Arkapeligo- Rising

by Ma West

  Prisoner 00 twitched as he tried to think through the concussion but found it difficult. “Ya see, the bees shove their pokers into the birds’ butts, only to have the birds turn around and eat their lunch.”

  With an annoyed tone, Numphia spoke to her coworkers. “I have the woman, and she is good enough. I have all the information I will ever need from this. I believe it is time we turn you over to the commodore.”

  A new voice, powerful and willful, spoke, startling the two. “Again, Numphia, you are wrong on two counts. First, your assessment of the chain of command around here is flat wrong, and second, so is your assumption that you have the ability to understand the unknowable. So no, we will not be turning any of the subjects over to the commodore.”

  The Xendorian Numphia rose from her perch next to Prisoner 00's table. “Lead Lyndia, so nice of you to pay us a visit, but this project is a special assignment from the commodore himself. I’m afraid you will have to take it up with him. Now out of my lab!”

  There was no letdown from Lead Lyndia as she responded. “Who is science lead? Until that changes, all projects are under my purview, so deal with it. This is not your lab. This is my lab, as I am the one wrestling with those war-hungry generals day after day. Without me, your lab would be nothing but a waste-extraction terminal.”

  Numphia hissed as she and the other Xendorian scientists huddled together and slowly advanced. “Be wary of a commander who cuts you out of the loop. Who knows what else they might cut you out of—or with?”

  The two scientists—Numphia, backed by her assistant, Imric—hissed, and the other bounced like a boxer circling the ring. The Xendorian science lead, Lyndia, broke the stalemate with a charge and a howl, sending the clique of Imric and her compatriots backing out the door.

  She stood, took a deep breath, looked at the poor group, and spoke loudly. “Now it’s time for some real scientists to do some work.”

  Lyndia shook her hands in fury as they left. Then she turned toward Prisoner 00. He tilted his head to look at the new arrival, but his face was swollen and now somewhat disfigured and misshapen. The Xendorian Lyndia gently rubbed her hand along his face and smiled. “Looks like we have had a few bumps on the head today. Let’s just see if I can’t get some of those cobwebs out.”

  The new demeanor and attitude, mixed with the concussion and fatigue, made it easy to trust this new alien. Using a handheld device, Lyndia intensely scanned his eyes and then uploaded the information into a wall computer. Two small devices dropped out of a terminal a few feet off to the side. She placed the devices over Prisoner 00's eyes and smiled. “That should speed up the healing process, but the headaches will be intense and unavoidable. Now that twitching is a mystery, but I’m afraid that my confederate is right. If the commodore is keeping me out of the loop, my position is untenable. So I will have to forgo the examination for now.”

  The alien then walked over to the wall that the baroness had disappeared into. “Ah, yes, the regeneration chamber has nearly completed its work. Your mate is in excellent health. All of her nutrition, regeneration, and hydration needs have been met.” Lyndia accessed a panel on the wall, cycling through different displays assimilating the data as she went with incredible efficiency. “Now that baby is a mystery wrapped in a forbidden cookie jar. I don’t understand why we can’t determine the sex of the child. Are there only two sexes of human?”

  Lyndia didn’t wait for an answer but continued to process data. “This truly is a miracle, you know. Never before in the history of everything has there ever been a recorded addition to a genome structure, and with the recorded DNA of both parents, it’s truly, truly amazing. Fools like that Numphia can only see this as an anomaly to exploit, a weapon to canonize. I, however, see the grand design and your place within it.”

  Prisoner 00 could feel the tingling in the back of his head as the optical devices filled his eyes with a magical display of lights and colors. He tilted his head up, but the words failed to come out, yet the alien Lyndia appeared to understand the question just fine.

  “Grand design, no, I don’t mean that idiot emperor and his thuggish guardians. I’m talking about grand design.” Lyndia paused for effect. “A design so simple it works for everything yet so complex there is an illusion of an answer for everything. I believe this to be true of your child as well, but I’m afraid that my beliefs are in the minority—now more so than ever before. The riches that our conquests have brought us are taking us ever farther from the proper path, the path away from the true one.”

