Three Bullets

                                            Three Bullets

by: Marco Jennison (Polo)

         Doctor Alvin Maldocks, science professor at the University was admired by seventy-three of his seventy-four students.  The seventy-three were really excited about waking up each morning and attending his excellent lectures on life in the oceans.  It was thrilling to them to explore the topic with Doctor Maldocks, an expert in the field, and they even loved the challenge of his examinations.  Yet, there was one student, Edgar, who used to feel like the others, but lately lost his joy in hearing about it.
         His girlfriend, Heather started acting like she didn't want to be with him anymore.  She was also a student in Maldocks' class.  Heather would hardly look at him lately.  She was becoming too busy with school work and research for the class to have time for him like she used to.  Like the others, Heather had become inspired by the teacher and his subject.  She was working all she could now on a career as a scientist.
           Recently Doctor Maldocks showed some pictures of the ocean floor with strange structures rising up as if they had been planted like a garden, and then grew healthily.  They were every kind of shape but square;  cylindrical, octagonal, hexagonal, pentagonal, heptagonal, diamond, rhomboidal, toroidal, conical, egg-like, arc-like, a dodecagon, and even like an hourglass structure.  All the students, including Edgar, said, "Ooooh!" when they saw the photograph and fell into stunned silence while they listened to their professor;
         "This photograph of the ocean floor was taken by the captain of a ship called, 'The Ocean Slicer'.  This captain and his ocean ship goes places no one else on earth goes.
         "Class, we have a chance this summer to go see this.  The captain is willing to take us all on a voyage upon his ship exploring the ocean and this location will be the high point of the trip.  Do you all want to go?"  The students erupted into loud cheers.  Heather stood up and shouted;
          "Yes!  We want to go with you!"  Then all the others shouted "Yes! Yes!  We want to go", all that is, except Edgar.
         "Good!  I want you all to be there to be my witnesses when I prove to the world what this is.  Do any of you have an idea what these structures could be?"  They were silent again, thinking.  Maldocks had taught them so much about the blind churning of the earth and how, by chance it makes strange rocks and mountains under the sea.  The students began guessing how such perfect structures could have come about;
           "By ocean currents interacting with radiation?"
         " No."  returned the professor.
         "By special quantum forces in the molecules?"
         "Wrong."
         "By a new of type of undersea volcano?  Earthquakes?  Maybe a meteor falling from space into the ocean?"
         "Nope, negative and incorrect!" he answered them all.
          But what was it?  The professor smiled at the bad guesses, then looked over at Edgar who had been staring back with a sad face.
         After class all the students crowded around their teacher's desk to sign up for the summer voyage, except Edgar.  Instead, he waited outside for Heather.  When she came out he walked along side her.
         "I don't see your excitement for the class like I used to.  Well, I'm excited about it." she said.
         "I know, and I'm happy for you because I love you.  I don't think you're excited about us being together anymore, though." he replied.
         "Oh, Edgar!  This is so hard for me to say, but I think we need a cooling-off period.  Why aren't you going on Dr. Maldocks's voyage?  I can't believe you won't be there with me...with all of us!  How can you pass this up?"
         "I just have doubts now that this class has been worth anything.  I don't know why I say that.  It's just me, I guess.  Heather, if you've changed inside, so have I, though not about loving you.  Go on the voyage.  It will be good.  I don't want to go.  I am nothing now, Heather, nothing.  I am not a scientist, or a husband-to-be, or a lover, or a good or bad student, or anything else I've been.  I am nothing."
         Heather was bewildered by what Edgar had just said.  This was not at all like him before.  He parted from her before she could think of what to say and she did not see where he went off to.
        Later, while he was walking down the hall past Dr. Maldocks's office, the Doctor saw him pass by while sitting at his desk and immediately yelled to him;
         "Edgar!"  Stunned and a bit annoyed at being yelled at, Edgar stopped and walked backwards to the open door.  He saw Maldocks sitting with one foot on his desk with a friendly smile.
         "There you are.  I'm shocked because of you."
         "Excuse me, because of me?"
         "Yes!  I can't believe you're not going.  You, of all the others...NOT GOING?  What on earth is happening to you?"
         "Well, uhh..."
         "Do you want to know why I am so disappointed?  I look at your work and it is always so much like a real scientist, so true to the scientific method.  You ask the right questions, you pursue the right notions and your data is perfectly controlled and repeatable.  Your mind is uncluttered with mystical thinking or emotional garbage like the minds of so many other people!  I think you are most like I was at your age.  I want to watch you become a great scientist.  I think this voyage could be the start.  It could be a big boost for both of us."
         "Professor, let me tell you something.  I warn you, this is a really, really unscientific thing for me to say, but my life is full of emotional garbage right now.  My girlfriend, you know, Heather...I can't call her my girlfriend anymore...anyway, we were together and going to get married...we're not together anymore.  It was something I believed in more than even the scientific method and now its gone.  I can't tell you how that is."
         "Oh.  And that's it?"  asked Maldocks.  "How many people your age have boyfriend-girfriend problems?  All of them!"
         "Do you still think I'm you at a younger age?"
         "All except the girl, part.  Look, son, there's a whole, big world out there that we are just starting to describe.  Taking it logically, you've lost the girl.  If that's true, what more can you lose by going?  Only gain is possible by coming along.  Who knows?  Love can't be understood.  Maybe you and she will get back together again if you go.  Look at it this way;  she's going.  If you don't go it's lose-lose for you, both the girl and the gain to your career from the voyage.  By going it's at least win-lose for you, and possibly win-win."
         "You're a true scientist Dr. Maldocks."
         "Thank-you.  Then take my advice and come along!"  Edgar thought for a few moments.
         "Edgar," continued Maldocks, "do you know what those forms make up in that picture from the ocean floor I showed the class?"  Edgar shrugged and said;
         "It is a city built by another race intelligent beings."  and he started to laugh but stopped when he saw Maldocks look at him with a stunned and very serious expression.
         "So, you know what this is.  We are the only two on earth who get this.  We are the discoverers of the scientific story of all time!  What are you doing just standing there crying over a girl and saying you won't go?"
         "Do you really think, professor, that...?  Another intelligent race on earth building cities under the sea?  And just now discovered, maybe?!?  It's almost enough to make me forget about Heather!  Okay, here's what I want to do:  I want to become a stow-away on the ship.  I don't want Heather, or anyone to know I'm on board, only you, professor.  Can you hide me away somewhere on the ship?  I can record and graph any data for you.  I'm sure there will be lots of data and notes to log.  I'll be your scribe, organizer, recorder...your science secretary.  I'll keep the best journal of the whole voyage I can.  It would be good for me to be there only to observe, and to serve.  If my life's being thrown in a tailspin, so be it.  I'll pour myself in studying this life in the ocean."
