Chapter 5 - the Voice I

   Things went predictably after his presentation. He could have about called it, but he felt he had to try. He sensed he was either right? Or close enough to something close to the mark that it was worthwhile. He knew he wasn't living in a complete vacuum, either. Its not like he was the first or only person to have ever questioned the existence of dark matter and or dark energy, both. The reasons varied from his own, but still.

   In the end? He got nowhere. Well, maybe even back a few steps. He didn't get his doctoral thesis approved. He now had peer ridicule to deal with on top of everything else. Standing among your academic peers? Is not a clear go or stop on your doctoral thesis getting picked up, but... as a litmus test? This wasn't helpful and that was putting it mildly.

   He was in what was essentially his boss's little office. Graduate student teachers at the university, meet regularly and informally with their overseer.

   "Joe. Come in, sit down. Nice to see you again."

   "Hi."

   "You uh, want a coffee? Just made some."

   "Sure."

   They sat and blew on the hot mugs, and sipped it in the usual exploratory fashion over some small talk. Normal chit chat, they were on quite friendly terms.

   "So. Joe."

   "Hmm."

   He sighed, but gave a little wan grin.

   "Will it come as any great surprise? I mean, its not official yet, official declaration date's not here yet, but... any great shock if the word on the street is... this might not get picked up for your thesis?"

   Joe gave the wan grin back.

   "Color me surprise."

   "Eh. You tried. And really? It was... bold. Being honest with you, here. I mean, most grad students in your shoes? They try to constantly launch... safe stuff. Something... they just know they can pull off. But, this is a research university. You, the other grad students? You're here, specifically because we have the reputation. You get that masters or PhD here? It really means something. I mean it, it was... impressive."

   "Can I ask something?"

   "Sure, sure. Its a university, not... some cult."

   "Well. If its so bold and... impressive? Why not let me try it. The field is stuck, for a while now. We all know it. Everyone is looking around for something to break, then the herd gallops to it. I'm not saying, this is it."

   "Well? Be frank. It doesn't leave my office. I like to think we've been together a while now. We're friends. As well as... I'm your faculty adviser. Go on."

   "Not saying, this is the next greatest thing. I'm the new Einstein, the new... Edwin Hubble. But, if only one small part of all of what I laid out is even slightly correct? One small step, one little chink in the armor... could be something. It could lead somewhere."

   "And... if it is a complete flop... I mean, it happens."

   "Not nearly as good as even partial success? It still dots an I, crosses a T. Then, its still something incorrect, that's positively ruled out."

   "I hear you. I do. I mean... maybe, as a masters thesis? Even then, just a maybe. But... from here, a doctoral thesis? Like I said, I just don't know."

   Joe sighed and shrugged.

   "Is there.. any... I don't know. You lose a court case, you file an appeal? Is there some way to... hunt around, get anyone else to look at it? Something I can try."

   "Not that I'm aware of. I mean, its not like you can't work on it yourself, on your own time. I mean, on personal initiative? No one can stop you from... making an in depth study of... Mongolian Masturbation techniques, Joe. But as an approval for a doctoral thesis? I'm not seeing it in the cards."

   "I dig. What can you offer me, in the way of... constructive criticism."

   "What part."

   "Hell, any part. Here. Starting with the basic idea, of the thought experiment. A universe that collapses when the big bang energy runs out? Into a final singular black hole... leads to the big bang. Again. Isn't it... at least somewhat logical, that... those conditions be attainable? Or... the universe kind of doesn't exist in the first place. I mean, the universe clearly exists, doesn't it? We're not brains in jars on some alien's lab table, being fed a simulation of all this. How can we all... just rule out the conditions for the big bang to happen? That, doesn't make sense to me."

   "Honestly? That part, by itself? Isn't the bad part."

   "Well? What is the bad part, then."

   "The whole field? Is... invested, I guess is the best word, but its not perfect, but... they're invested, in dark matter and dark energy. It makes a lot, and I emphasize the words... a lot? Of equations work better. We call it physics, its really a branch of mathematics, and numbers gotta get crunched. The more numbers crunched? The better."

   "How does that make me... completely wrong."

   "Wrong, isn't the right word. Do you have any idea, how many full faculty members here, have papers out, with dark matter and dark energy... all over them? And, how many citations those papers have picked up?"

   "I mean, at least, what... three, five..."

