A City Near Centaurus

"A City Near Centaurus" by William R. Doede is a science fiction story set on Alpha Centaurus II, where Michaelson, an archeologist from Earth, finds the ruins of an old city filled with remnants of a forgotten people. The story looks at ideas about keeping things safe, higher powers, and how the past and human interest affect each other. Michaelson's search for knowledge leads him to Maota, a local who protects the ancient city, and they disagree over whether to study and keep the city's history safe or to respect its sacredness as a home for spirits. As their conflict grows, they find themselves in a battle to understand who they are, why they're here, and discover truths about life, death, and the chance to go beyond what we can touch. In the end, Michaelson's journey changes in surprising ways, questioning what he thinks about himself and the world around him.