Alien Realms (v1.0)

by Unknown Author

  ’Then you dispute Skandos’s defence?’ said Zorza.

  ’Of course I do.’ Jorken’s eyes blazed intensely. ‘His defence is no defence at all. He has disputed none of the charges brought against him. The evidence stands as I initially gave it. The charges remain irrefutable.’

  ‘In that you are wrong,’ Skandos said softly.

  ‘Would you be willing to put that claim to a test?’

  ‘What do you have in mind?’

  ’These men are your friends. For obvious reasons, they are hesitant to pass judgment upon you. I’m asking only for you to permit yourself to be examined here by me today. Your defence appears to be that your motives were pure even if your deeds were not. I intend to prove, through the vehicle of your own words, that such a defence is utterly without relevance.’

  Skandos shrugged. ‘You may, if you wish, question me.’ Beaming eagerly, Jorken advanced on Skandos, his head cocked to one side, like a cat approaching its prey. ’Tell me, Skandos,’ he said, ‘are you acquainted with an individual known as Lord Tedric of the Marshes?’

  ‘I am indeed,’ Skandos said, in a strong, proud voice. ‘And is it true that you chose to bring this individual into our universe in order to use him for purposes of your own?’ ‘I brought Tedric here solely through necessity. My calculations of historical probability had convinced me that our universe could not survive without his presence.’

  ’Then this Tedric is - how shall I put it? - he is our saviour?’

  ‘He could be, yes.’

  ‘And what sort of individual is this saviour? He is, I assume, some variety of super man?’

  ’Tedric is, in most respects, a normal human being, but he possesses certain…’

  ‘He is, if I may interrupt, a barbarian, I do believe.’ Skandos frowned. ’That term has no real meaning. It is true that the universe from which Tedric came is not as outwardly civilised as ours. Nonetheless, in the time he has been with us, Tedric has managed to adapt himself to…’ ‘He has defied our adversaries. Is that correct?’

  Skandos nodded firmly. ‘It is why I brought him here, yes.’ Jorken turned with a triumphant smile and faced the largely invisible audience scattered through the vast meeting hall. ‘I submit that Skandos has just convicted himself out of his own mouth. He admits he brought a barbarian into our universe and instructed him to defy our adversaries. The result of this massive intervention on the part of Skandos is apparent to all. The Earth - our ancient home planet - now faces utter extinction. Millions of lives will almost certainly be lost. And why? Because Skandos and his barbarian, through their intervention, forced our adversaries to reply in kind. There is an old saying - let sleeping tigers sleep. If Skandos had only let well enough alone…’

  Skandos rose to his feet. ‘Jorken,’ he said slowly, ‘please forgive me. But you are a fool. A damned stupid and ignorant fool.’

  Jorken turned, his face crimson. ‘How dare you…?’

  ‘If Tedric had not been present here, the red cloud that threatens Earth would have done so years before now. Tedric has already granted us much time. If let alone to grow and develop, he can give us much, much more. Salvation? I cannot promise you that. But with Tedric, there is hope at least. Without him, there is only absolute universal doom.’ Jorken laughed harshly. ‘You have no proof…’ ‘Perhaps not.’ Skandos’s voice rose. He was addressing not only Jorken but the entire assembly of Scientists. ‘My friends, listen to me and listen closely. I admit to one crime and one crime only. I have kept certain truths from you. Our adversaries are not, as Jorken intimates, soundly sleeping. Rather, they are more awake and alert than any of you has guessed. The seriousness of these charges lodged against me, arising as they do out of a profound and abysmal ignorance’ - he glanced at Jorken and frowned tightly -‘has convinced me that the time has come to share what I know with you. I am a histro-physicist. The discipline is an arcane one, but you are all aware of its basic precepts. Through an intimate knowledge of past and present and the use of higher mathematics, I am able to predict the probability of future events. I can tell you this much. Prior to Tedric’s arrival here, a 99-9 per cent probability existed that this universe would shortly cease to exist. With Tedric’s presence, that probability has fallen to 87 8 per cent.’

  ‘And where are these figures?’ Jorken cried, hastening to lessen the impact of Skandos’s revelation. ‘If they exist, then bring them here and let us see.’

