Then Dad and Ilandus joined us.
Oh, oh! The parental disapproval alliance has arrived, I thought. But I was mistaken.
“Eonus and Nara, Ilandus and I would like to reassure you that your actions of yesterday met with our approval. We know we all need to get out of here. Although your actions didn’t give you the result you wanted, neither have our attempts at negotiations.”
His words made my heart sing!
And then Ilandus stood up and came over to my stool. I had to stand. With tears streaming down my face, she gave me the sweetest hug, and whispered, “Make Eonus happy.”
“I will. Thank you,” I said quietly.
“No. Thank you.”
Eonus watched us in absolute confusion.
Dad stood up. “Nara and Tata, I…”
“Whoa, Dad?” He had a fearful look of surprise on his face as he began to dematerialize. His molecules rapidly broke apart and in a moment he was gone.
Wild-eyed, Ruen rushed toward me, but vanished mid-stride. Shocked, I stood up so abruptly my stool toppled over. Then I felt a tingling sensation and knew I was experiencing a transporter while wide awake!
Materializing in a large room, the first thing I was cognizant of was Dad being helped to sit on a stool and Officer Kikess supporting his daughter as she got her bearings. I was shocked speechless as Eonus, Ilandus, Barain, and Raen appeared out of thin air. I’d never been so happy to see Eonus. I ran to him, and he wrapped his arms around me. “Where are we?” I asked him, once my mind cleared.
Officer Kikess answered. Ambassador Barain had been spot on when he’d told us Ruen’s father had been having a stressful time. He looked bone weary.
“You are on the Basilian spaceship Basiki,” he told us. “It is one of our exploration vessels. You were originally brought to Basili on a similar ship.”
“What’s happened?” asked Dad. “I’m very glad you found us, but I didn’t realize you had a transporter device.”
“The transporter is not ours. Your captors relocated you to this location,” said Kikess.
“Dad, start from the beginning. You are confusing all of us,” said Ruen.
Kikess laughed. “Of course.” He sat down on a stool, and gestured for the rest of us to settle down.
“As you can imagine, the police have been looking for the seven of you. The police technicians searched for those who have tracking devices: Nara, Tata, Ruen. But they could not find your signal anywhere. So we concluded either there was a malfunction in the equipment we put in your bodies, or you were outside the range of the tracking devices. So that became our next goal—to determine the limits.”
Abruptly, Kikess motioned to one of the officers standing around the room. “I am sure everyone is thirsty.”
We told the officer what beverages we wanted, and then Kikess continued. “Our scientists came up with some ideas about why the tracking devices failed to work. In the end, we decided you were not on Basili. How to find you was our next problem,” said Ruen’s father. “It was my idea to scan for foreign life forms.” He noticed our reactions. “Sorry, you are foreign. Anyway, my idea worked. We located your physical signatures off-planet—out in space. So we mobilized the Basiki and came looking for you.” Kikess grinned “Once off planet, we were closer to your tracking devices and were able to locate your signals.”
He saw the realization of vindication on my face. “Nara, you have been right all along, and I apologize most vigorously for not believing you.” He looked around to all of us. “You have all indeed been held captive on a spaceship. And the story only gets more interesting from there.”
“How did you get them to release us?” I asked.
“I threatened to blow up your captors’ spaceship,” he said.
Ruen’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “You would have blown us up too!” She looked about ready to cry.
“They were only words, daughter. I would not have done it, but your captors did not realize the relationships between everyone. So I had an advantage, and it worked. I convinced them that if they transported you here unharmed, we would talk about whatever their demands are and why they had kidnapped you to meet their ends. By the way, Nara, I see now you were also correct about their transporter capabilities. Such an amazing invention! I imagine our scientists will get to work on one of our own right away.”
“So what’s next?” asked Dad.
“I think we need to have a brainstorming session. The ambassadors will be helpful in talking to your captors and determining what they want. They have not given me any information about who they are. Threatening to blow up their spaceship gave us some time, but we need to discover the overall dynamics.”
“The big picture,” I said.
“Good expression,” said Officer Kikess. “In the meantime, we have three double staterooms that six of you can occupy. Barain, you can stay in my room. My officers will escort you to your rooms. You will find clean clothing there and other amenities. Meet me back here in half an hour. Then we can plan our strategy.”
Chapter 29
After nuzzling for a few moments, Eonus and I cleaned up and returned to the galley. At least I thought it functioned as a galley. The room contained tables and stools and food preparation equipment. I suspected another use was as a meeting room. After all, spaceships were always strapped for space.
“Officer Kikess, any chance of a snack?” I asked.
“Call me Aron, Nara,” he replied. “I think we know each other well enough after all we have been through and because of your friendship with my daughter to go by first names.” He gestured at an officer, who came around and took our snack orders.
Aron had had the forethought to stock all the different species-accepted types of food. I was certainly in mixed company. If someone had asked me two years ago, I would never have imagined dealing with alien races, let alone this many.
