»We’ll leave things as they are; we won’t demand the return of the comb, even though I’ve been warned that it’s a security risk. The same goes for the golden shield.«
Banduk Oodergoo stood with his back to the conference room wall, displaying a wide smile. The warning had obviously originated from him. Vasina had been observing the Uluru leader with strange glances. She seemed preoccupied with numerous thoughts, then her glance met Lai Pi and her immediate interest was apparent. At least the DEA specialist seemed to awaken associations in her memory.
»Asia?« she asked again.
Lai Pi smiled.
»Yes, I was born in Asia. Does this part of the Earth mean anything to you? Have you been there before?«
Vasina only shook her head lightly and replied with a few sentences in her language. She had obviously learned this gesture from Arkroid and had started adapting to Human customs.
»She doesn’t understand me,« Lai Pi said, disappointed. »We’re not making any progress!«
»Have our language specialists still not found any leads? Rudimentary relationships, at least, to other early Earth cultures?« Arkroid asked impatiently. His deep frown showed he was disheartened by the situation. If they couldn’t agree on basic concepts, gaining any useful information from Vasina was going to prove troublesome and difficult.
»No, nothing so far. We’re running in circles! I suggest we try visual. Play a short documentary and show her a summary of the events of the last few months. Pictures speak louder than words – but may provoke a reaction.«
Nobody objected and Lai Pi entered some instructions into the keypad in front of him. The neuronal computer projected a holographic surface directly above the conference table. Vasina watched Lai Pi’s efforts with mild interest, but that changed as soon as the Stinger became visible. Vasina jumped from her seat screaming something unintelligible, and pulled the comb from her hair, inspecting it suspiciously.
»There’s your reaction, Lai Pi,« Arkroid stated dryly. »Why’s she doing that?«
»Do you remember Leukonen’s reports?« Lai Pi replied quietly.
»He stated that the comb protected him from the Soulwalker’s mental attack. Besides, it displayed a blue aura during moments of danger. It looks like she’s testing just that.«
Vasina’s eyes were glued to the holo. She could follow as Humanity despairingly took defensive action against the Stinger. She dismissed the Blue Moon’s unsuccessful attack with a scornful glance to the side. Was she trying to convince Arkroid of the senselessness of such attempts?
She twitched visibly as she saw the Globusters. Her face showed aversion and disgust. She was obviously familiar with these creatures. Arkroid wasn’t certain whether Vasina understood the nanobot mission, but as the report came to the end, with the Stinger‘s bright explosion, she opened her eyes wide in shock and slowly sank back in her seat.
Her golden eyes mirrored deep sorrow for a time, as she moved her hand softly over the shield.
»Herkales,« she uttered with a wavering voice.
Lai Pi observed her reactions.
»I don’t think that’s the name for the shield in her language,« he commented.
»No,« Arkroid responded. »I tend to believe it’s the name of its former owner. A companion, a good friend, maybe a lover?«
Vasina was visibly pondering about what she had seen. It seemed for a moment as if her interest in an understanding had vanished. Her ethereal eyes swam with sadness, looking to Arkroid confused. Had she not expected to see these pictures?
»I think we need to give her some time to digest everything,« Arkroid suggested. »Pi, Bring her back to her cabin for some peace and quiet. Remember: she’s not under arrest! If she shows interest in her surroundings, then we’ll let her explore. A guard will remain by her door and follow her discreetly. Entry to the high security areas is certainly prohibited, but use tact; we don’t want her to feel like a prisoner.«
Lai Pi nodded and signaled Vasina to follow him. She looked back over her shoulder as she left the conference room.