   "Oh, Carp. You're a funny guy. But seriously. Its no secret in this world we're in. Citations? Are power. The more citations you pick up? The more weight you swing. The more staff here, gets more citations? The bigger dick the university swings."

   "May I?"

   "Please, please."

   "Are we more interested then, in being correct? Or... are we more interested in generating more citations. And, I swear to Einstein, my personal god by the way... right hand on a copy of special relativity, left hand on a copy of general relativity... I am not being a smart ass. Honest question, off the record, doesn't leave the room."

   "Carp? Do me a favor. Close the door. And no, I'm not going to yell at you. This is a university, not a cult. But... discretion. Please..."

   Joe closed the door, after looking both ways down the hall in comical and overly dramatic conspirator fashion, making his boss chuckle at his antics.

   "More coffee?"

   "Sure. Warm me up."

   "There you go. Now, Joe. Off the record, okay?"

   "I swear."

   "Good. You, yourself. You had a great masters thesis. Mathematics thesis, and... that thing generated some citations. We know how this game works. The more people quote you and your work, and its an official citation in their registered published paper? That's a point. The more points you pick up? That's power in this world. Joe? You generated citations. I mean they're still trickling in. People cite... your masters thesis. Its, well? Its how you got picked up for doctoral candidacy. Made you look good. Which makes the school look good. Hell, a couple of staff even cited you once. And that? Is a hell of a brownie point, Joe. Your PhD's here? A couple cited you, in their own papers. The school? Is proud of your masters work."

   "But... I can't, you know, take that little bit of credibility out for a spin? How about just around the block, not leaving the zip code, you know? Short leash. How about... I have a masters in pure mathematics. What if I were to... just contain myself to what you saw with only the equations. I... take out the premise, that dark matter and dark energy are false gods. Just... equations only, show that constant keeps popping up."

   "Okay. Then what, though."

   "Then? I let it ride. Let... someone that has the needed juice? Pick up the inference."

   "Leads to the same place, Joe. You would be effectively, trying to go to the library, and grab all the PhD's own registered papers? All those citations they generated... and set them on fire in the square, like... the Nazi's burning books in world war two. The staff? Would go ape shit."

   "Permission to speak freely, captain."

   "Permission granted."

   "Does everyone think I'm one hundred percent wrong? Or... is the problem that I'm going against tenured staff."

   "Its coming back to me? Its both, but... let's off the record say, that the former isn't nearly as much of an issue, as the latter, eh?"

   "So. Its not about being right or wrong, its about... politics."

   "Joe? Certain realities here. One? The PhD's with tenure would all get three votes each, to approve or disapprove of your doctoral thesis on this. Full professors? Get two votes each. And the junior professors, all get one vote each. Its not politics, its... how can you realistically expect people to vote for this, when they know it contradicts their own work, and would potentially eliminate all those citations the school has built up. You're trying to swim upstream here, on this one. You're... this is a lightning rod."

   "So, votes. It is political. Its all about votes. As long as I'm saying exactly what they say, my free academic speech is approved. I have all the freedom to research anything, any way I want? As long as its in lock step with every faculty member."

   "Joe? Your own masters thesis. That... citation generating beauty it is. You think its... correct, right?"

   "Naturally. It seems more correct, the more citations it picks up."

   "Okay. Its not political, its human nature. The staff votes on potential theses, based on whether they think its correct or not, on the chance they think it works. If the staff all voted for it, and it flops? It makes them look bad. The school looks bad. Joe, the system is in place? More to protect you, than to limit you, you gotta see that. This system? Leads to the fact that anyone gets their PhD here? It means something. If you flop out the door and land on your face, with your doctoral thesis? That's not bringing any prestige to the university. Or? To you."

   "Is it more about... burning existing citations? Or... that I can't be right."

   "That? Came up. Informally, after the meeting. Out in the hallway. One or two things, particularly the equations work? Were... thought... lets say interesting. But... no one knows."

   "How could we, without the work getting done."

   "Joe? Honestly. If you were completely right, about everything? That would be like... Einstein went to this school. Whatever other existing work got undone, whatever citations got burned in the square? Would then pale by comparison... to how many new citations, you then generated. It would, if completely correct and no one knows or can guess that, but... it would be huge."

   "But no one wants to back the horse."

   "For the foreseeable future? No. I'm sorry. Joe? You're well thought of. Students. Staff. Even by most administration. You're fine teaching classes. Everyone would love you to come on as a full PhD. But? Now isn't the time. For this."

