A Paradox in Retrograde

by Faherty, John

  Landaus still smarting from being tricked by the illusion spoke. "Whoever said that we would require assistance from the likes of you? Besides we've already obtained the help of a flesh and blood version of you. He's pretty handy with a sword too. On you I would wager not so much. "

  "That much is true. My brother has always been quite handy with any sort of weapon. However I feel even now you have many unanswered questions. I fear there is much I must tell you. But first you should deal with the more pressing issue of the man who has been following you before I continue."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "There has been someone following you for some time. See for yourself even now he eavesdrops." Landaus did not hesitate. He bolted into the darkened hall only to see there a figure running awkwardly in the opposite direction. He gave chase and in less than four strides he had gained on him. Throwing his full weight at him, he knocked easily to the hard ground. He rolled him over to discover he recognized him. "Grunhuf what are you doing here lurking about like this? I could have killed you."

  He responded angrily as he stood to his feet. "I could ask you the same thing Colonel. You have been acting rather strangely, and as you know, I have little trust for your Lady Xora. From my perspective she's got you up to your ears in it."

  "You obviously have no idea what you're talking about Grunhuf. And this for Lady Xora you are way out of line. " "Am I, from what I understand she’s been spending a good portion of her time plotting lord knows what. And now I've seen you there cavorting with the enemy. When word of your treason gets out your thinly veiled references will not save you from the gallows."

  Landaus reacted incredulously, "I must say Grunhuf, from what we’ve been through, paranoia I can understand. But to so easily betray a life long friendship is unbelievable. Lookhere, frankly all of what you have said about Lady Xora and me is absolute nonsense and I'm surprised to hear it come from your lips. The fact here is that all of us have somehow been to some degree glamoured by the will of Ananda. Just a few short days ago, you wanted him exiled. Do you not remember? "

  Grunhuf appeared confused as he tried conjuring a clear picture of the last few days. His eyes darted to and fro as sifted through the clouded memories. He looked down at his waist and was surprised there to see he was wearing a sword. He correctly saw that for him this was indeed peculiar. Landaus could see now that Grunhuf’s defenses were dropping. Again Landaus spoke this time in a more reassuring and conciliatory tone.

  "Grunhuf, I suspect our minds have been somehow affected. Now because you are my friend, I would ask you to listen for a moment. There is something here that may change your mind. Besides, would you not deny that now I am in control here? So I will make you this offer. If you listen for a moment to what this stranger has to say, and afterwards if you still doubt my theory, I will surrender to you. You can even lead the firing squad. Do we have an agreement?"

  Having nothing to lose and everything to gain he decided he would listen. He shook his head and said, "Agreed." Together they walked into the room. Arranged there within were, Xora, Ibsen, the captive child and a hologram of a rather smartly dressed stranger. Grunhuf forewent the greeting and instead to those assembled he nodded discretely. Startled by the stranger’s other worldly appearance he asked, "Who is this stranger?"

  The spirit answered him directly. "I am Amida. In another time and place, I was both a King and a hermit. Now in this form I am but a humble caretaker to my brother. That is however enough about me. Please the time grows short; let me explain what is now happening." Having in such a short period seen so many unbelievable things come to pass, this explanation had seemingly satisfied his curiosity.

  "By all means continue." "Very well, I will be brief. Since before the time of my forefathers, there had been a natural rhythm to the cycles of the universe. These cycles, like the tides of the sea recur with a regularity that in my time was well understood. One of these cycles was the convergence of the planets, Earth and Nibaru. On these planets long ago arose from a common seed two distinct races. In times past, during these brief convergences there had always existed a good deal of strife and animosity between these two distantly related species; However during the months long convergence, it had not always devolved to war. At one time there had actually been trade between the races. Violence however even in times of relative tranquility lay just below the surface. However the black heart that resides in men of both races would not long lay dormant. Peace therefore had been short-lived. To those on Nibaru with each successive awakening into this state of perpetual war the stage was set for an evolution of culture as well as of the body. There the Art of war and the official mythology had intertwined into a ritualized religion in which Hector now plays a central role. "

  "As for Ananda though I suppose he is to blame, it is partially my fault. For I was the high king of Atlantia and it is to my eternal shame that there one day I abandoned my crown, and my responsibility nation and to my brother. To my disgrace, I abdicated my responsibilities to follow the life of leisure. He was ill prepared for what would happen next. During one such convergence while attending one of these ritualized battles, a seemingly careless insult led ultimately to a blood feud. In secret he planned. He had as it would later be found, orchestrated the entire situation. It was not until that moment that we did discover that my brother had gone utterly out of his mind. I was called to return, but unhappily I was too late. Soon we found ourselves in a situation where in, all our lives hung in the balance. Hector as Ananda was then known, chose then to marshal all the technology of the world to bring the cycle to a decisive end. The war was brief and violent. There in that time the civilization that spawned such technology as you see before you, was swept away in the blink of an eye. In an instant all that was left were scattered remnants, inhabited by desperate survivors. Unfortunately a great number of the warriors of Nibaru escaped with most of their ships. In a generation the civilization of Earth had crumbled completely into ignorance. You are their descendants. Soon if we do not act, the scenario will be repeated and you too shall be swept away."

