by Moulton, CD
Kurk couldn't see it. There wasn't any other reasonable way. There was no way to move a black hole. There was no way to move Tlorg and there was no way to move Terra. The only other option was to move Prlnth, which was even farther fetched (Was there any such term?) than moving planetary masses or more in N space! Why not get the whole mess over with and be done with it? What would Z hope to accomplish by giving some silly speech to that Prlnth? The answer wasn't a thing that was going to change.
It suddenly made sense, so Kurk went to stand close to the golem which placed them where they could avoid being heard by any of those who were listening to the argument.
"Maita?"
*Yes?*
"You can't send a large planet splitter through the portal because the placing of that much of the energy of our type into that plane would do exactly what we're trying to prevent, right?"
*Yes, but that isn't the only reason we won't do it. We wouldn't do it if we could short of that being the only possible way we could see to save Tlorg. I could possibly do that in that extreme circumstance. Thing might be persuaded it was a necessary thing. Its logic would be its salvation, but we could never let Z know we had done it.*
"Just because that's the way he is?"
*Just because that's the way Z is.*
*
Maita was happy with the way it turned out. It also learned a great deal about the various beings they were dealing with. The Frome was almost back to the ship in the floater. It was a bit more simple than the Pluton, but was a good kind of friend to have. Loyal and trustworthy. Z was right about these people. If anything survived this thing Tlorg would be invited into the empire first order of business.
There was one more minor detail to be handled. What had they actually accomplished? Z wanted the records of the ship read. It was done, but it could have been done in a much simpler way. All of this was fun in its own way, but there had to be more than that. As much as they enjoyed these silly things there had to be a very important purpose to it even with the Terran. Z was now arguing with the Prlnth about what was done and what was planned.
The dramatics were unnecessary. The rescue of the family was the only thing that was important. There was that, but it was also a thing that could have been done without all the extreme theatrics.
The group was at the rendezvous point. Maybe Z would explain what it was all about now.
*
Z came from his clamshell floater with the others. It had been crowded, but the closeness was nice.
"Let's hope we found what I think we did!" he said. "I guess you're wondering what this was done for. Let me explain.
"We've been wondering from the first time we came here about the way the otherplaner might think. We would want to base our actions toward the otherworlders and the Prlnth on some kind of logic that could make it reveal its weaknesses. We didn't have a basis on which to even begin. All we knew was that it has no tiny compunction against destroying Tlorg. There was simply no way we could determine what would or wouldn't work in this case ... so! I decided to confront Nrkll. I wanted to see how it would react to direct argument.
"You know what happened when I arrived. The Prlnth took as hostages those who I had shown any caring for. It also took the sorceress, Zaft, to show it had no fear of magic.
"I had to do several things after getting my temper under control. I got the idea to demonstrate that my magic is much more powerful than the science of this otherplaner, but to make any real inroads into this I had to learn several things. To learn those things meant we would have to do something to give me some understanding of this being. I had an idea that would tell me most of what I must know while also turning this being's own methods against it. Why should WE have to go so far toward understanding IT? Wouldn't we accomplish as much or more by shaking its confidence in its knowledge? It was downright arrogant when it talked with us! Nrkll had as much as bragged it had us figured to the last degree. It said that because of my reputation I would suffer anything to save those it had taken as hostages. In shorter words it could manipulate me at will.
"Our little show did everything it was designed to do. Nrkll is totally confused as to what we are and to how we'll react, we've stopped its ability to open that portal cold for quite a while now and it's at last convinced it can't compete with my magic. It hasn't any vague idea of how I could possibly get out of that room myself, much less how I got the others out – and I never set off any of its alarms. It again worries about our ability to remove its energy.
"I now understand a great deal about how it thinks. It's truly alien. It has, or it had, total contempt for us and for everything on this plane. We were considered less than they because we have different dimensional angles. We were even less because we allow emotions to control our actions. We were less because we would allow the Prlnth to destroy this world.
"Fale, Kurk, I wish to thank you for your help in this. It's something I couldn't have done alone. Your courage and caring mean more than you could ever guess to me.
"Maybe, Extrx, I never doubted for one moment I could depend on you. We have a strong basis for mutual trust built over time.
"Golems, you played your parts to perfection. To you also I offer thanks.
"I think Fale and Kurk should know the heat or cold we use on the golems doesn't actually harm them in any way. The golems are made to show people things, to teach lessons in a comical way. I find that comedy is usually remembered much more clearly than a serious lecture.
"Now I must be alone to meditate, to explore what must yet be done. Thank you, my friends. I love each of you dearly."
And that is one of the hardest things to learn to say I have ever found Z finished in his mind.
Z climbed into the clamshell floater. Maita would take the golems back to Teeme where it could complete the corrections of the court system. Fale would go back with the golems to Teeme.
When Z was alone in the floater he spoke to Maita.
"What did you learn from reading the ship's sensor records?"
*I don't really know what you're looking for, Z.*
"Well, it's possible I don't understand everything about the planal distortion bit. I don't. I admit it.
