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Raphael’s spacecraft entered extreme high orbit, well out of range of any of Earth’s weapons. So close now, the communication delay was only a couple of seconds, and over the past weeks human scientists and their Meme ally had worked out a voice synthesizer for the amoeba-like creature. Thus it was that their conversation approached something like normal.
“Greetings, Raphael. It’s good to speak with you again.”
“The same to you, Daniel Markis. Your media indicates you will soon have a vaccine for normal humans against Demon Plague One. Is this true?”
“Demon Plague One? Yes, it’s true. I just wish we knew how many of these things we had to look forward to.”
“If I understand the idiom ‘look forward to’ I do not understand your happiness.”
“Sorry. It’s irony.”
“Ah. What will you do about the Edens? Roughly fifty percent of the planet’s population is infected with it; how will you safeguard their lives?”
“We have a possible solution. I do not want to talk about it yet.”
“You still do not trust me.”
Markis shifted uncomfortably. “Put yourself in my position. Would you stake so much on one person you have never met?”
“I am staking my future on you.”
“But not the future of your race.”
“On the contrary. Humans will soon be my race.”
“Point taken.”
“Have you selected a candidate for Blending?”
Markis nodded. “Yes. She is young, very intelligent and well-educated, and entirely willing.”
Raphael’s visage, meaningless to a human, pulsed and quivered on the screen. “I have explained to your scientists that this is a permanent arrangement. I also do not know exactly what the result will be, but my observations of my siblings indicated that each Blending resulted in a superior being, able to manipulate its own cellular structure. I reiterate this to make sure you understand what will happen, Daniel. Your people may fear me. You need to understand that, once we are Blended, I will be just as much Human as Meme. A mind is a mind, whatever its bodily form.”
“You’re afraid people will see you as a monster.”
“I am not afraid; but many humans will be.”
“Then why do it?” Markis asked.
“Because it is the only way to transmit the whole of my knowledge to you. Much of it is locked in my genetic structure, inaccessible to even me without either Blending, or my bio-computers. My machines on the comet base are deteriorating. Many of those devices have biological components, and they are slowly dying. I do not have the means to save you. But I can help you save yourselves.”
“And live on as one of us. I can accept that, and humanity will have to as well, if I have anything to say about it. When will you come down?”
“As soon as you like. I am ready.”
***
After much debate and protest, Raphael set down in South Africa; it allowed him to come in over Antarctica out of reach of any Earth weaponry, and land near the research center at Carletonville. The place thronged with dignitaries from around the world, eager to be among the first to welcome an extraterrestrial to Earth.
First in a few centuries, anyway. If what Raphael says is true, he’s been visiting us for over four thousand years, helping out here and there. Makes you wonder what would have happened to humanity without him. We might still be driving chariots and wearing togas without the seeds of advancement he sowed.
Markis looked up from the floor of the soccer stadium they had chosen as a landing site. It provided visibility for the visitors and at least a basic security framework; seeing Skull had reminded Daniel how vulnerable they were to an assassination attempt. Karl and the South Africans were working overtime. The one major modification was the concrete, hastily poured, that covered what used to be the playing field.
The crowd stirred as they heard a sonic boom; a few minutes later the battered spacecraft flew rapidly into view overhead, to slow down and hover several thousand feet up. Slowly it descended on roaring jets. Raphael had assured them the thrusters, properly adjusted, would not harm anyone, and so it proved as the machine settled onto the hard surface. It threw out engine wash like an enormous helicopter.
The craft itself was somewhat disappointing: only about the size of an old American space shuttle, and shaped somewhat similarly. Form followed function, and this was made to fly in atmosphere at need. Gleaming whitish-silver, sparkling like crystal in the sun, no door could be seen for several minutes, until an opening finally appeared in its side.
Daniel and Elise Markis and Sophia Ilona walked forward to meet the rolling stairs that a crew hastily wheeled up to the door, as if they were simply boarding an airplane. Once at the top, Markis led the way into the craft.
A collective gasp came from the crowd; this was not according to the script. They expected the alien to come out, but Daniel – and Ilona – had a different plan.
The three stopped just inside the door and let their eyes adjust to the soft lighting, which glowed white with a greenish tinge, just as the picture had been showing for the last few weeks. A softly pulsing light on the wall bobbed like a will-o’-the-wisp, beckoning them deeper into the machine. Soon they stepped into a round room, empty of gadgetry or ornamentation, except for a round dais in its center – and a large teacup full of Meme.
