by Andy Kasch
“Oh, there’s plenty of ways. Amulites not being able to travel to other worlds doesn’t prevent the aliens from coming here, as we’ve just witnessed. All they need is one race to act as a messenger—kind of like what that Belle-ub fellow asked me to do up in the mountains.”
“I guess you’re right about that.”
“Sure I’m right,” Jumper said. “Remember what Hol4 said, about Belle-ub organizing some kind of big interstellar meeting? If that’s true, how would he be able to lure them all here? Think about it. If the game has gone dog-wild on other worlds like it has here, a galactic polwar tournament would be the perfect thing.”
“You might be on to something there.”
“Bet you a case of argim I’m right. But it’s too bad about Hol4. I hate leaving him behind back there.”
“Man, you must to be joking. We barely got out ourselves.”
“I can’t help it. You saw what they did to him. I told him I would help him, and I need to keep that promise. Now I know where he is, and I’m afraid it’s going to eat away at me.”
“We aren’t going back there, Jumper. Count me out of any insane heroic ideas you have. He has a work contract. My guess is he just needs to fulfil it. Maybe it was a mistake on his part, but he has to live with the consequences. Why do you care so much about a native you’ve known for less than eighteen hours?”
“I don’t know.”
They drove in silence for a while. Jumper refused Alan’s first few offers to switch drivers, but after several hours finally had to give in. Alan really wanted to drive the off-trail cruiser. Jumper settled into the passenger seat and fell asleep. He was awakened a while later by the sound of fighter craft overhead. He looked up.
“Nine of them,” Alan said. “Ours this time.”
The Banorian fighters crossed the plains in a diamond formation overhead. Jumper loved seeing them do fly-by’s. It was something of a rarity on Amulen these days.
“Where were you guys a few hours ago?” Jumper mumbled.
Soon the area they were crossing started looking familiar.
“This is the way we came out,” Jumper said.
Alan pointed ahead of them. “Yep. Straight shot across from here. No patrols in sight.”
“How’s the fuel?”
“Barely touched it,” Alan said. “This thing’s amazing.”
Jumper couldn’t take it anymore. “Let me drive again, man.”
Alan reluctantly agreed. Jumper took over and drove the remaining distance of “no man’s land” between the Sinlo Mountains and the eastern Midlands. Soon they were halfway across the thin stretch of the Midlands Region they needed to traverse. Just as the out-towns came into view on the horizon, dust clouds appeared from the west. They approached quickly.
“See who that is with the field glasses,” Jumper said.
Alan casually turned his head towards Jumper. “No need. You know who that will be.”
Jumper slowed the cruiser and turned towards the dust clouds.
“You’re not going to try and outrun them?” Alan asked.
“No. Maybe they can tell us what’s going on.”
The convoy turned out to be bigger than Jumper expected. A dozen hover vehicles of different types—but none as big as the off-trail model Jumper and Alan were in—came into view. That was large for a Midlands Militia patrol. Jumper brought their cruiser to a full stop and settled on the ground. When the patrol reached them, the militia drivers formed a circle surrounding them. Jumper and Alan stood up on their seats and rested their arms on the top frame.
“Lakor5 is that you?” Jumper yelled as soon as the vehicles were on the ground and the noise abated some.
“Jumper?” The voice came from the right. Jumper and Alan turned their heads. Lakor5, the captain of the Midlands Militia Eastern Patrol, stepped out of a medium-sized vehicle. He was a dull-bronze colored Banorian who loved his work. It was a rare occasion when Jumper and Alan could sneak through the region without being seen by him.
Lakor5 walked up to their cruiser and began glancing back and forth from the emblem on the side door to Jumper and Alan. Jumper and Alan were both smiling smugly. Finally, he shook his head for a long moment.
“Where did you steal this?”
“From the south gate of the Northern Plains agritent compound,” Jumper answered. “They tried to kidnap us and force us to pick fruit in the tents.”
