The Fesarians

Figure 1. The Fesarians

I got help from Gemini to develop some of the characters and plot elements for a new fan-fiction sequel (called "The Fesarians") to the old Star Trek episode "The Corbomite Maneuver". First, Gemini helped me devise the names for the characters Ienaghwy & Ylyndra and the planet Elemacha-z (that early part of the discussion is not included here). Below is the rest of my conversation with Gemini...

Me: "Gemini, imagine a sequel to "The Corbomite Maneuver" showing what happens next to Dave Bailey. Inside the mile-wide spaceship Fesarius, Bailey finds that there is a unique nomadic community that has formed from the hundreds of humanoid species that Balok has collected from the many galaxies that the Fesarius has previously visited. Inside the Fesarius, Bailey meets a telepathic Talosian named Ienaghwy and a member of the alien species from "The Squire of Gothos" who is named Ylyndra. 

Talia Vance; 8 of 10.

 Bailey is taken by Balok to the planet Elemacha-z where he must mediate between a group of human colonists and the natives of planet Elemacha-z. Gemini, let us discuss the nature of the conflict between the human colonists and the sentient natives of planet Elemacha-z. Gemini, let's imagine that the sentient natives who Bailey meets on Elemacha-z are amphibious creatures who spend most of their time in water."

Gemini [edited for brevity]: "Here are some possibilities for the conflict between the human colonists and the amphibious natives of Elemacha-z:

1) Resource Scarcity.   Water Rights: humans, being primarily land-dwelling, need a significant amount of freshwater. They might be unintentionally draining freshwater sources crucial to the amphibious natives, leading to tension.

2) Land Use. Humans require land for agriculture and settlements. This could encroach on the breeding grounds or migration routes of the amphibious species, creating conflict.

3) Disruption of Ecosystems. Humans might introduce invasive species that disrupt the delicate balance of the planet's ecosystem, causing harm to the native species.

Talia (center), one of her clones
sisters (left) and one of the Merovae.

 Dave Bailey's Role as Mediator. Finding Common Ground: Bailey's goal would be to find a solution that respects the rights and needs of both the humans and the native Elemachans. He might need to propose creative solutions, like establishing protected areas or creating sustainable resource management plans.

This is just a starting point, and you can add your own creative twists to further develop the plot. You can explore the motivations of the different characters, the specific challenges of communication, and the potential consequences of Bailey's actions."

Me: "Gemini, after meeting them on the Fesarius, Bailey thinks of Ienaghwy and Ylyndra as being Fesarians. Ienaghwy and Ylyndra do not get to join Bailey on the surface of Elemacha-z, but they remain in orbit and function as Bailey's helpers during his on-planet mission. 

Talia at the shore.

 Gemini, here is one additional plot element: Balok has an ulterior motive for bringing Baily to Elemacha-z. One of the human residents of Elemacha-z is a young human woman who Balok intends to take away from Elemacha-z and have reside onboard the Fesarius with Bailey. Gemini, suggest ten possible names for that woman."

Gemini: 

1. Amara. This name has a touch of grace and strength, suggesting a woman who can adapt to new situations.

2. Cora. This name means "maiden" or "heart" in Latin, hinting at a youthful spirit and compassion.

3. Elara. This name evokes a sense of a pioneer spirit, fitting for a woman living on a frontier planet.

4. Kaila. This name has Hawaiian origins and means "sea," which could resonate with the amphibious natives.

Talia sailing on ocean #5.

 5. Maya. This name has a connection to nature and illusion, which could be relevant given the presence of Balok and the Fesarians.

6. Rhea. This name is the name of a Titan in Greek mythology, suggesting a woman with strength and resilience.

7. Saira, This name has Arabic origins and means "princess" or "one who sees clearly," hinting at a woman with potential leadership qualities.

8. Talia. This name means "dew" in Hebrew, suggesting a fresh start and new beginnings for the woman on the Fesarius.

9. Xanthe. This name means "golden" or "yellow" in Greek, offering a unique and memorable option.

10. Zara. This name has Hebrew origins and means "princess" or "blooming," suggesting a woman poised for growth and change.

Me: "Gemini, let's use "Talia" as her first name. Gemini, invent a family name for Talia."

Gemini:

Here are a few family name options for Talia, considering the setting of the story...

Connected to Elemacha-z:

1) Talia Aquatis. "Aquatis" is a Latin root word meaning "water," which would directly connect Talia to the water-based environment of Elemacha-z.

2) Talia Maréa. "Maréa" is Spanish for "tide," another connection to the water and the planet's ecosystem.

Merovae. Image generated by Gemini

Reflecting Pioneering Spirit:

 3) Talia Shepard. "Shepard" evokes a sense of leadership and exploration, fitting for a colonist on a new world.

4) Talia Pathfinder. This name directly references the act of exploring and settling new frontiers.

Using Existing Surnames:

5) Talia Vance. A simple and common last name that grounds the character in a relatable way.

6) Talia Sharma. This name suggests a multicultural background, with "Sharma" being a common Indian surname.

Unique and Memorable Names:

7) Talia Kaimana. "Kaimana" is a Hawaiian name meaning "sea" and has a beautiful cadence.

8) Talia Lyra. "Lyra" is a constellation associated with music and harmony, which could foreshadow Talia's potential role as a bridge between cultures.

9. Talia Xylia. "Xylia" is a name not commonly used but has a connection to nature, potentially reflecting Talia's connection to her adopted planet.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on the specific tone and direction you want for Talia's character in your story.

cover art by Jasper Schreurs

{Note. As a fan of Jack Vance, I was delighted to see Gemini suggest "Vance" as the second name for Talia. I instantly decided that Jack Vance would be the ancestor of Talia Vance. I had Gemini estimate the number of generations between Jack Vance and her descendant Talia (answer: about 10 generations).}

Me: "Gemini, let's imagine that Baily meets a woman named Talia Vance on the planet Elemacha-z. Talia is the tenth generation descendant of science fiction story writer Jack Vance. Talia is one of the "power engineers" for the human colonists. She installs futuristic combined solar/wind power collectors on the mostly unforested hills surrounding the settled lands of the human colony on Elemacha-z. These solar/wind power collectors are damaging the native plant life that the sentient amphibious natives rely on for their survival."

Gemini: "This adds a fascinating layer of complexity to your story! Here are some ways this situation could unfold...

Conflict and Moral Dilemmas.

Talia with a Merovae

1. Talia's Dedication. Talia, being a descendant of Jack Vance, might possess a sense of adventure and a drive to push boundaries, similar to some of Vance's fictional heroes. She might be fiercely dedicated to her role as a power engineer, seeing it as crucial for the colony's survival.

2. Unintended Consequences. Talia is likely unaware of the ecological damage the power collectors are causing. When Bailey reveals the issue, she might initially be defensive, clinging to the belief that progress is necessary.

3) Internal Debate. As Talia interacts with Bailey and learns more about the amphibious natives, she might experience an internal conflict. Her desire to help the colony could clash with her growing understanding of the environmental impact.

Talia sitting on the beach.

  Bailey's Role as Mediator.

4. Empathy and Understanding. Bailey, having witnessed the plight of other species on the Fesarius, can empathize with the amphibious natives. He can help Talia see the issue from their perspective.

5. Seeking a Solution. Bailey can work with Talia to find an alternative energy solution. They might explore options like offshore wind farms or tidal energy that wouldn't harm the native plant life.

6. Negotiating with the Natives. Bailey, with Ienaghwy's telepathic help if possible, could facilitate communication with the amphibious natives. They can explain the situation and work towards a compromise.

Talia wears alien flowers.

 Possible Outcomes.

