Notes from An Alien

by Alexander M Zoltai

  Morna had predicted physical war between the Lord's Army and the Faith of Eternity and Burlim hoped it would happen soon. The distraction would let him relocate his people en masse and he could begin to hope that life with the Disciples of Faith would outlast whatever Anga threw at this planet.

  The defensive plasma weapons were in place and could be activated remotely. He thought the best plan would be to let Anga hit the Lord's Army territory first, then turn on the defensive weapons. Was there any way to hasten the civil war? Could he hope for a miracle?

  He snapped himself out of his reverie, deploring having thought, even briefly, about miracles.

  ~~~

  Surgenta neared his destination. He'd walked nearly half-way around the planet and would soon fulfill his trust. He'd eaten very little. His clothes were filthy. His heart was joyous and his mind was clear.

  Akla had told him the landmarks and assured him the High Priest would be passing with his entourage when Surgenta arrived. He had no idea how Akla could know these things but he didn't care. He obeyed because he believed his mission was critical and just.

  He stopped on a small rise next to the road and sat. He was looking forward to his death and he prayed he would be given the right words at the right time.

  The religious caravan approached. Surgenta rose and walked to the cart carrying the High Priest. He offered the folded paper Akla had given him and said: "I bring word from your Lord. Heed and Rejoice."

  The priest read the message and immediately ordered his Protectors to seize Surgenta. The procession was ordered to erect the holy platform and stake. The Knife Bearers and Blood Tenders were ordered to prepare.

  The paper that Surgenta had carried half-way around the planet and that brought his death close said:

  "Oh, Priest! Your ways have overstepped the bounds of faith and reason. You have followed your own illusions and disregarded the Words of your own Prophet. Your kingdom is near to its destruction and one who boasts as you do, who makes the same claims of knowledge direct from God, will bring you low. I have visited you in your dreams and appeared before your face yet you have clung to your own way and not the way of the eternal God. Your death and the dissolution of your kingdom is a Gift from Me. Savor its sweetness."

  ~~~

  Two years passed as the civil war raged. The Lord's Army had initiated it and had gotten the worst of it.

  The Angan settlers were integrating themselves into the Disciples of Faith's way of life.

  Soon Anga would launch ShipThree. Soon Burlim would activate the defensive weapons.

  The years had seen many visits by Narians but not a word from Akla. The Narians mingled with the Disciples and Angans, dispensing goodwill and helping in any way they could to ease the growing anxiety of the Angan's imminent attack. No one knew if the defense would hold. Velu was often questioned about how things would be but her powers seemed to have withdrawn. She and Zena had begun taking trips, for days, to the mountains and the sea, hoping the retreats would help her regenerate her powers. Xela was extremely busy working to integrate the Angans into her society. This was not easy with people inclined to completely dismiss anything spiritual. Still, the work was necessary to maintain the spirituality of her own people, especially since marriages were starting to happen between the two populations. She had her own form of retreat—seeking the darkest spots at night and meditating while absorbing the sight of the Mother Planet's glow. She'd learned from Burlim that Beli-Pallos was indeed the mother of Anga-Param and Anla-Purum. It had, according to the Angan scientists, expelled the planets in a long distant time when the gas giant was much larger, possibly a companion star to Angi. And the moon of the Mother, Angla-Palli? It was nearly the same size as her planet and the Angans' home world. Could it be reached with ShipTwo? Would the two Worlds annihilate each other? Would ShipTwo still exist after ShipThree began its attack?

  Xela pulled herself from the entanglement of meditation and worry. She hugged herself and returned to her duties.

  ~~~

  ShipThree's attack began well before it attained orbit. ShipTwo had been moved behind the planet and the defenses had, just in time, been extended to the Disciple's territory.

  The first attack was, as expected on the capital city of the Lord's Army Dominion. The second was on the capital of the Faith of Eternity and the third on the capital of the Disciples of Faith.

  What was left of the Lord's Army was well-protected—Burlim hadn't waited till after the attack to initiate defense.

  Since no one had been able to install defensive plasmas for the Faith of Eternity, its people had been decimated.

  The Disciples of Faith's defense was only partially effective and many died.

  Burlim was busy rushing to the various control spots to see to repairs. Xela was underground. Velu and Zena were well on their way into the Unholy Lands.

  ~~~

  In all, ShipThree had unleashed seventy-two bolts of highly-charged plasma in fifteen minutes. The defenses had cycled between working and failing twenty times and there was mass devastation. Burlim had been killed but one of his last acts before the attack had paid off—his rigging of the orbital laser that powered the ships so its frequency could be shifted. The failures of their defenses had initially kept the Angans from reaching the controls for the laser but, finally, ShipThree was no more.

