by Perry Rhodan
He looked at me with a candid smile and I could feel my heart pound.
"Okay, let's not fool each other," he continued in a more serious vein. "We know where you've been keeping yourself. You've probably slept a few centuries in that steel dome. Since we've made an agreement on Venus, I've taken care not to interfere with your shelter."
It took me a moment to realize that I was once again obligated to Rhodan. "Thank you!" I gulped.
"Oh, never mind," he dismissed it. "I can imagine that you've collected quite a few souvenirs down there. The technical installations are of no interest to me. It can't be better than what we've got already. When you came to Earth 10,000 years ago, Arkon didn't have any more than it has today."
I closed my eyes, distraught. He had discovered my last retreat where I had spent so many years in a biomedical deep-sleep.
"I don't wish to annoy you," he went on with an earnest expression. "It's time we put our cards on the table. I've got troubles, Admiral!"
The frank revelation ended my inner turmoil. It was senseless to pull the wool over Rhodan's eyes. He obviously knew all my secrets. Instead a warm feeling of compassion overcame me and my natural impulsiveness gained the upper hand. "Troubles?" I repeated.
He looked at me quizzically. "Yes. They've seen through my game of hide & seek. A Galactic trader recognized me and informed the Robot Regent of Arkon in whose existence you refuse to believe. However this is not as bad as the fact that mysterious and weird forces are at work in the inhabited Galaxy. They're a menace to mankind as well as to your people. We must stop trying to put each other down."
I was still confused. Rhodan spoke the truth. I could feel it. My logic sector didn't contradict me.
Before I could reply he leaned forward and said with emphasis: "Arkonide, listen to me. You've written a petition that you desire to return to your home after being on Earth many thousands of years and that you were stranded because you had lost your ultra-light-speed spaceship. I realize that you've waited impatiently for eons of time until mankind progressed enough to build spaceships. Now that time is here at last. I'm absolutely sure that you'll never do anything to cause us harm. Besides it would make no sense at all."
I couldn't agree more. I had done so much to instil the superior Arkonide knowledge in the human brains by bits and pieces. Not unselfishly, of course! I simply wanted to go home.
"Are you still unwilling to accept my word that your people have degenerated mentally and physically?" Rhodan asked.
His question gave me quite a jolt again. The mere thought was hateful to me and I was loath to draw the inevitable conclusions. "Impossible!" I maintained. "Give me a Gazelle so I can fly to Arkon and convince myself. I give you my word that I'll return."
I could feet that my eyes were blazing. Now the time for decision had come.
"I believe you, Atlan," he answered simply. "But I can't let you go."
"Why not?" I flared up. "You've been recognized, nobody believes the story of your death any longer."
"That's not the point. The Great Empire is being ruled by a gigantic automaton. The decisions of the machine are unmerciful. It is constantly on the search for still active and capable Arkonides who are pressed into service under its command to execute so-called punitive expeditions. The Robot Regent will never let you get away. I don't want to lose you, you see! Terra is now your true home."
I was upset and remained silent until my extra-sense advised me to my greatest surprise. Trust him! He's telling the truth. You were 10,000 years absent from Arkon!
I fought the mental impulse of my logic sector but at the same time I realized unconsciously that Rhodan had spoken more earnestly and clearly than before. "I'd like to make a suggestion, Admiral," he said. "I'll show you irrefutable evidence that the Arkonide realm you've known no longer exists. I've got authentic films, hyperradio messages of the Regent, audio-visual records and other proof to present to you. Your people are half-asleep. They're only interested in the fine arts, ridiculous sophistries and petty jealousies. The Imperator is a sham who didn't even have enough power to permit my men and me to enter Arkon although we came as peaceful visitors. The imperial battleships which are manned by robots and subjugated races have literally exterminated the rebellious intelligent beings of numerous colonial planets. The Great Empire will fall apart if the Machine remains in power much longer. The Regent is in a more precarious position than we are. I've just come back from Arkon where I've negotiated an agreement with the robot Brain. I've been given unrestricted authority over the Arkonide Fleet. I'm entitled to request the biggest units and to deploy them according to my own judgment. Atlan, I beg you to reconsider!"
