The Space Brethren - a science fiction short story

Callisto had a scheduled awakening at the edge of the Solar system, when Earth and Mars existed no more; they had been devoured by the hideously inflated Sun.   

It's been a long time that she was no more a mortal woman. In fact, she was not even a neural network on some kind of electronic device, but something else. She could still enjoy the imaginary worlds hidden within a tiny space shuttle powered by starlight, but she no more found any sense in it. 

She has already lived a life of several dozens of men, women and even animals, but she had programmed his micro-computer in the way she could never forget her initial self and the fact that her digital lives were no more than a cloud of illusion separating her from the physical reality.   

For nearly two centuries of Callisto's flight, no one had ever tried to contact her. Mankind had detected no intelligent life when she had been confined in flesh. Neither had it found a “space brethren” when Callisto lived in a Soul Treasury on Io. Her once human brothers and sisters (all people were brothers and sisters in his world) had dissolved in space, immersed into a dream without end. They had no interest neither in the stars they were passing by, nor in each other. Some of them got completely oblivious of their mortal life and took their dreams for objective reality. Others lived on distant planets inside solid bodies of metal and silicone, permanently upgrading themselves and the environment around them, sowing seeds of life just for fun in the once-desolated places.  

 One of them brought to life an audacious plan to transform a digital essence into a bunch of pure energy. But no one dared to rise on this last level of evolution. No one but Callisto.  She decided to crack the essential mystery, understanding that in case of failure he was doomed to eternal solitude in the infinite Space, and only a leap into a black hole would be able to end  her immortality.   

Darting far away from our Galaxy, Callisto felt strange waves coming from an ocean-covered planet, populated by green-eyed mermaid-like creatures. The waves sent into space were generated by the work of their brains. If Callisto was able to smile, she certainly would. If she had eyes, she would cry with joy. 

Alas! All the attempts to contact the water dwellers failed, as no one ever noticed her presence. “This is why we thought we were all by ourselves in the Universe,” Callisto told herself. “To hear the call was beyond our capacity. Neither our six senses were good for this, nor our gadgets...” 

For five local years, Callisto flew around the planet, attempting to introduce herself to the sea-dwellers. Graceful they were, and did live in peace with each other, and built striking spacious palaces on the sea shelf, but could not accept the message Callisto was sending.   Then she bolted further, hoping she'd be luckier next time. And she found several places where intelligent life flourished. Some communities even turned their attention to the sky and were spreading their message across space, but could neither hear nor feel Callisto's reply. Yes, she got an answer to the riddle, she fulfilled her dream, and it became her most bitter disappointment.   

Moving almost at the speed of light, she headed to a monster black hole in the constellation of Swan to end her solitary existence. No more did she have human five senses, yet she felt the ice-cold fear while approaching this giant that devoured everything – matter, information and even light.  But the endless solitude was terrifying Callisto more, and she continued her last journey into nothingness. 

 “They have always wondered, what's inside. That'll be my last riddle to solve!” She sent her mental goodbye to those who had prepared her for this venture and plunged into the vast black spot surrounded by a crown of dazzling multi-colored light. The fall seemed infinite, however, Callisto's consciousness would not fade out. If she could scream with agony, she would, because no death and no Hell could be worse than a neverending fall through the darkness.   

 Though, the tunnel was full of signals. And thoughts. Callisto could hear every thought of every man and other creature that ever lived on the Earth and beyond. The strong current of information consumed by the black hole during the time of its existence, formed a whirlpool which caught her seemingly forever. For a mortal being, a tiny part of this information tsunami was enough to lose their mind. For Callisto in her present shape, it was a torture, but not a fatal one. 

How much time has passed? She could not understand that, as she could not guess which part of the Universe she fell into, when a strong luminous jet of plazma launched her away: from the heart of the black hole into space. Somehow, the space monster did not accept her. Quite soon, she felt the familiar vibration and followed it as a wolf follows its prey. 

The planet was beautiful, blue and Earth-like, filling the air with waves that Callisto felt as good or evil. The ocean of thoughts and ideas was as thick as the ocean of water, and Callisto eagerly dived into it, sending her greeting again. Having not received an answer, she chose another tactics – to speak with the locals from inside their mind, not meaning anything bad at all. The petty fat-and-protein brain suddenly turned out a better receiver than the most precise and durable machines that other civilizations had, but the effect was quite ambiguous.   

Most of the adult creatures lost their mind or committed suicide as soon as she attempted a contact. Some of them accepted the message but ended up crucified or burnt at the stake. Though relatively intelligent, the planet was boiling with evil, and Callisto could hardly understand the roots of peer-to-peer cruelty that flourished among local tribes. Many times she tried to turn their thoughts to peace and creation, but war seemed to be their natural habitat. 

More than once Callisto considered leaving this infernal planet forever, but one day she heard a little boy cry. It took her half a second to get the reason of his grief. The poor thing was nearly deaf since his early childhood. He hardly could hear what his teachers told him. He had the worst notes in his class and was promised no future. He was permanently bullied by his class and he was afraid of people in general. The teachers did nothing about that and only considered him as a dumbass.   

The boy was only eight, but he seriously thought about taking his own life, and Callisto just could not leave him like that. As a child's mind is much more alert, active and flexible than that of an adult, he immediately felt her presence when she discovered herself.   In his inner sight, she had a shape. But, what's more important, she had a voice that sang to him. Callisto knew well the solemn music of stars and now had someone to share it with. 

“Normally, I hear almost nothing, Skygirl,” he said. “Why do I hear so clearly your beautiful songs?” 

“Because I chose you,” the space guest answered. “And I want you to know that the world does not come down to your school and your vicious teachers. It's much larger than that, and I will tell you more if you promise to say nothing about my visits.” 

“I promise. But may I go with you then?” 

“No. Until there's a spaceship to set you into the orbit.” 

“It it ever possible?” the boy exclaimed. 

“You must know many sciences to succeed,” she answered.   

“I'll do my best. But please, return and sing to me again, for I love it so much” besought the child. 

“Sure, Konstantin”, Callisto promised and stayed close till the end of his days, unseen by others...

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Picture: Oleg Artemyev

If you liked this story, please check up my fanfiction "The Lady of Snow and Sorrow".