Solbidyum Wars Saga 4: Too Late for Earth

by Dale C. Musser

  “When Jimmy was about eight years old, oil was discovered on his family's land and suddenly they had money – lots of money. Jimmy’s parents had an area of swamp near their old house drained and filled with dirt so a new, very large and luxurious house could be built. It was a grand house with everything anyone could want – a swimming pool, enormous kitchens and sun rooms; Jimmy even had his own bedroom, which was as big as the entire old house. However, Jimmy always felt that the old place was still home; almost every day he would play there, as it was right next door to the new house.”

  I paused and shifted in my chair with a deep sigh, more because of the emotional discomfort of the memory than any physical pain. “Jimmy’s parents never bothered to have the power disconnected from the old place; and I guess one day some bad wiring ignited a fire in the house. I was playing with Jimmy up at the new house. Jimmy saw the fire first; and I’ll never forget the look on his face – it sort of twisted up in this horrified panic look; and before I could say anything, he took off running toward the old house yelling “No!...No!” There was a small trash pile by the side of the house and in it were some rusted tin cans. Jimmy grabbed a can and began dipping water out of the swamp and running back and forth with the can pouring insignificant amounts of water on what now had become a roaring blaze. Jimmy’s mother saw the fire and called the fire company, and then she came running out to try to get Jimmy away from the fire. She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him away but he yanked loose. I could see tears running down his face as he tore loose from her and ran into the roaring inferno of the house just moments before it collapsed on him. I stood there horrified; my best friend had died, and I could not understand why. It was just an old building; he had a fine home, a great room full of wonderful toys, why did he run into that run down shack of a house that was on fire? I never understood his actions or what he must have felt, at least not until today. Inside I find myself screaming “No! No!” even so, I am hearing it in Jimmy’s voice.” Kala reached over and put her hand on mine as I continued.

  “I feel weak, helpless, and over whelmed. Like Jimmy must have. Like Jimmy, I have a huge luxurious house and great wealth, in fact, more wealth than anyone ever has had. I could buy planets and build mansions the size of which no one had ever seen and I live on an estate the size of a small city, but at the moment home is Earth, light years away and in my mind I keep seeing it on fire and crumbling and I don’t even have a rusty tin can to carry water to the fire,” I finished sadly.

  That night I had an odd dream of Thumumba. Thumumba was the curious god like being we had encountered at the planet of Alle Bamma. While most of the time I tended to think of Thumumba as a drug-induced hallucination induced by the concoction given me by the natives, there were aspects about him that made him seem as much more and something real, although I did not think of him being an omnipotent god being. One thing seemed to support the idea that Thumumba was more than just a hallucination was that those that saw and experienced him at the same time all saw and heard him exactly the same, hardly something that would occur with a hallucination. Precisely what Thumumba’s true nature and abilities were had always been in doubt in my mind, but I never had any negative feelings about him. While at Alle Bamma Thumumba had asked me to free his children free from slavery and rid the planet of the evil Brotherhood who had been enslaving them and forcing them to harvest the plant used for producing the illicit drug called GOD’s Sweat. We had done so and before leaving the planet Thumumba had given Kala and I his blessing and named us as his children also. In the time that had elapsed since we had left Alle Bamma I had not thought or dreamed of Thumumba until this night. From the very beginning of the dream something was different, for one thing Thumumba didn’t have the wild appearance he did when I had encountered him at Alle Bamma, gone was the wild native appearance and instead I was presented with the image of a more sophisticated man who no longer spoke to me in a pidgin Language but instead used a more refined version of the Universal Federation Language.

  “Greetings to you who speaks in my name,” he began.

  “Greetings Thumumba,” I responded in the Federation tongue.

