by S. H. Jucha
Focusing through the new visual medium, Vyztram saw an Elvian standing close. Accessing files, which came quickly, the AI identified her as Trobath.
Cued by Othello, Trobath flourished her hand. “Welcome, Vyztram,” she said.
Vyztram hesitated for a tick. Then the AI replied with a courtesy gesture and said, “I see you, Trobath.”
“Would you care to dance, Vyztram?” Trobath asked, bowing slightly and offering a second flourish.
Vyztram realized that the avatar had control of facial expressions, and the AI produced a facsimile of a smile. Standing required a few ticks of time to understand the avatar’s motor controls. Vyztram discovered they were much more facile than had been anticipated.
Music filled the space. It came from Z’s open mouth, and Vyztram’s head dipped toward the SADE in recognition of the Omnians’ achievement. Then the AI concentrated on Trobath.
When Vyztram stood, Trobath waited until the AI regarded her. Then she twirled both hands in a complex opening.
Vyztram copied Trobath’s motions. When she introduced footsteps to her performance, Vyztram tested the avatar’s balance by imitating the steps and intricate arm and hand movements.
For a few moments, Vyztram focused on controlling the avatar and absorbing the sensory inputs. Then the music and Trobath’s delicate motions, accented by her flowing costume, captured the AI’s attention.
In that instant, Vyztram fully inhabited the avatar. The AI no longer imitated Trobath. Accessing memory files, Vyztram selected motions from observed courtesies. They were added to the routine.
When Trobath observed Vyztram supplement the performance, she smiled and added spontaneous touches of her own. She danced, twirling and flourishing, until she felt the air desert her. Then she ended with a slow spin on one foot and a delicate twist of digits.
Z faded the music.
Vyztram, who had closed the routine in synchronization with Trobath, regarded Z.
“Greetings, Vyztram,” Z said.
“Greetings, Z,” Vyztram returned. “I must congratulate you and all Omnians for your generosity and technology. This avatar has more capabilities and sensitivities than I’d thought possible.”
Turning to Trobath, Vyztram bowed elegantly, “And to you, Trobath, I thank you for your welcome to Elvian life. Your courteous performance gave me an opportunity to waken, bond with this avatar, and take my place as an Elvian citizen.”
Trobath flourished a hand. “You’re most welcome, Vyztram. You deserve a place among us for your services over these centuries of annuals.”
Across the fleets, there was a celebration. Another critical piece of Alex’s plan was successfully complete. The Deloy was deposed, the attacking drones destroyed, and Vyztram inhabited an avatar. The potential for an alliance was still alive.
31: Amazing World
The SADEs had recorded Vyztram’s awakening in the avatar and the subsequent dance. Then they’d sent an edited vid to the AI.
Made aware of the vid, Dafine directed that it be played on a four-time loop on every monitor throughout the Arcus.
The monitors in the Deloy’s quarters never completed the first viewing before they were shattered by the irate ex-leader of the Elvian population.
Alex requested a connection to the core’s leaders.
“No female?” Yemerth inquired.
“Appropriate,” Yemerth replied. “It was wonderful to watch Vyztram exchange courtesies with Trobath. When Omnians danced with Trobath in the bay, it gave us hope that we might return to normalcy.”
Alex eyed Julien, who shrugged his shoulders in an Alex imitation. The SADE received a short vid in which he appeared with a huge mouth, broadcasting Omnian private moments. In reply, Julien merely smiled and colorful bright fairy dust danced around his head.
Renée and others on the bridge grinned at what was obviously a vid fight.
“I must stay aboard,” Dafine announced. “There’s too much that’s new to this ship’s population.”
“What about Vyztram’s absence from the Arcus?” Famgore asked.
“What’s the likelihood of that, Vyztram?” Famgore inquired.
The responsibility of saving entire populations is wearing, Alex thought. It was the first time that he’d voiced that thought, and he wondered what it meant for the future.
Famgore had accessed Trobath through his slate. Reading the reply, he said, “Alex, Trobath is enthusiastic about joining the expedition.”
“If the negotiations fail, Alex, will we be allowed to recover our harvesting equipment?” Dafine asked.
“We’ll be on our best behavior,” Trobath chimed into the conversation.