"Is it true you wondered how that ship was brought through TTH nineteen? Didn't you figure such a movement of mass could have caused the very thing we're trying to prevent and wouldn't this have all been nonexistence since the first attempt?"
*Not definitely, but it was a strong possibility. Oh!* There was a pause. *I see. The external sensors on the Jornian ship recorded a hell of a lot usually not even checked by computers unless an alarm's sounded. The ship was transferred through TTH nine.*
"And that means?
"I'm guessing and admit it, but it seems to me this is as important as anything we've learned to this point. It's our answer, isn't it?"
*It could be part of it. What do you propose?*
"I think Thing is the only one here who can say for sure, right?"
*Probably. I'll discuss it with Thing right away. It's a possible way out of an impossible situation. What do you propose?*
"I don't know. It does seem we have to study every chance we get, which means we need more time, which means we have to keep the Prnlth off balance, which means we have to teach it fear. I think we've done some of that!"
*We've done some of that!*
*
Thing rose on its floater to a position in the branches of a thick tree, then climbed onto the spreading limbs. It would have preferred to climb on Ehrak, Z or Kurk, but when Maita sent an urgent message for it to find an isolated spot where it could do some intense thinking and calculating it moved to the nearest comfortable spot.
So Z had a purpose for all of this playacting they had done on that ship. He had found something. Something vital.
The floater was hovering close enough the empathic silent communication could be used. Thing found a comfortable position in a crotch, settled and began the communication.
[
I'm ready, Maita. What do we have? ]
*Z found some things that seem important to me, but you can handle the abstract math that I can't. Not so quickly. This is what we know to this point. The ship was transferred through TTH nine, not TT....*
[ Nine?! You're sure? ]
*Very. Positive. Z used the diversion you were causing in the stasis room to attach a lead to the ship's external recorder computation sections. The ship was transferred through TTH nine. It was never in TTH nineteen.*
[ I've repeatedly tried to determine why we still exist if that much mass had been placed in TTH nineteen. None of the math would quite work. Go on. ]
*Z thinks you can work out a way to use the information. He has an idea that isn't formed very well, but he's sure there's something there.*
[ Z studied the power storage spheres intimately (Flight of the Maita) when we first met. The spheres shunt energy through TTH nine. Mass doesn't exist in that plane, either, but the ship passed through that plane. It IS mass. I know what his suspicion is, I think. Let me work on the math. It's complicated. It's as complicated as anything I've ever come across. It'll take some time, Maita. Z has given us that with the playacting and the magic and the rest of it. Let's hope I can work this out relatively quickly. I know what I'm looking for. Here's as good a place as any. ]
*I'll keep watch over you. I'll tell Z what's happening. Z will tell the others what's going on. They can spend a little of their time exploring this place. Z can look for orchids, Ehrak likes spelunking – remember how Tom liked the caves here – and Kurk will enjoy accompanying either of them. Would you be more comfortable in the ocean?*
[ No. This will be fine. I may move if I get into a block of some sort. ]
Maita withdrew so the little empath could submerge itself in the unbelievably complicated abstract math.
*
Kurk and Ehrak found some caves that were used at various times for various purposes, then found a large one that appeared to have never been explored. It was foregone they would explore that one first. Z was in a river valley a few kilometers away studying the plants. He told them Thing was working on a solution to this, that the act at the Jornian ship accomplished most of what they set out to do. The problem didn't seem insoluble anymore. It was going to work out if things didn't suddenly turn sour for some reason. It looked good.
What a crazy omniverse!
Kurk checked the lights carefully, then he and Ehrak went into the cave. There were some beautiful formations which they photographed. There were also some strange phosphorescent insects and plants in spots which they recorded. They found some minerals that were a bit rare in their forms, collecting a few of the crystals for souvenirs. They would be something with which to remember each other and this world. They became fast friends at the same time. They could never really understand one another, but they did have quite a lot in common. Ehrak was more interesting than Kurk had first thought while Kurk was much more honest and open than Ehrak had first thought. The traits they shared were all good ones.
The following day Kurk went with Z to the valley where he was surprised to learn Z was truly an expert on certain types of plants. He was also much more the person he seemed to be than Kurk had believed to that time. Being a biologist himself Kurk shared a lot with Z and his enthusiasm for certain plant forms.
Z found Kurk was easy to be with and was interesting in a lot of ways while Kurk found Z to be basically shy. They became fast friends very quickly. Z even invited Kurk to come to EC!
Then the word came from Maita. Thing had confirmed that the problem was solved with the Prlnth. Z had been right!
"Now the real work begins," Z said as they headed back to the floater.
The Answer
Maita received the math from Thing much sooner than it had hoped. The readings from the Jornian ship helped tremendously. Now a way to use it must be devised. The danger here was postponed, not negated. Unless and until one contact point was closed permanently the danger remained.
Maita sent floaters to all of the crew telling them to come in for a meeting. The math was done.