  Xela discovered the journey her son and Velu had begun and immediately ordered the Assembly to rule in her stead as she swiftly took to the roads.

  ~~~

  Xela was welcomed in the Narian's main city, Oaur. Zena and Velu soon joined her and she immediately began her questions:

  "What were you thinking of?"

  Velu took the initiative:

  "We wanted to anticipate your next move and prepare for what we knew you wanted."

  "What I wanted?"

  "Yes, an audience with Akla."

  Xela wasn't surprised at Velu's prescience but her questions were brought to a halt. Velu continued:

  "He's willing to see you but it can't be today. He feels you need time to acclimate yourself, make the transition from war to peace, in his words."

  "How did you get to him? He sees no one."

  "He was waiting to greet us when we arrived, Xela."

  ~~~

  She approached Akla's tent with curiosity and confidence—she had many serious matters to discuss with this purported Prophet. As she entered and approached Akla she began to swoon. She steadied herself then fell to her knees. Akla rose and helped her to a cushion. He served her a cup of tea and gave her a cloth for her perspiration then returned to his divan.

  "I understand you have questions for me, Xela."

  She couldn't remember any of her questions.

  After a pause, Akla continued:

  "Your first question was to ask me for proof of my Prophethood. I ask you to search your mind for the answers in the knowledge you have of your own Holy Book. A pure heart will assure you of my claim.

  "Your second question deals with my using my influence to help you establish the Disciples of Faith as the ruling religion on this planet. That I will not do.

  "Your third question seemed to you of small consequence but is as important as the other two. Why were my followers leaving this land in the numbers you observed as you traveled here? They are pursuing their religious duty. They are going to the victims of the attacks, in all the other territories, to lend their assistance—physical and spiritual. Many will be killed in the territories of the Lord's Army and Faith of Eternity, martyrs to their Faith. They will resist no attack. Their example will spread My Message more quickly than hours of words."

  Akla paused then said: "What say you?"

  Xela sat and stared at his magnificent face. She felt reassured even though he had denied his help. She felt extremely humbled and wondered at the feeling.

  "Akla, it's very obvious you have masterful control of plasma communication. I thought Velu was the epitome of talent but you are far more proficie
nt."

  "Dear Xela, Velu is a special individual. I chose her and have aided her since she was a child but what I display is of a different order, a different plane of existence. You still see Me with veiled eyes yet your study and service to your religion should have prepared you to see Me with My eyes. You will lead your people in securing the peace on this planet and will initiate diplomatic talks with the Angans. But, when the time comes to prove your faith in God, you will fatally falter. I forgive you for that now."

  Akla rose and helped Xela to her feet. He led her out into the night and set her on the track back to her tent. She walked in a daze, heart at peace and mind roiling in abysmal confusion.

  ~~~

  Xela did begin the unification of the planet and did initiate peace talks with the Angans. Velu and Zena stayed in the Unholy Lands.

  4 ~ Grandeur

  Selections from the Trade/Peace Treaty between Anga-Param and Anla-Purum:

  Article 12B:

  It is hereby confirmed and covenanted that trade between our two Worlds will consist of:

  A: Settlers being sent from Anga-Param to Anla-Purum.

  Said settlers to have been given irrevocable access to endocrine implant deactivation techniques.

  B: Goods and considerations, to be determined by both Worlds in top-level discussions.

  Said goods and considerations shall be subject to thorough examination by the respective Trade Boards of each World, final approvals to be given by the Leadership Councils.

  C: Other critical items and people deemed necessary for continued free flow of trade.

  Said critical items and people to be cleared by Worlds' Trade Boards and Worlds' established Leadership Councils.

  D: Quantities and timing of delivery of the above mentioned trade items will be determined by joint approval by both Worlds' Leadership Councils.

  Article 48A:

  Concerning LightSail Ships:

  ShipTwo is hereby determined to be the property of the Leadership Council of Anla-Purum.

  ShipFour, when it arrives at Anla-Purum, will also become the property of its Leadership Council.

  For each close approach of the two Worlds one LightSail Ship will be automatically permitted to make the voyage to the World it is not orbiting. More flights than this must be jointly approved by both Worlds' Leadership Councils.

  Discussions will be held, the date to be determined by joint decision of both Worlds' Leadership Councils, to determine whether flights between Worlds will be permitted at times other than close approach.

  Article 92C:

  InterWorld Weapons:

  It is hereby jointly confirmed and covenanted by Anga-Param's and Anla-Purum's Leadership Councils that no weapons will be transported from one World to the other, whether Ship-mounted or personally-carried, or individually-implanted.

  ~~~

  The farming family sat in their kitchen in the hills of Beselima, forty miles from Babur, overlooking the Vesun River.

  Helmos, the father, said to his wife, Murlum:

  "We can't make the quota."

  "But, we must or the children will suffer."

  The children—Nesur, twelve; Albes, six; and Iti, five—sat with intense interest in the conversation.

  "Murlum, if we can't, we can't. So, we must find a way to transfer the children to a safer place."

  "What place? Anla, with its religious idiots?"