Lakor5 started laughing. “You crazy Earth kids. Jumper, you always have a good story. Well, this is a military vehicle so I think it’s more suitable that we take it.”
“No!” Alan said. “It’s way too cool for you guys. You have no idea what we went through to get it. And someone stole our cruiser.”
“You mean this one?” Lakor5 pointed to a small 2-seater behind the vehicle he had stepped out of.
Jumper squinted as the last of the dust settled.
“You took it! How could you leave us stranded in the mountains?”
Lakor5 held up a hand. “Easy, now. I wasn’t there. A couple new guys were out that way planting video scanners in the foothills and came across it. They didn’t know who left it, so they brought it in. We were on our way to return it. Lucky we came across you. Now we can trade.”
“Ahhhhh.” Jumper sunk down in the seat. “Come on, Alan. He wants it. There’s no point in fighting him on it.”
Alan pounded his fist on the front panel and the two of them got out.
Jumper heard the sounds of rotorcraft above and looked up. Three of the great machines flew low, directly above in the late afternoon sky, headed for the cities with a food shipment. These were the big ones, with two angled rotors on the ends and four smaller rotors across the upper sides. Their maneuverability, for being so large, was impressive. Watching them now had a new effect on Jumper, after having seen one of the food production areas where they came from. Knowing the produce he ate was the result of forced labor was bound to make it considerably less tasteful now.
When the rotorcrafts passed, Jumper asked Lakor5 what he knew about the air battle earlier today.
Lakor5 shrugged as he answered. “An alien fleet arrived in Tora space today, and shortly after that a different alien fleet also showed up, who were chasing after them. They may have been fighting somewhere else first, according to speculation on the news station, and then ended up here for some reason. The first aliens managed to land a few craft in the central valley. Their transport ships are now in orbit over Amulen, and the second group of aliens who were chasing them are now moored at Cardinal-4. That’s all we know, assuming even that much is correct. The newscasts from that university station of yours leave a lot to be desired.”
“Do you know anything about a polwar tournament?” Jumper asked.
Lakor5 looked back at some of his subordinates before answering.
“We’ve heard rumors of that, too. What do you know about it?”
Jumper shook his head. “Not much. We heard a couple references to it at the agritent compound, and then the alien battle started, which gave us our chance to escape.”
Lakor5 chuckled and climbed inside the big cruiser. “If I were you, I’d think about moving to Banor—all the rest of you Earthlings. Amulen isn’t much of a place to be these days if you’re not addicted to polwar. We can’t even get decent news anymore.”
“Think I’d be bored silly there,” Jumper said. “After all, you never went back.”
“That’s true, but I have my reasons. You better get going. It’ll be dark soon.”
Lakor5 started the engine in the stolen cruiser and then the rest of the patrol fired back up as well. The smell of fuel became unbearable. Jumper and Alan covered their faces with their elbows as they stood. The native who was in Jumper and Alan’s 2-seater vacated it and climbed aboard the big one with Lakor5.
“Sorry about the cruiser misunderstanding,” Lakor5 yelled. “Glad you got back okay.”
Several of the other cruisers backed away to make room for Lakor5. He drove off
in the direction they came from and the rest of his procession followed. Jumper and Alan were left alone again.
Alan checked the central compartment of their 2-seater.
“Our clothes are still here.”
“I’d rather have that big off-trailer,” Jumper said. “Oh, well. Let’s go home.”
Chapter Three
The High General gazed out his large circular window before tossing back his tube of Redflower-20. When the effects of it subsided, he turned back to his guest.
“The governor specifically requested I bring you with me. It’s been a long time since he had foreign visitors. The alien fleet moored at the station is big enough to make him squeamish, even after I ordered our patrols tripled. Nineteen transport ships, all of which we assume are loaded with fighters. The other alien fleet over Amulen is roughly the same size. I don’t have to tell you how serious this is.”
