Darrell Bain

by The Y Factor (lit)

  "Very little, I'm afraid,” he said. “How about the rest of you?"

  At the moment there were four other officers, Jeri, and myself in the control room. Those officers were Maddie, Larry, Eleanora and Loraine. All of us shook our heads negatively. I knew others were connected to Jeri's lecture and revelations through their coms, and none of them spoke either.

  "All right,” Jeri said. “I'll give you a very brief summary, then speculate a bit.” No one questioned that she should be the one to explain. She has an eidetic memory and an extremely fast reading speed. She hadn't memorized everything on the internet but sometimes it seemed as if she had. And she knew a number of languages, including Hindi. She began speaking, but I noticed that even while listening to her, Captain Becker's eyes never strayed far from the battle tank.

  "The Hindi believe in a multitude of gods but for our purposes here—and back on Earth, as well, I think—we'll just concentrate on one: Vishnu, the Preserver. However, their religion says that Vishnu has ten incarnations, or ‘avatars,’ the tenth of which has never appeared. That one would be Kalki, the mighty warrior, who will come to rid the world of the oppression of its unrighteous rulers. With me so far?"

  We all nodded and she continued.

  "Well, here's what I gather has happened. One of our lifeboats landed in a relatively unpopulated area of India. It came down lightly and two Crispies were able to save all their survival equipment. You know what that entails; a disintegrator and invisibility mechanism among other effects. Eventually, after learning the local language and customs while still in hiding, they both decided to convert to human males. Afterward, without mentoring and with a very fast conversion, the Y factor came into play. You can guess the conversion went wrong, I'm sure, after our experiences with Ishmael and Lau. In their case they decided to pass themselves off as gods. To this end they made more changes in their bodies until they were both eight feet tall but perfectly proportional men. They then declared themselves to some gullible rural inhabitants, claiming to be Vishnu the preserver, and Vishnu's tenth avatar, Kalki the warrior, returned to Earth to set things right. They went further, picking two normal women and using their perceptive senses and ability to manipulate genomes to make them outsize as well. They called both these women Lakshmi, their goddess consorts, responsible for wealth and prosperity.

  "They then began converting Indians to the belief that they were indeed gods, and apparently found fertile ground. With what they could do themselves, along with their survival gear, it appeared that they could perform miracles. Their great size contributed to captivating—or cowing—their followers, and they gained converts rapidly.

  "I suspect that back on Earth, the one who stayed behind as Vishnu has pretty well taken over India, but that is only speculation on my part. The one calling himself Kalki and his consort came with the ship in order to find more Crispies to take back to Earth to help them rule India. I believe their ultimate objective is to rule not only India but all of Earth."

  "Surely the Crispies don't believe they are real gods, do they?” Captain Becker questioned skeptically.

  "Of course not, sir. However, it's possible the Indian Crispies might believe it of themselves by now. Remember the Y factor and remember how mad Lau was at the last."

  "Yes, I've heard. Go on, please.” His expression showed he was paying intense attention to what she was saying. So was I.

  "Kalki, his Lakshmi consort, and a number of Indians have gone to the surface in one of their tenders. I think they may have convinced a few Crispies to convert to human. I don't know what gender, if this has indeed happened, nor whether they have accepted the religion as well. Now bear in mind that all this information is being filtered through my friends, and that we have no means from here to converse using our perceptive sense in tandem, so I could be missing many, and perhaps vitally important, nuances."

  Becker rubbed his chin when she paused. “What do your friends want us to do? And remember, we're representatives of our country. You must emphasize that we are not responsible for what the Indians have done, nor for anything they might have said about us, nor for any other country on Earth, other than perhaps England."

  "Captain Becker, Cresperia doesn't have a government anything like the ones you're used to or that the diplomats who framed the protocols know of. You might say it is a government by consensus where other Crispies necessarily follow that consensus, and in any case, it's not much of a government at all. Oh, the elders are listened to more respectfully than younger ones but even they don't form policy as such."

  "Sounds sort of like anarchy,” Loraine said. “I mean, true political anarchy, not just chaos."

  She shrugged. “Yes, you could think of it that way, too. I've been speaking to several old friends who were instrumental in getting interstellar exploration started, and through them, to some of the elders."

  "And what do the elders think?” Becker asked.

  "Of us or the Indians?"

  "Either. Both."

  "From what I can gather, they are not impressed. Again, bear in mind that the elders don't necessarily agree among themselves, either. Adding to that, I've informed them through my friends of what happens when Crispies convert to human too quickly, especially to human males, and that without mentors, neither gender conversion works very well. I've asked them to watch for that with the Indians. I'm not sure how well that message is playing, since the Indians will of course deny it and probably have. But having mathematical proof for the lack of a directing intelligence in our universe, you can understand what they think of religion and by extension, what they probably think of the Indians, since the group on the surface are apparently eaten up with their religion. I believe they really think some of their gods have come to Earth so I suppose we have to grant them their sincerity. However, another aspect of Crispies is ... oh, call it passivism for lack of a better word. They don't like taking hurried action, most especially violent action, so no consensus has been reached.” She sighed. “I'm sorry. I'm probably explaining this badly. I could do better if I were on the surface and could interact with the other Crispies by using our perceptive senses. As I've mentioned."

