Exiles (The Progenitor Trilogy, Book One)

by Dan Worth

  ‘They want us to tell them what to do?’

  ‘Pretty much. They also want to use the survey ship to locate the tombs and then we can advise them on how to excavate them properly. Oh and the priest who made the request for us to come here is coming to dinner later by the way, you can talk to him then if you want to know a bit more.’

  ‘Is he our surprise guest then?’

  ‘No, no I’ve no idea who else is coming save for the crew of the survey vessel and us. It is a surprise after all.’

  ‘Well, we’d better be getting back soon Rekkid. My clothes are all creased after being lugged around in my bags and strewn about my cabin by Agent Rochenko, I need to smarten them up a bit.’

  ‘Right, well I’ll just pay the bill then we’ll set off back,’ said Rekkid and began gesticulating at a puzzled looking Dendratha who was waiting tables, Katherine tried to stifle her mirth.

  Several hours later and Katherine was standing in front of the full-length mirror in her room, assessing her appearance and wondering whether she really had got all of the worst creases out of her clothes. The collar of the one smart blouse she had brought was sticking up at an odd angle and her trousers lacked a decent smooth crease down the front. She fiddled with the collar for a moment until it lay flat. Rekkid knocked and entered. The formal, round collared garment he wore gave him the appearance of wearing the Arkari equivalent of a Nehru suit. It hung from his slim frame in a surprisingly flattering manner.

  ‘What do you think, Rekkid? Think I’ll pass muster?’ said Katherine, presenting herself for inspection.

  ‘You look fine, don’t worry about it.’

  ‘Thanks. Like the suit, very apt given the setting.’ she said gestured at the room’s decor.

  ‘I thought you’d appreciate the joke. Listen, before we join the party downstairs I just thought I’d give you this,’ he said and handed her a slim data pad. ‘It’s a copy of the log. Keep it safe from prying eyes, especially Steven.’

  ‘You don’t trust him?’ she said, slipping the device into the bottom of one of her bags.

  ‘I’m not sure, there’s something about him that screams ‘Secret Service.’ Don’t you think?’

  ‘Yeah, I got that impression when I first met him. Something about the way he moves, it’s almost predatory. He is the Ambassador’s bodyguard, so maybe he used to be in the Service? I can’t see them wasting a field agent in this place.’

  ‘Possibly, and he was here long before we were due to arrive, so he wasn’t posted here to watch us specifically. I suppose one of us could ask him. It couldn’t hurt to try as long it’s done in casual conversation. Speaking of the Ambassador, he’s actually crawled out bed now, so I suppose I should introduce you. Coming?’

  ‘Yep, let’s knock ‘em dead.’

  Rekkid led the way down the main central staircase, at the bottom of which stood a white haired old man with bright eyes and a bushy beard. He appeared to be wearing a sarong, and little else save for a pair of sandals. Katherine tried not to smirk.

  ‘Ah, Ambassador Croft. Up at last I see,’ said Rekkid jovially.

  ‘Yes, yes I thought I’d better, since I’m the host of this little shindig, and who is this lovely young lady? Your assistant?’

  ‘My name is Doctor Katherine O’Reilly. I’m a colleague of Professor Cor’s,’ said Katherine, somewhat frostily.

  ‘Well, a pleasure to meet you my dear. Off into the desert to dig up things then eh?’

  ‘Apparently.’

  ‘It’s fascinating is archaeology, absolutely fascinating. Wouldn’t mind grabbing my shovel and coming with you actually, but I have to stay here so I’m told,’ he gestured over his shoulder at Steven who was passing through the hallway and who rolled his eyes theatrically. ‘Oh a spot of bad news I’m afraid,’ said Croft. ‘The survey ship, the Darwin, is going to be late. I got a message over the hypercom from them earlier. Apparently they had some technical problem with one of their sensors and they’re going to be a few days late whilst they fix it.’

  ‘Really? Oh bugger,’ said Katherine. ‘That throws our plans out of kilter. I’d hoped to talk with her captain this evening.’

  ‘No, no it should be alright,’ said Rekkid calmly. ‘Ambassador, could you send them a reply telling them to contact us when we reach Bridgetown in five days standard. We have to stay overnight there whilst we change trains. If they route the call through my ship it should get through to my computer and we can discuss our plans then.’

