by Karl Morgan
“That’s probably a better question for Ambassador Mencius. It seemed to me everyone was very happy to make a connection from another galaxy,” Dave said. He refilled his coffee cup and savored the flavor. “Mencius even gave his star ship to the people of Lagamar Opa. I thought that was very generous.”
“Too generous in my mind,” Luka said. “They have no right to get involved in the internal matters of this galaxy.”
“You’re wrong, Luka,” Dave laughed. “We are all human. The people of Lagamar Opa and the Kalidean Federation are all Opa. They have as much right to help each other as the Society has to rule other planets.”
“You should watch your words, Dave Brewster,” Luka snarled. “You are still here in this galaxy, and we control what happens here.”
“Be quiet, Brother!” Nola demanded. “Perhaps you should return to Earth Prime, Luka. This meeting is slipping out of control.”
“I’ll leave when I’m ready, Councilor,” Luka scoffed. “Let me tell our cousin from the Ulagong Galaxy one final thing. Dave, I know what your Gallicean friends did to my agents on Lagamar 7. They will pay for their threats. I guarantee you of that.” Luka rose and stormed out of the room.
“Dave, I am so sorry for that outburst,” Nola said. “Please don’t be bothered by him.”
“Don’t worry, Nola, I am not afraid of the Brotherhood,” Dave smiled.
“I commend your bravery, Dave, but you should be careful here,” she replied. She rose and walked behind Dave and pressed her lips to his ear. “Is this room safe?” she whispered.
Dave tapped his com-link and said, “Jake, can you and Mitch come here now?” The two maklans popped out of thin air and landed in the center of the table. Pau and Nola were stunned by the sudden appearance of the glass like flying spiders.
“What’s up, Dave?” Jake asked.
“Jake, please check the room for listening devices,” Dave thought. The two maklans glowed bright red and a moment. Jake flew up and then under the table. After a moment, he returned with a small device.
“Dave, the room is now clean,” Jake said out loud, as he dropped the smashed device on the table. “It would seem one of your guests left you a present. We are sensing also several dozen devices on the security detail approaching the ship now. I’ll have my team track and disable them immediately.”
“That’s too obvious, Jake,” Dave said. “We should just move them to a secure place and provide simulated sounds.”
“Aye-aye Admiral,” Jake said as the two disappeared again.
“I suppose your friend Luka placed this device, right? That being said, the room is now clean, Councilor,” Dave smiled.
“What kind of life forms were those creatures? I’ve never seen anything like them before,” Nola said.
Dave smiled. “Those were maklans from the planet No-Makla in the Earth 47 system. They are an indigenous species from my galaxy. There are hundreds of sub-species throughout Ulagong. As you can tell, they have some unique abilities.”
“Wow! They were incredible, but Dave, we don’t have much time,” Nola said. “Luka was with us by design. We are all being watched continuously while we are here. Brotherhood agents are everywhere. It is very dangerous for you and your passengers to be here.”
“Okay, but we are here for a specific purpose, Nola,” Dave replied. “If the High Council would approve our Free Society right now, I’d fly this ship out of here right now. But why are we in danger?”
“Your visit to the Lagamar system has sent shockwaves through this planet,” Nola said. “Many of my fellow Councilors are terrified about that trip. Pau and I know the dirty secrets of that system, but the Brotherhood is hiding them from the people.”
“But the circumstances of Lagamar are no different on other Opa, Vol or Ulu planets, are they?” Dave asked.
“No, but Lagamar is the only system where they live closely together,” she replied. “And then there is the proximity to Nan. I hope and pray that Wendo did not take you there as well.”
“Nan was the last planet we visited before returning here,” Dave said.
“Then we are all lost,” Pau sighed and dropped his head into his hands. “If the remainder of the High Council learns of this, the repercussions will bring down the Society.”
“It’s too late for that,” Dave said. “We all know the Society is already crumbling. Nothing can save it now. The High Council is living in a fantasy world if they believe otherwise.”
“Dave, the bloodbath that would follow the dissolution of the High Council will dwarf any wars ever fought by humans,” Nola replied. “You must make an excuse to leave now and take your friends back to Ulagong.”
