The Googolac

“We'll begin today's lecture with a few notes from last week's discussion. I received several messages from my graduate classes requesting clarification on some of the habits of the indigenous Googolac peoples of the southernmost region of Cantopia, the seventh quadrant of Jupiter's Europa.”

The professor paused momentarily, out of habit, to readjust his bifocals. However, his bifocals had been replaced with implantation not two weeks before. His fingers bumped clumsily against his bare face. Johnny-Mouth-Breather chuckled audibly in the twelfth row. The professor scratched his well manicured beard before activating the Chalkboard, Copyright 2025 Duracell Industries. The first photo to pop-up was that of a “female” Googolac stretching her fins against the darkened ice of the frozen Europa sea scape. Last week the professor had lectured on the mating rituals of the Googolac, highlighting the methods of sexual reproduction amongst the Cantopian peoples.

“As we remember from Monday's discussion, the 'female' Googolac is designated as such only by the culture's decision to refer to her as 'female'. Googolacs are born initially without sexual organs, once they have become established in their communities they decide which gender they wish to pursue and adapt, both mentally and physically, to the particular role's characteristics. Before choosing a gender the Googolacs' appearance mimics that of a terrestrial Harbor Seal and the Googolac young are treated as such. Before picking a gender all children are considered “sub-Googolac” and will be awarded proper participation in society once they have begun to grow sexual organs. Adult Googolacs vary in appearance, elder 'males' resemble something like a Tiger Shark. Rows of useless salient teeth often develop as a method for wooing younger Googolac females into mating. Googolacs possess the ability to morph their physical features to match those of almost any organic creature and some non-organic creatures. ....Does anyone have any further questions on this topic before we move on?”

A sea of wandering eyes, many fluttering on the brink of sleep, stared blankly back toward the podium.

“Okay then, let's recap. First discovered in 2019, by the space probe Apeiron, the Googolac people were the first form of civilized alien life discovered in this solar system. Located deep under Europa's icy crust, the Googolac dwelling rivals the great structures of ancient Greece and Rome. All structures created by the ever-growing populations of Googolac people are carved from silicate rock and iron.

'Possessing both gills and lungs, as well as flippers and arm-like appendages, the Googolacs spend half of their time in the deep European seas and the other half on top of the ice.

'The Googolac's complex bodily systems process and filter bacteria and plankton from the ocean around them, converting this sustenance into usable energy. Without ever developing the need to ingest their food, the Googolac people have a great deal of free time.

'Because the Googolac have no need to compete for food or shelter (all buildings are shared by communities of like-minded Googolacs) they have no concept of politics or religion. Googolacs never question their own existence and therefore they feel no need to compose elaborate creation stories. Instead these underwater peoples spend their time playing swimming games and competing in Ice-racing, a silly concept in our society as their 'races' have no winners or losers. In fact, most Googolacs never even complete an entire Ice-race during their century long existence. They will adapt to absorb nutrients from the surface and race each other indefinitely until their existence wanes to a cease.”

“What the heck's the point?” Johnny-Mouth-Breather barked without raising a hand.

The professor peaked up from over the podium and said, “There is no word for point in Googolac, only ones for pleasure.”