  ‘Alas,’ said Skandos, ‘although I could indeed produce my figures, I am afraid they would mean little to most of you. Histro-physics is a discipline that takes many centuries to master.’

  ’Then what you have offered us is nothing more than a bald assertion,’ said Jorken. ‘We demand proof, Skandos, firm and unyielding proof.’

  ‘Aren’t you neglecting one factor?’ Skandos asked quietly.

  Jorken frowned and slowly shook his head. ‘I think not, no.’

  ’The fact is, whether you can understand them or not, these figures do exist. For untold eons, we and our adversaries have lived side by side in a state of general equilibrium. If our adversaries have now chosen to violate this truce and move towards universal destruction, aren’t you curious to know why?’

  ‘I am not curious because I do not believe they have done so.’

  Skandos looked sad. ’Even five years ago, the probability of universal destruction was nil. Suddenly, the figure rose to 99 9 per cent. I am only asking why.’

  Zorza peered down impatiently from his tall desk. ‘Skandos,’ he said firmly, ‘if you have something more to reveal, I believe you should do so now.’

  Skandos sighed. ‘You are correct, Zorza. I’m afraid I’ve been guilty of toying with poor Jorken here. All right, the truth is simply this. In recent times, our adversaries have added a new recruit to their ranks. It is this individual who has turned them towards their newly aggressive policy of universal doom. This individual is one known to all of us here. His name is Sarpedion.’

  The gasp of astonishment that invaded his mind did not surprise Skandos. He knew the impact of what he had finally revealed. Even Zorza’s eyes grew wide with amazement. ‘No!’ he cried aloud.

  ‘Yes,’ said Skandos gently. ‘Sarpedion. One of our own number. A Scientist exiled from Prime for the crime of interference in the affairs of another universe. Sarpedion has joined our adversaries and is now intent upon a plan of vengeance not only against us but against this whole universe. And he will succeed. My calculations prove that much. With Sarpedion at their head, our adversaries are fully capable of destroying the universe.’

  ’Except for Tedric,’ said Zorza.

  Skandos nodded. ’Except for Tedric.’ He glanced at Jorken, who for once seemed to have nothing to say. ‘And, very possibly, even with his help.’

  ‘I move for an immediate dismissal of all charges against Skandos,’ said Zorza, his voice quaking.

  The immediate wave of assent that engulfed his mind should have gratified Skandos, but the truth was that he was no longer listening. The momentary distraction of the trial now passed, his attention was once more fixed upon that portion of N-space between the Dynarx realm and the Bioman Sphere.

  But Tedric was no longer there. In the interim, he had moved on. Skandos sought to track him down and did so at last.

  The planet was known as Tavera.

  Chapter 12

  Sarpedion

  In a room in the castle Sanctuary on the planet Tavera, Fra Villion, the Bioman vemplar, peered through the thick window glass at the stone courtyard below, where a group of his fellow knights moved briskly through the ritual of their daily weapons exercise. As Villion watched the thin whip-sword blades cutting through the air, he felt a deep welling of painful regret. Not so very long ago, he would have been part of that stately dance, feeling the keen vibration of the sword against his palm, experiencing the only real pleasure a warrior ever could feel, when he and his weapon became, if only for an instant, a fused and irresistible whole. He sighed heavily,
realising how, when he had accepted his present employment, he had given up all that forever. He would never dance in the courtyard again. He would never wield a whipsword for pleasure alone. If his present endeavours failed, he would surely be dead, and if they succeeded, the universe itself would be doomed. He had nothing left to look forward to - nothing at all.

  The insistent voice of the woman finally succeeded in penetrating his thoughts. Turning from the window, Villion faced her and tried to conceal his irritation. Dressed in a tight fitting jumpsuit and black cape, her blonde hair spilling to her shoulders, skin of throat and face as white as the hottest star, Lola Dass stood near the bedroom door. Her grey eyes flared fiercely with amused contempt.

  ‘I asked if you cared to come with me,’ she said archly.

  ‘I - no.’ He shook his head, momentarily confused. ‘Where are you going, may I ask?’

  ‘Nowhere. Out for a walk. As disgusting as this world is, it’s more bearable than this damned castle.’