We talked amongst ourselves for a few moments while we ate our snacks, which had arrived at our tables within ten minutes, and also asked further questions of Aron regarding our release.
“Okay, time to get going,” Aron announced. “Now, the first thing is, we need to know what they want, and why they abducted the seven of you. Does anyone have any ideas on how to go accomplish this?”
“Is there any way we can communicate directly with them?” Dad asked.
“Yes, we have both com and viewer capabilities. That is no problem.”
“Well, then,” Dad said, “it seems appropriate for Barain, Raen, Ilandus, and myself to speak with their leader. We need to watch his physical reactions to our questions and dialogue. We should be able to determine much from such a conversation. We won’t make any decisions; we just need to gather information before we proceed with negotiations about whatever it is they want to accomplish.”
“Even though they are alien, you can detect such information?” asked Aron.
“Most likely,” said Dad, “but not guaranteed, because we don’t know anything about these albinos. We’ve never met them face-to-face, but they are humanoid, so that should help us interpret their responses.”
“Good plan. Let me go set up communications with the ship’s captain on the bridge. Then the ambassadors can join me.”
“The three of us too. We’re involved in this,” I said.
Aron nodded. “Of course, but you will only be there as observers unless you are asked to participate. Agreed?”
We looked at each other and then I nodded our agreement.
As he left the room I noticed the look on my father’s face. I knew he wanted to exclude us, but we had valuable insights. No one else had been abducted twice. And other than Ilandus, we were the only ones with any knowledge of the alien spaceship. And the albinos themselves.
Shortly, all seven of us were escorted to the Basiki’s bridge. I marveled at all the complicated technology. We hadn’t been able to see this when we traveled from Arandis to Basili, or even from Earth to Arandis. It reminded me a lot of the Enterpri
se bridge from Star Trek, but the captain was nothing like either William Shatner or Chris Pine. He was a short, squat man with mutton chops and a patch over one eye. And of course, the uniforms were much different as the Basili leaned toward a lot of glitzy gold bric-a-brac, although they didn’t wear their flashy medals on their everyday work uniforms.
The main view screen lit up; before us was an albino.
Dad introduced Raen, Ilandus, Barain, and himself. “And what is your name?” he asked.
“Karon.” He put his hands together, palms flat to each other. His action reminded me of someone. But I couldn’t place where I’d seen it before.
“Karon, why did you abduct us and our children?” asked Dad.
“We needed to study your society. It took us quite a while to understand that three different species were present on your planet and that offspring were included in the mix. Studying the populace in Basik was difficult planet side. The uniqueness of our skin coloring was too obvious.”
“How could you study us? You were never in the room, just monitoring our voices,” I said.
“No. We also had cameras fixed on the room,” said Karon.
Both Dad and Aron sent me perturbed looks, but I ignored the censure. Despite agreeing to be silent, I had to know the answers to my questions. Besides, I noted Eonus’ and Ruen’s curiosity as well. “And you let us go wandering about?” I asked. “Why?”
“And why do you need to study our society?” asked Raen.
“That I cannot tell you,” said Karon.
“The current situation dictates you should be telling us everything,” Aron said.
“Possibly. However, I think you should visit our ship and learn about us first. Then I will explain all.”
“Already been there, thanks,” I grumbled, again earning me thin-lipped censure from my Dad. Then he gave Karon a speculative look. “I must discuss this with my colleagues. We will get back to you.” My father made a throat-cutting gesture.
Aron looked confused, so I leaned toward him and whispered, “Dad wants you to cut the transmission.”
His eyebrows shot up and then he gave the captain a scissor like motion with two fingers. After communication ceased, we trooped back to the galley. I wasn’t hungry but I picked up something to drink.
“Does he want to capture you guys again?” I asked the ambassadors.
“Possibly, but I didn’t get that feeling. Did anyone else?” asked Dad.
The general consensus was Karon now had a different agenda, be it an unknown one.
“However, we need to know what they want of us, and why they captured us. So agreeing to go back and visit seems like a reasonable undertaking,” said my father.
“I would not be able to protect you from here,” said Aron. “Considering the relationships, Karon will now understand I would not blow up his spaceship. However, as a deterrent, we could emphasize we will have pulse cannons aimed at his ship’s engines to disable them. That should provide some security.”
“I don’t like this idea. It seems pretty risky. We don’t know what this strange albino wants. And who says he will even tell you what’s going on? Besides, what if they have shields?” I asked, once again relying on my Star Trek familiarity. “Your pulses would just bounce off them.”
“We have the capability to take out their shields as well,” Aron assured me.
“Besides, we need information, and that’s what ambassadors do,” Dad said. “We’ll be safe. Harming us wouldn’t help his case. Now, let’s go tell Karon our decision.”
Back on the bridge, Ruen, Eonus, and I stood out of view. It wasn’t our party, and I didn’t want it to be—I had had enough of albinos—even though I had already opened my big mouth.
After Kikess made the connection to Karon, Dad said, “The four of us have agreed to visit your ship. Be warned, though, we will have weapons trained on your spaceship to disable it if anything untoward happens. And we will be in constant communication with our ship.”