The alien extended its pseudopod one more time in imitation of a hand, and Markis, steeling himself, reached forward to grasp the proffered limb. It felt like soft rubber, but was firmer than he had expected. Its familiar one eye hovered on a stalk above the mass of its body.
“Nice to meet you, Daniel Markis.” Its synthesized voice was also familiar, and came from the cuplike machine in which it rested.
“And I you.” He let go, suppressing the urge to wipe his hand. The pseudopod hadn’t actually been damp, but his mind insisted it should have been.
Raphael then extended its “hand” to the young woman next to Markis. “Nice to meet you, Sophia Ilona. I look forward to our Blending.”
Ilona shook its hand, her expression full of wonder. After she let go, she murmured, “I just touched an alien. Wow.”
“And who is this person? I am sorry; you all look alike to me.”
Elise stepped forward. “I am Elise Markis, chief of our biological research effort.”
“And wife of Daniel Markis. I know you now, though we have not spoken. You were curious.”
“Intensely.” She took a deep breath. “I wanted to record the Blending process, if you did not mind.” She took out a camcorder.
“Of course. Shall we begin?”
“Already?” gasped Ilona.
Markis looked at the young woman. “You can still back out.”
“No. No, I’m ready. Up here?” She pointed to the dais.
“Yes, just lie down. You need do nothing more. The process may be slightly unsettling, but there will be no pain.”
Ilona climbed up on the round platform, finding it yielded slightly, like rubber. Raphael’s teacup hummed and maneuvered next to her. Raphael extended itself out of the cup, slowly flowing up onto the platform. For a moment they lay side by side, then the jelly-like alien moved to contact her bare arm.
The woman gasped but did not pull away, staring at the ceiling, her mouth slightly open. Slowly Raphael oozed along her skin, disappearing under her clothing, eventually covering her whole body up to the neck. Its eye stalk was last to go, reabsorbed into its body near the place the Blending had started.
“This is amazing,” Elise murmured, circling the dais with her camcorder. “I wish I’d thought to have her remove her clothes.”
“I’m sure you still can. I’ll step outside and reassure the crowd.” Daniel retraced his steps, emerging into the sunlight to wave to the stands. He spoke to one of the security guards, and soon he had a radio microphone in his hand.
“Ladies and gentlemen, everything is all right. Raphael and Miss Ilona are Blending even as we speak. When this is done, I have no doubt you will see something unique in recorded history: an extraterrestrial, but no longer alien being, to walk among us. I hope you will welcome this new person with kindness and understanding, and not fear or revulsion. I have no idea what this Blending will look like; but remember, beauty is only skin deep.” That got a nervous laugh from the restive crowd.
“Daniel!” He heard Elise’s voice from inside, so he waved to the crowd and ducked back through the door. He hurried down the corridor to a startling sight.
Elise continued recording, of course, but now her camcorder was focused on a new person Daniel had never seen before. She was undoubtedly human, undoubtedly female, and bore a faint facial resemblance to the Ilona he had known, as well as having similar, but longer, hair.
There the similarity ended. This woman was tall, over six feet, and perfectly proportioned – and naked. Her skin color was a kind of golden bronze, a perfect blend of racial types; her features full, gorgeous, and completely human. Her eyes were filled with insouciant intelligence.
“Hello, Daniel John Markis. It is a pleasure beyond words to meet you in this form.”
Keeping his eyes firmly on hers, he stepped forward to clasp hands. “Likewise. Do you feel up to meeting your adoring public?”
“I would like that very much. I know you are concerned with my nudity. Will this serve?” She reached toward a wall, opening a heretofore unseen compartment, drawing forth a swath of sparkling white material. She fastened it around herself like a toga, then performed a little twirl. “I always wanted to be tall.”
Daniel laughed. “That’s the Ilona I know.”
“Call us Raphaela. I’m still in here, Daniel, but so is Raphael. I’m still me, but I’m him – it – whatever – too. It’s wonderful! I know so much that I’ve always wanted to know – but I also have a million more questions than I had before. I know now that more knowledge just brings more questions.”
“I’m glad you’re happy. Let’s go wave at the world.”
They did that thing, standing at the top of the steps with the shining spaceship behind them, and the crowd roared to its feet. The applause and cheers went on and on, taking many minutes to die out.