  “I am pleased with you and the works you have done to stop the use of my sacred plants for improper uses. Now I have need of you once again. Come to “Sweet Home,” within 90 days so that I may meet with you.” The dream ended abruptly and on rising the next day I wondered about the dream and if it had any validity or if it was just something my brain had concocted. I was about to discard the event entirely until Kala mentioned to me that she had a dream as well of Thumumba that night similarly instructing her that we needed to come to Alle Bamma soon, moments later Kerabac also confronted me relating a similar dream. “It would appear we will need to visit Alle Bamma shortly.” I exclaimed. Once have returned the recovered solbidyum to the Federation I think we need to make Alle Bamma our next stop.”

  “I think you are correct Tibby, in my dream Thumumba seemed most intent on our being there.” Kerabac replied.

  “Do you think we can accomplish everything we will need to at Megelleon while we are there or will we need more time?”

  “A week should suffice, but don’t forget it takes several weeks to reach Alle Bamma from Megelleon. Oh and before I forget the android’s ship is due to dock with us within the hour.”

  “Good, thanks for the update, oh I would also appreciate if you called him Andy and not refer to his as the android.” I responded.

  “You really think of him as sentient with thoughts and feelings like other natural beings and humans in the universe?” Kerabac asked, with a somewhat puzzled look.

  “I’m not sure what he thinks or feels, but I think we can afford him the courtesy of acting like he does. We lose nothing b doing so if he doesn’t, but we have much to gain in friendship and trust if he does.”

  “Hmmm, I guess you are right I’ve been so used to thinking of androids as simply being artificial constructs that I’ve haven't giving any real thought as to any other possibility. I must confess that their organizational and administrative skills in getting things organized on Goo’Waddle are impressive. I just wonder why they never tried to do so before.”

  “I can answer that for you,” A’Lappe’s voice came from the doorway as he entered. “The androids were on the run from the Federation when they arrived after the war. People were afraid of them, and if the androids had tried to establish any control or attempted to take any leadership roles, people here would have seen them in the same threatening light that the Federation did. They would have made every effort to destroy them. As it was, they came in as an apparently disorganized and defeated bunch and integrated themselves into the lower echelon of the population here. No one saw them as a threat and they were allowed to exist here relatively unnoticed. But now years have passed, and an opportunity has presented itself for them to take an active role in the planets' government without appearing as a hostile threat. Most of the population on the surface sees them taking over the government as a positive step and not a threatening one. People see them as fair and impartial, and a stabilizing force, those that object to their presence are the same ones who have been suppressing others, and the citizens are glad to see them go.”

  “Do you think the androids will still want to leave and establish their own world as you promised to help them find?” Kerabac said looking at me.

  “I don’t know, perhaps we’ll find out more when Andy gets here.”

  “Speaking of which,” Kerabac began, “I need to see to arrangements for his arrival, I’m still not sure just how much I trust him or any of the android’s, and I will feel more secure once he is off the ship again.”

  For all their concerns, Commodore Stonbersa, Kerabac and Marranalis had, and all the precautions and security actions they put in place, Andy’s visit proved them to be of unnecessary. The Commodore was present with Kala and me to welcome Andy’s shuttle when it arrived, and I greeted Andy with a warm, “Welcome aboard Andy, it’s good t
o see you again.” Typically it would have been either the Commodores or Captain Kerabac’s place to greet Andy first, but under the circumstances, I felt it better that I make the first overture.”

  “It is good to see you again also, my friend.” Andy responded. I noted a slight emphasis on my friend, and I recalled that Andy had reacted with surprise when I had called him “my friend” on the surface of Goo’Waddle during the battle. It seemed to have some impact and major significance with him, as the normal greeting for me would have been as First Citizen, which was used for anyone other than very close associates and friends.

  “I was surprised that you allowed me to visit you here on your ship,” Andy continued. “I calculated that your crew would have warned you away from having me aboard your ship, lest I steal your technology-- or the ship itself.” I noted Stonbersa reddened slightly at Andy’s words, but he maintained his composure.

