by Perry Rhodan
Rhodan sat down in the armchair. While Nex was busy placing a silvery helmet on his head, making the necessary adjustments and hooking it up properly, Rhodan inquired wordlessly of his invisible companion:
What next, old friend? They'll learn that their work has failed. What became of their endeavors to spread the humanoid race over all the inhabitable planets? What really has happened since they had to live in isolation?
It answered: A lot has happened, a great deal. But not what the Barkonides expected to happen. The contact between the worlds was lost if ever it really existed. Their dreamed of realm was shattered before it could properly develop.
So what shall I be thinking of now? (Rhodan)I know nothing of the events that took place in the cosmos. Certainly the Arkonides have passed on their knowledge to me but what is that in comparison with what was actually going on?
Not too much, came the Immortal's answer. But leave everything to me now—I'll do the thinking for you. And open your eyes and watch what—maybe—will happen some day. It's going to be only a cursory survey but it will provide these unfortunate people with the feeling they haven't led a completely futile existence in this cosmic desert.
"Are you ready?" asked Nex, interrupting Rhodan's thoughts.
"Yes, of course. What am I supposed to do?"
"Just think of your own history and report what happened till this day."
Rhodan nodded his head and noticed that the lights had been turned off in the hall. The semicircle of the projection screen began to fluoresce. Then the screen grew completely dark for a moment. Now a three-dimensional planet appeared—Terra.
A gigantic spaceship was orbiting around the Earth. Then the craft descended to the surface on a shaft of flaming rays. It landed. People began to emerge, then proceeded to seize possession of the young, still uninhabited world. The first settlements appeared.
Rhodan thought he was dreaming. The Immortal conjured up things for him and for the Barkonides that could never have taken place. The Terranians? Descendants of the lost race of the ancient Barkonides?
Another view of the Earth, this time as seen from a space station. The polar caps were shifting and wandered down as far as the temperate zones. Then the mighty glaciers receded again. The planet's surface changed its appearance. Gigantic cities arose, cities unlike any that existed on Earth. Giant domes were erected on the moon, making life there possible for the human race. Spaceships were rushing from planet to planet, transporting settlers to Mars and Venus. Out of the depth of interstellar space came the trading vessels of other races, landing on Earth to offer their goods for barter.
Then Rhodan realized that the Immortal was describing the story of some potential future which the Barkonides believed to have occurred already in the past. He reported nothing of the terrible wars which had slaughtered countless citizens of one planet, the third from the sun Sol; he said nothing of the Arkonide empire, that was facing decay and final ruin; he showed nothing of the apparently insurmountable conflicts which made deadly enemies of formerly closely related races.
The Immortal was lying to the Barkonides lest he make their horrible loneliness still more difficult to bear. After a final overview which demonstrated how all the humanoid intelligent races of the Milky Way were welded together in one great community, the thought-image faded suddenly away. Slowly and reluctantly the lights came on again in the room.
Cautiously, Rhodan peered around in the hall. He saw the smiling faces of the contented Barkonides who seemed to have forgotten their cruel lot. After all, hadn't it been they who had made such a wonderful development possible? They had started their mission and their descendants had carried on and completed it.
Nex stepped over to Rhodan to remove the silver helmet. His voice sounded shaky. "Thanks for this report. We are all thanking you, Rhodan. Now it will be easier for us to start out on that long dark voyage."
Rhodan rose from the chair. He looked at the faces of the assembled men. "A long, dark voyage? I don't understand..."
"Tomorrow we'll reveal our secret to you," said Nex with a knowing smile. "And once you'll have understood the theoretical part we shall show you how far we have progressed toward its realization."
There was a short friendly get together and two hours later Rhodan was back again in his room.
As he was lying in his bed, gazing out of his windows to watch how the lightless, dark night spread its shadows over the world, he spoke softly: "You have lied to them, old friend. You have provided them with an illusion which will give them the strength to carry out their insane undertaking."
"Yes," replied the Immortal. "That's what I have done. For some day in the future, perhaps in another million years, the race of the Barkonides will save the galaxy from annihilation they and their experiences with the limitless loneliness of the abyss which threatens between the spiral nebulae. For some day the intelligent races of the Milky Way will feel isolated too, namely at that moment when they face the realization that they'll never be able to bridge this abyss."
"Rhodan did not answer. Though his brain had been rendered super-perceptive through the Arkonide hypno-training, it still had its limitations.
And he knew that he had already exceeded these limits.
• • •
For days, Rhodan had been instructed re the plan of the Barkonides. Nex had explained the technical details in person and assured Rhodan repeatedly that his people had been familiarized with this plan for many generations and that the best brains of a united world had done their utmost to eliminate any possible source of mistakes.
The interior of the planet Barkon had been hollowed out. The entire population would find accommodation inside to live, to procreate and to develop further for many generations to come. Fantastically complex transportation systems guaranteed easy communication between the different residential centers. Atomic reactors had been placed everywhere to provide the proper lighting, heat and energy. Air-conditioning systems would forever renew the air in order to substitute for the lost atmosphere. And while the icy planet, all deserted and lifeless on the surface, would wander on its lonely path through the universe, life would continue in its interior.
