Termination Shock

by Gillian Andrews

  She considered that, though her crest didn’t soften. She was wondering if she and Denaraz could win in an all-out physical altercation against the rest of us. I knew the answer to that one. They couldn’t.

  She eventually came to the same conclusion. “I will allow you to attend today’s meeting.”

  I bowed again, lower this time. “Thank you for your understanding.”

  “Yes. Hmm. Don’t test me again. You may not like the outcome.”

  Denaraz was wiping a few beads of sweat off his forehead. I grinned at him and he shook his head slightly at me. I couldn’t blame him. I was sweating too.

  “Shall we go then?” I invited the Supreme to pass in front of me and make her way into the shuttle. “If you are ready?”

  “And tell Ty Zylarian to behave herself,” she instructed as she swept past me. “We are not going to an adventure playground. She should remember that she is the future Chyzar.”

  I looked back to see where Zenzie was, and caught her with her tongue sticking rudely out at Oznard’s back. I frowned heavily at her and she giggled. I could see that today was going to be fun.

  We landed in the same spot as we had the day before. Again, several small rafts were immediately brought alongside the part of the shuttle that remained unsubmerged.

  This time I had taken the precaution of stepping back to Zenzara’s side and clamping one of my hands on one of her arms. She was therefore unable to race first to the hatch.

  She shot me a look full of reproach. “I wasn’t going to!”

  “I am sure you weren’t.”

  “Then let go of me!”

  “I will, as soon as the others are down on the surface.”

  She wriggled, and nearly got free. “You don’t trust me!”

  “Of course I do. I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  Her wrinkles moved across her forehead. “I don’t believe you.”

  “No? You don’t trust me?”

  There was a pause. She had walked right into that one. I tried not to look smug.

  She bit her lip. “What did you want to talk about?”

  “I wanted to make sure you knew that I am the one who takes the decisions on board Nivala and this shuttle. As a Tyzaran, you will also be expected to obey your Supreme. However she is a guest on this ship and if instructions conflict, you should follow mine.”

  She flushed a pleased pink. “Really? I don’t have to listen to her?”

  “I hope you will show due respect for a member of the ruling Supreme Council of your planet, but no, you don’t have to listen to her.”

  She skipped on the spot. “Thank you.” She stopped suddenly. “Oh! Now I shall never know if you held me back on purpose!”

  “Just giving you the good news.” I gave her my best crocodile smile, then let her loose. The others were already down on the planet. We hurried to join them.

  The same two Macers were facing us. The elder of them surveyed us calmly with his small black eyes. “Have you solved the disagreement?”

  Both the Supreme and I said yes at the same time.

  Oznard glowered at me. “There is no need to include the Spacelanders, I find.”

  “On the contrary, it is imperative that the Spacelanders be included in any alliance.” My sentence caused Oznard to snap her eyebrows together in anger. She had not expected me to speak.

  The taller of the dark-eyed Macers nodded to me to go on. “Explain, please.”

  I handed out a pamphlet the girls had produced overnight. “As you can see from this original Charter of the foundation of the Spacelanders, six centuries ago, they were granted … with the full approval of the Enif race … complete authority and permanent abode in the Landau Rift, on all systems south east of the hypothetical line drawn between the Slingshot Binary to the west and Pyrrhus to the east.”

  “We know all this,” snapped Oznard.

  “The wording of the charter is important,” I said in as mild a tone as I could muster. “That is, and I quote: ‘Spacelanders shall exist from the signing of this charter as a new and independent race. All ties with the human Omnistate shall be considered irrevocably broken. At no time may Spacelanders refer to themselves as Terran. All Spacelanders shall forever be treated as a separate species.’

  “Irrelevant. You are all still human. That is one race.”

  The Macer elder held up one of his long arms. “A moment. I wish to examine this document.” The Macers perused the pamphlet carefully. They then addressed Eshaan and Didjal.

  “Are you aware of this charter? Did your ancestors accept that part of the Landau Rift, the shell in which Enifa is situated, would be granted in perpetuity to these people?”

  There was some discussion between the two Enif. Then Eshaan stepped forward. It seemed a little nervous, but spoke out strongly.

  “We are taught that the Spacelanders agreed to protect Enifa from any outside attacks. For this reason they were granted sovereignty over a large part of the Landau Rift. Enifa had been under attack from the Vaers at that time, and it was thought that to populate a good part of the space between the Landau Rift and the Great Shell would be extremely beneficial to Enifa. At that time in history, the Nepheals had suffered greatly from Vaer incursions.”

  “And the Spacelanders are considered an independent race on Enifa?”

  “They are. The Terrans are disliked by the Enif, but the Spacelanders are highly respected.”

  Oznard’s face was sour. “Just because the Enif say their Landau Rift humans are independent doesn’t mean that they really are. We must look at the definition of the word ‘race’.”

  I inclined my neck. “I agree with the Supreme. For that reason we have spent several hours examining the different definitions of ‘race’. If you turn the pamphlet over you will find several of the definitions. After all, if we are considering an interstellar alliance, we should consider all existing definitions, should we not? Not only the Tyzarans?”

