by What Ever
The last of the Creators heroically repaired the ship. The Puppeteers seemed to outline the images of those last few survivors in a halo of glory. They took on almost divine characteristics to the surviving Puppeteers.
Then came the slow, agonizing death of the last of the Creators. The experience was so wrenching that the counterparts to the Creators killed themselves rather than go on. There was a blank period in the memory of the Elder during the period immediately afterwards.
The aliens drifted aimlessly about the ship during the next period. Without their partners, many of the Puppeteers had no goal, no meaning to their lives. The ship hurtled relentlessly onwards towards Earth for hundreds of years. By the time of the approach to the solar system most of the aliens were in a catatonic state – unresponsive to the outside world.
Then the discovery: Earth was inhabited! The message spread like wildfire through the ship, shaking the zombie-like inhabitants into action. Preliminary analysis indicated that there was a good chance that the humans were compatible with the Puppeteers. It was like water to someone dying of thirst.
Then a horrible truth was discovered: the humans were self-destructive. There was indeed a chance that the entire race would wipe itself out before the Puppeteers even got to the solar system.
A haze of madness descended on the Puppeteers. Crazy schemes were proposed for how to save the humans. Finally, one faction of the people arose with their plan: invasion.
The whole concept of seizing control of a host was taboo among the Puppeteers. True, it could be done, if the host was in horrible danger and for some reason unable to do anything, but it was considered to be an extreme action even then.
There was some confusion around what happened next – perhaps another period of insanity – then came the realization of another threat: the lizard men. An aggressive species that had rendered its own homeworld almost uninhabitable was poised to invade Earth.
This was the final straw. The Elder split off into one part that wanted to save humanity by any means necessary and a “conservative” group that felt this was going too far. The invasion seemed to go well at first, but as more humans came to the station it was perceived that something had gone terribly wrong.
The Puppeteers were controlling almost every action of their hosts, they were trying to take over the governments and, worst of all, they were neglecting their hosts. The first rule of the people was to never allow harm to one’s host; yet the Puppeteers trying to control the humans were allowing problems like lack of hygiene and malnutrition to proliferate.
By the time of the plague, most of the aliens had gone back to the conservative camp. But at that point many believed it was too late to change course. The coming of the plague threw the Puppeteers into disarray. While something of this sort had been envisioned, the extremist faction contained the most dysfunctional of the people and could not imagine that the humans could turn the tables on them so quickly.
The last, desperate hold-outs of the extremists hoped to persuade the humans into accepting the need for Puppeteer control through a demonstration of simple power. The plan was to wipe out a city to convince the humans that they should accept Puppeteer rule.
The very idea of taking the lives of hosts, let alone on the scale being contemplated, was so horrific that the Puppeteers began openly fighting each other. The 16-ship fleet that had been sent after the refueling station represented the last amount of any real unity amongst that group. When the attempt failed, the conservatives regained control.
There was more chaos, more confusion around the current situation. Mike thought that there was something more that he was missing but then, the connection ended.
Now it was Mike’s turn to be silent for a time.
“Even if I believe you, there is no way that I will be able to convince Planetary Defense that you are sincere. You would have to do something to prove yourself, and even then there will be those that do not trust you.”
“So what are you proposing?”
“That you give up some of the humans that you hold captive.”
“NO! You saw what happened to us when we were isolated. We will not risk that again!”
“I’m only saying that you give up some of them in a show of good faith. The ones that really do not want to be here – they are no doubt causing some problems anyways – give them up. In return, I think we can work out some sort of exchange where people who would welcome help from a Puppeteer could be sent here.”
The Elder seemed to contract.
“What you suggest makes sense…even if we are hesitant to give up some of our partners.”
“I can’t say when PD will warm up to the idea of doing an exchange, they may even try an attack first, but I can’t think of another way.” Mike said.
“Especially if they rotate back so they can determine what our defenses are like.” The Elder said sourly.
“Yes.”
“We will consider your proposal. Until then, please return to the station.”
Mike was rejoined by Gideon, who led Mike back to his ship. As they reached the airlock, Mike turned to Gideon.
“Do you think that there is hope for peace between the Puppeteers and humans?”
“I can only hope.”
“If the opportunity arises to rotate out, will you take it?”
“Unlike most during the invasion, I have come to an agreement with my Puppeteer.”
“Did you have…problems…before the Puppeteers?”
“No, I just get along with mine.”
Mike thought about what that would be like: no problems holding them back. All the advantages with none of the disadvantages.
“Then good luck.”
Gideon went to shake hands, then made a face. Mike thought for a moment, then held out his hand, his Puppeteer “glove” covering his hand. Gideon did the same. For a moment there was contact. Gideon had been telling the truth.
“Good luck to you as well.” Gideon said before Mike left.
Well, that was certainly interesting. Mike’s alien said.
Got that right.
# # #
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Excerpt from Puppet: Soldier the sequel to Puppet: Defender
“Lizardmen…from another dimension?!” Major Sterling was staring at Mike like he was crazy.
“I know.” Mike sighed. “But it believes it…Maybe the thing is still crazy.”
“I mean, you can’t make crap like this up.”
Mike massaged his forehead.
“Can we at least…warn about this?”
“Oh sure!” Mike looked up. “Hello, this is Major Sterling at Goofball 1. We just wanted to warn you about some lizardmen from another dimension that might be dropping by for tea later on today. Of course. You’re welcome. Why no, I didn’t take my meds this morning, why do you ask?”
“There is no way that I am going to call this in!”
“OK, we don’t have to explain quite so much when warning them. I mean, couldn’t we just tell them that they are liable to be attacked by some nutso Puppeteer cells?”
“Sure, what’s the target?”
Mike stopped, taken aback.
“Err…um…I’m not sure.”
“Exactly: we’ll just have the entire Earth military go on alert…just in case.”
“Well it’s better than doing nothing.”
Sterling sighed.
“I suppose you’re right.” He grumbled.
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