         "You see, professor, I don't know how to find the truth anymore.  I'm not even sure I know how to judge when I see it or hear it.  So this is what I'll do, if you'll let me:  I will observe, dispassionately, and see the truth as clearly as possible.  I'll observe people, ocean phenomena, Heather...maybe even intelligent Aliens living on the ocean floor!  Who knows?  I'll be the best at the scientific method of anyone you've seen yet.  I don't have a clue what I might gain.  But, Doctor Maldocks, if you'll help me stow away on the ship, I'll go."
         "Perfect!  I'll find a space for you in my cabin.  I can use the aid you offer.  Together, Edgar we'll make history.  You'll be glad with this decision.  I think you'll be impressed with the captain of the ship."
         "Who is he?" 
         "Let me spell his name for you."  Maldocks scribbled on a piece of paper and handed it to him.
         "Spelled with a 'y'?"  asked Edgar.
         "Yep.  With a 'y'."  answered the professor.
         "His name makes me smile when I don't want to."
         "He's the world's foremost expert on the ocean and captain of the Ocean Slicer, the most equipped ship in the world for oceanography.  That's the vessel we get to go on because of my friendship with the captain.  It's truly the opportunity of a lifetime.  He has the best laboratory for ocean floor research and he can launch a craft to go anywhere on the floor.  He's the one who took those pictures, yet he's baffled by those forms."
         "I know this will be very special."  said Edgar.  "So, you haven't shared your theory of these strange forms he photographed?  He's your friend giving you a voyage that could prove earth shattering in the scientific world.  If these forms are built by intelligent beings wouldn't your good friend, the captain want a chance at recognition that he discovered them, too?"
         "Let me tell you something about the captain.  He's told me how he hates notions like the possibility that there are other advanced forms of life like us.  If I were to tell him this might be a sign of intelligent life I know he'd react very badly to the suggestion, and there would be no chance of him taking us along.  It might even endanger our friendship."
         "Really?  He won't listen to a friend's ideas, at all, then?"
         "He has his own very firm way of thinking and fact-finding.  He's strict about it, and to tell you the truth, though I admire his firmness in what he believes and doesn't believe, I know he's the wrong guy to go to for sharing such ideas.  We can talk more on this later.  For now, I don't want to get into an argument with the captain.  He is the way he is, and I want to be armed with irrefutable evidence before I bring it to him.  Can you keep this discussion just between us?"
         "Absolutely.  We'll work on this together, just you and I.  How will you stow me away?"
         "I'll have you meet me two hours before we embark.  The captain and I each have fine, private cabins.  There will be plenty of room for you and I in one of those.    I hope to have a complete paper ready to publish by the end of the voyage.  You do write well.  I know I'll need your help."
         "I swear, you can count on me to write that paper."  They grasped hands and shook.
         "Done, then."  said Maldocks.

         A week later the students were gathered at the dock behind the magnificent Ocean Slicer.  Alvin Maldocks addressed them;
         "Class, you all are about to go on the voyage of your lives.  Soon you will meet our captain."  The students let out a cheer.  "He will answer all your questions and tell you everything you need to know.  The captain will need your full co-operation.  He has absolute authority while we are on the ship.  The captain is the law and total commander during the voyage and all must obey his word.  That's the way it is on ships.  Now while we're waiting for the captain I'll tell you a few things about ships.  We are looking at the stern.  Opposite the stern is the bow over in front.  The floor over the hull is the deck and that high structure between them where you see windows is the bridge which houses the control room.  I'll let the captain take it from there."          
         A large truck drove up loaded with boxes stacked way up high.  A few seemed ready to fall off the back.
         "Here's the captain!" announced Maldocks.  A man lacking in brows over his eyes got out of the driver's seat and went up to the professor.  Maldocks said;
         "Class, it is my great honor to introduce..."
         "Captain Crabnoyse!"  They started clapping.  The captain spoke only in the professors' ear;
         "Have your students load these on the stern of the deck now."  Then he turned his back and galloped up the steps boarding the ship.
         The class would never hear a welcome speech from Captain Crabnoyse, nor an orientation, nor any discussion or tour of the vessel.  He would not be giving them a single word on where to sleep, when to eat, what to expect on the voyage or what to do with any of their concerns.  There was no safety training nor any kind of information to help them on their way out to sea. But soon the California coastline was out of sight, because once those boxes were brought on deck by the students, the ship was far out faster than anyone expected.
         The next day hunger began to overtake other concerns.  They had been wandering around the ship finding out many of it's closets, passageways and features.  They discovered the sleeping beds and bathrooms, some equipment that no one could figure out and an area like a laboratory, but no food or eating areas.  One of the objects of interest to the students, before hunger took hold of them was a vehicle on the bow of the ship.  It was shaped like a cone sliced in half from its tip to its circular end, making that end a half-circle.  The flat, triangular sliced side was about knee-high above the floor of the bow, held up by three wheels at the three corners.  Near the cone tip, on top was a glass shield covering a cockpit.  There were antennae on other places on top and mechanical arms folded at the sides.  Various closed doors were on the curved section of the craft.
         Now the hungry students saw the captain descend from the bridge.  He walked straight, staring forward while the students followed, hoping to learn when and where lunch would be served.  The captain walked up to the craft and stood like a statue next to it.  He stared out slightly skyward avoiding eye contact with anyone.
         "This is the Intruder; a state-of-the-art exploration vehicle.  It is designed for solo excursions into the depths.  With it, I've travelled down into ocean floor crevasses and taken pieces of rocks and living things that no one else can get to.  With this, I will probe those structures I photographed earlier this year.  All of you will be watching me on the monitor in the control center.  Maldocks, you will assign your best student to log my observations and data."
         "Now I must test the hydraulic system.  All of you may observe the workings of the craft."
         Suddenly the captain broke his stiff posture and darted under the vehicle.  He furiously groped around at various points on the underbelly of the craft, then darted out and swung on to the curved, conical top.  He moved about on various foot rests and handles with twists and turns of his body in ways that made him look like a monkey.  He even rolled on his back to get to the other side.  Suddenly once again, he stood stiffly on a small platform just behind the glass cover.  The glass cover to the cockpit opened and down into it he climbed.  Before closing the cover the captain put a speaker phone up to his mouth and yelled; "TESTING!"  The sound pierced their ears with the harsh ring of the announcer at a spaceship launch countdown.  The hydraulic system hummed, then whined loudly causing the students nearby to cup their ears with their hands and move back.  This was fortunate because without warning, metal arms with thick pincers on their ends flung out from the sides of the craft and flailed around violently, nearly hitting the students who had just moved back.  The craft's hydraulic fluid began to overheat.  The whine grew louder, and more of a single, annoying pitch, then there was a snapping sound like a small explosion underneath.  A hydraulic hose flung out and sprayed hot fluid on everyone standing on the deck.  It burned through clothing and clung to skin.