  As they listened they knew deep down despite their infliction, that the words he spoke were the truth. Like a veil dropping from their eyes, the last of the spell they had been placed under began to fade. Landaus was the first to speak. "We would seem to have two problems. The first is to defeat our enemy and the second is to defeat our greatest warrior just as he defeats our sworn enemy in the midst of the battle."

  Amida questioning his assumptions said, "Not any easy task for any man. However there may be far less complex and dangerous means yet to be explored. For example, it may be simpler and less costly to destroy your enemy's fleet as it lies at anchor, than to face a thousand ships. I would wager my brother's plan is to do just the opposite, by drawing them in and destroying them in an Earthly holocaust of fire. This would unfortunately have dire effects for the Earth. Landaus with my guidance you could attempt such a mission in a preemptive strike that will lay waste to their long ships. Grunhuf of course you too could also go along."

  Landaus was incredulous to the thought, and so asked, "I've never even flown in any thing other than an air ship. How do you propose that I could actually pilot a starship? Today was the first time I've ever laid eyes on one."

  Amida tried, as well as he could to explain it in way that might allay his fears.

  "You can set your anxiety aside, though I am lacking a physical body I will be there guiding you."

  "And just how do you propose to do that?"

  "That's where Ibsen figures into the equation. He will act as a host and as my voice. Together we shall make the jump." Landaus shook his head side to side. He was not at all pleased with the idea of his son being needlessly placed again in harms way. "Now wait just a minute. For what logical reason could there be to place him in danger?"

  "To answer this I would say that I really don't see any other way. He will be safe at all times. Even if the ship is destroyed, he will still be wi
thin my protection." But why do you need him? Surely there must be some other candidate."

  "No I am afraid his connection to my mind is perhaps one in a

  million. I will find no other suitable host within the time required for this mission. And if I do not go and submit the young prince to our enemies, your ship will be blown out of the sky. By ransoming the young prince we can buy the precious time that we will need."

  Within the scope of what he had seen that day, Landaus saw the relative logic to his proposal. For a moment he did not speak as he gathered together in his mind the steps that need to be taken for such a venture. He raised his head up to look at the apparition and asked.

  "Ok, let's say for the sake of argument that I do agree to this scheme of yours. How would you propose we blow these ships? We possess no such weapon in our arsenal."

  "Perhaps you don't; however there among the objects obtained in the raid on the alien ship, you will find the explosive charges you need."

  In the air beside him, there appeared a floating three dimensional image of a rather strange looking artifact. They looked at the glowing object carefully as it rotated before them. Grunhuf could recall seeing no such items among confiscated items. "I was there when the cargo was off loaded. I did not see these things you place before us."

  "Perhaps that is true. However I assure you they are there. I suspect these objects have been masked from your sight. A simple act of suggestion was all that was required. This can be easily taken care of. Now all of you look into my eyes andlisten to the sound of my voice. I will count to three; and on three the spell shall removed from your eyes. One, two, and three now remember."

  A flood of images filled their minds and the world suddenly looked different. Grunhuf shook his head and he said. "I have seen them. I know where they are. He had us load them into the guard armory. There are about twenty of them. If we could get in there before anyone sees us, we could probably get in and get out of there with half a dozen or so without much of a problem."

  Landaus with a stern look on his face responded, "Without any problem? Those are my guards, I trained them myself. They're not going to let us stroll in there and raid the armory."

  "You might be right Landaus, but I don't really see an alternative." Landaus was again silent as the wheels in his head spun round. Lady Xora, who had herself till now been silent, finally spoke. "If it hasn't yet occurred to you, it seems obvious to me what should now happen next. You and Grunhuf go in there and get those charges. I and the children shall make ready the ship. Landaus lend me your side arm. I may have more use for it than you."

  Although this plan seemed immediately logical for Landaus there still were reservations to be resolved. Amida sensing this spoke, "We still have a little time to refine these plans, however the longer we wait the more dangerous Ananda will become."

  By now on Nibaru tensions mounted, for the radio relay from the scout ships had for some time now gone silent. The situation grew more worrisome with each passing hour. For the time of the invasion would soon be upon them. The optimal launch window would open in two days time. To go too early, or leave to late could prove risky for such an operation. The great king Aaralaat paced to and fro before the window that looked down upon the idle ships. He was frustrated, but there was little he could do. Despite his frenzied appearance he was capable of a good deal of restraint. He knew it would not be wise to launch the attack before hearing report from the scout ships. He would not however be able to delay action indefinitely. The launch window was not his only concern. His people after their long sleepgrew anxious as they spoiled for conflict. Though it would never come out in public discourse, he did not want to be remembered as his grandfather had been, the king who led a folly of a campaign.

  Just then he heard the sound of hurried footsteps coming towards him. He turned to see his queen Nivia accompanied by a guard rush up to meet him. "What is this Interruption?"

