The Orphaned Worlds

by Michael Cobley

  AGAIN, THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS. IF THE KEEPER’S ESSENCE WAS ABSORBED THEN THE PATTERN OF IT MUST RESIDE IN A PARTICULAR PLACE. SUCH A PATTERN CAN BE DISRUPTED SHOULD THIS KEEPER PROVE TO BE MORE THAN A NUISANCE.

  ‘If we had a Keeper now,’ Chel said, ‘it might strengthen our situation.’

  THE NEW KEEPER WAS INTENDED TO BE YOU, BUT SEGRANA PICKED ANOTHER.

  Chel paused on hearing this, so surprised that he went over what the Sentinel had just said. Understanding was followed by astonishment.

  ‘I was intended to be … the Keeper of Segrana?’

  YOU WERE SELECTED BY THE LISTENERS WHO GUIDED YOU TO THE FIRST STAGE, A LISTENER HUSKING. INSTEAD YOU EMERGED AS A SEER WHILE SEGRANA CHOSE ANOTHER AS KEEPER, THE HUMAN FEMALE CATRIONA MACREADIE.

  Astonishment sharpened – a non-Uvovo as the Keeper! He could imagine the outrage that this would provoke in strict traditionalists, like his old teacher, Listener Faldri, yet he himself felt no anger or resentment. Segrana, he deduced, must have had compelling reasons for her decision – Catriona had once been an Enhanced, which perhaps conferred on her qualities that Segrana saw as unique and invaluable.

  ‘She must have found it daunting,’ Chel said.

  HER TASK IS JUST AS VITAL AND DEMANDING AS YOURS, AND NO LESS PRESSING. YOU AND YOURS COMPANIONS MUST RETURN TO TAYOWAL AND PERSUADE GREGORY CAMERON AND THE OTHER LEADERS TO BRING THEIR PEOPLE HERE, TO UOK-HAKAUR, WHERE THEY CAN BE PROTECTED.

  ‘Protected from what, Sentinel?’

  IN THE CHAMBER BENEATH WAONWIR I OVERHEAR MUCH THAT IS SAID BY THESE HEGEMONY SCIENTISTS, BETWEEN THEM AND THE DREAMLESS PARASITES THEY THINK TO BE SERVANTS. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THEIR MASTER HERE ON UMARA, ONE NAMED KUROS, WILL SOON HAVE A NEW WEAPON AT HIS DISPOSAL. IN SENDRUKAN IT IS CALLED THE NAMUL-ASHAPH, A MOBILE FACTORY FOR PRODUCING WAR MACHINES, SEMI-AUTONOMOUS COMBAT MECHS. WHEN IT ARRIVES IT WILL BE FLOWN UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS TO A SECLUDED SITE SOMEWHERE IN THE FOREST OF ARAWN. THIS FACTORY HAS A DIRECTING MIND AND AFTER IT HAS LOCATED SETTLEMENTS OF REBEL HUMANS IT WILL EAT THE GROUND, SOIL AND ROCK, AND START TO BUILD ITS HORDE.

  Chel listened in horror. ‘How can we fight such a thing? The Humans have their weapons but—’

  YOU HAVE UOK-HAKAUR! IT IS A STRONGHOLD BUILT TO STAND AGAINST THE DREAMLESS OF OLD – IT WILL PROTECT YOU AGAINST THIS NAMUL-ASHAPH AND ITS DEVICE-CREATURES.

  ‘But what of Nivyesta?’ Chel said. ‘Are they going to send one of these factories into the forests of Segrana?’ Terrible visions flitted through his thoughts: fire, blood, and immense trees toppling.

  SEGRANA HAS ANCIENT STRENGTHS AND RESOURCES, SEER, AND IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF DEALING WITH SUCH ATTACKERS. BUT I HAVE HEARD NOTHING TO MAKE ME SUSPECT THAT ANOTHER OF THESE MAKER MACHINES IS TO BE SENT THERE.

  Chel frowned. ‘So how will we survive, Sentinel? If Greg’s people and the Uvovo are safe within this mountain, what happens then? While these war machines roam the forests, slaying any who oppose them, how long before the Hegemony scientists find out how to unweave your defences and make the warpwell do their bidding?’

  YOU SURMISE CORRECTLY. THE HEGEMONY SCIENTISTS ARE CREATIVE AND PERSISTENT, AND IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY DEVISE A WAY TO BYPASS MY RAMPARTS. BEYOND OUR DEFENSIVE TACTICS THERE IS A STRATEGY, WHICH DEPENDS ON ROBERT HORST.

  ‘The ambassador who was dispatched into the care of this machine ally, the Construct?’ Chel recalled that moment in the warpwell chamber when Horst was swallowed by dazzling light. ‘So he was to be more than a guest.’