“We can’t do that Nola,” Dave said. “We have too many enemies in our galaxy to return without a mandate to form a Free Society. That is the only way we can forestall a future of warfare. Besides, we have a few issues to take up with the High Council, and it is fortunate the Supreme Court is also in session. This is a matter for the courts as well.”
“I believe you are suggesting a Grand Conclave, Dave,” Pau said.
“What is that, Pau?” Dave replied.
“It is a joint meeting of the High Council, Supreme Court and Military High Command,” Pau said. “There hasn’t been one for hundreds of years, but there is precedent to demand one. We have interracial and interspecies issues as well as an intergalactic treaty on the table. You know, that might just work, Nola.”
“It’s a huge risk, Pau,” she replied. “But it is the only way I know to muzzle the Brotherhood and allow Dave and his friends to get a fair deal here. I’ll make the request.”
“I hope you two know what you’re doing,” Dave said.
“And we hope you and your friends are ready for this, Dave Brewster,” Nola replied. “This is going to be a contentious meeting. Either you win everything, or there will be dire consequences for you and especially for your Gallicean friends.”
Chapter 46
Lia Lawson sat at a small table with Silva Odeen in a coffee shop on Earth Prime. The Narta neighborhood on the planet was home to most of the Ela who worked here. The shop fronted a wide boulevard where shuttles zipped by a few inches off the ground. The buildings rose several hundred stories over their heads, making the street a massive canyon of steel and glass. The Ela of Earth Prime managed trade routes throughout the Society. They also controlled traffic through the star ports and landing sites around the planet. That was why Silva Odeen had been the contact for Nightsky. A smaller group of Ela also managed the museums around the planet, which housed the finest collections in the Society.
The coffee shop was very large with two hundred tables and fifty baristas and waiters. At this late hour in the morning, only a few patrons were present. Silva had chosen a table near the front of the shop so they could watch the street and people passing by. “So, Lia, I heard your ship visited Narta Ela, the planet this neighborhood is named after. What did you think of it?” a very nervous Silva asked.
“Well, unfortunately, I did not have an opportunity to visit the surface, Silva,” Lia said. “My dad told me it was magnificent though.”
“Your father is on the Nightsky?” he asked. “That’s interesting. What does he do?”
“He is Admiral Brewster’s second in command,” she smiled. “He and my dad were born more than a thousand years ago and came to this time to find new planets to settle and new cultures to engage.”
“You’re kidding, right?” Silva asked. “You people travel in time. That’s amazing. Time travel is extremely rare here. There’s too much danger of affecting the past.”
“The same is true in my time. My mom and my stepmother were both in the Temporal Command. That’s how they met my dad,” she replied.
“So, you are not like other modern humans, since you have one parent from the past. Is that right?” Silva asked.
“Actually, I look very much like everyone else in my time, except for the blue eyes. That’s the one obvious thing I got fr
om my dad,” she replied.
Silva reached over and put his hand on top of hers. “Lia, I must confess your eyes were one of the things I noticed most. I’m still sorry about embarrassing you the first time I saw you. I guess I got carried away.”
She smiled and giggled. “What else did you notice, Silva?”
He pulled his hand away and withdrew a small tablet from his satchel. He tapped the screen for several seconds while Lia sipped her coffee. He turned the screen around and held it out to her. On the screen were images of several humans who looked as though they stepped off any street on Earth in the thirty-second century. “Isn’t the resemblance uncanny, Lia?” he said. “The third from the left could be your twin sister, don’t you think?”
“That is amazing, Silva. Which of the fifty species of human are they?” she asked.
“This is where it gets freaky, Lia. These are the Non-Ti, the original humans who went to the stars billions of years ago,” Silva said. “That race disappeared a very long time ago. And now, here you are sitting with me. Doesn’t that blow your mind?”
“So, I’m like a laboratory experiment to you, Silva, is that right?” Lia asked.
“Of course not!” he shouted. “Lia, you are a sweet and beautiful woman. Any man would be lucky to have you in his life, but I’m sure you are aware of the situation among the races here.”