  I'm pretty sure that was a broad hint.

  "So what are your recommendations?” That tiny smile I'd observed once before flitted across his face.

  "I believe we should do as a few of the elders suggest. That is, land so they can observe us in person."

  "Will they protect our ship from both the Snappers and the Indians if we land?"

  "I doubt it, sir, since they don't know anything about the Snappers other than what I've told them, and after being exposed to the Indians, they have no real reason to believe me. However, if I could speak to some of them in person and with our perceptive senses, they might be more amenable. I must tell you, though, that at the time I left Cresperia there were no armed space ships anywhere in the system."

  Becker shook his head, obviously not quite able to comprehend a whole solar system operating on the Crispies’ principles.

  "Very well. We'll remain in orbit and send our tender down. Jeri, you'll be in charge of the mission. I'll let you select your crew with the exception of the XO or astrogator."

  "Yes, sir. When shall we depart?"

  He shrugged. “Whenever you're ready. Consult with the pilot on your landing site."

  * * * *

  Jeri picked me, Gene, her husband Kyle, Margie Preconder for a physicist and Eleanora for an electronicist among other scientists. I could see she was taking people who could learn the most while on the surface. If anyone learned anything, that is. Captain Becker told her to take a squad of marines. She tried to veto the idea.

  "It wouldn't be productive to send armed men, sir. Crispies are generally non-violent."

  "I realize that, but the Indians aren't non-violent and they have people down there, including Kalki, their ‘warrior god,’ if you heard right. If you're going anywhere near where they are, I insist."

  "Yes, sir. I'll ta
ke them since I was planning on going to the same area where they have allowed the Indians to set up housekeeping. However, armed men won't produce an encouraging picture to the Cresperians."

  "Suppose I send them with sidearms only? Would that be acceptable?"

  Jeri considered for a moment, then shrugged. “I suppose that would be all right. They have already learned that we're a violent species from the Indians, so marines can't do much more harm."

  "Having them with you would make me feel better."

  Hell, it would make me feel better having marines along. I'd had two occasions to see them fight. And I intended to bring along my little pistol, the one that had saved my life a time or two. The Crispies would spot it but perhaps the Indians wouldn't.

  Gordon and Jeri had a long conference before we left. I don't know what they talked about, but I don't believe Gordon was all that upset at not being allowed to go down this trip, since Captain Becker wouldn't risk both Crispy humans at once. Even when Gordon argued politely that he had been the only one aboard before Jeri joined us wasn't enough to sway him. Gordon took it gracefully and told those of us going to have a safe trip. He'd proven his worth in a crunch during the second battle with the Snappers and his male ego problem had just about disappeared. I gave him a slight smile, subtly displaying my pride in his behavior. He met my eyes, the corner of his mouth quirked a little, and he nodded just a bit.

  We debarked in the tender only a couple of hours after the decision was made. I didn't know if the others realized it, but if it turned out that the Snapper ship which was still jinking around in the system decided to go after the Galactic, we might be left behind. I had figured that out from the moment the captain excluded the XO and especially Maddie, our astrogator. Besides that, I believe he and General Haley must have thoroughly discussed Jeri while the two ships were together, because he was giving her broad power to make decisions. I thought he would do that only if he trusted her implicitly.

  I don't know to this day why she included me in the crew, since the genetic problems had already been pretty well solved and Jeri could discuss the manifestations better than I could. I don't know why she selected Gene, either, but he was grinning happily as he took his seat in the tender beside me.

  * * * *

  Jeri and the pilot conferred up front for a few minutes and then we were off, separating from the ship with barely a bump.

  "You've been making yourself scarce again,” Gene offered once we began decelerating. With the unreality drive, there was no problem with breaking orbit almost immediately. There was a vector toward our destination, of course, but Jeri and the pilot had already figured the shortest, most comfortable way there.

  "It's our good captain who's been keeping me busy, Gene. I'm glad you're coming along with us, if that will help your disposition."

  "Touché.” He grinned, licked his fingertip, and made a mark in the air. “One for you. D’ you know, no one has even told me what our agenda is down there. Hell, I don't even know why I'm here."

  I tapped his knee playfully. “Would you believe I don't either?"

  "You don't?"

  "No, but I trust Jeri. She must have some use for us other than to hold her hand, because Kyle has that well in hand, no pun intended."

  "Doesn't he, though? I don't know what the man has, but I wish I had some of it."

  "You manage okay, Gene."

  "And how should I take that?” He wriggled his brows. The man was irrepressible.

  "However you like, but please keep whatever you think bottled up until we get back to the ship.” I said that because I felt a little heart thump tugging inside me when I'd seen him enter the tender, the same kind I always have when I see a man I really like. However, I didn't want to think about things like that again until we were on the way home. Time enough to sort out my feelings then.

  "As you like."

  "You did fine in the last battle, you know. Hell, you did better than fine. You're on for this, whatever happens."

