Little by little they added mostly breakfast foods: bagels, English muffins, Jimmy Dean Sausage and Biscuits, Smucker’s Preserves and Captain Crunch. Then Paul hit the mother-load when he added catsup, BBQ sauce and garlic powder, a variety of McCormick spices, fresh tomatoes, fresh lettuce, fresh cucumbers and four kinds of salad dressing. The food and drinks on Xhondar were so bland that the people would pay almost any price for the imports from Verron Diversified. Paul felt guilty, but only a little, for charging 3 to 4 times the retail price on almost every item. He was a believer in the principle of “supply and demand”, and for now, he was the only game in town. He could easily turn his warehouse every two weeks and volumes were rising.
One evening as he was sitting in his living room discussing his progress with Elder Mahala, Elder Yadvega and Zimuel, he noticed that there was a large pile of candy wrappers from his private stash of Hershey’s assorted chocolates in front of Mahala. Without speaking he connected with Computer through his neurological implant and asked her to deliver a case of Hershey’s assorted chocolates to Elder Mahala’s apartment. Then for a short moment he started doing the math in his head about how much he could make if he added Hershey’s or Mars products to his distribution network. He began to grin when he thought of the fact that he single-handedly had corrupted the planet with Rock-n-Roll, then got them addicted to caffeine and now he was going to get them hooked on chocolate. Yadvega had been talking at that time and asked Paul, “Did I say something funny?” Paul was off balance for just a moment since he could tell that she had taken offense, and he was embarrassed that while deep in thought, he had not heard a word she said. Paul answered, “I’m sorry, I was just thinking how much I enjoy it here and couldn’t help but smile.” Yadvega looked at Mahala and said, “Now is as good a time as any, since he has brought it up.” They both looked toward Zimuel, who nodded his unspoken, yes. Elder Mahala sat forward on the edge of the chair he was sitting in and finished chewing the Hershey’s he had just put in his mouth. After he washed it down with the last of his Dr. Pepper he spoke. “Paul, I and all the Elders consider getting to know you and train you to be a real blessing. There has not been this much excitement on Xhondar I in a very long, long time. You have far exceeded even our highest hopes for you. Quit honestly, you do many things better than some of the Elders that trained you, and better than most of the Elders who didn’t. However, it is time for you to move to the next phase of your training. You are to continue your training in a different environment; on planet 1648. It has always been our intentions for you to operate from that planet and not to live on Xhondar I. The things you will be called to do in the near future could never be done while operating from Xhondar. Next week your new and permanent home will be planet 1648. Zimuel will accompany you and continue the training that will be required and Elder Dahlia will spend some time there to familiarize you with the spacecraft unique to that planet. Of course, you are free to come and go between the two star systems. You’ve established quit a business here and we all know you must take care of that. I’ve no doubt we will see each other often. There is a newer version of Computer, with a far superior artificial intelligence already on 1648. It will be totally under your control, as will everything else on planet 1648. Since your future mission goes against the laws and treaties of the Xhondarian Nations, we will be legally transferring total ownership and total control of 1648 to you. I intend to establish trade agreements with you as soon as possible. There are a great many resources on 1648 that could be marketed on Xhondar and few have been developed. I for one look forward to a long and profitable relationship between our three planets and yours.”
After Yadvega and Mahala left, Zimuel stuck around assuming that Paul would have a million questions. Paul’s first thought was that, “if these people are willing to give me a whole planet it must be like some of those deserted rocks Dahlia and he had used for bombing runs and weapons training.” He had just established himself on Xhondar in the year he had been here and though he knew it was not part the ultimate plan to stay there, it bothered him that he once again was uprooting from a place he loved and moving to a place completely unknown to him. Paul then laughed at himself as he spoke a brief prayer to God, “and that didn’t work out so bad did it. You have blessed me beyond measure for following Your plan to come here. How can I doubt that You will continue to bless me no matter where I go. It’s so easy to settle in a comfort zone and often when things go well, we assume that it is Your ultimate plan for us and we refuse to move on. Lord, forgive me for my doubt. I left a trailer in Alligator, Mississippi where I was a 65 year-old felon with questionable health, living on my Social Security check and $15.00 an hour running a paint line. After a year, I’m leaving Xhondar with a body like Superman, all sorts of new knowledge and new skills and enough money in the bank to be at the top of Fortune 500’s richest men on Earth. So what if I end up on some rock in outer space. I know that you will bless me there too.” He turned to Zimuel and asked, “So what’s wrong with 1648 that made it so easy for Mahala and the rest of the Elders to just give it to me? Does it even have a breathable atmosphere?”
