The blue sphere rolled back and forth across Erin’s palm, its brilliant luminescence now a dull glow. Another puzzle.

“We better get moving. The pride won’t be fooled for long,” said D’aerul.

“I should have known it wouldn’t be as simple as finding a mysterious tree on an alien planet.”

The scientific community had searched for the most simple explanation for the changes in Earth’s tides, and later weather. Talus’ existence broke every rule. There were still scientists who refused to believe, even after the first nano-transports made contact.

“We’ll figure this out, just as we have all the other obstacles.”

“But don’t you wonder, why? Who would do this?” said Erin.

“Yes, in the beginning. But now all I care about is finding a solution. Are we puppets? Probably. It doesn’t change anything.”

A pragmir’s roar, a few hundred yards away, ended the discussion.

“Race you to the lab?”

“Only if you promise to keep your feet on the ground,” said Erin.

Back at the lab she could begin unraveling the mystery of the orb, but until then, a little competition would let her forget. She needed to forget, to let go, before she hit a brick wall.

© Amanda Makepeace

Part Six coming September 21st.

New to Other Worlds? Start at the beginning.