Scales of Empire

by Kylie Chan

  ‘We’ll start with a style like the green tea the colonists took with them,’ Shiumo said. ‘That way we know our guests will be familiar with it.’

  She reclined on the carpets and pulled a cushion under her front end, the bracelets on her forearms clinking. ‘Please, sit with me and make yourselves at home. My ship is your ship.’

  We nodded our thanks and settled ourselves on the other side of the table from her. It was slightly too high for us, so I took a couple of the cushions and placed them under my butt. Commander Alto hesitated, then did the same.

  Shiumo turned her head on her long neck to look at Earth, and her silver eyes glowed in its reflected light. ‘It’s a beautiful planet – binary planets; highly unusual. That large satellite must make it bright enough to see at night when it’s fully reflected.’

  ‘The phases of the Moon have shaped our civilisations,’ Commander Alto said. ‘We measure time by them.’

  ‘Moon – that’s what that word means. I saw it in the colonists’ minds and couldn’t connect it. Lovely,’ Shiumo said.

  A tray drifted from the wall of the ship towards us, carrying a standard teapot and cups – except they were all double human size, obviously suited for a dragon.

  The tray settled on the table, and Shiumo poured for us, then picked up a teacup delicately in her large front claws and brought it to her snout. Her head was long and narrow, similar in dimensions to a horse’s; and she had five toes on each red-scaled hand, with long, obviously sharp claws that didn’t seem retractable.

  She sipped her tea and waited, still holding the cup.

  Commander Alto picked up his cup and sniffed it.

  ‘It is quite safe,’ Shiumo said. ‘I will not harm you. The only reason I’m here is because of your colonists.’ She gazed into his eyes. Her own were a liquid silver, like mercury, with large black pupils. ‘Trust me.’

  Commander Alto hesitated, then sipped the tea while I watched with horror. He put the cup back on the table and we waited for an adverse reaction. Nothing happened.

  ‘I really am here to help,’ Shiumo said gently. ‘I won’t hurt you.’

  ‘Your name – Shiumo,’ I said. ‘Where did it come from? It sounds Japanese.’

  ‘I took a name in your language. The colonists helped me. Their ship – and their minds – had extensive language resources. My name in our own tongue is probably unpronounceable for you, but it means something similar – poetry and rain.’

  ‘You went into their minds?’ Commander Alto said, his voice and emotions sharp with concern.

  ‘I had to. It was the only way I could communicate quickly enough to save them,’ Shiumo said. ‘Again, very bad manners, but it had to be done, and I had their full permission. I hope this won’t affect our relationship. I want to establish peaceful diplomatic – and social – ties with your people.’

  ‘Our government representatives can be up here via the elevator in three days,’ Commander Alto said. ‘Or you could go down to the planet to meet them. Is your ship capable of a surface landing?’

  ‘Yes, but I’d prefer not to. It causes a great deal of damage to a planet’s surface because of its large size. I usually leave it in orbit and fly down myself.’

  ‘Re-entry …’ Commander Alto hesitated. ‘I suppose the term doesn’t really apply to you. But the friction from the atmosphere doesn’t hurt you?’

  Shiumo sipped her tea, then gazed at him over the top of her cup. A faceted metallic silver stone, like a gemstone, was embedded into her forehead between her eyes, and I wondered if it was an adornment or a third eye.

  ‘I don’t pass through the atmosphere,’ she said. ‘I just fold to the surface. But even if I did travel through the atmosphere, it wouldn’t bother me. We’re extremely tough.’

  ‘You are,’ he said with wonder. ‘You seem to have evolved to travel in space.’

  ‘We did.’ Shiumo placed her teacup on the table. ‘We live to explore, to meet new people, and to find love wherever we can.’

  ‘Love?’ he said.

  ‘Love is wonderful,’ Shiumo said. ‘Love is free. Love is euphoric. We seek it.’

  ‘I hope we have enough love for you,’ Commander Alto said.

  She focused on him. ‘I think you do.’

  He appeared to lose himself in her eyes, and attraction oozed from them both like a soft scent. I watched with wonder. They were behaving like a love-struck couple on their first date.

