by Neely Dobbs
CHAPTER 56: Alliance
Jazon sat on a stone bench in Aairon’s Plaza of the Worlds. The Plaza was a well-appointed open-air exhibit of notable achievements from each of the worlds of the Alliance. From his vantage point, Jazon could look directly down two of the wide boulevards that converged in front of him. Diminishing rows of luxuriant trees, their lower branches removed to frame an unobstructed view, marked the center of each avenue. Belshimitar was one of Jazon’s favorite worlds and Aairon, situated in a semi-arid coastal zone— between the ocean and a long mountain range– it seemed suspended in almost perpetual springtime.
The leaves of nearby trees rustled in a vagrant breeze. Their whispers spoke to Jazon of another time and place of pastoral beauty and pleasure: Earth, with Samantha and Kyle. Our existence there was rarely touched by even the slightest anxiety or real fear. How very different it is now. The whispering sound came again and Jazon recalled the meandering pathway leading to the clearing near his farm. Earth. How provincial we all were then…and how comfortable! The older I get, the better I can appreciate why Uncle Ned and Aunt Martha chose to live "in the old style"—with all the modern conveniences available, of course, though disguised.
A capricious zephyr wafted a gentle mist in his direction from the Plaza's tall central fountain, and he experienced the double pleasure of the concentrated scent of flowers mixed with the cooling breeze.
The wide diversity and vibrant colors of the flowering plants, bushes and trees vividly reminded Jazon of past holidays spent there. His thoughts flowed back to the last time— could it really have been fourteen years ago?— when last he and Sabanda had visited this spot. Multitudes of people from throughout the Cluster had milled about the Plaza, strolling happily up and down the wide streets.
On that occasion he had chafed at the unavoidable noise created by throngs of vibrant people. Now he found the cathedral stillness somber and oppressive. The only sounds were those of the fountain, the rustle of quaking leaves as the wind played through the trees, and the occasional metallic step of a mechanical conservator.
A little ditty he heard on Earth replayed in his mind: Johnny doesn’t live here any more….
On a sudden impulse, Jazon called out, “Center?”
“Yes, Admiral?”
Jazon smiled, pleased the communications center was tracking him. “Make contact with Vice-Admiral Ozier. Wait…Belay that order!” Jazon realized he didn’t know what time it was on Kepren. He didn’t want to disturb Sabanda’s sleep without good reason. “Center, advise the current time on Kepren.”
Following the briefest pause the response came. “Sir, it is currently 2010 hours at the Ganlon meridian.”
Good; early evening. It’s not too late to call her. “Establish ‘fastest mode’ communications with Vice-Admiral Ozier at the Mathlen Command Center. Alert her that her husband wishes to speak with her. We haven’t spoken since I left five days ago— I must speak with her.
After a short pause, Sabanda’s voice sounded loud and clear. “Jazon! I’m so glad you called! I would have called you, but I realized you might be in the middle of something and… Oh, I’m so glad to hear from you!” Are you OK? Was your trip uneventful?"
"Completely... except for one thing. Despite my order that I would come alone and pilot my own ship, ADIZ inserted a Pilot-AIDD on my cruiser. It reported its presence just after takeoff and explained that ADIZ directed it to stand by and allow me act as pilot— but to remain alert and to assist, or even take over— in the event of any emergency."
"Jazon, are you saying that ADIZ violated your direct order?"
"No... not exactly," he sighed. "It was more like he used a loophole. My order was for ADIZ to 'make all necessary arrangements'— and he chose to interpret my wording in a way that allowed him to circumvent my intent. The AIDD said that he was told by ADIZ that it would be a failure of duty not to make whatever arrangements might be necessary to meet all contingencies."
"How creative!" Sabanda tittered. "And I'm sure he learned about how to do that from you, Jazon!"
"Well... maybe," Jazon grumped. " Still, it concerns me. Keep an eye on him."
"Sure, Jace. Will do." A slight pause, then, “Any…uh, news?”
“No, absolutely nothing has happened here,” Jazon responded cheerfully. “Of course, Hoga didn’t say precisely when the SD would happen— just when I should arrive. In the meantime, I am living in the lap of luxury, over-eating every chance I get, being ministered to by all the AIDDs and enjoying Aairon's sublime weather. In fact, it's so pleasant that I just might apply for this job permanently!”
“Jazon! Don’t you dare even think of it! Unless, of course, you’re including me in your premature retirement plans. Where are you right now?”
