A Paradox in Retrograde

by Faherty, John

  It was a brazen plan though it had all seemed so simple from the safety of their high orbit. On the ground the reality was however quite different. Landaus as his insides ran amok thought that it must have been a situation quite like this where the term "intestinal fortitude" had originated. Though wide eyed to the danger they could barely deny the ancient fight or flight response that now beset them. Despite the unrelenting jeers and waves of raw anxiety they found the courage to press onward down along the avenue of polished amber. Landaus for an instant believed the stress of it all had gotten the better of him; for the quality of the air was such as to seemingly play tricks on his eyes. The clouds gathering now above him presented a strange apparition. They appeared to glow a shade of ruddy crimson. Soon A drizzle of blood red rain had begun to fall. He tasted the salty rain on his wetted lips and he began to realize that this was not something supernatural but instead a conglomeration of windborne dust and ordinary rain. The prospect of this blood rain now seemed somehow strangely humorous. The significance of these portents however was not lost to the creatures of Nibaru. As the ominous rain fell with a greater intensity the crowds that had grown so menacingly had now begun to dissipate. Only the heavilyarmed guards marked their steps. They were immense creatures farlarger than those they had faced on Earth. These were the royal guard whose sole job it was to safeguard the king and his company. Landaus admired their dedication to duty for unlike those who mocked them, they were unfazed.

  Growing closer in the distance the great bulk that was the royal palace stood in silhouette against the backdrop of an alizarin tinted sun. It would be there that their wager would be made and their fates sealed. Their contingency soon came upon a set of immense bronze doors hung within a set of broad pointed arches of granite. With out a word spoken one of the guards banged his heavy fist upon the door. The force of which made the heavy door sway ever so slightly. The resulting sound was quite distinct, resounding not unlike a subsonic bell. He repeated this a few more times until a small window on the door opened. Through this small window an exchange of unrecognizable words passed between the guards on either side. The gnashing teeth of door mechanism then cranked and rattled as the door slowly opened out towards them.

  By now news of the strangers from Earth as well as the portents of red rain had reached Aaralaat. He had expected it. Once his son had gone missing it was only a matter of time before he would be forced to face them. He had hoped to command the time and place of such a meeting. They had acted first and showed their faces before him. In this he had been bested. It was he knew, after all just part of the ritual. He would do his best to uphold his portion of the bargain. As for the portents, he held no such belief in superstition. As the king he had little time for such nonsense. After his advisors had informed him of their arrival he bid them to leave. He retired to an adjacent antechamber that served as a royal dressing room. There with the assistance of his attendants, he donned his mighty armor. Standing there before his mirror he admired his fearsome visage shining back at him. He called out to his personal messenger. Upon his arrival there, Aaralaat gave him an order, "When these Earthmen arrive here I want them brought immediately into my throne chamber. There I will be waiting for them." Though the messenger made pause, he dared not question his orders. "Yes, your highness."

  Under great scrutiny and heavy guard the strangers and the hostage prince were guided toward the king's chamber down through a long corridor decorated from floor to ceiling with intricately woven tapestries. Looking upon them there they saw sewn in gory detail the savage narrative of their kind. Following where their eyes took them the images led them into an immense chamber. There to the uninitiated the imposing effects of the room's design were made plain. From above a high soaring ceiling crowned with a gilded dome presided over columns of smooth amber colored marble. At it's apex a mobile was suspended consisting of two bronze globes of enormous size representing their two planets locked in dependent orbits. Lower down, effigies of the gods of their mythology, frozen in alabaster lined the room's perimeter. In the half light of imagination the shadows from these cold and imposing figures twisting grotesquely seemed to move in a strange dance. Its overall effect was spellbinding. With a gesture one of the stout guards motioned for them to walk to the base of a set of well worn stairs and form there a line at the bottom. The guards signaled for them to bow before the king. Looking upwards there upon a platform at the top of the stairs they saw him in his full regalia upon his throne. As a mark of their respect to his office they paid him his due homage by lowering their heads in supplication before him. He rose from his throne and peered down on them. Standing nearly seven feet tall and clad in shining armor he lent a most impressive sight. This image, by virtue of his stance above them was made all the moreimposing. He cast a likely image before the mysterious stone statues arrayed below him as if he were one himself.