Alex ended the conference link. He expected the traveler from the Arcus to arrive shortly and intended to skip midday meal.
Alex received an imitation of the image he’d sent Julien. In this case, Alex’s mouth was tiny, and it was stitched closed.
“Come, my love,” Alex said, offering his arm to Renée. “It appears we’ve time to dine.”
While Alex and Renée joined the enlarged head table for a meal, the SADEs finished the filters and launched a traveler from the city-ship. As Z requested, it was cargo model.
“Just the three of you from our side?” Tatia inquired, gesturing toward Alex, Renée, and Julien.
“I’ve been mulling over the right balance to influence the Ollassa and yet, not surprise them later either,” Alex replied.
“Thus the addition of Famgore and Trobath,” Franz surmised, pausing long enough to swallow a mouthful of thé before resuming the consumption of his third Méridien-sized plate.
“It was a good move,” Reiko remarked. “Vyztram’s human avatar might give the Ollassa a false sense of comfort. Later, they meet the Elvians, and they’re in shock.”
“Cordelia, did you get to see Julien’s brother before the avatar was shipped to the Arcus?” Ellie asked.
“Assuredly,” Cordelia swiftly replied. “If you want an accurately aged genetic facsimile, who better to task than the younger brother’s partner, who’s also an artist?”
Laughter, human and SADE, filled the table. The closer the Omnians got to a successful alliance, the less anxiety throughout the ship. With no pending emergencies, the Omnians anticipated some rest while the Freedom was fully restored.
After the meal, Alex and Renée had time to refresh themselves before Cordelia announced the arrival of their traveler. The couple made their way below. They met Julien in the corridor and entered the bay together.
The cargo traveler’s ramp was down, and Z and Miranda waited on the deck in their Cedric and Frederica avatars.
The thought skipped through Alex’s mind to quip that Renée and he weren’t in danger from flora. Then he just as quickly dismissed it. The SADEs were exerting their influence, which was what he wanted them to cultivate. Arguing about small points would only inhibit their social maturation.
In contrast, Renée touched the arms of both SADEs. She had flashbacks of the massive pair of pincers on the head of a five-meter-long red, as the insectoid rose from the ground to cleave her leg and poison her. Jess Cinders, a Pyrean, had executed the deadly red in the nick of time. As far as Renée was concerned, you couldn’t have too much protection.
Alex and Renée sat across from Famgore and Trobath. Julien sat with Vyztram.
“Greetings,” Alex said in Elvian, which brought the heads of Famgore and Trobath turning. “Not yet,” he added, holding up his hands, when Famgore excitedly addressed Alex. “Just learning. Your language is complex. I need more time.”
The Elvians’ expressive eyes shone. To them, Alex’s attempt at their language was an indication that they were to be treated as equals.
Renée kept the smile off her face, lest it be misinterpreted. Renée sent to Julien.
“Comfortable?” Alex inquired, indicating the filters on the Elvians’ faces.
“The air is rich, but I find it invigorating,” Famgore replied.
Rather than continue to struggle with translations, Alex requested Julien provide them, as he was doing for Renée.
“You’d think we were aboard the Arcus,” Trobath said in amazement. “These seats are more comfortable than my bed, and the flight is entirely uneventful.”
“Which is a good thing,” Famgore quickly added. As an engineer, he knew to expect harsh acceleration and deceleration pressures, which he’d dreaded.
The traveler led the flight to the World of Light. Behind it sailed the Arcus, the Freedom, and two Omnian fleets. The Our People and the freighters remained near the far belt.
Alex intended to make a statement to both parties of the negotiations. It was that despite the awesome firepower represented by the twin fleets, they were no match for the combined forces of the galaxy, should races merge against the Omnians. It was time for both sides to see the value in each other. One population needed technology for defense; the other population simply needed a home.
Due to the lesser acceleration of the city-ship, Alex’s traveler arrived at the World of Light ahead of the combined fleet.
Franz glided through the atmosphere and brought the ship to the meadow indicated by Julien. The traveler’s descent was halted at the height that allowed the grasses to tickle the bottom of the ship’s shell. Then Franz set the controller to maintain altitude.
