The Staff of Ira

by Carl Sheffield

  “It’s something you had to do to keep you from being hurt or your family from being hurt. Tressa, just remember, nothing comes before family.”

  I suppose we should help with the truck. “Tressa, what you did does not influence us. I still love you, honey.”

  Tressa answered, “I love you to Opa.” Walking away I looked back, Tressa was still setting on the truck.

  “Something else on your mind have you, Tressa,” I ask?

  Opa, “I wanted you to know I’ve talked to April, and Marie about something.”

  I said, “I bet it is about a certain young man.”

  Tressa’s mouth flew open. “Oh, Opa, how did you know?”

  “Tressa, I might be your Opa yet I can still see. Tressa, sometimes men and women of Earth can have several lovers or mates. In our home world, we mate for life. When we leave here, is he going. If he does, he needs to know about our laws. You go talk to him, tell him what is expected of him. Don’t make me do it. You are a Princess of a world with a queen and king. He will have high standard. Remember Tressa, family first.”

  I could read Tressa’s thought as her mind went to Zin. She thought her mother and father would never let it be, neither would Leah or me. She thought it had to be this way. Tressa loved Zin, she always has. Then her mind drifted to the stories of Ject and Mya. Tressa jumped off the truck.

  “Opa, I really don’t like this place. I now understand why you don’t like coming here, it’s too complicated.”

  I must admit, everyone jumped in and helped with the unloading of the truck. I thanked everyone. It was almost time to go. I had everyone to gather around.

  I said, “May I have your attention? Thus far, we have been lucky.” I looked down the driveway. Mr. Sams was here. I told them our last member was here. We have had no encounter with the Palatonians or Centaurians other than the fly by. The only thing left to do is load up.

  “Once again, if you don’t think you can make the journey, please don’t get on the shuttle. Remember, when we reach the big ship, it will be nine months before we reach home. You will see aliens that look a lot different than what you saw with me. I know some of you have the blood of the old ones that makes your family. Remember this,” I looked at the young man with Tressa, “there is nothing we treasure on Boldlygo more than we do our family.”

  There will be certain things on the ship you will be asked to do. There is more I want to say to you, there will be another time.” I shifted to my native body. “This is what most of us look as. The ones that went before you just opened the road for you. Our whole world is made of humans and natives. If not for the humans, our race would have died long ago. Now if you still want to go, please aboard the shuttle, we’re leaving.”

  Tyler said, “There was nothing on the scope.”

  Mr. Sams said, “I’m ready to go.” I saw Tressa and the young man. He told her he was scared. Tressa thought she was in love with a human; time will tell.

  I called to her, “Tressa, come, we got to go.” We are uncloaked.

  Tressa said, “I’m staying, Opa.”

  “Tressa, please!” I said.

  Tressa looked at him. “I’m willing to stay here with you.”

  “Tressa no! Tressa, please!”

  Then he said, “Ok, I’ll go.” We were very lucky to move when we did. The thing about stealth is when you come out, you can be seen. You’re dead if you don’t move quick. Leaving the farm, the barn exploded.

  Tyler said, “Man, that was luck. I’ll call the ship, tell them we’re coming, jump well beyond.” We went through the Earth’s atmosphere faster than most could believe. I was happy to be leaving.

  Tyler said, “Dorn, they’re looking for us.” I told him it doesn’t matter, we’re gone. Lori saw the big ship and passed out, Jay caught her. I guess she couldn’t stand the excitement.

  “Tressa,” I said, “Show Jay the sick room.” The young man with Tressa started to move. I stopped him, “we need to talk.”

  He answered, “Yes, sir.”

  I told him, “Help these people come aboard.”

  Everyone waited in the staging area. “I want to talk to you again before you are assigned to the quarters,” I told everyone, “Before you go to your quarters I want to introduce you to some people. You may call them aliens, weird, freaks; don’t do this, we are all the same, just different.”