Giant laboratories would produce all the needed food and necessities of life. The manner of existence otherwise would not be different from what it used to be on the planet's surface. And if night should fall, the typically dark Barkonide night, it would be done just to reproduce the same environmental conditions the population had known before.
The most important however was power drive.
The most sophisticated, advanced machinery would insure that the planet could free itself from the gravitational field of the sun Barkon and then pursue its course with constantly rising acceleration toward the distant Milky Way. Some day, Nex claimed confidently, the 'spaceship Barkon II' would race through the universe with the speed of light.
All the while Rhodan could not got rid of the feeling of living in a dream. Whenever he directed inquiries to the Immortal concerning this matter, there was no answer forthcoming; It remained silent and ignored Rhodan's questions. And this day Nex wanted to show his guest this most unique power drive installation.
They drove to the airport where a small flying machine was already waiting for them. The craft was shaped like a teardrop and was wingless. Rhodan was convinced that it was possible to penetrate space with it without any difficulty but what sense would that make? Even at the speed of light it would take 150,000 years to reach the nearest star.
The flight lasted one hour. They landed on a low rocky plateau which rose from the fertile plain. Several cupola-shaped buildings and high towers indicated that some people were living in this deserted place. Upon closer inspection Rhodan noticed that a huge amount of soil and rubble had been dumped on this plateau to enlarge it.
"Here is the entrance to the power drive installations, which some day will go into effect from this place." Nex pointed toward the ground. "Regoon has carried out the plans which have been
handed down to us by tradition and has finally brought them to completion. We'll meet him down below."
Down below—that meant some 15,000 feet below the surface.
Rhodan was filled with amazement and admiration at the sight of the installations the Barkonides had built in the course of several centuries. Endless corridors led into the interior of the planet, lighted at regular intervals by concealed ceiling fixtures. Narrow gauge rails served the subterranean transportation system. The air was filled with a constant hum and vibration.
Regoon came toward them to welcome his friend and guest. Regoon was clad in a tightly fitting combination which did not binder him while he was working. "You might regard all this with skepticism. But, believe me, we'll make it. Many generations have contributed to this enterprise and well finally bring it to fruition."
"This is only the beginning," smiled Rhodan. "Only your and my descendants will know some day whether you succeeded. How long will it take for Barkon II to return to the galaxy?"
"We have calculated that our journey will last 200,000 years," replied Regoon. "Gorat is very certain about this point."
Two hundred thousand years! Rhodan was deeply stirred by the spirit of sacrifice of this wonderful people. They were willing to withdraw into the interior of their planet in order to make it possible for their future generations to lead a life within the great galactic community. His fellow men on Earth were way behind! They often didn't even think as far as their own children.
"You'll make it," he said, fully convinced that a far off future would prove him to be right. "Some day our children will be able to shake hands."
The control section of the planetary power drive installation turned out to be an aggregate of machinery of unimaginable complexity. The profusion of switchboards, control panels, generators, measuring devices, gauges, control screens and outside control stations was so overwhelming that Rhodan soon gave up trying to figure out their various functions. Even his well-trained mind could not immediately comprehend what was going on down here in the depth of the planet.
Silently he walked between Nex and Regoon as they passed through the giant halls; he listened to the explanations of the two scientists. They showed him everything; they were proud of their life's work which was intended to make an entire world independent of the sun for 200,000 thousand years.
Provided he, Rhodan, could prevent the catastrophe with the aid of the Immortal!
I've located the spot where they made their mistake,soundlessly came the voice of It in Rhodan's brain. We are about to pass by the main reactor. Don't ask for any explanations, old friend. As I've already told you it's nothing but a faulty connection which would accelerate the fission process to infinity. In that case as much energy will be released within one second as is supposed to last for an eternity. Just start talking animatedly now with your two friends and don't be surprised at what your hand will be doing.
"You see. Rhodan, from this point here we can control the power drive by regulating the atomic fission," said Regoon. "It will be Laar's task within a short while to stand here at this spot to initiate our departure. The preparations for our long journey are completed and we are about to leave this desolate part of the universe."
"The power drive is all set, ready to go?" asked Rhodan pointing toward the installation with his left hand. Nex and Regoon followed Rhodan's moving hand with their eyes. "Are you sure that everything will function properly?"
"Absolutely sure," replied Nex and smiled. Neither he nor Regoon noticed as Rhodan detached two cables, swiftly changing them around. "We have checked everything a thousand times. All is in perfect order."
"I hope so," said Rhodan while he tightened the clamps. He became aware that the Immortal was withdrawing from him. He felt somehow very lost and lonely but this lasted only a brief moment, then the soundless voice started up again.
Success! I've just been in the future. The Barkonides are beginning their journey. They do not perish in the fiery glow of their own planet.
How is it possible to change the future? (Rhodan) Haven't you also seen how their planet became a sun?
Perhaps you'll understand that later on. Immortality and boredom solve all problems.
