In the Garden

A small, unmapped moon drifts in a quiet corner of space, and a crew of scientists, engineers, and an inquisitive priest have been sent to see whether any spark of intelligence hides in its barren surface. Using the temperamental Extraordinary Perception Locator—a machine that can tell the difference between ordinary brilliance and true genius—they sweep the world for the faintest sign of thought. When the device finally flickers a single orange light, the team’s routine mission flips into a careful, almost reverent, pursuit of the source.

The beacon points to a modest patch of meadow, a fountain‑like pool and four gentle streams, with no buildings or obvious civilization in sight. The crew debates whether to descend now or wait for a safer moment, aware that the lone signal could belong to a creature unlike any they have known. Their curiosity balances on the edge of caution, promising a first contact that may be as intimate as it is bewildering.