Brandon smiled in response and took his drink as well. He was sitting in the medium-sized leather chair and looked rather comfortable. At that moment, Olut6 realized he wasn’t coming.
Brandon spoke. “I’m not a military man, General. You know that. Whatever the trouble is, I’m confident you and Mip7 will handle it. He’s a very experienced foreign relations delegate.”
“You—and him—are two of the best military men I’ve ever known. I realize it’s not an experience either of you wish to relive. But he did seem adamant that you come.”
“And I will come, General. But I have business on Amulen first.”
“Urgent business?”
“I fear so. With two alien fleets having arrived, including troops on the ground at C3, I’m concerned over the security of our situation there. It’s a little too close for comfort, just one continent away.”
Olut6 nodded. “The contaminated network?”
“Yes,” Brandon said. “It’s been 25 years. The culture should be fully developed and ready to deploy.”
“Almost 25 years,” Olut6 pointed out.
“Close enough, hopefully. I can’t help but feel the current disturbance on Amulen is a danger to all human life there. We need to get the rest of our people off that planet—all of them.”
“Do you think they’ll all agree to leave?” Olut6 asked.
Brandon slowly stood up. “Yes. Yes, I think they will now. The time has come. There’s nothing there for them anymore, and the atmospheric deterioration is becoming too much of a health hazard. Those few who remain have been living in denial, but even they must now admit the end has arrived. Especially with alien battles taking place so close by. That could prove to be a blessing to us.”
“When can I tell the governor to expect you?”
“I don’t know, General. Soon, hopefully.”
Olut6 turned back to the window. “Mip7 claims no knowledge of the light orb that was seen moving upon the station last night.”
Brandon came over next to him and said, “Do you believe him?”
“No, I don’t think I do. He seemed …aloof when I asked him about it.” Olut6 looked down at Brandon. “Do you believe him?”
Brandon hesitated before answering and stared up at the early evening sky. Olut6 looked back up as well. The light from Cardinal-4 was becoming visible next to the great white sphere that was Amulen.
“No,” Brandon finally said. “I don’t believe I do.”
*
“I heard you guys spent a wild night out.”
Jumper turned toward the familiar, sweet voice—although he knew from experience how quickly it could turn from sweet to stinging when provoked.
“Hey, Kayla. Did Alan open his big mouth and tell you all about our trip?”
“Ha-ha, no. But it sounds like maybe I should say yes, and trick you out of the juicy details. I just know you guys always have a wild time when you’re gone overnight.”
“It was a little wild. Going for a swim?”
“Ooooo, aren’t you smart. Figured that out, did you?” Kayla threw her towel in Jumper’s face.
“Well, your wetsuit looks kind of like my dad’s new float suits, so who knows? And the towel could have been for… ah, forget it.”
“I wouldn’t go near any of your dad’s inventions, and sure as extat wouldn’t be wearing one. Wanna watch me swim? Did my best time ever when you guys were out adventuring. Maybe you should leave more often.”
Jumper allowed his vision a moment’s feast. Kayla’s firm, petite form, which had never been rough on the eyes, was looking better than ever. The breeze blowing strands of her straight black hair across her face didn’t hurt the image any, either.
“No,” he said. “Writing in my journal. Maybe if you had your warm season suit on.”
“You’ve seen me in less than that.”
“Not in a long time.”
“Yeah. Your fault.” Kayla ran to the channel and dove in. She was undeniably the fittest human in the colony, thanks in part to the large square trench in the main courtyard that Jumper’s dad helped turn into a continuous swimming channel. Originally it was used for growing water-plants, back when the housing complex served as residences for Torian university students. This courtyard was the primary recreation area for the 64 Earthlings who still lived here.