  As he looked down upon them from his high throne Aaralaat showed no emotion. Hidden from those around him wasthe fact that his eyes were set squarely upon his son and successor. His heart beat quickened at the thought of any danger that may befall him. He was not at luxury however to show his truethoughts and emotions. To reveal them would be to betray them all. He would be careful as he spoke to choose his words wisely. "I see we have gotten ourselves into an early standoff. I must suppose you've captured or destroyed our scouts and this is how you've come into the possession of my son the prince. Are you well my son?" He paused and waited for a response that did not come. Leif under Amida's guise and influence possessed only partial autonomous control of his physical body. He struggled to scream out for him to strike them all down. But his mouth was muted. After a moment Aaralaat again spoke, "I see by some ethereal magic you have made my proud son stride into the hall of his fathers' more like a puppet than a warrior. Who among you possesses such power?" From within their number Ibsen stepped forward as if to speak. Aaralaat looked down in astonishment as the voice of one far more mature than his apparent age rose from his lips. "Great King it is I, lord Amida who has bewitched your son so. I apologize for my method, but I assure you no harm has or should befall Leif unless it is caused by you." Finding it harder to control his anger Aaralaat gritted his teeth and said, "Young Leif here is the future of our world. If he were to die by any means what so ever you would pay a price ten thousand fold. Even if your plan were to destroy me with this device of yours my successors would avenge the both of us. Are you prepared to pay that price? As in generations past we have always accepted the challenge and we will notnow be found wanting."

  "Ah yes I had almost forgotten the ritual of combat. Great king I have come here neither to make advances in this war of yours nor to beg for peace. Despite the necessary threat, I assure you our intent is quite to the contrary. What I offer you is an escape from this endless cycle of blood shed."

  "Why ever would we desire that? It is by the way of the ritual that we are brought sustenance. One only need look at our bodies to see how nature has made us so to require it. We were once as you are. We however have evolved where you have remained savages. Yours is a wild place fraught with danger. I suggest that it is you and your kind that is caught in the endless recycling of flesh. We have moved away from those beginnings but we both fear and revere your world for that power. It is that power that we must periodically tap into if we are to survive."

  "Have you tried another way? What if there were a means to stabilize the orbit and make your world more like Earth? Would you take the chance to remake Nibaru in your own image? There is a way and we can help you."

  Such a possibility had not ever entered his waking thoughts. He however knew deep in his heart that such things could come to pass. He also knew such a place would be glorious indeed. He remembered a dream from his childhood many thousands of years ago where in there was no long winters sleep. The concept of living ones life uninterrupted and not at the mercy of the sleep, sounded glorious to his mind. Their long held traditions however were deeply engrained. He forced himsel
f to end this momentary respite for he was called by duty to think otherwise.

  "In days past we had looked to our science and technology to relieve us of this burden. We found that though this frozen world was sometimes inhospitable, we in time had grown in tune with its seasons. Upon awaking from our slumber we must again seek out the life force to which we have grown estranged. Oh and it is not an easy task. We are made to fight for our very right to survive. We did not ask to be burdened so and we willnot be made to subjugate ourselves before you. The Earth is just as much ours as it is yours. However under the rules of combat Imust now entreat you. So now tell me what your demands in exchange for my son are?"

  "Aaralaat I stand before you to beg for you to reconsider; for it is my brother Hector's intention to destroy you. He isclose to possessing the means to do so." This last bit of information caught Aaralaat's attention. "So this spirit to which I am talking is a blood relative of the immortal Hector. If this is true show me your true self and stop hiding within the bodies of children. It is most unbecoming of an immortal."

