Koban 4: Shattered Worlds

by Stephen W Bennett

  Then she added, just for the fun of it, “The body scanner system would of course spot the Comtap chip in our head, which they will know we have since that’s why we’re there. In your case Sarge, they’ll see the dictionary.”

  “What dictionary?” he looked at her with justified suspicion.

  “The one filling your otherwise empty skull, where you found the word obfuscation.”

  Thad and Dillon laughed openly, until spousal elbows diluted some of the humor.

  With a sigh, Mirikami looked over at his new wife, as if to say, “Really?” as he held a palm face out towards Sarge, to stifle the rebuttal he knew was forming.

  Turning back to Reynolds, suppressing a smile of his own, he said, “Everyone, please, keep the jokes and personal gibes out of our discussions. I don't want to spend half the evening trying to explain to our non-human friends what they mean. Sarge, your idea to pretend we are no different from standard model humans, and simply step into the acceleration suits will give us away beyond a doubt. Do you have an alternate suggestion?”

  “Sure. When I’m caught at a bluff, or a bullshit story doesn’t work, I give it up. Tell them as much of the truth they as need to hear, and hold back the rest. Our Mind Tap ability they don’t need to know about yet. I’d say guard our Prada derived longevity as well, since it will be half a normal lifetime before that’s even noticed. A youthful appearance of people they know are much older can be attributed to their own nanites and med labs. Looking younger is something they could do, if they wanted to use just the genes they were born with. It took genetic knowledge to do that with the nanites we got from Human Space, but that isn’t surprising once they know we have the genetic knowledge. I don't think we should advertise at the outset our most advantageous gene complex, the Mind Tap. That’s my opinion.” As he sat down, his glance at Maggi let them all know that a verbal dart in retaliation was merely postponed.

  “Thank you. Thad, you’re next.”

  Rubbing a rib, where an unladylike elbow from Marlyn had made a lasting impression, Thad offered another take on the subject. “When Sarge and I joined up with a spec ops unit on Poldark, all of the Kobani troops were forced to do things while fighting the Krall up close, right in front of thousands of PU Army troops, which started rumors going around about us. The Shadow pilots performance, by out flying the Krall, added to those rumors. The navy is perfectly aware that supposed Rimmer troops and Shadow pilots wear the same looking armor as the newest body armor recently seen on spec ops forces. Yet men in that armor far outperformed what used to be the best that spec ops could do, even wearing a Booster Suit.

  “Some of the PU troops saw there were men inside that armor who didn’t wear the usual spec ops black Booster Suits. In several cases, armor damaged by plasma fire or explosives had to be removed, and those clearly unaided troopers still outfought the Krall in hand-to-hand combat, usually against warriors wearing their own heavy and powered armor. We’re kidding ourselves if we think the military and the government isn’t going to collate all of those reports, speculations, and helmet recordings, and determine that it isn’t exaggeration.

  “I say tell them at least about our physical abilities, such as speed and strength. Own up to it being the person that powers the armor’s movement, not the other way around. I don't think it would matter if they also know about our heat and cold adaptations, our improved vision, ultrasonic hearing, and sense of smell. However, I’d make no mention of Mind Tapping, or of how we obtained the genes. Let them think they were all designed by our scientists.”

  To no one’s surprise, Marlyn, Dillon, and Noreen approximately mirrored Thad’s position. The PU was surely on the verge of figuring out on their own that those they knew as Rimmer troops had superhuman ability. To control the speculation, and keep them from making a public accusation that might make its way to the Krall, the PU military needed to be brought in on the secret. It was to their advantage to keep it secret for now.

  Ellen Embry, next around the table, as usual had complaints to offer but no helpful comments. “Anna Cahill, God rest her tortured soul, predicted this day would come. I fear that those thousands of pure humans, whom I am duty bound to represent, will be lumped with those that the Hub population will know as sinners, humans again violating God’s perfect creation, altering what he had made in his own image. Hypocrites like you deserve to be punished with them.”

