by David Kempf
Balaam struck Arian over the forehead with all his might. Arian fell backwards and onto the street.
“Now, everyone scorn this failure.”
The surrounding Gongorites walked away from Arian. He would be ignored for the remainder of the day. This was more than a mere humiliation. This information was accounted for. Balaam would eventually do away with all who were obsolete.
In his most private of thoughts, Arian wondered how in the name of the gods Gongorites could treat other Gongorites in such a manner. They were chosen by their gods to be a chosen, master race of living beings. They traveled galaxy after galaxy, seizing and preying upon the weaker species. The Gongorites loved to enslave and kill. This was all part of their code. However, it wasn’t right to leave humans alone. They would kill themselves by their own devices. The Gongorites offered stability and order throughout the solar system. In a way, they were great peacemakers.
Arian was one of many of his kind who had such thoughts. How could the master species be so cruel to one another? Then it dawned on him. These hideous thoughts stemmed from spending too much time with the humans. They were weak. They lacked faith.
The aliens believed what humans called compassion was nothing more than ignorance and a severe lack of physical and military power. If the Gongorites wanted to, they could wipe them off their own planet. The Gongorites could have exterminated millions of these creatures but they didn’t. Why? They couldn’t violate their own holy writings. It was clear that humans had a place in the religion of the Gongorites. It was only a matter of time before they would discover just how important they would be.
Jack and Ian worked very hard. They looked over and over again at coded sequences. Ian slowly began to come to an understanding. As horrifying as it seemed, the Gongorites always had a spiritual reason for doing the things they did, although it was a twisted spirituality by human standards. Ian was beginning to realize that humans were definitely being kept alive for a reason. He felt the pressure to try and understand just what their purpose was.
There were very strict limits on how many children humans could have. Homo sapiens were considered greatly inferior to the race of their masters, and were reminded frequently of their own inferiority. The Gongorites were disgusted with the sexual history of the humans. It was considered beyond distasteful that these creatures once practiced sexual acts for pleasure.
That was a problem of the past that was quickly remedied by the masters. There were no more families. There were now just blood relations. The humans now mated in breeding houses. The Gongorites were puzzled that humans could have their institutions eliminated and remain in memory. People still often knew who their parents were but this was forbidden. Humans still had some connection to their old culture and beliefs. The Gongorites wanted humans to breed other humans to create new servants. Humans had a glorious purpose but must suffer to find it.
Jack was having difficulty breathing. He knew that if his master and master’s masters were displeased, his end was coming soon. What if he and Ian never solved this puzzle? Jack was only sure of one thing in life. He was sure that the Gongorites always punished those who did not serve to perfection. They were a cruel species who demanded high standards and strict obedience. Human lives depended on total compliance.
Humans of the past were also subjected to turmoil and evil. It was never quite like this. There had been wars, slavery, torture and genocide. Homo sapiens had some hope that all of this evil would someday have some kind of explanation. The religious faith that once was part of the human condition was all but gone. People realized that they couldn’t have faith when they weren’t the most favored living beings. If the holy book of this species was true, then there was nothing special about humanity. People might as well be sheep or pets. God or the gods obviously didn’t favor the race of humans subjected to timeless slavery.
The humans who were privileged like Ian and Jack knew something about the past. They were able to obtain information in secret. There was a very small and very dangerous amount of hope inside both men. It was always there. No matter what crimes against humanity the Gongorites committed. No matter what unspeakable acts were performed in front of their very eyes. No matter how they lived each day of their lives in a state of fear. It was hope. It was there. It was dangerous.
“There are no gods but our gods.”
“There are no laws but our laws.”
“All dissent will be punished.”
“These are the laws of the Gongorites.”
Ian was beginning to come to a revelation. There would never be any compromises or peace with these creatures. Their laws punished dissent with death.
What was it they wanted from humanity? Ian realized that these beings could have destroyed humans by the billions. They had enough laser technology to blow up the planet a million times. It was a puzzle on which his life depended.
Arian looked up at Ulam, the most holy. He prayed. Arian knew that answers to these questions must exist. Ulam only knew the answers to life’s most turbulent questions. Arian realized that only faith in this great deity would bring the dawn of the new age. It was a lack of faith that caused all problems and imperfections. Only believing in Ulam’s strength could bring victory. Ulam wanted to be worshipped. Ulam wanted sacrifices. Arian had a revelation. Perhaps the Gongorites weren’t providing enough sacrifices to Ulam. He would bring this up with his high priest. Arian felt a great surge of strength and belief. If the two humans lived, it was by Ulam’s will. If one died and the other lived, it was by Ulam’s will. If they both died (even the one he tolerated), then it was also by his will.
“Let the will of Ulam be my reality.”
