13

The billions of stars twinkled in the night sky above them. Apart from the occasional "song" from a chirping cicada, the only sound was of the waves breaking gently on the beach below the ragged cliffs a short distance away.

Ianto took in a deep breath of fresh air and sighed as he turned to Diane who was lying by his side.

"It's incredibly relaxing out here, and a world away from the events on Mount Black. I can't believe it was all only three weeks ago. It feels like a lifetime away," he said, still looking up at the night sky.

Diane replied in a soft voice. One that he'd not heard since before they'd been attacked at the mountain campsite.

"Well, I thought we could do with a proper break. Sea Ranch has always been one of my favourite spots. I just wish we'd all have come here instead of going to that damn mountain," she said, stifling a yawn.

"I can't argue with that comment," Ianto said.

They were lying on a large blanket outside in the back garden of the wooden chalet they'd rented, the French doors to the lounge open behind them. The John Denver track, Take Me Home, Country Roads, started to play on the radio as Jack fiddled with the sound system, their son asleep now, the open doors allowing the classic melody to drift out into the garden. "I love this track."

"Hmm, talking of which, when will you be going back home?" Diane asked.

"Well, I promised Jack I'd take some time off as soon as Tosh can organise it. We can spend some time together, and the funerals have taken place, so in a week or two I guess. But I won't be gone for long, I want to get back in the hunt ... home and recuperate then we can start again. Don't worry, I won't retire just yet" he said, leaning over to tickle her.

"You'd better not!"

Before Ianto could respond, his phone, which was on the blanket next to him, vibrated.

"Hello, who's that?" he said, picking up the phone and looking at the screen. He swiped the screen to open the message. The sender's details were blank. The screen then lit up with a string of numbers, too many to count. As Ianto tried to take a screen shot of the odd message, the phone went blank and the text message vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"Bloody weird," Diane said.

Ianto suddenly realised what it might be and looked back up at the canvas of stars in the heavens, quickly locating the constellation of Cassiopeia. It was one of forty eight constellations listed by the 2nd-century Greek astronomer, Ptolemy. Ianto could easily recognise it due to its distinctive "W" shape, formed by the five bright stars Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon Cassiopeia located opposite the Big Dipper.

He stared at the approximate location of HR 8832, a main sequence star approximately 21.25 light years from Earth and wondered what the hell the sender of the signal SETI had picked up thought of his response. Perhaps they'd been surprised, impressed even that the inhabitants of planet Earth had managed to decode the message. Not only that, but respond to it? Had they postponed sending what had clearly been some kind of advanced invasion party maybe? Had they decided to give us one last chance?

He didn't have any of the answers, apart from the fact that he now knew humankind was not alone in the universe, and this knowledge alone was both scary and comforting at the same time. He hoped that the powers that be would take what had happened as a stark warning to look after the planet and all of its amazing creatures. He sent the message onto Owen who he knew was with Tosh who was still trying to keep their relationship quiet. They can decode it. This was his bloody time off.

Earth, after all, is the only home we all have in the vast and incredible universe.

Ianto rose, leaving Diane to watch the stars and went inside, his husband waiting for a dance or three.

END