  Ren and Fax came in. I must admit Fax was different yet speaks and walked as a human. I said, “Fax is the King of Xon, where you will be in time have the chance to visit. Fax has a beautiful planet. This is Ren, he is from our planet. Ren is one of the oldest on the council.”

  A young woman asked, “How old are you?”

  Ren replied to the woman, “Six hundred and fifty of your Earth years. You will find our city is over five thousand years old. We, our race, has been coming to Earth for thousands of years. Your race, the humans, you should have seen it the way I did the first time I was here as a child. Trust me, it wasn’t a nice place. You have evolved and taken your world forward to what it is today. I’m sure the people will keep going if they don’t destroy themselves. When you reach our world, your new world, if you wish to explore it, you must have a guide. There are places you cannot go, there are things you cannot eat. It will be strange to you at first.”

  A man asked, “How advance are you?”

  Ren stood in silence for a moment. “Do you ever see the world you live in has a spaceship travel to distant planets.”

  The man replied, “I see what you mean.”

  Ren looked at me. “Dorn, that’s all I have to say. I told them the year on Earth was 1941. In years to come, you may go to your moon; I’ve already been there. In the year two thousand, you will start your space station. Maybe in the year four thousand, you may be close space travel.”

  Fax asked, “May I say a word? People of Earth, once you arrived and settled, there will be a shuttle to my world; you may even want to live there. We have jobs as on Boldlygo. I want the trade for the Sweet Grass. I would like to try to grow this, we know nothing of this.”

  Old Lee said, “I could test the soil.” Fax gave his approval.

  I asked, “Lee, how do you feel?”

  Replying, “Damn it, boy, I never felt better. Wish I had something to blow up.” Everyone laughed. I assigned quarters then went with Lee to check on Lori. Walking to the sick room, Lori was sitting on the bed.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. “I was scared to damn death. What Tyler had told me all these months was true.” Lori looked out the portal. “Is that stars?” she asked.

  I told her, “No, that’s a picket fence. We’re still on Earth, you’re having a dream.”

  “Bullshit,” she said. I thought humans and their expression. I stepped into the corridor; a sentry was coming to me.

  “Dorn,” Zar said, “Your presence is needed on the bridge.”

  Entering the bridge, “April, where is Tyler?” I asked. She told me she didn’t know. I asked Zar what is the problem.

  Zar said, “Look, we have someone traveling with us. Look on the scope, there are eleven ships, there should be ten. I picked them up just before we went to hyperspace. I’ve tried to call, no reply.”

  I asked, “Who is on the port side?”

  Zar replied, “The Valorian ship.”

  I asked, “Where is Tressa?”

  Speaking from the corridor, “I’m here, Opa.”

  Coming to the bridge, I asked her, “Can you see who that is?”

  Tressa said, “Maybe with help.”

  Marie asked, “You want me to help?”

  Tressa replied, “You and April.” The girls touched hands, they tried.

  Tressa said, “No Opa, I can’t.”

  “Find Tyler, bring him here. Zar, when I give you a signal, come to full stop.” Tyler came to the bridge; I ran by him. �
�Come with me, Tyler.”

  “April, only if need be,” I said.

  April said, “Yes, Dorn.”

  I called to Marie, “I know, Dorn.”

  “Tressa, I’ll be waiting for Opa.”

  Zar looked at Marie. “What did he mean?”

  Marie said, “Destroy if you need to.” Tyler and I ran for the shuttle.

  I looked at him saying, “Now you will get an on-hand school. You will see why I insist on a clean deck.”

  I said, “Zar, open the hatch.” I told Tyler if something was left loose where would it go.

  Tyler said, “Yeah Dorn, I see through the hull.” I told Tyler to hold on.

  “Tyler, this has only been done once.” The hatch opens, we dropped out of the ship at an accelerated speed.

  Tyler said, “Man, what a rush.”

  I smiled. “Yes, it is.”

  I told Zar to come to a full stop, notify the other on my mark. Dropping from our ship, placed us behind the alien ship, I’ve never seen before. Zar, now we went to stealth. The alien ship had no idea what just happened.