Toiber Arkroid believed he understood what made the young woman suddenly so insecure. Vasina seemed to have realized that she had spent a very long time inside her shrine. However, she didn’t know how long …
The Arrival
The flight of the Yax K’uk’Mo’ was monitored by all of the Solar Union’s outer stations. Even though everyone knew who had arrived, the Union Fleet’s men and women were on full alert and scanned every stray movement in their assigned sectors. A Hawk squadron took off from the Martian moon Deimos and escorted the pyramid ship to the Moon’s orbit. When the spacecraft broke formation to return home; they were replaced by units from Luna Base. The Yax K’uk’Mo’ flew on a parallel course with a Union carrier ship for about five million kilometers. The huge passenger and freight ship was on a return flight from Mars. The passengers crowded the observation lounge to get at least a fleeting glance of the visitor’s ship. The Shwakan accelerated and left the Union ship behind.
On Earth, everyone was prepared for anything. Nothing was left to chance. Space Control transmitted precise flight vectors to the pyramid ship and Scorge took extra care to follow them closely.
By the time the Yax K’uk’Mo’ passed the Moon at a respectable distance and finally parked in a geostationary orbit around Earth, Toiber Arkroid had been informed about the Shwakan’s arrival. All major news stations reserved broadcast time for exclusive reports about the pyramid ship and the Shwakan. All eyes and ears were directed at the visitor, who, a few minutes after his arrival, transmitted a short radio message requesting landing permission.
Arkroid had trouble controlling his excitement. With the Shwakan’s arrival, hope of shedding some light on the recent events, and perhaps even solving the communication problem with Vasina returned. What came next was a first in Human history: an extraterrestrial visitor officially obtained permission to land on Earth.
Everywhere people held their breath as an egg-shaped vehicle left the Yax K’uk’Mo’ and fell toward Earth. The Shwakan had obviously decided to land with an auxiliary craft. Arkroid, in agreement with Admiral Hayes, provided Uluru’s coordinates and revealed the secret research station at the foot of Ayer’s Rock.
The media announcements soon dominated the news and reports circulated throughout the entire world about the Shwakan’s strange landing craft. Uluru Station’s existence moved into the background as everybody concentrated on the visitor.
The cosmic junk trader circled the Earth, causing much speculation with his maneuver. A gigantic egg was soon the topic of discussion. Some news stations compared the auxiliary to an oversized, flying football. Tactical information from Space Control delivered contradictory statements. The small ship was not metallic and its structure was determined to be at least partially organic.
The Merinian remembered the connecting or transfer tube very well, that strange tunnel through which he had entered the pyramid ship several months ago.
Was this a similar case where the Shwakan used salvaged technology? Did the Shwakan always use hybrid technologies? Arkroid wondered.
As the small spaceship appeared above Ayer’s Rock, whispers spread throughout the research center’s command and control room and Arkroid’s thoughts began to race.
Leather-like exterior hull, root-like projections from the bottom! Are those the landing gear?
The height of the ship was thirty meters, the greatest diameter about twenty meters. The ship’s hull, if that’s what you called it, was uneven and overgrown with hair-like projections.
»They could be antennae,« one of the scientists commented, but Arkroid suspected that the researcher’s conclusion was probably wrong.
As soon as the ship had landed at the prescribed coordinates and the vibrations had died down, the elevator system lowered it into the depths of the station. Within minutes, it had disappeared from the surface and was on its way to level twenty, where Toiber Arkroid and Banduk Oodergoo were already wait
ing.
As the heavy duty elevator platform finally reached the reception hall floor level, the egg-shaped ship began dispensing steamy clouds of fog from various vents or pores, obscuring everyone’s vision.
»Why must he always do that?« Arkroid asked jokingly, not expecting an answer.
»Have you ever seen anything like this?« he asked, turning toward Lai Pi and pointing to the small ship.
»None of us has seen such a thing before, I’m certain. Look at the landing gear … uh, legs. They look like organic appendages – certainly not mechanical or cybernetic at all.«
The DEA specialist could find no better explanation. He just shrugged.
At this exact moment, a slit opened in the leather-like hull and bright light streamed into the hall. Hissing, a cloud of steam escaped, making the curtain of light more clearly visible.
Finally, some sort of ramp rolled outward. It instinctively reminded Arkroid of a tongue. The strange structure came to rest directly before his feet, producing a strong smell.