         "Hmm, a coupling broke loose."  said the captain.
          There was no where to escape while the loose hose kept shooting hot oil on to them.  The screams were heard by Edgar, alone in the cabin.  He ran out and peeked on to the deck.  There he saw pandemonium among his classmates.  He saw Professor Maldocks running with a fire hose.  Maldocks carefully turned it on, though he was burning himself, and sprayed his class as softly as he could.  The cool water helped everyone's burning right away, but then the sprayed oil turned a dark color on their clothing and began to stiffen.  Soon their clothes were crinkling and snapping.  Pieces like shards of hard plastic were falling off each of them.  Edgar watched as they began to loose their clothing.  Red, blotchy burned skin showed where clothing broke off.  He tried, but couldn't find Heather in the chaos.  He knew he needed to do something to help his classmates.  He ran back to the stern and began opening and rummaging through the boxes.  Maldocks stopped spraying when he realized all his clothes had fallen off him.  He dropped the hose and cupped his hands over his private parts.  Captain Crabnoyse had descended from the craft and walked up to him.
         "Hydraulic fluid used in this application is a glycol-ether.  It polymerizes with water to form a hard plastic resin with the polyester of your clothing. You should have known that, Maldocks.  Don't you remember that from your days as a chemistry student?  Stupid move, Maldocks."
         "Whose, yours or mine?"  returned the professor.  Crabnoyse turned and walked away.
         Edgar ran back with two open boxes full of grey, one-piece suits.  He ran among them, keeping his face mostly hid in one of the boxes, throwing out the suits.  He was determined to find Heather, but couldn't among the others.  Finally, he thought he heard her voice under the craft.  There she was, alone, naked, covering herself the best she could.  She was crying in the darkest underside she of the vehicle she could find.  Edgar took a suit and went to her.  He took a hold of her from her left side.  She turned.  "Edgar!"  she yelled.  "What...?"  He motioned for her to be silent.  In a whisper he asked;
         "What the heck happened?  Are you burned?"
         "No, but I think this captain is crazy.  I don't trust him.  He doesn't even let us know anything about this trip."  Edgar helped her into the suit.  They came out and looked briefly at the students furiously trying to get their pieces of clothing off their skin and get themselves into the suits.  Edgar took her around the corner away from the rest of them.
         "Where have you been hiding?"
         "In Maldocks's cabin.  I am a stow-away.  Only Maldocks knows and agreed to let me stay with him.  I am to do the writing and data logging for him.  Please don't say anything to anyone."
         "So, you wanted to spy on me." said Heather with a smile.  He paused and said;          
         "Maybe that's part of it."  They kissed.  "Look, I don't want to be seen by anyone, especially not the captain.  You were saying he's crazy."
         "Yeah, look, we'll talk about that and what happened, but I'm hungry.  What are you going to do for lunch if you're not going to be with us?"
         "I'll have to depend on the Professor to bring me food."
         "Why don't you just come out of hiding?  You're on board.  What are they going to do, throw you off?  I want to be with you!"
         "It was my idea to hide and observe.  Maybe I'm the one whose crazy, but I should stick to my original plan.  Just know that I'm here.  I'm happy you are not burned.  I hope no one got seriously burned.  Now I better go back to the cabin.  I'll find a way to meet you alone later.  I always want to make sure you're OK, so you'll see me around, if you'll let me."
         "Sure, I want to see you." she answered.  He hugged her and said;
            "Please don't let on that I'm here."
         Back at his hiding place in the cabin, high up on a top bunker bed, Edgar laid upon his back and stared at the ceiling, thinking.  He was very worried now about this voyage, but hadn't a clue of what to do.  He sensed something ominous about the captain.  This was after a terrible mishap, he thought, and maybe things will be alright from now on, but a troubling feeling wouldn't leave him.
         Soon Professor Maldocks burst in and slammed the door behind him.
         "Edgar, are you here?"  Edgar came down so he could see him.
         "Yes, I'm here."  Maldocks buried his face in his hands and moaned.
         "What happened?  Did the captain punch you or something?"  He dropped his hands.  Edgar saw a stunned expression on his face turn to pain.
         "I'm not sure we will survive this."  said Maldocks in a state of shock.
         "What's wrong?"
         "I am to blame.  I trusted this captain."
         "Professor Maldocks, what's going on?"
         "I went to the captain's cabin, knocked on the door and only got his voice on the other side.  Oh, I also got the smell of the food he was cooking for himself.  He wouldn't let me in.  I complained about the incident and his lack of involvement with my students.  I told him I needed him to introduce himself, explain the voyage, ship, safety...oh safety!...I raised my complaint again about getting sprayed with the chemical from the hydraulic system and he blamed us!  He said one of the students must have shut a valve on the system!  Well, I doubt that, but even so, he should have given an orientation and training what to do and not do.  That was our understanding."
         "But now, hear this, Edgar.  I asked when the first meal was coming that the students paid for.  He told me the money was for the trip, only.  He brought us nothing."  After a moment of silence, Edgar repeated;
         "Nothing.  Did you just say he brought us nothing?  So, there are seventy-six of us on a trip that might last more than two weeks, and only he, the captain has anything to eat.  Is this the situation?"
         "I'm afraid it is." answered the professor.
         "We have to do something." returned Edgar,  "We're not going to be on this ship that long without food!  At least ask him to let us go fishing for a while."
         "Meals were part of the price we all paid!  That was clearly stated!"
         "What did he say to that?"
         "I couldn't talk to him.  He never opened the door.  He just blamed the students for the hydraulic incident and then...nothing!"
         "Isn't there at least something?  Have all the boxes really been checked out?  Isn't there a drawer or hiding place where there's food?  Anything?"
         "Here, I have a box of candy bars.  There's enough for everyone to have one."  Maldocks reached in a closet and took out a box.  "Here's one for you.  I actually got these to pass around for a treat.  I didn't know they would be all there would be for food.  Now, after they eat their candy, I'll have to tell everyone this is their last meal...for I don't know how long!"
         With that, Maldocks drooped his head, then took a long, deep breath while he raised his head and shoulders to try make himself brave.
         "Professor," said Edgar, "If you see an island that looks like it might have coconuts, or...anything to eat...come tell me.  Together we'll tie up the captain and steer the ship to it.  How about it?"  After a pause Maldocks said;
         "We'll talk about that later."  He left with his box of candy.
