Ancient Astronauts

The Truth

After Alyonna left, Ahriman turned from the door and headed back to his balcony.

"You can come out now," he commanded.

Hans emerged from behind some heavy silk curtains at the back of the room and joined Ahriman on the patio.

"She's going to keep coming to you for answers."

"Yes," Ahriman nodded, "And eventually she will catch on. The longer it takes her to do that the better."

"Why?"

"Because knowledge is a dangerous thing. People will worship you as a god for what you know or try to kill you...or both in my case."

Hans nodded his understanding, "She already knows a lot, and that was a dangerous thing for you, telling her about your service with the Eastern States. Not many people here will look kindly on that if they know. Also you didn't explain everything. You will not murder your own people so you served as an advisor..."

"She will keep her peace. She does not need the whole picture as there is nothing she can do. It's enough to ask questions, which she will direct to me...it's not enough to lead her anywhere dangerous. She will be safe, Hans, as will the children."

"That's all I care about," Hans sighed with relief.

"No," Ahriman shook his head, "It's not all you care about. A man such as you doesn't become a champion without placing himself between danger and everyone who can't deal with the danger on their own."

Hans hung his head. Sometimes he wished he was selfish, but it's like Aly had said, "There isn't a selfish bone in your body, Hans Agler."

"Ok," he said firmly, "What is this thing you wanted to tell me that I have to keep from Aly?"

"It's not one thing, but many things. You are about to become a party to my complete confidence," Ahriman walked Hans into another room of the house. In the center of the room a large object rested on a raised dais. It was covered in a heavy cloth blanket.

"Come," Ahriman rumbled, walking toward it.

Hans followed and waited patiently while Ahriman removed the heavy blanket from the object.

"That's it?" Hans asked, "You want me to keep a rock secret from Aly?"

The rock in question did not have a natural shape. It looked like two vases stacked on top of each other, if the top vase was slipped upside down. It also had a strange iridescent texture and was imbedded with...Hans paused, "Calypsite?"

"Yes," Ahriman said, "Those are caplysite fragments imbedded in the stone...and no," he shook his head, "I want you to keep what this rock did for humanity secret from them."

Hans said nothing.

"Swear it," the deep rumbling voice demanded.

"I swear."

"This rock, as you call it, is actually a deactivated plasma core. It was first used over a hundred and fifty thousand years ago to transport the first humans to Earth."

Hans was shocked into silence.

Ahriman continued, "You're probably wondering where they were transported from."

Hans managed to nod like a shy school boy.

"Here," the word dropped in the room like an anvil hitting the floor, "This planet which you have designated 'Proxima-B' is really humanity's homeworld, Aaru."

Finally, Hans managed to speak, "Isn't Aaru the Egyptian version of heaven?"

"It is. The peoples of the Middle East dreamed of returning to Aaru, but it could not be."