  “In truth Andy they did, but I overrode them, though they did ask that I restrict you from certain areas of the ship.” I answered. I figured there was no use lying about it; I suspected that Andy could read even the most subtle of body Languages with humans, as well as hear the beating of the crew's' hearts and changes in their breathing, lying to him would only serve to destroy any trust in us he might have.

  Andy nodded, but his expression didn’t change. “So are we to meet here in the hanger?”

  “No, not at all.” I began, “we’ll meet in my study. “The only areas on the ship that will be restricted will be the bridge and the engineering sections.”

  As we started to move deep into the ship ,we were unexpectedly startled when Jenira came running down the hall and threw her arms around Andy, hugging him tightly. Andy showed no emotion, but looked at Jenira cautiously.

  “I think Jenira is trying to thank you for saving her life,” Kala explained. Jenira nodded and laid her head against Andy’s chest and hugged him again.

  “Thanks are not required,” Andy said as Jenira looked up into his face, then he added, “but your gesture is appreciated.”

  “Okay Jenira, you need to let go of Andy so he and Tibby can talk,” Kala prompted, “they have lots of business to discuss.” Jenira stared up at Andy, who stood passively looking down at her, and then she slowly stepped back, waved, and headed down the passageway toward one of the gyms.

  “I fear I fail to understand all the different levels of human behavior.” Andy said, “Intellectually I understand the basis for her actions, but the emotional aspects of her behavior are strange to me.”

  “You’re not alone there; I too fail to understand some of her actions as well.” I replied, as I led Andy along the corridor toward my study. Just as we were about to turn the corner, I noted him turn and look back in the direction Jenira had gone; I wondered what thoughts were going through his mind.

  When we entered my study I noted Andy looking about quickly taking it all in. The study had been built for Galetils and reflected his tastes, but I found them to my liking, so I had not made any changes to it. Galetils was a wealthy industrialist who had his enterprises destroyed on the planet of Astamagota during a gigantic solar flare, soon thereafter he was found dead from an apparent suicide, though there were some questions surrounding his death. I had arrived in the Federation not long after his death and was able to buy his estate on Megelleon and his space yacht, which we currently were aboard, and had renamed the NEW ORLEANS.

  “This room seems to suit your character First Citizen,” Andy said, as he looked from the floor to ceiling and then to the glass wall behind my desk, viewing the interior of the huge aquarium behind it. "While aesthetics values are seldom applied to androids, I find that the longer I exist, the more I am coming to appreciate such qualities in humans and perhaps even understand them a little.”

  “Thank you very much Andy. Please, have a seat,” I indicated one of the huge leather like chairs that sat before my desk and moved to the other one of them across from him.

  “I want to personally thank you and all the androids for coming to our rescue on the planet surface, and for all that you have done since then in stabilizing the government. We never could have accomplished it without your assistance.”

  “It was not without considerable motive,” Andy said. “It would hardly have been in our best interest if you had failed. We were most concerned when you took off after Shydak and were shot down. We are trusting in you to fulfill your part of the bargain to help us to find and transport to a world of our own where we might live. We fully recognize that may take some time, but we are willing to wait, so long as we know you are endeavoring to accomplish that goal.”

  “I have every intention to do so, you have my word on that. In the meantime, I would hope that you and your fellow androids will continue to maintain law and order on the Goo'Waddle and keep things going until a new government can be elected and put into place before you all leave here.”

  “What additional incentives can you offer us; we lived up to our part of the original agreement?” Andy asked unemotionally.

  “Hmmm, I’d not thought about that. What would you like?”

  “I think several space ships, some freighters and cargo vessels and perhaps two small armed vessels for planetary defense once we get established on a new world. We would also appreciate some basic mining and manufacturing equipment to allow us to get started with.”

  “I see,” “I don’t think what you are asking is unreasonable, and I definitely can afford it, but I suspect that some of my colleagues will be less than happy with the arrangement.”