  THE CONSTRUCT NEEDED SOMEONE RELIABLE WHOM IT COULD SEND AS AN ENVOY TO NEGOTIATE WITH A VERY OLD, VERY POWERFUL BEING CALLED THE GODHEAD. IF ROBERT HORST CAN SECURE AN AGREEMENT OR TREATY WITH THIS BEING, THEN THE CONSTRUCT WILL COMMIT A PORTION OF HIS OWN FORCES TO THE DEFENCE OF THIS WORLD AND TO GUARANTEE ITS SECURITY, WHILE ENSURING THAT THE WARP-WELL IS RENDERED USELESS.

  A thud came from a tall recess that Chel realised was the inner part of one of the blocked entrances.

  YOUR COMPANIONS ARE CLEARING AWAY THE OBSTRUCTION – SOON YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DEPART. SEER CHELUVAHAR, RETURN TO TAYOWAL AND EXPLAIN TO THE HUMANS AND THE UVOVO WHAT I HAVE SAID. WHEN YOU ARE STANDING HERE WITH GREGORY CAMERON AND WHICHEVER LISTENERS ATTEND, WE WILL SPEAK AGAIN.

  The silvery veil dulled and faded, and the glowing wall glyphs and panels likewise dimmed, leaving the platform hall in gloom. Chel descended the steps and was halfway to the entrance when there were several thumps and the doors scraped open. Grit cascaded, and dust spread in clouds through which wavering torch beams groped. A short coughing figure stumbled across the threshold, followed by a couple of taller ones.

  The Voth pilot peered through the haze and grinned when he saw Chel.

  ‘I knew it! It was that jelking hole in the floor, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Indeed so, friend Yash. I’m glad you cleared the doorway as we now have to leave.’

  ‘Leave? But we just …’

  ‘Yes, leave, straight away. We have an urgent message to carry back to Tayowal, a crucial message.’ He saw the disappointment in the scholars’ faces, one of whom he recognised as the Keeper’s victim. ‘Are you well, Sylgoru? Have you recovered?’

  The scholar’s face was a picture of misery. ‘I am so very ashamed, Seer, to have put my seed brothers in such peril. I was weak …’

  ‘You were unprepared, Syl,’ Chel said. ‘As were we all. But we now have a new ally, and a new refuge, so let us be away without delay. We must get to Tayowal before dusk and tell them what is coming.’

  As he led them from the high gloomy hall, he related the essential details of what he had learned from the Sentinel. The three Uvovo scholars grew anxious and wide-eyed but Pilot Yash looked thoughtful.

  ‘So your Sentinel thinks this place will keep us safe until help arrives?’

  ‘I hope so, Yash. I’m looking forward to seeing you spend all the money that Gorol9 promised you. I’ll even let you buy us some gifts, if that will please you.’

  ‘Ah, a Uvovo comedian! Jelk, whatever next – Hegemony charity workers? Brolturan atheists? Unannoying Humans? …’

  KUROS

  The interview took place on the Sky Balcony of the Dutiful Palace, the Hegemon’s official residence on Iseri, homeworld of the Sendrukan race. The Dutiful Palace was engineered into a sheer rock face near the summit of Mount Hyzath and therefore afforded a breathtaking view of the horizon-touching megatropolis that was Erizan, administrative and cultural hub of Iseri and the very centre of the Hegemony. A morning sun beamed down out of a cloudless spring sky, a mating pair of hanok chased each other through the upper air not far away, and the city of Erizan shone and glittered like a vast, beautiful machine.

  Of course, if this had been the real Sky Balcony the weather might be less clement and low-level cloud would be obscuring part of the vista below. But for Utavess Kuros, High Monitor and Ambassador to the Human colony of Darien, this idealised simulation served the necessary purpose of inspiring awe in those he judged would benefit from the experience. Like the black-haired female Human reporter now gazing in wonder down at the view.

  ‘Most prodigious, Ambassador,’ she said. ‘Such detail, such clarity. I can feel a light breeze on my face and smell a fragrance …’

  ‘The Hegemon’s Second Consort cultivates flowering bunir,’ Kuros said, indicating a pair of tall, yellow-bloom-entwined frameworks standing either side of the simulation portal beyond which lay the other half of the audience chamber. ‘The advanced projection suite creates all aspects of an environment, as well as visual and physical textures. I am not a tech assister but I understand that microfields and odour generation can now provide exacting authenticity.’

  The Human was wide-eyed. ‘On New Lilongwe we have had various forms of virtuality but nothing this exquisite.’

  Her name was Lora Mesi and she was a senior reporter from Pimaznet, a newsfeed org affiliated to Starstream, the Earth-based commercial monoclan that had proved so useful in so many ways throughout the history of the He
gemony’s alliance with Earth. This interview, along with several others, was part of the continuing conceptual dominance strategy designed to combat the virus of anti-Hegemonism.