“I’ve heard the tension is high, Silva,” she said. “Everyone tends to marry in their own race and each race has a defined role in the overall Society. Isn’t that just an old caste system?”
Two men in black suits entered the shop and wandered slowly toward the counter. They gazed around the small crowd, looking to see who might be here. After a couple minutes, they stepped up to the counter to place their order. “You’re right, Lia,” Silva whispered, “but we can’t talk here anymore. Let’s just walk slowly toward the door now.”
They rose and headed toward the door. As they reached it, two Ela men in similar black suits came in the door. One extended his hand to Silva and said, “If it isn’t our friend, Lieutenant Silva Odeen? How have you been?”
“Agent Coos, I’m fine and how are you?” Silva replied. He shook hands with the other man. “Agent Loo, it’s a pleasure to see you as well. We were just leaving.”
“Silva, don’t be impolite. You haven’t introduced us to your acquaintance,” Loo said. He turned to Lia and said, “How do you do? My name is Loo, what’s yours?”
“I am Lieutenant Lia Lawson, Chief Communications Officer of the star cruiser Nightsky,” she replied. “Is there a reason you are blocking our path, Agent?”
“Ah, that explains it,” Coos laughed as the other two agents approached from the counter. “It’s okay guys. Lieutenant Lawson is from the Earth 47 star cruiser. That’s why Silva is here. He’s just showing her around.”
“What are you talking about?” Lia asked. “You idiots have nothing better to do than harass friends sharing a coffee. This is ridiculous. Come on, Silva, we’re leaving.”
Agent Loo blocked the door with his body. “Lieutenant, I know you are not accustomed to Earth Prime, so we’ll excuse your insults this one time. You need to learn to respect the Brotherhood if your worlds want to be part of the Society.” He grabbed Silva by the arm. “Lieutenant Lawson, go back to your ship now. My friends and I are going to have a word with Silva.”
Lia tapped her com-link and said, “Jake, I need some help.” Ten maklans popped into the shop.
“What are those things?” Loo said as he drew his blaster. “Is this some kind of trick, Lieutenant?” He leveled the blaster at Lia’s head. The other agents drew their weapons as well. Instantly, the maklans and agents were gone. The remaining people in the store rushed for the door and ran down the sidewalks, knowing more agents would respond quickly.
“Lia, what did you do?” Silva asked. “They’ll just report and send a hundred more.” He took her arm and led her out of the shop and down the sidewalk. “They think I’m involved in something now for sure. I’ve got to find a ship leaving here today. Once those four make their report, I’m in big trouble.”
Jake and Mitch reappeared, floating in front of them. “Are you okay?” Mitch asked.
“We’re fine, but what did you do with the agents?” Lia asked.
“We turned them over to Fa-a-Di,” Jake chuckled. “He has plenty of room in his brig.”
“I’m feeling faint,” Silva said. “My life is ending and they’re playing games with the Brotherhood.”
“Don’t worry, Silva,” Lia said as she kissed him on the cheek. “Those four won’t make a report until we allow them to. Mitch will jump you to your residence or your post, whatever you like. Just think about where you want to go, and you’ll be there.”
“But what happens when they do report? Who will protect me then?” Silva asked.
“I will,” Lia said. “Trust us. Mitch, please take Silva to his house. Have a maklan keep an eye on him. If any others come after him, jump him onto Nightsky.”
Mitch and Silva disappeared. “Okay, Lia, are you ready to go too?” Jake asked.
“Take me to see Dave and Darlene, Jake. I’ve got to tell them about this,” she replied as they disappeared from the busy sidewalk.
Chapter 47
Dave was listening intently as General Fa-a-Di reported on the progress in translating Zula and Boley telepathy. The general held a half-full glass of Gallicean whisky in his left hand and gestured wildly with his right. “Brother, I know that time is short,” Fa-a-Di said. “Bill and No-o-Ka are confident that we’ll be ready for the hearing tomorrow morning.”