  ‘Your ship, Professor?’

  ‘Yes, the one the Esacir lent me. It has a degree of autonomy, so I can send it into orbit and it can act like a relay station for us.’

  ‘Esacir eh? Marvellous chaps aren’t they? Well you can tell me all about it over dinner. Oh it’s this way if you’d like to come through; we’re just having drinks at the moment.’ He set off toward the large dining room that occupied the ground floor of the house’s west wing. Rekkid and Katherine followed.

  The room itself was airy and lavishly decorated and a large chandelier hung from the ornately plastered ceiling. The centre of the room was dominated by a long table of polished wood, around which were placed a number of human sized seats, Dendratha dining cushions and two large heavily built cross-shaped benches that Katherine couldn’t identify. She guessed that they were for the surprise guests, whoever they were.

  Rekkid muttered to Katherine under his breath. ‘Hmph, they can waste time and energy shipping all this lot of bric-a-brac all the way out here, but it’s too much to ask to get something normal to eat. Bloody typical Commonwealth,’ he said, gesturing at the room’s extravagant décor.

  The room already contained a number of guests. Steven was present as well as a number of Dendratha dignitaries from Erais resplendent in their formal robes of office, the priest from Marantis and his entourage and a number of the Ambassador’s staff. Most were clutching drinks of various kinds and were attempting to mingle.

  Croft cleared his throat. ‘Everyone, this is Professor Rekkid Cor and ah, Doctor Katherine O’Reilly. They’re archaeologists from Earth.’

  ‘Though you may have guessed I originate from other parts,’ added Rekkid.

  There were a few hellos and raised glasses. Rekkid was collared by Croft almost immediately, leaving Katherine by herself. She grabbed a glass of what looked like wine from a tray and looked around the room. Steven was talking to a Dendratha councillor in a far corner of the room, he looked bored. Seeing a face she recognised she headed his way and saw his face brighten.

  ‘Oh hello Katherine, glad you could join us. I must apologise Councillor Kithtin, I really must talk to Doctor O’Reilly here. Nice meeting you.’

  ‘And I also have enjoyed meeting you Mr Harris,’ replied the Dendratha in halting accented speech and nodded at Katherine. Steven took hold of her arm and led her away from the hunched figure.

  ‘Thank Christ you showed up,’ said Steven wearily. ‘Kithtin’s a tremendous bore; he was telling all about this year’s fishing quotas. That’s his idea of sparkling conversation.’

  ‘Riveting, no doubt. You looked like you were in distress so thought I’d rescue you. By the way what’s this stuff in the glass I’m holding?’

  ‘Oh it is actually wine. The house has a cellar. It’s a difficult to get it shipped out here so we save it for special occasions.’

  ‘I was half expecting you to say you had few cases stashed in your wardrobe.’

  ‘Whisky? Yes. Wine? No. It’s not the right temperature in there,’ he said and gave her a conspiratorial look.

  ‘Good grief.’

  ‘Anyway,’ said Steven changing the subject. ‘It looks like I may be joining you on your expedition.’

  ‘Indeed?’

  ‘Yeah. The ambassador feels you guys need protection. Law and order’s a bit lacking outside of the major cities, and Marantis is full of all sorts of shady characters looking to prey on pilgrims, so I’ll be yours and the Professor’s bodyguard.’

  ‘Real
ly, I’m honoured.’

  ‘Well you should be,’ he said and grinned. ‘Besides, it gets me out of this place for a while.’

  ‘You get bored here?’

  ‘Oh boy...’

  Katherine indicated with her thumb towards Croft. ‘What’s with the old guy’s dress?’

  ‘Oh that? It’s a Dendratha robe. He had one specially made for himself and he wears it at any function where they’re invited. The truth is I that think he’s going native, not to mention a little eccentric, though his mind’s still sharp and he does try to do his best for this place. I think he genuinely cares about the people here. I just hope he remembered to put some pants on underneath this time.’ he said and pulled a face.

  There was ringing sound; Croft was banging a wine glass with a spoon.

  ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he began. ‘I’d just like to introduce our honoured guests, Ambassador Brightclaw and his broodmate Keeneye, of the K’Soth Empire.’