  The Macers nodded. Oznard didn’t.

  I went on. “As you can see, Terrans define race as ‘Any of the traditional divisions of humankind.’ We would therefore qualify, since we are a division clearly so stipulated by charter.

  “I have spoken to Seyal, our resident Avarak, and she says that her people only recognize one race: Male Avaraks. This is regarded as superior to all other living beings. Anyone who does not belong to the Male Avarak race is inferior and unworthy. In their eyes, neither Terrans, nor Tyzarans, nor females of their own species, nor Spacelanders are races.

  “Tyzarans define race as ‘A group of Aliens, all of whom have similar physical and mental characteristics.’ We would qualify, for although we have similar physical characteristics to the Terrans, our mental mindset is completely different.”

  Oznard gave something rather like a snort. I ignored it, turning instead to the Macers. “How would you define race?”

  “We do not have the concept, as we have no names. We even have no name for our race or group. You call us Macers because the first visitors who came saw us bestowed on us that name. Macers neither name nor categorize themselves, or others. We have only vague feelings of similarity and familiarity. Any Macer or Alien who triggers those feelings will be accepted as like beings. Any who trigger feelings of distaste or repulsion will not be accepted and so will become unlike beings. In this case we cannot be of use. This proposed alliance already requires us to accept unlike beings such as the Terrans and the Vaers as like. It is of great difficulty to us.”

  That wasn’t helpful. Or was it? “Then you might call one human a like being and another an unlike being?”

  “Of course. We react to the interior of souls, not the exterior. In any case, we are being expected to accept both like and unlike beings into this associ
ation, so we have no opinion about this definition of race, which to us appears arbitrary.”

  “But you would not exclude any group?”

  “We would not. By definition, the alliance is necessary to allow like and unlike beings to grow accustomed to each other, and to protect life as we know it. Exclusion is not compatible with those aims.”

  Thank you! I stepped back. I didn’t think I could improve on that.

  The Supreme had her eyes almost turned back in her head. She was communicating with the rest of the Supreme Council. Finally she closed her eyes and let her head drop back into its usual position. “I have discussed this with the Supreme Council, and they are willing to accept the proposition of eight Major Shell races, rather than seven.”

  The Macers exchanged tight glances. They seemed uncomfortable with the Supreme. I wonder whether she was classed as ‘like’ or ‘unlike’. Then I looked at both their tails, tautly wound up into tight concentric rings. Unlike, I decided. That cheered me up.

  The spokesperson of the Macers uncurled its long limbs to stand up. “Then we have a basis for continuation. The Alliance will consist of up to eight species, those currently considered sentient in the Major Shells. Only those who join willingly will be a part of it. For the purpose of this Alliance Avarak females will be considered part of the Avarak race. Is this agreed?”

  Seyal’s eyes opened wide. “The males will not like that!”

  The Macer turned his wizened face to her. “Whatever the definition of race, it must include both parties necessary for perpetuation. That, at the least, would appear to be clear to us.”

  I stepped forward again. “Who can join this alliance on behalf of their people?”

  Oznard lifted her head. “The legal government of each people, clearly. We can hardly have people like you signing, without any consultation.”

  The Macers both nodded. “A consensus which is legal on each planet must decide. Meanwhile, we will endeavor to produce a list of joint aims and regulations. We shall need an independent body of enforcers to police the Alliance.”

  And there, suddenly, was what all this had been for. Nothing could have been clearer to me. I stepped forwards. “That will be us. The Nivala.”

  Several mouths dropped open. Oznard’s not the least. She regarded each of us in turn, and then gave a slow nod. “That is not unacceptable. At least your group consists of several different races. It is a start.”

  “And we can accept other races within our crew. I don’t know if there are any Macers who would like to join us …?”

  Both Macers shivered in distaste. “I do not think so,” said the elder. “Macers require water to survive. Though we will make enquiries.”

  “There is a pool on Nivala. Though it may not be big enough.”

  Oznard huffed. “My understanding of the Macers is that they dislike space.”

  “We will ask if there are any volunteers. It is most unlikely. We are too fragile for space travel.”

  Oznard’s lips curved down. “Very well.” She pressed her lips together thoughtfully. “Neither the Vaer nor the Terran Omnistate will join at this time, I think. We can only hope to convince six of the eight races. The Tyzarans will join.”

  “So will the Spacelanders,” I said quickly.

  “I believe the Enif will want to form part of the alliance,” said Eshaan after a quick consultation with Didjal.

  Seyal was shaking her head. “The Avaraks will not join. Not if females are to be regarded as equal to males.” She thought for a few moments. “But I shall be very happy to come with you. I believe the future must be outwards, and that we should stop looking inwards. We should aim further and further out from our routine lives. We should become part of something bigger.” Then her face fell. “Unfortunately, I am only a female. And I am only one.”

  “All things start small, Seyal. Who knows where this will end?” I was counting on my fingers. “That gives four probables and one unlikely. Leaving only the Nepheals.” I thought for a second. “I don’t think we could make the Nivala comfortable for a Nepheal. They are too large, aren’t they?”