         Edgar went back up on his bunk bed and stared at the ceiling.  He was thinking deep, worrisome thoughts when the silence was broken by the calling of his name;
         "Edgar."
         He remained lying still, thinking.  There was no doubt about it, though; he had been called and the sound was in the cabin.  It was a voice unlike any ever heard.  It was something low and musical like the sounds of whistling and rumbling together.  He blinked, sat up, and looked around.  No one was in sight.  For a long, couple of minutes he looked around because he knew he did not imagine being called by this weird voice.  Finally he looked at the floor.  From his perch he saw a ball about the diameter of the length of his foot.  It had a metallic sheen all over it.  He moved his head far to the left, then far to the right while staring at this thing.  Where he looked upon this sphere directly, it had a glowing orange spot which moved with Edgar's view so it always shined in the middle.  Surrounding this orange spot was a fuzzy dark area, then a glowing green ring, then finally, a shiny black ring appeared  around the edge of the sphere.  This is what had called him!
         "Y-yes?"  answered Edgar.  It answered;
         "I am what you are on this voyage to find.  Call me Sep.  Sep means 'sphere'.  How do you do, Edgar?"
         "Uh...how do you do...Sep?"
         "I'm pleased to meet you, Edgar."
         "Pleased...me, too."
         "It is my kind that built that city you want to find out about."
         "Uh..huh."  Edgar gathered himself more calmly and continued;
         "And so, what is your kind?  You are spheres, I guess."
         "Not all of us.  There are many shapes that we take.  Not square, though.  In our hierarchy, sphere is the highest form.  I am one of the few, top forms."
         "Should I address you with a special title, then?"
         "No, just Sep, as I said."  Edgar jumped down on the floor and crouched down to gaze more closely at the talking ball.
         "You can touch me."  Edgar put his hand gently on Sep.  It was as smooth as anything he ever touched.  After moving his hand over the smooth surface for a few seconds, the sphere's surface turned rubbery, then rough and covered with bristles.  This gave Edgar a fright and he jerked back his hand."
         "AHH!"  he yelled.  Sep made a sound like a tuba playing musical scales.  Edgar jumped back and turned in fear.  Sep said;
         "That sound is us laughing.  Don't be frightened.  Come back close to me.  You have nothing to fear from me, but everything to fear from one your own kind."
         "So, you're the intelligent life we're out here to find.  I...I don't know what I expected...but I have to say this; you are so different from us!"
         "Well, not really.  When you finally take a glimpse of us and our city, think of us as what humans may be in the future.  We are like you.  We two are both of the earth and of heaven."
         "Wha...wait...we human's are becoming spheres like you?"
         "Who really knows?  There is always a road that goes multiple ways and before that road, a question mark.  You are standing on that question mark. 
         "You see, in fact, earth has two highly conscious species:  Us and You.  Today is the beginning of our big encounter.  It was inevitable.  What isn't inevitable is whether is turns out badly or well.  That, Edgar, is entirely up to you."  Edgar's eyes grew big and his jaw dropped as he slapped his hand upon his chest.
         "NOT ME!  Whoa, wait a minute, what's this got to do with me?"
         "The ship's going to sink, and with it will sink our future together as friendly species.  Do you want to survive into a better future?"
         "But...it's...it's...!"  stammered Edgar.
         "Not your fault.  I know.  You didn't do anything.  You're just here dispassionately, to observe and log data.  And if you keep doing nothing you'll soon die with pen and log book along with everyone else.  Then there will be war and we both will loose, but, I know, it's not your fault.  Look, let's take a break.  You're getting upset.  Come sit right next to me.  Relax.  Sit down by me and roll me around."
         "Roll you around?  Why?  Haven't you guys invented like...little...cars for yourselves, yet?"
         "Very funny, Edgar.  I can self-propell.  I use gravity.  Watch."  The little sphere grew a lump which bulged out towards the door.  As it grew longer, Sep accelerated in its direction.  The bulge, itself, moved back around the sphere in a way that kept it pointing towards the direction of travel.  The protrusion retracted just before reaching the door, then the sphere grew one pointing in the opposite direction.  Sep rolled back, then his protrusion appeared to angle a bit to the right and Sep then went in a circle around Edgar, turning to the right.  Sep resumed his spherical shape and stopped.  Edgar sat next to him, amazed and delighted.
         "Man, you and I must go hiking up in the mountains someday!  Can you bounce?"
         "I love to bounce."           
         "We'll invent a new way of playing hoops!"
         "Put your hand on me and roll me like I asked you to."  Edgar felt the sphere smooth again.  He rolled Sep away and back a few times.
         "Yes, that's good"  said Sep, "Now roll me around to your other side...now over in back..now around again...YES!  Keep going.  Ahh, that feels nice.  I love being rolled.  Keep changing direction.  Yes!  It's just like being a human baby and having someone rock you to sleep.  Ahhhh!  This is good.  Now push on the top of me and flatten me some.  Ahh, good.  Push harder, then let up."  Edgar pushed harder.  "YES!  Now keep doing that.  Push.  Let up.  Push.  Let up...OH, SO GOOD! 
Now roll me and pulse me like that at the same time.  You'll have to use your forearm."  He rolled Sep along pressing down with the length of his forearm, pulsing as they went.  "Oh, my, you're the best, Edgar.  You are the best!  Now put your whole body into it."  Edgar jumped up and said with indignation;
         "I sure hope this isn't something improper!"
         "Its just between us, Edgar.  Okay, you can stop if you want to.  That was fine.  Thank-you.  Thank-you.  All right then, let's talk.  I am here, first of all, to bring you to an understanding."
         "Everyone on this ship is in grave danger.  Beyond that, the whole world of humanity is in peril and the root of the threat here and everyplace is the same.  As I said, here on earth there's our kind, and your kind.  We are about to see either a partnership between us or, only our kind left.  Then we both lose."
         "Here's the problem:  You are the ones with a history of horrors.  Greed, violence and lust for power best describe human motivations.  Human minds, though, grasp loftier notions.  You are capable of overcoming your base, destructive drives and prevent yourselves from doing so much harm.  The better, higher impulse of restraint does not usually rule you.  Way lower down is where you get most of your drives.  This scientific quest is an example of what I'm talking about.  It is said to be for pure knowledge, but that's a lie.  It is really a quest for one man's glory, and ultimately, power over everyone."
         "Captain Crabnoyse?"  inquired Edgar.
         "Captain Crabnoyse."  answered Sep.  "Not all humans are as enslaved as the captain to base motives, but everyone on this ship is a hostage to his ambition.  This ship is bound to become a total wreckage because of his lust for power and prestige, and all your lives will be lost."
         "What, exactly does the captain plan to do that he isn't telling us?"  asked Edgar.