  Prisoner 00 twisted his head to face Lyndia and twitched. “What?”

  It was the closest thing to a smile that Prisoner 00 had seen on an alien thus far. “Forgive me, babbling on about politics when time is so preciously short. We have much to discuss and preparations to make. My list of allies was already thinning, and I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time for me here.”

  The commodore and the team leader leisurely paced down the hall. At first the commodore spoke joyously as he recounted his battle and self-deemed victory. “Alone I battled the terrible creature. Heroically I saved the objectives and faced the warrior! I lunged straight at the warrior, with total disregard for my own safety. I blinded the creature with one of my most powerful blows!”

  The Xendorian team leader listened enthusiastically, as if he wasn’t actually there for the events, but having finally gained a foothold to talk, he quickly changed the subject. “Yes, Commodore, it will be a great highlight to your illustrious career, but I beg of you to listen now with unemotional ears. I know how much you despise the prisoner, 00, but I would not make a good XO if I didn’t alert my commander to possible dangers, and . . . opportunities.”

  The commodore stopped walking. “Very well, team lead, as your stock is rising with me, I will grant you your request. I will hear out your plea as to why I should sacrifice an honor most deserving and desired by me, the killing of Prisoner 00.”

  “My commodore,” the team leader spoke softly but confidently, “thanks to the fruitless efforts of our commander, Lymphod, you have been robbed of many levels of victory, but where he failed, you still managed to succeed. This human species, while inferior, is very adept and dangerous when paired with modern technologies. Yet you and your men were able to capture the leader of the spacefaring humans. Let us not portray ourselves as having failed to achieve the highest levels of victory, but as victors over a cutthroat, adaptive, and perhaps even blessed species.”

  The commodore cringed on the word “blessed.” “You know how the emperor hates those words, yet I see some wisdom in your strategy. The species of the Arkapeligo group throwing themselves into kamikaze warfare as they desperately fight to save their unborn blessed savior. Yes, I like the narrative much better.”

  The team leader stayed close to the commodore. “And, sir, not only have you captured the community’s religious idol, but you have in your position the leader of the human resistance, father to the blessed one. Let him not be a passing muse of vengeance but a trophy to give to the emperor.”

  The commodore stood upright. “Yes, perhaps you are right, unleashing my wrath on such a pitiful creature might make me feel better, but it could make me appear weak. Presenting Prisoner 00 as a trophy might prove enough of a distraction to save face, but the loss of any warriors will come at a price with His Majesty. “

  The team leader responded pridefully. “Then perhaps the best strategy is to present a solution before discussing the problem.”

  The commodore smiled. “You mean for me to announce you as my new commander.”

  The door to the science bay opened, and in the Xendorian tradition, the two doctors and their tiny furry friend were held high and then lowered in recognition of a comrade. Lyndia rose from her position of examination and spoke joyfully. “Ah, our secondary objectives have arrived. Prudent timing, soldier. I shall now take custody of these beings.”

  In obedience, the Xendorian placed each subject facedown in a line before Lyndia, ab
out-faced, and left.

  “Ah, my friends, please, no more need for formalities. Please rise and make yourselves comfortable, but I must warn you against attempting escape, for it would bring terrible consequences I couldn’t lessen.”

  Dr. Fengie, true to her nature more so than her personality, searched the room for the baroness and immediately rushed to the display along the wall, dragging Dr. Fergie. After filling the room with a cacophony of smells, they seemed satisfied with the baroness’s state, and then Dr. Fengie began to gather some equipment. Overall, the doctor seemed well aware of the devices’ usages and ably tended to her poor blind partner, Dr. Fergie.

  The glasses that had been placed on Prisoner 00 dinged like an oven timer, compacted into two smaller circles, and fell to the floor, were a MOP bot—apparently another shared technology—zoomed in to clean up the litter. Prisoner 00 slowly sat up but cringed his neck in pain as he processed the events from the past few days. He eventually regained his equilibrium. “I’m so confused. Whose side is everybody on? How many sides are there?” He hesitated briefly. “Whose side am I on?”