  Oznard gave a shrug. “I expect they could live in the hold, if it were adapted for them. At least for a short time. They would not be able to fit comfortably onto the bridge, certainly.”

  The Macers began to signal the others in the water. Our two interlocutors themselves slipped back into the wonderfully colored water. “Then we all have work to do,” the Elder said. “We will welcome Nivala back when all has been decided and a treaty has been prepared for signature. That must take place here. We will await your news.”

  “Perfect. Please draw up the accords with care. They must be flexible, yet fair, if all races are to agree to them.” Oznard gave a small bow and then began to climb the ladder back up to the shuttle hatch.

  The elder paused for a moment. He looked at Zenzara. “Would you care to see how we work underwater?”

  She nodded excitedly. “Please!”

  “We sense something immense inside you. You are not part of your collective.”

  “She is the next Chyzar!” Denaraz stepped towards the Macers. “She has been chosen by the Chakrans!”

  The elder blinked. “Yes. That would explain the difference we can sense in her. She is not yet ready to see her path. But we can help her with that. Come, swim with us.”

  Zenzie had already pulled off most of her clothes, leaving only a small swimsuit. She dove neatly off the raft and disappeared under the water. Moments later, she came back up and waved a hand at me. “I won’t be long!”

  Denaraz had stripped down to his undergarments, most unwillingly. He slipped into the water after her. “I will watch over her,” he told me.

  I grinned. I wasn’t sure who would be watching over who. I wasn’t worried about Zenzara’s safety. With Macers to watch over her, she would be safer than on Tyzar itself. I turned away, to help the others climb back up the ladder to the shuttle hatch. It had been an interesting morning.

  Chapter 12

  We dropped Oznard back on Tyzar. She told us that she would send emissaries to visit Enifa, Nephealis and the Space Trust. They would move ahead with the alliance if they could get five of the eight races to sign the accords. Once that had been accomplished they hoped gradually to entice the Terrans, Vaers and Avaraks to subscribe to it. It would be difficult. Like and unlike do not mix well. And we were in the middle of a war. Not the best time to push for unity, perhaps.

  We decided to take Nivala directly to Talscharin, the headquarters of the Space Trust. I wanted to get back to Spacelander territory, and I thought I should update my government on the events of the past weeks.

  We waited only for two days, to restock. Once the few repairs that had come up during the maiden voyage had been dealt with, we left – this time without the extra Tyzaran crew members.

  Talscharin is around two hundred and fifty light years north of Tyzar, in the Landau Rift. It was a journey that would take us a couple of days if we kept our cruising speed down to a moderate six light years per hour. It still felt pretty fast, if you compared it to old Commorancy. It would have taken that old ship three full days to cover one light year. The speed of Nivala was heady. I was feeling much happier. I even contacted Sibby to bring my pet Geiga, Scout, over to Talscharin. There was certainly room for one small Geiga on Nivala. Scout would be in his element. He would be good company for our budding Chyzar, too. Zenzie was still having trouble adapting to her new role as interpreter for the Chakrans. I didn’t think she was very happy.

  It would be great to see Sibby again. I hadn’t spent time with my sister for over six months. We were long overdue a catch-up.

  I should have known better than to think everything was going well for once. That would have been far too easy. Far too easy.

/>   All went well until we were approaching Aldhiba, still in the Bifold Shell, some twenty six hours later. I was trying to get some exercise in – jogging up and down the main passageway with an annoying Zenzie and a less annoying Denaraz vying to jog in front. We all jumped when the most infernal caterwauling of an alarm started and red arrows began to chivvy us towards the nearest arms cache points.

  My own scalp prickled, so I sympathized with the two Tyzarans. Their crests were vertical. We raced back to the bridge, running against the insistent red arrows. Hmm. I would have to try to change that.

  I arrived out of breath on the bridge. “What’s up?”

  Sammy blew out air. “What isn’t up? We seem to be surrounded by Avarak vessels.”

  “Have you told them we aren’t Tyzaran? That this ship was ceded to us by the Supreme Council on Tyzar?”

  “I have.” Sammy sounded noncommittal. “Trouble is, they still seem to think we are not their allies. They have switched to red alert and are targeting us.”

  “What!” I leapt for the communication console to connect with the Avarak fleet. “Stand down! We are Spacelanders! We are non-combatant! Don’t fire!”

  I looked quickly behind me to Denaraz. “What weapons have we got at our disposal? Can you get on it, please?”

  Denaraz gave a curt nod. He threw himself through the service hatch into the crawl tubing. The weapons bridge was one floor down, directly under the main bridge emplacement and this was not a time to use the lifts. Within seconds I toggled to see him on screen there. He was behind the weapons console and his fingers were flying across the screens. He saw that I was following his progress and pursed his lips. “I will need some moments to get everything online. This ship is well-defended. We should be able to hold our own against one Avarak ship. Unfortunately I am seeing twelve.”

  “Right. I will try to keep them occupied. Zenzara!”