The Space Traveler (The Space Traveler Saga Book 1)

by Devon Shubin

  The Space Traveler then looked at Joskan and Alegna who stood there, dumbfounded. They had no clue as to what was going to happen next. Alegna thought ‘what else do you have up your sleeve Inspector’. Joskan had never seen a laser field before and he was concerned that the technology was being used as a weapon. “Inspector!” He called out to him, “Are you going to use that technology to destroy Vog?”

  The Space Traveler looked at Joskan and said, “No, I’m not Joskan. But what I am going to do is let you know that I'm feeling a little happy about all of this.” He looked back up to Mizpah who was still waving at him. He spoke into his forearm console, “So, don't worry, be happy.”

  As soon as Mizpah heard the phrase ‘Don't Worry Be Happy’ the song by Bobby McFarland came over the loudspeakers of the ship and funneled down through the laser fortress where Vog stood. Lifting his head up he looked at Mizpah who floated around like a kite on a windy day. Vog tried to cover his ears with his webbed hands and begin stumbling around in the tube-like laser fortress. He began crying out, “STOP THE DISTURBANCE! END THE NOISE POLLUTION!”

  Vog’s tail was beating up against the walls of the laser fortress, pounding it with force and ferocity. It shook the invisible funnel but he could not breach it. The song continued streaming down through the funnel penetrating Vog’s sensitive sonar hearing. “NO!” Vog shouted. “END THE DISTURBANCE!” He stumbled around in the tight quarters of the laser field crashing into the walls as he did so.

  Joskan grabbed the Space Traveler by his arm and said, “This is technology Inspector. It’s forbidden!”

  “True Joskan, but it’s not a weapon. It is a sound system for Vog. I’m just giving him a taste of some music from Earth.”

  “Earth,” he thought, “What does Earth music mean?”

  The space travel looked at the naive Yiskuliang and said with a smile, “Just watch.”

  Joskan stared at Vog, crashing side to side against the invisible walls of the laser field yelling for the disturbance to cease. Alegna finally mustered up the courage to leave the protection of the hillside. She walked up to the Space Traveler from behind and snuggled up to his shoulder. “Will it destroy Vog?”

  He smiled down on her, “No. I am teaching Vog a lesson. Right now, he is being tormented the way he has tormented your people for centuries.”

  “It was not gracious of our people to cause his kind to go extinct. Now, we are suffering for our past mistakes. I do not blame Vog for his cruel retribution on us. I only hope he will die an old being and not through suffering.”

  “That is gracious of you Alegna. I guess I’m learning something new about you every day.” The Space Traveler admitted to her as he then looked up to his ship in the sky at Mizpah who was dancing to the song still in midair.

  When the song ended, Vog opened his eyes and removed his hands from the sides of his massive head.

  “Vog!” The Space Traveler called out to him as he stepped closer to the invisible laser field that surrounded him. “How did you like the song?”

  “SONG! THE SONG IS TORTURE. IF YOU PLAY THE SONG AGAIN, I DESTROY MYSELF AND YOU WILL BE THE LYPTNUL.”

  The Space Traveler walked closer to the invisible field protecting him from the giant. “I don’t want you to kill yourself Vog.” He said as he held his hands up, “I want you to go back to the depths of the waters and never come back here again. Because if you do….” Mizpah came floating down from the ship. He was smiling as usual. The Space Traveler pointed at the synthetic star man and concluded his sentence, “Mizpah, guardian of the Ondolispian beaches will play all 53 million songs in his library.”

  Vog rocked back, leaning on the wall of the laser fortress. Alegna laughed at the giant sea beast, because this was the first time he had been defeated and the Space Traveler did it.

  “You see Vog, I didn’t have to beat you with strength, weapons or an army. I did it with my brain. And I will be back here regularly to check on the Yiskuliangs. But if I hear that you have snuck back on the beaches, if you try to torment any creature smaller than you, I will send Mizpah into the depths of your territory and he will torture you every day and every night with his 53 million songs. Do you understand me Vog?!”

