Free Terra by Mitch Benn Page B

Gagra-Sem-Gagra, which orbited a giant red star called Thoomm at the exact centre of the universe. This star had been one of the very first stars to form, coalescing in the immediate aftermath of The Expansion. On this ancient planet, the FaZoon had arisen nearly eleven billion orbits ago, and had survived in one form or another ever since. Their culture, their knowledge, their very beings had been developing and advancing almost as long as the universe itself had existed. When Thoomm had exploded (taking the legendary planet Gagra-Sem-Gagra with it) over a billion orbits ago, the FaZoon had taken to the stars, and had wandered the galaxies ever since, occasionally contacting younger and less advanced species (that is to say, all of them) and bestowing their gifts of knowledge. It was, in other words, a big deal when the FaZoon came to visit.
    They roamed the skies in starships consisting of almost pure energy, becoming matter only when it, well, mattered. These starships were detectable by Fnrr’s astroscopes at some distance, and so when a FaZoon vessel was spotted on an inbound trajectory, as had happened while Lbbp and Terra were enjoying snacks and avoiding znks at Rfk, all work would be suspended in favour of preparing for their arrival.
    On one previous visit, the FaZoon had left information giving Fnrr’s physicians the means to cure zg-zl, a fatal illness. On another, the FaZoon had taught Fnrrn scientists how to cause atomic fusion in a bowl of ndt juice. There were some who wondered why, if the FaZoon were so benevolent, they didn’t just share all their knowledge in one visit and have done with it, but they were careful not to wonder this while the FaZoon were actually on the planet. Rumour had it that the FaZoon were so telepathically sensitive that all thoughts were known to them.
    Fnrrns knew they had to watch what they were thinking during FaZoon visitations.
    Curiously, although the FaZoon were believed to be highly telepathic themselves, they would not allow any telepathic communication technology to be used in their presence. Fnrrns, when communicating with alien species, would commonly employ psychic translation devices – this certainly sped things up, even if it did lead to moments of diplomatic tension (when the devices would translate what someone really wanted to say rather than what they actually said) but the FaZoon refused to allow anyone to know their thoughts. They possessed knowledge which no other species was yet wise enough to be trusted with, they said. As such, all communication with the FaZoon had to be done the old-fashioned way, by speaking their language. The FaZoon had been kind enough, on an early visit, to leave behind a phrase book.
    Or rather, a phrase stone tablet.
    Lbbp certainly had his reservations about the FaZoon. As far as he could tell, all the really important history-changing discoveries had been made by Fnrrn scientists working entirely without the assistance of almost infinitely wise and ancient alien benefactors. It annoyed him that sometimes people who hadn’t read up on their scientific history would credit the FaZoon with discoveries like the light-bending camouflage technology which powered the invisibility shield on his little spaceship (invented by scientists in the nation of Dskt, just across the sea from Mlml) or interstellar travel (invented right here in Mlml, refined from Tnk’s original gravity-nullifying techniques). And yes, what was the point of rationing out these great nuggets of scientific advancement? It seemed to Lbbp like the FaZoon were trying to keep the Fnrrns feeling indebted, obligated, needy. The FaZoon had never asked for anything in return, but Lbbp felt sure that such a day would eventually come.
    Right now, Lbbp was just annoyed that what he’d hoped would be a relaxing evening had been ruined. He and Terra were sitting in the Leisure Hub of the Lyceum, a sort of auditorium, watching a presentation on the big visualiser they’d