»Heavens, what the …«
Arkroid swallowed his word when a staggering shadow became visible in the wide hull opening.
With an elegant swing, the creature jumped onto the tongue-like ramp and slid downward with a screech. Before Arkroid could react, the Shwakan stood directly before him, producing a gurgling sound, which Arkroid remembered as laughter.
Lai Pi and Banduk Oodergoo hadn’t met Scorge; they were both retreating a step backwards. Arkroid didn’t move, just as on his first encounter.
Instead he said quietly and with a bit of irony in his voice, »Welcome to Uluru and the Earth, Scorge. I’m happy to see you again; I hope your trading went well in the meantime. At our last meeting, we didn’t have time to say goodbye; it’s good to see you’re well.«
The Shwakan raised his numerous tentacles, approached Arkroid silently and then responded to his greeting.
»It’s as cold as in the stomach pouch of a Tangillian dripping stone amphibian around here! How can you stand such a climate?«
Arkroid displayed a friendly smile.
»We’ll take care of that and provide you with appropriate accommodations. Now, we’re eager to know the purpose of your visit.«
Scorge slowly slid closer, while his creeping feet made squeaking sounds on the level floor.
»What do you think, Toiber Arkroid? What keeps the universe expanding and the galaxies rotating? Trade, what else!«
Arkroid responded with a mischievous smile.
»That’s very true. I’d like to request a small favor from you, as a starting point for our continuing trading negotiations.
»What are your demands? Am I a Shmoock who gives away his services and knowledge for free? Have you already forgotten our first meeting?«
»How could I ever forget that?« Arkroid lifted his arms in defense. »No question and answer games this time around. It’s much simpler this way. I have a surprise for you.«
»A surprise?« the Shwakan asked, interested. »Is it profitable?«
»I want to introduce you to someone,« Arkroid ignored the question and invited Scorge to follow him.
Coming to terms with the past
The temperature in the conference room had been increased by several degrees at Arkroid’s request, making some of the people present uncomfortable. Several broke out in sweat. Scorge sat on a comfortable cushion and noisily drank plankton from a vat that had been rushed to the conference room.
To each his own, Arkroid thought, amused. In the past, it was customary to drink champagne at state ceremonies.
Scorge hadn’t spoken much since his arrival, except for some hints concerning possible trade options that he wanted to propose. So far, the Shwakan had not provided any additional information. He seemed to be waiting to be told what the surprise was all about.
»What does this new business proposal involve?« Arkroid interrupted the silence. The Shwakan consumed the plankton with visible pleasure, but remained silent for another moment.
»You’re impatient! You’re like Taberian terpels! On Prelon VIII, my trading partners celebrate a six day feast before they even think to ask the first trade related question.«
Lai Pi was perplexed.
»What’re Taberian terpels?«
Arkroid smiled enigmatically.
»Six days is a bit too long for us Humans. Can’t we speed that up a little?«
Scorge shoved the vat to the side and began to shiver nervously.
»It’s embarrassing for me to even ask … but I want to buy back one of the modules you received from me on the last trade.«
»An inertial damper?« Arkroid asked, astonished.
»No, not that,« Scorge continued. »I can slop those together from chunks of scrap if I need to. I’m interested in the eleventh module. Do you remember? The condition was that you had to find out by yourself what could be done with it.«
Certainly, Arkroid remembered.
»It’s on the Moon and is still being examined. Our technicians have not yet been able to determine its function,« Lai Pi explained.
»Excellent!« Scorge rejoiced. »Then we’ll make a small exchange! Let’s simply say, I’d trade you another inertial damper for it and add another item.«
Banduk Oodergoo spoke for the first time.
»This eleventh module seems very valuable to you.«
Oodergoo addressed Scorge informally as that seemed consistent with Scorge’s manner of speech.
»Actually, I shouldn’t have mentioned it,« Scorge backpedaled, »Since you can’t use it and haven’t yet determined what its function is, I could generously exchange it for something more useful to you.«
Arkroid cleared his throat.