  Flying at light speed, when they come to a stop, Tyler were above them. I moved in front of the alien ship, I come from cloak. The ship could see me, they could not escape. I held them no answer.

  “What is your intention, alien ship?” A language I’ve never heard, then silence. A few words sounded, “We mean you no harm.”

  I said to them, “Then allow us to dock with you.”

  Docking alongside the alien ship, I told Tyler to be on guard. From outside, I looked over the ship. I must say, it was a beautiful ship. Tyler and I walked to the hatch. As the hatch opened, there were several being waiting.

  “I am commander Slag” with a wave of his hand, “these are my troops.” The commander handed Tyler and me two buttons. I told Tyler I knew what was going on.

  “Take the button, place them on your throat. This will allow everyone to speak and hear our words.” Tyler looked skeptical. The commander handed us a picture of a man.

  I said to him, “I’ve never seen him before. Who is he?”

  Slag replied, “He is on your ship.”

  I looked at the commander. “No, he’s not. I’ve seen everyone on my ship, he is not on my ship.”

  Slag said, “I tell you he is.”

  I asked, “Who is he and why are you looking for him?”

  Slag told me, “The planet you just left, he had a ship there. You,” pointing at Tyler, “destroyed it two night ago.”

  Tyler looked at me. “He’s right, Dorn. I did. The night Lee and Henery were at the farm at Doctor Jones. The night we killed the Palatonian.”

  “Who is he?” I asked again.

  Slag said, “He is called Captain Porta of the Palatonian air guard.” I told the commander I know him only from the King Ba of Veron.”

  Slag said, “We are Veronia.”

  I told him, “King Ba asked me to find him, bring him to him. I never found him.”

  Slag said, “I know King Ba. He is the one that sent me.”

  23

  The morning sun felt good through the window. Every day was the same. I found myself wishing for snow. My children would never see snow. I or my husband will tell them of the white cold stuff that falls in the winter on Earth. Lying in bed, Shasta was curling my hair with one hand, holding on to my finger with the other. I kissed her on the face.

  I looked down at her. “You hungry?” I asked. Her little feet and arms would start kicking, a smile on her face as spit bubbles blew from her month. She had her father’s eyes, of course, mine too. My breast found its way to her mouth; she was growing so fast. Sometimes she would look at me with that alien look of her fathers. I would play little games with her, then she would go to sleep. I removed my breast back to my bra, the native girls had a built-in, must be nice.

  I eased from the bed, walking to the window tying my gown. I thought how hungry I was. Walking to the hall, Nida was doing something.

  I spoke to her, “Nida, how are you?”

  “I am good, Leah,” She replied.

  “You haven’t seen the baby,” I said. She stopped, looked at me, then looked around.

  “May I see her now?” She asked. I told her to come with me. “I’ll show you.” I turned the covers from Shasta. Nida’s hands went to her face. “I must leave. I shouldn’t be here. If someone sees me-”

  “Nida, please,” I said.

  She said, “I must go.”

  Nida ran from the palace, running down the path to the city. I thought out loud, well, what was that all about?

  “What was what about, Leah?” I turned to see Kira. I explained to Kira what had happened.

  Kira said, “Let me see the little princess.” Kira walked to the crib, looked at Shasta lying asleep. Kira’s hands went to her face.

  “Kira,” I asked, “What do you see?”

  Kira said, “I see me, Leah. I see me.”

  I said, “Kira, there is no way you can remember back that far.” Kira took my hand then took Shasta’s, then she called a sentry. She told the sentry to go to the lab, tell Mekon and Mea to come to the palace. It was only a short moment when Mekon and Mea came to my room.

  Mea said to Kira, “How can we help you?” Kira told them to go look at my baby. Mekon and Mea did as instructed. Both returned with a puzzled look.

  “Well?” Kira asked.

  Mea said, “She is her father’s DNA, so are you, Kira.”

  Kira said, “Yes, but we know who the mother is.”

