Scales of Empire

by Kylie Chan

  We held the handrail, were stretched again, and were back in orbit around the Earth.

  Shiumo popped into existence next to us. ‘Visualise what you want in your quarters, and I’ll pass the specifications on to Marque.’

  ‘Jian, design something like standard single quarters and send it to Shiumo,’ Commander Alto said.

  I nodded, and passed information on barracks with washing sinks and beds to her.

  ‘Give me a moment while I check your network for reference pictures,’ Marque said. ‘I see. Soft fabric like that takes a little longer to manufacture.’

  I looked up at the Earth. ‘I should have taken some photos of Jupiter and Saturn to send to my mum.’

  ‘Your quarters are ready,’ Marque said. ‘I’ve also provided clean clothing of identical manufacture to what you’re wearing. Do you need to recharge, Richard?’

  ‘No. I’m good for a few days.’

  ‘I can provide you with a charging station compatible with your system.’

  ‘No need, but thank you.’ He bowed to Shiumo. ‘Lady Shiumo, I bid you goodnight.’

  ‘How long do you need to rest for?’ she said.

  ‘Give us seven of our hours.’

  ‘Eight then. Rest.’ She bobbed her head. ‘Sleep well, dear companions.’

  I bowed as well. ‘Good night, Lady Shiumo. Thank you for your training.’

  ‘I’m so glad I met you guys.’

  ‘I am too.’

  ‘Go. Rest. I will see you tomorrow for breakfast,’ she said. ‘And ask Marque for some of the images it took of the planets. It keeps a record of everything. It will have some lovely pictures to send to your mother.’

  ‘Thanks, Shiumo.’

  ‘Marque, please tell Jian where I am in case she needs to talk to someone during the night,’ Commander Alto said as we followed Marque towards the back wall.

  ‘I have provided you with quarters that have a connecting door so you can reassure each other during the sleep period if you need to,’ Marque said.

  ‘Thank you,’ I said. ‘But I’m sure Commander Alto will be fine.’

  ‘I’m not so sure. I’ll probably wake up wondering where I am,’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘Don’t worry, old man.’ I patted his arm, ‘I’ll look after you.’

  ‘I am so glad you are here to care for the geriatric,’ he said with biting sarcasm.

  I am seven hundred and something of your years old, Shiumo said. So two geriatrics.

  We shared a look, then both of us shook our heads and followed Marque towards the aft of the ship. We went down the same corridor the pod had been on, and this time an opening appeared on the left.

  ‘This is Jian’s room,’ Marque said.

  I poked my head in. ‘How do I open and close the door?’

  ‘Just wave your hand over it.’

  I went inside, and Commander Alto followed me. It was more like a luxury hotel room than the single quarters I’d visualised to Shiumo. There was a circular window overlooking the Earth, a double-sized bed, couch and closet, but no other doors.

  ‘I need a sink to wash myself,’ I said.

  The wall opened on the other side of the room. I went to the door and stopped to stare. It was a luxurious five-star bathroom with a shower, sink and even an old-fashioned bath – something I’d never seen in person. I touched the towels on the rail; they were ridiculously soft.

  ‘I’ve never used anything like this before,’ I said. ‘How much water can I use? How often can I shower?’

  ‘That bath would use a year’s worth of water,’ Commander Alto said from behind me.

  ‘There’s no restriction on water here,’ Marque said. ‘Use as much as you like. I’ll just manufacture more of it.’

  ‘I can shower every day?’ I said with delight.

  ‘You can shower ten times a day if you want to,’ Marque said.

  ‘Damn.’

  ‘It’s not appropriate for me to share this room with Jian,’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘Your room’s through there,’ Marque said, and another opening appeared on a different wall.

  Commander Alto’s room was identical to my own except for the power cable looped over the bedhead.

  ‘You have to agree to open your common door,’ Marque said. ‘Touch the wall where the door is, and it will ping. If both of you touch the wall, it will open.’

  ‘Try it,’ I said to Commander Alto, fascinated.

  He went through the doorway, turned, and waved his hand. The wall closed. There was a moment of silence, then a gentle ping. I touched the wall, and the door opened.

  Commander Alto came back in and sat in the chair. ‘Can we talk?’

  I sat on the bed. ‘Sir.’