I was amazed to see Rhodan's face flushed red. I had not yet seen the clever tactician and scoffing wit in such a state. I had seen hate, derision, fear and wild anger in the gleam of his bright eyes-but never despair.
A deep thunder shook the mighty body of the Drusus. I sat on the edge of my seat while Rhodan leaned back, seeking to relax.
"There are 18 propulsion-jets around the peripheral bulge," he explained. "We'll be starting in ten minutes. You may accompany me."
My desire to fly through endless space again threatened to overwhelm me. I could hardly remember
what it felt like to be at the controls of a truly great ship. "What about my few belongings?" I inquired hesitantly.
"They're already on board. Gmuna sends you his best wishes. You must have bewitched the young fellow."
I smiled quietly with a sense of relief. Rhodan seemed to understand my emotions. His expression softened and he looked pensively at his sinewy hands. Without raising his eyes he said: "One of these days I want to send you to the Arkon system, Atlan. But now it's much too dangerous for an immortal being." Then he winked an eye and stared at the spot on my uniform which concealed the cell-frequency activator hanging on my chest.
"You slay me!" I mocked through gritted teeth.
Rhodan laughed softly. "We understand each other, don't we? Let me tell you one more thing: the robot Brain is already at work in accordance with its programming to break the agreement concluded with me. Aren't you a computer engineer?"
"It's one of my special subjects," I affirmed hesitantly. I quickly found out what he meant by his question.
"Okay, then you know how the machine must react. We've established a Robot psychology Department and have determined that the Regent follows outdated programs. It's incapable of adequately evaluating the new situation and counteracts with stupendous force. If it consents to make a deal with me, a dangerous Terranian and the creator of a new rival Galactic power, it must be in dire straits. It's probably in the same peril we are. You'll see films and talk to people from other worlds who will verify my information. Wait and see."
"Why do you tell me about your troubles, barbarian?"
He grinned disarmingly. He was his old self again. "Certainly not because I'm ready to throw in the towel. I've got good teeth, Arkonide, and I'm used to taking healthy bites. The trouble is that I don't like to have enemies at my back. You've caused me enough difficulties with your stubborn attempts to escape. You almost got away, too."
He shook his head and ignored my ironic smile. Did he really believe he could fool me with such an explanation? Or was it because he was unable to forget our common adventures? As far as I was concerned I realized very well why I felt such friendly affection for this Earthling. Although we had been hell-bent on killing each other, it now looked as if we had a great mutual need for one another.
He shouted a few commands across the huge Command Center. The droning of the machines grew louder and I noticed an additional low hum which indicated that the enormous thermal converters of the super-battleship had been activated.
We took off amidst my reflections on the scope of the vessel's armaments but I soon gave up wondering about details. Rhodan obviously knew what he was doing.
I glanced at the panoramic gallery of observation screens which at this moment depicted only t
he white glow of highly compressed air-masses. Seconds later the black void of space filled the screens.
Then I became enthralled by the stars coming into view. The Drusus accelerated at an incredible clip.
The terrestrial moon was in a favorable position. However I could glimpse the shining half-moon only for a few seconds before it flashed by.
Barely six minutes later I heard the reports from the Engineering Control room announcing that our ship had entered the range of relativistic velocity which caused a diminished magnitude of acceleration at a constant energy output.
I watched the officer push the red button for the booster-mass injection. The roar of the impulse-jets increased and we reached approximate speol in ten more minutes. I was awed by the thought that such a superb spaceship had been built on the ground of Terra.