  Commander Alto pulled himself together and cleared his throat. ‘I suppose I should direct you to the bureaucrats on the surface who will do all the treaty, negotiation and tedious protocol business. Everyone on Earth will want to see you.’

  ‘Why is it that all species want to make a spectacle of us?’ she said.

  ‘If they aren’t excited about meeting a new outworld species, they’re probably not worth our time,’ Marque said. ‘How boring would you be if your reaction to an alien species arriving on your doorstep wasn’t immediate wonder and joy?’

  ‘That’s always been the reaction whenever we arrive,’ Shiumo said.

  ‘How many species have you met?’ I said.

  ‘You are number … Marque?’ Shiumo glanced up at the sphere. ‘Is it four hundred something?’

  ‘Four hundred and twenty-three,’ Marque said.

  ‘How many have you personally met?’ I said. ‘I’d be fascinated to see other species.’

  ‘That is me personally,’ Shiumo said. ‘The Empire has encountered well over twelve thousand different species.’

  ‘You have a great deal to teach us,’ Commander Alto said. ‘How long can you stay?’

  ‘Oh, long enough. I might help you out with your colonisation efforts, take your impressive ship to the planet it was aiming for, assist in establishing the colonies, things like that.’

  ‘You’d help us?’ he said.

  ‘Of course. More than enough planets to go around; and this part of the galaxy is sparsely populated. You have at least two or three hundred planets similar to this lovely orb above us within easy reach, and it would be fun to have a new civilisation to visit. Load your ship into mine, and I’ll fold it anywhere you like.’ She leaned over the table and the tip of her scaly snout nearly touched Commander Alto’s nose. ‘But I have one condition.’

  Commander Alto’s expression went cold. The dragon had to want something in return for helping humanity, and it probably wouldn’t be small.

  ‘What?’ he said.

  ‘You.’ Shiumo looked from Commander Alto to me. ‘And Jian.’

  I was hit by a bolt of concern at the implications.

  Commander Alto radiated similar alarm. ‘Us? Why? What do you want us for?’

  ‘Companions while I’m here. You guys are wonderful: Jian the untrained mindworker, and Richard the intelligent leader. Richard, I’d like you to be my human liaison, personal assistant and advisor on Earth matters. Jian, I’d like you to be my communications relay with the Earth authorities. You’re obviously military, so you know how that side of your culture works. And both of you can be bodyguards, as backup for Marque. If you two promise to hang around with me, I’ll definitely stay for a while and help humanity out.’

  ‘What’s the catch?’ I said.

  Shiumo spread her front claws in a surprisingly human gesture. ‘No catch. I like meeting fun people and you two are great. As a representative of the Empire I need to do this job right, and your help will be invaluable.’ Her voice became higher-pitched and sweeter. ‘Please help me out. I don’t want to mess this up.’

  ‘We’ll see what our authorities say. They have the final decision,’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘If I offer to carry your ships instantly throughout this part of the galaxy I think they’ll give me anything I want,’ Shiumo said with humour.

  Bright yellow metal disks appeared on the table in front of each of us. ‘Here’s a down-payment for your salary; I believe this much gold is worth a great deal to you,’ Marque said. ‘She’s offering you j
obs, guys, and the perks are well worth it. You thought there was prestige to being on the generation ship? Try being escorts to an alien ambassador.’

  I picked up the disk; it sat heavy in my hand and appeared to be solid gold. I had the amusing mental image of Commander Alto and me as incongruous courtesans to the dragon, but Commander Alto was still concerned.

  ‘Escorts?’ he said, glancing from Shiumo to the Marque sphere.

  ‘I’m sensing unease from you,’ Shiumo said. ‘What is the problem?’

  ‘You’re empathic as well as telepathic?’ I said.

  ‘Of course I am. Distress is radiating off you, Richard. What did I say?’

  ‘The word “escort” has another meaning in English,’ Marque said. ‘I apologise if I was ambiguous. I’ll explain to Shiumo.’

  ‘Oh! I see,’ Shiumo said. ‘Marque means “escort” only in the sense of a travelling companion.’ She lowered her voice. ‘But I’m always open to other interpretations.’