  ‘Do you want me to go out?’ Marque said.

  ‘Yes.’ Commander Alto waited for the sphere to leave. ‘Close the door behind you.’

  The wall sealed itself.

  ‘It’s probably still listening,’ Commander Alto said, studying the door. He shrugged. ‘Beside the point, I suppose.’

  ‘It’s strange,’ I said. ‘I’m in a room with no door, on a spaceship owned by an alien, kilometres above the Earth, and I feel perfectly safe.’

  ‘Are you sensing any duplicity from her?’

  I shook my head. ‘I wouldn’t be here otherwise. All I sense from her is sincerity – a genuine desire to help us.’

  ‘Good. Keep me updated. If she broadcasts anything except goodwill, let me know immediately.’

  ‘Sir.’

  He raised his natural hand. ‘And while we’re working on this project, we may as well ignore the rank courtesies. We’re colleagues who are both assisting Shiumo until we’re otherwise assigned.’

  ‘General Maxwell wants to reassign us,’ I said. ‘We were deaf to orders when she told us to stay down there. Does that mean we’re AWOL?’

  ‘Hm.’ He rubbed his chin. ‘I guess we are. If Maxwell does manage to separate us from Shiumo, she’ll take us to a firing range and shoot us first, then court-martial us later.’ He rose. ‘Get some sleep. We have a busy day tomorrow.’

  I rose as well. ‘I can’t believe my luck in being part of this. We’re helping Earth to join the galactic society.’

  ‘I know,’ Richard said. ‘Sleep well, Jian.’

  ‘Do you need help with that?’ I said, pointing at the power cable.

  ‘I’m not sure I trust them with my circuitry. I’ll wait until we’re back on Earth.’

  ‘I understand.’ I saluted him without thinking, then dropped my arm and shrugged. ‘Night, sir.’

  He went through the wall and it closed behind him.

  I went to the wall leading onto the corridor and waved my hand over it. It opened. I wasn’t imprisoned in my room, and Shiumo hadn’t exhibited any malicious intent. I probably wouldn’t sleep well, at the alien’s mercy, but I’d be damned if I’d let Maxwell take me away from this adventure.

  I looked in at the bathroom again, wondering whether I had the nerve to fill up that enormous bath with water. I’d never had a bath in my life. I shook my head. I couldn’t waste that much water, regardless of what Marque said. But I would certainly make use of the shower, and maybe even use it every day.

  10

  I heard a soft ping and jerked awake. I had a moment of disorientation – the base? No … the island training centre … No, the space elevator … Shiumo’s ship!

  I surged upright as I heard the ping again, and checked my tablet. I’d slept for nearly nine hours – the longest uninterrupted sleep I’d had since joining the generation ship project. I must have been seriously exhausted.

  ‘Just a minute, sir,’ I said, and quickly pulled on the bathrobe Marque had made for me, then touched the wall adjoining our rooms. It didn’t open, and the ping came again, so I went to the corridor side and opened that.

  Richard was waiting for me, fully dressed and obviously concerned. ‘Are you all right, Choumali … Jian?’

  ‘I overslept. That be
d was stupidly comfortable.’ I ran my hands through the frizz of my hair. ‘I’ll be right out.’

  ‘Meet us in the main room,’ Richard said.

  I nodded, and he waved one hand over the wall to close it.

  When I was dressed and ready, I stopped at the table next to the window in my room. Two gold coins were sitting there. I hesitated, then slipped them into the pocket of my Britannia coverall. I’d see about converting them to cash to send to my mother.

  In the main room of the ship, Richard was studying his tablet over breakfast as he spoke to Shiumo. She was sitting across from him, eating what appeared to be a large bright green oval fruit with smooth mirror-like skin.

  ‘Preliminary negotiations with the nations of Earth,’ he said.

  ‘Morning, Jian. Take a seat and help me out with today’s schedule,’ Shiumo said, pushing a teacup towards me.

  ‘Good morning, Princess.’

  I sipped from the cup, then stopped and stared. It was like Japanese green tea, but the flavour had a slight touch of something that I’d never tasted before.

  I opened my mouth to comment, but Richard spoke first. ‘Dragon tea. We’re the first humans to taste it.’

  ‘What’s the schedule?’ Shiumo said.

