Journey to Iskandel

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Part two:waylien.deviantart.com/art/Jou…

PERSONAL JOURNAL OF THE FIRST HUMAN REPRESENATIVE TO ISKANDEL

"Your Science has faith in illusions" Capt. Amosphe www.waylien.deviantart.com/art… says assuring me that when I return to Earth, it will only be six months older, not thousands of years. I'm 48 light years from Earth near the sun Alchibah. My head is still reeling from my trip through Eternity as if I woke from a dream. But I vividly remember the swirling colors, streaming stars, and the Angels flying near our bow. Ihlista, a massive Jupiter like planet is coming into view. It's five moons mere dots across it's face. Elvirda is first, terraformed & blue. Next is Iskandel which we approach from the morning-side. A bit like Venus with a lace of fire glowing in the night. There's no fiery re-entry as the ship "floats" to a Spaceport near the capital city. I'm to meet Ranloi, Iskandel's famous Astrophysicist there.

As I levitate through the scrubber rings that vaporizes any germ or virus on, or in me, I ask Amosphe if Ranloi is his mate. "Well, a SHIP-mate" he chuckles, "Ranloi is married to the Ship! She even made me name it after her favorite pet. And I do fear, young Human, she will just HAVE to show you that pet!" I gaze up at the I.R.V. Alorna, a pleasing collection of triangles & teardrops, a blue aurora dancing on her belly as she magically floats above the surface, "She must be proud" I reply.

It's hard not to be apprehensive as Ranloi glides across the Tarmac towards us. Iskandelthans are a awesome & powerful people, and if she wanted she could turn me into meat pudding very quickly. Yet all their existence has been dedicated to one goal, to make the Universe & their planet a better, kinder place. She draws herself up like a Cobra, spreads her arms, and says "Welcome to HELL....hug?" I smile and embrace her, she's warm but a bit hard bodied. I understand what she means coming from a (still) pristine planet like Earth. We load into a bus that resembles a bronze Caterpillar, the insect kind, and with a surge of alien energy we fly to Iskandel's Intergalactic Community Hall where in a wonderful ceremony I assume my title.

Next Ranloi takes me on a tour of her world. First up a plant where water, which is precious on Iskandel, is being created. A row of massive ring shaped machines with a spindle in the center glowing blue at the top and orange-hot in the center are using the power of Creation to make new water. Another science myth put to rest. That matter cannot be created. She says this plant makes 40,000 gallons per minute, enough for the areas needs. 

Next is the planets Arboretum. A virtual sign senses me at the entrance and flashes PLANTS HAVE RIGHT OF WAY in English. My puzzlement is solved when I see several Agave-like plants crossing the path like Starfish on their "roots". I approach a plant that looks like a spiky blue-grey tapeworm with leaves at feeding time. Suddenly coming into motion & impaling small creatures. Closer examination reveals rows of green eyes. There are plants from other worlds here also. One beautiful room contains brightly glowing plants from the rainbow caves of Yavos, feeding off each others colorful luminescence.

But the highlight is the Firefalls. A miles long deep chasm being filled by four active volcanoes. We enter a shielded visitors center and take a car across a transparent tunnel made of "sheet energy". A indestructible material that absorbs a infinite amount of heat. My heart beats rapidly viewing a lava sea swirling & boiling a half-mile below us. In another building across the tunnel we take a elevator deep into the cliff. There a lobby opens into an area where I'm aware of a orange glow. I step into a large tunnel made of the same transparent material underneath the flowing magma deep in the chasm, absolutely cool to the touch! It opens farther down into a huge lounge with a dome that protrudes above the magma where I meet many Iskandelthans causally having dinner or enjoying watching the pyroclastic flow rumbling around them. "I come here sometimes to relax." Ranloi says.

At this point I wonder if the awe of this world will ever end! "Not yet" Ranloi exclaims. She wants to show me the Firetail Kavoramond, rated the eight deadliest creature in the Galaxy,.....and her faithful pet.

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