The Star Sirius shown brightly over Mr. Ben’s house. Inside, two of the greatest non-human scientists in the known universe sat down to talk about important matters . . .
“Mr. Ben and his family have a very nice habitation, Union,” said Lagrange. “No doubt our Earth presence should be secure and our activities should be relatively unnoticed.”
“Yes, we certainly are!” said Union with his nightly cup of Engedian lemon tea. “So what do you think of wearing an Earth cap?”
“Interesting,” said Lagrange. “Our heads get very chilly in Earth’s atmosphere, and they’re easy to get star burned if out on a sunny day”. You seem to be fond because you have more than just one and you change them often. That one with the red circle and bird wings is interesting!”
Union smiled, “Yes! I love this one the most, but my other one honors a human children’s hospital in the large habitation north of here they call ‘Denver’. I love human children, and I’ve taken care of Mr. Ben and Miss Jessica’s children too. Scraped hands, bruises, and other light injuries. It makes me sad to see children get hurt.” Union then turned his attention back to Lagrange, saying “I hope that monocle that Chance developed helps protect your right eye, as it’s been more sensitive since that battle with the Agagans not long ago,” said Union.
“Oh, it’s OK,” said Lagrange. “Just gets very itchy from blowing dust.”
Lagrange got quiet for a second, then said, “Union, as you can guess, Expedition II came here for the reasons we disclosed in Emergency Signal-38. But there’s other parts of this story that I need to tell you”.
Union paused briefly and asked, “What parts of the story do you need to talk about?”
Lagrange said, “It involves YOU directly Union, and Medallion, Captain Echo, and the Grand Elder are also here to talk about this more!”
Echo sat down to the left of Union, while Nomad sat down with Medallion to his right . . . now with a blue Earth cap and sweat shirt himself.
“Union,” said Nomad, “very soon lights of the Battle of Sirius will be seen by Earth. It’s been almost 8.6 Earth orbits around the star Sol since your great, one-man victory was won. You not only rescued millions of Engedian children from being enslaved, but you also saved Earth from conquest.”
Medallion said, “Union, you not only found great favor among our people but you have evoked the favor of the Imm, and their Great Leader Himself!”
Echo smiled and nodded, “Good friend, on the authority of the Engedian Star Force and senior leadership, they have just raised my rank to Major . . . but you’ve been raised TWO RANKS . . . to Commodore!!!
Union was stunned, but Lagrange quickly added, “You’ve also been named Engedi’s Newtonian Professor of Academics!!!”
Union stared in amazement!! “Me? A Commodore? And the Newtonian Professor? But I’m so young, and you Lagrange should have that rank . . . you’re my teacher and you had more doctorates than any Engedian before I surpassed you!”
Lagrange smiled, “It’s OK, Union! You will find no Engedian happier than I at your prestigious appointment. As Dean of the Great Engedian Star Academy, I’m content to lead the faculty there and work with the students. But you know full well that the Engedian that has earned the most degrees MUST take the rank of Newtonian Professor!”
Echo then said, “As you’re now my superior officer, you can command the IFS Thunder at will when we are on active duty. Last time you commanded her was at the Battle of Sirius when I was injured and you had to take the pilot’s seat!”
Medallion, who had waited to speak all this time, then said, “Get ready for the next bit, Union. The Imm messengers came to me and told me that you are to be trained as an Oracle as well.”
Finally, the Grand Elder said, “The lesser Elders and I have held meetings. We have decided to establish a colony here on Earth, starting with the 10 of us . . . and you shall be the Colony Chief!”
Union was sitting there trying to take this in. “So I’m now a Commodore, Captain of the IFS Thunder, an Oracle, a Colony Chief? “Oh, how could I do all of these things?”
Union further said, “It’s almost like I’m being promoted to the level of one of the lesser Elders!”
The Grand Elder said, “Yes Union . . . only a lesser Elder could be given this authority at once.”
Medallion said, “The Imm stated that their Great Leader has noticed that along with your unprecedented intellect, you also have a loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, gentle, good, faithful, meek, and self-controlled temperament. You are a nurturing and kind leader, friendly where possible, defensive of the weak, humble”.
Captain Echo said, “Upon those merits, Union, you have been chosen by the Imm Leader and the people and Elders of Engedi to become . . . Engedi’s first Elder of Sol!!!”