  Dr. Fergie, while being tended to by his wife, broke out in laughter. “Another brilliant question from the father of our mystery child. I am finding your species most interesting, so lacking in skill, knowledge, and ability, yet you manage to simplify the universe around you in such a way that you not only understand it but also shape and design it. Amazing!” There was a short pause before Dr. Fengie nudged her husband. “Of course, another one of my tangents. So to answer your question succinctly, we are on the side of good. There are many sides, and you are able to answer your own question through what you choose and how you pursue it.”

  Prisoner 00 twitched, slurring his words slightly. “Thanks, doc, that’s real clear.”

  Speaking loudly enough for all to hear, the oddly helpful yet out of place Xendorian Lyndia gathered the group’s attention. “Now that everyone is here, we have but a few minutes to come up with an escape plan. I have a contact on the ark, but their resources are extremely limited. For the moment, the battle on the ark and the planet is consuming the majority of the commodore’s fleets’ resources, including a large detachment of this ship’s personnel. I see three ways off this ship—shuttle craft, escape pod, or with some more difficultly, we could attempt a mini-slip. I am a believer, a scientist, and an officer. I will take charge, but I would prefer to leave the task elsewhere, perhaps guardian Aragmell.”

  The two Annomite guardians held their restraints close—though now free from their grasp, the facade may be needed quickly. Aragmell still held his head low, raising it only enough to be heard. “The shuttle pod will provide more protection in space but will be harder to acquire. The escape pod would provide easier access off the ship but leave us at the mercy of the enemy fleet. A mini-slip would be immediately recognized, and the crew here would attempt to shut it down, while the reception on the other side might be a blaze of lasers.”

  “Wise counsel, guardian, but I failed to catch your endorsement, if one was provided.” Lyndia waited to see if Aragmell had more to say. “Given the resources available to us, I don’t recommend the escape pod—too dangerous a transition to the ark. What say you, Father 00?”

  Rubbing his temples, Prisoner 00 was finding it much easier to think clearly, despite it all. “I don’t understand a damn thing you guys are talking about. A mini-slip sounds like a piece of women’s clothing to me. Second, space? It still boggles my mind that I’m in a spaceship right now. Until you crashed down in Manhattan, I thought my mother was the only alien I knew.” He paused for a laugh that never came. “Here’s what is going to happen.” There was a longer pause this time. “Ok, so I don’t know what is going to happen. I don’t know what the best plan is, but I do know what I’m going to do. I’m going to kill the commodore.”

  Chapter 18

  A Trip in Time

  “She mustn’t be allowed to get away with this, Commodore. What gives her the right to take away my project and deny you your deserved vengeance?” Numphia howled in anger as she vented toward the commodore.

  The bridge teemed with a sense of life that the mostly empty corridors lacked. While most of the crew were Xendorians, other species worked at various positions, but it was the massive amount of vegetation growing along the walls and in planters scattered about that gave the room its feel. The floor seemed to be a more natural substance along the lines of quarried marble or granite.

  The commodore sat in a large circular platform in the center. Two work stations were placed nearby in front, while several more were spread out behind. “Lady Numphia, I placed you directly in charge of a project, and I do believe you had some time to accomplish that task, did you not? I shouldn’t need to remind you that the Wilde will be here shortly. The Arkapeligo group have nearly completed their transverse gate. I have a botched assault to fix and a planetary conquest to wrap up, and the emperor is demanding answers—answers you failed to provide. So if lead Lyndia wants to relieve you, that’s her prerogative. Now, here is my prerogative. I have no need for officers who place politics above duty and no patience for incompetence. Lady Imric, you are now command liaison to the science department. Lady Numphia, you will return to your quarters and await transfer. Now, Lady Numphia, you are dismissed!”

  A stunned look of surprise translated across Numphia’s alien features, yet after a brief moment, it turned nasty. “I guess secretions blind oneself from their own standards.”

  “Mind your tongue, lady, or I might assign you as overseer of some backward wasteland, such as Earth.”