7. Technological Breakthrough. Talia, inspired by the situation, might come up with a technological innovation that combines solar and wind energy more efficiently, reducing the number of collectors needed and minimizing environmental impact.

8. Shifting Priorities. The colony might re-evaluate its energy needs, prioritizing long-term sustainability over short-term gains. This could lead to a shift towards conservation efforts.

9. Cooperation with the Natives. Through Bailey's mediation, the humans might learn valuable information from the amphibious natives about their ecosystem. This could lead to a partnership where both species collaborate on sustainable energy solutions.

Solar & wind power collector.

Adding Layers.

10. Balok's Motive. Consider how Balok's ulterior motive to take Talia might be linked to the energy situation. Perhaps he needs her engineering skills for something on the Fesarius, or maybe he wants to use the conflict to manipulate the humans and natives.

 11. Hidden Secrets. There could be a hidden agenda within the human colony leadership, pushing for rapid energy production despite the ecological damage.

By exploring these possibilities, you can create a story with complex characters, environmental themes, and a thrilling adventure on a new planet."

Me: "Gemini, are you familiar with the Jack Vance novel "Trullion"?" 

Talia's clone sister, Gyulya,
and her tryp'At features.
see this Gene Szafran cover

Gemini: "Yes, I am familiar with the Jack Vance novel "Trullion" (1973). It's one of the three books set in the Alastor Cluster, a region of space within the larger Star Trek universe (though not officially part of Star Trek canon).

Here's what I know about "Trullion":

1. Setting. The story takes place on the water world Trullion, inhabited by the carefree Trill people. Their lives are disrupted by raids from the Starmenters, space pirates who live for adventure and plunder.

2. Plot. Glinnes Hulden, a returning veteran, finds his ancestral home caught up in a social movement. He encounters the beautiful Duissane and becomes entangled in a complex plot involving the Starmenters, a mysterious masked figure, and a possible power struggle.

 3. Themes. The novel explores themes of social change, environmental awareness, the nature of gambling and risk-taking, and the allure of adventure.

Do you have any specific questions about "Trullion" or how it might connect to your fan fiction story? Perhaps the carefree Trill society or the water world setting could inspire elements in your story on Elemacha-z."

image source

{Note: I was amused to see Gemini describe Jack Vance's literary creation, Alastor Cluster, as being "a region of space within the larger Star Trek universe". I suppose there is no way to prevent such AI hallucinations when they occur in the output of large language models. However, I love the idea of mixing together elements from the fictional Star Trek universe (particular the rich diversity of space aliens) with the sort of future for Humanity that Vance depicted in his Alastor Cluster novels. My fan fiction story "The Fesarians" is an exercise in this sort of cross-over fiction.}

Me: "Gemini, do you recall the native creatures of planet Trullion, the merlings?"

Power generators of Elemacha-z.

Gemini: "You're absolutely right! I apologize for the mistake in my previous response. "Trullion" does feature native creatures called merlings, but they are not exactly carefree. Here's what I recall about them:

1. Merlings. These are semi-intelligent, predatory creatures that inhabit the oceans of Trullion. They are described as being vaguely humanoid in shape, but with a more streamlined, aquatic body.

2. Threat to Humans. Merlings pose a danger to humans who venture into the water. They are known to attack and drag unsuspecting victims down to the depths.

Talia's vision of Elemacha-z.

 3. Limited Intelligence. While merlings exhibit some level of intelligence, they are primarily driven by instinct and a hunger for prey.

There are some interesting parallels you could draw between the merlings of Trullion and the amphibious natives of Elemacha-z in your fan fiction story:

4. Shared Aquatic Environment. Both species exist in close connection to water. While the merlings are fully aquatic predators, the amphibious natives of Elemacha-z might share a deep connection to the water even if they spend some time on land.

Talia

 5. Potential for Misunderstanding. Just like the merlings, the amphibious natives might be initially perceived as a threat by the human colonists due to a lack of understanding.

6. Conservation Concerns. Similar to the situation on Elemacha-z, the human presence could disrupt the ecosystem the merlings rely on in Trullion.

However, there are also key differences:

7. Intelligence Level. The amphibious natives seem to be much more intelligent than the merlings, potentially allowing for communication and cooperation.

 8. Symbiotic Relationship. Perhaps the amphibious natives have a symbiotic relationship with the native plant life that the solar/wind collectors threaten. This would create a more complex conflict than the predator-prey dynamic of the merlings.

By drawing inspiration from the merlings of Trullion while establishing clear distinctions, you can create a unique situation for the human colonists and the amphibious natives of Elemacha-z."

Me: "Gemini, let's imagine that the aquatic natives of Elemacha-z have some telepathic abilities. That is why Balok introduces Bailey to Ienaghwy and Ylyndra before Bailey is sent to the surface of Elemacha-z. Also, imagine that the natives creatures of Elemacha-z have been using their telepathic ability to interfere with the brain function of Talia Vance and trying to stop the installation of additional solar/wind power collectors. Gemini, invent ten possible names for the aquatic natives of Elemacha-z. Gemini, imagine that the name for the aquatic natives was invented by Talia who was influenced by both 1) the telepathic signals impinging on her brain from natives of the planet and 2) her knowledge of the story "Trullion" that was written by her ancestor, Jack Vance." 

Talia's other sister, Lyssa.

Gemini: 

1. Thalassar (Tha-LAH-sar). Combining "Thalassa" (Greek for "sea") and "assar" (possibly influenced by "Starmenters" from Trullion), this name evokes the aquatic nature and potential aggression of the natives.

2. Aquarion (Ah-KWAHR-ee-on). A direct reference to "aquatic," while the "-ion" ending hints at a collective intelligence or species.

3. Hydrana (Hi-DRAH-nah). This name references the mythological multi-headed Hydra, suggesting a complex and potentially dangerous species.

4. Xylophidians (Zi-loh-FEE-di-ans). A combination of "xylo" (Greek for "wood") and "ophidian" (related to snakes), referencing the plant life the natives depend on and their potential serpentine form.

Merovae.

 5. Synthesios (Sin-THEE-see-os). This name, meaning "combination" in Greek, hints at the telepathic connection between Talia and the natives.

6. Aethelfins (AY-thel-fins). Combining "Aethel" (Old English for "noble") with "fin," this name suggests a noble aquatic species.

7. Aquastra (Ah-KWAHS-trah). This name combines "aqua" (Latin for "water") and "astra" (Greek for "star"), suggesting a connection to the celestial and aquatic realms.

8. Tridenti (Tri-DEN-ti). Referencing the trident, a weapon associated with the sea god Neptune, this name hints at the aquatic nature and potential power of the natives.

Gyulya's "floating" house.
Another of Talia's visions.

 9. Thalassai (Tha-LAH-sigh). The plural form of "Thalassar," suggesting a community of aquatic beings.

10. Merovae (Meh-ROH-vay). A combination of "mer" (referencing mermaids) and "Vance" (Talia's ancestor), creating a unique name influenced by both the story and the natives themselves.

Me: "Gemini, let us adopt "Merovae" as the name that Talia uses to refer to the aquatic natives of Elemacha-z. Gemini, if you were Balok, how would you deliver Bailey to the human colony on Elemacha-z? We can't just have Balok teleport Bailey down to the planet's surface unannounced."

Gemini: "As Balok, here are a few creative ways I could deliver Bailey to the human colony on Elemacha-z without simply teleporting him down unannounced:

A Staged Encounter:

Figure 2. Version #1 of this scene.
Bailey, Talia and a Merovae
generated by WOMBO Dream

 1. Engineered Distress Signal. The Fesarius could send out a distress signal mimicking a malfunctioning human vessel. The colonists, eager to help, might send a rescue team that encounters Bailey on their approach. This allows Bailey to establish initial trust with the humans before revealing his true situation.