  “I AGREE THAT YOU ARE LYPTNUL. NOW I SHALL ABANDON THIS BROOD. RELEASE ME LYPTNUL.” Vog begged in his monstrous voice.

  The Space Traveler nodded his head and spoke into the console on his forearm. “Computer, deactivate the laser field.”

  The fortress surrounding him disappeared and Vog stepped forward to feel if it was gone. His webbed hand swatted the air in front of him. His eyes sunk into a frown, he grunted as his stomach growled. He jumped out at the four of them “YOU FOOL!” He shouted as he attacked, but it was too late because Mizpah played the song ‘She came in through the bathroom window,’ made famous by The Beatles. The sound shot Vog like a bullet to the head as his sonar hearing rattled inside him. “NO!” He cried, grabbing the sides of his head with his webbed hands and stumbled backwards. The waters splashed wave against wave. White caps spread across his feet as he continued stumbling back into the waters. Mizpah let him know who was boss and floated toward Vog. Vog heard the penetrating song run in his head fasted and stronger with every drum and cord of the music. When the chorus harmonized to a peak, Mizpah flew into Vog and he panicked. “THE SPIRIT HAS PUNISHED ME!” He overexaggerated and then flopped back into the descending waters, submerging into the watery deep.

  Mizpah emerged from the waters as the second verse kicked in and Alegna grabbed hold of the Space Traveler, smiling at him while they stared into each other eyes. Her feelings for him had become very strong, but she was still unsure if the loner bachelor who traveled the stars could ever settle down. And so, she was apprehensive to reveal her true feelings for him. Only time will tell, she thought, what would become of their relationship.

  Joskan faced the Space Traveler and admitted, “I had my doubts Lyptnul. How wrong I was. You are truly gracious among all the beings on Underlay Lask. Now, we shall report the events to the President and commence a celebration at the capital.”

  The Space Traveler smiled also and answered him, “That would be my pleasure Joskan.”

  While embracing Alegna, he watched Mizpah spin around in mid-air, dip and swoop back up, he was trying to dance with the melody. The song ended and he floated face to face with the three.

  “Mizpah, I’m going to miss you. But you have a new role here with the Yiskuliang on the beaches. Your life’s work is to play your songs to bring the Yiskuliangs happiness and purpose to their lives. Teach them to sing, teach them to dance, but most of all I want you to teach them the culture of Earth. If they come to incorporate this into their society, it will give them peace and joy for many years to come. This is your mission Mizpah. Take special care of the people here and they will take care of you.” The Space Traveler said as he patted Mizpah’s right shoulder.

  Mizpah replied, “The Yiskuliangs will learn all 53 million songs Inspector.”

  “Good Mizpah, that is good,” the Space Traveler said with a smile.

  And as the blue afternoon sun began to set, the Space Traveler, Alegna and Joskan watched as the Yiskuliangs abandoned the inner cities and came out to learn from Mizpah, guardian of the Ondolispian beaches. The happy synthetic star being smiled and hovered over the three, as the blue sun beams emitted rays through him. He became translucent as he rose over the seashore, proud of his new assignment on Underlay Lask.

  The Space Traveler and Alegna would never forget Mizpah and his Earth songs. One day perhaps they would return as the Space Traveler promised Vog in threat. Now, they said their goodbyes and allowed Mizpah to become a blessing to the once cursed beaches. The synthetic star man smiled while he played songs from Earths 1990’s, as the Space Traveler’s ship flew off into orbit.

  Chapter 7 - Concluding on Wurtha

  Our Space Traveler has enjoyed many adventures in this story, and there are many more to come. From the space station incident on Fequ, t
o the rebel war of the Bodas and the saving heroics of Alegna from the Cudats. Through these travels, it has led up to the finale on the metallic planet Wurtha.

