The New World

by Toby Neighbors

  Daniel gulped when he saw the alien. His first impulse was to hurt it, to punch it or choke it. The creature was just so foreign that he had to control himself to keep from reacting to it. His second impulse was to look away. He had been taught as a child to never stare at a person with physical handicaps, and the alien looked so unnatural, a part of Daniel wanted to look anywhere but at it. He steeled himself and tried to smile. The alien’s eye bulbs, at least Daniel thought of them as bulbs since they seemed to grow out of the being’s head and had no discernible pupil, were hard to focus on. They reminded Daniel of a person with reflective sun glasses. He looked into them, though, as the creature approached and spoke.

  “Welcome to Washington D.C.,” Daniel said, his voice surprisingly steady. “Are you Capital Norixum?”

  “I am,” came the same deep, resonate voice with the odd, clipped diction he had heard on the radio.

  “I am Daniel Brickman,” he said and started to hold out his hand for a handshake, but the alien had no hand.

  “It is an honor to meet you, President Brickman.”

  “This is my Chief of Staff,” Daniel said, pointing to Scott. They had decided prior to the meeting to give both Scott and Jason new titles that lent more dignity to their offices. Daniel had insisted that they meet the alien together, and he wanted no reason for the dignitary from Tolligark to object. “And this is my Secretary of Defense.”

  “It is a pleasure to meet you both,” said Norixum. “I see many of your people have turned out for this auspicious first meeting. I must congratulate you on preserving your government and dealing with the issues involved in our annexation of your planet. If you will allow me, I will explain who the Free People are and what has happened here on Earth.”

  “I would like that very much,” Daniel said and motioned toward the tent. “May we offer a more comfortable place to sit and talk?”

  “That would be wonderful,” said Norixum. Daniel wondered at how the creature spoke. The alien’s mouth never moved, but Daniel could not see any other place the voice would be coming from.

  They moved into the tent and Daniel said, “We have refreshments, but we did not know what you might eat.”

  “For now water or fruit juice would be sufficient. I have my own nourishment aboard my escort ship.”

  Daniel nodded to the steward who was waiting to furnish whatever food or drink was requested. The man hurried toward the group, which was just now sitting on furniture in the center of the tent. Norixum’s hovering seat floated down to rest on the chair opposite Daniel. Jason and Scott took seats on a sofa facing both Daniel and Norixum. The steward returned carrying a large silver tray with carafes of orange, apple, and sparkling grape juices. There were four delicate crystal glasses, which he offered first to Daniel. Then, turning and realizing Norixum’s absence of arms or hands, he frowned.

  Before any of the men could speak, the alien’s trunk shot up and wrapped around the glass being offered. “I would love to try any juice you recommend,” said Norixum.

  The steward looked nervous as he lifted the carafe of apple juice. He poured the drinks then quickly fled the tent. Daniel made a mental note to be sure and interview all prospective wait staff before the next meeting with the ambassador from Tolligark. Norixum lifted the glass to his mouth, which opened, revealing no teeth but a large, thick tongue which almost seemed to slither out, stretching toward the liquid. The tongue went into the glass and acted almost like a straw, although there was no apparent opening. As the level of juice in the glass went down, Norixum emitted a squeal that was very piggish.

  “This is wonderfully delicious,” said the alien, his tongue still in the glass and apparently still sucking down the juice.

  Daniel took a sip of his beverage and tried not to wonder how the alien was speaking. He did wonder what it would be like to taste food from another world, one that was totally foreign to him. But he did not have long to wonder about such things, Norixum began talking before he finished his drink.

  “The Free People of Tolligark are noble citizens of a world approximately 400 of your light years away. Our people occupy seven worlds and over thirty moons in eight different planetary systems. For over eight hundred of your Earth years, we have been at war with a vicious race known as the Plauggid Empire. Throughout our effort to remain a Free People, we have been forced to find resources outside of our home system. It is our hope that your planet will join the Federation of Free People and help us defeat the Plauggid Imperialists. They are a cruel race whose sole aim is galactic domination.”

  The ambassador sat back a little, resting his small form on the chair for the first time. He had slurped down the entire glass of apple juice without stopping, while Daniel and his companions had forgotten their own glasses completely.

  “Tell me what the spherical crafts were,” Daniel said.

  “Ah, yes, those were informational probes, gathering information on this planet.”

  “Strange,” Daniel said, his face totally impassive. “Why would a free people like yourselves want to kill the population of a world you hoped to enlist in your cause?”

  “I’m sorry,” the alien said, his posture straightening again. It was the only body language Daniel could read since Norixum’s eyes were hidden and he made no facial expressions as he spoke. “The death of your race was an unfortunate accident. We have not had the opportunity to study what has happened, but our best guess is that the probes picked up some sort of virus or bacterium as they crossed interstellar space.”