  There was a stunned silence as the two hulking figures entered the room. Steven instinctively reached for a non-existent side-arm as Katherine stood open mouthed at the new arrivals. She was transfixed by the great broad heads of the two aliens with their fanged mouths and piercing eyes, unable to shake the image of the pickled head in New Colorado’s museum from her mind, nor the other images that accompanied it.

  The K’Soth stood around ten feet tall on their four muscular legs. Their sinuous scaly bodies curved upwards in an S-shape to their shoulders from which sprung a pair of powerful fore-arms. Save for a few utility pouches and decorative jewellery they were naked, since they used their skins to convey mood, and their hides were currently displaying their neutral russet colouring. Their eyes sparkled with a fierce, predatory intelligence and the finger length fangs that lined their powerful saurian jaws glistened with saliva. Thick, pink tongues appeared to taste the air.

  The K’Soth were each accompanied by a smaller bi-pedal companion of a vaguely insectoid appearance, possessing bulbous compound eyes and chitinous skins. They were Pyrtreen, one of the Empire’s slave races and were to act as translators for the evening. The technological level of the K’Soth had not yet reached the sophistication needed for the manufacture of translation devices as used by many other races, hence they usually employed other species as intermediaries.

  The smaller of the two K’Soth gave a guttural growl, and as his skin shifted colour, his Pyrtreen spoke.

  ‘Greetings, I am Ambassador Brightclaw. Please do not be alarmed. We come as a gesture of goodwill in these difficult times. I look forward to dining with you all, however I must insist that when you converse with us you direct your conversation toward myself and my broodmate, and not to our two servants.’

  Steven muttered in Katherine’s ear. ‘Are they dining with us, or are they having us for lunch?’

  ‘Thank you Ambassador,’ responded Croft as the two Pyrtreen began translating his words to the two K’Soth. ‘It’s an honour to have you join us. Perhaps we can build a few bridges between our species eh?’

  ‘I certainly hope so, Ambassador,’ came the reply.

  ‘Then let us be seated,’ replied Croft. ‘I believe the first course is about ready.’

  Everyone took their seats. Katherine found herself between Rekkid and Croft on her left and Steven to her right, and directly opposite her sat the two K’Soth and their servants. Sat this close to the K’Soth she could smell their strange, spicy, alien odours and hear their rasping breath as it issued from their cavernous maws. She tried to stifle a primal urge to run from them as Keeneye scrutinised her with her glassy yellow eyes.

  ‘Doctor I assure you, you have no reason to fear us,’ said her servant, whilst Keeneye’s skin shimmered as she spoke. ‘My mate and I accepted this post primarily because we do not share the views of our government. Here we are remote enough to escape persecution.’

  ‘You’re in exile?’ said Katherine.

  ‘Of a sort, though it was we who made the decision to come here on the advice of our clan. Liberalism and atheism are not tolerated within the Empire and we are regarded as something of an embarrassment to our kin, even though we keep our views hidden from other clans. We would surely have been tortured and executed by now and brought shame to our families. Indeed, even our coming here to dine with you would be interpreted as treachery by many.’

  At that moment the first course arrived, some kind of pate made from native sea creatures with a dry hard bread. The K’Soth were served large platters of the whole animals, which were small and scaly and had fins and vestigial legs.

  ‘Does no-one ever come and check up on you then?’ said Katherine, making a start on her food.

  ‘Rarely,’ said Keeneye. ‘The monitoring facilities are entirely automated and take care of themselves. If anyone does come from the Empire we put on the usual show of hostility to Ambassador Croft here. He plays along to cover for us when they visit our residence on the other side of the city, but discretion is required. As I believe your species are fond of saying, “walls have ears.” So far we have escaped discovery, but we are reasonably safe in this backwater. After all, a non-K’Soth would not be believed by our superiors were they to attempt to sell us out.’

  ‘You say you’re liberals, yet you still have servants.’

  ‘That is true, though you should consider the fact that the Pyrtreen are one of the few races who willingly serve our people. They regard us as gods and hence they regard serving us as an honour. Fortunately they have a talent for languages which proves most useful.’

