MILDRATAWA

by Nigel Clayton

  PLANET VUDD.

  THE STEM.

  “Rimai! Rimai! What was that? Was that it?” The message from Vudd of a stolen frigate had just been received.

  “Yes, Tuai. That was the frigate. What do you wish me to do?”

  Tuai paced the small room on board the Stem. Kaur and Marrth were presently fondling with notes on chemistry equations and found Tuai’s excitement of little interest. It wasn’t until he screamed at them for attention that they finally looked up.

  They had moved to the Stem for conformation of analysis on a cactus disease that was destroying their beloved domed forest. They’d come to enjoy their work. They lived happily and found that they could come and go to any place when they so desired. The Verton war had ended for them just weeks after their descent upon the surface of Vudd.

  “Kaur! Tell me the Stem has detectors for gas excretions and diagnoses low temperature phosphorescence.”

  “It does, Tuai.” Kaur pre-empted and moved to the other console and keyed in the commands. “They’re heading for the moon of Negabba, along the rim of QEM-gate. It’s an obvious illegal move on their part. The Alliance have security monitors at each of the entrance ports to the QEM-gate.”

  “Can you stay behind them, Kaur? And if so; can we go undetected?”

  “I believe so. So long as we can stay behind their basic direction of advance.”

  “Good. Prepare for jump to parsec, and keep your distance. Marrth?”

  “Yes, Tuai.”

  “Send a message to the surface and inform them of what we’re doing. We will board the Vudd ship with—” He turned and raced over to the smallest console. He thought for a short second. “No. Rimai, we’ll jettison the Vudd ship. Inform Vudd that we’ll take after them in the Stem.”

  “Why, Tuai?” Rimai asked. “They’re Verton.”

  “They threaten the way in which we live. Don’t you like the life you lead now? Little taxes, no military training, no whippings or other atrocities of corporal punishment. If we do this we’ll be rewarded. We will be given many riches. They’re nothing but Verton scum!”

  They all glanced at each other and realised the truth of the matter. They did enjoy the last seven months; the best they had ever lived. They even enjoyed the work they endured. Their reading skills had improved and their knowledge of all things had grown; two of them even had women whom constantly visited them and had promised their undivided attention, although they sometimes disliked the females bickering and monotonous company. It was also understandable that they should be the hunters, for the planet Vudd maintained no equipment for the detection of phosphorescence of a vessel in parsec.

  They all agreed and the message was sent. They soon found themselves in parsec and in slow pursuit of the faster vessel. They knew not why the frigate was heading for Negabba, but that didn’t matter at this point in time.

  QUADRANT SEVEN.

  NEGABBAN’S MOON.

  El Pasadora had the surface of the moon scanned for the Ziggurat to no avail. Pasnadinko had fled – no mistake. It wasn’t till the signs of skirmish had shown up that El Pasadora commenced to wonder what he would have done. No laser blasts were evident. ‘What sort of fight was there?’

  Many ideas popped in and out of El Pasadora’s head during this time. If he were Pasnadinko, what would he have done? “Earth.” The whisper had just managed to escape his lips.

  Niras turned to the whisper. “I’m sorry, my lord. What was that?”

  El Pasadora stood abruptly. “Earth. That’s where Pasnadinko has gone. We had made plans to stray there if supplies were low; besides, there’s no other place to go. It’s our only chance. Let’s go Niras.”

  “Immediately, my lord,” and as they sped into parsec another craft came to a sudden stop. The Stem had just arrived, some distance from the spot from where the frigate had just stood.

  “What are your readings Kaur?”

  “Just a moment, Tuai.” He played the console well, reading the display to his front. “We’ve just missed them Tuai. They’ve taken for the QEM-gate towards Earth. Evidently they were here for a considerable time before changing course and continuing with their voyage.”

  ‘What sort of game are they playing at?’ Tuai asked himself. “Well, Kaur, what are you waiting for? Let’s go after them.”

  PLANET EQUATIA.