  “So you are saying that your people did not afflict us with some sort of biological weapon?” Daniel asked.

  “Of course not, we are a free people, just as you are. We would never intentionally wipe out an entire race. Thankfully, some of you have survived, and it is our intention to ensure that your race thrives again.”

  “Is that so?” Daniel asked, his voice light and unassuming. “A few days ago I saw a ship releasing hundreds of what appeared to be domesticated animals. Was that your people?”

  “Yes, we have built a Calidiff, or what you might call a transporter, from your world to ours. The Calidiff allows us to travel instantly from Earth’s orbit to our own planetary orbit and back again in a matter of moments rather than hundreds of years of travel in space vessels. All of the Tolligark worlds are linked in this fashion. The Torgi you saw are the main source of protein for us. They are very much like your beef cattle, and Earth is a prime habitat for them.”

  “May I ask why you began populating our world with species from your planet,” Daniel said, “without first making contact with us?”

  There was a sound like a fluttering insect that reminded Daniel of a moth caught between window panes. It made Daniel wonder what was going on behind the tented bulbs that covered the alien’s eyes.

  “Please try to understand,” Norixum explained, “our government is large and the administration is often at pains to keep up with the demands. Once the Calidiff was constructed, the agricultural department moved ahead with plans to expand onto your world and increase its productivity. Naturally, they should have waited until the diplomatic channels had been established, but I’m afraid that they moved a little too quickly.”

  “We also encountered another alien species,” Daniel said, his voice pleasant, face impassive as if he were discussing the weather. “They did not seem to be domesticated.”

  “No,” replied the alien. “They are wild, but a necessary part of our ecosystem.”

  “I see,” Daniel said. “Are they dangerous?”

  “Oh, no, they generally stay close to the Torgi, feeding on the lame or sick animals that fall away from the herds. They are called Bloushigaren. They may seem aggressive if they feel threatened, but they should not come near your settlements.”

  Daniel nodded and stood up. He was angry, but he knew better than to show his displeasure. He was not in a position of strength from which to negotiate. He needed time to plan his strategy. His best hope at this point was to garner
some sort of favor within the Tolligark government. They had, after all, wiped out most of the human race, even if Norixum was telling the truth about it being an accident, which Daniel doubted. Still, he wanted to talk things over with Scott and Jason before he challenged the alien’s claims.

  “This has been a very welcome start to what I hope will be a very good friendship,” Daniel said.

  Norixum rose quickly into the air on his floating seat, his legs moving slightly. The strange alien did not speak at first, then extended his trunk-like arm.

  “I would like very much to offer you a chance to tour the station we have constructed in orbit around Earth. It would give you an opportunity to see our technology and gain a better understanding of what we can do for your people.”

  “That sounds fine,” Daniel said. “How can I contact you?”

  A small tray popped out of the side of Norixum’s floating seat. The alien’s trunk lifted a small device that looked very much like a smart phone, with a small screen built into the device. The buttons were covered in foreign characters and arranged in a circular pattern rather than a square one.

  “Merely pronounce my name while pressing the large button in the center and I will respond shortly,” said Norixum.

  “Excellent,” Daniel replied. “I’m afraid I have much work to do, but I will contact you soon.”

  “Yes, that would be desirable,” said the alien. “I would very much like to report that your people have joined us.”

  “I’m sure you understand my need to explain all this to my people,” Daniel said. “Thank you for your time today.”

  “Goodbye, Daniel Brickman.”

  “Goodbye, Capital Norixum.”

  The alien’s seat carried him toward the tent entrance. Jason pulled back the flap and the three of them watched as Norixum moved into his spaceship. The door rose back to its original position and then, with a sound like a light breeze blowing through dry autumn leaves, the ship rose into the air, higher and higher, until it disappeared from view.

  “That was unbelievable,” Scott said. “I mean, this is so weird I can hardly believe it.”

  “Me either,” Daniel said.

  “Let’s remember the plan,” Jason said, motioning them back inside the tent.

  They each began immediately pulling off their clothes. When they were finally naked, they moved to a compartment in the rear of the tent, where security team members scrubbed them with brushes and sprayed them with pressure hoses. After being cleaned, they were scanned for radiation and metal. It was an imperfect way to ensure that they were not carrying alien germs or being spied upon, but it was the best Jason’s team could do on short notice. They could not be sure of the alien technology, or if their efforts to detect listening devices would be successful, but it was imprudent not to try.

  Daniel left the device that Norixum had given him with members of the research team while he, Scott, and Jason, now freshly dressed, traveled to a nearby café that had been cleaned recently to discuss what they had heard.

  They kept their thoughts to themselves as they drove along the now deserted street. When they reached the Café Italiana, they parked the large SUV they had traveled in at the curb, ignored the parking meter, and went inside. The White House staff had prepared lunch for them, sandwiches and bottled water waited on the counter. Jason locked the front door and checked the kitchen to be sure they were alone before joining his friends at a table with a clear view of the street.