2. Fabricated Crash Landing. The Fesarius could stage a crash landing on Elemacha-z, far enough from the colony to avoid immediate suspicion. Bailey could then make his way to the colony, claiming to be the sole survivor. This could create initial tension but also provide Bailey with an opportunity to learn about the colony before revealing his true purpose.

Manipulation and Deception:

3. Memory Implant. Balok could implant false memories into Bailey's mind, convincing him he's a long-lost member of the colony or a scientist arriving for a pre-arranged visit. This allows Bailey to infiltrate the colony seamlessly but raises ethical concerns and potential distrust when the truth is revealed.

Gyulya's morning swim.

 4. Mind-Controlled Colonist. Balok could temporarily mind-control a colonist, making them bring Bailey to the colony under the pretense of him being a visitor or new recruit. This could be risky, as the mind control might be detected, and Bailey would still have to navigate the situation without the colonists' full trust.

Combining Forces:

5. Feigning Assistance. The Fesarius could arrive posing as a technologically advanced vessel assisting with a problem the colony is facing, like a malfunctioning power grid. Bailey would be presented as an engineer on a mission to help. This creates a sense of cooperation but could lead to suspicion if the Fesarius' technology seems too advanced.

 

Figure 3. Version #2 of this scene.
generated by WOMBO Dream

6. Ienaghwy and Ylyndra as Pawns. Balok could allow Ienaghwy and Ylyndra to project a telepathic message to the colony, requesting assistance with a fabricated problem on the Fesarius. This could involve a fake injury to Bailey, making his arrival a rescue mission. However, Ienaghwy and Ylyndra might resist being used in this way.

Ultimately, the chosen method of delivery would depend on Balok's ultimate goal for Bailey on Elemacha-z and the level of control he wants to exert over the situation. Remember, Balok desires Talia, so the chosen method should also facilitate her acquisition"

Me: "Gemini, imagine that the colonist on Elemacha-z have previously reported to Earth that their electrical power engineers have all developed a strange type of mental illness. Balok tells Baily to pretend to have been sent by Star Fleet to help deal with the electrical power problem on Elemacha-z. Under these conditions, Balok has a small module of the Fesarius appear above Elemacha-z, pretending to be a Star Fleet scout ship."

Gyulya meets a juvenile Merovae.

Gemini: "This is a clever twist! Here's how Balok could deliver Bailey to Elemacha-z while keeping his true motives hidden:

The Staged Arrival.

1. Fesarius as a Scout Ship. Balok disguises the Fesarius to appear like a standard Starfleet scout ship. He might even use cloaking technology to remain partially hidden until close to the colony.

2. Distress Signal. The Fesarius broadcasts a pre-recorded distress signal mimicking a Starfleet vessel responding to the colonists' call for help with the engineers' "mental illness" and electrical problems.

Figure 3. Version #3 of this scene.
generated by WOMBO Dream

 3. Bailey's Fake Credentials. Balok provides Bailey with fabricated Starfleet credentials and a convincing backstory. Bailey could be a specialist in "psycho-engineering" sent to assess the engineers and recommend treatments, or perhaps an electrical engineer with expertise in resolving unusual power grid issues.

Landing and Deception.

4. Controlled Landing. Balok maneuvers the Fesarius for a controlled landing some distance from the human colony. This could be explained as a safety precaution due to the "unstable" situation.

5. Shuttle Craft Arrival. A disguised shuttle craft separates from the Fesarius and lands near the colony entrance. This creates a more familiar and approachable arrival than a large starship.

6. Bailey's Introduction. Bailey disembarks the shuttle craft, projecting a confident and helpful demeanor. He uses his fake credentials and pre-briefed information to explain his mission and gain entry to the colony.

Potential Challenges.

7. Scrutiny of Credentials. The colonists might be wary or skeptical, considering their previous reports of "mentally ill" engineers. Bailey might face scrutiny of his credentials and require quick thinking to establish his legitimacy.

8. Medical Examinations. There's a chance the colonists might conduct medical examinations to assess the engineers' mental state. Here, Balok could provide Bailey with some form of technology or telepathic shielding to mask any potential anomalies.

Figure 5. Version #4 of this scene
Bailey in a viewing bubble!
generated by WOMBO Dream

 9. Unearthing the Truth. If the colonists are particularly observant or possess advanced technology, they might notice inconsistencies in the Fesarius' design or Bailey's background. Bailey would need to be prepared to improvise or deflect suspicion.

Benefits for Balok:

10. Gaining Trust. This approach allows Bailey to infiltrate the colony with a degree of trust, as he's posing as a Starfleet representative sent to help. This facilitates his interaction with Talia and potentially makes it easier to acquire her.

11. Maintaining Control. Balok remains somewhat hidden behind the facade of a Starfleet vessel, allowing him to observe the situation and intervene if necessary. He can keep Bailey on a leash through telepathic communication or hidden technology.

Overall, this staged arrival offers Balok a calculated way to infiltrate the human colony and position Bailey for success (or at least, success from Balok's perspective).  However, the potential for suspicion and unforeseen challenges adds intrigue to the story."

____end of the discussion with Gemini_____

Ylyndra, Ienaghwy and Talia (right).

I've been experimenting with possible "looks" for the aquatic aliens of Elemacha-z (the Merovae; see Figures 2-5, above). I'm still not sure exactly how I want these aliens to appear. I'm going to assume that Balok has feathers, as was the original intention for that character. In Figure 1, the image at the top of this page, there are two types of aliens. I'm going to assume that the aliens who appeared in "The Squire of Gothos" were the descendants of the "extinct" aliens from the planet Exo III in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and they had blue skin. The aliens with pale-skin in Figure 1 are human-Talosian hybrids. The image to the right depicts Talia, Ylyndra (blue) and Ienaghwy the Talosian at the end of Bailey's mission to Elemacha at the time when Talia is brought onboard the Fesarius.

Continue to: Part 1 of "The Fesarians". Bailey meets the Fesarians.

Next: a time travel interlude.

The Fesarians. Visit the Gallery of Movies, Book and Magazine Covers

3 Problems

Aquans jump the shark.
Streaming in 2024?

 At the start of 2024, I imagined what it might be like if the novel Inter Ice Age 4 by Kōbō Abe were placed in the hands of Hollywood story tellers (see the image that is shown to the right and my blog post 2024). 

However, rather than man-made aquans, what I got from Hollywood in 2024 was alien invasion flicks like: 1) Resident Alien and 2) 3 Body Problem. Yes, Resident Alien was on TV in 2021, but I only got around to watching it in 2024. 

Full disclosure: I watch very little television... I'd rather invent my own imaginary TV shows. Here, in this blog post, I discuss both of these television programs in the context of my annual Search for Interesting Hollywood Aliens (SIHA).

Fucking alien - image source

 Don't Fuck With the Aliens.
I was reluctant to watch either Resident Alien or 3 Body Problem. Knowing that Resident Alien originated as a comic, I expected silliness from this television show. For example, viewers are told that the main character (an alien from a distant planet) is evolutionarily related to octopus-like creatures. 

 Baby Makes Three. However, even given the vast biological gulf between humans and these aliens, viewers are treated to an alien-human hybrid (named "Bridget", see Figure 0, below; I'll call this "problem #1" on my list of 3 problems). How is this reproductive magic possible? Viewers do not even get a hand waving "explanation". We are not expected to ask such questions. This is TV. Just turn your mind off and go along for the ride. No. That's not for me. I want my science fiction to make sense.

a 3 body solution (see also)

 Fantasy? In the case of 3 Body Problem, I had read about The Three-Body Problem after its English-language translation won a Hugo Award. Based on descriptions of the novel, I feared that it was little more than a fantasy-tinged re-hash of old Sci Fi stories like War of the Worlds and "Nightfall". 