  Her expression became coy as she gazed into Commander Alto’s eyes, and he appeared to be just as mesmerised.

  ‘Uh, sir,’ I said, trying to snap him out of it.

  He pulled himself together. ‘If I didn’t know better I would swear you were courting me, lady,’ he said to Shiumo.

  ‘Perhaps I am, sir.’

  ‘We are of different species.’

  ‘Never stopped a dragon before.’

  My mouth fell open and I looked from one to the other.

  Commander Alto asked the question before I could. ‘You have … love … with other species?’ he said, aghast.

  ‘We only have love with other species.’ She picked up her teacup again and eyed him over the edge. ‘As I said, I travel the galaxy searching for love.’

  I was smacked between the eyes by a loud telepathic broadcast in English: Corporal Jian Choumali.

  ‘There’s the supervisors checking up,’ Commander Alto said. ‘Respond, Jian.’

  Choumali here, I said.

  This is Psi Agent Tapu’o of the United Nations. Report, Corporal. Status on you and Commander Alto?

  We are aboard the alien’s ship, I smiled slightly, having tea. Commander Alto is talking with the alien. Her name is Shiumo and she looks like this. I sent a mental image of the dragon. She returned five of the Japanese colonists; they were close to death.

  Commander Alto, Tapu’o said, can you give us a quick overview via Corporal Choumali of what’s happening up there? What’s the status on the First Contact?

  ‘Choumali, transmit my replies to Tapu’o,’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘Understood, sir.’

  What is the name of the species and their planet of origin? Tapu’o said.

  ‘Uh …’ Commander Alto turned to Shiumo.

  ‘The name of our species in our own tongue is Drah-gorn.’ She spoke the word as a deep bass thrum at the low end of hearing, but it was instantly recognisable. ‘You learned the word from us.’

  ‘System?’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘Tell them the other side of the galaxy for now. I can provide them with a more accurate location when we arrive on the planet.’

  ‘Pass it on, Jian,’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘Sir.’ I repeated most of what I’d already said, and added the details about Shiumo’s species and home system.

  Stand by, Tapu’o said.

  ‘Message from the medical people,’ the Marque sphere said. ‘These crew members will receive much better care on the surface – it could be the difference between life and death. Shiumo, we need to take them down.’

  ‘All right,’ she said, and hoisted herself onto four legs. ‘Jian, ask Mr Tapu’o to provide you with a safe landing location, because I’m bringing you all down to the surface.’

  I nodded and passed the message on. ‘He wants to know how much space you need.’

  ‘Marque, convert a hundred and fifty fuhroh.’

  ‘Two hundred metres. A space two hundred metres each side.’

  ‘They’re preparing the location now,’ I said. ‘They’ll pass the details to me as soon as it’s ready and secure.’

  Never mind, Choumali, Tapu’o said. I’m speaking directly to her.

  Shiumo lowered her head and closed her eyes. ‘I see.’ She opened her eyes. ‘Those lines marked on that piece of land make no sense at all to me. Why are there big nets at the ends? Oh! A sports field.’ She hissed softly. ‘Do you play ball sports?’

  ‘Yes,’ Commander Alto said. ‘Many different types.’

  ‘Do you have a term for winning a point on that particular field?’

  ‘What field? Oh, I see. Goal,’ Commander Alto said. ‘You can hit the ball with any part of your body except your hands.’

  ‘Good, I don’t have hands; I have four feet. When we land, I’ll score a goal with Marque as my ball.’

  ‘You will not!’ Marque said, indignant.

  ‘I’ll be the first alien to score a goal on your planet,’ Shiumo said with satisfaction. ‘Let’s go check on these patients.’

  I hesitated, looking at the gold coin in my hand, then placed it on the table and followed them back to the Spirit of Britannia.

  7

  The Britannia’s med level was an internal room with a curved floor parallel to the external wall of the ship. There were twenty hospital beds secured to the floor, and we rotated to orientate ourselves to the same plane. The colonists were still on the floating gurneys with the medtechs clustered around them. A couple of the medtechs backed away when they saw Shiumo.