Rhodan returned and sat down. He yawned. "Smooth sailing, isn't it? When I think back to my first flight to the moon when we were nearly crushed by a ridiculous 12G! Now we can accelerate at 500 kilometers per square second even below the speed of light. We're going to stop and wait beyond the orbit of Pluto. I expect to receive important information from my agents in space and I want to be ready for all eventualities." He looked at his watch. "Okay, now let's go and eat. Later I'll show you the evidence. You'll be amazed what's going on in the world of Arkon. Lt.-Col. Sikermann!"
The First Officer of the Drusus approached.
"Please prepare for a short transition. Thank you!"
The stocky, dark-haired astronaut saluted and silently walked away. I followed him with my eyes. "You've got very dependable men, barbarian," I drawled. "Do you think you'll be able to depend on me like that, too?"
He slowly depressed the button of the drink dispenser and waited till the refreshing beverage was poured. Then he looked at me. "You're ancient, Atlan. Did you know Wallenstein?"
I was startled. The memories suddenly came back to me.
"Well, you see, Arkonide, I know my Pappenheimers too!"
As the super-modern giant spaceship raced through the Solar planet system, I remembered the general who was called Gottfried Heinrich, Count zu Pappenheim. I was there in the year 1631 when he conquered the city of Magdeburg under the command of the Imperial Field Marshall Tilly. Yes, I knew these Pappenheimers and Rhodan seemed to know what the reference meant. One could trust the men of the cavalry officer to do their duty no matter what difficulties they were up against.
Rhodan handed me a warm drink. "Excellent beef bouillon," he said with a grin. "Will you tell us a little about your adventurous past? We'll have plenty of time while we stand by. The crew of the warship is dying to look you over a little closer. The wildest rumors are floating around about you."
That's how it was with these Terranians. They either kill you or love you to death!
The transition took place ten minutes later. I felt the brief shock of total rematerialization and after a few moments the pain of re-emergence. When I was able to see clearly again, the blazing sun had disappeared from the observation screens. I searched for it and when I found it again it was only a little star among countless other suns.
I moaned softly and rubbed my aching head with both hands. Rhodan studied me solicitously. He sat there as if nothing had happened. "You'll get used to it again, my friend. You wouldn't believe how many times we've made these jumps lately. OK, now drink up!"
3/ 10,000 YEARS INTO THE PAST
I was given opportunity and ample time to recover from the devastating shock to my morale.
During the seven hour long show of proof I had drawn on all my experience and knowledge of human nature to find fault and discrepancies in the film documents and radio calls presented to me.
I was unable to refute the evidence. What Rhodan had shown me at first with an effort to spare my feelings and later with brutal frankness served only to inflict the most cruel shock on me.
I had watched the behavior of Arkonides who were born much later than I. They no longer resembled the tall, athletic figures I had known in my time. These latter-day descendants of my venerable people were more to be pitied than admired. They lacked the qualities that I had always taken for granted.
The absurd simultan games pointed to their total decadence and inability to cope with life and so did the petulant and ridiculous little intrigues between families who had long lost their power and influence. The effeminate behavior of the highest dignitaries left no doubt about the truth of Rhodan's assertions.
He was absolutely right. This was not the Arkonide nation of which I wanted to become a part again. Men like myself had died out long ago on the tri-planet and I had nothing in common with their emasculated descendants. Now I understood why Rhodan had said with pity when we first met that he could beat 'a hundred fellows of my type' with one hand tied behind his back. This blunt remark didn't seem as astonishing after watching all these pictures.
I was deeply shaken and depressed. However it was not sorrow for a vanished past alone that stirred my emotions: I was alarmed by the ominous sips of impending doom as I had watched the Robot Regent, which also called itself the Great Coordinator, in action. It became obvious that the first indications of my people's degeneration had made their appearance about 4000 years after my departure from Arkon.
Our best scientists and technicians had built a huge machine and instructed it to assume power in case the government of the Arkonide stellar empire should completely fail to function.