  He subvocalised a command to the projection suite, and a red hexagonal table appeared, along with two chairs.

  ‘Let us commence, Reporter Mesi,’ he said.

  At his prompting, the Human sat herself at the table, flustered and overawed by the simulation yet trying to appear composed and professional. With her left hand she set the levels on a small wedge-shaped recorder (provided by Kuros’s office) while her right fiddled with a note tablet. The interview followed the familiar pattern: Lora Mesi raised topic links mentioned in Hegemony and Brolturan government media pulses, and he commented or expanded on them. After a few questions about how Sendrukans were adapting to Darien, she asked about the security situation there, and in reply Kuros said that the Brolturan peacekeepers were offering the colonial government every assistance in tackling the scourge of extremist terrorism – ‘… something with which the Brolturans and ourselves are, sadly, very familiar.’

  Lora Mesi nodded sympathetically. ‘So this is a peacekeeping operation by the Brolturan Compact, not an occupation as commentators from the Imisil Mergence have suggested.’

  ‘Exactly so. Imisil complaints are groundless. We count Earth, and indeed Earthsphere, amongst our closest and most cherished allies so when a lost Human colony was discovered within the Brolturan perimeter of interest, we urged our lineal allies to reach out in friendship and good faith to these newcomers. We could never have imagined the tragic outcome …’

  ‘The assassination of Diakon-Commodore Reskothyr, and the attempted assassination of yourself,’ Mesi said. ‘How terrible.’

  Kuros sighed. ‘Yes – one of my personal assisters died in that attack, and then came the incomparable loss of Reskothyr, a loyal and dedicated Brolturan officer.’ He shook his head. ‘But in the wake of that murder, Father-Admiral Dyrosha, commander of the Purifier, assumed Reskothyr’s responsibilities and has just been confirmed as the official and permanent ambassador to Darien.’

  ‘Is the Hegemony confident that the Brolturans can handle a situation like this? Some observers have remarked that in similar past circumstances their experience has been unhappy and the outcomes unsatisfying.’

  ‘I would say that their peacekeeping experience has been limited rather than unsuccessful. No, my superiors have complete confidence in Ambassador-Admiral Dyrosha, which is why I have only a small staff and a few personal guards. My role here is to represent the Hegemon and the interests of the Hegemony, and also to offer whatever guidance or advice others may request.’

  ‘Do you have good relations with the Human leadership on Darien, Ambassador?’

  ‘Yes, I have regular weekly consultations with President Kirkland, who always surprises me with his warmth and kindness, and I have made a point of meeting the other political and community leaders at least once.’

  ‘How do they feel about the growing numbers of colonists who are leaving the towns and disappearing into the forests? Does this present a problem?’

  Kuros regarded her for a moment – I would have expected questions about Darien fashion or the local wildlife by now, rather than security issues.

  ‘Unfortunately, the Darien Humans’ long period of isolation has encouraged a certain insularity which their encounter with the Uvovo did not dissipate.’ He smiled sadly. ‘Species prejudice is a fact here, thought I should stress that this is only true for a small minority of the population. And yes, it is a problem – such prejudice interlocks perfectly with the violent aims of the Free Darien Faction so the abandoners have to be seen as a security threat, albeit a slight one. President Kirkland is in agreement with Ambassador-Admiral Dyrosha and myself on this matter, and his law officers are working to combat the threat, supported by Brolturan advisers wherever necessary.’

  ‘The Darien colonists must be relieved that so much effort is being devoted to their safety, Ambassador,’ Lora Mesi said, smiling brightly. ‘Have you had any notable successes?’

  Kuros’s answering smile was relaxed but inwardly his irritation was mounting. There must be a reason for this line of questioning, he thought. Starstream and its partners know the protocols and they make sure their newsreaders know them too. This one seems to have her own agenda.

  ‘Every day without a terrorist incident is a notable success, Reporter Mesi,’ he said while he made a gesture-symbol with his right hand, hidden in a capacious pocket, a preset command to alert his AI companion, General Gratach. ‘But to be more specific, we have arrested a number of suspects, some in the act of constructing or even transporting explosive devices … and we are holding them for … questioning …’

  Gratach had failed to appear. Kuros glanced off to one side, gaze flicking around the balcony as a rising anger gnawed at his composure.

  ‘… although we are still searching for former Earthsphere ambassador Robert Horst and others involved in the murder of Diakon-Commodore Reskothyr.’