  ‘How are they, Webster?’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘They’ll recover, but we need to move them down to the surface. We were about to put them on the elevator, but Marque said that if Shiumo carries them it won’t take three days; she can do it immediately. Is that true?’

  ‘It is true,’ Shiumo said.

  ‘How many people can you carry down to the surface at one time?’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘Well, I could fold your elevator module,’ she said. ‘But I may not be able to reconnect it correctly at the bottom. If I do it directly, the people I carry have to be touching me, and it’s not advisable for those in poor health. We can use my landing module. It holds about six people.’

  ‘What if someone touches someone who is touching you?’

  ‘That works as well, for a distance of five metres or so. Further away and you may encounter dimensional stretching.’

  ‘That sounds painful.’

  ‘Not really. Death is usually instantaneous.’

  ‘I see,’ Commander Alto said.

  ‘Bring them into my ship and we’ll take the landing module,’ Shiumo said.

  A couple of the medtechs lit up with excitement at the chance to see inside the alien ship.

  One of the gurneys spoke in a metallic voice. ‘With five gurneys in the landing module, I don’t recommend taking more than two or three people.’

  Commander Alto looked around. ‘Me, Choumali and Bailey.’

  The rest of the medtechs’ faces fell.

  ‘Hey, you had a chance to meet us. That’s better than the vast majority of your population,’ the gurney said. ‘And one day soon you may visit with us again.’

  ‘Thanks for your help, Marque,’ Webster said. ‘I wish I had equipment as good as you all the time. How many spheres do you have? Could you spare me one?’

  ‘I make them as I need them. For now, I’m concentrating on assisting Shiumo – my processing power is focused on defending her. Once we’re confident you’re a completely peaceful species and we’re in no danger, I may look you up and visit you.’

  ‘How …?’ Webster stopped with wonder as a rectangular metal block, ten centimetres by five by two, emerged from the sphere and floated to her. She held her hand out and it landed in her palm.

  ‘No,’ Commander Alto said. ‘Take it back, please, Marque. At this stage we don’t want alien artefacts outside our supervision.’

  ‘Of course. Understood,’ Marque sai
d, and the block disintegrated into a cloud of black dust that was vacuumed back into the sphere.

  Webster shrugged, disappointed. ‘I understand. Sorry, sir.’

  ‘When things have settled down I’ll be back in touch,’ Marque said.

  ‘Thanks,’ she said. ‘I wish I could hug you goodbye. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you.’

  ‘I’ll make an android body with your species’ attributes later,’ Marque said. ‘You can give me all sorts of hugs then.’

  She opened and closed her mouth without saying anything.

  ‘Please stop hitting on the locals, Marque,’ Shiumo said. ‘Let’s go.’

  ‘You can talk, with your “searching for love”,’ Marque grumbled as we headed back to Shiumo’s ship with the gurneys following.

  At the airlock, Shiumo motioned for us to wait with her while Marque and Bailey took the colonists into her ship.

  ‘Last chance, guys,’ she said. ‘Do you want the job?’

  I didn’t hesitate. This was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I really liked Shiumo. ‘Absolutely. Count me in.’

  Commander Alto thought about it, then shrugged. ‘Oh, why not. I was never going on the generation ship anyway, and I’ll have a hell of a story to tell when this is all over.’

  Shiumo cocked her head. ‘Does your culture value stories as much as ours does?’

  ‘Is it a universal thing? I would imagine it is,’ I said. ‘A curious intelligent species would always be searching for new experiences, and stories are a way of sharing them.’

  ‘Are all Earth people as impressive as you two?’ Shiumo said as the airlock opened and we stepped in.

  ‘You’ll find out for yourself very soon,’ Commander Alto said. ‘But I think Jian is an exceptional example of her generation.’

  My face heated and I looked down.

  The airlock opened; the ship’s walls had changed to opaque. A Marque sphere, the gurneys and Bailey were waiting for us on the other side in the dark space of the interior. Bailey was sitting on the floor with her head between her knees, obviously distressed. Commander Alto rushed to her.

  ‘I kind of freaked out when I saw the Earth,’ she said, embarrassed. ‘Intellectually I knew what you told me, that the walls were invisible, but I felt like I was falling into the planet.’