Union was shocked!!! He suddenly screamed out, “I . . . I’M AN ELDER??? Oh . . . oh no. No, no, no, no, no, no! I’m too young yet! How could this be? I’m not even ready to command a saucer as good as you can the Thunder! Are you SURE you are talking to the right Engedian?”
Echo calmly reassured Union saying, “It’s OK! The Imm told Medallion you might say this . . . and if you did, the Imm Leader says ‘DON’T BE AFRAID! YOU QUICKLY SAY YOU AREN’T READY . . . AND THAT IS WHY YOU TRULY ARE!’ And you have us, your good friends to help you lead!”
Lagrange then said, “We’re not like Humans. Our leadership does not lord it over others to brag about ‘superiority’ and pointless ‘vain glory’. Only the Imm Leader has that greatness among our people, and He is far kinder.”
Nomad said, “I firmly believe that you will succeed me as Grand Elder one day . . . as does your fellow lesser Elders. Lady Tia and I have lived a long time, and we’re both getting a bit more tired these days. I came to Earth to see the Imm Leader’s future throne world myself before the Imm bring me to the Celestial realm. Whether a lesser Elder or Grand Elder, be a leader in opening doors to let our people’s skills and gifts from the Imm Leader shine strength and joy. Kindly and humbly provide encouragement, a comforting arm around someone who’s hurting, heal those who are hurt, kindly guide where someone is struggling, defend the helpless like you did in the Sirius system, foster peace among all peoples in the universe, but most of all to love others as the Imm Leader Himself loves all!”
Medallion said, “And the Imm Leader has an incredible purpose for you. He doesn’t want you to stop being a doctor or an Earthnaut at all!”
Medallion continued, “Your areas of influence will be revealed in greater detail as time goes on, but the first thing He wants you to know that He will use you to protect Earth’s yellow star named Sol, the Earth of course, 7 full planets in the Solar System, and even the dwarf planets and asteroids. Also He is going to use you to save a large group of His Human followers sometime in the near future. With Oracle training you will learn.”
Union looked around the room. He felt like resisting but he felt a Strong Presence come over him, like Earth’s sun shining from space, or the Engedian Star that was only seen by Earth once in history, and felt a small voice saying:
“It’s OK, Union. Don’t be afraid. I will certainly empower you and enlarge your territory. My Power and my Favor will be with you. I will make it easy for you to do this work, and all evil will be powerless against you!”
Union looked at his friends, humbly smiled, nodded and said, “If the Great Imm Leader wills this, and it helps my people, I will take this on too!”
Medallion said, “Let’s hear it for Elder Union, our colony Chief!!!” as the others chimed in and clapped. “What is your first order of the day, Union?”
Union said, “There are no orders to be made, but just to lead all of my best Engedian and Human friends into playing a game!”
Echo laughed, “Well, Mr. Ben, Miss Jessica, and I want to play Clue again. Want to play?”
Union said, “I’d be delighted!”
“Don’t forget about us, Best Friend!” called Sneak as he and the others except for Lady Tia, who was sleeping, brought Clue in.
“I’m the Elder of the Sol System!” Union told his other friends. “I’m a saucer captain! A Commodore. The Newtonian Professor . . . all in one night!!!”
Sneak said, “Best Friend, you’ll be a very good Elder and Chief! I know this!”
Oceana said, “You’re already so amazing, Union! You’re a great explorer, a doctor, a soldier, a scientist, a great doctorate advisor and . . . a great friend. You’re just so wonderful!”
Union looked down with a shy smile and said, “Well, . . . It’s the Imm Leader’s doing. I’m not THAT great, it’s all Him . . . I just want to please Him by helping where He wants . . . ”
The Grand Elder looked at Union and Oceana with a raised eye for a second. “Hmmm?” he thought as he looked at Lagrange. Lagrange noticed too, looked away trying not to crack a smile and thinking “Oh Great Imm Leader . . . here it goes!”
For The Great Galactic Space Gimmick, we’re the Earthnauts . . . with some help from Gimmick Commander Ben Faltinowski. 🙂
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(DISCLAIMER: The alien characters depicted in this story are fictional, and any real alien with similar names, similar appearance, or similar home planet is highly coincidental. Also, the aliens and some photos used for The Earthnauts stories are used in honor and parody of various works of science-fiction and alien themed literature and media. It is believed that this constitutes legal fair-use. )