The spy floaters on the Jornian ship weren't too reliable as the direct beams they used were too often cut off by various things such as closed doors, but Maita learned enough to know Nrkll was in a much deeper stasis now, though not by any measure in full stasis. It was thinking and scheming at a very reduced pace. Z's little act still hadn't become totally clear.
Maita was sure a major part of it was simply for fun. Z was like that. Much of what he did was a mystery even to himself.
Kurk was more a part of the team than Ehrak was. That was plain. Maita was going to offer him a place among the permanent crew if no one objected – and no one would. Thing had already agreed and Z was obviously fond of him. They were in the Valley of Mists right now collecting plants.
Kurk was a very hard person to understand. He was amoral, yet sensitive. He was compassionate, yet was capable of cruelty. He was tender, yet extremely violent. He was also fiercely loyal, absolutely trustworthy, honest. What more could anyone be? Who were the crew of the Maita to point at anyone? They were collectively everything that Kurk was individually!
What?! A distress call from the Jornian ship to Fleet?
Maita immediately intercepted, but left it for Fleet HQ to hear.
*This is Emperor Maita. I am in the area of restricted planet N seventy four SAN P two twenty one seventy one C with my crew. We are en route to Tlorg now where we will ask them to become provisional members of the Maitan Empire if they will so vote. What is the nature of your emergency?*
"Emperor Maita!" Nite replied. "We were hijacked – repeat hijacked – almost one MGS year ago by a creature from another plane! It had a scheme to make power from dimensional interstice planal interface tension. It was stopped by – believe this or not, Emperor Maita, and I won't be surprised if you tell me I'm nuts! – by some local wizards and what they call demons here. Beings from other planes. One of them is ... well, terrifying, really. But he didn't do anything, really. The women think he's the sexiest ... I'm sorry. I'm still in some kind of shock, I think.
"It seems there is a talent on this world...."
*I am aware of the wizards of Tlorg. I was on the planet a time ago and have met interplanal visitors there. They are part of the reason I wish Tlorg in the empire at such an early stage of development. Which plane was the hijacker from?*
"I don't know," Nite sent back. "It was a complicated one. Nrkll had to stay in a partial stasis chamber. The wizard they call Boss said the power drain from Tlorg would kill everyone on the planet!"
*I see. A high plane. If it is one above sixteen it could be the.... It would have to be. I have visited all of the others with beings who can survive in N space even in stasis. Jornian ship, place a T-transmitter to mark your present exact location and place complete records of your experiences since the beginning of your trip out, including all readings from all ship's computers and statements from as many crew members and passengers as wish to make them on the empire satellite. Your ship is operational?*
"Yes, I believe so," Nite replied. "We are using the fission generators at the moment. Our power sphere is exhausted."
*Fleet, this is Emperor Maita. Transport a power sphere to meet specifications of the Jornian ship to high orbit above that planet. Rendezvous with said ship, replace their power sphere and get specifics on how that much power was possibly exhausted in such a short time. I am assuming you undertook your journey with a full charge, Jornian ship?*
"Ninety seven point six percent, according to our records," Nite answered. "The Wizard Boss and a demon they called Maybe simply grounded the power from the sphere."
*Demon? Oh yes, an otherplaner. How could even a wizard of Tlorg hold a spell long enough to ground a power sphere? It would take on the order of ten days with the total capacity ground flow.*
"It took one lousy second, believe it or not!" Nite replied.
*Oh, I do believe it. I know those
wizards and I have seen that spell worked once a hundred years ago or so. You have not interfered with the culture there?*
"No. Only one family and one sorceress were ever aboard the ship. We did meet a few other sorcerers, but not near here," Nite answered. "They didn't seem to be in the least surprised that we were from another world. If you've seen one of those Plutons you can understand how we wouldn't scare them at all!"
*I plan to take a Pluton as a crewmember. I know the people well. Fleet will aid you in any way possible. Report to Hospital for a checkup. I will handle this personally, though I suspect the Wizard Boss, who I have also heard of – Thing met him, I believe, a couple of centuries or so ago – will have solved any problems on his own. Good fortune, Jornian ship. Fleet, I will not hesitate to call you if you are in any way needed further.*
Ehrak came to the clamshell first, then Thing, then Kurk and Z.
*Get in. I think we can work something out. We have time and I have a lot to report while you're on the way back to Teeme. This is one hell of a surprise to me, but maybe Z can explain. The Prlnth is gone, the math is worked out and the Jornian ship is leaving Tlorg. Why the silly grin, Z?*
*
Ehrak climbed a nearby peak to lay on a wide boulder in the warm sunlight while the rather cool breeze teased at his fur. He needed to think.
If they survived this, and he was sure they would, he had accomplished tremendously more than what he had set out to do. Ehrak of Zeena had lived through this wild legend-making time with legendary figures and hadn't been found wanting. His heritage was not to be denied. He would have these true stories to tell his children and grandchildren of other worlds and of other planes as well as of Emperor Maita and its crew. He had some souvenirs to give them. He would have to work out a way not to mention Maita was a machine. That was a sacred trust that would never be broken under any circumstances.