  THE PALACE.

  Queen Asti awoke suddenly from her deep sleep, jolted by a memory to which her mind had taken a hold, an illusion past, an illusion made up of certain beneficiary tokens. It took the form of a beautifully governed planet Equatia, a planet full of riches in respect to its resources, the best soldiers in the galaxy, and, could it be; a man of great power dressed in the uniform of the Mildratawa. When was the last time she had such a dream? But of course, seven months before, whilst in a deep sleep at her very own palace.

  She sat on the edge of her bed, motionless. She thought of the dream. There was a message there, but she couldn’t quite grasp its meaning.

  She picked herself up and dressed quickly; she had to attend an early breakfast with some of her more influential friends. It would take her little time to ready herself, and she wished to sit upon the porch for a short period, to try her hand at the meditative skills that Doug had described. The soft jungle air and caressing sounds of its depths would apparently loan itself as a type of mantra, this would relax her body, mind, and soul.

  She tried this willingly – more than likely too willing. After an hour of concentrated effort she stood and went to her door, upset by here failure but feeling surprisingly well.

  Mimbar, Doug, Sualimani, and Tiny Ballow, were already seated, awaiting the arrival of Queen Asti. They all stood as she approached but said nothing. She appeared to be in a state of— in a dream world, but not. As she sat, so did they.

  “A good night sleep I take, my lady?” Mimbar asked, frowning slightly as to wonder. Doug smiled mildly and the others stared for wait of the answer.

  “Fine, thank you, Mimbar.” She looked up and around at the others. “I hate to turn to business details so early in the morning, Mimbar, but I take that the cloning goes satisfactorily?”

  “We have commenced with the cloning and have taken the advantage of manufacturing some robes in readiness to issue to some of your Protectors of the Federate. Less than half of the apes have been sacrificed.”

  The queen peered up before the sentence was completed. She pondered as to the name of her Protectors. Her dream came back to her slowly, a memory that was driven home like a stake into the heart in reminiscence of a lost love. Her sudden stare brought Mimbar and the others aware of her inward search. “I think Mimbar that the name will have to be changed.” She looked now to Doug. “I have contemplated long and hard. Many things have been on the road to change, and many more will follow. The governing of this quadrant becomes more mentally profound and stable in the wealth that precedes us at a growing speed over the lapses of time. The 10,000 warriors will be known as the Protectors of the Scrolls.”

  Sualimani knew not of the Scrolls, but Mimbar and Tiny had heard much talk on such. They both dropped their eating forks and jaws. Mimbar wasn’t shy to question; “But why, my lady? Why the Scrolls? What does it propose to mean?”

  “Many things, Mimbar.” She smiled radiantly, as did Doug. “And I request that the robes be issued immediately to the warriors of— peace.”

  “Yes, my lady,” agreed Mimbar.

  “I have been thinking, Tiny.” He looked up and paid heed. “Many minerals and resources must be in abundance under the earth’s surface; resources which could not only bring us more wealth, but advancement in our race to gain scientific knowledge. There is much we don’t know.”

  “May I remind my queen that Earth is monitored against such theft?”

  “I’m sure that if we get into contact with the space labs around the earth, and ask for permission to gain access, that we won’t be denied our request.”

  Mimbar placed his fork down, this time with
out a clatter rising from the hardwood surface. “My lady; such permission has to be gained through the Mildratawa, you know that.”

  “We’ll plead ignorance. We cannot wait the two day cycle for permission to be granted.” A twinkle in her eye indicated to all that a plan was within. “We cannot wait whilst they set about bickering and voting.”

  “What cannot wait, my lady?”

  “Why, the very plants that sustained Earth’s life in years gone; the plants which we harbour at the Stem, the domed forests. We need some particular nourishing soils which can only be mined from earth itself; to prevent contamination of their beloved plants and shrubs,” and she smiled that cheeky smile.

  “That’s the most wondrous of ideas. I think they’ll fall for it.”