Zimuel couldn’t help but grin at Paul’s pessimistic attitude and decided to get in a few barbs of his own. He answered, “Oh it’s not so bad. There is no problem breathing the air after you get used to it. It sort of has that rotten egg, sulfur kind of odor, and the survival suites actually become comfortable after a while, since you must have one on anytime you go outside; the heat you see. It gets pretty hot, but the suits can handle 300 degree Fahrenheit with no problem.” Before he could continue, Paul sat down on the sofa and put his head in his hands and mumbled, “Lord, what have you gotten me into this time?” Zimuel felt as if he had over-done it and quickly replied, “The Lord is about to bless you more than you can imagine.” Paul looked through his fingers as if to down that statement completely. Zimuel continued, “I was just pulling your chain. Now let me tell you all about Planet 1648. The planet is located in what Earth calls the Whirlpool Galaxy also known as M51. It’s part of the Canes Venatici constellation. The galaxy is approximately 30,000,000 light years from Earth. It’s really quite beautiful, filled with Super Nova activity on occasion and more than its share of black holes. It can be a bit of a challenge to navigate. From Xhondar I it is a bit closer, only about 18 million light years. But as you well know, distance is immaterial with our technology. It can actually be seen from Earth, just like the Milky Way can be seen from Planet 1648. The planet itself is located some 3 million light years from the galaxy’s center. And regardless of what I just said and what you obviously imagine, the planet is very inhabitable. Planet 1648 is about three times the size of Earth with a diameter of 23,780 miles or 38,268 kilometers. The land to water ratio is about the same at nearly 1/3 land and 2/3 water. There are 6 continents, all larger than the ones on Earth and many islands ranging in size from those in Hawaii to islands the size of Alaska. The center third of the planet is tropical to semi-tropical. The northern and southern poles are ice covered much like Earth. The gravity is a bit heavier at 1.3g compared to Earth’s 1g. The atmosphere is almost identical, but does have a bit more oxygen content, but not enough that you would ever notice. There are some rather unique attributes to Planet 1648. For one, all the water, oceans, rivers, lakes and even underground water sources are crystal clear fresh water. The planet has two Suns. It actually orbits around one in 432 days, so you end up with 36 hour days, 9 day weeks, 4 week months and 12 month years. The second Sun is simply close enough to give light except for when 1648 is actually behind its Sun. So you end up with very long growing seasons, very few days that actually get completely dark and tropical jungles that make the Amazon look barren. Everything seems to be bigger on 1648. Trees on 1648 grow much faster than other planets and some varieties can reach 500 to 600 feet. There has only been a sparse population there for a short period of time and then only on one portion of one continent. The planet is as unspoiled as Earth was thousands of years ago. You won’t
even begin to believe the mountains of the planet even after you see them. Most have never been explored, none have been climbed. There are two ranges on the continent where Xhondar once had a colony. The southernmost range runs from one end of the continent east to west and has mountains that range from 20,000 feet for the smallest and 80,000 feet for the tallest mountain on 1648. Almost every mountain in the range is taller than Earth’s Mount Everest. The northern mountain range is somewhat lower but still has a tallest peak of about 40,000 feet, however most range from 10,000 to 25,000 feet. They are constantly covered with snow year round. The planet has enormous wealth in natural resources. Most have never even been tapped. And I don’t want to forget the wildlife. There again, things tend to be bigger on 1648, land animals, fish and birds tend to be good deal bigger than what your used to on Earth. I think you will find it far beyond your idea of a desert planet. In fact, I don’t recall there even being a desert area on the entire planet, some sparse areas, but no desert. I can’t wait to see your reaction as you get to know the place.
