Thread: The Land After Time (Mr. M & Hahvoc Requiem)

As it turns out, the universe is full of life, and the amazing thing is how similar it is. Despite all the possible variations, all the could-have-beens, the vast majority of life bears similarities. It has similar DNA in a similar helical arrangement, using the same chemicals. It used the same amino acids and the same essential cellular structure. For all that it seemed to develop on various planets from the start, they still evolved with mostly similar bilateral symmetry, with what seemed like repeatable forms. Creatures frequently had recognizable similarities between worlds one could see canine attributes, feline attributes, porcine, equine, etc., etc. What was even more strange was in those creatures who were sentient psychologies seemed to be comparable. Oh, certainly, there were differences due to biology, instinct, environment, what have you. But there were similar needs, similar drives, similar responses from one entire species to another. In fact, it often seemed there were more severe differences within a species than between species from entirely different worlds. For all the possibilities, for all that life sprouted seemingly independently on dozens, hundreds of worlds at different times, it was shocking how similar it was. As it turns out, the universe is full of life, and the amazing thing is how different it is. Despite the similarities in basic biology, the bizarre ways in which species from wholly different worlds seemed to converge on each other, life manifests itself in more ways than a single creature could imagine. With all the possible variations in how life expresses itself on just one planet, such possibilities are writ large across the span of the universe. Life and sentience took severely different directions, even when they did in fact share genetic similarities. No two intelligent species shared exactly the same attributes. There were no two primate-type species that looked really alike, there were no feline-type species that resembled each other, there were no canine-type species that had the same appearance. Variations were extreme. Even though most life shared basic genetic similarities, in many ways, it was unpredictable how they could interact. Plants that looked strangely identical could be harmless or poisonous, and perhaps only to one species and not another. Pheromones and pollen and sap and allergens all had different effects on different creatures, and it was difficult to predict what effects things would have. What could be even more strange was that each species had their own cultural and linguistic complexities. A human from Earth, speaking English, could meet a ct'roww from F'narth, speaking haat'fontor. The automated translators tended to simplify things, using common terms in translation, converting ct'roww to parroteer, F'narth to Beta Trianguli, and haat'fontor to parroteese four for the human, for example, but it was a small attempt to simplify an impossibly complex reality. Putting in additional factors of religion, individual psychology, gender issues, culture and history, etc., etc., ad nauseum, it's amazing that sentient creatures can possibly find common ground at all. Yet common ground is found all the time. For all that there are such insurmountable differences, people meaning sentient creatures of all sorts still form bonds with each other, still meet and make friendships, regardless of the species. At times, there are greater differences between members of the same species than members of different ones. But you never know when commonalities can be found, even in the most unexpected places.