This had indeed come to pass but not in the form the great planners of the Empire had desired. The robot Brain seemed to interpret several of the programs in a faulty manner. Moreover, the state of affairs had changed considerably during the last 6000 years and the Brain had neglected to keep pace with it.
My wrath was not directed against the rather 'innocent' machine but I felt utter contempt for my compatriots who allowed the empire to disintegrate and neglected the most important affairs because of their incredible cravings for pleasure. Undoubtedly the Robot Regent contained some special safety factors which would come into play as soon as the now prevailing decadence underwent a change for the better. Much could depend on taking a decisive hand in the situation.
For all these reasons Rhodan had evidently taken the right course and I now realized that my earlier attempts to escape had not only been foolish but also very dangerous.
After the presentation of the evidence Rhodan had accompanied me to the comfortable cabin where I now was. The powerful engines of the Drusus had been shut off and we floated motionless in space.
I had no idea what Rhodan was waiting for but I assumed it had something to do with the emergency which he had not yet described in detail to me. I looked at my watch. I had spent four hours in brooding and it was time to pull myself together. When I finally pushed the button of the telecom I had reached the firm conclusion that I belonged to the Earthlings from now on. If I wished to do something for my own people I had to side unconditionally with Rhodan and mankind. Only by cooperation with them was it feasible to remove the festering sore of the Robot Regent.
The broad face of the First Officer appeared on the picture screen in my cabin. "You called me, sir?" he responded.
I stepped closer to the camera. "Could you please find out for me if Rhodan is available, Sikermann?"
He raised his eyebrows, apparently surprised that I remembered his name. "He's waiting to see you. He's got some information for you."
"Not again!" I reacted in dismay.
"It doesn't concern Arkon, sir. It's about the incidents which have occurred during the recent months. We assume that you'll be very interested."
My lethargy vanished. This sounded so much better. "Where can I find your Chief?"
"I'll send somebody to pick you up."
The screen turned dark and a few minutes later a young dark-haired lieutenant appeared.
"David Stern?" I greeted him. He was perplexed and his face turned red in self-consciousness. I was happy to possess a photographic memory.
"Yes... yes, sir. I've orders to..."
"I know, thank you very much," I interrupted him. "Please show me the way. One can get lost in this labyrinth of corridors."
"When I first came aboard I almost starved, sir," he said cheerfully. "It was terrible. They let me and three other lieutenants wander around till we were exhausted while they watched us on the telecom from the Control Center. Our buddies got a good laugh at our expense."
I chuckled. This was typical for the attitude of the Terranians. Their astronautical recruits had to go through a tough school but it brought results.
Stern led me to the briefing room in less than five minutes. It was located directly behind the Command Center and contained a variety of communication equipment.
Rhodan was already waiting for me. A few officers of the ship simply nodded in my direction. They were far less formal than a few hours earlier.
Rhodan examined me with a glance. My thin smile seemed to be enough for him. "Are you all right again, gladiator?" he inquired.
When I silently nodded he picked up an oblong box and handed it to me. "A beautiful example of Terranian impulse-beamers," he commented. "The reaction chamber is already charged up. You can throw your own model away."
He turned around and left me standing with the box. I opened it. It was indeed a finely made impulse-blaster. I put it in my bolster and gave my replica to David Stern. "Will you please discard it for me?" I asked him.
"Now that this has been taken care of, please take a seat and look what we've discovered in the meantime!" Rhodan began. "Can you imagine that there is somewhere an alien power that depopulates entire planets?"
I thought I hadn't heard right. "Depopulates?"
"Depopulates!" he repeated, a deep furrow appearing between his eyebrows. "It sounds strange, I know. I had an appointment with a messenger of the Robot Regent on the third planet of sun Mirsal, which is in the center of the Milky Way 14,480 light-years from Earth. I didn't want to reveal the position of Terra and so far I've been fortunate that nobody has found it."