         "The captain lied to the professor about his purpose.  He knows about us, but not nearly as much as we know about him.  He intends to invade our city like human raiders have done to human peoples in your past, and carry off a piece of anything or anyone of ours he thinks he can plunder."
         "The character within a person always comes to light.  You are in danger for your lives because your captain is a total narcissist.  Therefore, he has a complete lack of reverence for life, except his own and an appalling blindness to the truth of what he encounters.  He has seen our city and only thinks of how that could make him famous.  Crabnoyse could never see who we are because he is morally incapable.  But there are much better humans than he, which brings me to you."
         "Edgar, I choose you.  If our kind has to deal with the captain's evil and reckless invasion of our city, then the future between our kind and yours grows very dim.  For all my powers, I cannot solve the root of the problem.  Humans have to do that, themselves.  Humans have to change.  We can help, but it is for you to stop your dark and violent drives.  The meeting between our kinds is inevitable now.  Whether it goes badly or well is up to your side."
         "People are amazing to us, Edgar.  You are so intelligent and have come so far in technology, but in truth, technical advancements are no big deal.  We could reveal everything humans are trying to figure out in an instant.  We could answer all your questions in science and technology and tell you more than you thought to ask about.  We can make stuff appear and disappear.  We can re-arrange the atoms and free energies of jellyfish into a rocket ship, or a rotting carcass into a brilliant diamond.  Humans will eventually learn how to do all that by manipulating atoms, molecules and free energies to this degree.  It's really no big deal." 
         "What is a big deal is if you learn to restrain your tendency to follow evil, self-serving paths. If you don't finally get the lessons that you have had from your own ancient history revealed in books that warn you against following lust, greed and self-worship, you will come to an abrupt and tragic end.  We have contacts with many species of intelligent life in our galaxy.  There's a lot of life out there for humans to find out about, and in your lifetime, it all could be revealed."
         "Think about it.  What intelligent race in the whole universe would want to meet you like you are?  The usual ways of your kind are beyond shameful.  We keep defending you because we've been with you from the beginning.  We are your fellow earthlings.  We are two species with the spark of higher consciousness.  If you can turn course then we could still have the first success in the galaxy of the meeting of two intelligent kinds on one planet."  Edgar collapsed, crying;
         "I can't...I can't make the world behave itself like it should!"  Edgar broke out in louds sobs.  "Just annihilate us!  I can't make everyone root out evil.  You can!"
         "Now stop that.  Stop crying and listen.  Of course you can't.  I'm more powerful and I can't make humans root it out, either.  What you must do, though, is stop this crazy captain.  If you value life, if you care that humans have a future, you have to act now.  I gave you the bigger picture, which isn't upon your shoulders, alone.  Just handle the evil man and mission of this ship."
         "I have too many questions.  First, you called the captain evil?  I hear he's just crazy.  Isn't that it?  I mean, he doesn't want to wipe us out or make us his slaves, does he?  All I know is that he forgot our food, doesn't like to talk, and that chemical accident...whose fault was that, anyway?"  Sep answered;
         "It absolutely was the captain's fault.  He is reckless.  He's not doing anything intentional to those on board, that's true.  But he is completely neglecting his duty to others.  He is heedless of any consideration except his own personal agenda to snatch one of us, as in a kidnapping and use that for his path to glory.  To this aim, all of you are hostages to be starved.  He didn't intend to hold you his hostages and starve you but this is where his delusions of self-grandeur has brought us all.  These evil outcomes are not accidents.  They're the result of his bungling, and he bungles his responsibilities to others because all he sees is himself sitting upon a throne once he's plundered our city and made us give him our power.  Like Emperors of your past ages, he imagines that the knowledge revealed in his day has put him on the top of creation.
         "So, what am I to do?" Edgar inquired, yelling.  Why do you think I'm so good at dealing with this?  TALK TO ME!"  Sep replied sternly;
         "Calm down."  He vanished instantly from his sight.
         "Hey, wait!  Where did you go?  Please...!"  He desperately searched the floor.
         "I'm up here."  Sep  was on the very edge of the bunk bed.
         "Okay, that was good!  Show me more of your tricks, just don't leave me."
         "You have to handle this.  Stay calm."
         "Alright.  Okay.  I'll stay calm, but what am I supposed to do about Captain Evil?"
          "Look down by your feet where you first saw me."
         He looked down.  There was a gun with a blue handle and a long silver barrel.  There was no trigger.
         "Pick it up."  ordered Sep. 
         "I made this gun from the extra pair of sneakers you brought.  You won't need the sneakers, but you will need the gun.  It has three bullets.  All of them are for you."  With the gun comfortably in his hand, he looked imploringly at Sep. 
         "All of them are for you." Sep repeated.  "Think of these bullets as inoculations against evil.  I'm here because I believe you are the only one who can take them and live.  It won't be easy and nothing, at this point is certain.  We are rushing headlong into a confrontation.  It is a desperate measure to help humans who have had so much trouble shutting the valves to evil.  Once the bullets are in you, you will learn to help others to shut the valves."  Sep finally disappeared, leaving Edgar alone with the gun.
         Up on deck a hunger riot was starting to break out.  Alvin Maldocks found the courage to tell all his students the truth while he handed out his candy bars.  Captain Crabnoyse had fixed the Intruder's hydraulic system and was seen by a few of the students on top of the Intruder, entering the cockpit.  More gathered around and started shouting;
         "Where's our food that we paid for?  Who are you, anyway?  Are you an Alien?"  The captain had lowered the glass shield and belted himself in.  He started the engines.  The Intruder's propulsion whirred and roared, drowning out the student's shouts.  The students who had gathered in front got out of the way just soon enough to avoid being run over as the craft darted off over the end of the deck and into the ocean.  They were all silent.  Maldocks spoke to them;
         "I don't even know if I can take control of the ship," he said, ruefully, "but I have to try.  Anyone care to help?"  All of the students eagerly volunteered.

         Alone in the cabin, he stared down the barrel of the gun.
         "Three bullets, all of them for you." were the words he heard again, this time unknowing if it was coming from within his own head or not.  He put the gun to his forehead.  He anticipated a bullet and squeezed the handle.  It then fired into his brain.
         He passed out for a moment, then came to with the gun still in his hand.  With his free hand he felt the center of his forehead, just above his eyes where he noticed some soreness.  His finger found a soft circle of skin about the diameter of a ping-pong ball, healed but without skull bone behind it.  It flexed into his head when he pressed with his finger, like a very loose drum skin.  Most surprising to him was the sensation he got when he sat up.  It was then he could feel a loose, heavy slug rolling inside his skull from back to center, then to the front, pushing out on the loose forehead skin he had just felt with his finger.  Amazed, he tilted his head slightly back and felt the slug roll to the center.  Then he tilted his head to his right side and he felt it hit the inside of his skull just above his ear.  Then, to the left, he felt the same impact inside, above his left ear.  To really see if he had something rolling around in his head, he swirled his head like a gyre.  The slug rolled and rolled.  As he swirled faster, he could feel the weighty ball go around faster and faster.  This finally began to freak him out.  He stopped and held his head up.  He felt the ball roll in a spiral, continuing its momentum.  It rolled in a tighter and tighter circle.  Edgar let out a yell;
         "AHHHH!" 
