by M. D. Hall
‘You have done well, but you are only partially correct. The unfortunates you saw are not as they once were. They are known as the Maraar, and were a peaceful society that had travelled between the stars for over fifteen hundred years before they came across the Te. Like many before them, they were trusting, until it was too late. After the initial slaughter, and consequent subjugation, the survivors were spared, partly because their strength was of use to their conquerors but, more importantly, there was no danger they would ever be assimilated into Te’an society. Their home planet is rich in natural resources, some of which can only be recovered manually - what you saw was not a reconstruction. The atmosphere is inhospitable to humans and, accordingly, the Te had no desire to inhabit the planet.’
‘The first scene?’
‘That is more applicable to your people. It is a Te’an occupied world, and was originally home to a humanoid race, the Erathions. They were genetically indistinguishable from the Te, and you. Consequently, all inhabitants were destroyed before the planet was occupied. The Te did not engineer the city; they assimilated what the Erathions had created. Now most Te’an cities have adopted this design. It was over twelve hundred years ago that the original inhabitants were eradicated.’
‘Why destroy them and not the…’ he was having difficulty recalling the name of the loincloth people.
‘The Maraar,’ Jane said, helpfully.
‘Yes, the Maraar?'
‘Because the Te’an leadership will not permit other humans to coexist with their people. Accordingly, the very existence of the Erathions was kept secret. If the genocide became public knowledge on Te’ath it would give rise to questions their ruling council would rather not answer. Occasionally, images of dissimilar races are displayed as protagonists; it is remarkable how easily Te’ans accept that those who are different, are aggressors. The Council is always fearful of it becoming general knowledge that other humans are being destroyed. Such awareness may stretch credulity too far, and they would rather not take the risk.’
‘Why didn’t you help them, either the Maraar, or the Erathions?’
‘For the reason I have already given you,’ was the matter-of-fact response.
‘Remind me, I've had to take in a lot, recently.’
‘The particular rules I spoke of earlier, were developed to protect non-emergent species, which we defined as being societies yet to achieve practical interstellar travel; probes leaving a star system and sleeper ships, for example, do not count. The native races of each of the planets you visited, had highly developed technologies, and so we could not intervene, however terrible the consequences.’
Something occurred to Jon, something so obvious that he could not believe Jane had missed it. He smiled, in spite of his situation. ‘By your standards, we are non-emergent, so if the point of your demonstration, and whisking me from my bed in the middle of the night, was to warn us…me, that we are in danger of being destroyed by our new found friends, you’re mistaken. Your rules protect us!’
Jane shook her head. ‘I am afraid it is not that simple. Why do you think the Te are on your planet?’
The stock reply he was about to give did not fit with what he had seen and been told, he had no answer.
‘They are helping you to become emergent. With their aid you will achieve your own extinction. They are seeking to subvert the rules we have imposed upon them, and if they achieve their aim, we cannot protect you. Your planet will be requisitioned for eventual use as a habitat.’
‘But,’ he protested, ‘they saved us from destroying ourselves.’
‘They are in need of a speedy resolution. Whilst it is true that, given time, your race would destroy itself, the time frame does not suit Te'an plans. Also, there would be remnants of your people, and the rules, Accords to give them their correct name, would be equally applicable whether there were billions of you, or only thousands,’ once again he noticed a momentary pause. ‘There is nothing to be gained, in Te’an eyes, by waiting for matters to take their natural course, and so they resorted to the expedient of engineering the event that threatened to destroy you.’
‘The asteroid…they caused that…how…why?’
‘The why, I have already given you. The how was simply arranged by extending a ship’s field around the asteroid. That field is what enables them to traverse interstellar distances, it protects them as they enter the Weft.’
‘The Weft, what’s that?’
‘A means of circumventing the normal laws of space-time. There are other means of achieving the same end, some faster, some slower. The use of weft drive is common to many races in the galaxy. In this way an asteroid, you would not have encountered naturally, was manoeuvred into an impact collision course with your planet.’
‘Surely, causing that collision would put them in breach of these…Accords?’
‘If the collision had taken place, yes,’ Jane replied, ‘but that was never their intention. If you had not implored them to help you, they would have found another way to neutralise the threat. As it was, you did seek their aid, and they acceded to your entreaties.’
‘They’re allowed to do that?’
‘I am afraid so.’
Jon fell silent for some moments, before asking. ‘They daren’t risk interaction with us because we’re genetically identical, what are they afraid of?’
‘Within their society, there is a discreet faction opposing the expansion of the Empire at the expense of other races. They would prefer a peaceful co-existence with your people, and would use assimilation to reverse an expansionist policy, that has held sway for almost four and a half thousand years. However, those in power perceive your survival as a threat to the continuance of the Te, as they would have them remain. They cannot invade you. That would be a clear breach of the Accords. They have already been warned that a breach will result in their own destruction.’
‘By you?’
Her eyes closed for the merest fraction of a second, and Jon realised that this was the first time she had blinked since his arrival.