“Well, I was too lazy to return to my room. I’m really roughing it here, bunking in the Presidential Suite at the top of Plaza Towers. It’s on the thirtieth level, and that one minute ride in the lift just tires me out. So, on the chance a Com-AIDDs was in shouting distance, I simply spoke a little louder. That really exhausted me. I may have to rest a minute. Anyway, they must have been targeting me with a track-mic, so here we are, talking to each other.”
“Oh, you're such a tease! So where are you now?”
“Well, to answer your question, I’m outside on the glorious pavilion. You remember the stone benches in the heart of the Plaza? I’m sitting on one of them right now... and they’re just as hard as we both remember!”
An awkward silence ensued. Any more idle banter seemed silly, but neither wanted to break the light mood they had established. Sabanda finally asked hesitantly, “Jazon, isn't the time— Hoga’s predicted time— getting awfully close?”
He tried to maintain the light mood. “Yeah, maybe something will finally happen tonight. I’m planning to go and eat a second lavish supper, so I’m hoping it will hold off until then. All this relaxing is really making me hungry.”
“Jazon, you’re crazy! But I love you.”
“I love you too, Sabanda! And I’m really sorry I didn’t call sooner. Honestly, I have been watching and watching and, you know how it seems that if you take a moment off to do something else, it will happen while you’re not watching. The truth is, it's a bit nerve wracking.
"But enough about me. Are you having any difficulties? I hope you’re not just sitting around biting your fingernails. And that Kyell is keeping you sufficiently occupied… but, of course, not too well occupied!”
“Jazon, you are a tease. Yes, Kyell is almost always by my side— helping me with my work! And your pet scientist, Dristane, arrived today. Kyell insists on calling him, ‘Kirq the Jerk, but— thankfully— not to his face!’ You know how little he thinks of what he calls ‘these theoretical swelled heads.’ In fact, Kyell has predicted we won’t have time to worry about our other problems now that we have Dristane's ego to worry about.
"And Dristane did create a bit of a stir, right off the ship. He had an elaborate presentation ready that he insisted on showing us the moment he arrived. Kyell was livid, so I sent him topside while Dristane made the presentation to me. Basically, it was one long brag about how smart and talented he is— and how essential his pet projects are. It was so transparent I had to keep from laughing... between my suppressed yawns. Of course, we did need some way to keep him busy until you return. So, to keep him happy and out from under our feet, I gave him permission to resume the experiment he had been working on here at the Science Lab before hibernation began.”
“Good idea, Sabanda. But make sure he brings himself current on time-travel theories. Maybe he’ll have some good answers for me when I get back.” Jazon halted, unsure how to continue. They were running out of purposeful communication, but neither wanted it to stop.
“Sabanda, I guess I had better break this off and go earn my pay. Oh! I nearly forgot. Ha
ve you contacted Talir Brovean? He might offer you some support, and I wonder if he has some insights to offer that could prove to be valuable.”
“It’s crossed my mind too, but I wasn’t really sure I should disturb him. Since you agree it might be worthwhile, I’ll visit with him tomorrow— if he’s available.”
“I’m sure he’ll be available to you. Sabanda, I hope to see you soon…and remember always that I love you.”
“Oh, Jazon…” Sabanda stifled a soft sob. “Jazon, take care of yourself. Now go eat that second supper and get fat. Gain thirty pounds. See if I care.”
Jazon couldn’t let her go with a jest. It might be the last time I’ll ever talk with her. His response was warm and confident. “No, Sam, that’s the wonder of my life— I always know how much you care.”
The connection was broken and he mused aloud, “I know I don’t deserve a lady as wonderful and lovely as Sabanda…but I’m awfully glad she’s mine.”
He shifted on the stone bench. It suddenly seemed harder than ever. A movement on the street caused Jazon to snap around. He chided himself for his edginess when he saw that it was just one of the maintenance-bots sweeping dust from the boulevard. I know there’s no one on this world but me and the AIDDs, but this forced inactivity makes me jumpy! Of course, patience has never been my greatest virtue.
Realizing this fact did not cure the condition.
Something should have happened by now. Could Hoga have been wrong?
He remembered the display of the Plathymiir system in the projection room on Mathlen. It was almost as if ADIZ had prepared the display of vital statistics even before Jazon had asked. How was he able to prepare precisely what I wanted before I could complete my request? He had pondered along these lines fruitlessly several times already, but the questions repeatedly returned to vex him.
Then he felt a firm sense of rightness, something much stronger than any hunch. The hair rose on his arms as he realized the odd sense was something outside his normal perception— neither completely internal nor completely external— as if some “otherness” was impinging upon his awareness. It felt alien to his own consciousness, yet neither invasive nor hostile.
