Bubba And The Mayans

The Alien Invaders

Kendrick introduced Touchez to us. She made some adjustments to the tabletop. She expanded the map to cover the Middle East with Egypt in the center.

“I know Kendrick said to talk about the Aztec and Hindu, but you are probably more familiar with the pyramids and Egypt.”

We all nodded.

“Okay we will begin there. Most of your recorded history begins around this time,” she explained. “Many of the written records from this time are lost. There are a few things floating around here and there.”

“The story of Gilgamesh,” I suggested. I thought it odd it she used the floating reference when talking about the flood.

“Yes, and other comparable stories,” she agreed. “The groups left on the earth were sparse. They were spread apart across the shifting continents. Which brings us to the last groups of settlers to arrive,” she said.

“Hindu and Aztec,” Arlo offered in summary.

“Sort of,” Touchez replied. “Sectinium was a coalition of three different worlds when they sent their ships towards earth. There were groups on each world who wanted to maintain the status quo of working together and others who wanted individual freedom.

“The groups which wanted to maintain their individuality left their worlds to come here. You know them as the Aztec, Indian, and Egyptian peoples. The worlds they come from are from the area you refer to as Orion’s Belt.”

“So, all three groups are alien races?” Danny Boy asked.

“Yes, however I hope you have realized there are no native species on earth.” Touchez pointed out.

Arlo, Dingo, Danny Boy, and I looked at each other for several seconds. We learned it in the last hour. It had not really sunk in yet.

“Then why,” Dingo inquired, “does everyone on this side of the universe think earthlings are monsters? Half the people who find out we are from earth freak out!”

“Well earth does have a reputation,” Touchez admitted. “Let me explain. The three groups settled in North Africa, India, and South America. Even then there were some additional splintering as various disputes arose and groups travelled north the Americas, and east into Asia.”

“Our research,” Arlo interrupted, “shows life on earth probably began in Africa and spread throughout the world from there.”

“Africa,” Touchez pointed out, “is not where it was when the first settlers arrived. And” she added, “Your records are incomplete.”

Arlo nodded thoughtfully for a moment. “I’m sorry it’s just hard to wrap my head around all this.”

“Not a problem,” she replied. “These groups used technology superior to what is currently available on earth. They were not too far ahead of what you have now though.

“Also, Sectinium was an aristocratic type of society where there were three or four ruling families on each ship and the rest of the settlers were their servants.

“After they arrived and began setting up their new kingdoms on earth, they still wanted to show superiority over the other families who came along.”

“Jack,” Elias called out as he entered the room. He walked over to us and tapped the tabletop. The cave we were in when he greeted us came into view.

“I believe these people are looking for you. They have not found the doorbell however.” He explained.

Cadmael, Ariana, Felicia, Agent Smith, and several warriors were searching the cave. Actar, our attendant warrior who had run off, was also with them.

“What do you think Arlo?” I asked.

“Ariana would love this,” he said as he indicated the lab. “I don’t know about any of the others though.”

“Agent Smith certainly does not need to see this,” I stated. “I wonder if Bubba is ready to head back to camp. He seemed pretty bored already.”

“Probably so,” Dingo replied. “Honestly, this stuff is kind of interesting, but I’ve heard about enough of it myself.”

“Elias, could you take Bubba and Mikimo back to the surface? If anybody else wants to go,” I indicated Dingo, “they can accompany you.”

“I’m staying here.” Danny Boy announced.

“It will take about thirty minutes or so to get there,” Elias replied. “That’s not counting putting the costume back on.”

“I don’t think you will need it,” I said. “Stay back in the hallway a bit and let them walk out. Dingo can ask Ariana and Felicia if they want to join us. Is there some way you can prevent anyone else from returning with you? We only want the offer made to the two women.”

“It should not be an issue.” He replied.

“Okay, Dingo,” I directed. “Get the others and head back. We will be along eventually. Of course, do not tell anyone about what you have seen down here.”

“No one would believe me anyway.” He commented. “Besides, you never kiss a gift whore on the mouth.”

“What?” Arlo and I both exclaimed.

“You make the best of the situation,” Dingo said.

“Never look a gift horse in the mouth,” Arlo offered after a moment.

“What does that mean?” Dingo inquired.

“A lot of people used to give away horses with rotten teeth. The decayed teeth mean they cannot eat properly and are more of a burden than a blessing.” Arlo explained. “So, the saying Never look a gift horse in the mouth means to accept the gift graciously without asking questions.

“Yeah, it’s what I said,” Dingo replied. “If you get something for free enjoy it but be cautious.”

