"Just like on Toblepas?" Fen asked.
"Yes. Exactly," Tommy said.
"Could we have our own world, like the Nesu? Why must we stay here?" called another voice from the rear of the room.
Tommy made the Nesu whistle of surprise. "You don't. You're here because you asked to be here, and I promised."
"Are you staying here, Tommy?" Fen asked.
"What?" he said. Not stay here? Not return to Earth? Of course I will. That was what I worked for, wasn't it? He glanced at Sisle, who had the strangest expression, as if she wanted to say something but was afraid to.
Tommy looked around the room. "How many would prefer your own world instead of returning to Earth?"
About half those in the room raised their hands. Of those who didn't, one spoke up. "Could we discuss this for a while before we decide?"
A murmur of "Yes, Yes," moved around the room.
"Of course you can," Tommy said. "Meet here again at the same time tomorrow."
Leegh had been attempting to learn English, but all this rapid conversation was beyond her. After Tommy's explanation, she said, "I am not sure you or the governments of Earth realize what is about to happen."
"What do you mean?"
"The Kadiil repressed us. We could not advance our technology, and we were not allowed to conquer worlds like your Earth. Now, Earth is defenseless against attack. If this ship moved to the orbit of your moon and launched one of our solid missiles against your capital, the missile would have enough kinetic energy when it struck to vaporize rock and send a wave of water around the globe. If we used all of the missiles we carry, we could make Earth uninhabitable, even without the black hole technology we now have.
"Soon, other ships of The People will come here. Eventually, the other seven sapient species in this neighborhood of stars will discover your Earth. For this world to remain independent, it must learn to defend itself."
"Are you saying I must give them this ship?" Tommy asked.
"No, but you must give them the Kadiil technology, or they will be enslaved or destroyed."
She looked at Tommy. "Giving them this ship and yourself would be a mistake. This is your ship, and, of all humans, only you have the skills to command it in defense of your world."
Leegh lashed her tail back and forth. "Something else. Are you certain the Kadiil are dead?"
"You have seen the dead ships," Tommy said.
"I have seen dead ships run by computers. I have also seen you turn your computers off and on without damaging them in any way. Are you sure the Kadiil, the actual Kadiil, will not turn their computers on again?"
# # #
The next day, the President of the United States joined the same uniformed officer on the screen. Tommy tried to be properly respectful, but, when the President insisted Tommy allow the U.S. military on board and refused to let him talk to his parents again, Tommy abruptly cut him off.
"That won't make him happy," Leegh said in her limited English.
"No," Tommy replied in the lords’ language. "Leegh, I have been thinking about the military officer's demands. Once they have me, I am worried they would never let me go."
"Why?"
"How could they be sure that I had given them everything that might be vital to national security? And, even if I had, they would fear I might give the same knowledge to someone else."
Tommy turned to the other humans in the room. "What did you decide?"
Fen stood up. "Before you arrived, we asked everyone who wished to return to Earth to move to that corner of the room," he said, pointing. The corner was empty.
"We asked everyone who wanted a planet of their own to move in that direction." That corner contained about half the artisans and farmers with their women and about a third of the warriors and warrior women. The artisan Tillie stood in front.
"What does the other group want," Tommy asked, pointing at the third corner. Sisle stood in front of the group, flanked by Valin and the third Forset.
"They want be with you, Master Tommy, wherever you go, as do I."
At first Tommy didn't know what to say, then he choked out, "I'll let you know tomorrow."
After everyone except Leegh had left, Tommy said to her, "Leegh, all of The People's ships have humans who should be free."
"And all of The People's ships need to know of their new homeworld," Leegh replied. "Ull was correct. Without access to technology, those we left on New Stream will become savages.” She paused, then said, “And those on its surface must also be defended. Only ships in orbit can do that."
"If I decide to stay on the Fist, will you help me search for The People's other ships?"
"I would be pleased to do so. There is also the matter of my forgetting to keep any males on board." She pointed at the doorway where Sisle was standing. "I believe you have a similar problem. Perhaps you should talk with her?"
--- END ---
A Larger Universe ends here, but Tommy’s story will continue in An Emergent Universe (as soon as I finish writing it.) Preview scenes are available on my blog:
www.jameslgillaspy.com
If you would like to be notified when the sequel, An Emergent Universe, or my in-progress fantasy novel, The Lesser Talisman, are available, send an email to [email protected] with a subject of “SUBSCRIBE”. I will add you to my contact list.
Thank you for reading A Larger Universe. I would appreciate your writing a review on the website you purchased the novel from. If you enjoyed the book, please tell your friends. Writing is a lonely business and I need your encouragement.
A Larger Universe Page 38