Fantasy? Having watched the first 8 episodes of 3 Body Problem, I struggle to call it "science" when I'm told that the aliens can send a proton-sized "sophon" to Earth, a device that has the computational power of a planet-sized computer (call this "problem #2"). I'm intrigued by the idea of an advanced alien "femtotechnology", it sounds like the imaginary artificial life-form that I call zeptites. I just wish 3 Body Problem the TV program told viewers some details about this alien technology rather than present it on-screen like some sort of magic.

The 2023 SIHA.

 Old School. Here in 2024, I've also been re-watching the original Star Trek episodes (I'm watching the "remastered" version). My 2023 SIHA award was a retro-SIHA that I awarded to an episode of Star Trek (see), so I suppose the real question for the 2024 Search for Interesting Hollywood Aliens is: can a newer Sci Fi television show from this millennium top Star Trek from 50 years ago, or will I simply award another retro-SIHA this year?

 This is Some Bullshit. In the case of Resident Alien, the show runners were obviously trying to have some fun, which makes it easy to forgive much of the silliness and anti-science plot elements that abound in Resident Alien. However, in the case of 3 Body Problem, there is no fun at all and a large amount of sickening horror which does not put me into a forgiving mood.

Figure 0. Our resident comic is having fun with baby food (brain food). Little baby "Bridget" to the left.

"symbiotic implant" by Gemini

I had a discussion with the Gemini large language model about Resident Alien and the production of Bridget. Gemini suggested that the alien has a "symbiotic implant" that might be equipped with gene-processing technology that could allow creation of an alien-human hybrid. Since I could not recall such an implant from Season 1 of Resident Alien, I asked Gemini to generate an image of the "symbiotic implant". Gemini actually generated three images and one of them had what looked like human skin. The image that is shown to the left is one of the three images, but this does not look like the skin of a human. However, I do like to include Hi Tek™ endosymbionts in my own science fiction stories. It is clear that the makers of Resident Alien don't expect viewers to care about the imaginary technology luring in the background of the plot of this TV show. We are expected to just sit back and enjoy the ride. But I'm not the kind of Sci Fi fan who can shut of his brain... I want to explore the technological details.

A brain with a body problem.

 Problem #3. However, the main problem for both Resident Alien and 3 Body Problem is that I have no interest in stories about technologically advanced aliens who travel vast distances across interstellar space because they want to go to war with humans. 

That's right Sci Fi fans... according to the folks in Hollywood, life and humans evolved quietly on Earth for 4,000,000,000 years and then just when the science fiction genre is invented, aliens from another planet show up to fight with us. Such stories are not about aliens, they are about the fears and stupidity of humans and our inability to look away from the horrors of war. Yawn. 😴

Figure 1. The Corbomite Device.

 Interesting Aliens. In addition to my 2012 blog post which features "The Corbomite Maneuver" as one of my ten favorite episodes, back in 2016, I again blogged about "The Corbomite Maneuver", a Star Trek episode that turns on its head the annoying "evil aliens will kill us" plot element that is too often used in Hollywood. I like to imagine an alternative universe where there was a series of follow-up episodes about Balok and his people, but that was not to be in our universe. 😢 So, it is up to fans to do what must be done (see "The Fesarians").

Instead, we got a Star Trek fictional universe with interminable hand-wringing over Klingons, Romulans, Borg, the Dominion and other militaristic aliens who all bored me to tears. Resident Alien and 3 Body Problem continue this sort of Hollywood obsession with all things militaristic and morbid. 😛

The power of the Huaoshy.

 Dimensional Structure. I confess to having been strongly influenced by "The Corbomite Maneuver" when I was in my personal golden age of science fiction. Imagine a First Federation. My personal decades-long effort to imagine the first ever interstellar civilization led to the Huaoshy, a key element in the Exodemic Fictional Universe. 

I imagine that the Huaoshy started out as a biological species called the Hua, but after millions of years of technological advancements, the Huaoshy became an artificial lifeform that had the power to change the Dimensional Structure of the universe.

some tryp'At anatomy

 Don't Get Me Wrong. For stories set in the Exodemic Fictional Universe, I often depict hybrids between space aliens and Earthlings. For example, Tyhry is an artificial hybrid with genetic elements from her Neanderthal birth mother and the genetically engineered human variant, the tryp'At. However, the tryp'At were intentionally designed to be a telepathic human variant that was inter-fertile with Earth humans. 

In contrast, for the alien who is the main character in Resident Alien, there was no serious attempt to explain how alien genes and human genes were successfully mixed together and produced the baby alien-human hybrid that is seen in Resident Alien. I'm a fan of fictional biology, but I'm not a fan of magical biology. I suppose the typical TV viewer does not care about such plot details, but I do.

The Man Who Evolved

I'm also a fan of fictional physics. In the Exodemic Fictional Universe, I include two families of imaginary fundamental particles, the hierions and the sedrons. I also make use of imaginary "extra dimensions" in my stories. So, why do I feel so unsettled by the magical proton-sized sophons that are key plot devices in 3 Body Problem? There are some ideas in science fiction that were bad when they were first published and they are still bad 100 years later. As an example, look at the "man of the future" with an absurdly big head and a small body that is shown in the image to the right. Okay, we can accelerate protons in a particle accelerator, but that does not mean that it makes sense for aliens to magically send a proton (or a proton-sized sophon) to Earth from Alpha Centauri.

Alien nanotechnology.

 Nanotechnology. I'm a huge fan of including imaginary advanced nanotechnology in science fiction stories. However, I was completely disgusted by the horrific use of nanotechnology that was shown in 3 Body Problem. 

 That's Entertainment? I do NOT want to hear about the latest way that you have found to kill people.

 Drama? I have to congratulate the makers of 3 Body Problem for actually showing a failure of another example of hastily-developed nanotechnology: a type of "space sail". However, I don't understand the whole idea of trying to send a human brain to the aliens by means of an impossibly complex process involving the detonation of hundreds of nuclear bombs. It does not really seem like much of a failure (or very dramatic) if nobody ever thought your Rube Goldberg device had a chance of working.

Figure 2. He's purple.
generated by WOMBO Dream

 The End. In 2022, I watched the first several episodes of the Foundation television show, but I could not keep watching. The same thing happened with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Here in 2024, I feel like I've had enough of both Resident Alien and 3 Body Problem, so I don't expect to watch either of these past their first season. 

Green Orion by WOMBO Dream

 She's Green. When I first watched Star Trek, I saw the episodes on a small black-and-white TV that was displaying a weak and snowy signal arriving at my house from a distant city. It was not until many years later that I saw Susan Oliver in all of her green glory.

 Sexual Revolution. Now, almost 60 years after Gene Roddenberry was boldly going where nobody had gone before in Hollywood, it is amusing to read accounts of how he struggled to put his fantasies about sexy aliens on TV screens that were being attentively watched by millions of nerdy kids. Often Roddenberry had to content himself with providing Captain Kirk with cute crew members (see Figure 1, above) who could tempt him into thinking about something other than his first love, the Enterprise.

Figure 3. "Shore Leave" by WOMBO Dream.
In this episode of Star Trek,
Kirk gets a back rub from Tonia
while they are on duty and on the Bridge,
but then a Ruth replicoid arrives.

I've previously blogged about how Theodore Sturgeon had pushed at the boundaries for including sexual topics in 1950s pulp science fiction magazines. In the Star Trek episode "Shore Leave" (1966), Sturgeon provided Kirk with an opportunity to move past just having his subordinate (yeoman Tonia Barrows) massage his back. Obliging aliens create an artificial lifeform replica of Kirk's "long-lost love", Ruth, and Kirk gets to spend a couple days of shore leave with that artificial woman (see Figure 3). For "The Fesarians", the sexual behavior of the main characters is integral to the plot.