  ‘If you go out, stay away from the knights. I dyn’t want ;their exercises interrupted.’

  She laughed. ‘Do you think I have any interest in bothering your poor stupid knights? I’ve seen them jumping about before. I don’t see the point of it.’

  ’The point,’ he said, ’is self-discipline.’

  ‘Which is boring. Like you. Like everything on this planet.’

  He viewed her with utter loathing. When he’d first seen Lola Dass, she had seemed irresistibly appealing, but he now realised that it had simply been a matter of his own vanity. Lola Dass, a beautiful object, had belonged to another man. So Villion had taken steps to acquire her, as he might have obtained a priceless painting or valuable sculpture. That poor Milton Dass. He had never understood his good fortune in being rid of this woman.

  ‘I’m really not going to stand for this much longer,’ she told him, her hands on her hips, one foot slightly in front of the other. ‘You’d better be aware of that, Fra Villion. Until I’m free of this miserable hell, I’ll make your life as unbearable as my own. I can’do it, too. I’m promising you. Carey’s gone. Now I want to go too.’

  He smiled in spite of himself. ‘Where Carey has gone, I doubt that you’d care to follow.’

  Her expression grew interested. ‘Have you killed him?’

  ‘Not exactly, no.’

  ’Then what?’

  ‘Never mind.’ He’d long ago ceased sharing his plans with her.

  ’Then I won’t. But remember this. I want to get out of here. I don’t care where I go. Send me to Kleato, your capital.’ I understand it’s one huge city, like New Melbourne on Earth. I’d enjoy it there.’

  ‘I’ve explained the situation to you before.’ He was trying to be patient. The depths of Lola’s malevolency should not be underestimated. Milton Dass had made that mistake and paid for it with his life. Villion could easily kill her as she stood, but to do so would be to violate the blood oath of the ancient code - a murder for selfish reasons - and although he had broken the code several times, he had done so only at the behest of his present masters. Approaching Lola, he laid a furry hand upon the sleek skin of her neck. ’As soon as Tedric is destroyed, we will both go to Kleato. I promise you. It’s a mere matter of days - hours.’

  ’Tedric,’ she said with a bitter twist to her lips, sliding free of his grasp. ‘Don’t you know how sick to death I am of hearing that name? What is there about this Tedric that makes him so important? I’ve seen the man. He’s a savage - an animal.’

  ‘But a warrior,’ said Villion softly. ‘And a powerful one.’

  She laughed. ‘Powerful enough to have got the better of you in a duel, as I recall.’

  Villion nodded, remembering too. Aboard the Iron Sphere, armed only with an unfamiliar whipsword, Tedric had indeed defeated him in open combat. Only Lola’s unsolicited assistance and Tedric’s own odd hesitance to kill had avoided a total disaster.

  ‘But I don’t really care what you do,’ she said, moving at last to depart. ‘You can kill Tedric or he can kill you. What does it matter? Who knows, if you’re right about him, I might be better off with Tedric than with you.’

  She slammed the door as she went out. Villion saw no need to reply to her final taunt. Tedric was too wise ever to ally himself with someone such as Lola. No matter who lived or died, her fate was firmly sealed to that of Fra Villion.

  Villion felt a sudden tingling sensation in his head. For a long moment, crossing to the window and peering out, he pretended not to be aware of the signal. The tingling grew more insistent. His master was calling him, Villion knew, and he must answer. At last, stepping back, he shut his eyes and forced his mind to concentrate. He envisioned another room in the castle, one he knew well by now. A few seconds later, his body vanished from the bedroom. In an instant, it reappeared in the room he had pictured in his mind. It was a dark, dusty place, securely bolted from without.

  ‘Sarpedion?’ Viliion called softly. ‘Sarpedion, what do you want of me?’

  He could sense the presence of a darker force. It bore neither shape nor mass. It was a thing - incorporeal, malignant, and real.

  A voice invaded his mind: Your agent has failed. Tedric has locked him away. You will learn no more from him.

  Villion shook his head. He had long ago learned the futility of trying to deceive this thing that seemed capable of reading his innermost thoughts. ‘Carey has performed his proper function. I now know Tedric’s general intent. He will be coming hereto Tavera. When he arrives, I will be prepared to greet him.’