  Tiny broke into the conversation and planning. “They’ll monitor your move, my lady, you know that; don’t you? They won’t just sit and watch while you plunder the earth’s resources.”

  “They cannot stop what they do not know, Tiny.” The Queen added some minor detail to the plan. “Only one station of security will be in reach to monitor our move. This can be shielded by emission if Tritium; we can say it is waste from our digging equipment.”

  “Will they fall for that?” Mimbar asked.

  Tiny broke out into a wide smile. “Yes; they will.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  PLANET EARTH.

  SPACE.

  The Equatian spaceships – three in all – came out of parsec on the fringes of the space boundary around Earth. Tiny ordered the Protector at the communications console to try again. “Nothing, sir. No space labs around here I’m afraid.”

  “Are you quite sure?”

  “Absolutely certain.” Working under Tiny and Mintou made for a big difference to all attitudes, allowing comradeship to grow like a wild flower. The Protector peered up to Tiny’s working knowledge of all things military and human. “If I may be so bold sir?”

  “You don’t need to ask man. I’m not a goddamn Verton.” He smiled lightly, showing that his accented anger was not meant to intimidate or procure obedience.

  “Should we not inform the Mildratawa of our finding? It could possibly give us a more formidable excuse for which to enter the earth’s atmosphere.”

  “You’re quite right. Do it right away.” He stood erect from his leaning posture over the console, not revealing that he intended to do just that. “And whilst you’re at it, inform Mimbar that we’re heading in towards the region of Brazil.”

  The Protector acknowledged the command and all three ships soon found themselves approaching the highlands of brazil in preparation for extraction of resources, a known area which was rich in the minerals to that which they required. This area also stood rich in the soils that they had used as a logical reason for their being there in the first place.

  Towards the rear of this same vessel, Doug was awaiting to be slung from the cargo hold in a small ship, out into the skies above the Pacific Ocean where the thermal layer of global warming met with its highest peak. All of a sudden he was ejected from the cargo hold and met with the chop of warming atmosphere. It was a stifling resemblance to the old earth as even from here he could see the glimmer of heat wave that shimmered above the lands and oceans, far, far below.

  For a split second he caught sight of his reflection in the elongated pod screen; the Fio-nop robe gave muse to his change. He imagined himself as a short brown fellow, a Zudomminium and philosopher with monotone voice, the crazed peace lover and lover of all things good. He could also see other nations as he set his mind free, cultures and beings of far off quadrants. Negabba, home to the Inpuloid (or Negabban, dependant on your outlook), and the intelligent race which cared little what pain the body suffered in death, unafraid to teach a violator of the body about suffering. A vow of teeth for a tooth was their life saying, their vengeance. Do wrong by them, or the galaxy, and you do wrong by yourself, enduring up to six hours of torture before death could be embraced. Then there was Alza Ningh, a planet of eight-foot giants and no religious beliefs of any description, apart from philosophy and a mind full of kindness. Doug pondered more: ‘Amagrat Kune.’

  ‘Amagrat.’ Doug found this new thought strange. He didn’t know much of those people, the people of Siest. He knew nothing of their lifestyle. He closed his eyes in a trance of daydream as his craft sped down towards the surface of the Pacific and suddenly broke through the gentle movement of the waves.

  Water encased most of the planet earth: water could be found on any land, on any planet, in any quadrant. A light show flashed over his face, the reflections of light that bounced from the body of water that now encased him, given by the power of the sun. He thought to himself. A single droplet of water which follows its brothers over a waterfall, it may be different in shape, it may hold on dearly to a leaf, or contain microscopic life, but it falls from its community, separates and becomes an individual. And as it falls through the air it comes of change, its shape and speed. But once it comes to the end of its path it joins with the remainder of life, the other droplets that form the community of water. What was the community of life – regardless of whether or not you strayed from your society?

  Siest.