 The 2024 SIHA. I nominate Balok and the mysterious First Federation as depicted in "The Corbomite Maneuver" (1966) for a retro-SIHA award. In Jerry Sohl's original story ("Danger Zone"), Balok had avian features (see Figure 2, above). Related Reading: a summary of “Danger Zone” by Jerry Sohl.

Next: a fan-fiction sequel to "The Corbomite Maneuver".

Visit the Gallery of Movies, Book and Magazine Covers

The Felydyans of Gyryph

Figure 1. Joke cover #1.

 Below on this page is Part 8 of the science fiction story Vythoth the Chresmoscopist. In this part of the story, the interstellar spaceship Sedrover makes its first flight. In Part 8, Tyhry and the crew of Sedrover never achieves faster-than-light space travel, but they do meet the Felydyans, a human variant from the far future of the Ekcolir Reality. The Felydyans have access to advanced technology that can be used to complete Sedrover's faster-than-light space drive.

cover art by Paul Lehr

 Cover Illustrations. Back in the 1970s I read The Last Starship from Earth by John Boyd. More than fifty years later, I'm still haunted by the cover art for that Berkley Medallion paper back book cover (see the image to the ⇐left). I could not imagine that this cover art by Paul Lehr for The Last Starship from Earth had anything to do with the story, but maybe half of all book sales are due to some eye-catching feature of the book cover, so what the hell...

Figure 2. Joke cover #2.
Tyhry and Rylla meet a sentient
polar bear on an exoplanet.

Today, I was working with WOMBO Dream and while making the cover illustration that is shown to the right ⇒, suddenly the WOMBO AI image-generating algorithm produced a strange image of a seemingly disembodied head adrift in an icy landscape. Amused, I incorporated that strange AI-generated image into Figure 1, above.

Vestibul of Hell.

 Speaking of Hell. I've labeled both (Fig. 1 & Fig. 2) of these cover illustrations as "joke" covers. I don't intend for the crew of Sedrover to meet bipedal polar bears. However, in The Last Starship from Earth, John Boyd depicted a dystopian Earth where interstellar space travel was only used to send political prisoners to a distant exoplanet called "Hell". Don't worry: the small colony of exiles on Hell did not suffer agonies in a hot desert environment nor were they chased by monstrous wasps. The image to the left is Mr. Wombo's version of the vestibule of hell.

the time equations

In Boyd's story, although the interstellar spacecraft from Earth were always scheduled to arrive and drop off new residents of Hell in the dead of winter, that was part of a scheme to make the people of Earth think that Hell was a terribly cold planet where the human residents were being punished for their wrong-thinking. However, it is revealed that the residents of Hell are actually the Cool Kids™ from Earth who have developed time travel technology.

The Equation from Hell. Perhaps the most annoying aspect of The Last Starship from Earth was that Boyd shamelessly adopted the Sci Fi plot gimmick of there being a mathematical equation describing "negative time". Once that magical equation is discovered, it is then simple to make a Time Machine and travel back into the past. The time-traveling mathematician changes the course of history, apparently bringing into existence the world as we know it, where the mathematical foundation for time travel is not so quick to develop 😞.

infite extraction experiment

The technical problem confronting Tyhry in Vythoth the Chresmoscopist is not related to time travel. Tyhry was born in the Final Reality after the Huaoshy changed the Dimensional Structure of the universe and put an end to all further time travel. Tyhry is being trained by Manny the bumpha as Earth's first expert in the discipline of nanite programming. 

Tyhry has recently been using medical nanites to modify the structures of her body and the bodies of several of the replicoid copies of herself and her friend, Marda (see Part 7 of the story). Tyhry long suspected that she is genetically a tryp-At, a telepathic human variant. Acting on the evidence that she is tryp'At, she changed her name from Tihri to Tyhry, using the likely tryp'At spelling of her name (see Irhit). Tyhry's goal is to fully activate her tryp'At-style telepathic abilities.

A Tyhry replicoid
with tryp'At features.

 Telepathy and Orgasms. Tyhry has been enjoying her exploration of the relationship between orgasms and telepathy. The tryp'At brain was originally designed by genetic engineering so as to restrict the use of tryp-At telepathy to communication between individuals who love each other. However, subsequently, several methods have been found to work around that genetically-programmed restriction of the use of telepathy by the tryp'At. 

1) First of all, artificial synapex linkages can be formed between the nervous systems of two individuals. That kind of direct nervous system connection can be used to "bypass" the usual restrictions of tryp'At telepathy. 

hierion probe experiment

 2) Secondly, Tyhry's sister Rylla has developed a series of artificial sex hormones that can activate tryp'At telepathic abilities independent of there being a loving relationship between two people. 

3) Third, information nanites (infites) can be used to alter memories and thought patterns, not only in humans, but also in positronic robots, whose artificial brains are based on the human brain template of a Neanderthal woman named Gohrlay. Tyhry's mother is a clone of Gohrlay named Zeta Gohrlay.

4) Fourth, Tyhry has access to hierion probe technology that allows her to independently use her two cerebral hemispheres, allowing her make telepathic linkages to other people while hiding some of her thoughts and knowledge.

Tyhry's little problem

 Project Coryn. Tyhry hopes to be able to use her telepathic abilities to control the behavior of a positronic robot named Nymerya Coryn. This project is a "training mission" that was devise by Manny to force Tyhry into learning how to simultaneously use her tryp'At brain, infites, hierion probe technology, synapex linkages and sex hormones such as klox21 to optimize her telepathic abilities and guide the behavior of Nymerya Coryn.

A technical problem confronting Tyhry is that klox21 acts in the tryp'At body to enlarge erectile tissue and keep it continuously erect. This has caused Tyhry's tryp-At penis to out-grow the sheath that would normally allow an erect tryp'At penis to be held inside the abdominal cavity with only the tip protruding. Tyhry's artificially-enlarged penis now protrudes several inches from it sheath even when Tyhry is trying to conceal it.

Part 8 of Vythoth the Chresmoscopist. (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) (Part 6) (Part 7)

Tyhry's dream of First Contact.

Tyhry and Marda had been locked in a telepathic hours-long drug-enhanced orgasm trance when Tyhry was finally brought back to normal waking consciousness by a positive feedback process that had caused both Tyhry and Marda to start fantasizing about the imminent first test flight of Sedrover.

Upon awakening, Tyhry took hold of her very firm erection and thought about the wonders of klox21. She'd sent her scavenger nanites into Marda and obtained some of the new sex hormone. Her synthesizer nanites could now provide Tyhry with an unlimited supply of klox21, but Tyhry was worried that she had over-dosed. Her hot tryp-At penis showed no indication that it would relax and exit from its super-priapic state. After a few quick strokes of her penis, Tyhry achieved an orgasm and watched as spurts of her semen shot up from the tip of her penis, the first half dozen rising all the way to the low ceiling of her cabin.

These had been the captain's quarters back when Sedrover had been nothing but a nuclear submarine. Tyhry's ejaculations slowly subsided, but she kept massaging her erection. Since she's begun dosing herself with klox21, the look and smell of Tyhry's semen had altered and now it seemed that she could produce an endless river of sweet and savory ejaculate that was fun to play with and eat. Tyhry was delighted with her penis and after having it for two weeks she still was awestruck by its look and feel. Now, her erection was slick with semen and glistening. Marda said, "I guess I'll have to get one of those." Marda turned on her side and took hold of Tyhry's magnificent erection.

Marda's dream of First Contact.

Tyhry turned her head and saw that Marda's eyes were fixed on Tyhry's erection. Tyhry warned, "Having a tryp'At penis is a huge distraction. I can spend endless hours just playing with it. You might be wise to just revert your brain to its original form and not..."