  Are you so certain of success? said the voice, tauntingly.

  ’There are risks,’ Viliion admitted. ‘My position among the knights is less secure than it once was. Reports of my activities in the Empire of Man have aroused some suspicions. I did not anticipate Pal Galmain’s return. If his presence aboard Tedric’s ship was discovered, our cause would be sorely wounded.’

  Then you must strike before his presence is made known.

  ’That is my intent,’ Viliion said stiffly. ’The moment the ship enters normal space, a squadron of pursuit craft will rush to the attack. Tedric’s ship lacks a functioning force-shield. My agent, Carey, saw to that.’

  A wise manoeuvre, said the voice. But a dangerous one as well. Surely, your colleagues will recognise the ship as one of their own.

  ‘I will invent a story that it was stolen by Carey. I will say that he assists an invasion force.’

  For your sake, I hope the deceit proves sufficient. 1 sense that you fear this Pal Galmain.

  ‘He is a powerful knight. In order to serve you, I had to drive him from Tavera. He has every reason to seek vengeance against me. But he is a mortal. He can be killed.’

  Then do so.

  Viliion grew angry. ‘You needn’t state the obvious. Haven’t I served you well? I have remained loyal to your cause while you have been less than honest with me. I was never told of the meaning of the red clouds. You never informed me of your overall goal in this universe. Do you think I would have agreed to serve you had I known the entire truth?’

  As a matter of fact, Fra Villion, 1 do think so. Like all of your kind, you are utterly without so-called moral scruples. What does the death of this universe mean to you? Nothing. You will survive. 1 have promised you that.

  ‘And why should I believe what you say?’

  I neither know nor care what you choose to believe. Your miserable blood oath requires you to serve me or resign. Since you haven’t resigned, I suggest we devote our attention to the matter at hand. The present situation is a critical one. Tedric must be killed and killed at once. To fail now is to guarantee your own ruin. Perhaps, if nothing else, you will believe me when I say that.

  Villion nodded solemnly. ‘I believe you, Sarpedion. And Tedric will die.’

  Then go about your duties. We have no further need to speak. Once the act has been accomplished and Tedric lives no more, I shall return. When we speak next, the future will lie open to us like a rotting wou
nd.

  Those last ugly words ringing in his mind, Villion waited until he was sure the darker force had gone. Then he tried to take a deep breath, but the thick air in the enclosed room caught in his throat and he nearly gagged. Shutting his eyes, he desperately pictured his own bedroom. It seemed to take forever, but at last he felt his body jump through space.

  Opening his eyes, he saw his own room around him. Lola had not returned. He sat down heavily on the bed and put his head in his hands. Finally, feeling his strength returning, he forced himself to stand and cross to the window. He looked out, but the knights were no longer there. The stone courtyard was empty and silent. A dim light filtered through the air. He must have spent hours with his master. Already, night was falling. Tomorrow, with the dawn, would come a new challenge to be met and won.

  Villion stepped back and turned. Lola entered the room. When she saw him, she stopped and gave a little gasp of surprise. She knows, he thought without reason. She knows what I am and how much I have surrendered.

  CHAPTER 13

  Out of the Void

  Even under the most favourable circumstances, the process of jumping a ship from N-space back into normal space could be a delicate operation. For Tedric, piloting a strange ship in an unfamiliar part of the Galaxy, it was a good deal more than that.

  The ship’s Bioman-built computer, an exceptionally sophisticated machine, now confirmed that it was within easy reach of its objective, the planet Tavera. Like anyone who had flown the spacelanes, however, Tedric was familiar with spacemen’s tales of ships jumping from the void only to land smack inside a planet, moon, comet or star, and he hesitated. The reasons for such accidents were not clearly known. The captains of the ships involved had never survived to testify to their own possible miscalculations, and the gigantic explosions brought about by the phenomenon of two objects attempting to occupy the same space at the same time obliterated any trace of evidence. And so Tedric remained cautious. Perhaps excessively so. For more than an hour, the computer had proclaimed their ability to jump, but Tedric waited.