  Doug opened his eyes and realised that he’d been out for some time and was at that very moment approaching great depths. He knew not why he was here, but that he had to come. He was led by a dream. He wanted to communicate with the dolphins, if he could.

  The small ship he piloted had just passed what appeared to be the floor of the ocean and he entered into pure darkness, a hidden valley far below the surface. Even the lights of his ship had trouble with the lighting of his way. An abyss.

  The scanner to his front was still reliable, being compatible with space, inner atmosphere and travel under water. He slowed his descent. A wash of deep microscopic life could be seen to move around in the clouds of formation, adding to the murky darkness that already existed.

  He was following instinct now, wondering whether or not he should turn back and head for the highlands of Brazil, but he decided against this as his vessel was still capable of a much greater depth; nevertheless, he pondered its limits when it dawned upon him.

  As he entered what appeared to be a valley, and then a small crevice, the sounds of building pressure on the outsides of his craft seemingly diminished. A conclusion was possible, but not possible. How could pressure at such depths not exist? Had the crevice something to do with it.

  His eyes were suddenly lit up by a vision. To his front a light was seen, a light blue, caressing, a vibrant scene of colour which reached out into the darkness in streaks from a bright centre.

  As he closed in on the source, where the blue light evidently came, he saw movement. Dolphins were swimming in and out of its centre, those swimming in were disappearing from sight, disappearing into the source of the bright light; those swimming effortlessly out appeared as though nothing peculiar existed, as though this was an everyday occurrence.

  He slowed his forward motion and came to a stop, turning his lights off. On doing so, as if by magic, the area sparkled with a fluorescence of unbelievable colour and beauty. All he could do was look on in amazement. One after another, dolphin either entered the light or came out from it, a column of never-ending activity that reached out towards the surface above.

  He felt something now, knocking at his mind. He shook his head after a few seconds. What had it said: ‘This is the doorway to life and pure existence; the birth of a new system; the overcoming of defeat’.

  PLANET EARTH.

  BRAZIL.

  Working the grounds of Brazil was still feverishly being conducted by the time Doug had returned to the surface. He was presently in a trance and seemingly left alone by the others, so that he could continue with his thoughts, his friends around working hard to achieve the tonnage of ore and minerals for which the Queen had requested.

  Doug had just parked his small ship into a far corner of vacant bay on the larger ship and now st
ood at the doorway to this, watching everyone going about their work, the smell of tritium reaching his nostrils through the charcoal filters of his facemask. He looked up now and saw the dense cloud that was formed by the mining, through the glaze of his mask. He was surprised how quickly the vegetation had taken to the new climate.

  The heat was stifling, rain approaching from the horizon, and the surroundings full of greenery and beauty. A small clearing through the trees to his left gave way to the scars of the earth though. Miles off to the South he could make out the vastness of dead trees and barren land, sweeping out as far as the eye could see.

  He turned his attention back to the work around him and then stepped out and made his way towards a quieter area. On reaching this he sat, looked out into the jungle depths along the Andes and reminiscence took over.

  He willingly blocked out the sounds of mining around him and commenced his daily ritual that had grown to become nothing more than compulsive desires within. As the months slipped by, so he found himself to meditate ever more, a free journey into the expanses of life, a journey unhindered by any means.

  It took little time to free himself of his body, and his mind took to a translation of all mystic delights. In this realm of transition he wasn’t always in control of matters, and today was no exception.

  He could see clearly the community of Verton; all beings screaming out in darkness, crawling low on their guts, trying to fight off the building gravitational pull of their once beloved planet. The scenarios built within him and he saw the eventual demise of the planet as it streaked out towards Tullana in its burning fury. It vanished suddenly, the vision gone and another took its place.

  A plant lay in his palm; on closer inspection it was seen to be moss. An antiseptic form of plant life found on some rock formations of Equatia; he knew where to find it too. On the outside of the palace, on the rocks near the small cliff which formed a tight tunnel, behind a camouflage of shrubs. He saw this through the eyes of another – Tiny Ballow.