‘You can do that to them?’
No reply.
‘Would you?’
In apparent disregard for the question she added: ‘As you have seen, Te'ans present as peaceful and benevolent. They rarely appear as aggressive, until they are sure of their superiority. If you had experienced any personal contact, you would find most of them charming, utterly benign and convincing. They were revealed to your people, through indigenous intermediaries, and you perceive them to have the answer to all human ills.’
‘I suppose we do,’ he replied.
‘They began by providing you with an almost unlimited, safe energy source and, to you, a remarkable means of transport, as well as a revolutionary construction system. If it had proven necessary they would have accelerated their programs to eradicate sickness and poverty.’
Jon had watched televised demonstrations of nano-building technology that would end housing shortages throughout the world, he had been impressed. ‘Would have?’
‘If their largesse had been restricted to these areas, you would be in no danger, however, those actions were only precursors to what you sometimes call the main event. The leaders of your planet have already been given the means to travel to the stars.’
‘I didn’t know that.’
‘Very few of your people do, it is a closely guarded secret.’
It struck Jon that he was probably the first person to learn that a death sentence had been imposed on the human race, and he was now convinced Jane was preventing his natural instincts from rising to the surface. He was no smarter, but his mind seemed to brush aside the dreadful news and pursue an altogether more rational course. He had no need to keep any trace of fear, from surfacing, because there was no fear of any kind. ‘So the signing ceremony, what’s the point of that, if it’s already too late?’
‘It is not enough for the Te to provide you with the technology to achieve interstellar travel. They must obtain evidence th
at all actions were consensual and, to that end devised a means whereby you demonstrate your acceptance of all they have done. Once that agreement is reached, your leaders will be goaded into using that technology, and you will venture beyond our aid. The future of your race will have been decided, and you will come to realise your error, too late.’
‘How,’ he asked, ‘can they do this, befriend people and then destroy them, without remorse?’
‘You should not be too surprised, as your own history is littered with similar examples, albeit on a limited, terrestrial scale. The only difference between you is the involvement of their entire race, but for the few subversives to whom I have alluded,’ Jon saw a slight tilt of her head which might, but for a momentary pause, have meant nothing, ‘and who may yet prove useful to you. Would you like to take a moment to consider what I have told you?’ she asked, and while the words echoed concern, her tone did not.
He shook his head.
‘Very well, but if you feel the need to rest, let me know,’ and with that flat utterance of reassurance, she continued. ‘The pattern of the Te has become predictable. In some instances, they will enslave a race such as the Maraar, who were peaceful and industrious. They had, unlike you, used their resources wisely, and were not human. It suited the Te not to remove them, but coerce them into stripping their home world of its resources.’
‘And when they’re finished?’
‘That will be many years from now.’
He persisted. ‘What will happen to the Maraar?’
‘When they are no longer of use, they will be exterminated.’
Jon was uncertain which he found more chilling, the true nature of the Te, or the manner in which Jane relayed it.
‘Their approach to conquered human species, is equally predictable. All of them, in this local arm of the Galaxy have, without exception, been totally eradicated. You are to be the last of their human victims. We were unable to help the others, but you may turn out to be the exception.’
‘May turn out to be the exception?’
Once again, Jane simply blinked.
‘This is something to do with these Accords, isn’t it?’ he asked. ‘So, it isn’t all over?’
‘We drafted the laws for all races, in order to protect the weak. What we cannot, and will not, do is remove the exercise of free will. Civilisations have the right to choose, and it is not for us, or any of the more developed races to prevent them from making a choice which may result in their complete destruction.’
‘No matter what is on offer we wouldn't give up our right to exist,’ he retorted.
‘Would you not?’ She sat further back in her chair. ‘Slowly, but surely, you have been relinquishing your hold on existence for considerably less than what has been offered to you by the Te. However, your leaders will have no conception of the consequences.’
‘But there is a chance for us?’ He knew that, if not for Jane’s interference, that last question would have been a meaningless sound, drawn from a throat parched dry by fear. It was clear to him that while she wanted him to be in control of his emotions, she also intended him to be fully aware of the danger that threatened.
‘Yes, but a successful outcome for you is far from certain,’ she replied.
He tried again to read compassion in her face, and failed.
‘Whilst we are not allowed to directly interfere, it is a fact not known to the Te that some of us have taken a particular interest in your planet.’
‘Why would you do that?’
As before, she ignored his question. ‘There is an entity hidden on your planet that one day, would have made itself known, and in the right hands propelled you to a level of technology far beyond that of the Te. It has patiently monitored the ebb and flow of human civilisation for many years, and I shall refer to it as the Artefact. It would resolve all your resource issues, and everything the Te have given you would pale by comparison.’
‘Where is it?’ he asked.
‘I am permitted to introduce you to it,’ she replied. ‘What happens, when you meet, will be determined by the Artefact.’
‘Meet, don’t you mean find, and surely you decide whether I can use it?’
