We've just finished our lunches, and I order some coffee. "So, that seemed like a nice first contact with an alien race."
Aaron smiles as he dashes in a punchline to the anecdote. "Well, up until we traveled back into the lab at least. My wife was wearing her favorite dress, but because of concerns for contamination I had to confiscate it and send her to the shower stall I had installed in my lab. She really didn't like having to see me ruin her dress in an effort to clean it. I had to go out and buy her a new one. I should have explained the situation better, but she never did have a head for science."
Aaron interrupts his own train of thought. "Speaking of science, I have to admit that I was not prepared for everything I found. The physics of Rann was different – gravity was about half that of Earth. But somehow their moon tracked exactly with our moon. I am still trying to reconcile their odd planetary physics with our Keppler's Laws of Motion." He looked at me, and backed off from his interest in the nitty-gritty of inter-dimensional science.
"We had further visits. Over time, each of us started to learn how to speak Dr. Sargath's language. We also arranged for vaccinations, but that was only after we made a striking discovery that changed the dynamics between our families..."
It is a muggy evening in August when the two families met again for their weekly visit. Mrs. Strange wears a simple dress that is easy to clean, and Adam is bringing over some CDs of a human animated TV show Alanna has been hooked on watching. There is an Earth-made DVD player and screen in Dr. Sargath's former lab brought over during a previous visit that has been rigged to accept power from the Rannian power grid.
The adults sit on the couches, chatting freely between each other. The two kids are sitting on the floor by the DVD player, and Adam is explaining an old Earth custom called Palm Reading to Alanna. Dr. Sargath produces a small vial of human blood and returns it to Dr. Strange.
"Aaron," Dr. Sargath begins, his English much better than a few weeks ago. "I got a chance to get a sample of your blood to my friend at the University. I told him I found it near my house on some sharp rocks. He tested it, and you will be – surprised – at what he found."
Dr. Strange nods, then starts to speak slowly in Dr. Sargath's native tongue. "So, my friend, please tell me what you were told."
Dr. Sargath leans in towards Dr. Strange, as though the walls themselves might give away a secret. "They identified the blood as Rannian. Male, of unknown ethnicity. He also noted that the blood was very thick with – red cells – like the person was an athlete or lived at the top of a mountain."
Mrs. Strange speaks up, but in English. "Are you sure they identified the blood as Rannian? Are you saying we have the same DNA? I thought we were a totally different and alien species. You said that yourself, right Aaron?" Mrs. Strange looks to her husband for confirmation.
Dr. Strange nods in agreement, replying in Rannian to make sure Dr. Sargath understood the question. "Yes. Our species should have evolved completely separately from each other. Even if you have genes to decide what traits you have, it is highly improbable that the patterns would match enough to say we are the same species by chance. That is just too hard to believe it was a coincidence."
Dr. Sargath switches back to his native tongue. "I agree. But I can prove it." He produces a textbook on Rannian anatomy and physiology, and opens it to a marked page. Although the text is hard for the humans to read, the pictures clearly show the double-helix of DNA and sketches of male and female Rannians with human-looking breasts and sex organs.
Dr. Sargath continues in English so that his point is clear. "So, we are the same species. We are – compatible."
Mrs. Strange looks at the book, then to her husband. "Compatible? Does that mean...?"
As if on cue, the four parents go quiet and slowly turn their heads towards the side of the room where Adam and Alanna are sitting. Adam is holding Alanna's outstretched hand and drawing his finger along creases in her skin as he explains their meaning, and Alanna is holding her other hand to her face and giggling as if she is being tickled. The parents all realize that they are watching a boy and a girl, together, and their friendliness is bordering on romantic flirtation.
All four of the parents suddenly call out to Adam and Alanna to come sit in their respective seats on the couches. Slightly surprised that they were being watched, they quietly comply and everyone changes the conversation.
