Opening Moves (2 page)

He raised a brow and took the offered mobile computer from his twin. Pyshana was as slender as he was, leaning more towards the wiry frame of their mother rather than the athletic built of their father. As wasn't unusual for twins, they were the closest of siblings and had been since their day of birth. Through childhood they had been inseparable, both the bane of their teachers with their trouble making and the schools prize pupils after excelling in the sciences. For Corr'tane it was biology. Pyshana, her shoulder-long black mane having a slight metallic-green touch, had dug into astronomy.

“Always with her head in the stars,” he remembered their mother saying with a smile.

He reviewed the presented information, recognizing it as astronomical data relating to their home world's star. Some of the figures seemed... unusual, to say the least. “What is this?”

“An analysis I was conducting of our sun. You know, the newsfeeds have carried reports of oddly colored sunsets for some weeks now. Well, you know how I am: I was wondering
why
that was the case,” she shrugged sheepishly. “So I took a look at the most likely suspects. I thought it might be solar flare activity, or perhaps magnetic disturbances. Maybe the beginning of a solar cool-down phase. They are rare, but we know from ice-core analysis that they've occurred in the past.”

“
That'd be just like you, being the one to find out about the next global ice age to hit Karashan,” Corr'tane grumbled.

“
Why, thank you, brother, for your great confidence in my ability to herald disaster,” Pyshana retorted snappishly, but her smile waned quickly. Her voice was solemn when she continued. “And herald disaster I do. It's not an ice age. Those figures show something very different. Something a lot
worse
, if I'm right.”

“
The magnetic field.” He spotted the particular source of the problem. “It's unbalanced.”

“
That doesn't even begin to describe it. Solar magnetic fields are usually rather volatile things. Our sun shouldn't be any different. In fact, last year's data, hells, the stellar survey the university itself did three months ago shows the normal activity of a normal magnetic field. And now this!” she pointed at the data in Corr'tane's hands. “It's become
static
, brother. Far as I can tell, that's what's causing the spectral anomalies.” Pyshana pointed to some figures.

“
How can these be?” He shook his head, a deep frown set on his face. “This is completely unheard of!”

“
No need to tell me that.
I
know, but because I tend to be thorough and have a reputation to lose, I checked the figures eight times. Hells, I bounced them off the university's AI system, literally a thousand times. And I wish I was wrong, but it doesn't look like it,” she sighed, and for the first time since Corr'tane could remember he thought he could hear fear in his sister's voice. “Somehow our sun is undergoing a change. That's strange, but it isn't worst of it.” She produced a data drive and jammed it into a wall monitor. “This is a solid projection based on the figures. It shows how this change in the magnetic field affects the sun in the long term. Unfortunately, it's not the static phase we've got to be worried about,” she commented very quietly.

Corr'tane intently studied the simulation on the large screen. The magnetic field, stable at first, began to recede. It started slowly, at a pace hardly noticeable even at the high resolution on his screen. As time passed, the process accelerated, and suddenly he watched the bluish bubble vanish around Karashan as it collapsed inwards, shrinking towards the inner planets, lifeless rocks visited only by automated mining operations.

“At this point, life on Karashan would have been eradicated,” Pyshana remarked calmly, pausing the presentation. “Without the magnetic field we'd be exposed to the full brunt of cosmic radiation. Even our higher tolerance wouldn't help us against the amounts we'd be exposed to, to say nothing of the rest of the biosphere. It'd be deadly, but it's sadly not the end of the projections.”

The presentation continued.

“There are only two ways this will end, brother. Once the field strength has decreased to a certain point its likely our sun will collapse,” she stared at the image on the screen, showing the bright yellow star the way it should be, warming Karashan, protecting her people. “It'll either shed much of its mass in a supernova-like explosion, turning into a white dwarf star, or it'll collapse into a black hole, which shouldn't be possible with that type of sun! And that's the second kicker: the sun is gaining mass. Whether it's from dark matter or from the ghosts of our ancestors I don't know, but it's definitively the case,” she threw up her hands in frustration.

“
By the gods' mercy,” Corr'tane breathed. “How long until this happens?”

Pyshana looked away. “About twenty years. Twenty-five, if we're lucky.”

“Twenty years!” he jumped up from his chair. “Twenty centuries would be too short a time! But, twenty years? Gods!”

“
I know, but that's what it is!” she sounded as desperate as Corr'tane felt that moment. “We have fifteen years before all life in this entire system is eradicated!”

He collapsed back into the chair, totally aghast and yet painfully aware of the repercussions of what his twin had discovered. It was a cruel irony. All his work at trying to save lives and prolong life itself now didn't mean a damn. In a twist of galactic fate his people were going to be snuffed out like a candle in the wind within the absurdly short time of less than a generation. It was too much to accept or believe.

“We must take this to the National Science Council at once,” he whispered, unable to speak louder, through shock.

“
I've sent a message demanding an emergency meeting,” Pyshana explained, sounding less than thrilled. “Please, brother: come with me. You know I am hopeless at presentations. And this is the highest scientific panel in all the Dominion!”

“
Yes, of course I will be there!” he grabbed her arm firmly. “You're absolutely certain you took the right measurements?”

“
Of course I'm sure!” she responded with a slight wail.

Sometimes he forgot how young they both still were. But the news had seemingly aged him decades in an instant.

“I know you did,” he calmed her down as best as his own torn state of mind allowed. “But if this is true it's the greatest and most life changing discovery
ever
. Our entire race's future depends on how we react to this news. It must be accurate, sister. It must be right!”