‘The Artefact is sentient, not a tool to be found and used as its possessor desires. It has evolved far beyond the purpose for which it was created. How, and if, it chooses to use its powers is beyond our control. If it decides not to act it will remain inert, and nothing will convince it otherwise.’
‘How do you know about it,’ he asked.
The implacable blue eyes looked at him and revealed, nothing.
‘That’s it, that’s all you can tell me? Surely, you have the power to make it do as you want?’
‘Why would you think that? Nothing controls the Artefact.’
It was obvious from the look on Jon's face that she needed to explain, and, if she was becoming impatient, she kept it well hidden. ‘As I have said, we cannot become directly involved, but that is not to say that other powers; some great, some not so great, are fettered by our self imposed constraints. Involving such powers has its own limitation, inasmuch as we have no say in how matters resolve. The Artefact is one such power, and the most we can do is facilitate the meeting. I cannot tell you more.’
‘Cannot,’ asked Jon, ‘or will not?’
‘Both,’ she said, without smiling. ‘The Artefact will decide what, if anything, it will do when you meet. It would be fair, however, to conclude that if it allows itself to be discovered, then it is open to persuasion.’
‘Persuasion! How on earth will I do that?’
‘You, will not do anything. It will monitor the situation, and act accordingly.’
Jon shook his head in exasperation. ‘I don’t understand my part in any of this. Once I meet this Artefact, is that it, I go home and leave it to do whatever it does?’ He stopped talking, partly to take a breath, but also to see how this strange alien woman would react - silence! ‘If you know anything about me, you’ll know I'm about as far from a hero, or warrior that you're ever likely to meet and, as for technology, I'm probably one of the few men who have difficulty working a satellite remote.’
‘We are fully aware of your limitations, and your strengths. If left to your own devices, you will fail, but you will not be alone. We have found you a companion who will negate your weaknesses. As I have already explained, you are one of a small number we could have chosen. Whilst you do not consider yourself to be unique, you possess an attribute that exists in only a handful of your people. That, together with your thought processes makes you ideally suited to the task we have set you. Your task requires only that you bring the Artefact to the attention of one with the power to act on behalf of your leaders. If that person chooses to make use of the power the Artefact affords, only then will your rare gift be required. Your companion will assist you in getting to the decision maker.’
Jon took a moment, before speaking. ‘I need to speak to Nathalie, we always speak on the phone when she gets to her hotel. I've no idea how long ago I came here. If I don’t call her she’ll ring me and…’ he held out his hands to his sides as though to emphasise the fact that he was wearing a tee shirt and boxers, and had no telephone.
‘We have already taken care of that,’ Jane assured him. ‘Nathalie believes you have already spoken, and whilst she cannot recall the details of your conversation, she is content in the knowledge that you will not be speaking for three days. By then, if you succeed, we will reset her memory. If you fail, it will not matter.’ In answer to Jon’s unspoken question, she added. ‘I appreciate that we are presently observing the stricture of non tampering with minds, more in the breach, however, these are minor matters in the overall scheme.’
If he could read any expression in her face, he would have expected a tinge of wry amusement to show around her eyes, but as with everything else she said, there was no trace of emotion whatever. All he could do was nod.
Δ ∞
At that moment a figure, or to
be more accurate, a figure sitting in an armchair appeared beside him. Jon was not surprised, it was as though the figure had always been there, and he had only just noticed. He looked at Jane and thought, you’re messing with my mind again. If she knew what he was thinking, she gave no indication, neither did she pay any attention to the visitor.
The figure was a man, or at least it looked like a man. While Jane was beautiful, he was elderly. He was probably handsome in his day, whenever that was; he still retained a good head of hair, completely white, and a strong jaw. He was of slim build with slightly stooped shoulders and wore a simple black jacket and old grey trousers that had seen better days, reminding Jon of the clothes his Granddad wore on his frequent forays to the allotment. Unlike his Granddad, the man’s feet were bare.
The newcomer, like Jane had piercing electric blue eyes and like her, no expression was discernible on his face. He extended his hand saying, in a quiet but authoritative voice. ‘I apologise that I was not here to greet you.’ Jon shook the proffered hand: the grip was what he would expect from an old man, dry and a little weak.
As the man settled back in his chair, Jon realised his mistake in thinking Jane possessed the ultimate emotionless voice. Compared to her friend, her voice radiated discernible warmth. Again recollecting his Granddad, he decided on a name, ‘I’ll call you Alf.’
Alf’s response mirrored Jane’s.
‘Are you the one to help me?’ Jon asked.
‘No, you will be assisted by another, who will be here shortly.’
‘Just as matters have been explained to you, I have discussed what is to happen with your companion. She is very capable.’
Well, thought Jon, she’d better be an athletic, computer wiz, if we’re going to going to have a hope of pulling this off.
‘Why are you doing all this?’
‘Some of us have a fondness for you race. In my case, my interest was aroused by examples of extraordinary music. Some compositions I find to be exquisite, particularly the compositions of the older Bach, Mozart and Beethoven. I have attended all of their concerts.’