Marda was telepathically following Tyhry's thoughts, "Why should you get all the fun? We could take turns hammering each other. I can see in your thoughts and memory that you've already had the penis of one of my replicoid copies inside your tight little vagina."

"If we both had a penis then we'd spend all day in bed and get nothing done." Tyhry checked the time. "Look at the time! I suppose the crew is starting to wonder if we'll delay lift-off." Before Tyhry could roll out of bed, Marda squatted over Tyhry and slid her vagina over Tyhry's penis. Marda's big tryp'At style clitoris was stiff and tingling from the effects of klox21. Tyhry pressed her two thumbs against the glans of Marda's clitoris and matched the rhythm of Marda's thrusting hips. Tyhry began to telepathically tune back in to Marda's thoughts and she now Tyhry saw fragments of the dream that Marda had been having. "You had sex with a plant?"

Marda was trying not to think about her dream. "An alien plant woman". In her dream, Marda had used Tyhry's medical nanites to grow her own tryp-At penis. After the Sedrover had discovered an exoplanet that was populated by sentient plant-like aliens, Marda had taken one of the sexy plant-woman as her lover. 

Her senses sharpened by klox21, Marda quickly climaxed and enjoyed her orgasm and the feel of Tyhry's hot penis inside her body. "There... now we are even." She had methodically made sure that Tyhry did not get more orgasms during their love making. Now Marda was telepathically reviewing Tyhry's recent dream experience which had involved hot sex with some sort of bear-like alien on a very cold exoplanet.

Tyhry muttered quietly, "The only thing I hate about sleeping with you is your skill at stealing the covers." In Tyhry's dream, she had been freezing cold except for her penis which had been warm and snug inside her furry alien lovers.

Marda and Tyhry.

Marda had never shared Tyhry's fascination with the possibilities of sexual intimacy with animals.  Now she saw a devious thought in Tyhry's mind. Marda told Tyhry, "No, just because you had sex with two dream bears during the time I was with my plant-woman, you are not ahead in the orgasm count. My plant lady provided me with two sweet orgasms." Marda reluctantly pulled herself off of Tyrhy. Just then, she felt a drop of Tyrhy's semen fall off of the ceiling onto her head. "Let's get a quick shower then it will be time for lift-off."

Their shared shower was not quick and it included another shared orgasm trance. Finally, Marda got out of the shower and dried herself off. Tyhry lingered under the falling water and tried running a stream of cold water over her erection, but it still would not deflate. When Tyhry came out of the shower, covered with goose bumps, Marda asked, "Are you going to be able to do this?"

Tyhry pulled on her top and got one leg into her pants. "I don't mind walking around Sedrover with my erection jutting out. I think it commands respect."

The tryp-At bulge.

 Marda took hold of Tyhry's jutting erection and shook her head. "The replicoid crew might not care about the sight of your penis, and I'd love to see it all day long, but my mother would be appalled. She was counting on me to keep klox21 a secret."

Tyhry put both hands on her erection and forced it back into her body. With only the last two inches protruding, Tyhry used her clothing nanites to wrap her crotch up tight in a soft, elastic fabric. With luck, her erection would stay confined and not force itself out and go on full display. She pulled up her pants and after some struggling, got them closed. The jutting tip of her penis made an interesting bulge, but there was nothing she could do about that. "Okay, let's get this show on the road." 

 Marda threw her arms around Tyhry and they shared a long passionate kiss. Marda pulled up the hem of her skirt and started rubbing the erect glans of her clitoris against the bulging tip of Tyhry's erection where it jutted out through the fabric of her clothing. Tyhry telepathically warned Marda: This is quite precarious. I'm actually feeling pain in my penis right now. I don't need you sexually stimulating me.

Marda's exoplanet fears.

Marda pulled back from Tyhry and said, "Sorry, lover. I'm afraid I just can't get enough of your pretty penis and your sweet semen." After briefly massaging her tingling clitoral erection, Marda let her skirt settle back down around her thighs. Marda suspected that Tyhry was using klox21, but she could not telepathically detect any thoughts in Tyhry's head about klox. Marda took hold of Tyhry's hands and said, "I don't expect you to tell me everything, but I'm trusting you to keep me informed about what is important. I've had such haunting dreams about what might be waiting for us in outer space.

Tyhry was experimenting with keeping her thoughts hidden. She did not like hiding anything from Marda, but why was she raising the matter now? Tyhry kissed the tips of four of Marda's fingers then said, "I've never promised to tell you everything I know. It is only fair... you keep secrets from me."

Marda giggled. "Mom sometimes expects me to keep secrets, but I'm not sure why. You seem to know everything. I suppose you spy on her."

Tyhry nodded. "Of course I do. I'm not going to pass up opportunities to learn, even if Zeta and Rylla feel the need to protect me."

"The closer we get to lift-off, the more nervous I become. How can you remain so calm?"

Tyhry is confident.

"I've seen the future. I know nothing terrible will happen to us." Now Tyhry could see a disturbing dream image in Marda's thoughts. "You watch too many Hollywood movies. There are no evil monsters waiting for us out there."

"I know, but I don't have the luxury of your experience. You built this spaceship. For me, there are too many unknowns." Marda bit her lip then continued, "Intellectually I trust you and the replicoids to have made this ship space-worthy. Emotionally, I'd prefer to just keep you in bed with me all day where we can play and be happy."

Tyhry kissed the tip of Marda's nose. "I wish it was just you and me, like the old days. Everything was so simple. There's nothing sweeter than sexplay with you, my dear. However, we have much to do. I'm compelled by my programming to do what is best for Humanity. That takes president over my love for you as an individual."

"I know. I don't resent the fact that you have duties. Please ignore all of my childish whining."

Tyhry took a deep breath, adjusted her pants one last time and led the way out of her cabin and to the Main Control Room of Sedrover where half a dozen replicoid copies of Anthony and Tyrhy were speculating on the flight plan that Tyhry would implement.

As soon as Tyhry entered, one of the Anthony replicoids glanced at the cute bulge in her crotch and rather impatiently asked, "Where to, Captain?"

The original biological Tyhry ran her eyes over the replicoids, enjoying the sight of their strong bodies and eager faces. She felt it was silly for the Anthony replicoid to call her "captain", but she did not chastise him. Rylla and Lexy came into the control room from the neighboring Wardroom. Taking note of the bulge in Tyhry's tight-fitting pants, Rylla said to Marda, "Tell me, was I right?"

Marda shrugged and explained, "I don't know how, but I think Tyhry is already using 21. I can taste it in her semen."

Tyhry told Rylla, "Listen, sis, you should know that you can't keep secrets from me. But tell me, do you have anything like a klox antagonist?"

"If you over-dosed, I might be able to speed the break-down of 21, but I haven't tried that in a human yet." Rylla leaned close to Tyhry, lightly stoked the tip of Tyhry's erection with her finger tips and whispered, "Klox21 has made all my erectile tissue enlarge."

Marda spoke out-loud, not trying to keep any secrets from the replicoids who could all telepathically read her thoughts. "All my erectile tissue has enlarged and is constantly engorged."

Tyhry nodded. "I suspect this is part of the normal tryp'At life style, being in a constant state of sexual excitement. That seems to be the only way to keep tryp'At telepathy functioning at full efficiency." Tyhry glanced at the navigator's station and told her replicoid copy who was in charge of charting their course, "I've decided that we should depart from Earth in the direction of the Moon. Well use the Moon's bulk and brightness to hide us from astronomical instruments that might catch a glimpse of us as we depart from Earth. Once we're past the orbit of the Moon, engage the sedron drive and see how long it takes us to reach Mars."

