At last.

Awareness dawned in synchrony with the planet’s local sunrise. Deep within, the rumblings of ancient fires began to grow. Here was warmth. Here was food. Here was substance.

After an eon in the void, even to a mind as old as the stars, the prospect was exciting.

Slowly, surroundings were probed. Moderate atmospheric pressure. High oxygen levels. Local particulate contamination… smoke. Shattered rock. An impact crater.

Amusement. The impact crater. Our impact crater.

Memory was examined. 1.53 times ten to the fifty-fifth power Fundamentals from the galactic center. Yellow star. Primarily liquid dihydrogen monoxide surface. Strong magnetic field. Green unsubmerged landmasses.

Data was analyzed and combined. Anti-entropic atmosphere. Local exothermic chemical reaction of bound carbon compounds. Life.

Frequency and amplitude modulated low-energy long wavelength radiation. Analog and digital communication. Intelligent life.

A feast of great unlikelihood.

Ponderously, appendages emerged.