"Now let's throw a glance at the isolation chamber where the energy is produced," said Nex pointing to the floor where a round manhole cover 15 feet across could be seen. "It's too dangerous to go down there."
He pushed a button and the lid, more than 6 feet thick, swung slowly upwards. Rhodan stepped to the rim of the opening and peered down into the abyss that gaped before his eyes.
The shaft expanded farther down and ended in another hall where mighty metal casings could be seen. Rhodan could not distinguish any details; the distance was too great. A monotonous hum rose from below and filled the air with intense vibrations. A smell of ozone became quite pronounced.
The lid closed tight again, flush with the floor. "Tomorrow we're starting with our evacuation procedures all over Barkon," Regoon said proudly. "It won't be long now until we'll depart."
"And tomorrow I, too, will have to leave you, my friends," replied Rhodan. "I'll report to the galactic worlds that the ancestors of mankind will be returning."
Nex and Regoon smiled. Their eyes were no longer filled with their customary sadness. Optimism and quiet happiness had replaced them—and the strength and resolution to endure the rest of their lives in absolute solitude.
• • •
The drive to the airport resembled a triumphal procession. Thousands of Barkonides lined the streets and jubilantly bade farewell to the ambassador from the galaxy. Rhodan could see no sign that all these people would see their sun for the last time this day. But even before he would have left this solar system the Barkonides would descend into the depths of their world—there to spend the rest of their days. Only their descendants in a far distant future would some day see again a new sun which would give warmth, light and life to their planet. While the car slowed down and then finally came to a complete standstill, there descended from the blue sky the little ship which had originally brought Rhodan to this planet. It landed gently. The hatch swung open by itself. Laar was the first to get out of the car. He held out a hand to help Rhodan out. Nex, Regoon and Gorat followed.
"Let us thank you for your visit, Rhodan. Now we know that our children haven't forgotten us. Rhodan, bring our greetings to the galactic community from its brothers."
"I promise I will," said Rhodan.
As he was standing in the open door hatch and turned around to wave a last farewell to the crowd, a jubilant shout went up into the clear warm air of the planet. It was like the cry of relief from a creature which, after long suffering, had suddenly been delivered from its torture.
Rhodan felt the tears well up in his eyes. Abruptly he turned and disappeared in the interior of the little spaceship. Seconds later came an almost imperceptible shock as the craft started and shot steeply up into the sky. Barkon fell away beneath the ship into the eternal silence of loneliness.
For two days the same series of events that had brought him to Barkon II repeated themselves in reverse. The galaxy became bigger and bigger with every hour, until finally the little ship plunged into the star swarms of the spiral nebula. Rhodan felt like the prodigal son: he had come home. And suddenly he could truly experience himself what the Barkonides had meant when they were speaking of their unbearable loneliness.
"In one hour well reach our destination," said the Immortal in a clearly audible voice. "Perhaps you'll tell me now why you came to visit me."
"Don't you know?" Rhodan said in surprise.
"I want you to tell me in your own words."
"I need the ultimate weapon to remove the threat to my home planet. The galactic traders have discovered Earth—and they won't be the last to do so."
"The children of the Barkonides, "It laughed sarcastically, and abruptly became very serious. "They must not be disappointed when they eventually reach the galaxy—and that might come abo
ut sooner than you think. Maybe somebody will help them to conquer time." It paused for awhile to let the full effect of It's words properly sink in. "One strong arm will have to unite this galaxy. And you, Rhodan, have the needed strength. You alone! Therefore I'll give you the weapon you want. Only—don't misuse it, ever!"
"You'll give it to me?" Rhodan tried to reassure himself; he felt all of a sudden the old mistrust toward the Immortal. "Without tasks to be solved, without further trials and tests?"
"Our flight through infinity was the best test. You have passed it, haven't you?"
"I think so—with your help."
"Of course with my help, how else could you have done it? And so you want to have a fictive teletransmitter. You want to teleport matter—probably some atomic bombs—into the ships of your enemies."
"Will you help me?"
"Naturally. But now, Perry, go to sleep. You have another jump into time ahead of you. You don't want to miss returning into the present where your task is awaiting you. Your friend Bell will be wondering where you have been in this second..."
And while Rhodan was thinking about the Immortal's words, he felt an irresistible fatigue sweep over him. He gazed at the screen and recognized the first constellation. It shifted slightly. Then he fell asleep...
...to awake immediately.
5/ The Most Dangerous Monster in the Universe
"...the matter? You are becoming transparent and... there you are again! Are you messing around with teleportation?"
Rhodan's glance fell on the clock in front of him on the instrument panel. He hadn't lost even one full second!
"Hello, Reg," he said with a strangely shaky voice. "Teleportation? No, not quite. Maybe just one of the jokes of our immortal friend." He looked out through the window hatch. "Ah, the mountains. We'll soon be there."
Bell was just about to ask something more but then decided against it. A deep vertical furrow appeared on his forehead just above the root of his nose. Maybe he was trying to figure out how Rhodan had managed to obtain a freshly laundered shirt in this fraction of a second. Also his uniform looked freshly ironed. But wasn't anything possible on this Planet of Eternal Life—even the impossible?