The Tyhry replicoid quickly laid in a course to Mars via the Moon and said, "Course set."

An Anthony replicoid spoke to the engine room, "Stand by for faster-than light travel."

Tyhry glanced at her control panel and saw that the engine readiness light was glowing green. The pulled the cover-guard off of the "go" button and pressed it. In the big forward display panel, the open hanger door seemed to approach and then Sedrover tilted up into the sky. The anti-gravity system worked with near perfection. Only a slight sensation of acceleration was felt. Ten seconds later, they were above the dense lower part of the atmosphere. The Anthony replicoid in the Operations Room reported, "Forward outer hull temperature is 1150 degrees."

Mars seen through Sedrover's screens.

Now the front shield flashed occasionally as Sedrover crossed paths with dust particles. Tyhry watched as the Moon swelled and then passed out of view. Now ahead was the red sparkle of Mars, almost hidden by a constant spattering of micrometeorite impacts on the shields. Marda checked a display panel. "We're moving at about 10,000 kilometers per minute. Sublight."

Tyhry spoke to her replicoid copy who was in the engine room monitoring the sedron drive. "Can you give us light speed?"

Now Vythoth the Fru'wu entered the Control Room from the Wardroom. "What's wrong?"

Tyhry could sense in the alien's thoughts some slight glee. The Fru'wu spaceships could move just below the speed of light. Tyhry replied, "I don't know. These engines should easily take us above light speed."

During the next five minutes it was confirmed that the sedron "fuel" had been fed into the interstellar drive. Finally, one of the Anthony replicoids said, "You know, we were never able to confirm that we have the correct type of sedron."

 Vythoth asked, "How can that be?"

Tyhry explained, "Manny is the only one who can bring sedrons into the Final Reality from the Reality Simulation system." Tyhry left the control room and went to the environmental systems room where the replicoid copy of Marda was trying to stay secluded from the biological Marda. The two copies of Marda were rather jealous of each other. The Marda replicoid had played a major role in setting up the sedron mining and purification operation on Earth. Tyhry went to stand beside the Marda replicoid and she looked at the data for the levels of gasses in the ship's air. The carbon dioxide level was holding steady. Tyhry asked, "What do think the chances are that we have the wrong sedron?"

Tyhry's alien synapex dream.

The replicoid placed her hand over the tip of Tyhry's penis where it pushed out against the fabric of her pants. "Since we can't break the light barrier, I'd say the chances are fair. Why would Manny let us waste so much time purifying the wrong sedron?" Marda paused. "...unless this is one of Manny's little games."

Tyhry had a flash-like memory of one of her dreams that had featured a creepy alien creature with tentacles forming synapex linkages to Tyhry in an effort to take control of Tyhry's mind. Tyhry opened her pants and let her erection snap out of the body cavity that was designed to hold it. "That's a relief." The Marda replicoid took hold of Tyhry's penis with both of her hands. Tyhry speculated, "Maybe Manny wanted to get us off Earth, but not too far from Earth. I've long suspected that the Eternity space-time bubble of the Hierion Domain is somewhere out here, not far from Earth."

Tyhry began to ejaculate and the Marda replicoid took the tip of Tyhry's erection in her mouth. While the Marda replicoid swallowed Tyhry's hot spurts of semen, she telepathically told Tyhry: I'm getting nervous. We should turn around. It would not be good to get stranded out here.

Tyhry allowed herself a full minute to enjoy her orgasm and wait for her ejaculations to subside. Then she lifted the Marda replicoid's skirt. The replicoid stopped sucking on Tyhry's penis and quickly took Tyhry's big erection into her wet vagina and began working towards her own orgasm. Tyhry linked their nervous systems with a synapex connection and the sex hormones in Tyhry's semen began effecting Marda's sensory system. Tyhry said, "I'd like to get as far as Mars, but you are right. Something else might go wrong." Tyhry had the Marda replicoid leaning against one of the control consoles and she vigorously thrust her erection in and out Marda. Now they both shared an orgasm and briefly sank into an orgasm trance. However, Tyhry knew that Sedrover was rapidly approaching Mars. "Thanks for the orgasms, my love." She pulled her penis out of Marda and then spoke to the crew in the Main Control Room. "Distance to Mars?"

One of the Tyhry replicoids replied, "About 20,000 kilometers. We'll go into orbit soon, except we are picking up a radio signal... behind us."

Tyhry ordered, "Full stop. What kind of radio signal?"

"Short and simple. It keeps repeating: 'Welcome to Gyryph'. In English... not any language of the Ekcolir Reality."

"How strange. They know we are from the Final Reality." Tyhry immediately suspected a trick by Manny the bumpha. "Can you find the source?"

"We should be able to. We're turning around and triangulating. We have it... a point well above the ecliptic. Just about exactly over Earth's north magnetic pole."

"When we get close enough to send a tight beam reply that won't be heard on Earth, send this message: 'Who are you?'" Tyhry broke the communications link to the Control Room and turned back to the Marda Replicoid. Tyhry began licking the stiff glans of Marda's clitoris and telepathically told her: I've never heard of 'Gyryph', how about you?

The Marda replicoid was still synapex linked to Tyhry and now she was rapidly approaching another orgasm. No, I don't know what that means. Gyryph? Get your hot erection back inside me, lover.

Tyhry did not hesitate to comply with Marda's request. By the time they had shared another, longer orgasm trance, the Tyhry replicoid arrived and spoke directly to the original biological copy of Tyhry, "We seem to be at the source of the Gyryph transmission, but there is nothing here. Nothing our sensors can detect."

Tyhry pulled her hard penis out of the Marda replicoid and turned towards the Tyhry replicoid. "What if they are inside the Hierion Domain?"

Sorsyph in her laboratory.

Just then, Tyhry saw one of the many cats that had taken up residence inside Sedrover during the past year. The cat had black and white patches of fur and Tyhry thought she recognized it, but it was purposely approaching. "Tyllyr, is that you?"

Tyhry "heard" a new voice in her mind: I am Sorsyph. I've taken control of Tyllyr's body. Tyllyr jumped up and Tyhry caught the cat, holding it in her arms. Tyhry looked down at the cat and almost forgot about her erection. Sorsyph continued: I suppose you'd like to visit Gyryph.

Tyhry spoke out-loud, "It is true? You reside inside the Hierion Domain?"

"Yes." 

Tyhry had shifted. Suddenly she was no longer on Sedrover. She was looking at Sorsyph and Tyhry realized that ten years previously she had seen Sorsyph in a vision of the future that came to Tyhry by way of the Sedron Time Stream. Tyhry reached out across the table that was there between the two women and touched Sorsyph's fuzzy face. Tyhry noticed that she had furry hands, as did Sorsyph. Realizing that she was in a new body, Tyhry asked, "What's going on?"

Sorsyph explained, "I've been using Tyllyr to spy on you for much of the past year."

Tyhry was quite amazed to find herself in someone else's body, but Sorsyph obviously took that for granted. Tyhry asked, "I suppose that's how you learned English." She glanced down at the surface of the workbench which was cluttered with equipment.

"I've had help from infites. Your English is a nightmare. It was quite a shock for we Felydyans to discover you and your replicoids on Earth." Tyhry could now feel Sorsyph searching through Tyhry's memories. "I'm still finding it hard to accept that you are from a future Reality and all this," She waved a hand at the interior of her laboratory, "Is some kind of simulation."

One of Tyhry's cat fantasies.

Tyhry looked around the room that was full of enigmatic devices and laboratory equipment. Tyhry could telepathically sense the fringes of Sorsyph's mind. More importantly, Tyhry was feeling quite sexually aroused. Sorsyph was quite beautiful and dressed in revealing lace. Sorsyph's stiff little nipples pointed at Tyhry. Tyhry tried to ignore her own tingling erectile tissue. "Exactly where are we?"