“
It is, Corr'tane. Gods help us, it truly is.”

“
Then summon your courage, Pyshana. We must make them see what the future holds for us all. Hells,” he ran a harried hand across his face, no noticing the thin, almost white fur.” We are the last generation of Ashani to live here on Karashan. Just consider that for a moment! All our history and ancestry, all the millennia of life and civilization, all of it will disappear!” He took a deep breath. “But it does not mean our people also will. A lot can happen in fifteen years if we prepare. Whatever is causing this: perhaps we can reverse it. Or at least move away to our colonies. There must be
something
!”

“
Brother, but what can we do in just a decade and a half?” his female twin shrugged.

Corr'tane fixed her with a confident stare, purpose suddenly filling his veins.

“We can do whatever it takes to ensure that our legacy, our
people
, survives.” He took the data drive and placed it in his lab coat. “Come on, sister. Let's find the science council. Every second now is too precious to waste.”

Without even changing out of his lab clothes Corr'tane led the way out of the university's research tract. Noticing the look in his eyes fellow scientists and students on the campus grounds alike got out of the young, lean researcher's path. They took a mag-rail ride to the capital city's center and towards the elegantly built
National Science Council
. In his pocket lay the future destiny of the Ashani race – and of the galaxy surrounding it.

The NSC was, in name and qualifications both, a highly distinguished group. They represented the peak achievements of cutting edge science across the Dominion and were the peers of the scientific academy. Putting it in simpler terms, they were Corr'tane's superiors in every professional meaning of the word. And they were waiting.

They received Corr'tane and his sister in the official Chamber of Inquiry. This was where the apex of Ashani scientific debate was held. Twenty of them sat in a high tier of seats circled half a meter above the small open floor used for giving presentations to the council and the academy. Half again as many attended as holograms. That space was currently occupied by both Corr'tane and Pyshana, who now activated the holographic imager and presented her data. The presentation was short but concise, and not once did the council interrupt. When it was over silence hung for three whole minutes until the young female Ashani scientist could not stand it any longer.

“
So, what will you do?” Pyshana demanded to know, exhaustion creeping into her voice. It was a flagrant breach of the strict protocol governing council presentations where only the high scientists asked questions.

“
This data you have provided,” a deep, sonorous voice said. “It is
impossible
.”

Pyshana blinked, letting her mouth hang open in disbelief for a moment. “I've laid open my sources. Respected members of the NSC: I assure you the data is completely accurate.”

“It obviously is
not
. Such stellar activity is completely against all known laws of physics. This leaves as the only explanations either faults in the data or in its analysis.”

Pyshana couldn't believe her ears. Her fine feline features twitched. “Fine, then check both my data and my approach for yourselves!” she almost pleaded.

“We do not have the resources for a fool's errand,” the council leader stated bluntly.

“
The fate of the entire home world is hanging in the balance here!” she threw up her hands and yelled at the top of her lungs. “Gods, it's the existence of our
race
. You can't just turn your back on that!”

Corr'tane stepped in, calming his sister. Then he himself turned to the council.

“You are grossly mistaken to dismiss my sister's research based purely on her age. Pyshana has never been wrong before and a simple comparison will reveal that her data is accurate.”

“
And when did you receive your accolades in astrophysics, Corr'tane?” the council leader retorted derisively. “As I understand it your aim is to find the miraculous recipe for immortality.” There were a few scoffs and chuckles. “It is only your work in other fields of medicine which allow us to tolerate your dalliances. If, however, you choose to attach yourself to such preposterous claims as these we might be forced to reconsider your tenure at the
National Academy of Sciences
.”

“
Do not try and silence us with threats,” anger boiled up in him. “This
is
real and it will not go away just because you all dismiss it!”

“
It is not the only thing we are dismissing,” the head of the council said coolly. “Get out of here! And I request a full summary of your other works by tomorrow so we can decide whether or not you are worth keeping here at the academy without these frivolous doomsday fantasies!”

“
It is
not
a fantasy!” Corr'tane emphasized, forcing himself to sound calmer than he felt. “Two decades from now our world
dies
. The data is conclusive. We do have the time to do something about it, but only if we act immediately!”

The council exchanged first looks, then nods. “We
are
acting immediately. And our action is to evict you from our academy, effective as of now,” he typed something on his console. “The
National Academy of Sciences
is an institution for serious research, not some carnival where you can indulge your fantasies. Now get out before I have you forcibly removed!”

Corr'tane gave him an incredulous stare. This couldn't be, shouldn't be, happening. His sister was an excellent astrophysicist with a stellar track record belying her young age. And yet they were so arrogant, so set in their own beliefs of how the universe worked they refused to even consider the possibility that
something
might be able to put spokes in their perfect little view of physics.

“
Fine. So be it,” Pyshana snarled. “You can burn with our world, and as the radiation sears the flesh from your bones you can die with the exquisite knowledge that it was all your fault.” She took the data drive and stormed out of the chamber, her brother rapidly running up beside her. “The fools!” she yelled, fuming with an anger dwarfing that of Corr'tane, drawing a number of glances from passersby in the corridors of the extensive building. “The triple damned fools! They will burn in all hells for this, all of them!”

“
Sister, please!” Surprised about himself, but even more so about his otherwise so balanced sister, Corr'tane steered her into a corner. He had never once seen her grow so angry. Even in the trying times after their mother's death she had never once lost her temper. She had remained as calm and cool as any scientist could hope to be, an emotionless statue that resembled him. “There is another way, there must be.”