Paul listened carefully to Zimuel proclaim the wonders of Planet 1648. He sat silent for a few minutes and then asked, “That sounds great, so why is there no longer a colony and why isn’t Xhondar using those untapped natural resources when they are obviously maxing out the ones on their own planet?” Zimuel sat down and his obvious excitement seemed to die as quickly as it had begun. “Well, here’s the thing. It may take a little time to explain, but I’ll try to summarize. After Xhondar’s last civil war, a few thousand years ago, The Elders and the executive committee for the people, sort of like Earth’s United Nations, voted unanimously that all weapons of war would be banned from Xhondar I, II and III. You may have noticed as you flew with Dalhia that our planets have some very sophisticated defenses. The force-field that surrounds two of our planets, coupled with our protective missile platforms orbiting each planet, offer an impenetrable protective barrier from potential enemy attacks. The policy of total nonaggression, noninvolvement with other worlds other than for trade, and the decision to eliminate all military weapons, aircraft and personnel has worked just fine for those years since the civil war. However, Illinasos Xhondar did not agree with the Elders and the executive committee. He knew in his heart that someday Xhondar would regret their decision, and find they are in need of a strong military once again. During the first few hundred years after our peace initiative some of the Elders, out of respect for everything Illinasos had done for Xhondar, allowed him to remove the military weapons from our three planets and store them instead of destroy them. Planet 1648 became that location. Huge underground storage warehouses were constructed beneath the mountains. After all, how much safer could they be than underneath 40-50,000 feet of mountain. Illinasos mothballed the entire fleet of Xhondarian military aircraft, except for the six Class V Fighters that remain strictly for defensive purposes. Dalhia and four others are the only qualified fighter pilots on Xhondar; five if we count you. Other than the ones used for defense, every missile, photon torpedo, plasma cannon, nuclear weapons, military ground transport, even all the small arms and military body armor is in storage on 1648.
Then the deception began. Illinasos started developing a colony there. At first everyone thought it was a great idea. His scientist had discovered a form of wheat that grows native there that contains complete proteins in large quantities and yielded two crops a year, they discovered a plant very much like Earth’s cotton that grows taller and has larger bolls and also will yield two crops a year. They discovered ores that made vastly superior metals; his geologist discovered fossil oils, gold, platinum, diamonds and other rare stones. All this was good news to Xhondar and once again Illinasos Xhondar was a hero. But soon his secrets were discovered. Illinasos had discovered a process for extracting whitematter, a purified form of antimatter, during the refining stage of his metals operation. He then built a reactor under one of the mountains and began to develop a form of energy so powerful that it could not be used by existing ship reactors, power plants, or even military weapons of that time. So, he decided to start building newer versions of military spaceships, updated more powerful drive systems for existing ships, more powerful missiles, small arms, antigravity devices, and power supply units and just about anything else that required a source of energy, right there on Planet 1648. Those who believed in what he was doing began to immigrate to 1648 and the population grew to over 300,000 people. In addition to the white matter reactor, he took a team of scientist that specialized in nanotechnology, genetics and pharmaceutical research, so that they could exploit the untapped resources of plant and animal life on the planet. The people back on Xhondar, other than the Elders, knew nothing of what he was actually doing on this other world beyond developing a future planet for them to one day inhabit. They had developed a very nice little community with very advanced technology. Computer doesn’t like to admit it, but even the artificial intelligence modeled after her is a more technologically advanced design than she is.