“We’re early,” Alex told the Elvians, “but this is an opportunity for you to see the World of Light without ceremony.”
Alex checked the controller’s view of the traveler’s rear sensors. Julien had directed Franz to ensure that the ramp would drop over the path that led to the Life Giver.
“We’ll exit onto a beaten path,” Alex said.
“A what?” Trobath inquired.
The question reminded Alex of his guests’ natures. For their entire lives, they were born aboard a starship and never set foot off it.
Alex signaled the controller to lower the ramp until it was level with the deck. He thought it would be more comfortable for the Elvians to witness their first view of the planet’s wide vista with the familiar feel of a metal deck under their feet.
“Go no farther than the end of the ramp,” Alex said to the Elvians, and he waved a hand in the direction of the traveler’s aft end.
Vyztram rose and waited. The AI comprehended Alex’s machinations and hoped to assist by letting Famgore and Trobath become accustomed to what they would see.
Trobath was closest to the aisle. She slipped out of her seat, took one look at the world beyond, and froze.
Famgore edged out beside Trobath, and he didn’t fare any better.
Trobath slipped her hand into Famgore’s, and the two Elvians crept toward the ramp. It took them the better part of five minutes to travel half the length of the ship. They stopped while there was still hull above them and stared at the meadow, grasses, trees, and sky beyond.
“It’s vibrantly colorful,” Trobath remarked.
“And bright,” Famgore added, blinking away the tears that pooled in his eyes due to the star’s midday glare.
Vyztram noted the discrepancy in light levels and made a note to attenuate dome shielding.
Alex and Renée walked past the Elvians to stand on the ramp, without blocking their view.
“Do you see that huge structure on the top of the hill?” Alex asked, pointing. When the Elvians nodded, he continued. “Omnians thought that was a tree, a huge example of flora, but it turned out to be something more. It’s a Life Giver, and it speaks to the Ollassa. Don’t ask me how. What’s critically important for Elvians to know is that the Life Givers are sacred to the Ollassa. Never build near them. Never visit a Life Giver without Ollassa permission. Never denigrate a Life Giver. If in doubt, don’t do anything that might affect a Life Giver without consulting a mandator.”
“Much to absorb,” Trobath commented.
“I understood the never part,” Famgore quietly added.
“For a long while, Elvians should think of themselves as guests on this world,” Alex said. “Perhaps, your offspring or their offspring will be welcome to tread this planet, but they must be ready. You must teach the young well about the World of Light and
the Ollassa. When a generation is ready to leave the domes, they must be prepared to integrate with the Ollassa in harmony.”
“This might be more difficult than Elvians are prepared to accomplish,” Trobath muttered.
“No, Trobath,” Renée said. “The hard part was asking us for help, which has been given. What lies in front of you are steps of necessity, and I think the Elvians are capable of achieving success.”
“Look down here,” Alex said, inviting the Elvians to the edge of the ramp.
Renée walked to the ramp’s end and extended a hand toward Trobath. The female Elvian reached to grasp Renée’s hand, as if she were crossing a chasm.
Not wanting to be outdone, Famgore reached a hand toward Alex and was happy to have it taken.
“That is a path,” Alex said, pointing down. “Ollassa stalks have tread the path for millennia. The ground is packed and no flora grows there. The Ollassa only use a path to approach a Life Giver.”
“Why?” Famgore asked, staring down at the beaten soil.
“Respect for the Life Giver,” Renée replied. “The same thing that you would have extended to the Deloy.”
“Who now might not receive as much courtesy as she expects,” Trobath said defiantly.
Trobath’s tone was Alex’s first indication that a shift in subject had helped Trobath overcome her fears, and he chose to expound on the subject. He turned to the Elvian AI and asked, “Vyztram, if the Deloy held power over the Arcus citizenry, would she choose to make planetfall?”
“Not at all,” Vyztram replied, having deduced again why Alex had shifted the subject. The lengthy conversations with Julien, during the flight inward, had taught the AI how to employ considerable acumen to assist and guide the citizens rather than simply respond to directives.
“Elites are comfortable with their lives,” the AI continued. “Furthermore, they believe that transferring the population to domes might disturb the elite-core relationship. Those in the core will see no reason to keep the ship’s present organization.”