  “So,” Daniel said around a mouthful of turkey club sandwich, “what do you think?”

  “Unbelievable,” Scott said.

  “That thing,” said Jason, “is full of crap. If he thinks we’re going to buy that line about an interstellar virus, he’s got another thing coming.”

  “I agree,” Daniel said. “But what we need to determine is what Norixum is after. I mean, we all know they could take over and enslave us. Their technology is way beyond us, and they nearly killed us all to begin with. We know he’s lying to us about their animals, too, but why? What is it that they want?”

  “Could it be that he was actually telling the truth about wanting us to join them?” Scott asked. “I mean, it stands to reason that if they hit us with their best biological weapon and we survived, that we could be of use to them.”

  “They could send us into hot zones,” Jason explained, “to fight the Plauggid since we’re immune to their weapon. But Norixum didn’t seem worried that anything residual would harm him.”

  “It’s been months since the attack,” Daniel explained. “Surely they could customize their biological weapons so there is no residual danger. I mean, it would do no good to wipe out a planet if you can’t go there afterward.”

  “Maybe, but I just can’t see that being the case,” Jason said. “From a tactical point of view, it would be foolishness to base the success of your attack on a small group with questionable loyalties.”

  “That brings up the obvious question,” Scott said. “How can we know that the Free People are the good guys? I mean, that name appeals to us, but we don’t know their language; they could be the ‘killers of worlds’ for all we know.”

  Daniel and Jason nodded. The food didn’t really appeal to them and they merely nibbled at the sandwiches. Daniel felt like he was playing a life-sized game of chess. He had never been able to see more than two moves ahead, and he was always so impatient to strike at his opponent that he often didn’t see that he was moving into a trap. He didn’t want to wake up one day and realize he had made a massive mistake that he could not take back, or worse, that hurt the people who had placed their trust in him.

  “So where does that leave us?” Jason asked.

  “Well,” Daniel said, “I guess the one thing we have going for us is that they want us or maybe even need us for some reason or other. The first rule of falsifying a story is to stick as closely to the truth as possible, that way you don’t get tripped up by the facts. I’ll bet if we go over his story, we’ll uncover quite a bit of truth. So let’s talk about what he said. First off, this Tolligark world has expanded beyond their own solar system.”

  “Which could only feasibly be done with the use of their transporters,” Scott said. “So apparently that’s not new technology.”

  “And they’ve been an expansionist society for at least 400 years, if we can believe Norixum,” Jason added.

  “That’s right, so we need to press that point,” Daniel said. “The Free People of Tolligark sound more like an empire than a democracy. We certainly need to know what method of government they are.”

  “Alright,” Scott said. He seemed to revel in their scrutiny of Norixum, as if it were a game that he was starting win. “What else?”

  “He said they were looking for resources outside their homeworld,” Daniel continued. “That could be natural materials, or even people.”

  The other two men nodded, but no one expanded on that thought, so Daniel continued.

  “He also said that the spheres were merely informational probes. It’s obvious that they’ve been studying us, they know our language very well. But it doesn’t make sense that the spheres were merely informational. If it really takes 400 years to travel between our world and theirs, then why would they follow so soon after their probes? Surely they wouldn’t waste the time and resources on a world they didn’t know anything about.”

  “Maybe they’ve been studying our radio and television signals,” Jason suggested.

  “I’m sure they have,” Daniel said, “but our earliest broadcasts wouldn’t have reached their world yet, not for at least two hundred and fifty more years.”

  “Which means…?” Jason asked.

  “That those probes weren’t merely informational,” Daniel said. “They had to have released some sort of weapon or virus.”

  “But that makes no sense if they need humans,” Jason said. “Why would they wipe us out if they need us?”

  “That’s one thing we know for sure then,” Daniel said. “Huma
ns are not what they came here for, so what are they after?”

  “Well, we know they need breeding grounds for their cattle,” Scott said.

  “That’s right,” Daniel said, “which tells us that they have a large population to feed, either because they’ve run out of grazing room as they take up more and more land for their people, or their numbers have grown so much that their world can’t support them. Either way, they need space for their livestock on a hospitable world, which would explain why they killed so many of us. With just a fraction of our global population left, they have plenty of grazing room.”

  “And fewer people to rise up and resist them,” Jason said. “In fact, we’re desperate for help and, conveniently, here they are to do just that.”

  “That would certainly engender loyalty,” Scott said.

  “If you can look past the fact that they killed everyone you ever knew,” Jason said bitterly. Daniel could tell that the soldier in him was angry and wanted to strike back at the beings who had attacked his country and world without provocation.

  “We have to be realistic,” Daniel said. “Most people are still so terrified that they would gladly embrace the Tolligark to bring stability to their lives again.”

  “If we do, what does that mean?” Scott asked.