by Mark Piggott

Lieutenant Bron Hammer sat on a comfortable pillow, surrounded by all known luxuries—beautiful women pouring sweet liquor, serving him sumptuous delicacies of all types. He rested beneath an open-air canopy, looking across at a banquet fit for a king as indentured servants fanned him. They treated him like a god, as they should. It was a sight this veteran space freighter pilot could only dream of. 

Pellan 5 was the fifth planet in the Pellan system, an uncharted system known for its back-world inhabitants with little to no advanced technology. Bron used it as a shortcut to avoid the major shipping lanes, especially when smuggling illicit cargo. However, he miscalculated the hyperspace jump this time, and his B-class stellar freighter, the Peregrine, crash-landed on Pellan 5. That’s when the fun began.

Pellan 5, or Dissara as the inhabitants called it, was a desert planet with small pockets of life scattered across sands at various oases with water, animals, vegetation, and people. The Dissarans were pale, lanky humanoids with almost white skin, a necessity for reflecting harsh sunlight. Even their clothes were all white. The only color displayed as their prismatic skin changed color when they showed emotion—red for anger, blue for sadness, etcetera. They had basic stone masonry skills, constructing everything from simple homes to pyramid-like temples. 

When his freighter crash-landed near an oasis, the populace thought he was a god, fallen from the heavens. They healed his injuries and ordered a great feast in his honor. Bron couldn’t believe his luck in landing somewhat intact. He sent a distress signal before he lost consciousness, and his universal translator and ocular communicator could interpret their rather peculiar dialect. They spoke in monotone syllables, with a rainbow of colors reflecting off their epidermal layer. Through these two combinations, this desert race communicated with each other. 

He enjoyed the stimulating company and the delicious foods being brought to him. A veiled dance entertained them as a subtle string and drumbeat played. To his left sat the ruler of this city, an older man called Shinmarr, while his daughter, Llopea, was seated to his right. Shinmarr was somewhat obese compared to the others of his race, wearing regal robes and a subtle crown of gold on his head. Llopea, on the other hand, was slender and beautiful in a stunning and quite revealing dress. 

The drink tasted like sweet wine, stimulating and refreshing. The fruits were unusual, but he relished the sweet and tart flavor. The meat was a lizard-like creature, cooked whole with the skin peeled back to display its succulent flesh. It tasted like slow-roasted chicken to the freighter pilot. It was a feast worthy of a god.

[Are you enjoying the dance, my lord?] Llopea asked, her face blushing bright red when she spoke. It took a few seconds for the translator to interpret it for Bron and provide an appropriate response, both in spoken word and as his eyepiece flashed colors in conjunction with the phrasing.

[Yes, it is quite stimulating to watch,] he replied. [Do you hold feasts like this often?]

[Oh no, this is a special occasion here in Mattriv,] Shinmarr announced. [It is not every day that the great god Horus honors us with his presence.] They had addressed Bron as Horus since they pulled him out of the wreckage, but he didn’t know what that name meant. He was waiting for a response back from his database search from his ocular communicator. He was still connected to the computer on his space freighter, processing data and maintaining communication with the approaching rescue party.

[My liege, we must not assume this stranger is indeed the great god of the sky,] said Baal, standing off to the side, his face glowing orange with avarice and jealousy. They introduced him as the high priest of their temple, and he looked the part. His robes were as simple as the rest of him, a rather ordinary man, but he carried an ornate golden staff with an ankh overlayed with a star. Sitting atop the ankh was a falcon with its wings spread. Bron saw this symbol on many buildings and statues throughout the city. They called it the holy trinity of Dissara.

[Baal, you insult our guest with your accusations. His chariot fell from the sky. Who else can he be?] Shinmarr observed, raging red angrily. [What further proof do you need that he is the great god Horus?]