         The ball spiraled inward and sped up, going in smaller and smaller revolutions until it sat motionless in a hole in the base of his brain.  Now when he moved his head, it rolled no more, but he definitely felt more weight on his shoulders.
         "Not for glory, not for revenge," went the words in his head, "but as a humble task I shall kill Crabnoyse."  Just then he had a brief image pop into his mind:  he saw Sep surrounded by others that looked like eggs doing a carefully coordinated dance.  The egg-like creatures moved in a complex series of arcs, criss-crossing one another while Sep bounced in rhythm.  In the background was the city in the photograph shown back in class.  The image went away and Edgar moved the gun down to his chest.

         All the students crowded into the control center of the ship.  They all were struggling to keep the noise down in this chaotic searching where each was on his or her own to try to find out how to run the ship. 

         He calmed himself as he held the gun very still.  It was now pointing directly at his breast bone.  He squeezed the handle.  This time a fountain of his blood spurted forth as the second bullet fired in and lodged itself in his heart.  Receiving the second bullet proved very painful.  He didn't pass out, but the stunning agony of having a heavy slug rip through his ribcage and into his heart made him struggle to regain his breath.  He tried feebly to stop his bleeding, when he heard;
         "Leave behind worry.  Tomorrow will come with its trials.  Do not fear what evil lies ahead.  All is now beyond control, except for how I take it."  His bleeding stopped.  He knew a calm like he had never known before.

         Heather clapped her hands and stood on a stool next to Maldocks.  The students got quiet and listened.  Heather said;          
         "When we were sprayed with the hydraulic chemical and our skin was burning, remember that our teacher acted quickly to keep any of us from getting more serious burns.  Then, when our clothes turned hard and fell off, it was my boyfriend, Edgar who brought these awful suits.  We have something to wear, at least.  Yes, he's on board, which was a surprise to me.  Since seeing him I have felt better about being here, even though I don't know how this will all turn out.  But I know this:  Our teacher is a leader we have all looked up to for nearly a year.  For a year he has proven that he thinks of us, first and does all he can for us.  He has been our inspiration to find new life in the ocean.  Will you all agree with me that he should be our captain and that we will take his orders and stay calm?"
         All agreed.  She turned to Alvin Maldocks.
         "Teacher, we trust you like no one else on earth.  It is not your fault that we are in this trouble.  We all stand behind you.  Take courage and be our captain.  Tell us what to do.  Each of us is ready to obey your command."

         If Edgar hadn't been made strong by the second bullet, he wouldn't have taken the third one.  The pain had been a doorway to the greater realization that deadening his own fears and desires made for true calm.  He could achieve submission to whatever comes.  He pointed at his navel and fired.  The nerves throughout his body caught on fires with pain of many colors.  This time the pain of the bullet entering him increased manyfold.  He endured helplessly while all the pain a human being is capable of experiencing blasted away from his navel out to every region of his body.  It was an experience way beyond reacting to as a flesh-and-bone being.  For a moment he became a man of such pain that he glowed in bodily hurt, as if he had fallen into the sun but could not die from the intense burning.  He heard these words;
         "Take on suffering, not for my gain.  I am nothing but the duty I have been assigned by my destiny."

         Back at the control desk Captain Maldocks was giving a speech:
         "This is a crisis and I will be brief.  Crabnoyse will return and we must overthrow him.  He's dangerous.  We have to try to force him to take us to the nearest island for food.  I want five volunteers to help subdue him.  I'll question him."  Five male students quickly raised their hands.
         "Come with me, the five of you.  The rest of you try to learn what you can about navigating the ship.  If anyone has an urgent suggestion, you can come see me on deck where the Intruder was.  Please don't disturb us unless it is important.  We have a serious problem and I don't know how well armed he is.  We have to concentrate."
         "Look!"  said one of the students, pointing at the monitor screen.  Up on the monitor was the view Crabnoyse had of the bottom of the ocean in the Intruder.  They could all see that the craft was approaching the city.
         "Its a city!"  said one of the students, excitedly.
         "Yes." returned Maldocks.  "I didn't give you what must be the answer to the riddle I posed in class.  I was going to let you try to discover it, and now you got it.  It must be a city build by a yet-unknown race of intelligent undersea dwellers.  Crabnoyse's intent all along was to snatch what he could while we sat in awe of him and his plunder.  I can't imagine these Beings are powerless to take this submissively.  This cannot come to good."  Just then, Edgar came in with the gun in his hand.
         "Edgar!"  yelled the students in the back.  They cleared away from him when they saw the unusual gun.  He walked forward to the monitor and saw, to his horror, the view of Crabnoyses' approach to the city.  Heather went up to him to embrace him, then noticed a circular indentation upon his forehead.
         "What did you do to yourself?"  she inquired.  He didn't answer her.  She pressed the place with her fingers and felt no bone.
         "AHHH!"  she gasped.
         "Does the intercom system transmit to the craft?"  he asked.
         "I don't know."  replied Maldocks.  "Try it and see if you can get him to return right now."  Edgar put the microphone up to his mouth and pressed the button.
         "Captain Crabnoyse, Captain Crabnoyse, please return to the ship at once.  Captain Crabnoyse!"  After a moment of seeing no change in the Intruder's direction Edgar laughed;
         "This is pathetic!  Even if he can hear me, he won't listen and turn back.  He has to be made to do it."
          Both of the pinchers on the craft were now extended to take a piece of the city.  It was getting very close to one of the structures.  Edgar took his index finger, middle finger and ring finger and put them together so the ends made a finger triagle.  This he pressed into the skin-covered hole in his forehead.  He closed his eyes to concentrate very hard as he pointed the gun at the monitor screen.
         "I need power."  he said in a whisper.  Then;
         "All power off."  The control room went dark that instant and the hum of the ship's engines went silent.  Edgar ran down on to the bow of the ship, looked over to the side and watched the sea.  The others followed to watch.  In several minutes the Intruder bobbed up to the surface.  Crabnoyse hastily lifted the glass cover and hopped out on top of the craft.
         "God-damn it!  Who killed my power?"  he shouted.
         "I did."  returned Edgar.
         "How?"  demanded Crabnoyse.
