“Bringing the music sheets and dogs to that platform,” Melena pointed. When Beulah and everyone looked back, the immense place was full with Beings of every kind imaginable. “The matter of the two forbidden visits will be dealt with first.”
Thankfully, this part took the first day. Sesha brought the dogs up; they were on an invisible leash by a chip under their skin; Sesha had the unit to keep them by her. The Planetary President was there with what had been found out.
“Twenty-five hundred years ago the Okeela race joined the Alliance,” his voice without translation sounded like the growls and barks of a dog and all of them with Sesh whined, shifted and made noise of their own. “There was still a small group of holdouts and they made the decision to leave. We placed them on one of our moons, engineered to live on but without space-going technology as they wished. A few years later we discovered the six were gone as well as a small shipping barge. We were not able to track it and after ten years of searching, wrote them off as dead.”
“And the findings now?” First Council Member asked.
“We find that the faint genetic markers in these… dogs… matches the codes from 4 of the 6, telling us the Okeelas did land on earth, procreate and later die off. Without a substantial teacher, the progeny devolved until these are all that’s left of the deserters.”
“Have they been tested?” Second Council Member was, in fact, an Okeela. “What are their scores, if so?”
“Language has many similarities, but intelligence is not even scaled that low. For the beasts they are I’m sure they are well-trained but as Okeelas, the only similarity is body shape while on all fours. They cannot even rise erect for longer than a few seconds. Seshaph’lariminium tells us they were cruelly used, trained to keep all Beings at bay and savagely attack any animal that crossed their perimeter, but she was able to alter that with the help of her Wrist Gem. They are good, domestic animals now and it is our suggestion that they stay with the Human Refugees.” The Being bowed, stepped back onto a platform which rose after he had sat, dog-style.
A break was taken for food and resting, so Sesha and the dogs joined the Refugees. Tired already, the woman was glad to stretch out, her head in Beulah’s lap, legs across Sarah’s. Delia laid her premature infant on Sesha and taught her how to hold the tiny thing.
“First Human baby ever born off planet, that is known of at least,” she smiled.
“What’s his name?” Sesha ran one finger through the sheaf of black hair on his tiny head.
“Tim and I decided on ‘Adam,’ as he is the first in this new world,” Delia smiled as her husband joined them. “Tis just good to know he is not from… him. An’ I did let them fix me so I can have more babes later without issue.”
The day ended with investigation into the Bahrain visit but there was no evidence that could be found of what happened, which forced charges to be dropped. Nothing was done to the Okeela Race as there was no point in punishing any Being for what was done so long ago by a set unwilling to follow the laws. There would be no incursion to the world to collect the rest or to test any other types, for the alien DNA would soon fade to nothing. The dogs were under good control by the Humans and Sesha, they were safe then.
Day two brought further uproar over the problem with the BrainPans. It was discovered that on every ship with one, the fluids were so diminished in nutrients that a similar problem could occur at any time. All were in dock now, crews staying on planet while Engineers worked on the problem. Seawater had already been sent by cargo-warp, arriving safely and was infused, bringing ships up to full power. But those who’d come after the Inventor, the Being who had realized the idea, drew up the schematics and gathered the team of top scientists to bring it to fruition were called on the carpet.
“Esteemed Council,” the water-breather from the ocean city Ch’Dell on Brienda Prime stood before the group on a small platform that carried him and his tank so he could come onto dry land for a certain amount of time, “every ship is given a full complement of soluble discs to drop through a special hatch into the fluid. These wafers contain the elements critical to the total functionality of the Brain. It is not the fault of this company if the ship’s Engineers did not do this chore,”
Here Melena and her crew rose to their feet after she touched a pad signaling the Council of a desire to be heard.
“Thus we are not the ones upon whom the investigation should be centered.”
“Recognizing Melena Taurosa-Nili of the planet Ackermari First, Head of the ship the Inner Six. You have something to say?”
