The Light Voyager
Outer space extended without limit in every direction while containing infinite numbers of stars among nebulae and cosmic debris. A remarkable ship moved toward us with a velocity that humankind has never achieved.
The ship existed without glass or metal structure. The vehicle lacked all standard propulsion systems together with fuel supplies and power generation units. This orb appeared as a fluid energy form which continuously danced through variations like flowing light.
The vessel carried Ka’reth an alien psyche who watched stars waft together while moving at the speed of light.
1. The Mission
As a rare Seeker he existed among the dwindling numbers of his species. Since the beginning ten thousand years ago his purpose consisted of exploring space to locate beings more intelligent than his own.
Following physical existence the Illu’tari people ceased their presence in physical manifestation. Each aspect of physical existence had become obsolete for them since they had transcended matters of homes and bodies and confined worlds. They existed as energy beings who followed the cosmic fabric which formed the space fabric.
The Illu’tari viewed being single because the universe as their greatest anxiety even though they existed in a superior state.
Ka'reth performed interstellar journeys using light-speed as he navigated planets one after another because he sought evidence to demonstrate his race was not the only living intelligence in the cosmos.
His sensors had not captured a new signal in nearly 4000 years until they did now.
A signal.
Artificial.
Intelligent.
2. The Human Transmission
Ka’reth changed his course while his light-ship reshaped reality until it approached the origin. The transmission maintained a faint strength while showing all the signs of artificial origin.
He examined the signal pattern until he understood its complex structure. The signals displayed bizarre formations which contained clear messages.
The extraordinary discovery appeared within the signal's depths when Ka'reth examined it.
A planet. Blue and green.
Creatures moving upon it. Walking, thinking, building.
This intelligent race identified itself by the name human.
Throughout his millennial journey Ka'reth discovered no beings worthy of being called intelligent. He finally seemed to discover a solution which made him pause.
His speed adjusted downward while remaining faster than ordinary natural limits although these did not restrict him any longer.
He was approaching the source.
He was approaching Earth.
3. The Barrier of Light
There was just one problem.
Seekers like Ka’reth did not practice stoppage before. His people remained sprinting through life at high speeds since their creation making complete integration with the physical world impossible for them to achieve.
Numerous old legends shared the cautionary accounts of unsuccessful individuals who tried to stop. The process of slowing down at that speed would cause death to occur. Completely stopping would result in total nonexistence for the seeker.
Ka'reth maintained his unalterable determination to slow his speed.
He made the unprecedented decision to slow down after existing in such a state for thousands of years.
Through his energy form he pressed against reality while the ship suffered a powerful vibration. As he attempted to stop and suffocate the endless flow of light it protested and screeched like a howling idea.
The wrong judgment would result in his complete destruction.
His success would reveal to him the physical appearance of the ones who had transmitted the message.
He would finally encounter the human beings.
4. The Arrival
Earth's population experienced an arrival which no one from their planet had ever observed.
NASA astronomers witnessed this anomaly as pure white light which exhibited extraordinary velocity until it abruptly decelerated right before they noticed the planet.
Then came the disturbances.
Radio signals scrambled. Clocks ticked erratically. The low orbit satellite systems shut down completely when the approaching being's power levels garred their operational capabilities.
And then, in the skies over the Pacific Ocean—
A rupture.
The universe showed itself through a minute hole which existed for one quick moment where light became distorted and time warped unnaturally.
And from it, Ka’reth emerged.
5. The World Holds Its Breath
The airborne sphere of energy maintained its position at the edge of Earth's atmosphere over the ocean surface. What inhabited the inside was neither a pilot nor a ship nor anything between the two.
Ka'reth gained his first view of starlight which humanity had not witnessed in thousands of years. At that moment reality brought him back down to earth.
He entered a pace which allowed him to live like their beings did.
But there was a cost.
His energy form dimmed, flickering. This condition was unknown to him in all of his historical existence. Since the beginning his people had maintained a fast and constant existence under supernatural speeds.
Here, he was vulnerable.
At this point he found himself nearer to uncovering his answer more than at any other time.
6. Contact
People from all parts of the globe displayed both frightened and amazed reactions about the contact. Multiple governments made a rush to comprehend the events they were observing. When this visitor appeared they sent jets into the air while pointing their guns uncertain about his hostile intentions.
Ka’reth sensed their fear. Their confusion.
And so, he reached out.
Not with words, not with sound, but with light.
He discharged pulsing lights which formed fractal thought shapes and transmitted radiant image patterns in the sky.
Mathematics. The language of the universe.
The guru communicated his message directly to the mental consciousness of spectators.
“I am Ka’reth. Knowledge seeks me and I have come harboring peace. I come in peace.”
7. The Decision
Leaders in an undisclosed command facility met for debate. Scientists marveled. Throughout the crisis theologians stripped away everything that once had held religious meaning for them.
A central issue emerged regarding their potential reply to the visitor.
Could they trust this being? This visitor demonstrated an ability to defy both natural law and physics by traveling to meet them?
But before they could decide—
Ka’reth flickered again.
He could feel himself collapsing.
His existence surpassed the natural form required in this world. His kind had warned him. To slow down was to fade.
His prolonged stay would cause his eternal disappearance.
He had seconds to decide.
Stay and risk perishing…
Without remaining to find out whether human beings held the solution that he sought.
8. The Final Transmission
Throughout the entire world people watched as Ka'reth made his selection between life and death.
The surge of power in his last breath sent an immense flow of information that permeated all broadcast systems and space communication networks. The transmission delivered an extensive record about the background of his civilization. The story of his journey. The entire collection of information from a society which thrived for millions of years.
And then—
He was gone.
A flash of light, a bending of space—
Ka'reth reached the speed of light and vanished back to the cosmos.
9. The Legacy
The human race spent numerous years examining the contents of his transmission. Years passed until scholars finally grasped all the information he had shared with them.
But one thing was clear.
His objective turned out to serve as the goal which Ka'reth sought.
The message proved without a doubt that he and his nation did not exist without outside company.
Far at the cosmic speed of light Ka’reth kept traveling through the stars.
Not searching for life.
But waiting.
The time when human beings would match his progress.