The First and Last Man - pt 1

The First and Last Man (part 1 of 2)

Eli’zan sighed in extreme frustration. He had worked furiously on this project for more than 216 of this planet’s rotations. There was yet to be any real progress made and he was genuinely afraid that Section Leader 11 Khra’Then would punish him for the lack of results. Eli’zan slotted his fingers into the data-nodes of his neuro-processor and began to formulate yet another report on his shortcomings. After he transmitted his report he retired to his personal hibernation chamber. It would be several partial planetary rotations before he reached his permitted sleep cycle period. When he encountered difficult problems Eli’zan felt it was necessary to step away from the processors and the Leaders and gather his thoughts alone. He slowly lowered himself into one of his recreational seating platforms to think. He accessed the holographic display built in the platform and ordered a replica of the current planet. As the hologram assembled itself in front of him he began to think on his current task. He was ordered to discover, catalog, and physically recreate a specimen of this planet’s highest evolutionary being. After successful recreation he was to bring his specimen and present it before the High Leadership Council of Threat Determination. There the Council would study each specimen and decide if this planet would be considered for a complete planetary reconstruction. It was considered an incredible honor for your Section’s planet to be selected and to date Eli’zan had yet to receive his first nomination. The hologram emitted a sharp buzz signaling it’s readiness and he activated a theorized planetary time line reenactment. The hologram began with the planet’s landmass in one giant super-formation. As time progressed the landmass broke apart into smaller pieces which slowly drifted across the planet. The hologram included red icons to simulate the data his coworkers had compiled on their individual species. As the continents drifted the icons warped and moved to simulate the evolution and migration of those species. Eli’zan’s species icon was not included in the data given. Until his data was perfect and complete it would not be considered and he had to reconstruct a living specimen of his species.

Eli’zan dismissed the hologram and lifted himself off of the platform. He was weary yet he must attempt another creation again. His allotted time on the project was quickly running out. As he was nearing the portal into the laboratory the opposite wall shimmered and a shrill tone filled the air. He activated the visual wall-communicator and was instantly filled with fear was the image of Section Leader 11 Khra’Then filled the screen.

“Evolutionary Threat Producer Eli’zan, you have not submitted a finalized report on Species 7.” said the Section Leader angrily. “Your lack of response is irregular and should you fail in your duty to the Council you may face punishment. This punishment will range from galactic exile to reconstitution in the genetic storage pools. You have less than 3 full local planetary cycles to submit your report. Do you understand your deadline correctly?”

Eli’zan worked furiously to keep his emotions under control. He attempted to assert a submissive demeanor. “I understand the deadline, Section Leader. It is not my intent to fail at my duty to the Council.” He frowned and spoke with a worried tone. “The data is not being interpreted correctly. There is something the Section is not comprehending about this planet. There is an irregularity. There is...”

“Negative!”. The Section Leader exclaimed as Eli’zan was cut off sharply. “If this Section fails in it’s duty and presentation then it will be because Evolutionary Threat Producer Eli’zan was defective and was no longer able to perform his duties at an acceptable level.” The image of the Section Leader flickered as if to echo his displeasure. “Less than 3 local cycles.” The wall went black and faded back into the dull gray it originally was.

Eli’zan sighed in frustration again. He knew there was something critical in the current data set that he was not understanding. He slowly walked into the laboratory. Approaching the specimen creation pod he began to erase the existing data matrix. He knew he would have to start again from the very beginning. Once the existing data was erased he began to upload new data into the pod. It was not until he was compiling the required information on species evolutionary development that he had a breakthrough. Frantically he activated a new planetary hologram and loaded his team’s data. This time he included his own incomplete data from his research on Species 7. As the varied species’ icons changed and moved about the planet he focused on Species 7 and how it related to the others. At first Species 7 lived in harmony with the other prime planetary beings. At some point that began to change, however. Eli’zan watched the hologram in glee as the other icons moved away from Species 7. It was as if the other species were afraid of 7 and were fleeing it. As time progressed Species 7 multiplied exponentially and quickly took over the whole surface of the planet. It seemed as if 7 was the only creatures on this planet. As rapidly as 7 evolved and rose in power it fell just as rapidly. In the matter of one hundred local planetary cycles Species 7 disappeared from this planet and the other species continued their slow and steady evolutionary processes.

This was an event that no other Section Team had encountered before. A species, late in the evolutionary cycle of a life-bearing planet, rose to dominance at unbelievable speed and then self-destructed just as quickly. Eli’zan ran several tests on this new data. He had to be absolutely sure of his theory before he attempted another physical reconstruction from the genetic material given to his team. Every test he ran produced the exact same positive results. He simulated the Species 7 planetary evolution track several more times only to repeat identical conclusions. Bolstered by his positive tests Eli’zan apprehensively added the final data sequences into the specimen creation pod. The missing piece of data that himself, and his team, had missed on Species 7 was that it was unique in one aspect compared to the other species on this planet, and in most of the universe. Intelligence. Quickly he composed a brief message to his team relaying his new data and his intent. This had never been attempted before. Eli’zan activated the icon to begin the physical construction of his new specimen and watched in equal parts interest and dread as a member of Planetary Object 3175-9 Species 7 was created from ancient genetic material.




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