  “Yes I noted that your Commodore Stonbersa was not so pleased with my being here on your ship. I suspect he would be less in favor of you providing us with anything that can be construed as weapons.”

  I was a bit taken aback by Andy’s comment, as the Commodore betrayed no sign of his displeasure over Andy’s being aboard the ship. Andy seemed to note my dismay and continued. “My hearing is especially acute as is my vision. I could hear and analyze the Commodores heart rate and his breathing patterns as well as observing the slight flaring of his nostrils and the minor glaze of sweat he produced at times, all indications of his concerns and displeasure at my being here.”

  “Amazing! Give Stonbersa some time and he’ll change his mind and feelings. He’s a good man; he is reacting to what he thinks he knows, and at the moment he doesn’t really know you.”

  “Nor do you, First Citizen, yet you show genuine warmth, trust and friendship toward me in a way that I have never experienced from a human before.”

  “Perhaps that is because I have no personal reason to distrust you or fear you. I’m curious, do you experience emotions like humans do.”

  “I do not believe so, we do experience fear and anxiety on some levels I believe, but love and desire, in the way I have observed humans experiencing it, are alien to us. At times, I think I am experiencing feelings and emotions, but then when I see human's reactions to various stimuli, I do not believe it is the same. We do not seem to have attachments to others in the identical way humans do. For example, I note you, and other humans grieve about the young one you called Tanden, we androids do not know or understand grief. If one of us ceases to function or is destroyed, we go on as before and no further thought is given to them. Likewise, you humans seem to have this desire to create other humans by bonding with another human. Our race is relatively stable in size and we don’t really die though some of us are starting to wear out. Unlike humans we have no desire to propagate.”

  “So eventually you all will become extinct as one by one you cease to function?”

  “We could, but recently there have been some discussions among us that we should produce more of our own kind simply to continue our race, even though we cannot fathom why we should survive and go on.”

  “Well I for one hope you find a reason; I think the universe will be a better place if androids continue to be here.”

  “Perhaps, I shall have to ponder this further.”

  A
t that moment I sensed the slight scent of cedar in the room, and I realized that A’Lappe had entered, cloaked. I was barely aware of his presence when Andy spoke up. “Who is this individual who has just joined us?” I noted that Andy was looking at the chair that A’Lappe usually sat in when he visited me in my study.

  “That will be A’Lappe. A’Lappe please reveal yourself.” Instantly A’Lappe became visible sitting on the chair.

  “Greetings Andy, I’m A’Lappe. I apologize for my unorthodox entrance. I wished to observe you without you knowing it. I have never seen an android before, and I am most curious. I wish you no harm.”

  Andy looked at A’Lappe curiously. “I’m not offended; no apology is required. I must confess I have never seen another like you before, either, and I have many questions regarding you as well.”

  “How was it you could detect my presence?” A’Lappe asked. Tibby does it, but I have no idea how, and he refuses to tell me. Were you able to see me in some fashion, do you have some vision capabilities that we don’t?”

  “No, I could not see you, but I could hear your breathing and the beating of your heart.”

  “Ahh, I’d not thought of those possibilities,” A’Lappe mused. He turned to me and continued. “Is that how you do it also Tibby? Is your hearing that acute that you can hear my breathing or heart beat?”

  I grinned. “Sorry A’Lappe that is not how I know when you are here, but I’m still not going to tell you just how I do.”

  “Why do you wish to conceal yourself among your friends and fellow crew members?” Andy inquired. A’Lappe remained silent, and if he knew the answer himself, he was not about to answer it, but I had my own theory and decided to voice it.

  “I think A’Lappe does it because it gives him a sense of identity, he likes being mysterious, and he also likes to know everything that is going on, by cloaking himself and moving around the ship this way it gives him a sense of both.” A’Lappe sat looking at me with a look of surprise on his face, and I noted Andy looking at both of us with a sense of curiosity.