  A pale blue light appeared to glow upon the surface of Ibsen's forehead. Appearing as if it were a floating sapphire, it moved slowly through the air and up along the stairs until it was parallel with Aaralaat's unblinking eye. The gem of light expanded until it approximated the size and shape of a man. It took its complete for there upon the throne platform before the king. Then its mouth moved and it began to speak.

  "As you can see I am no longer a corporeal being as yourself. I too in a sense have evolved from my original form, though not by the same method. I am the incorporated consciousness of a man long dead. Though I live as surely as you do, I too bare this burden. I too have slept through the ages of time. Each time I awake to repeat my part as have all of you. So don't stand there and talk about tradition and ritual. It's all nonsense. If you refuse to cooperate then we are again doomed to fight. If that truly is the case then we should get down with this wretched business of ours."

  "You should know it is the ritual that has stopped us from thoroughly destroying your world. We could take it anytime we choose to do so and call it our own. However this is not our way. We are destined not to live on the razors edgeas you do. The Earth with its endless cycles of birth and rebirth where all life in its turn is consumed is no place for our kind. Regardless to what you think of our mythology, we as our part in the ritual demands are bound by our solemn oaths. We will as the proper alignment is upon us, make the leap across space. There on the fetid Earth we will fight and die all to take our portion as is our right and duty. This much I can promise you."

  "You are making a grave mistake Aaralaat." "Perhaps but is this uncertainty not a secret engine to these ends. I know if lord Hector were here there would be no second guessing. So please as my patience is wearing thinwould you please conduct what negotiations you have prepared?"

  "Our request has not changed. There is a means to end this conflict, and we suggest you listen to us." "Under the rules of combat by capturing the young prince you have obtained certain negotiating rights. To which within reason we must concede. The key phrase here is within reason. So tell me what demands have you then?"

  Amida somehow had forgotten just how stubborn they were. He was sorely disappointed in their decision for he also had grown tired of these endless cycles. He now would act alone. "We will release the prince into your custody in exchange for the safe passage of these humans off of this planet. As a measure of good faith I shall remain here as your hostage."

  Landaus voice rose up in opposition, "With all due respect, that's not what we came here for. We are here to end this thing once and for all. I did not come all this way to come back empty handed. What assurances do we have against further attacks?" The translucent figure of Amida turned toward him and pointed toward the darkened space behind them and said, "Look there at your assurances."

  There from the darkness a base rumbling sound punctuated his words. Then from within the shadowed portion of the chamber behind them a strange blue light resonated in time with the sound. They turned around startled to see there a glowingmass. They soon began then to make out the hazy edges of cylindrical shaped object forming within the pulsating ball of light.Ibsen was first to recognize it as the object he had found back on the beach. Now however it glowed in a manner he had not before seen.

  Amida turned again toward Aaralaat and spoke, "Good king do you recognize the object now before you? Do you notrecognize it? It is the means to my power." The king looked on the object while possessing an expression of puzzled fascination. It was plain to all that he did not. The space around them now hummed with noise and spectral light as it drew nearer. Amida had now gotten the kings attention and began again to speak. "This as the vessel of my consciousness is all that truly exists of me in your world. It in some sense is my true form. Through it however my consciousness is projected, and though it is now inert it would only take a thought from me for its power to be awoken. Do you understand that many awesome feats of creation and destruction can be manifest at my will alone? This is the power that I possess."

  The guards knowing that there was little to be done to protect their king from this new kind of danger brought their weapons now to bear upon the humans. There was little else the nervous guards could do. Soon all the humans were staring down at their enemy over the points of sharpened lengths of spear. They though frightened by this sudden show of force responded by bravely standing their ground. Aaralaat despite his fear spoke unflinchingly, "Is it not unwise in the midst of negotiations to make such demonstrations? You should be more careful. Now tell me before I lose my patience. What sort of weapon is it?" Floating across the chamber, the ball of light came to rest there upon the landing where the king and Amida now stood. The light and sound soon dissipated as the object unfazed itself completely into their space.

