Across the Expanse: Day 75

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Day 75

Amy: You know, when you’re digging for ancient alien technology you tend to not find mummies first.

Jim: Disappointed?

Amy: A little, I was hoping to find some awesome ship I could fly or something.

Jim: Please, like that's just buried---

Amy: Giant colony ship, out in the middle of nowhere.

Jim: Fine, you have a point, but I thought you like flying in Tessa?

Amy: Oh she’s a doll, but I mean come on, you gotta be curious to what the equivalent of  a Corsair for the Faar’Shar is like.

Jim: A little, but I’m more interested in learning how this guy died.

Amy: Kinda hard to tell don’t you think? Body is so shriveled you can’t even tell if it’s a guy or a girl.

Jim: That, and I don’t think either one of us is versed enough in Faar’Shar anatomy to really tell.

Amy: That too. I vote woman though.

Jim: And I say it’s a man.

Amy: Sexist.

Jim: That doesn’t even make any sense.

Amy: I know, just felt appropriate is all.

Jim: *Sigh* Wraith what’s the conclusion.

Wraith: Under the standards of human anatomy, the subject in question is a female.

Amy: Ha!

Jim: Congrats. Now what do you mean by under our standards?

Wraith: If we were to compare with the anatomy of a human female… *humming noise*

Amy: Whoa hey! Don’t just shoot a transparent image of me out with no warning!

Wraith: Apologies, the most detailed anatomical record of human females this one possesses is the one of you Amy.

Jim: Regretting that bioscan now aren’t we? Oh, looks like your blood sugar is a little high, imagine that.

Amy: Shut up.

Jim: Anyways carry on Wraith.

Wraith: If you compare it with the representation here… *humming noise*... you can see due to these organs here, the human classifications of what is considered female would identify this individual as a female.

Amy: You’re talking about ovaries?

Wraith: Correct, beyond those comparisons, however, there are these organs here that do not have a human equivalent that are also used in determining anatomical sex.

Amy: So… what is this chick actually a dude?

Wraith: Not quite. According to these scans she possesses the correct organs to be classified as a female in Faar’Shar terms.

Amy: Then there isn’t much of a difference right?

Wraith: You do not appear to understand. This one possesses the necessary anatomy, but a similar organism that is missing this organ but possessing the others would not be classified as a female.

Amy: Right, but then he’d still have ovaries.

Wraith: Ovaries are a necessary part of reproduction for any species, but for the Faar’shar, there are a few more organs, the ones I showed you before, that are required for reproduction.

Amy: So… what, if you’re missing even one of these you aren’t classified as a woman?

Wraith: Correct.

Jim: How does that work? You’d think they’d be born with all of these organs right?

Wraith: Genetic coding for the Faar’Shar and the passing on of traits is far more complicated that human genetics works, and can result in far more variations.

Jim: So does that mean all the Faar’Shar without this complete reproductive tract are classified as males?

Wraith: Incorrect, classification of males undergoes a similar process.

Amy: Christ, with all of these variations it's a wonder you guys reproduced enough to spread across a galaxy.

Wraith: Litters of Faar’Shar offspring are generally born eight at a time.

Amy: Litters he says…

Jim: I think you’re missing the point. Eight at a time?

Wraith: Yes, and out of those litters there is generally one male and one female.

Jim: And the others? What are they called?

Wraith: In English… the best word to describe them would be Blanks.

Amy: Yeesh, sounds harsh.

Wraith: Blanks generally served as assistants to the males and females in order to ensure and altruistic continuation of the family’s genetic data.

Amy: So yeah, harsh.

Wraith: It was not an overly harsh lifestyle. In fact, towards the end of Faar’Shar civilization Blanks generally lived relatively free lifestyles as the population leveled out to sustainable levels. Of course, family bonds are always at the core of Faar’Shar culture, so that relationship between Blanks and the males and females has always remained relatively healthy overall.

Amy: Well that’s something at least.

Jim: Doesn’t seem too bad to be honest, can’t tell how much my mom got onto me about raising a family when I was back home.

Amy: Yeah but… at least you have the option you know? Can you imagine not and leaving it up to your brother or sister to pass down the line?

Jim: Yeah… does seem a bit detached to me.

Amy: Well one thing is indisputable though.

Jim: That being?

Amy: Compared to this chick, I’ve got a totally rockin’ bod.

Jim: Comparing yourself to a body huh? Classy.

Amy: Can’t deny the data Jim.

Jim: I mean if you look at it at this angle…

Amy: Oh ple--- Oh hey, what do you know, she’s got some curves to her.

Jim: We’re getting off track here, have you figured out the cause of death Wraith?

Wraith: Not yet, age of this victim requires some more analysis before a conclusion can be reached.

Amy: Well we did get a crash course on the Faar’Shar reproductive tract, so I guess it wasn’t a complete waste coming here.

Jim: Dunno what we’re gonna do with that information though.

Amy: You can flaunt it to some Xenobiologist and make them jealous.

Jim: Always taking the high road, eh Amy?

Amy: You know it.

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