   "When would it be the time."

   "Honestly? Get something else approved for your doctoral thesis. You'll come up with something, eventually, I'm sure. Get the doctor on your name. Get on staff, you know that's in the cards. Then? After you're tenured? You could... pursue this with both feet in it."

   "I'm in my early 30s. I'll have my first gray hair around the corner by then. There's no other way?"

   "You could work on it privately. Publish privately."

   "Christ. That? Would take just as long as trying the tenure route. The whole idea here? There's tens of thousands of separate equations to run through. As a doctoral candidate, doing approved research? I'd get access to undergrads and masters students, to help. I can't move the Aswan dam, with a teaspoon, myself."

   "Joe? I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll help you? Publish privately. Get it shopped around and looked at. If someone notices, likes the general idea? If it really is the better mousetrap your gut tells you it might be? If you can get a small herd of the world beating a path to the door of a private paper? That? Might get somewhere."

   "How do I go about that? And... thanks."

   "Put together the best paper you can on it, what you did at the presentation you made. We'll try to throw it out there, see if anyone wants to bet on the horse."

   "Hmm. But, based on what I saw in the auditorium? I'm not holding out out high hopes there."

   "Joe? Your hands are tied. My hands? Tied. This? Is the best I can offer. So? I give you what I can."

   "I'll take it."

   "For what its worth? I'm sorry."

   "Its not your fault."

   "All right."

   Joe shook hands, and went to leave. He stopped for his adviser's last words.

   "Joe? If... I run across something, anything. That I think would work for your doctoral thesis? I'll hand it to you. That's off the record, but... from me to you? I'll try to help."

   "Thanks. Means a lot."

   "What are you going to do now?"

   "Hell. I fought city hall. I lost. Gonna go and have a beer. Probably with Adelaide and Barge. We'll be down at "The Coal Bin", if I have my way. Stop in. I'll buy you a beer."

   His adviser smiled.

   "All right. Maybe I will. We'll play the trivia machine. Like old times."

   He nodded and grinned back.

   "Sure. And thanks."

   "Anytime? Anything. Joe? I want you on staff."

   "Hope I see you later."

   "Same here, Joe. Try not to let it get you down."

   In the course of predictable events, Joe did indeed end up down at the little bar him and a few of his cohorts favored. First, university students are not rich, and that's by any stretch of the imagination. It was a figure of merit then, that it was a cheap bar. Other factors, included there was not a lot of football and rugby players that frequented there, mainly on account of it being an "old man's bar". Less women, less ball players... less fights. Also? It was the unofficial bar of the graduate students in certain fields. Those among them, what were referred to as the "STEM lords". Computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering. The STEM fields. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

   As a final vote to finish its suitability off? They had, curiously for an old man bar and such a quiet and out of the way place? A certain dark beer he favored, when he even did drink. It was rare for Carp to get loaded, but hey. Everyone has the occasional down day, and it was the start of a weekend off. Every once in a while, you gotta say what the hell.

   Adelaide held one hand on the walk there, and Barge threw the occasional arm on his shoulder periodically. They both did their best to cheer him up as best they could, and it even worked a little. They drank the sweet dark beer. They sang songs, they played the trivia machines for who bought the next pitcher. Carp's adviser did in fact stop down, they actually were friends. The adviser even had one too many pitchers of the sweet dark beer, and ended up laughing and having his wife come and fetch him home.

   Barge and Adelaide on either arm or shoulder? They walked back slowly, a little weave here and there to their foot steps. Laughing, making fun of the academic system that had so speared their close friend in his very academic heart. Barge left the two of them at Joe's apartment, and Adelaide worked the numbers to the digital lock when Joe had minor issues negotiating the entering of his own code.

   They had a somewhat typical quick, groping, slobbery go at drunken quickie sex before both collapsed to get to sleep then most likely sleep in some. A full scale hangover of steady rain wasn't in the forecast? But, the smart money was not on Joe getting this picked up for his doctoral thesis, and the smart money was on... shall we say if not heavy rain then mild to moderate cloudiness, in the way of what he would most likely feel like tomorrow morning.

   Joe and Adelaide both laughed when he said "goodnight, Ada"... twice. She really did think it was sweet that in her recent absence, that he had renamed the bed screen computer so he could be sort of addressing "her" if even in substitute. It hadn't gone beneath Adelaide noticing while she waited there by herself, that the thing was set to "intellectual", "female", and "warm and personal".