“Esteemed Council; I have been Head of the Inner Six for a century now, since the ship first sailed,” Melena bowed a bit, “and never have I heard of this. I know my ship and its needs well, if you look at my evaluations.”
“I am Chief Engineer Creyling of Beharin, Council members. I came on board the ship when Melena did for after learning of her advancement she chose major components of the crew. Never in all my years on the ship were we ever given any such wafers and I ask the council to examine all the records kept of work done. There is no special hatch. Look through our technical schematics and please, feel free to come on board and look at the BrainPan – but you will have to do it on an unaltered ship, for ours was taken apart.”
“We have the vid of the work done and shall be able to tell; my,” the female First Council Member finally looked up as the Tenth Member Flo’drex of Beharin was urging her too. Around the coliseum were other groups standing and the holos of people watching from all over the Alliance showed others standing as well, all signaling for their turn.
“All who make the same statement as the Head and Chief of the Inner Six so signify by raising an appendage over head,” and after a moment to look at all the groups said “and who disagree?” and there was none. Not even from smaller ships which ran on similar systems.
“u’Bul from Ch’Dell; what say you to what all these Beings now state?” Fourth Council Member actually looked a bit amused, interested at this new development.
“This Being does not know what to say… the original blueprints have the aforementioned hatches. Perchance the ship’s engineers changed them to better suit their needs,” at that every crewmember of every ship with a brain rose with a roar of protest. Creyling’s voice rose above all.
“Come inspect all pieces of the BrainPan from our ship, they are still in storage on the Inner Six. Any engineer you choose can show you the area this hatch is supposed to be in and you can check on any other ship! It is not there, there never have been special wafers to drop in!”
“Seshaph’lariminium; take the platform to the Witness platform. We wish your memories of the BrainPan, upon first seeing it.”
She had to bestow kisses and hand back the baby, then lightly held the handle provided for balance, if needed. Sesha never needed one before but this accident had left her not quite herself, at least, this far. The round piece carried her at what was comfortable speed for her as now she got dizzy easily.
“Humans,” Fourth Council Member Łśss from Sularia spoke up, “as this is… technical above your knowledge and not concerning you yet, if you wish, may go back to your Inn where you will be given more enjoyable diversion.”
The group looked at each other. “Whoever wishes to, please go,” Beulah took her role as leader again. “Those with babes and small ones, any others. I be staying as to watch our Sesha.”
“I stay too,” Nicodemus put in.
“And I… and Sarah,” Darren noted as his wife moved to sit by Beulah. “The rest go an’ have peace from these crowds. We shall keep thee informed.” On this good advice they did, Ben and Ezra needing drug off until Sesha spoke up.
“Boys, go too… I’m fine. You’re all due for your Wrist Gems, you know, so if you go back now you can get yours right away.” That was the incentive it took and they went. Sesha settled into the chair and began. “There were only a few lights on; the temperature was 25 degrees lower than normal,” and from there a specia
l light took the memory directly from her mind and showed it, with Sesha explaining, skipping the long walks and keeping only to the temporary repair of the pan.
Day three and the call to attend didn’t go out till almost the end of the day, and then only to a select ‘few,’ which still seemed like a massive multitude to the Refugees. The word ‘congregation’ was losing its hold on them the longer there and that was good too. Individualism was exerting already, for being up such a short period of time. Luckily all the Humans kept on good behavior as to show the best side.
“I do not understand,” Beulah murmured to Sesha as they slipped into their area. Privacy screens kept them from the billions of curious eyes for the most part, especially as they walked to their area and found new improvements for them. “If this be on the engines, why call us?”
“I don’t know Beulah,” Sesha was weary again, her pain level going up with each day. She was keeping quiet about it though, squelching it even from Shni. A quiet voice in their section called for Sesha and Beulah, Nicodemus, Darren and Sarah to all approach. A much larger platform waited. “I guess we’re going to find out. Come on,” Sesha stepped to first position. “I’m piloting. Just step on and grasp a handle.”