The Gongorites looked down on humanity but they also had a certain fascination with human cultures. One of the aspects they found intriguing was humanity’s preoccupation with free will, which they found almost impossible to understand. There was virtually no translation of the concept into their language. It was crystal clear in the holy book that everything was predestined. All living things had their place. All prophecies would be fulfilled. There was no choice and everything happened for a reason. Even the few humans who held on to this belief were just part of a divine plan.
The gods (especially Ulam) could work whatever will they wished on the Gongorites, the humans and any other species. They created all living things, after all. How could Homo sapiens worship any deity that would allow a free choice on any matter? It just didn’t make any sense. The idea was to work the will of the gods and observe all their revelations as they unfolded.
“I found something very revealing,” said Ian.
“Ian, what did you find?”
Jack and Ian had been working very hard. They worked as if their lives depended on it because they did.
“There is a reason that they allow us to live. They have important plans for us. The Gongorites need us to do something.”
“What is it?” Jack asked.
“I believe I found the right translation. It says that one day at the end of time all Homo sapiens will transform into Gongorites.”
“Are you sure?” asked Jack, who was beyond stunned. How could these monsters expect humans to turn into them? These creatures kill countless innocent human beings. How could people become like them? They were not intelligent life forms. They were a curse from another world. They were monsters that somehow developed technology they should never have obtained. The Gongorites were demons from another galaxy. They clearly showed that there was no goodness or fairness in the known universe.
“They have the technology, Ian. Don’t they?”
“No. They don’t have the technology to change genetic codes. It’s not a matter of science. It’s a matter of faith.”
“It’s not a translation from their archives?” Jack asked.
“No. It’s from their holy book. It states that in the last days all life will be blessed. There will be no more humans. The faith of the Gongorites will transform all into the master race.
”
“What else does it say, Ian?’
“Jack! It says that a human translator will discover the secret. The Gongorites believe that only once a human solves the code, will the end of all things begin.”
Jack almost laughed. Did they really think that from humanity’s perspective, it wasn’t already the end of all things?
“The human who shares his knowledge of the secret with his master will be blessed. Then there will be ten days to await the transformation. Any human other than the blessed translator who doesn’t become a Gongorite will be sacrificed. They are going to kill every human on the planet!”
Jack and Ian knew that genocide would be coming someday. They were born in a world that was as dark and hopeless as any age had ever been. Jack walked nervously over to Ian. He had to read the complete translation for himself.
“Behold, there was a great revelation. All of the stars in the sky began to laugh and dance. A mere slave discovered his true birthright. The humans ceased to be among the filthy beasts. For all who were once Homo sapiens were now the chosen race of Gongorites. All mankind ceased to be and there was peace among all planets. The humans who were not transformed were all burned alive. This was true of all humans except the blessed slave. He was never fully turned but was loved by all. The great statue of Ulam had come to life to rule forever. The great crystal on his crown had never been touched by the living. All who were once mortal were now made to be immortal. The great eternity of Ulam had begun.”
Jack could not get the haunting scriptures of these creatures out of his head. Was this going to be the fate of mankind? He was filled with dread.
“What are we going to do, Ian?”
Although his prayers were over, Arian continued to kneel before the great statue. He was now meditating on all of the gods. He sensed another one of his kind behind him. It was Balaam.
“Your prayers have been answered. There will be no Gongorite against Gongorite any longer. All the old things like death and pain will cease to be. This is the dawn of a new age. It was you who helped to bring it. It was your human slave. He is the one who we have been awaiting since the dawn of time.”
“Master, I don’t know of what you speak.”
“An hour ago the prophecy was fulfilled.”
This was the ultimate revelation to all Gongorites. Arian was filled with great joy. This was the greatest moment in the history of their kind.
“Wait a moment, master. It was my slave who found the revelation!”
Balaam smiled. This was the first time he smiled in over a hundred years. The last time he smiled was because he had killed more humans than had any of his kind. He was a natural leader and a born hunter. Now he became the ultimate prophet.
“Yes. It seems that you will have a very significant place of prominence at my side. After all, it was you who pushed him into making the discovery.”
Arian could not believe this was the same high priest that always showed him such disrespect and the same one who delighted in humiliating him earlier.
“Master, I am humbled. It was your teachings and discipline that enabled me to fulfill the prophecy. I must confess there were times I lacked faith.”
“Yes. We all did. It was never faith in Ulam we lacked. He is all powerful and loves those who love him. When you speak of lacking faith, it was in the humans. Isn’t that correct?”
“Yes!” Arian agreed.
“The humans bring this on themselves. Mankind is so stupid and ignorant! You felt like they were not wise enough to ever make the discovery on their own!” Balaam said.
“The power of Ulam has come to pass. All things are possible with him. Even making the vilest of creatures like my slave have significance,” said Arian.
“Let the will of Ulam be our reality,” said Balaam.