There was a demented logic to his thinking. I did not feel it was worth arguing over. He walked away with Elias. I turned back to Touchez.

“I apologize for the interruption, please continue.” I encouraged.

“Before you start,” Danny Boy jumped in, “what about the Asian peoples? Where did they come from?”

“They broke away from the Indians.” Touchez answered. “What you call Asians are the slaves the four Indian families brought with them.

“The differences in the Indian and Asian people groups are due to different origin planets, The Asians are descended from Pnagua and the Indians from Bsterwenda.”

“Never heard of either of them,” Arlo observed.

“There are a lot of places we never heard of.” I reminded him.

He nodded.

Touchez returned to her narration. “The galactic government had its beginning about twenty-five thousand earth years ago. As it began to expand throughout the universe its rules and conditions were adopted by most of the worlds and species it encountered.

“The galactic government encountered Sectinium a little over five thousand years ago. One of the conditions of the galactic government was the abandonment of earth in order to join the coalition.”

“I bet the ruling families here didn’t like it,” Arlo commented.

“No one in power ever wants to give it up.” I stated in agreement.

“You are correct.” Touchez acknowledged. “Some stayed to live out their lives here while others chose to return to Sectinium planets. What had a greater effect was the ban on supply ships coming to the planet. Without replacements for the technologies the various species were using, they were lost when they broke or wore out.”

“So, the pyramids around the world were built with advanced technology?” Danny Boy inquired.

“Some of them,” Touchez admitted. “Others were built at great human and monetary expense. Levitation devices failed. They had to figure out how to do things with what was available.”

“Interesting,” I thought aloud. “When did this decree from the galactic government take place?”

“Say, forty-five-hundred of your years ago give or take,” Touchez answered.

“It’s near the same time as our earliest written records.” Arlo responded.

Touchez nodded. “As computer and data storage systems began to fail the diverse groups reverted to records written on parchment or clay tablets. Most of the groups were able to maintain common knowledge, like how to fire pottery and such. Some knowledge was kept secret, such as how to make Japanese steel.

“Within twenty years of the last supply ship appearing there was a world-wide rebellion against the ruling class. The world fell into chaos. Almost all records of what went before were destroyed.”

“Why didn’t you do anything?” Danny Boy asked.

Touchez waved her hands around absently to indicate the lab. “What could we do? They would have seen us no differently than those who ruled them. We sent our reports back. Agents from the galactic council have been observing the planet since then.

“There have been contacts with individuals over time,” Touchez finished.

“We are aware of some of those.” Arlo spoke for us all. “What about the dark ages? Did you influence the different wars and plagues which have ravaged the planet? Couldn’t you have eased some of the suffering?”

“Individuals from this planet are intelligent,” Touchez responded, “but people are idiots. We did what we could when we could. You have to realize our main focus was discovering what happened to Atlantis.”

“She’s right you know,” I said as I looked at my friends. “Even now people are more worried about their immediate future than they are about what happens to the planet or humanity as a whole.” They both nodded in agreement.

“What about the spaceships and the structures built over time?” Arlo inquired. “Why is there no trace of them now?”

“Anything made from non-native elements has deteriorated into nothing you would recognize. Some of the elements you only find in one or two places on earth are the remains of ancient ships or structures abandoned. They have been claimed by the planet.

“Anything built before the flood was destroyed if it was on the surface. Even here with the reinforcements there is much that is useless to us now.” Touchez finished sadly.

“Everything I ever thought I knew about earth is wrong.” Arlo concluded.

“Not everything my friend.” I reminded him. “We’ve got the last five or six thousand years right for the most part.” I said with false enthusiasm.

“What about religion and different paths to belief?” Danny Boy asked. “What about Christ and salvation and Buddha and whatever else is out there?”

“We do not follow those beliefs,” Ohminia replied from somewhere behind us. I had not noticed his presence.

“What do you believe?” Danny Boy inquired.

“There was a creator,” Ttaliss answered. I did not notice her return either. “There is too much order and similarity in the universe for there not to have been a creator.” She stated. “If he or she still lives, or if we will face the creator when we die, I do not know.”

“We are scientists, not philosophers.” Ohminia offered.

“I believe it is something each of us must decide for ourselves,” I said. “Our history and religions offer some compelling teachings. I have a little faith in my own.”

“What does it mean?” Ttaliss asked. “What is a little faith?”

“The faith of a mustard seed.” I answered with a slight smile.

Before we delved further into religion Elias came in with Felicia and a very shocked Ariana.