  ‘Interviews with the media. They want to arrange a tour of the planet when you’re out of quarantine so you can see some of the biggest landmarks. Is there anything in particular you’d like to see?’

  ‘I’m more interested in tasting your cuisine,’ Shiumo said.

  ‘Liar,’ Marque said from its sphere floating above us. ‘You eat nothing but grilled grakka. I have the ability to synthesise the cuisines of more than a thousand species, and you waste my talents –’ It stopped, and when it spoke again its voice was full of exasperation. ‘Shiumo, you have to tell me when you report back to Dragonhome. I wasn’t prepared!’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous, it’s standard procedure,’ she said. ‘The minute I established contact with the humans I sent notification back. Do they want to fold a message of welcome to us?’

  Marque made a bass sound that buzzed through the air. ‘… is here. She’s taken the human name of Zianto, and she’s three light-minutes away.’

  Shiumo spat out her tea.

  I grinned at her reaction; she was broadcasting affection rather than dislike.

  ‘It’s not funny. Zianto’s a complete bitch,’ Shiumo said.

  ‘Who’s Zianto?’ I said, still chuckling.

  ‘My sister. Two hundred years younger than me. Shocking layabout, sleeps with anything that moves, won’t take her duties to the Empire seriously –’

  ‘And outside your window,’ Marque said.

  A ship the same shape as Shiumo’s, but a quarter of the size and pale blue-green, popped into existence next to us.

  ‘Bitch!’ Shiumo said, and slammed her teacup onto the table. ‘This is my discovery!’

  ‘You can have it,’ said another voice.

  A dragon folded onto the ship next to us, with a sphere floating above her that was indistinguishable from Shiumo’s Marque spheres. Zianto appeared similar to Shiumo, except her scales were the same colour as her ship – a pale teal. Her tail was longer, and her body was broader and less snake-like. Her eyes and the gem between them were a striking clear azure blue.

  ‘Hello, humans. I hope my sister’s treating you well.’

  ‘No complaints,’ Richard said. He rose and bowed to Zianto, and I did the same. ‘Princess.’

  She nodded to us. ‘I bear a message from the Empress, my mother, for your species.’

  ‘Ooh,’ Shiumo said with delight. ‘That’s unusual, a personal message. She likes the look of you.’

  ‘How did you contact your homeworld?’ Richard asked Shiumo. ‘You said it’s on the other side of the galaxy.’

  ‘You have instantaneous communication?’ I said.

  ‘By telepathy?’ Richard said.

  ‘No,’ Shiumo said. ‘Telepathy only works at planetary distances. We have our own method of sending simple messages instantly over great distances.’

  ‘But if anything’s too complicated to send by scales, we carry the message ourselves,’ Zianto said. ‘I’m your courier for today.’ She eyed the Earth floating below us. ‘Nice planet. Anything good to eat?’

  ‘We haven’t had a chance to try anything yet,’ Marque said. ‘Shiumo will send her reviews through soon.’

  ‘I have this under control,’ Shiumo said with forced dignity. ‘Give me the message from Mum and I’ll hand it over to the humans. You can go.’

  Zianto raised her head and spoke with similar dignity. ‘Fine. I can tell when I’m not wanted.’

  ‘I need two more minutes to finish synchronising,’ Shiumo’s Marque said.

  ‘There’s been some movement on the border with the cats,’ Zianto’s Marque said in the same voice. ‘I’m passing the details over. The border isn’t far from here.’

  ‘Cats?’ I said.

  ‘Assholes. Won’t join the Empire. Like chasing things, and hurting them when they catch them,’ Shiumo said.

  ‘Sounds like cats,’ Richard said. ‘That’s what we call small predators that we’ve tamed on our planet.’

  ‘It’s more like they’ve tamed you,’ Shiumo said. ‘The species is very similar, so Marque named them “cats” in your language.’

  ‘I’m done synching,’ Marque said.

  ‘All right, I’ll head off and leave you to it,’ Zianto said. ‘There’s talk that Hanako may be Second; she’s very keen after messing up her last First. Don’t get yourself killed.’

  ‘Give Mum a big hug for me, and tell our sisters I love them,’ Shiumo said.

  The two dragons raised their front ends and hugged, closing their eyes, then dropped back onto four legs.