  “Mekon,” Kira asked, “Do you know who my mother was, Mea? Do you?”

  “Kira, please don’t do this,” Mea said. “Kira, our world changes every day, people come and go.”

  Kira said, “I only want to know who my mother was. Mekon, even you knew your Earth mother.”

  Mea said, “I don’t even know who my mother was. We were born, that’s all. Let it go.” Kira had tears in her eyes when Mea left.

  I looked at Mekon. “Father, my husband grew up without his mother or even knowing Kayla was his mother. He grew up not knowing Ira was his father. Ira ordered you and Mea to seal all her thing in a room. He grew up thinking Mea was his sister, you his Father. Mea told him to read the archives, he never did.”

  Mekon dropped his head. “I’m sorry Leah, I should have told Dorn the truth. Don’t you see, Leah? Even if I had, it still would not have made a difference. Kayla was dead, gone. I gave him the journal.” I excused myself, went back to the great hall. Shasta was awake, Candance had her.

  “Where is Aries?” I asked.

  Candance replied, “He’s asleep.”

  I said to Candance, “He sure sleeps a lot.”

  “I’m the one going to have a baby,” Candance said. “He’s the one sleeping. You would think it would be me.” I told Candance I was going to the archives, I’ll be there all day. I’ll have the sentry to bring Shasta’s crib.

  Candance said, “I’ll take care of her, Leah.” I told her she would need to be nursed.

  “Your tits are too small.”

  “Kiss my ass, Leah,” Candance said.

  Kira came in and said, “I’ll kick your ass.” We laughed, it was not like Kira to make a joke.

  Kira asked as the sentry came for the crib. “What are you doing?” I told her I was going to the archives. I told Kira I would be there every day until I find the truth of everything. If it is written, I’ll find it.

  Kira asked me, “Have you ever been to the archives?”

  “Once,” I said, “I read for two days. Believe me some interesting thing you should come with me. Kira, you need to read and learn about your people, how your world began. Everything you know is what you were taught or what you have heard.”

  “I wonder Leah, would I like what I find?” Kira asked.

&n
bsp; I told her, “One way to find out, come with me. Look, I know your queen, I know you have responsibilities. Look, we haven’t been attacked in a month. There has been no one flying by that we know of, so what is holding you?”

  Kira turned to me. “Leah, I’m afraid.”

  I said, “So, you bitch, you do have a heart.” She started laughing as tear filled her eyes. Kira said, “Yes, let’s go.”

  On the fifth day, a sentry came running in. “Leah, Kira, a ship.” We both jumped up. I told the sentry to bring Shasta. We made a run for the lab, Mekon was talking to Mi of the situation.

  Mekon said, “The ship is not known to us, I’ve never seen the marking.”

  Omega said, looking at Leah, “What do you think, Leah?”

  I took the radio. “Mi,” I asked, “Are you cloaked?”

  Mi replied, “Yes.”

  I asked, “What is your location?”

  He told me, “Bon and Wil, they ‘re up here too.”

  I told the other ships to come in closer to the planet. “Bon, you, Wil, stay where you are. Mi, when this ship comes from hyperspace, ask their intention. Where is the Xonian ship?”

  “They’re here too, Leah.”

  Mi did as I told him. The reply was they were Valorian. They mean us no harm. Their King has asked to speak with you, about your ship. I told Mi to escort them to the west staging area.

  Mi replied, “As you wish.”

  Kira came to me. “Another job well done, Leah.” The chief justice was waiting. I told him to meet them, escort them to the great room. The ship sat down in the west staging area. Mi’s father was there to meet them.

  Omega said, “The ship is marvelous.” Mekon walked with the chief as he met the King, walking down the ramp.

  Mekon asked the King, “May I be shown around the ship?” Later he told me it was a finer ship he had ever seen. The King of Valorian introduced himself. Kira and Omega did the same. Kira introduced Candance, Ellie, Aries, and Mea.

  Then she said, “This is Leah.”

  King Bas said, “I can see why everyone is afraid of you. I can read your thought.”