Tensions were high even among the Alliance Council and all felt it. Fifth Member Ţ’zo-zo from Quarra rose. An albino, like Resmi, wonderful human-like form was a bit of a relief to the four.
“We have been working steadily on the issue of the BrainPans and come to find out that in the Alliance we thought was so carefully guarded, there has been mischief. Going on for centuries, carefully kept to only a few, this mischief has showed us that we have not truly reached the perfect society we believed was possible.” The male Being sighed and shifted the blanket he was wrapped in for warmth. This was not his preferred temperature!
“Thousands of worlds that have achieved space travel have asked for admittance to the Alliance; almost all have been turned down for the very issue we find still present in our society. Even groups that have asked for asylum, while being helped, were not admitted but placed elsewhere, free from the wrong they were under.”
Troubled, Beulah looked at Nic first, Sarah and Darren then finally at Sesha. Her face was blank but she took Beulah’s hand in comfort and hope.
Seventh Member ßïnaca rose now, one of Sesha’s own kind and ever-so-barely gave Sesha a respectful gesture. “Beulah Allway, are you the only Leader of this group?”
“I guess, Esteemed Councilor. E’en though our people gave sign, I am not entirely sure I should be the Official Leader, but,”
“Prithee to excuse me,” Darren interrupted, “but Beulah be circumstantially placed in this position an’ we all trust her decisions. So yes, she be the Leader.”
“An’ there is no other-gender,” the Nestram was accessing her language bank.
“Man. Male,” Sesha filled in. “Beulah, female, is the only leader at present, ßïnaca, Ma’am.”
“Thank you,” she nodded. “Lady Beulah, you have no mate? Husband?” Beulah just shook her head no. “Is there a male among you that is likewise unattached?”
“Nicodemus, here,” Beulah gestured. “He be a widower, “an’ there be several younger men,”
“Would your people accept Nicodemus as a Leader, as well as you?” Looking up, the Council Member addressed the group. “Refugee Humans from Earth, do you accept Beulah Allway as one of your Leaders?”
“Yea, verily,” came from almost every throat, including the children.
“And also Nicodemus Morrison, as equal leader of your group as well?” again came the assent, still as one. “Then it is official; Beulah Allway and Nicodemus Morrison are the leaders of the Human Refugee group.” She cleared her throat, an excuse to get up the nerve for what must be said.
“The Council has decided early that, based on this new discovery of corruption in a society where it was thought to be vanquished, we absolutely cannot deny the request for Asylum from the Humans of the planet they call Earth, circa their year 1847 or somewhere about,” he used Darren’s words exactly. “All are granted the request and all are given full Citizenship in the Alliance, with all rights and privileges thereof.”
The shock that rippled through the Beings there – and the Humans – was strong. This was simply unheard of!
“My Lords and Ladies,” Nicodemus was able to speak first, “I doubt there be any society completely free of problems; thou shoulds’t accept us solely on our merit,”
“We have,” First Council Member spoke up. “Believe when we say we have. But we would be worse hypocrites than others you know of if we were to deny you for problems inherent in your society being as there are still similar problems in ours. Please, sir… believe us when we say that we welcome the Humans from the Planet Earth to our society, and also include Florence Knighting, as remote ambassador to the Alliance. Her Wrist Gem shall be continually on-line and updated until she dies. If she does not find someone suitable to pass the Gem on to, it will automatically self-destruct. Welcome to the Alliance, Humans one and all!”
For not anywhere close to a full crowd the cheering was tremendous!
The Florence hologram rose up on Beulah’s bracelet. “I say congratulations for you now, Beulah,” the foot-tall picture reached up and patted Beulah’s cheek. “When my physical form receives the news in a day or two, she’ll answer back, probably with much more enthusiasm than I am now.”
“Would be unbecoming,” Beulah smiled.