   Joe's last thought falling asleep? Hey, at least Adelaide was back again, for now. That? Was at least something.

   Joe heard a warm, smooth male voice. Repeating itself. It sounded friendly, too.

   "Joe..."

   "Joe... open your eyes, Joe."

   "We can talk, can't we?"

   Joe finally opened his eyes. He blinked. He looked around and saw... absolutely nothing whatsoever. He saw complete black. He felt nothing, as well. As if he were floating on air. Weird.

   "Joe..."

   "Uh, yeah?"

   "There. We can talk now, Joe."

   "Okay. Is... the power out? I need to... flip the breaker... what."

   "No. You need do nothing, Joe. Simply talk. Everything? Is just fine. Relax."

   "Well. I was relaxing. I was sleeping, which I find really relaxing. Who is this. Where are you..."

   "You? Are there. I? Am here. But we can talk. Its okay."

   "All right. Who are you."

   "A friend."

   "Better than another enemy."

   "Joe?"

   "Yeah..."

   "I saw your presentation, Joe. I liked it. In fact? I loved it."

   "Great. And that? Makes one."

   "Joe? You're right."

   "Oh, that you're the only one that might believe in my proposal? Yeah, you're probably the only one in that crowd, bub. But hey, thanks."

   "Joe? I meant to say, that you're right. About your proposal. Its all... correct. I want you to know that. You? Have to know that."

   "Um... thanks?"

   "No. Thank you. We've been looking, for a very long time. For... this. For... you. Well, for someone just like you."

   "For what?"

   "Someone that knows."

   "I don't..."

   "I know you don't understand yet, Joe. How could you. I just want us to be able to talk. We have all the time we need, I want to go slow. So I don't scare you."

   Joe didn't know how to understand that, but, this was all so weird anyways. So? He waited.

   "I want to help you, Joe. Will you... let me help?"

   "With what."

   "With many things, but. I'll start slow. Do you mind talking?"

   "Its fine."

   "Joe? Tomorrow morning. You... call it the, anomaly. You know about it?"

   "Yeah. Its all over the news. The... square black thing, no one knows what's going on, really."

   "Yes. If I predict something, and you see it? That might begin to convince you."

   "Convince me... of what, exactly."

   "That we really talked. I want you to come to believe we really talked, Joe."

   "Okay..."

   "So. If I predict something, and it happens? That will go a long way to convincing you."

   "If you say so."

   "I do."

   "So? Predict something, then. I'll play along."

   "You call it the anomaly. I know your location, Joe. Tomorrow. Be ready. When your star, passes directly overhead? Remember I said this. As your star passes directly overhead? The anomaly... will grow. It will precisely, double in size. And if it does? That, should go a long way to convince you, that we really did talk."

   "All right."

   "I don't want to scare you, or... overwhelm you, Joe. That? Is enough for now."

   "Um, I have a question."

   "Yes?"

   "Which star? Is my star. Do... you mean my constellation I was born under? Which star. I mean, there's a lot of stars."

   "Your star, Joe. The... star that's closest to you, of course."

   "Well... Alpha Centauri is the closest star to me. A couple light years away... but... I can't see it during the day..."

   "Joe? You're not making any sense right now. How could you possibly see any other star, when your own star, is directly overhead. Its not a couple light years away, or you would get no light."

   "Huh?"

   "Joe. I know your location. Do you not live, on a blue planet?"

   "Its called earth. Who is this... is this some kind of a practical joke... where... Barge? Is this you? What---"

   "Joe. Okay. Your blue planet. Earth. Do you not have a star, a very close one? Your planet goes around your own star, does it not."

   "A star, um... you mean.. the sun?"

   "If that is the star, your blue planet goes around? Then yes, that star. Its the closest star to you. That one."

   "What about it?"

   "When your planet rotates, and you can see your closest star? Directly overhead. At that precise time? The anomaly, will double in size. Its a perfect square. It will become twice as tall, and twice as wide. I am telling you this will happen, and when. So, when you see it comes to pass? You will know, that we really were speaking to each other. That? Should begin to convince you. Okay?"

   "Um, sure. Yeah."

   "I'm going to help you. You understand. You're right. Please don't let me down. Its important, Joe. I need you. You have to understand that much."

   "All right."

   "Goodbye, Joe."

   "Um... I'd say see you later, but... goodbye."

