Mind Worms

"Mind Worms" by Moses Schere is a science fiction story set in the future, where Earth's first contact with Venusians brings both excitement and deep-seated anxiety. Humans are rumored to be intellectually inferior to the Venusians and the story follows an Earth ambassador on a crucial mission to Venus, where effective communication is key. The ambassador is haunted by tales from an experienced space traveler about strange, space-dwelling worm-like creatures, which feed on fear and have left psychological scars on those who encountered them. Grappling with his own insecurities, the ambassador begins to understand that overcoming this fear is essential for successful interspecies relations and to ensure humanity approaches this pivotal moment with strength and composure.