“Tomorrow will be a day of rest for all; day after that the trial of Seshaph’lariminium will begin.” The Council all rose at that but Beulah protested.
“To make her wait yet another day --”
Rosh’io, Ackermari First Council Member smiled fully now. “We need to take a break, Lady Beulah. And Harnan needs to check his patient; she is in pain and very weary but keeps it to herself.”
Now Sesha blinked and opened her mouth.
“You forget, because we have never had to use it, that we know the physical and mental states of all who stand before us. All of you get back to the Inn and relax. If you desire, a few visitors have requested to meet you. You can determine their order randomly if you so wish, refuse all for now or take them in order of time the request was made.” She left then too, for the rest had quietly gone.
“I guess,” Beulah said as they rode in the train-like conveyance back to the Inn, “there will be no shopping trips for a bit?”
“Probably for a while,” Sesha leaned against Darren, tired. He carried her inside – what father wouldn’t, for his child? – where Harnan checked her over, gave medicines then had Beulah and Sarah put her to bed. All offers of visitors were politely refused, citing overload and exhaustion. Sesha slept for several hours and then representatives from the A Quad came back for one last talk; what they could and would do for Sesha.
The uproar that day was the most incredible ever known, predicted to outdo the upcoming Phenjamian Ascension in nine more years. And as to that…
The Refugees, now citizens of the Alliance were still being carefully protected from all those desiring to see this new facet of life in their world, the eagerness of just getting close enough to see, maybe touch could cause a riot and harm or even kill the group, so there continued to be fields surrounding them as they went back to their spot.
“Seshaph’lariminium!” the voice, female, was demanding and Sesha waved open part of the wall to see who was calling her. Behind and up from the section the group was given was a set of Phenjams; mostly guards but three generations of family. Her first client, her daughter T’ri’ Hyprenna, whom Sesha had shopped for so long ago, and two others.
“You’ve grown a lot, Princess,” Sesha commented. A quick glance behind her noted the Council was ready, but waiting. One did not interrupt the relative of a God/Goddess!
“I still keep in touch with Rrgth, Bree, and Glim. Rr and Br,” so they’d shortened the names, “still design my clothes. Glim came to live with us for a while and in fa
ct he delivered the twins! Here they are,” Caretakers brought forward two unearthly beautiful youngsters; completely identical in every way except gender. They were quiet, for three-year-olds, almost pensive as they looked at the small humans their size running around. Both heads turned to look at their Mother, who smiled and asked, “may A’ala and A’ana join your children? They wish to play with them.”
Beulah looked at Nic who looked around; everyone nodded yes so the soon-to-be God and Goddess, the Beginning of the Next Stage of Evolution for their kind came down with parents, grandparents and one Caretaker each to play with Human children while Sesha’s fate was decided.
This part took days. Sesha, dressed casually in pants and a tunic, sat in an odd reclining chair with a thin light shining on the top of her head. She talked a lot in a voice that was a bit fuzzy-sounding, and answered questions in between recounting everything from start to finish.
The Council kept track of everything, for or against. Testing the computers to see what was the matter: for. Trying to wake Head Melena: for. Just the consideration of going in the BrainPan room, much less actually setting foot in there: against. Against, against.
Creyling leaped to his feet, yelling objections so Sesha was stopped and he was acknowledged.
“We have crew in the Pan all the time! It’s encouraging for others to know it’s not something to be afraid of. They gain an understanding of what powers the ship and all systems so they feel comfortable around the bio-mechanical construct.”
“It is against regulations for any other than Ship Engineers to be in the room! No matter what.”
“Then make a strike against me as well, and my entire engineering crew.” Hands went up, more voices erupted demanding marks against them too. Finally all was quieted, and then Sesha’s Representative from Amnesty, Asylum and Acquittal Alliance rose.
She simply said “extenuating circumstances, Council Members,” and sat back down.
Weathering Storms Page 52