Bron’s ocular communicator beeped as the data search finally revealed who or what Horus was. Horus was the God of Kingship and the Sky in the ancient history of a country called Egypt on the planet Earth. He was the son of Osiris and Isis, represented by a falcon and the “all-seeing” Eye of Horus. Bron concluded that his freighter resembled a bird in flight—hence the falcon—and his ocular communicator could be confused for the Eye of Horus as it sat over his one eye. That must be how they came to assume he was Horus. He didn’t know how ancient Egyptian mythology came to this planet, thousands of light-years from Earth. Bron decided to play along to gather more information.

[Perhaps the high priest does not know the old legends as well as he should,] Bron said, mocking Baal. [Let me hear the story of the gods of Dissara to see if he is worthy of his title.]

[An excellent challenge, my lord. What do you say, Baal? Are you up to the task?] Shinmarr pressed, leaving the high priest no choice but to answer the challenge by this imposter. He tapped his staff on the stone, echoing across the floor as the many participants quieted. Even the music stopped, and the dancers sat to listen to the high priest.

[The great gods of the House of Ra were born on a distant world across the heavens,] he began. [They were worshipped far and wide, with temples, monuments, obelisks, and mighty pyramids erected in their honor. They were loved for the great blessing they gave to another desert land just like our home of Dissara.]

[But then came a nameless god who worked to usurp the House of Ra. This god with no name sent plagues to torment the worshippers of the great gods. He turned the water to blood, drove insects to eat their crops, killed their beasts, and brought boils and disease to the people. The nameless god blocked every effort by the House of Ra to save their people, but he was too powerful. The people turned away from their gods when darkness fell. Then, every household’s firstborn died at this nameless god’s hands. They were utterly defeated.]

[But in defeat came a new purpose,] Baal continued. [Ra took his house and traveled across the stars in his fiery chariot, searching for a new home, a place needing their divine power. They came to Dissara. We were helpless initially, not knowing how to find water in the sweltering sands or grow food in these desolate lands. The gods taught us the old ways and gave us new life. And now, we worship the holy trinity—Osiris, Isis, and Horus—to bring glory to Ra for saving the people of Dissara from death amongst the sands.]

Bron was impressed, and so were the people who gave Baal a thunderous round of applause for his eloquent oration of the history of the gods of Dissara. Bron rose to his feet and joined in the applause before bowing to Baal in respect.

[Forgive me, Baal. You are truly worthy of your position as the high priest of Mattriv. Your knowledge of the House of Ra is unsurpassed.] Everyone was in awe of the sky god bowing to Baal as their skin flushed purple with pride. There was nothing he could do but return the honor. He still had doubts about the imposter, but there was no way to sway the king’s opinion for now.

Bron returned to his seat as Shinmarr clapped his hands, and the music, the dance, and the feast continued. Llopea leaned into Bron, handing him a fresh cup of wine. [You honored the high priest with your praise, great one. We are unworthy of your kindness,] she said, her face flushed with hues of pink and violet. 

[No, I am unworthy of the adoration you and your people are showering on me today,] Bron said. It was lucky his skin color didn’t change with the lies and deception he was flaunting here. It was simply survival instinct at this moment, doing everything he could to stay alive until the rescue ship arrived. If that meant skating the truth with the indigenous people of this world, then so be it.

[I am curious, great one, why did you fall from the sky? What brought you to Dissara?] Baal asked, his sly undertones sneaking through. Bron could see he was still attempting to undermine his cover story, so he threw it back at him.

[Actually, high priest, I didn’t fall from the sky. . . at least, not on purpose,] Bron began, which confused everyone even more. [Actually, I did this as a test for the people of Dissara. I wanted to see how they would respond to aid a fallen deity. It was all a ruse to test you, and I must admit, your people responded better than I expected.]

Both Shinmarr and Llopea jumped for joy, ecstatic at the good work the people of Mattriv did to the gods’ expectations. [Then, will you be leaving us soon, my lord?] Llopea asked, her face blue as disappointment and sadness overcame her. 

Suddenly, an interstellar communication came through Bron’s ocular communicator—the rescue ship would arrive in twelve Earth hours, approximately sunrise on Dissara. [Unfortunately, a new chariot will arrive at dawn to take me back to the stars,] he stressed, hoping he could keep up the charade for a little bit longer. He would only have one more night to play the part of a god.