  With illegal transportation in his mind and dlom that aggressively attacks its victims, the Space Traveler knew that the time for this circuit to close. And he could not be happier with Alegna by his side now and Joskan saying goodbye, he knew that it was ending. As the President promised, she provided an elaborate celebration with fireworks and food from the waters. He was tired now, but ready to unravel the mystery that snowballed to this last planet. Perhaps after this he would take a long overdue vacation with Alegna.

  He looked carefully over the female Yiskuliang who sat there playing with the controls of his ship as they warped through the cosmos toward Wurtha, the planet made of metals.

  “You said I could help you with the report on Underlay Lask when we finished. Are you ready to get started, I think we have a few hours until we arrive at Wurtha?”

  He smiled at her and responded, “You have a good memory, what are you a Fluopi?”

  “A what?” She said. “I’m sorry Lyptnul, I have no idea what that is.” She came closer to him as he sat in his roving Captain’s chair. “You’re going to need to explain it to me,” she flirted.

  This was the first time he noticed that he was not just her comforter any more. He was something special to her heart and he now had real feelings for her. To him the question was, ‘is she serious about me?’ The Space Traveler had never had a serious relationship. Although he has lived two lifetimes compared to you and me, he never had the time. Traveling to planet after planet for over the last two decades after coming out of the academy had been fulfilling. But now, with Alegna here he wants more.

  “I don’t know if I like this Lyptnul name you and your people continue calling me. I prefer either Inspector or …” he paused, apprehensive of what she would think, “I prefer the Space Traveler,” he stated.

  “The Space Traveler?” She questioned with a frown, “Isn’t that what you are? It’s not a name.”

  He shrugged his shoulders and tried to avoid the conversation any further. “Listen, I’m going to write my report after Wurtha, you can help me then okay. Let me ask you, since we are on the subject,” she leaned in closer to him, “What do you know about Wurtha?”

  “Well, I know it’s a metallic colored planet. I know the Wurthians live there and it doesn’t grow anything,” she smirked as she said the last fact.

  The blue cosmos created a funnel outside of the ship as they warped to the planet they were discussing. The Space Traveler looked out the windshield and gave her a few more facts about Wurtha, “That is all true, but there is more. And it must do with the great war, two centuries ago. It began with the appearance of the Wurthians from another galaxy. We still have no idea what galaxy it is or how they transported at such great distances. But regardless they are the ones who started the conflict. They had come from a galaxy beyond our warp drive capability. They have secrets they brought with them and so three of the planetary systems, Fequ, Jiosk and Hibot’s confronted them and eventually an attack ensued from space. The Wurthians deceptively used water as a bargaining chip for an alliance with Underlay Lask, your people and Cudat Col. The Bodas stayed neutral as typical for them and so it was a galactic war that lasted over three years. Hibot’s tried to bring Lordak Pogan to join their side but it was fruitless. By then, the Eerieleens were all but destroyed.”

  “Vog!” Alegna added.

  He continued, “The Huffrans attacked the Bodas on Lordak Pogna and Hibot’s stepped in to defend them. There fleet was depleted due to the casualties of the great war, but they accepted the challenge and saved the Bodas. Meanwhile, the Wurthians, the Cols of Cudat and Underlay Lask fell apart as their resources drained out from the space travel. The army of Hibot’s was the only planet with the technological advances and minimalization of water that they survived long periods in space.

  “The Wurthians adopted the metal planet as we now know it as Wurtha. Meanwhile the united systems conferenced and the leaders settled on the only way to keep peace is sanctioning space travel and transporting for goods only. So far it has worked, but I am afraid that the Wurthians are violating the treaty.”

  “Why do you think that?” Alegna asked him as she swiveled in her chair.

  “Because,” he said as he rubbed his chin, “I have found heavy metals like platinum, zinc, nickel and silver on planets that should have none. So, if we find an abundance of water supply on Wurtha, then we know we have a huge problem on our hands.”

