“God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning – the second day” Genesis 1:8
“You’re going to have to speak up Art, “ Flo advised him.
Captain Art Davis stood up, took a deep breath, and bellowed “I am God!”
“That’s better. I have it recorded now. Let me add it to your wrist speaker vocabulary. Where’s your robe?”
“Do I really have to wear that damn thing?” Art complained. “I can see the fake beard, but from what we’ve seen, these Neptunians run around naked. Maybe I should too.”
“You’re missing the whole point Art…we want to impress these aliens.”
“What do you mean by that?
“Listen Art, this is just Day Two. We’ve got a lot more to do.”
The Neptunians were huddled around a fire. Their leader, a short stocky biped with thick arms and a bald head, lit a pipe with a burning twig and took a long hit before passing it on.
His name was Alca, and unlike most Neptunians he was ambitious and sought power. The small band that he had gathered, and ruled, weren’t strong enough to take on the other tribes of Neptune.
Alca was a quick thinker. So, when he saw the two aliens (who looked remarkably familiar) get of their spacecraft one day, he didn’t run like the rest of his band. Instead he went to his knees, an uncomfortable positions for this thick legs, and bowed his head.
The two earthlings approached him. Flo nudged Art and he took his helmet off. “Good to know we can breathe in this atmosphere,” he said conversationally while walking over to kneeling Alca, who was trembling in fear and excitement.
“My name is Captain Art Davis, and this is Second Lieutenant Flo…”
“Hold on Art! The recording remember?”
“I wish you’d address me with the proper military courtesy in front of others Lieutenant…”
“Really Art? We’ve been sleeping together for two years and haven’t seen a human being since we went on this mission. Kinda late to stand on ceremony isn’t it?”
“Fine.”
Alca looked up at the two strange beings that appeared to be wearing some kind of shell and wondered if they came in peace?
Art pushed a button on his wristwatch and pointed at his chest, “I am God!” he bellowed mightily. The loud roar made Alca shake even more.
He sat up gingerly, and tapped his chest like a good Neptunian hound and said, “Alca.”
It took weeks of working with Alca, and his small band, but Flo managed to establish a crude system of signs and words. She impressed upon them that Art was the God of everyone in their world.
His voice was louder than any mere Neptunian’s. The very sound made them tremble in religious ecstasy. They were taught that he had all of the answers to their problems. That his word was law. That his justice was supreme.
This went on for 12 cycles (7 earth years) as monuments were made by the Neptunians to honor their new God. All the while, Alca plotted how he could use God to further his aims. He started a cult that claimed to be God’s only true believers.
Finally, Art and Flo completed their mission and left Neptune to go on to their next assignment…Mercury.
As It Stands, earthlings as gods. Now there’s a funny thought!
The Creative Chronicles of Dave Stancliff 