[Then we will have to make this a night to remember,] Llopea stated as she fed a piece of kongi fruit to Bron, her delicate fingers touching his lips as he accepted her sweet offering. He didn’t know if it was the wine or the seductive way she came on to him, but it was intoxicating. As the night went on, the two talked more about everything imaginable. He pointed out stars and named them while she discussed the variety of foods found in their oasis. They ate, drank, and danced to their utmost delight.

Later that night, as the celebration broke up, Bron found himself in his private bed chamber with Llopea. She took advantage of having a god with her by sharing his bed. Their physiology was not that different from humans, so Bron easily made love to the innocent maiden. He loved the streams of color that swirled across her body. With every touch of his fingers, every caress of her skin, she fluttered like a rainbow after morning rain. It was like nothing he had ever experienced before.

At the first light of dawn, Bron received a signal in his ocular communicator that the rescue ship was approaching his location. The rescue team was confused, but Bron promised to explain later. He directed them to a safe landing zone away from the city and informed them not to exit the spacecraft, only to open the loading ramp for him.

He was escorted to the pickup point by a contingent of the Dissarans, including Shinmarr, Llopea, and nobles that attended the banquet. [I cannot thank you enough for the warm hospitality you have shown me,] Bron said with a polite bow. [I will never forget my time with you and your people.] He remained in character as the rescue ship slowly descended from the sky. 

Hearing the praise from Horus made everyone happy, glowing bright pink and yellow hues, except for Llopea. Her flashing blue color showed Bron how sad she indeed was. [Will we ever see you again?] she asked. Bron knew he could never return to Pellan 5. It would be detrimental to their society, and he could never tell her the truth without breaking her heart. 

He reached out and caressed her face before kissing her goodbye. [I will always be in your prayers and dreams, Llopea, as you will be in mine.] The sand kicked up as the thrusters kicked in, and the landing gear extended before the rescue ship touched down. Within minutes, the loading ramp lowered, but none of the crew were visible to the Dissarans looking in with wild curiosity. 

Bron climbed the ramp and gave one final wave before he stepped inside. The ramp cycled shut, and the thrusters reignited, lifting the spacecraft into the air before the main engine kicked in and disappeared into the sky. Horus had returned to the heavens from his worldly visit to Dissara.

Once the rescue ship reached orbit, the captain began preparations for the return flight to Earth, but not before he heard Bron’s story. The freighter pilot told them everything, from his crash to being confused for an ancient Egyptian god to the food, dance, and making love to Llopea. Everyone on the ship laughed, wishing it had happened to them. It was the story to end all stories regarding “first contact” with an alien species.

As Bron relaxed in his cabin, he looked out the porthole at Pellan 5 for one last time. He felt a little sad about leaving. Bron enjoyed playing God and being treated like one. Maybe he would return one again and take advantage of their hospitality.

[You will never set foot on Dissara again, human,] a voice cried out behind him. Bron turned to see a physical representation of the Egyptian god, Horus. His muscular, dark-skinned body looked powerful, with a falcon head. He wore golden armor like feathers across his broad shoulders and waist. He carried a sword—a khopesh—a curved sickle-like blade with a hook. He stood nearly seven feet tall, barely fitting inside the tiny cabin.

[The high priest warned me of your treachery . . . impersonating a god, defiling a princess. Your people had the chance to bathe in Ra’s eternal light, but you have forsaken our blessings. You will not ruin our home on Dissara!] Horus grabbed Bron by the throat and lifted him into the air. He gasped for air as the life was being choked out of him. All he could think about was Llopea as he slowly and breathlessly died at the hands of a god.

Bron was found dead the following day, with his body desiccated and practically drained of life. The crew took it as something he picked up on Dissara, possibly some disease deadly to humans. They set up beacons in orbit, warning any approaching starships of the danger and quarantining the planet from further exploration or landing. The people of Dissara would never meet someone like Bron ever again.

Months later, Llopea gave birth to a son. She named him Heruu, son of Horus. He would one day grow up to be king, a conqueror of Dissara.

THE END