  With a reptilian hiss toward the commodore, Numphia ushered herself out of the bridge, leaving behind a smiling Imric, who once again knelt in military discipline.

  “Rise, Lady Imric. I now appoint you command liaison to the science department. Congratulations on becoming a new member of the senior staff. Perhaps later we shall celebrate together, but for now you must prove your worth and discover for me the source of this genetic alteration and find out if it is an isolated incident.”

  “With pleasure, Commodore. I am happy to report that without further investigation, I can confirm that this was an external alteration, unrelated to either the parent or the species. However, in order to determine the actual source of the manipulation, I request a transit to the surface to examine the site of conception.”

  “A wise and bold course of action. Excellent start, liaison. Now report back when you have relevant information.” The lust on the commodore’s face as he spoke translated in all languages.

  Lady Imric’s voice now lacked the strong tone. “Commodore, in order to achieve this task in prompt order, I will need temporary custody of Prisoner 00.”

  The commodore’s body straightened, and his physical demeanor transformed. “This creature’s ability to elude what it’s due troubles me greatly. I have even underestimated it myself on more than one occasion. If this be absolutely necessary, I insist that the team leader join you.”

  The conversation suddenly stopped as Imric and the team leader entered the science bay. Physically, there was nothing out of the ordinary. The two Annomite guardians sat in their corner, shackles fully visible and attached. The two doctors treated one another, and Prisoner 00 lay naked on the table, yet the two approached on full alert of an ambush, as if they could sense it in the air.

  Performing the traditional salutatory act, Imric spoke. “Lead Lyndia, I am very happy to report that the commodore has chosen me to replace Lady Numphia. I look forward to working with you on several projects benefitting our great empire. For the moment, however, I would like to take temporary custody of Prisoner 00, as we wish to take him to the surface for evaluation of the conception site.”

  Lyndia paused in deep thought before making various predetermined, if not slightly odd, gestures. “It is most joyous that the commodore has been so focused on your talents and rewarded you so commensurately to them.” Lyndia stood and raised her arm, allowing Imric to stand at ease.
“Lady Imric, as to your request, I would be happy to oblige, and might I say that your vision has already proven wiser than your predecessor’s. Perhaps the rotting worm has been plucked from the bushel.” Lyndia used careful emphasis as she finished. “My immediate plans do NOT need to be executed. Therefore, you may have your Prisoner 00 now.”

  “Wait, wait, just wait a second.” The normally jolly Dr. Fergie yelled out with urgency as he was still being tended to. “Please, before you separate the two, we must first see their mating ritual and learn how the child was conceived.”

  The two Xendorian scientists looked at each other, communicated unspoken thoughts, and finally agreed. “Agreed, Prisoner 00, you will perform the mating ritual that produced the child, expediently and urgently.”

  Dr. Fengie moved toward the tube where the baroness lay unconscious and opened it.

  The room stopped and stared as Prisoner 00 stood dumbfounded and red-faced, at a loss for words.

  The shuttle craft was the size of a large room. The equipment seemed to be modular as several MOP bots were busy taking and bringing large workstations and other unknown items. The team leader smashed Prisoner 00 down hard onto an L-shaped piece of furniture and ignited several strands of neon-blue restraints.

  The front viewport spanned nearly 160 degrees, and as the craft exited the hangar, a dark night sky filled up with an unbelievable array of stars. He couldn’t see anything other than little specks, but HUD displays on the viewport showed locations and allegiances of other alien information. Then the craft turned, and the dark sky filled with the most beautiful blue. The HUD display changed colors to create better contrast with the radiating blue beauty of Earth.

  Never in his life had Prisoner 00 ever been ambitious for space travel, but by doing it now, he was filled with regret and remorse. How much time had passed since that night with the baroness on the roof? He wasn’t quite sure, but he longed to be there again, in her arms. No sight of beauty could overcome the lovers’ longing. The craft, possessing far superior technology, entered the atmosphere with barely a bump. The shuttle HUD pointed out multiple “friendly” craft—support craft for the planetary invasion, he suspected.