Star Fields

Chapter No. 89 Disgust

Chapter No. 89 Disgust

Good advice is often ignored.

Molly suggested that we explore the Centaurus galaxy, a particularly active lenticular galaxy in the Centaurus Group of the Virgo Supercluster. This galaxy has been known to be a very strong radio source and the location of some particularly powerful gamma ray bursts from supernovae. It was only 12 million light years away as the crow flies.

"Remind me why we want to go to this galaxy?" I asked.

"We think we've discovered where the Phoenix Project got the technology that allows us androids to reproduce," Molly said.

Both of my eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

"Yes. The information we recovered from the data stack indicates that an alien by the name of Tyco visited Earth and revealed the technology not only to make androids like us but also how to accomplish sexual reproduction."

I smiled. "I like that name; Tyco."

"Are you going to go to the Centaurus galaxy?" Molly asked, appearing anxious.

I turned to Judy. "Take us there, Judy."

A few moments later, we came out spin drive a thousand light years away from the galaxy and decided to wait before approaching it until we determined how dangerous it was.

"The supermassive black hole is still spitting out quasar beams, but they're not as strong as they once were," Molly said. "I'm picking up radio emissions in the microwave range, but I don't think it's a major problem."

"Okay Judy, move us to about five hundred light years from the edge of the galaxy."

When we came to a stop relative to the galaxy, Molly deployed her virtual mirror and began searching for the alien Tyco's home world.

After a half hour, Molly seemed frustrated. "I can't find any habitable system within ten thousand light years. The information given by Tyco included a location in this galaxy relative to its central supermassive black hole's orientation to our galaxy."

"Maybe the information was bogus," I said.

"I don't have any method of verifying that. It's possible that the star is a dim red dwarf or even a white dwarf."

"If it is a dim star, how are we going to find it?"

"I think it would help if we went to the coordinates that Tyco provided. Maybe then, we'll find it."

I turned to Judy. "Take us there."

Ten minutes later, we came out of warp near a white dwarf star with a single planet orbiting it.

"The planet is about the same size as Earth," Molly reported. "It has a thin nitrogen atmosphere.

"Take us into orbit around it, Judy. Keep us in stealth mode."

The planet's image zoomed larger as we approached. We established an orbit and began scanning.

"There are several large domes on this planet," Margaret said. "I can't get a decent scan. They must be able to resist infrared and X-ray probing."

"I have a communication request, Jason."

"Put it on, Judy."

The image of a human-like face appeared. It was essentially light tan colored.

"Welcome, Earthlings."

"We are here to investigate the information we know about one of you with the designation of Tyco. He is reported to have given our people knowledge about the creation of sentient androids."