“Good. However, my invitation also included the three young ones. They are unique, and they must accompany you, as well as Officer Kikess.”
Unique? Needed? Instantly, everyone began talking over each other, except for Eonus, Ruen and myself. We looked at each other in confusion. Why are we so important to them?
“Obviously, we need to discuss this,” Aron said to Karon. Upon his orders, the captain again broke the communications link.
“Stop,” Aron said, in a loud voice. “We need to discuss this calmly.” When everyone had quieted down, he asked, “Who wants to speak first?”
I jumped in. “It sure doesn’t sound to me like Karon is much of a negotiator. He continues to make demands. Do you really think going over to his ship will accomplish anything?”
“You have a point, Nara. However, his demands are not unexpected. Being a leader, he is accustomed to getting his own way. Asking for me is probably a result of him understanding I work with the police.” Aron sighed in resignation. “What does everyone else think?”
“Hostages,” Eonus said.
“Send hostages here,” said Ilandus.
Mother and son made sense. “Having Karon send some of his people over here as security for the return of our people is a good idea,” I interpreted, throwing in my own opinion. Their idea received unanimous acceptance.
Karon was summoned again and Aron started making arrangements. At an appropriate moment, I interrupted. “Karon, have you been in contact with High Priest Ada Chap?”
After a moment’s hesitation, he said, “Yes. Why?”
“I would like him brought here as a hostage, too. He was obviously involved in our second capture so it’s time he experienced some repercussions for his actions.” My suggestion might be a little vindictive, but I didn’t like the guy. And from the looks of Ruen’s grin and Eonus’ nod, they agreed with me.
Karon said, “That can be arranged.”
“And we would like our day bags waiting for us, please.” This time, our bags had not been transported back with us.
“Of course,” said Karon, although I suspected he wondered why.
Shortly, eight hostages appeared on the bridge. The same number of us would be transporting over to the albino ship. Ada Chap looked quite taken aback. I wanted to say something to him about payback being a bitch, but I managed to keep my big mouth shut and merely gave him a wink and a grin as he passed by me, his arm firmly in the grip of a stocky security officer.
Once he and the other seven hostages were gone—they would wait out their visit to the Basiki in the brig—I quickly wiped the amusement off my face.
Our next challenge was about to begin.
Chapter 30
Transporter travel was going to take some getting used to, but I loved experiencing the mode of travel from my beloved Star Trek. In our current situation, not having to be encumbered with spacesuits solved so many problems.
Upon our arrival, Karon handed Ruen, Eonus, and me our bags. Strangely comforting, I’d missed my lifeline to my normal life.
“Before we sit down to discuss our reasons for coming here to Basili,” Karon said, “I would like to show everyone highlights of the twenty floors of our spaceship. The main areas will be sufficient to understand our lives,” he explained.
No one objected. Knowledge would only help our understanding of this society. So far, our experiences had all been one-sided. But twenty floors! Eonus, Ruen and I looked wide-eyed at each other.
Eonus took my hand as we followed Karon and two of his subordinate officers down several floors in the elevator and onto a tram sitting on a side track. Besides having only two cars, it was far more plush and comfortable than the others we’d ridden on.
“This is my own personal tram,” Karon explained. “I have a key that allows me to stop and start it and move it off the main track, at any terminal.” He punched some coordinates into the control panel and we were off.
I hadn’t realized how many trams actually ran along the tramways
on each level for Karon to have his own tram at his beck and call.
Our first stop was the school we’d previously discovered, only this time we were ushered inside. “How many levels of schooling do you have?” I asked.
“Ten grades for the majority of our population. The few who show an aptitude for the sciences and engineering get specialized training beyond the first ten grades on a different level.”
“Is your society based on science and engineering?” I asked.
“In order to sustain our people we need gardeners, herdsmen, and other basic skill sets filled. We only need a few scientists and engineers to maintain the ship, and our interceptors and shuttles.”
“How many people does your society support?” my Dad asked.
“We numbered nearly one million, four hundred thousand at last count.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of mouths to feed,” Ruen said. “How long have you been on this journey?”
I looked forward to his answer.
“I will not comment on that until your tour is completed,” said Karon.
I frowned. What kind of game is this guy playing?
We wandered through a few classrooms. The subject matter, as far as I could tell, seemed normal for the various ages. A lot of emphasis on understanding how to grow vegetables and farm animals was obvious. Pretty natural, I supposed, in a closed environment.
But being enrolled in a university, I was surprised at how elementary most of the classes were. They must have a school elsewhere for gifted children. I would ask Karon later—I had no desire to insult anyone here by implying they weren’t bright.
We’d guessed the functions of most of the areas we’d seen in our investigations, especially the manufacturing, farming, and growing areas. I said, “Pretty much no-brainers.”
After I’d uttered that statement, Ruen asked, “No-brainers? How is that possible?”
I laughed. “Don’t take all of my words so literally. All I meant was that the functions of those areas were obvious.”
Sacred Trust Page 17