»Well, we can talk about it, if you do us a small favor. We need your help with a communication problem.«
»Is this related to the surprise you had mentioned before?« the Shwakan asked, disappointed. Scorge had obviously expected something else. Arkroid signaled Lai Pi, who left the room a moment later.
»I’d like to introduce you to a guest and request you use your translation device so that we can converse. Can your device learn a foreign language or does it need to be programmed first?«
The Shwakan seemed to perk up with interest.
»This guest doesn’t come from your planet?«
»We’re not sure about this,« Arkroid confessed, »but perhaps you can help us find the answer.«
Scorge’s tentacles shook, nervously. He was either excited over Arkroid’s disclosure or he eagerly anticipated a deal.
»Very good!« he replied quickly. »You help me repair my Yax K’uk’Mo’ and in return I’ll solve your communication problem. We can negotiate the price of the module later. Is this fair enough?«
Arkroid raised his eyebrows and displayed an amused smile. He hoped the Shwakan knew how to interpret Human expressions by now.
»That’s a high price for simple translation assistance, don’t you think? Your ship appears to be extensively damaged. Considerable logistics will be required to provide the Yax K’uk’Mo’ with the necessary materials.«
Scorge gurgled, satisfied.
»True, but how do you say: demand determines the supply, still one of the most important rules in business transactions whether you’re Shwakan or Human. You could certainly develop your own universal translator. I’m sure you’d succeed in it! I estimate that it’ll take two or three thousand years.«
Arkroid bit his lower lip. This tactic was difficult to believe!
»Very well, I accept your price. I’ll arrange for the required assistance as soon as you demonstrate the capability of your translation device. We won’t buy a cat in a sack, as we say on Earth.«
»I already learned your terminology during our first trade. But don’t worry, I won‘t need much for my ship.«
»Your guest only has to speak long enough for the universal translator to record and analyze the foreign language. The operation is completely automatic.«
�
�That’s all?« Arkroid asked, perplexed, and watched as Scorge pulled a hand-sized device from one of his stomach folds, placing it on the table.
»We can begin any time,« he chirped.
Lai Pi entered the room at this moment. Arkroid nodded to the DEA specialist and Vasina was escorted into the room.
Her manner was calm until she noticed Scorge. She opened her eyes with surprise that swiftly became anger … then hate. With a swift move, she drew her short sword and prepared to deliver a blow powerful enough to sever the smaller Shwakan in two. Nobody could intervene in time, it happened so quickly. Arkroid paled and watched as Vasina, her face distorted by rage and horror, attacked the Shwakan, shouting unintelligible words in her native tongue at the same time.
Scorge had activated his body shield in a fraction of a second, which expanded with a crackling noise, protecting him from Vasina’s first strike. Contact with the energy field caused her long hair to stand up, and to Arkroid she looked like a goddess of revenge. She altered her strategy and came at Scorge again. She made slower, chopping strokes, and Arkroid was reminded of how slow-moving objects had penetrated the Globusters’ body fields.
»Vasina!« Arkroid shouted in panic. »Leave him alone!« Vasina’s head turned around, and fire sparkled in her eyes. Then a flash of lightning from Scorge’s body field traveled up her arm. Arkroid couldn’t tell if Scorge had intentionally discharged that energy or if it was the field’s response to Vasina’s attack.
Vasina’s face convulsed with pain. With a loud cry, her nerveless fingers released the short sword. It slid from her hand and clattered to the floor.
»I have the feeling this female doesn’t like me!« Scorge shouted in panic, without moving from his place.
While everyone stood frozen in shock, Vasina recovered her weapon and moved her golden shield, holding it in front of her body. Lai Pi held back the guards who were preparing to charge into the room.
A glowing blue energy field suddenly formed around Vasina’s shield, expanding until it touched Scorge’s body field, which flickered for a short time until it collapsed.
NEBULAR Collection 2 - The Expedition: NEBULAR Episodes 6 - 11 Page 3
