both our civilizations. We stress the wish for transparency, cooperation, and mutual respect. We understand the apprehensions that come with the unknown, and we are here to allay your fears. Together, we can embark on a new era of prosperity and interstellar friendship.”

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

She executed a solemn bow towards the camera and gracefully left the stage with her two strange companions in tow.

“Turn it off,” Bataar said. “We don’t need to hear what the idiot talking heads think about all this.”

Eli thumbed the button on the remote and the screen went dark.

“There was very little actual information about what they’re up to in that speech,” Mira observed.

“Were those things AI or something?” Eli asked. “It defies belief that aliens would look so familiar.”

“They were definitely not AI,” Bataar said with surprising certainty.

“How you so sure of that?” Eli was getting that disassociated feeling again.

“We have met with their delegation.”

“Holy shit. I can’t believe this is real.”

“Oh, it’s real all right, kid. I was contacted by a friend at the Agency. They’ve asked our Order to be on standby as a quick reaction team in case anything happens while the aliens prepare for some big launch. They have set up shop at the Space Force base near us in Colorado and we’re the closest reputable group in the area.”

“What’s this ‘launch’?” Eli asked.

“They got here through some kind of portal tech that was launched at Earth decades ago. Now they want to send out a bunch more of these portals from Earth. That’s what the woman was calling the Second Seeding, and how they’re exploring the galaxy. Don’t ask me how any of this shit works. It wasn’t part of the briefing I got.”

“So, if this portal tech is the carrot, what’s the stick?” Eli asked.

“That’s the interesting part,” Bataar said, leaning forward. “We help them with this launch. They give us the portal tech and we get to be a part of their intergalactic empire. We fuck it up or mess with them, they leave.”

“They just leave?” Eli asked.

“Yep. Pack up their toys and leave Earth to stew in its own shit, never to return.”

Eli thought of all the books and movies he’d enjoyed as a kid. All the dreams of great adventures they had inspired. The incredible technology these aliens might have that could benefit humanity. Then he thought of how terrible it would be to know with certainty there was a vast scifi empire that he would never get to see because humankind dropped the ball.

“That’s actually kind of fucked up,” Eli said.

“It is the most boring alien invasion ever.” Mira said, heaving a heavy sigh.

“It has occurred to me that I probably shouldn’t be telling you some of this stuff. Just keep it to yourself, ok?” Bataar gave him a serious look that wasn’t quite a threat.

“That will not be a problem. I don’t really talk to anyone.”

“Alright then. Get some rest. We’re leaving early tomorrow. First, get you home so you can see your mom. Then we’ll figure out the best way to help you safely explore the next steps in your development as a cultivator.”

“Safely?”

“Yes.” Mira nodded seriously. “The early period for a cultivator can be dangerous for everyone around them as they learn the limits of their power and how to avoid hurting people or breaking things by accident. Your case is even more delicate, for obvious reasons. We will probably try to find a sect or school willing to take you in so you can learn the basics.”

“Aren’t those mostly kids, though?” Eli did not relish the idea of being stuck in a meditation hall with a bunch of nine-year-olds. From the look on Bataar and Mira’s faces, that would be exactly the situation.

“We’ll burn that bridge when we get to it,” Bataar said gruffly.

“Cross that bridge,” Mira corrected.

“You say it your way and I’ll say it mine. I prefer to raze problems to the ground.”

Mira leaned over and hid her mouth from Bataar, winking at Eli with a stage whisper.

“He says he rode with Genghis Khan and really hams this stuff up. Just play along or he gets all huffy.”

“I DID ride with Temujin, you insolent whelp!” Bataar swatted at Mira but she stepped back smoothly, avoiding the expected blow. “We conquered more land than any man before or since. It was horrible and glorious beyond your wildest imaginations.”

The notion that the man standing in front of him had ridden across the steppes centuries ago was difficult to fathom. Eli could count on one hand the number of cultivators he’d seen in real life, and he’d met that many again in a single day.

This was going to take some getting used to.

“What was it like back then? What was the Khan like?”

Bataar’s eyes lit up as he considered the question. Before he could open his mouth, Mira interjected.

“Now you’ve done it. At least we don’t have anything else to do tonight. Just give him the PG version, ok? We don’t need to give him any more nightmares than he already has right now.”

“I don’t tell you how to be an obnoxious twat. You don’t tell me how to tell a story. Now settle in, kid. First, I need to tell you about the steppe horses. Magnificent, perfect horses. Long legged and fast as an arrow.”

Mira took a seat while Bataar found his rhythm. Eli found himself in enthralled and horrified in equal parts by the tales he spun. As the evening grew long, he found himself drifting off to sleep to the sound of Bataar’s voice. He dreamt of fighting on the steppes and sacking a city. His rage made him powerful, and he swept the opposing soldiers with terrifying speed and efficiency. Then he swept through the women and children, reveling in the bloodshed, not too much different from what Bataar had described.

Evidently, he was going to have nightmares after all.