   Joe was still wondering about this very strange conversation, when his eyes popped open. It was morning. Adelaide? Was slobbering on his shoulder.

   "Christ almighty, what a weird dream..."

   He ever so delicately extricated himself from under Adelaide and her mouth's warm, wet issuance onto his shoulder. Strange, he thought. Anyone spit or slobbered on you? Its the grossest thing imaginable, but... a lover slobbers on you? Its fine. Great, even. Somehow, this was intimate, sexy even. Hey, at least she was back. For now.

   Joe tottered over, and got a large mug of cold coffee. He dropped in two effervescent tablets that bubbled into the cold coffee. He tore open a second little pack of them and added two more and let them roil their thing away. He drank a big glass of water, water always helped dispel a night of slight overindulgence all on its own. Drinking dehydrated a person somewhat, after all. He cracked a couple eggs into the cold coffee and effervescent mug, and mixed it all up with a fork in a twirling and whisking motion. A little something for food, the aspirin in the effervescent tablets, and the coffee? His little remedy to help out on top of the water.

   He punched the button to heat the coffee in the pot left over, so either him or Adelaide or both could have a cup or two, and padded off to the shower. Water pouring over him would finish off his remedy. When he was done showering, he got a cup of just coffee, now warmer. A second cup for Adelaide, and he took over effervescent tablets dropped into a glass of water for her, and a couple aspirins on the side. Not like it was the first time ever they had gone out for a few pitchers of beer before.

   He wiggled the coffee mug under her nose, until he had eyes open to slits and showed her the coffee, the water with foam to help her, and the aspirins on the nightstand on her side of the bed. She grinned and made use of it all, then laid back.

   "Mm. Do you feel better?"

   He thought about it.

   "Yes and no. I'm not happy about getting shot in the ass over my proposal, no. But? The drinking was fun. I like having you back again. But then, while I'm not hung over? I'm a little fuzzy. You want to be lazy in bed for a while? Recuperate."

   "Sure, honey. Try to take getting set on fire in the auditorium? In stride. It happens."

   "It sure does now, anyways. Boy, did I have a strange dream."

   "Really? A nightmare... maybe... a wet dream..."

   "No, just... really, really... weird."

   "Hmm. Tell me about it. We're going to be lazy-bones for a while."

   "Well? You either don't remember any dreams, or... if you do? You only remember the last one, and? It was a doozy."

   He proceeded to gloss it over, and she smiled and pressed him for a detail more or two, and he ended up recounting it in great detail. They both thought the "star overhead" was the funniest part. And quite naturally? The prediction at exactly high noon or whatever? Icing on the cake.

   Joe was the sort of intellectual that liked trivia games and the like. Idle intellectual distractions were his thing, and understandably so. He touched the clear plastic touch panel mounted right by his side of the bed.

   "Good morning, Joe. Would you like to listen to some music to get your day started?"

   "No, Ada. I want information."

   "What would you like me to scan for, Joe."

   "At what time exactly, will the sun be at its highest point in the sky for me, at this time of year."

   "According to the almanac. Based on your location, and the day of the year. Taking into account your time zone and adjustments for season? The sun will reach its zenith at approximately..."

   "Thank you, Ada."

   "You're welcome, Joe. I enjoy it when you find me helpful."

   "Ada? I want you to scan today, for any news stories about the anomaly. Any breaking news."

   "Recent updates on news item... the anomaly? It has been confirmed by NASA and several other space administrations, as well as the world professional astronomers association and numerous other sources... that the anomaly is not a glitch in the imaging sensors of any of the operative Hubble series associated distributed imaging systems."

   "Discussions continue, on how to determine how far away and exactly how big, the anomaly is. With no size reference to go by, there is as of yet no clear way to determine if it is a smaller object closer, or a bigger object farther away."

   "Continued arguments exist and are ongoing between various academic authorities, attempting to determine what it even might be. NASA and other organizations insist there is no danger at the present time, and that it is under observation and close scrutiny to determine the nature of the anomaly."

   Periodically while Joe and Adelaide talked and laid around in bed, Ada came on with a small update or another about the news story. Joe erred on the side of caution? And decided not to tease Adelaide to "make them sandwiches" later on when both decided their stomachs would indeed, tolerate food for sure.

   He was on his way back to bed, and had just sat down. He had passed her egg sandwich with cheese over for her to grab and munch on, and he had just picked up his own. Directly before making them the egg sandwiches? They had just got done giggling and laughing over his fun dream.

