Author: David Barber

The first meeting between aliens and humans had not gone well.

The details will never be known, but as the generation ship Pilgrim neared Centauri, it had been met by an alien craft.

Imagine the descendants of those first colonists, isolated for centuries in their little world, suddenly invaded by monsters.

The humans had provoked the warrior caste, the aliens explained, with the resulting massacre.

“The past can be a trap,” Master Lonsang was saying. “As the Buddha teaches us, perhaps these aliens see mistakes not as reason to feel guilt for the harm they have done, but opportunities for growth and learning.”

These poorly lit spaces were the dirty zone of that same alien hiveship.

Ambassador Andrews grew impatient as Master Lonsang halted to spout his nonsense. Earth had moved on. The aliens were offering compensation.

“Exactly! Growth and learning!” Back on track again, Andrews seized on this. “Progress in science has stalled. Think of the possibilities on offer—”

Master Lonsang was smiling politely.

Andrews had made these arguments before, but still couldn’t judge the effect of his words.

The hiveship Queen would only negotiate with another ruler, so Earth must send a single representative, and the debate over who this should be had been furious. The compromise was Master Lonsang, the Panchen Lama, deputy to the Dalai Lama, an unworldly and enigmatic man, equally unpopular with hawks of rival power blocs.

Andrews tried again.

“Eastbloc is obsessed with alien technology. They want you to ask for room temperature superconductors or workable fusion. If they expect a starship drive they’ll be disappointed—”

“And such devices are not what you wish for?”

“Westbloc wants theoretical insights instead. Physics beyond the Standard Model, dark matter, quantum gravity, so humankind can make its own progress. Isn’t that better?”

He did not say pure research played to Westbloc’s traditional strengths, while alien tech would only further advantage Eastbloc’s industrial might. Better that neither side should have it…

“A curious concept, progress,” mused Master Lonsang.

As they neared the entrance to the alien-occupied spaces, Ambassador Lu stepped from the shadows.

“An unfortunate error in the timetable you provided,” said the Eastbloc Ambassador. “I would have missed having a final word with Master Lonsang.”

Andrews ground his teeth as Lu explained again how alien technology would benefit humankind.

“Starving people have no use for quantum theory,” he said, glaring at Andrews. He too was finding the Buddhist difficult to read.

The Panchen Lama smiled, then changed the subject.

“There are rumours that not everyone aboard Pilgrim was killed.”

Andrews and Lu exchanged glances.

“We asked the aliens how they had learned our language,” began Andrews reluctantly. “And they said there were survivors. Children, hidden by their parents when the massacre began.”

If the aliens could shrug they would have shrugged. They found a use for every sentient species they encountered. This was something both blocs thought best to keep from their citizens.

Even as Andrews spoke, the entrance door melted away and they stared into the curve of an empty corridor.

They lost sight of Master Lonsang as the doorway filled itself again like a waterfall.

“Is this the sort of technology you want?” said Andrews bitterly.

The Ambassadors waited in angry silence, each certain their own claim was best, though Master Lonsang had never once hinted at his preference.

Hours later, the Panchen Lama emerged, holding a small child by the hand. Perhaps half a dozen older children trailed after him.

In the end, the right choice had been simple to make, he explained, smiling serenely.