  ‘You should get a goldenscales,’ Zianto said, looking around. ‘This ship is enormous. Way too big for a single dragon and a Marque to maintain.’

  ‘No,’ Marque said.

  ‘Marque would be heartbroken,’ Shiumo said. ‘It can handle it.’

  ‘All right then.’ Zianto waved one claw at Richard and me. ‘Have fun, humans. See you on the homeworld if you ever visit. Or I might be back – you never know.’

  She disappeared, and reappeared on the nose of her blue-green ship. The ship disappeared.

  ‘Before we go down to begin the negotiations,’ Shiumo said, ‘Jian, Richard, are you happy? Is there anything you need?’

  ‘Are you sure we can stay with you?’ I said. ‘I don’t want to go back to the barracks.’

  ‘Stay as long as you like. I’d love to have your company on my travels.’ She turned to Richard. ‘Both of you.’

  ‘Travelling the galaxy,’ I said with awe, then snapped back to reality. ‘Can I pack before I go?’

  ‘You can do anything you want, dear Jian. Marque can synthesise anything you need. It’s up to you whether you come with me or stay here. You can leave me any time. I won’t force you to do anything.’

  ‘I don’t want to leave you,’ I said. ‘This is wonderful.’

  ‘Richard?’ Shiumo said.

  ‘Same for me. But I’ll need some technical support and maintenance.’

  ‘I can provide all that. Just tell me what you want,’ Marque said. ‘We can remodel your rooms as well – make them larger, add features, anything you like. Including,’ its voice filled with amusement, ‘a swimming pool.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Richard said.

  ‘Time to return to Earth. Let’s go and be royal,’ Shiumo said.

  The silver dragon on the screen reclined on a white and silver throne, her deep sapphire blue eyes startling beneath the blue gem on her forehead.

  ‘… and your representatives may visit Dragonhome any time,’ she said. ‘So, welcome to galactic society. I trust my daughter Shiumo is helping you gain a greater sense of what galactic citizenship means. She says there is still some conflict between you. If you want to gain more advantages from our society, you must
be a peaceful species before we will share them. Shiumo will help you.’ She nodded. ‘Welcome, humanity.’

  The screen blinked out, and the cameras refocused on the interviewer, Waleed Choudry.

  ‘That was the message from the Empress Silver Enlightenment,’ he said. ‘I now have Princess Shiumo, the Imperial Representative, speaking to me from the secure bunker where the Euroterre authorities are keeping her in quarantine. Thank you for talking to me today.’

  ‘My pleasure,’ Shiumo said. She curled her tail around her, and looked directly at the camera. ‘Thank you for your warm welcome, Earth. I feel very loved.’

  Waleed looked down at his tablet. ‘How big is the Galactic Empire?’

  ‘Marque?’ Shiumo said.

  ‘Physically, it’s about two by four hundred thousand of your light-years,’ Marque said. ‘It encompasses this galaxy and six of the fourteen galaxies orbiting it.’

  ‘Ah, just to clarify,’ Waleed said, ‘this is your computer speaking?’

  Shiumo’s mouth flopped open and she hissed loudly.

  Waleed jumped and looked around at the crew.

  ‘That is the equivalent of calling someone a “worm”,’ Shiumo said. ‘Marque is about as far from a computer as you are from a worm.’

  ‘No,’ Marque said. ‘Single-celled organism. No, grain of sand. I am about as far from a computer as you are from a grain of sand.’

  ‘I see,’ Waleed said. ‘They say you are sentient, Marque, is that correct?’

  ‘Oh, so you did read the briefing notes,’ Marque said.

  ‘Is it self-aware?’ Waleed asked Shiumo.

  Shiumo hissed again. ‘That’s what sentient means. Some of you seem to think that sentient means “very clever”. It doesn’t. It means “self-aware”. Marque is an artificial intelligence, self-aware, and very often a complete pain in my red scaly ass.’

  Some of the production crew couldn’t contain their laughter.

  ‘The feeling is completely mutual,’ Marque said.

  ‘How does it float?’ Waleed said.

  ‘Anti-grav,’ Marque said. ‘And if you want to ask me questions, ask me.’

  ‘I can leave and you can interview Marque instead, if you like,’ Shiumo said. ‘It loves to talk, particularly about itself.’