   After all, it was patently obvious on the face of it. He was concerned about his doctoral thesis proposal, disheartened to say the least that he was eviscerated for it, and even publicly. So? He ended up with a dream. A mental fart where a disembodied voice spoke soothing to him, telling him he was right. And the anomaly? Well, a random news item of the day had wormed its way into that last little weird dream as well. Mildly entertaining, after all.

   He was just about to take a bite of his still hot egg sandwich, melted cheese beckoning to him. He stopped just about to bite it, and held it just to the side as Ada interrupted him with another news scan she picked up for him.

   "An update on the anomaly, is breaking. Not visible during the day, nor even at night with the naked eye, as with all celestial objects only visible at night. Hubble systems on the night side of the planet have no trouble monitoring it. The apparent size of the anomaly, recently grew larger. Appearing as a perfect square, it seems to have doubled in both height and width. While technically four times the apparent square surface now, most laymen would describe this as doubling in size. As of yet? No official word on any explanation so far, on this mysterious celestial object."

   Joe froze. His sandwich? Fell from his hand. He trembled. An icy chill ran up and down his spine. He realized his mouth was open, only when he dribbled on his own bare thigh, lounging around in his boxers as he was doing. He closed his mouth once and swallowed both his own saliva and the hard lump in his throat, before it hung open again of its own accord.

   He glanced over at Adelaide. Her sandwich had fallen mercifully onto her plate. She wasn't as terrified as he was, more of a confused look on her face, really. But Joe? Was highly shaken, and visibly so. When he finally regained whatever small composure he could muster? He looked back at Adelaide, now quiet and withdrawn. He spoke in practically a whisper.

   "Adelaide?"

   "Honey..."

   "Please tell me. Did I, or did I not? Relate my dream to you. That the... invisible voice in my dream? Predicted this. And? That the voice said, it was so I would believe it, that it was actually talking to me."

   "Joe... I..."

   "Just answer the question, Adelaide. Please?"

   She sighed.

   "Yes. I can't explain it? But... yeah. You're... not crazy."

   "Thanks, honey. Not... really sure if that helps? Or... makes it worse."

   Before Joe could fully recover in the slightest? Ada threw on the screen. Some news talk show had panelists discussing, and quite naturally, the anomaly. One guy had his name and title flashed below it. Some authority on astronomical whatever. The other guy doing most of the talking when the talk show was thrown on? His name and title flashed. He was some sort of spokesperson for some... group that studied aliens or whatever sort of thing like that.

   "No. No, its my turn to speak. You've been going on and on, for ten minutes now. Basically? Just saying over and over. No one knows what it is, not even remotely. And? You're looking into it. No! Its my turn now. You? You're the expert. I'll just ask you. Right here? Right now. Just answer me one question, okay?"

   The astronomical expert, going by his title anyways... upended his hands and shrugged. Go ahead. He, was obviously cornered. He sighed.

   "I want you to give me? One... single... example. Of anything, up there in the sky. Anywhere. Visible to the naked eye, on telescopes. Anything. In the entire universe? You name me... one... single... damn... thing..."

   The guy started listing off on his fingers, punctuating his list.

   "Ever seen a square, or even a rectangular planet? I never heard of one. How about stars. Lots of kinds of them? All kind of round. Galaxies. Round ones... ball shaped ones... that, kind of saw blade rotating shape... but is there a single one, that's a square? Black holes. Round. Quasars... I know there's other things out there, other celestial things, but... you? You're the expert. You name one of them. Just? One. That's square. I'll even be happy with a perfect rectangle. Or a triangle! Anything. You? Name one single object, that's a square. Go on... I'm waiting."

   Nothing. No one spoke. Not the host, not one single audience member uttered so much as a short syllable. The expert, did a him and haw, and cleared his throat, but... had no answer.

   "All right. That? Is what I thought. But I'm not the expert. Just thought? I'd run that one past you. The expert. Because me? I'm just part of a band of crazy idiots, that think its possible that out of all the billions and billions of planets out there? Just one of them has intelligent life on it. And you mark my words. Intelligent life? Created that damn black square. Its blocking? Stars from being seen. It just... doubled in size! If it even was something... natural, we never saw before? The hell kind of object doubles in size like that, in an instant! If that isn't proof of intelligent life, deliberately contacting us, in some way? Monkeys are about to fly out of my dimpled white ass!"