         "With this."  He showed the gun.  "Now watch while I turn it back on.  I'm giving you just enough power to get yourself and that thing up here like it was.  You are going to answer some questions.  And do it carefully.  There's people up here."
         He pointed the gun as before and the craft fired up.  Crabnoyse glanced wide-eyed back at the gun and then at the craft several times.  He returned to the cockpit and roared off into the air.  The craft turned around towards the ship, fired landing jets and landed softly upon the deck where it had taken off.  Crabnoyse opened the glass hatch again and stood up in the cockpit.  He pointed at Edgar and said;
         "Whatever that is, hand it over!  Let me have it right now!"  Edgar answered;
         "When I let you have it, you're a gonner.  Until then, do as I say because the gun stays in my hand pointing your way."  Crabnoyse shouted back;
         "If you don't want to be court-marshalled, big-boy, then hand it over!  The ancient law of the sea says there's only one captain and he is in charge of the ship and everyone in it.  IN THIS PLACE I RULE!"
         "We might let you put those last words on your tombstone," returned Edgar in a normal voice, "but I have news; you're not the captain anymore."
         "SAYS WHO?"
         "Says we.  Now get down and start this ship.  Let Captain Maldocks learn how to run it, along with the students he wants with him at the controls.  It would be tragic to have to kill you before we learned what we need to know."
         Crabnoyse descended the craft, went up in the bridge and flipped switches at the control desk.  The power came back and then the engines.  Edgar had taken off his shirt.  He walked in bare-chested.  Those who saw him gasped in horror.  In the middle of his chest was a bloody wound.  Dried blood radiated outward and a stream had flowed down to his navel.
         "I am now disarmed."  he said, holding his arms outward.           
         "What happened to you?"  shrieked Heather when she saw.  He didn't answer her.  Crabnoyse then turned.  When he saw his bloody chest he leaped out of his chair.  He cried out;
         "What kind of weird thing are you?  Alright, that kid's dangerous!  I can deal with that!"  Then he turned and ran out another exit away from Edgar.
         "Where's he going?"  asked one of the students.  Edgar answered;
         "To get a gun to shoot me with.  You all better stay well back.  I'll meet him on the stern."
         There he stood, waiting, hands on his hips.  Crabnoyse snooped around with a stun-gun under his arm.  It was long and awkward, causing him to bump it on boxes as he tried to sneak up to his target while crouched down.  Then, assault-style he popped-up, aimed and pulled the trigger.  Electrical bolts made an arc around Edgar, never hitting him.
         "It doesn't hit you.  It's not working."  said Crabnoyse as he regarded his gun with puzzlement.
         "A stun-gun only works on someone who is capable of being stunned."  said Edgar.
         Just then Heather ran excitedly to Crabnoyse and kicked him.  Then she grabbed the stun-gun, but he held it fast and they struggled with it for a moment.  She let go, and with both hands clinched together started pummeling him as hard as she could.  With her wild, emotional attacking and her bound up hands, she was an easy target.  Crabnoyse grabbed her and held her tight in front of him.
         "Now she's my hostage!  Girlfriend, right kid?  Whatever you do to me you'll do to her, instead!  I demand that gun of yours.  Now, surrender!"  Edgar pressed calm inside himself.  He watched Heather start to collapse in heaving sobs.  Her legs were giving way and Crabnoyse started to have trouble holding his gun and her, too as she slowly fell.  Her body kept jerking in convulsive crying.
         "Please stand up, Heather, honey."  said Edgar, softly to her.  She howled in anguish, making it even harder for Crabnoyse to hold her.
         "Stand up damn-you or I'll shoot you!"  shouted Crabnoyse.
         "Take it easy on her, Crabnoyse.  Heather, trust my words:  Calm yourself.  Think.  He'll just kill you with that thing if you keep on like this, so get a hold of yourself.  Start by breathing normally."  Heather stared fixedly upon Edgar and stopped heaving and crying.
         "Good!  You can do this."  said Edgar.  "Now stand up straight and be a good hostage."  She obeyed.  Crabnoyse looked with amazement upon this.  This caused him to loose his grip on the stun gun and he fumbled with it.  Edgar had put his three fingers together like before and pushed them into his forehead.  He closed his eyes, reached into his chest and pulled out the gun from Sep.  He pointed it at the two of them and whispered;
         "I need power now.  Save Heather.  Annihilate Crabnoyse."  He squeezed the handle.  Several seconds of complete silence came after.  No one moved.  Suddenly Heather screamed and sprung away from Crabnoyse in violent revulsion.  She ran two steps and cupped her mouth and stomach while falling to the floor.
         "She might be sick, but she'll be alright."  said Edgar.  "Heather is in shock.  She just realized what happened.  Give her some space."  When Heather regained enough composure to use her voice she shouted;
         "He's plastic!  You turned him into a piece of plastic!"
         Crabnoyse stood solid with a weak grip on his gun.  The students started to stir with commotion.  The stun gun slipped out from under his arm causing the stiff figure to become unbalanced.  It, or he, rocked over to the left side, then back, then forward to fall face down on the floor.  He bounced a few times, cracking more and more.  When it finally went still, one of the eyes rolled out like a marble across the floor.  His captain's suit had cracks going all down his back and legs.  Edgar went over and pulled at the collar of the suit.  A big piece, going all the way to his foot came off, exposing his buttocks.  Edgar violently flipped him over.  His one-eyed face had cracks radiating out from his shattered nose.  Edgar pulled a big shard of face off near the side of the nose.  He held it up.  It was diamond-shaped, with the lower section a piece of cheek and the upper a piece of forehead.  In between was an empty eye-slit with no eyebrow over it.  He gently placed that piece on a box nearby.  He stooped, scooped up the body in his arms and stood, holding the figure chest-high.  A few fragments fell off.  Edgar gazed into the remaining eye on the face, then dropped the solid figure to the floor.  Crabnoyse shattered like no other thing ever seen.  It went into fragments no bigger than grains of rice.  As each of these scattered about they shattered further and further until it all went way beyond dust, becoming soot and ash that floated wisp-like into the air.
         Everyone's amazement was broken by the arrival of Sep from the water.  Sep came up from over the back rail and floated by, briefly touching each student's face.
         "Whoa, WHAT'S THIS?"  shouted one student.
         "This is Sep."  answered Edgar.  "Everyone say, 'How do you do, Sep?'"  No one spoke up.  After touching all of them, Sep laughed and bounced upon the floor, going with each bounce towards the bow of the ship.
         "Who brought a tuba?" someone asked.
         "What do I smell!"  said another.  There was a delightful smell in the air of many foods.  It first smelled of baking bread, then sizzling sausages and onions.  Some smelled hamburgers cooking and pies baking.  There was a tomato-and-basil something cooking and pork ribs, too.  The students all started going crazy smelling the air and looking around.