“It’s okay, brother,” Dave smiled. He picked up his glass of Scotch whisky and raised it to the view screen. “Here’s to us, old friend.” Both men took a drink and laughed. “Fa-a-Di, everything will work out tomorrow, one way or the other.”
“I know that, Dave. It’s “the other” that I’m worried about,” Fa-a-Di replied. “I heard about Lia Lawson’s encounter with the Brotherhood. I guess I should have dropped those bastards off the platform when I had the chance!”
“I really doubt they were the same agents, brother. Besides, they have no real crime to accuse you of committing, unless making an agent wet himself is a crime here,” Dave laughed.
“Sending Charlie and Lia back to Nan to work with Bill and the Zula was a great idea too,” the general said. “It gets her away from here, and her communications background will be crucial with the Zula. My men and I can tell the story of the Boley even if they cannot speak for themselves. They look like our smaller twins. The Zula are a different matter. Frankly, they look like food to me too.”
“Except for the expressive eyes and telepathy, of course,” Dave replied.
“Dave, just so you know, the Kong-Fa will arrive at Nan in less than one hour. We are carrying one hundred Boley, who continue to work with No-o-Ka and the maklans. God willing, we’ll pick up Bill’s team and some Zula and head directly to Earth Prime,” Fa-a-Di explained. “What kind of reception can we expect there?”
“Cold, brother, very cold,” Dave answered. “The Society doesn’t like non-humans, as you have learned. They have become very isolated from the rest of this galaxy.” He started laughing.
“What’s so funny, brother?” Fa-a-Di asked. “It didn’t sound like a laughing matter to my ears.”
Dave wiped a few tears from his eyes. “It’s not that, brother. I just had a picture in my mind of your team entering the meeting chamber with the Boley. I bet everyone will be freaking out and running for the exits.”
“And how is scaring our jailors funny?” Fa-a-Di asked.
“Think about the High Council and Supreme Court, brother,” Dave replied. “They are so confident in their superiority and leadership for the entire galaxy. The sight of you and your warriors will show them in that one moment they are not superior. They will see firsthand that other Beings can be ten times stronger and run huge interplanetary civilizations. That happened on my home world when
we were fighting the War. Twenty Kalidean star ships flew into orbit and demanded we stop. Suddenly, we knew we were not that important in the grand scheme of things.”
“If that happens, Dave, perhaps we will all survive tomorrow,” Fa-a-Di said. He began to laugh. “I just had the picture in my mind too, Dave. I saw the Councilors sitting on their high bench when we walk in. All of us, and especially my brother-in-law will tower over their puny bench.” He reached behind himself and grabbed a whisky bottle and refilled his glass and took a long drink. “You know, Dave, I am content now. We don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Perhaps we win and perhaps we lose. We may survive or we may die. Either way, we will be together and that is what matters. I love you, my brother. Kong-Fa out.”
Dave left the sitting room and walked quietly into the bedroom. Darlene was sleeping soundly. He changed into his pajamas and slid into bed. He reached over and kissed her on the cheek, whispering “Good night.” He rolled over and instantly fell asleep. He dreamed his light was flying through space, surrounding by billions of others. His light flew over Nan, where a pink string of light shot forward and merged with his.
“Hi, Grandpa,” the string said. “It’s me, Bea, your future granddaughter.”
“What are you doing here, Bea?” he asked.
“You already know that, Grandpa,” she replied. “I haven’t been born yet, but things are looking promising between my parents.”
“That’s great, Bea. I’m really looking forward to holding Baby Bea soon,” Dave smiled warmly. Suddenly, Bea was gone and Dave felt his string being pulled away. He tried to think of Bea or his own body, but his string kept moving faster and faster. He did not know how to get back to Darlene and became very frightened. He wondered if this is what death felt like.
Dave sat up straight and opened his eyes. He was in a strangely familiar place. In the distance, he could see a sun peek over the heavily cloud-laden horizon. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see High Priest Obu Neela of Lagamar Ulu approaching with a tray and two cups. “Obu, how did I get here? Why am I here? I have the hearing tomorrow and need to be with my crew.”