  “Why, what does water have to do with metals?”

  “Alegna,” he said in a calm voice as he touched her knee, “Without water, life cannot continue. The Wurthians are using their metal to barter for water. This gives them the upper hand if they start another galactic war.”

  Alegna now touched his knee, “You really think it will come to that?”

  “I don’t know,” he replied, “But I do know that this all has something to do with the hybrid dlom I found on Fequ. Very soon we will know the truth and there’s nothing the Queen Leader can do about it.”

  “Queen leader? A female rules the Wurthians, like my President runs our people?”

  He laughed, “Far cry. The Queen leader is obsessed with purity. Since the Wurthians skin is pure white like clouds against a blue sky. She has used the resources of water to purify the food and water supply through a process they had transported from the unknown galaxy. The Wurthians never returned to the galaxy they had originally come from and they kept that fact confidential. It is a secret that many have tried to come to light but has failed every time.” He paused in thought for a moment thinking back to his conversation with the late Fretch in their prison cell on Lordak Pogan.

  Fretch asked the Space Traveler what Amrodian the leader of the rebel Bodas meant by, ‘turning them over to the Queen.’ Was he referring to the Queen Leader of Wurtha? Perhaps he was and he had the means to travel here with the transporter. “That’s it,” he exclaimed to her, “The Queen.”

  “What?” Alegna asked as she drank water from a bottle patiently waiting for the answer.

  He looked at her and was surprised she did not know the history of the great war. Regardless, he continued explaining, “It’s something my former assistant Fretch asked me, before you came and saved the day.”

  “Your life, you mean,” she corrected him with a smile and a point of her finger at him.

  “Sure, that is true. But the Boda rebel leader said he was going to turn us over to the Queen. We could not figure out what Queen he was referring to, until the pieces began to come together. The metals on Lordak Pogna and the gold on Cudat Col are all signs that she is preparing for something.”

  Alegna put her bottle down from drinking, “What?”

  “War,” he said.

  From space, Wurtha is a silver colored planet made of rock and heavy metals. Many of these metals are toxic to you and me here on Earth. But to the Wurthians who are pure in body, the toxins of such elements do not affect them. The planet itself has no organic matter, other than the Wurthians who are refuges there. The planet had become a satellite base for the Wurthians to regroup during that great space war. Now, it is this generations home as they have annexed it as their own. With an artificial atmosphere that they had developed, they abandoned the space suites and have pure air for breathing. The supplies of water containment are used for drinking and their purification process for waste products. It is the cleanest environment in the galaxy.

  The Wurthians are industrious beings. White humanoid bodies, short and lean they are fit and active like ants they always work and because of their reputation many other beings refer to them as worker Wurthians. They have large smiles with teeth for grinding, beady eyes and one yellow eyebrow. Of course, all the hair on their heads are long and golden blonde. Lastly, they are all females. Their reproduction is still unknown to this very day. This secretive people are known to eat root-li
ke foods they grow in the caverns they have excavated. Inside these caverns which have become caves with clear pools of water for bathing and exercise are where the roots are harvested.

  The Wurthians do still use technology, as a rebellious people would after the peace treaty. But since they have not violated the space travel treaty, the United Systems has not punished them. They are fully equipped with laser technology, holograms and transportation across the planet. Because of this, the Wurthians still trouble the Supreme Counsel and other militia throughout the galaxy.

  “Captain,” the computers voice came over the intercom, “Approaching Wurtha.”

  The ship left warp drive and came to a flying speed of light. Stars were now visible firing past the windshield as they entered the solar system. The ship lowered the next speed to a cruise of 85 million miles per hour and the star was now visible. It was a red dwarf and not typically able of sustaining life. The planet Wurtha needed no help as the Wurthians had done the star’s job by artificially producing an environment with heat and atmosphere. From outer space, Wurtha looked different to the Space Traveler. He could not put his finger on it, but when they came into its orbital zone, he could sense something was not right.