  ‘Ambassador, I am sure you are aware of the accounts and recording data emerging from certain worlds in the Yamanon Domain, where the Hegemony monoclan Orsek manages over three hundred detainment centres. Among them are testimonies which strongly suggest that Humans from Darien are being held and interrogated in one centre in particular …’

  Just then, Gratach appeared to one side of the simulation portal. Opaque and flickering slightly, the AI’s stance was spear-straight and his power harness shone gold and red. His manner seemed oddly subdued, yet his dark eyes gleamed with fury.

  ‘Utavess,’ he said. ‘You have an important visitor.’

  The Human reporter was still talking but halted when Kuros got to his feet and raised one hand. ‘A moment please,’ he told her, then looked back at Gratach. ‘Who is this visitor?’

  ‘The Clarified Teshak, bearing imperative precedence.’

  A Clarified! Kuros had been told to expect a senior adviser prior to the tektor’s arrival but he had not anticipated that Iseri would sent one of the Clarified.

  ‘Thank you, Gratach. I shall see him at once.’ He turned back to the Henkayan. ‘My apologies, Reporter Mesi, but I must end our interview – one of my superiors has arrived from Iseri and I have important matters to discuss with him. If you wish to reschedule, speak with Assister Junalsek there.’ He indicated the robed Sendrukan just entering the audience chamber beyond the simulation portal. ‘He will consult my timetable and advise you further.’

  Unflustered, the Human rose with her recorder, thanked him profusely and left with the Assister. Once she was gone, Kuros had the projection suite erase the table and chairs and replace them with a pair of larger, heavier chairs in dark wood, ornate pieces with plain, unpadded seats. He stared at them for a moment then grimaced and deleted one of them.

  He was standing by the balcony, staring down at the beauties of Erizan, when Teshak entered some moments later. The Clarified was lean and austerely dressed in tight-fitting garments of dark grey and silvery green. Like a weapon, Kuros thought. Like a vrey blade, slender, cold and deadly. Even Teshak’s face was narrow, flensed of excess, a picture of well-defined facial bones, three ridges either side, a sharp chin and piercingly vital eyes. Surprisingly, the mouth was wide and full-lipped, and smiled with a smile as warm as the gaze was cold. Unhurriedly, the Clarified Teshak sat in the ceremonial chair and surveyed the surrounding simulation.

  ‘The Sky Balcony at the Dutiful Palace,’ he said. ‘Surely a leap beyond your station, High Monitor.’

  Kuros noted the use of his lesser title and decided against defensive obeisance.

  ‘As Ambassador, I represent not myself but the Hegemony, and also carry out the Hegemon’s commands. As your Clarity undoubtedly knows, we are conducting this crucial task under unique circumstances, due to the bonds between the Human settlers and Earthsphere. Darien’s media profile remains high …’

  ‘This may cease to be a problem in the medium
term,’ the Clarified said. ‘The Second Tri-Advocate has proposed translocating the Humans and the Uvovo to another suitable planet then either leasing or buying Darien from Earthsphere.’

  Kuros was intrigued but unconvinced. ‘Most of the colonists would find such a proposal highly unattractive and the Uvovo would reject it outright.’

  ‘Not if the alternative was seen to be even more unpleasant.’

  ‘Ah, the bad-or-worse strategy. What would it be in this case?’

  ‘The Sacriarchs of Voluasku will announce that Darien bears the signs of historical divine presence and therefore should be considered part of the Brolturan Compact. Compact law with regard to non-Sendrukans would be immediately enforceable.’

  ‘Yes, that would be persuasive.’ He looked at Teshak. ‘Is your Clarity here to announce this?’

  ‘No, this is one of several plans under consideration, although it is admittedly my favourite. My presence here is for the purpose of assessment, of both the Humans and you. But first, a more appropriate backdrop is called for.’

  As he stood, the Sky Balcony vanished and was replaced by a wide, low-ceilinged and shadowy chamber. The walls were curved, the air was cold and dank and underfoot was a stone floor incised with patterns. It was the warpwell. Kuros knew that the projection suite held no image data of the warpwell, therefore the Clarified Teshak had enloaded it himself, demonstrating his superiority in rank and innate abilities.

  The Clarified occupied a unique position in the Hegemony.

  They were Sendrukans whose artificial sentience companions had assumed complete control; usually it was due to medical reasons, like untreatable insanity or irrevocable brain damage, although occasionally it was the consequence of a conviction for the gravest of crimes. Very rarely it resulted from cogent solipsism, a personal decision to dissolve all connections with reality and to recede into the realms of the inner self. In any event, the Clarified were considered a special, almost cherished form of artificial sentience, an idealised condition for Hegemony society to aspire to. They had even taken a keen interest in commercial matters and many Clarified worked closely with such commercial monoclans as Suneye, Firegold and Novablade. Indeed, on certain worlds in the Hegemony, fanciful entertainments based on the daring exploits of fictional Clarified were very popular, and they had been exported to the extra-Hegemonic regions, even as far as the Indroma.