"This is my physics laboratory."

"Tell me... how did you change my body?"

"My lover, Oyub, agreed to let you use her body for a time. I've linked your cognitive system into her body, although in a very real sense you are still inside your own body, back on Sedrover."

Tyhry flexed her fingers. Oyub's fingers. "This feels so natural. I'm impressed with your mind-transfer technology." Tyhry reached down into the furry pants that she wore and explored her genitals.

Sorsyph explained, "We Felydyans are from the far future... we are one of the human variants that can be traced back to the tryp'At, so just like them, I have a penis and two vaginas."

Oyub exploring
Sedrover while using
Tyhry's body.

Tyhry felt her erect penis emerge from her body. Her furry pants were obviously designed to make it easy for a Felydyan penis to come out into full view. Using both of her furry hands, Tyhry examined Oyub's pretty penis. Sorsyph commented, "Tyhry, you have a problem. I find it amusing, and titillating, that you over-dosed on that klox sex hormone just before I finally got to meet you. You are going to have to learn to control your penis, girl... which at this moment happens to be Oyub's penis."

Tyhry was delighted by the sensations provoked by the soft fur of her hands against the sensitive skin of her penis. She asked Sorsyph, "Where is Oyub right now?"

Sorsyph explained, "I sent her consciousness over to Sedrover. She's using your body and exploring your spaceship while you are here and making use of her body."

Tyhry imagines Sorsyph with less fur.

Tyhry walked around the table and reached into Sorsyph's pants and felt the stiff tip of Sorsyph's penis where it jutted outwards. "You Felydyans are always erect?"

"Almost always. That's a tryp'At trait that we have retained." Sorsyph took hold of Tyhry/Oyub's hot erection. "I'm impressed at how sexually aroused you are."

Tyhry giggled. "My whole life I've had fantasies about making love to you." Tyhry began to explore both of Sorsyph's vaginas with her... fingers? She asked, "It seems strange to have furry fingers... and claws. I hope I don't scratch you."

Sorsyph's two vaginas were both dripping wet with luxuriant secretions. With Tyhry exploring her vaginas, Sorsyph began to purr and she said something in the Felydyan language that Tyhry did not understand. Tyhry was wondering if Sorsyph used feeding nanites to bring nutrients into her body and shuttle away wastes. Speaking in her own language, Sorsyph had told Tyhry: There's no shit in my back vagina... it is not an anus. Tyhry said, "I'd like to ravish you."

Sorsyph giggled. "I suppose you won't be able to think straight until you have an orgasm or two. I don't mind. There's no point in me trying to discuss sedrons with you when your mind is focused on sex."

Tyhry had placed her erection between Sorsyph's legs, but now she hesitated and asked, "So you know why Sedrover did not travel at super-luminal speed?"

Sorsyph nodded. "Of course. You don't have the correct type of sedron." Now Sorsyph let her pants fall to her ankles. They were made of nanites and quickly dissolved away, returning to their default state: a cloud of invisibly small nanites. She leaned her torso over the work bench and seductively presented her round bottom to Tyhry. 

Tyhry slid her/Oyub's stiff penis into Sorsyph's back vagina. After a few deep trusts, Tyhry asked, "But you Felydyan have the type of sedron that I need?"

Sorsyph was purring loudly. She continued purring and at the same time replied telepathically: Yes, we do. I'd be happy to provide you with some, but these sedrons are a precious commodity. We don't have an infinite supply.

Tyhry had heard what she wanted to hear. Now she concentrated on the pleasurable task of exploring Sorsyph's hot silky vaginas and the sensations that could be generated by this new penis of her host body.

Later, after a prolonged sexplay session, Tyhry awoke, still in Oyub's body. Tyhry realized that she had been unconscious for some extended period of time. Her last memory was of greatly enjoying her love making with Sorsyph and having the sensation that her telepathic link to Sorsyph's mind was strengthening. Sorsyph was now between Tyhry's legs, slowly massaging her lover's front vagina with her big hot erection. Sorsyph was deep in Tyhry/Oyub's vagina and telepathically deep in Tyhry's mind. Welcome back.

Tyhry again engaged in the pleasurable game of explored Sorsyph's beautiful body, curious about why some parts were furry and others had normal human skin. "Can you explain... your fur pattern seems to have changed..."

Sorsyph kept thrusting her big hot erection deep into Tyhry/Oyub's vagina and told Tyhry: We Felydyans have body-sculpting nanites. We constantly re-shape our bodies to please our lovers. Right now I'm enlarging my penis because I can sense in your thoughts how much you like a really huge penis inside you!

Tyhry completely relaxed and enjoyed the way that Sorsyph was stretching her front vagina to the limit. "So your body is not actually part cat and part human?"

Sorsyph now spoke. "We Felydyans do have many cat gene patterns." Sorsyph giggled. "I've studied you for months, Tyhry. When I learned that you have had past experience in feline sexplay, I knew that we would be sexually compatible. Of course, when I was sent on a time travel mission to explore Earth's past, I was evaluated for my ability to use a conventional Earth-human body form. Give me a few days and I can use medical nanites to remove all of my feline features." Sorsyph rushed herself to sexual climax and ejaculated inside Tyhry's hot vagina. 

When Sorsyph pulled her big artificially inflated erection out of Tyhry, Tyhry took it in her mouth and tasted Felydyan semen. Tyhry's mouth seemed to explode with exciting sensations. Tyhry's penis again stiffened, but it did not pop out of Tyhry's body. Sorsyph was still telepathically following Tyhry's thoughts. "While you were unconscious, I scrubbed the klox sex hormone out of your system. Now you can think about things other than sexplay and we can make plans." Again Sorsyph said something in her native language and once again Tyhry thought she telepathically received some understanding of what Sorsyph had said: a brief subjective commentary on how much Sorsyph was enjoying the feel of Tyhry/Oyub's feline tongue on the sensitive tip of Sorsyph's penis.

Tyhry stopped sucking on Sorsyph's penis and said, "I remember you mentioning Felydyan infites. You told me that you'll share sedron technology with me, what about infites?"

Sorsyph and Tyhry were both playing with Sorsyph's erection. Sorsyph told Tyhry, "I don't really understand why you want infite technology. You want to trick a robot, this... Nymerya Coryn? He's from a previous Reality? I see in your mind that this has nothing to do with time travel. So why bother?"

Tyhry thought about Systolina and her problem on Threy. Now Tyhry/Oyub's penis became fully engorged and slid out of its sheath. For a minute, Tyhry directly compared her erection to Sorsyph's. Sorsyph commaned her body-sculpting nanites to exit from her penis and it quickly shrank back down to normal size, just about exactly the same size as Tyhry/Oyub's penis. Tyhry then remembering the topic of conversation and said, "My friend, Systolina, needs help. I feel responsible for having gotten her into a difficult situation. I hope to send Nymerya Coryn into the far past of this Reality and change the course of human civilization. Yes, it is only a simulation, but this project will allow me to learn how my own Reality, the Final Reality, came into existence."

Sorsyph kissed the tip of Oyub's penis and she spoke to her lover, Oyub. Tyhry could now sense the mind of Oyub as it took control of her own body once again. "I'm intrigued by the possibility of seeing Tyhry's Reality Simulation System in action. I'll see you soon!" Then the cognitive systems of Tyhry and Sorsyph transferred back over to Sedrover and Tyhry's visit to Gyryph was at its end.

Coming in 2025: Part 9 of Vythoth the Chresmoscopist.

Next: Searching for Interesting Aliens (SIHA) 2024.

Visit the Gallery of Movies, Book and Magazine Covers