Shadows 2: Contact by faroutsider

Mixed Medium • Science Fiction • posted on Jun 16, 2011

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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.

Description

Macali quickly set up a discreet subroutine that would trap a trans-dimensional communication. It was a simple enough thing, and one any Opae could have done just as well. Once it was done, she opened the single-input channel and allowed the message to filter through. Location Fixed Prepare To Transport Aboard Before she could shut down the channel, Macali felt the familiar tingle of passing through an inter-dimension translation portal, but the intensity was far greater than she had ever sensed before. She experienced a profound jolt of disorientation as her spatial displacement sensors told her she was not in the tower on Urth, but in a space station almost half a light-year beyond the Oört cloud of the home system. "That's not possible," she said under her breath. "Be prepared to accept many things that you thought were not possible," said a voice behind her. Macali spun around and adopted maximum defensive posture. Two female humanoids stood calmly looking at her, showing no signs of threat, but Macali remained on high alert. These two were unlike any beings she had ever encountered - they had standard humanoid forms apart from their exotic blue skin and long pointed ears, but Macali could not get any readings from them at all - no thermal or electromagnetic readouts, no pheromones or other chemical markers. Macali was out of range of the Solar DataWeb, but a quick scan of her internal databases confirmed that the Opae had no such beings on record. She entered a new record in the database under the filename Shadows. "Who are you, and what do you want with me?" Macali asked, still crouched in defensive posture. "How have you managed to transport me so far through a standard translation portal, and how did you manage to do so without me initiating any protocols from my side?" "Welcome, Macali of the Opae, we have been waiting for you," said one of the beings. "We are Azinorc and Uven of the Beridae. We mean you no harm. You will have all of your questions answered, and more besides. Walk with us - there is someone who has travelled many light-years to meet you." Macali relaxed her defensive posture and stood up. Although she was still highly suspicious of these strange beings, she realised that she was cut off from her own people and resources and had no option other than to go along with her "hosts", at least until she had more information. She asked them to lead the way and Uven, the silent one, set off quickly down the corridor. Walking slowly with Macali, Azinorc made a gesture with her hand and a set of glowing data cubes arranged in complex nested spheres appeared floating above her palm. "This is a data matrix designed to interface with your systems," she said. "It will answer many of your initial questions and will prepare you for the meeting with Augidarr and the others on our war council." Seeing Macali hesitate, Azinorc looked puzzled. "You are in conflict with humans, are you not? We are here to give you the means to end the deadlock and finally claim this sector for all Opae." ******* And so the collaboration with Tara (auntietk) continues. Watch this space/time discontinuity... Figures posed in Poser 8, rendered in Vue 9.5 infinite. Sci-Fi Corridors from C3D, other production credits listed below. Craig & Tara

Previous image: Shadows 1: First sighting

Production Credits

Oskarsson's Deus Machina

By Oskarsson

$12.00 USD

Comments (15)

SIGMAWORLD

8:45AM | Thu, 16 June 2011

Excellent sf!

jmb007

9:27AM | Thu, 16 June 2011

bonne image!!

adrie

3:28PM | Thu, 16 June 2011

Awesome sci-fi scene my friend, superb work.

carlx

3:50PM | Thu, 16 June 2011

Excellent sci-fi composition and mood!!!

kftate

5:02PM | Thu, 16 June 2011

Fantastic image and story! Superb work!

Black-Carrie

9:29PM | Thu, 16 June 2011

Great done story and image! Waiting for the next sequel. Fantastic done!!!

mgtcs

10:21PM | Thu, 16 June 2011

WOW...Spectacular si fi here, very nice setting and priceless characters, well done!

auntietk

11:19PM | Thu, 16 June 2011

Macali prepared to engage. She set up record, backup and emergency aux channels. If anything happened to her, another Opae would be able to access her files and would know everything she knew. Gaining an advantage over the Opae's nemesis race was information she could not afford to ignore, no matter its source. The battle between Opae and Human, if it could be called a battle, had been continuing for more centuries than anyone could say. The fight consisted of occupying territory and making use of resources, making sure the asteroid mines, the energy wells, were available when needed. Opae and Human could not physically affect each other. They could not touch. Their weapons were irrelevant. They could only occupy the same overcrowded space, vying for what they needed. Macali was a warrior of the highest order. Her superior ability in navigating the nine-fold trans-dimensional matrix, along with the cutting-edge tech that had been installed in her physical form made her one of her people's finest assets. It was her duty to learn everything she could, while avoiding being taken prisoner. Macali had no fear. She was not programmed for fear. The Opae had no need of fear or anger, grief or joy. Investigating and reporting back on this newly encountered race was her primary duty, and she would use every advantage she had in order to perform that duty. "I am ready to receive information," Macali said to Azinorc. "Lead the way." Uven and Azinorc resumed their relaxed pace down the corridor, Azinorc making a simple hand motion as she walked that caused the glowing golden cubes and spheres to collapse and disappear. Although Macali did not sense a trans-dimensional shift, she assumed the device had been sent through a small portal. "Augidarr is already waiting to speak to you," said Azinorc in her melodious voice. "She is eager to make your acquaintance." Macali nodded once, politely, acknowledging the comment but contributing nothing further. The Beridae females stopped in front of an archway that led into a room where a third Beridae female stood with six others behind her. She did not waste time in pleasantries. "I am Augidarr. Welcome. I know you have many questions. We have much to share. If you will allow, we will show you how to interface with our equipment so that you may learn in the most efficient way. Azinorc has shown you the kalilja?" "Kalilja?" Macali asked. Azinorc made the same gesture she had made in the hallway, and the beautiful data cubes and spheres reappeared. "This is a kalilja," Azinorc told her. "Ah yes," Macali replied. "She has, indeed." "If you will take it in your hands," Augidarr continued, "you will begin to receive information almost immediately. You will be able to ask any questions you like, and you will receive answers." Macali did not need to debate. Her role was clear. She held out her hands and received the kalilja. She immediately felt a trans-dimensional shift, and her awareness, her consciousness, was inside the kalilja. There was so much information there, she didn't know if she would ever finish learning, or if she would ever get out! She set up as many data-transfer links as she could, effectively allowing herself to be in nine places at one time, and began the download. "Can you hear me, Macali?" Augidarr asked. There was no response. Macali was as still as a statue, eyes blank. "Excellent," Augidarr said. "Excellent."