~~~~~~~
“Roberto! Claudia!” The couple turned as one at the sound of the familiar voice and accent. “Carl, there you are! I was beginning to wonder,” said Bellarmino. Carl Edwards had been a constant during these official events. By unspoken agreement, the three started walking in the direction of the hotel’s bar.
At first, Bellarmino had been cautious, even a bit suspicious, of Edwards’ seemingly unavoidable presence. He did not quite understand what role the other man played for his online followers. In earlier times, Carl Edwards might have been called a journalist, a columnist, a pundit, a blogger. He wrote about everything, but Science seemed to feature more in his writings than other subjects. To Bellarmino his articles read like someone trying to make sense of the myriad societal changes brought about by scientific development. Not his usual cup of tea, but it seemed harmless enough. His intuition however, honed in the battlefield of countless political campaigns, insisted that there had to be more than that to anyone who could claim followers in the hundreds of millions.
Over time, however, Bellarmino had developed a genuine fondness, as well as respect, for the other man. Edwards had never abused the confidence he was given, had never violated an “off-the-record” agreement. Perhaps more importantly, he asked relevant questions, seemed genuinely interested in what Bellarmino had to say, and his comments were always insightful. Discreet inquiries to his own advisors, as well as to other world leaders, only confirmed the other man’s trustworthiness.
“Besides, I actually like him,” Bellarmino had told Claudia. And so he found himself looking forward to their little soirées after the unending official dinners and other gatherings that seemed to be, so far, the main product of Humankind’s first contact with another intelligent species.
“So,” asked Edwards, “what do you think happens tomorrow, Claudia?”
They were sitting at one of the alcoves in the bar. Instead of their usual alcoholic beverages the small center table held Bellarmino’s tomato juice, Claudia’s passion fruit juice and Edwards’ strong coffee. It was like the events of the next day already had a sobering effect on the trio.
“Exactly what the Ambassadors said,” she replied. “That ship of theirs finally comes down from orbit, they walk out and meet the Earth Delegation. Just don’t ask me what happens after that.”
“You make that sound a bit scary!” was Edwards’ comment.
“Not at all. I mostly believe their intentions. I can hardly wait to become a ‘citizen of the local community of sentient species.’ I just don’t know what we can possibly have to offer. I mean, they’ve been studying us for a long time. I doubt there are any cultural or artistic contributions we can make that they don’t already know. They probably know more about us than we do ourselves.”
“As for commerce, this is a species that routinely crosses interstellar distances. And they say they are just the representatives of a group of species that has been doing this since before we crawled out of our caves. What kind of commerce can there be?”
“Maybe they are bringing their cookbooks...”
They all laughed. “To Serve Man” had been very popular since the first days after the Ambassadors had announced their, apparently very benign, plans. Some film student with a sense of humor dug out the old TV episode and it had been an instant hit.
Claudia said, “I’m really not worried. It’s your friend Bellarmino who has this ‘why now?’ theory.”
“Really?” asked Edwards. “What do you mean, Roberto?”
“Well, you know. The Ambassadors have been studying us forever and could have made contact at any given time, so why did they pick precisely now?”
“Hm. I see. I don’t think there’s anything mysterious about that, though. It had to happen at some time, so why not now?”
“I know, I know”agreed Bellarmino. “But I can’t help feeling that there must be a reason why they picked now of all times.”
“Are you familiar with the Prime Directive?” Asked Edwards. “It does ring a bell,” said Bellarmino. “Wasn’t it in one of those endless sagas of the 20th century, ‘Space Wars’ or something.”
“You almost got it. Star Trek. The Prime Directive said they could not make contact with any civilization that did not have interstellar capabilities...”
“Yes! I remember now! It was supposed to be really important for some reason.”
“Well,” said Edwards, “it was mostly a plot device. But you are right. It’s a principle of non-interference with primitive cultures.”
“Sounds pretty civilized to me,” said Claudia.
“Yes, but they were always finding a way to violate it!” Interjected Bellarmino. “Besides, what are you saying? Last time I looked we didn’t have any Bent Drives...”
“Warp Drive,” corrected Carl. “And you’re right, we don’t have one. But maybe we stumbled upon something that we don’t yet recognize as significant, but the Ambassadors do. And they’re here to teach us all about it.”
“Or to take it away from us before we find out how to use it,” Bellarmino offered.
“I really can’t stand you when you’re hungry,” complained Claudia. “Come, they must be serving dinner by now...”
~~~~~~~
As he started donning the traditional attire of his office, Bellarmino couldn’t help but chuckle. It had been so anticlimactic. The Ambassadors had laid out a plan for the next several decades, aimed at slowly introducing Humanity to the local community, and vice-versa.
It was all very sensible. They had answered every question rationally, and they seemed to have a reason for everything they did. Bellarmino knew it would be a long time before all the different departments of all governments of Earth would declare they were satisfied with the plan. But he was convinced that, in the end, it would be implemented. “And we will end up better off for it,” he though to himself. It was a good plan.
He had even had a chance to ask his question. Why now? He had been taken completely by surprise by the answer. “But it’s something so trivial, so unimportant!” he had said in protest to the Ambassador who had finally answered it for him. “That,” the alien had replied, “is precisely it.”
Almost fully dressed now, Roberto Bellarmino stood up and prepared to address his people, like so many of his predecessors had done before him in this very place. He would tell them the good news, how Humanity did not need to be quarantined anymore. He would tell them how we were not feared anymore. Of course Bellarmino knew his history and the unbelievable amount of suffering the peoples of Earth had gone through. But this historical knowledge failed to engage the emotion, and in his day and age, Bellarmino couldn’t help but to think of it as such a trivial matter. “That,” the alien had said, “is precisely it.”
Finally putting his very famous hat on his head, Pope Roberto Bellarmino walked the short distance to the balcony. He was ready to give his people the good news, of the latest blessings brought about by, of all things, the end of Religion.
###
About the author:
Yuri Csapo writes as a hobby. “In the beginning” is his first attempt at self-publishing and was written with the hope that it brings you a few minutes of enjoyment.
Connect with Me Online:
If you liked In the Beginning, you may consider paying a visit to my blog, where I post random thoughts and the usual blog fare:
In English: https://besta.yuricsapo.com/?cat=5
In Portuguese: https://besta.yuricsapo.com/?cat=3
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