Sixty-four. That wasn’t many. Jumper wished there were more. The complex could easily house hundreds—and at one time it briefly had, before the initial human exodus to Banor. That was before Jumper was even born. There were also several smaller migrations during his lifetime, especially in the last five years after the deteriorating atmospheric conditions became known. Then there were the half-dozen or so loners who had struck out from the colony on their own from time to time in an attempt to go live elsewhere on Amulen by themselves. Jumper respected those guys. If he wasn’t so close to his parents, he could picture himself doing the same thing—even knowing that most of them were never heard from again.
Alan was the last remaining close childhood friend of Jumper’s. Kayla was his only ex-girlfriend still living on Amulen. Not that Jumper was all that taken with the pursuit of romantic relationships. He was beginning to conclude they were more trouble than they were worth.
Only seventeen of the remaining population were first-generation Earthlings, including Jumper’s parents. Both Alan’s parents were still here, too—but Kayla’s were separated. Kayla stayed behind with her mom when her dad left for Banor several years ago.
Thirty-nine were second-generation, of which Jumper was the oldest. The first generation, those revived from the cryonic preservation tanks, had their hands full with the kids. That made it easy for Jumper and Alan to sneak off whenever they wanted. There were now also eight small children in the colony who comprised the fledgling third generation. Jumper realized Alan was right and they would probably all be moving to one of the Earth colonies on Banor someday soon. Jumper would miss his home world when that happened.
After watching Kayla swim for a minute, Jumper turned back to his lightpad. It was gift from Uncle Brandon when he was young. Jumper was one of the few Amulite humans who had one. Mostly, he used it to do research for the outings he and Alan cooked up. But he also kept a journal of all his experiences. Occasionally, Jumper kept in touch with certain old friends on Banor via his lightpad, and sometimes even received messages from Uncle Brandon on it.
Alan’s voice interrupted him from behind.
“Man, my dad really drilled me for details on this one.” He sat down on the bench across from Jumper.
“I hope you didn’t give him too many,” Jumper said without looking up.
“No, but it was difficult this time. I told him we met some Northern Militia natives and learned a lot about the agritent farming in the north, because I figure me having that knowledge is going to come up in conversation. Heck, it’s the only real newsworthy topic we have to discuss. But he thinks I know everything about that secondhand.”
“Good thinking.”
“Yeah,” Alan said, “except he doubts my story.” He chuckled. “Thinks the m
ilitia guys were lying about the agritents being so far south now.”
“What did you tell him about the alien battle?”
“Just that we saw some of it in the sky in the distance on our way back in.”
“And the mountain dwellers?”
“Erob, no! I told him we stayed in the foothills testing your dad’s suits on shallow slopes, and decided to camp out for the night because we were having cruiser trouble. At least there’s partial truth in that.”
“Okay,” Jumper said. “That’s not too bad, any of it. Your story needs to match the one I give my dad.”
A chirp sounded from Jumper’s lightpad.
“Speaking of which, he’s messaging me right now.”
“I’m sure he wants to know about the suits,” Alan said.
Jumper shook his head as he read. “Actually, he’s asking me to come out to the university. Hmm.”
“Why?”
Jumper set the lightpad down. “Uncle Brandon’s contacted him and is on his way to the university right now! He wants me there to see him.”
“Cool. Let’s go.”
“Go where?” Kayla’s voice said. Water drops hit Jumper’s head as she pulled her towel out from behind his back.
“Why don’t you use the evaporation chamber like the rest of us?” Alan asked Kayla.
“Dries out my skin. Go where?”
“The university,” Jumper answered.
“Oh, take me with you! I want to make a run through the air gym.”
Jumper shook his head. “No, not this time.”
“Why not? You’re going anyway.”
“The prophet’s coming to see his dad,” Alan said.
Kayla dried her hair furiously. “I won’t interfere with that. I just want to take a swing through. You can drop me at the front and pick me back up later.”
Jumper looked at Alan for a few seconds. They both eventually shrugged.
“All right,” Jumper said. “Meet us out front.”
“Oh, no you don’t. Last time you ditched me. One of you is coming with me to my room and wait while I change.”
“I’ll do it,” Alan said a little too quickly.