  ‘You must bear in mind Doctor,’ said Brightclaw. ‘That we are not typical of our species. Many K’Soth would have killed you by now since officially you are enemies of the Empire. Even if some of our practices seem barbaric, by the standards of our people we are extremely libertarian and pacifistic. We are also atheists, an offence punishable within the Empire by a prolonged and no doubt imaginative death.’

  ‘I meant no offence, I apologise.’

  ‘None taken. Frank discussion is the very soul of democracy is it not?’

  ‘Yes of course.’

  ‘Something sadly lacking in the Empire I’m afraid,’ he said and scooped a great handful of his starter with one half loaf of bread. Katherine watched the great teeth and jaws work as he consumed it.

  Rekkid cut in. ‘Ambassador, would you agree that the Empire’s feudal structure is detrimental to its well-being?’

  ‘Yes, yes I would. Feudal societies rely on ties of fealty, ties which often have to be bought and maintained with land and property. Hence the very structure of the Empire drives it to conquer ever more systems merely to maintain the status quo. This is also driven by religious fervour you understand; the mission to conquer or destroy the infidel. Blessing with the holy light they call it. Some blessing. We have been constantly at war for hundreds of years and our resources are stretched ever thinner.’ His skin shifted to darker hues.

  ‘But surely seizing all those worlds should provide more not less wealth?’ said Katherine.

  ‘Alas, no. The brutality of the Empire is counter-productive. Large military forces are needed merely to keep our subjects in line, never mind acquiring more. However, the rigid and oppressive structure of the Empire makes change and progress almost impossible. We are locked into a cycle of war and conquest which is ultimately self destructive and wasteful. The Empire is stagnating, politically, economically and technologically as more and more resources are diverted to maintaining the military.’

  ‘Is there any truth in the rumours that part of your northern upper territory has openly revolted?’ said Rekkid.

  ‘I’m afraid I have no knowledge of that Professor Cor. My government is not noted for its openness, not even with its own servants.’

  ‘You seem to know a lot of other things about the Empire though.’

  ‘Most of which is no secret to any K’Soth who takes the time to look around them and think for themselves. Unfortunately we two are the exception not the rule.�
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  The conversation progressed into lighter small talk and pleasantries between the ambassadors. Katherine felt her mind wander. She couldn’t get over how bizarre this situation was. She was sat at a table engaging in dinner conversation with two beings from a race generally regarded as the root of all xenocidal hatred by almost everyone she knew. She glanced at Steven, he hadn’t said a word since they’d sat at the table and he looked deeply uneasy. Croft, on the other hand, seemed to be conversing quite amiably with the two hulking aliens. The flow of the conversation was only hindered by the need for the Pyrtreen to translate everything said between the two parties. Katherine had never before realised just how beautiful the skin of the K’Soths was when they communicated, it shimmered and shifted in colliding ripples of colour and iridescence. The patterns accompanied the K’Soth guttural language of hoots and growls to add further accent and meaning.

  The second course arrived, slabs of a succulent meat accompanied by a selection of native vegetables. The K’Soth were presented with entire raw joints which they gnawed with their powerful jaws with as much decorum as possible. Katherine remembered the photograph of the food bowl she had seen in the museum. Thankfully her steak had been well cooked. Had it been rare her appetite would have vanished completely.

  ‘I was wondering,’ said Keeneye, addressing Croft. ‘Would you say there was any place in the galaxy for Empires at all? Should we all just go home and leave the less developed races to their own devices?’

  Several of the Dendratha shot her piercing stares, before continuing eating.

  ‘Why yes I do think there is a role,’ replied Croft. ‘Why should other species suffer what ours did in our infancy when we can help them? Take the people here for example; our work on the planet has improved their lives immeasurably I would hope, they have clean water, public transport, better medicines. I have personally campaigned for many projects here, including the building of the railway network.’

  ‘But forgive me Ambassador, but is Maranos not a special case?’ said Keeneye. ‘Its position within the demilitarised zone prevents the exploitation of the planet but I believe many others within the Commonwealth are not so fortunate. The cultures of many worlds have been irreparably damaged, their resources have been stripped and they are now ruled by self appointed governors in the guise of your corporations. They do so in a manner within which the democracy of which you are so fond is little more than a myth, as I believe Mr Harris will testify, having been to Urranakar himself and witnessed first hand the recent troubles there.’