  "No. A place on Anga. A place I've heard of, with a family of Harians."

  "Oh, so dump them with local rather than alien religious idiots, eh?"

  "No, Murlum, Sezurna says these people are reasonable and won't infect the children with religious ideas."

  Nesur, the twelve-year-old, said:

  "Who is Sezurna?"

  "He's my transport connection in Babur."

  "How does he know these Harians and how can they still be alive after the religious purging last year?"

  "Nesur, there are places in Beselima that no member of the Leadership Council or any of their underlings can find—places secure from any surveillance."

  "Then we all should move there..."

  "And live on what, air and kindness?"

  "But, father, how can you explain an absence of your children?"

  Helmos stared at his eldest, looked to his wife, then glanced at Albes and Iti. Finally, he said:

  "Children are often taken by the deranged beasts that our beloved leaders have bred to keep us in our assigned locations."

  "But we have plasma fences..."

  "They will have to fail long enough for you to be eaten by beasts."

  The two youngest children laughed hilariously.

  Nesur began to cry.

  ~~~

  Kesma Trem and Urjan Elosm had lived in the same apartment for four years.

  Kesma was striving to become a Bonded Plot Analyst on the Corporate Mesh. He'd lost fifty pounds in the last two years.

  Urjan was a doctor at the largest hospital in Ansa. She was helping Kesma to his simulated recreation area. He had also lost most of the nerve control in his left leg. Urjan said:

  "Won't you please let me admit you to the hospital? I can't properly attend to you anymore. Please understand... Three shifts daily is hard for me..."

  "You need more simulated recreation."

  "And, you need less."

  "It helps me calm down before Plot sessions."

  "You need less Plot Playing, too."

  "Urjan, credits..."

  "Will they give me credits for your death?"

  The lights began to flicker then went out. Urjan said:

  "If I was Harian, I'd say my prayer was just answered."

  Kesma began to have violent tremors. Urjan helped him to the floor and rushed to retrieve her medical case. As she returned to his side she could feel he was shaking less so, instead of giving him an injection, she grabbed the portable implant trigger and activated it. Kesma became still, opened his eyes, and said:

  "Turn up the visualization parameter, I need to daydream."

  "Kesma, Kesma, I'm so afraid for you..."

  "Never fear, Urjan, once I'm Bonded, you can quit the hospital and do the research you've craved and I'll have Corporate help for my various ills."

  "If the Corporation doesn't kill us both in the mean time."

  ~~~

  The Leadership Council of Anga, formed from the ranks of the previous Corporate Regeneration Committee, sat at a table in the most secure room of the building. They had mentally blended their connections to the top tier of the Corporate Mesh enabling simultaneous mental rapport with each other and access to Plot Analyses.

  Five men dedicated to keeping the provisions of the Trade/Peace Treaty amenable to their manipulation. There was a separate Plot channel just for this. As they spoke to each other, their minds cast up charts and figures from the latest analyses as their emotions resonated to each others' thought-induced feelings.

  ShipFour was well on its way to Anla. Special procedures had been instituted to allow 150,000 settlers to board—95 of whom had been fitted with implants that communicated with the normal endocrine implants in a way that masked any activation of either implant. These people were the Leadership Council's safety net—their eyes on the ground—and, eventually, their means to control the leadership of Anla. Since the overt war had ended and the Lord's Army and Faith of Eternity had been almost wiped out, Xela of the Disciples of Faith had become the planet's head of their Leadership Council. They needed a destabilizing force to counter her rationality.

  The ninety-five double-implants were all highly trained in various skills that were determined to be attractive to the Anlans. Getting them elected to or even near the Anlan Leadership Council was the goal.

  The members of the Angan Leadership Council all abruptly stopped communicating, with each other and the Corporate Mesh, simultaneously. All they could do was listen to the voice they heard:

  "My name is Akla. I choose to alert you to the folly of your plans. I do this no
t for you but for the people you attempt to enslave for your evil intentions.

  "You think that your plans, constantly amended as circumstances change, are becoming better plans, more capable of furthering your despicable ends.

  "Know this: your people are dying out because of your plans. Your World itself is becoming an entity that is dying at your hands.

  "I could choose to stop you but it will be more in accord with justice for you to continue your machinations and be caught out by the leaders on Anla-Purum.

  "Woe unto you and woe to all who ignore my warnings."

  The voice stopped resounding in their minds. Two of them fainted. One threw up. The other two began a trace on what they thought was a breach in their plasma communication channels.

  ~~~

  Xela sat in her straight-backed chair waiting for her Leadership Council to assemble. She had been in recent communication with Velu and Zena and was told that the followers of Akla, now called Aklans rather than Narians, as well as Akla himself were still committed to doing nothing to breach the treaty but still unwilling to have a seat on the Leadership Council.

  There had been the release of a set of writings by Akla, spread widely across the under-populated planet and, from what she suspected, transmitted to the Harians on Param.