leave freely.”
He nodded, not sure what else he should say. Instead , she broke the silence. “You are not from our city. Have you been to Pulchru Filia before?”
Franklin shook his head . “No, ma’am. I’m definitely not from around here.”
“Have no worry then . It was a simple question, which you have answered. Where in the Empire are you from?”
“Empire?”
“Yes. I do not recognize your dress, so I assume it is far away.”
He glanced down and realized he was wearing jeans, sneakers, and a white T-shirt. It surprised him no one noticed him before then and if they had, why hadn’t they pointed at him? He definitely looked out of place when compared to the silver clothing his host wore.
“Um… I’m from Earth.” Why did he feel so strange saying that?
The woman’s eye widened, then returned to normal as she smiled. “Ah, you must be referring to Sol, which would make you a Terranplanter. How are they progressing on Sol?”
Franklin paused , not knowing how to answer. After a moment he told the truth—a version of it anyway. “They’re doing well, better than expected.”
She nodded . “It is always good to hear about them. I believe they are our most advanced colony, are they not?” Again he nodded, unsure of how to respond. There was a brief pause between them until she spoke again. “I wish them better futures than we face.”
Franklin’s face contorted as he tried to understand what she meant. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “My apologies. You have been off-world and have not heard.” She paused and the compassion on her face changed to one of deep sorrow.
He stepped forward to offer his assistance , but he was unsure how he could help. She saved him from his obvious embarrassment by shaking her head and motioning for him to sit across from her as she took her seat in the plush chair. “It is alright. I have lived for over three hundred years, and my own mortality does not worry me. I never thought our empire would end because of who we are. I fear what we are will be lost to the coldness of space.”
He followed her lead out of instinct while his mind tried to focus on her age. He never imagined anyone could live half as long as she claimed, but somehow he knew she was telling him the truth.
The much older woman stared at the floor as she imagined what the future of the universe would be like—so cold and dead without the billion-years-old human race traversing the stars on their daily business. For as long as there was recorded history, other intelligent life forms were never found. In many ways, her people were the observers of cosmic history. Who would take their place should the Disease end their reign?
Franklin sat where she indicated , but instead of contemplating such a vast vision, his gaze roamed about the room as he took in his surroundings. He had no way of knowing what was destined for these people, his ancestors. Despite everything, he was but a speck of sand on a universal beach and until then he remained blissfully unaware.
He wished he ’d never tried the spaceway and intruded on her sanctuary. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find the right words to express himself. When he did speak, the question he voiced wasn’t what he intended. “What do you mean by the end of the Empire?” His voice shook, though he didn’t know why.
The woman raised her head to look at him while a gentle smile spread across her face. It gave her eyes a haunted quality that made Franklin want to cry. “Yes, you haven’t heard.” She paused once more, but only for a few seconds before continuing. “Our Expansion Fleet pierced the outer boundary of this galaxy. It may sound strange, but we have outgrown the habitable space here. At first all seemed well.” She swallowed, organizing her thoughts. “When one of the ships returned most of the crew was dying. Our scientists have been unable to isolate the cause aside from the
He nodded, not sure what else he should say. Instead , she broke the silence. “You are not from our city. Have you been to Pulchru Filia before?”
Franklin shook his head . “No, ma’am. I’m definitely not from around here.”
“Have no worry then . It was a simple question, which you have answered. Where in the Empire are you from?”
“Empire?”
“Yes. I do not recognize your dress, so I assume it is far away.”
He glanced down and realized he was wearing jeans, sneakers, and a white T-shirt. It surprised him no one noticed him before then and if they had, why hadn’t they pointed at him? He definitely looked out of place when compared to the silver clothing his host wore.
“Um… I’m from Earth.” Why did he feel so strange saying that?
The woman’s eye widened, then returned to normal as she smiled. “Ah, you must be referring to Sol, which would make you a Terranplanter. How are they progressing on Sol?”
Franklin paused , not knowing how to answer. After a moment he told the truth—a version of it anyway. “They’re doing well, better than expected.”
She nodded . “It is always good to hear about them. I believe they are our most advanced colony, are they not?” Again he nodded, unsure of how to respond. There was a brief pause between them until she spoke again. “I wish them better futures than we face.”
Franklin’s face contorted as he tried to understand what she meant. She reached out and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “My apologies. You have been off-world and have not heard.” She paused and the compassion on her face changed to one of deep sorrow.
He stepped forward to offer his assistance , but he was unsure how he could help. She saved him from his obvious embarrassment by shaking her head and motioning for him to sit across from her as she took her seat in the plush chair. “It is alright. I have lived for over three hundred years, and my own mortality does not worry me. I never thought our empire would end because of who we are. I fear what we are will be lost to the coldness of space.”
He followed her lead out of instinct while his mind tried to focus on her age. He never imagined anyone could live half as long as she claimed, but somehow he knew she was telling him the truth.
The much older woman stared at the floor as she imagined what the future of the universe would be like—so cold and dead without the billion-years-old human race traversing the stars on their daily business. For as long as there was recorded history, other intelligent life forms were never found. In many ways, her people were the observers of cosmic history. Who would take their place should the Disease end their reign?
Franklin sat where she indicated , but instead of contemplating such a vast vision, his gaze roamed about the room as he took in his surroundings. He had no way of knowing what was destined for these people, his ancestors. Despite everything, he was but a speck of sand on a universal beach and until then he remained blissfully unaware.
He wished he ’d never tried the spaceway and intruded on her sanctuary. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t find the right words to express himself. When he did speak, the question he voiced wasn’t what he intended. “What do you mean by the end of the Empire?” His voice shook, though he didn’t know why.
The woman raised her head to look at him while a gentle smile spread across her face. It gave her eyes a haunted quality that made Franklin want to cry. “Yes, you haven’t heard.” She paused once more, but only for a few seconds before continuing. “Our Expansion Fleet pierced the outer boundary of this galaxy. It may sound strange, but we have outgrown the habitable space here. At first all seemed well.” She swallowed, organizing her thoughts. “When one of the ships returned most of the crew was dying. Our scientists have been unable to isolate the cause aside from the
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