  "You seem to have given me little in the way of alternatives. It is more of a means to an end than a weapon; however it can be many things, including a weapon. It is one that ifneed be, I am not opposed to using. So please I assure you on myhonor that my intentions shall be made presently clear. So please if you would call off your guards, this menacing gesture is quite unnecessary"

  Aaralaat looked down on them sternly and said, "Remember this, if he dies so shall we all."

  Chapter 14

  To escape, from the fetid planet of their enemies, the humans were prepared to strike a hard bargain. The weight of history would however make this difficult. For their part the king and his men would secretly consider it a victory if they were to only gain safety for the young prince. So then they negotiated, each side exploiting for their own purposes the archaic rules of combat. After a brief but intense period of wrangling they had come to an agreement. By conceding the release of Leif they had determined a means through which they could peaceably part company, at least for a short while. In exchange for their safe passage and Leif's safe return to his father, Amida had volunteered to act as a hostage. It was for all intents and purposes an even swap. And though no bounds could truly tie Amida to this place he had given his word. Under the rules of combat this promise must be accepted at face value. As promised, Aaralaat then had no other choice but to send them to go on their way. Along with this agreement there was an implied yet tenuous pledge that they would do so unmolested. Amida however was quite aware of the potential loop holes to this deal. After this contentious deal was finalized the humans gathered together their things in preparation to leave the Nibaru palace, their small group now would number only three.

  So under the glaring eyes of the King, his royal courtiers and their retinue, they were then escorted out of the palace by the royal guard. Soon thereafter the small band approached the outer walls of the palace complex. The heavy doors swung open outwards onto the deserted streets. Landaus was surprised by what he did not see there. Considering the presence there previously, the streets he thought were now suspiciously empty. The torrent of blood rain that had recently fallen had rele
nted, and the air was now still and silent. Within this peace, Landaus despite his reservations could see no evident signs of trouble. Though this current situation seemed to him unnatural he had after all nothing in his experience to compare it to. He could only conclude then that for the time being Aaralaat seemingly was keeping his word. With trepidation then they made their way out through the threshold gate out onto the broad avenue. As they did the huge wooden doors shut tightly behind them. With the palace gates and the protection they provided behind them, they were once again on their own. This time however there were only three. They took a moment to surveythe silt covered streets laid out before them. There under the open sky not a soul was to be found. From where they stood,all they could see about the abandoned avenues were the pools of rusted water and a line of foot prints tracing far off into the distance. Despite the recent rain, their own prints were far more pronounced and therefore more recognizable alongside those of the Nibaru native. Their first time around this way navigation had required the use of cumbersome maps. This time to find their way back home, they needed only to follow their ownfootsteps.

  They trudged onward following the line of tracks confirming as they went along the placement of landmarks. With each footstep that they took, their confidence increased. Soon their pace quickened to march. This method proved effective; by doing so they had quickly covered more ground than would have been otherwise possible. Landaus however somehow knew that the ease to which they had been able to leave had to be no more than a ruse designed to make them feel at ease. Amida had warned him not to put trust blindly in Aaralaat's word. He had implored him to be mindful to the contrary, that from him, he should expect some hidden treachery. Recalling these warnings his thoughts raced; for there among the darkened corridors from where they had come, his mind's eye could foresee that even now, forces could be assembling unseen. In keeping with this he would maintain a heightened sense of awareness, keeping one eye on the path, and the other upon the horizon. From every corner then they watched for any signs of sudden movement. Grunhuf though mindful to the dangers, seemed emboldened by their current pace and the relative ease to their escape. Compared to Landaus, he almost giddy. As he strode onward through the thin layer of mud, a tense smile stretched across his face. Expressing his new found optimism, in a hushed tone he broke the silence, "It looks like we may just sneak away with this one."