  The guard bowed before him and said, "I apologize for the intrusion, however I fear it could not wait." Nivia interrupted him and said, "There's no time for this, your son Prince Leif we believe may have stowed aboard one of the scout ships."

  Aaralaat with a look of angry confusion asked, "Is this true? How could it be so?" The guard with his head still bowed, spoke. "Your Highness we have searched the palace and the surrounding grounds. There he has not been found. None of his close friends can recall his whereabouts since just prior to the launch of the two scout ships."

  Aaralaat turned toward the window and looked up into the night. There he saw the fiery blue orb of the Earth dominating the night sky. He thought how truly beautiful a sight it was. It was no wonder one so young would be drawn so easily to it. He sighed and turned to his queen. "I will go myself and retrieve him."

  Nivia looked on him in shocked disbelief. "But you are the king. Surely you must know it is not your place to abandon your throne in a time of war."

  The king responded resolutely. "Firstly we are not yet at war. Only the King can declare war. Secondly it is my own fault that he has left us. I refused his request to join the war party as was his right. I admit it was out of concern for his safety. That I did underestimate his bravery is to my shame. Nivia I shall lead a sortie of the most skilled warriors. Word of this can not leave this palace. In the interim I leave the kingdom in your capable hands. If I do not return you shall know what to do."

  Chapter 11

  By this time the work going on within the great hall, had already gotten well under way. Guards, workmen and officers alike had done some heavy lifting for the cause. Pews, benches and tables that had previously occupied the cavernous space had been removed. In their place rows of highly specialized work stations now stood. These had been constructed of readily available lumber and sheet metal. From these make shift cranes and carts too had been made ready. And so their work would not cease, electrical wiring and long strings of lithium lights were set above, hung haphazardly from the high ceiling. The lights cast down a washed out, uniform glow that glared upon every work space a diffused even light. Cast in thisirrepressible light each would work deep into the night. Under Ananda's leadership within the matter of just a few short days the interior space of the great hall had been wholly transformed into a workhouse. What once was an ornate ceremonial space now bristled with all manner of toil and labor.

  Materials had been evaluated and identified. They were then sorted as to their purpose. Tools of every variety that had been gathered from throughout Baldur had been brought to bear on the project at hand. Fortunately for them very few items required custom fabrication, because most of the work entailed the repurposing of the captured materials. Most of what was needed was already there although in a different form. For most these objects seemed initially to be some what of a curiosity. Though some manufacturing existed on Baldur, there was nothing of these precise standards that could serve as an adequate comparison. As it stood their experience was that most goods were hand made by highly specialized craftsmen. What ever initial barriers this created were quickly overcome. As they would discover these systems though foreign, by the nature of their simplicity of design had made the work simpler than they could have imagined. So despite the facts that many little understood the alien theory behind this technology, there was simplicity to these systems’ manufacture that lent itself easily to augmentation. Once they had been trained to know what they were looking for the work progressed quickly. Many of these items contained within a miniaturized equivalent of an earthly power station. From there then it was merely a matter of channeling those vast dormant energies held within into a more potent and volatile state. Ananda was there he possessed this knowledge as to the how. He would show them only what they needed to know. Though they thought little of it this was for them was possibly the most difficult part to understand. They for the greater part had been science minded; in as much as they had been skilled mechanics and engineers, few could claim true credentials for this dangerous work before them. Despite this, by v
irtue of their determined obedience they more than compensated for this lack of knowledge and expertise.

  Ananda was there carefully watching the work commence. Trying as he would to orchestrate in a few days, what all of Baldur could not have done in a lifetime. His outer demeanor did not betray the hidden turmoil within. In the background he stood as metal smiths put the finishing touches on one of the few custom made components. These constructed to exacting tolerances were the lead lined bomb cases and custom charge holders. On a raised platform in the center of the hall, one of the newly minted objects sat. Vaguely circular it stood about a meter in height and in circumference. It surface dressed dully in gun metal grey was studded menacingly with an array of protuberances through which the precisely timed charges would be fired. This part he knew was critical for if the implosion were to trigger the anticipated chain reaction, there could be no room for error. With calipers in hand the head smith checked and rechecked every seam, thread and rivet. From his vest pocket he pulled a small note pad and rechecked the figures of his calculations. He scratched his beard as his mouth mimicked the numbers. He did not lift up his head from his figures until he was satisfied. Covering his eyes from the sharp light he scanned the crowd for Ananda. Finding him, he presented him with the thumbs up sign and spoke, "Captain? Captain everything seems to meet the set forth required tolerances. Not bad for hand made, aye captain?"

  Ananda came in for a closer inspection. Running his hand along its smooth case hardened edge he felt a wave of exhilaration fill every corner of his body. For it was at that moment he saw in his minds eye his victory completed. He fought with what steel he could muster to resist this emotion he dared not express. He not only knew such a display was inappropriate but more importantly it could stifle his plan. He did not wish at this stage to alienate his allies needlessly. For so many endless centuries this forlorn tragedy had repeated itself. The endgame at last was within his grasp. Though he did his best to disguise his emotion his eyes gleamed with a most sinister smile. The corners of his mouth rose ever so slightly as he spoke.