  "Thanks. I was trying to keep some special people from biting it. Pretty planet, isn't it?"

  "What we can see of it is,” I agreed, trying hard to drive away that little tug.

  But the feeling stayed with me all the way down.

  Cresperia had smaller polar caps than Earth and more land area, or so I thought from seeing it in orbit. As we came lower I began looking for cities and didn't find them. We passed over almost half a continent and all I ever saw were small towns with tall spires in the center and a few two- or three-story buildings surrounding them. Occasionally we passed over what must be crop land or in some cases regularly spaced large growth that had to be their equivalent of orchards of some kind. The land was beautiful and looked as if it could support a thousand times the population we'd seen signs of. Occasionally we passed over an aircar, but saw few roads. I suspected if they had them they would be underground, then suddenly remembered Jeri telling me exactly that at some time in the past.

  The little spaceport looked new. I don't know how to explain but it had a rawness not obvious in the other places we passed over before landing. I thought they probably had built it just for the Indians and now for us. Hell, maybe even for the Snappers! God, what a revolting thought!

  We landed on the opposite side of the field from where the Indian shuttle was parked. It was bigger than ours, just like their starship was bigger—and differently shaped.

  "Keep your seats for a moment,” Jeri said, loud enough for us all to hear.

  She walked down the aisle between the two rows of seats and to one of the side airlocks and waited until the pressure equalized. It opened and she departed. A few minutes later she stuck her head back inside.

  "You can all come out now. Bring your gear. They have a place ready for us to stay."

  As we filed out I wondered what the Crispies would think of us. There were the marines, all dressed alike in their unpowered cammies. There were the two officers, Eleanora and Major James Henry, our semanticist, both dressed in navy uniforms, and General Shelton in army dress blues who was both a diplomat and ultimately responsible for any decisions that became a matter of fight/no fight. And me and the other civilians in a motley of civilian clothes or cammies, as we chose. Gene and I were both being sensible and wearing jeans and shirts and windbreakers. I had a pair of slacks and blouse along that were sort of dressy, and suspected Gene did also, but I was carrying a set of cammies, too. The other civilians wore more dressy outfits that were already becoming wrinkled and mussed. Then finally the crew of the tender, wearing the enlisted version of navy work uniforms, other than the pilot, who wore a flight suit. How's that for variety?

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  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  There were two Crispies outside. Jeri was conversing freely with them as they began walking, but of course none of us understood more than a word here and there. They stayed beside Jeri while we ambled along behind. They led us to a row of three interconnected domed buildings and on inside one of the end structures. The domes also had a newly fabricated feel when I looked at them, but the interior of ours was ... homey? Yes, that's the word. It looked more like the lobby of a fairly decent hotel than what you'd expect on an alien planet. That area was right past the entrance. All around the circumference of the great room were half-open doorways leading to rooms that I could see were furnished for humans. About 30 degrees to our left was a big hallway that I presumed led to the center building. We didn't have to check in. The lobby was simply a place we could gather if we liked. Jeri and her friends stopped in the middle of it.

  "You can spread out here and find a room,” Jeri said. “Make yourselves comfortable. There's food and drink in each room that's compatible for us. One of the crew will be along in a minute or two with the big coffeepot. Sorry, but there are no alcoholic beverages."

  We all trundled off to find a room and then, like strangers anywhere, we sought our own kind. Gene and I roomed next to each other without discussing it. Within a half
hour everyone was back in the lobby, either seated or standing around talking. Jeri was gone, as were the Crispies.

  Gene spotted me as I joined the throng and came over. He was grinning, naturally.

  "Not quite what we were expecting, is it?” he said.

  "Not really.” I sat down and patted a place beside me on the couch. He took it.

  "I wonder what happens next?” he said as he crossed his legs and leaned back comfortably, looking around as if he expected a Crispy delegation to walk in at any moment.

  "Jeri will let us know, I'm sure. Hey, I wonder if any of the Crispies here know how to speak English?"

  "Hmm. Good question. We'll have a hard time getting much done if we all have to go through Jeri for translations. By the way, did you try the com in your room?"

  "Com?"

  He shook his head sadly. “Com. You know, something you communicate with?"

  "I didn't know there was one."

  "I suspect there'll be one in every room, all tied in to the ship. I tried mine but it told me it wasn't ready yet. I imagine they're fixing up some sort of relay system so we can talk even when the ship is on the other side of the planet."

  "That would be nice,” I said, then noticed Gene was looking past me. I turned and saw Jeri returning from the center dome where she'd gone with the Crispies. Now there were a half dozen with her. She made several stops and each time one of our scientists or officers or crew was paired with a Crispy. Finally she got to us but by then all the Crispies had been taken except one. She introduced it.

  "Mai, Gene, this is Fsrssddtst, but call him Fred. He is a male Crispy. He is interested in talking to you both about life on Earth and what he could expect if he decided to convert to human."

  Wow! “To male or female?” I asked.

  "He's not certain yet and he may very well decide against it in the end. I'll be talking to him as often as I can but otherwise I'll leave him in your hands. And he does speak English, by the way."