         "I think Sep is going to feed us at the bow of the ship!"  exclaimed Edgar.
         "LET'S GO!"  they all shouted together.  The bow became one big triangular table with all the food they smelled and much, much more.  Seventy-five place settings and chairs surrounded the food." 
         "He turned the Intruder into food!"  yelled Edgar excitedly.
         "FOOD!  FOOD!"  They all shouted.  Each hurried and took a place.  Edgar held up a hand and said;
         "Wait.  Let's have a miracle before we eat.  Let us forget our hunger for a while."
         And they did.
         No longer hungry, they stood before their plates and looked at Edgar.  He continued;
         "Now, all of you look down upon your plates.  Look through your plates.  Look through the table to the floor.  Now look through the floor to the hull of the ship.  Now look through the hull and see into the ocean.  See deeper and deeper into the water.  Down, down and further down.  Let us keep going until..."  they all said "Ooooh!" together.  They were seeing the actual city on the bottom of the ocean, all glowing in colors and vibrating with living beings of many shapes who were flowing about.  There was an electric grid connecting all the strange buildings, and they could see the energy that flowed peacefully through the grid.
         Sep appeared to them above his city.  He made 'eights' in his movements in the water.  The lobes of his 'eights' narrowed and he changed his shape to fill them.  He was now a propeller.  He spun faster and faster until the water he moved lifted the Ocean Slicer.  Everyone on the ship felt the lift, then when Sep stopped, they felt the ship lower back down.  Sep slipped into his city and it all disappeared from their sights, except for empty dinner plates.  Edgar spoke;
         "O-Kay!  Now let us have our hunger again and eat!"

         Two days later everyone was hungry again, but this time they were much happier.  The big meal from Sep had tied them over for an extra day and they were all preoccupied with various duties that Captain Maldocks had given each one.  Over the speaker system they heard him announce;
         "I want to talk with all of you up in Control.  We have a decision to make."  When everyone was gathered he said;
         "I finally got this thing pretty well figured out and I have a good idea where we are.  It will be at least three days getting back to San Francisco.  We are approaching one of the Marquesas Islands.  We got way off-course and that's why we're south of the equator.  Now the question is; shall we stop and ask the people if they will give us something to eat?"
         "YEAH!"  They all roared.
         "Oh, God!  If we could get anything else to wear but these stupid suits, that would be great, too." said a student.
         "I know.  I know." returned Maldocks.  "My skin needs a breath, too.  I hate these things we're wearing.  I'm just glad none of you gave up on wearing them and went naked.  We have a lot to ask for; food for all of us, and perhaps, clothing.  If they refuse us, then we'll just have to respect that and suffer through the next three days.  Let's hope for the best."
         The Islanders were alarmed to see what looked like a war ship coming at them, but when they saw the smiling, waving people in grey suits they were curious and signaled to come to the island.
         That night the students learned new songs and dances by the fires.  They had been taught how to make grass skirts and palm-leaf hats.  No more bad suits!
         The next morning they boarded the ship and waved goodbye to the islanders.  Off they all went, wearing grass skirts and palm-leaf hats, singing and dancing.  The Islanders had given them Island food for the journey home.

         Three days later Captain Maldocks called over the speaker system;
         "I need to talk to Edgar alone, up in control."
         "Aye, Captain?"
         "I see the Marin Headlands.  That means San Francisco is five hours away."
         "Aye, sir."  returned Edgar.
         "I myself, thought like Crabnoyse, back when I started teaching."  mused Maldocks.
         "You inspired us all to think much more deeply." returned Edgar.
         "It's too quiet.  Up until yesterday everyone was dancing and singing.  Are they alright?"
         "Never better!" answered Edgar.  "Now everyone has a mate.  There's going to be thirty-seven marriages when we get back, including Heather and I."  Maldocks rolled his eyes.
         "So that's what's been going on.  I thought all these grass skirts would bring their consequences!"
         "You're wearing one too, sir.  Ever think of getting married?"
         "I'm not the marrying type."
         "No?"
         "No.  Not me.  And Edgar, I'm quitting teaching."
         "You are?"
         "Yes.  I found what I'm made for: To be captain of this ship.  But first, l have some explaining to do, to say the least.  I need that brittle piece of his face that you kept.  That's all there is left to give in evidence of our story.  I hope forensics experts can tell it's polymerized human face.  I'm sure glad we're stopping in San Francisco, the city that loves bizarre tales."
         "Sir, there is not one of us who would not go all out to stand by and defend you.  Just call on anyone, or everyone of us.  We'll be there for you all the way."  Maldock smiled tenderly.  He closed his eyes and nodded his head.  After a moment of silence between them, Maldocks spoke;
         "I have a question.  What does it mean to possess something?  I can hold something I do not possess and possess something I do not hold.  If I possess something, does that give it life?  I can control it.  Am I enlarged somehow by that?  Should I take my possessions and put them into my head, my chest or my stomach to really make them 'mine'?  Do they make me more rich?  Or do they possess me?  You know, we met our master, that little living ball you talked with.  From that Being we gained the power to save ourselves.  I will think about that for the rest of my life.  I don't need any possession that I thought I needed before."
         "One last thing," he continued, "After all we've been through, I am still requiring that scientific paper that you promised for publication ."
         "Aye, captain.  I did the paper and put the truth in it."
         "Good.  I want to hear the abstract."
         "Here we go..." Edgar recited; "On the floor of the Pacific Ocean we have discovered a glowing city of structures built by an unknown intelligent species.  I was introduced to one of the dwellers of the city, a talking, self-propelling, shape-shifting capable, basketball-sized sphere of superior intelligence who named himself, "Sep".  Sep has a message, warning about our unfitness to encounter their kind in a constructive way that would benefit both our species.  Attaining such fitness on our part may have positive outcomes on such future encounters elsewhere in the galaxy.  Failure would mean our extinction.  Sep reminds us to return to our own old sacred texts for badly needed species improvement."  Maldocks groaned.
         "Shall I continue, captain?"
         "I was just thinking."
         "Captain?"  inquired Edgar.
         "We want to publish this in every scientific journal we can."
         "Aye, captain."
         "One look at that abstract and we'll be blacklisted from every publication in the nation."
         "Aye, captain."  After a pause, he said;
         "Don't you dare change a word of it."
         "Aye-aye, Captain Maldocks."
         And so on they went, Captain Maldocks and his students, now thrity-seven happy couples in grass skirts, full power ahead to face the nation with their story.  None had any fear of what may lie ahead or the harsh questioning they would likely face.  They all knew they were coming home as pioneers of a new humanity.