Then the disaster struck. While researching some of the biology in a tropical swamp, one of the biologists came down with a rare viral infection. The results were not pretty. This virus made Ebola look like a cold. The biologist bled-out and died in just 36 hours (1 day). His insides looked like mush. Within that same 36 hour period 40 more people caught the virus, most of them biologists. They began working around the clock to create a cure. Even Illinasos Xhondar got involved in the research for the cure. I’ll cut to the conclusion, by the time they finally found a cure for the virus 285,000 of the 310,000 people on Planet 1648 had died. The rest wanted to come home, but were quarantined there for one more year before they were allowed to leave the planet. Illinasos Xhondar is credited, along with one other scientist, for developing the antivirus. Illinasos died there on 1648, the other scientist was my wife Tlase. She lost her husband and two children there. When the survivors returned to Xhondar I, the planet was designated a classified and restricted area. Those who returned claimed the planet was cursed. No one ever wanted to return, nor was ever allowed on it again; until now.”
Paul sat silently for a moment and then began to laugh softly before he said, “So you’re telling me that instead of an overheated dead rock, I get a weapons waste dump complete with its own killer tropical diseases and a curse, does that pretty much sum it up?” Zimuel shrugged his shoulders, but remained silent. Paul continued, “Lovely, nothing like a challenge. I assume that I won’t die from this virus when I step on the planet. It would be a shame to waste all this training I’ve gone through.” Zimuel perked up as he realized Paul was handling this information with a good attitude. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, you will be accompanied by me and Tlase. It took very little convincing to get her to go back, after all you made us very rich. Besides, we both like you. She assures me that during their year of quarantine they completely eradicated the insect in the swamps that carried the virus. Also, the antivirus, once administered, works like a vaccine and will protect you from virtually any known virus. While she and Illinasos were developing the antivirus they also developed an antibacterial formula and an anti-poison formula. Actually the anti-poison formula was developed first since there are quite a few poisonous snakes and insects on the planet.” Paul grinned and replied, “Oh great, what other good news do you have for me? I hate snakes.” Zimuel continued, “They mostly keep to themselves and are most common in the swamps and wetlands, and the anti-poison vaccine works so well that the most poisonous snake or spider bite is no worse than a pin prick.”
Paul shook his head and replied, “OK, let me summarize this to be sure I have it right. I am being given a planet of my very own that is a weapons waste dump, where 90% of the population died of a deadly virus. It has poisonous snakes and insects, larger than normal size animals and a curse. Does that about sum it up, or is there more?” (Zimuel nodded to indicate that was it.) “Well then, how soon do we leave?” Zimuel got up as he replied, “In two days. Tlase will administer the vaccines w
e will need and that should give us plenty of time to pack. Paul, I promise you, this is going to be the experience of a life time.” Then he went out the door. “Paul sat there silent in his thoughts and prayers for a few minutes and finally spoke, saying, “Computer, what do you know about Planet 1648? Do you have access to any photos or satellite images?” Computer replied, “Give me a minute and I will connect to Computer II on Planet 1648 and see if there are any stored images.” Paul walked to the kitchen and got himself a hand-full of Hershey’s and a Diet Coke. When he returned there was a video clip beginning to run on the video monitor. It had to be the most beautiful scenery Paul had ever seen. It appeared to be taken from an aircraft of some kind as it flew over mountains, rivers and oceans. There were gigantic waterfalls and huge trees as far as the eye could see. The final footage showed the camera flying toward some mountains in the distance. As it got closer the mountains loomed bigger and bigger until finally Paul got some small concept of just how tall they were. The camera followed the uphill slope of one of the mountains, revealing waterfalls, caves, glaciers and unusual rock formations, finally reaching the top. The camera then rotated in a panoramic view of the world below. He could tell from his flying experience that the top of the mountain was well over 60,000 feet. Spread out before him in one direction were beautiful forests, rivers, lakes and in the distance an ocean. In the other direction, as far as the eye could see, was the most massive mountain range he had ever seen. The video ended and Computer commented, “That’s all there is and it was classified.” Paul was completely awestruck. Never had he seen such natural beauty like what existed on Planet 1648. It looked more like paradise than a cursed planet. He got up from his seat and began sorting through his things. He had accumulated very little during his time on Xhondar. He took his helmets and his old leather jacket out of the closet, along with his Triumph keys and left his suite.
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