There was no real power to Ulam. Many of the species realized this. This was obvious to millions of Gongorites. Although, denying the existence of any of the gods would be cause for one’s death. It was a particularly painful execution for any Gongorite that doubted the existence of Ulam. The omniscient, supernatural warrior was, of course, not real. He was a mere statue. He was a fictional character, a fairy tale. Some fairy tales were true stories. There were giant monsters that ruled mankind using brutal force. The only redeeming quality that the Gongorites had was that they didn’t eat humans like ogres did. They killed, tortured and sacrificed countless but they never ate them. The Gongorites had to create gods who ruled the universe in their own image. Gods who would one day transform humanity into them. The Gongorites created their gods in their own image. The gods would have to make humans into the image of the Gongorites. It was all prophecy.
Ian Harris was the man who made the prophecy true. This was why he was always among the most tolerable of humans. Ian was the human who would finally put a stop to mankind. There were Gongorites that secretly questioned the existence of the god because of humanity. Why would the gods who were perfect create such a useless race like mankind? The prophets foretold the reason. The great purpose was to show how they could transform stupid humans into glorious Gongorites. This transformation would show once and for all their great power. It would be like they were creating something from nothing. It was better never to exist than to be humans under Gongorite rule.
Jack and Ian knew this. They knew this despite not being treated as well as humans could be treated; they were still part of mankind.
“We could lose everything we have now. We’re not starving or in an internment camp. I can’t take that risk, I would rather hang.”
“It’s the only thing to do, Jack.”
“First of all, I don’t think your plan is realistic. I don’t think we can actually accomplish this. I don’t know if we can get close enough to their statue.”
“The moment that the crystal is removed, it disproves the existence of Ulam. If he is the superior god, then it essentially destroys the myth of all gods.”
“Ian, we can’t get this done. We don’t have the kinds of tools or manpower to accomplish this.”
“We don’t but they do.”
“We don’t know if they really exist or not,” said Jack.
“They exist,” said Ian.
“How you know, Ian? How do you know that they will actually stop this genocide if their barbaric religion is proved to be a sham?”
“Despite their far superior technology and physical strength, they are superstitious. They are a primitive species. They are a bloodthirsty species. The Gongorites created their religion to justify the murder and torture of those whom they oppress.”
“So…”
“So…without their religion, they cannot justify their own violent acts of cruelty any longer. It ends there,” explained Ian.
“It could all end for us too if we’re caught. We could hang just for speaking of the things we have tonight.”
“Jack, they will help us.”
“They don’t exist.”
“They do exist.”
They were the long rumored underground human resistance. The UHR as they were sometimes referred to, believed by most to be a myth – a myth that gave hope to the humans who were left alive. They were especially important to all the people who lived in internment camps. They were even a great hope to men of the privileged slave class like Ian and Jack.
“There are no gods because there are no gods.”
“There are no laws to be followed by men that are not man made.”
“All dissenters will punish those who oppress them.”
“The laws of the Gongorites must never be obeyed.”
Human liberation was a strange concept at one time. There was a time when people who were sympathetic to the mistreatment of other life believed in animal liberation. Mankind had to descend to another evolutionary status. Things were not the same now that this species came to humanity’s world.
“They exist,” insisted Ian.
“For the sake of argument, let’s say they do exist. Their re
putation for chaos precedes them. You know what they do,” said Jack.
“Everything they do, they do for mankind.”
“If they do exist then they are fanatics, Ian.”
“No.” Ian shook his head.
“They are,” Jack insisted.
“No.”
“Do you remember their credo?”
“There are no gods because there are no gods,” recited Ian.
“There are no laws to be followed by men that are not man made.”
“All dissenters will punish those who oppress them.”
“The laws of the Gongorites must never be obeyed.”
“Their creed is an intentionally blasphemous response to the religious creed of the Gongorites. It’s all in the human manifesto. It states their revolutionary and political objectives. They do what they do to liberate humanity, Jack,” said Ian.
“They’ve been rumored to have set off explosives in many cities. They kill aliens and humans alike to meet their objectives,” said Jack.
“Sacrifices have to be made, Jack. They believe humanity is at war for its survival. Mankind is at war for its very existence.”
“The means don’t always justify the ends, Ian. Thousands of people have been blown up, if these stories are true. I always believed that the UHR was Gongorite propaganda. If other people are doing these things…”
“Jack, people were at war before these things took over. That’s one of the reasons they took us over so easily. Anyway, people like you and I have no right to make statements about moral absolutes.”
Jack was painfully aware that Ian was right. It was hard to admit such things. People like them who were in the privileged slave class. They received food, shelter and medical care.
There was no insomnia among the privileged slaves. The moment that these humans climbed into their sleep chamber, they would sleep. Sufficient rest was always secure. It was also an inexpensive device for not allowing them too many rights or privileges. After all, the laws of the superior species clearly dictated that Homo sapiens were an inferior species. They were not second class citizens. They were not third or fourth class citizens. They were not citizens.