  Stewart, not waiting for the sharp reply he sensed was coming from Maggi or Dillon spoke up. “Ellen, your group, of which I was admittedly once a member, numbers only a few hundred and not thousands of people. You continue to ignore the one hundred ten or even more gene modifications that a mythical pure human, yourself included, already had when we arrived at Koban.

  “I eventually accepted that I was only able to survive on Koban, and later reached the relative safety of Haven, because of the existence and efforts of the Kobani. I too have now violated the gene laws of Hub society, but we live far outside of Planetary Union jurisdiction, we even live hundreds of light years outside of what is considered Human Space. We may someday petition to join the rest of human society, but I would only support such a move if they will accept us as we are. I will never abide by an application of outmoded laws, which I will argue did not apply beyond the boundaries of Human Space anyway, and which offers us the only hope to beat back the Krall. The Planetary Union does not own humanity or our genome, it is supposed to govern and defend human worlds that agree to join it, and there are still Rim world colonies that have not joined the PU, and which govern themselves.

  “Several thousand former Hub City residents like me accepted the clone mods simply to survive and live on Koban. Many of them were then able to have children only because of those mods. The children they had have nearly universally elected to take the next step, to become full Kobani, at age sixteen in Prime City, and eighteen in Hub City and here on Haven. That new generation has fought and died to protect all of humanity’s right to exist in the face of Krall genocide.”

  She shot back, “You say that, but you certainly have some reservations because you and your faction didn’t opt to accept those devil’s spawn alien genes. Does that make you only half hypocrites? You surely know what they have done is evil and against God’s laws. You openly consort with the Kobani, and the…, the Godless creatures…, which they have brought to live among us.”

  Stewart sighed and shook his head. “Ellen, I’ve told you previously the origin of the Kobani mods are not why I didn’t go any farther with gene mods. Many of us with clone mods were frankly afraid of that level of change, and we took the safe route and let others go first. We let them face the hostile Koban environment on our behalf. We didn’t need to take that next step if braver people were there to protect us, and later fought to stave off certain human extinction.

  “As you claim, I’m a hypocrite, that’s true. However, not because I accepted clone mods when I believed I was trapped on Koban for life. It’s because later I didn't have the fortitude to take the leap to join those that are in the forefront of defending all of humanity. It wasn’t because I worried that the Hub planets would penalize us for the audacity of surviving, or for effectively fighting the Krall.”

  He looked at each of the Kobani around the table, and pointedly included the three aliens. “Friends, all of you, please forgive me for my weakness. I would have joined the Kobani in the war by now, if not for the obligation I feel to continue to speak for those that my words and example convinced to take that first step with me, and received the clone mods. I will continue to stand with them, even as each month some of them elect to receive your Koban mods. When all of them, or at least most of them have done that, so will I.”

  Embry sneered. “I’m sure the PU’s hangmen will use softer ropes for you clone mod aberrations Mister MacDougal, thereby showing proper leniency for your carefully measured violation of God’s design. I’d gladly point all of you out to them when they finally come, but your mongrel genes will do that for us.�
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  Her hateful snide remarks overlooked the fact that lethal injection was the only legal execution method permitted in the PU, not a rope. Secondly, in typical fashion for her group, their mental blinders missed the irony that the lethal injection contained a non-transmittable virus, developed by geneticists for the purpose of painless and humane executions, created well before the Collapse that followed the Gene War. A Planetary Union executioner would thus be required to use now forbidden genetic modifications to kill violators of gene laws.

  Mirikami had been able to tolerate hearing Embry’s old arguments again; right up until she stepped over a line she’d approached closely before, but had never crossed. By inference, she had just labeled the completely innocent aliens as evil as the Kobani.

  “Enough! Ellen, this persistent argument has grown tiresome and deeply offensive to the rest of us, and what I’m about to propose has already been discussed widely among the Kobani and others, who make their home in this system. If the people you represent intend to continue to accept Kobani support and protection, to live among us, and our allies, you will cease open and hateful attacks on your benefactors and providers. Think and believe whatever you wish, we can’t and wouldn’t try to stop you. However, you and those you represent will stop making public insults and threats against the community around you. The Prada, Torki, and Raspani are people and contributing citizens here as well. Not creatures, in the derogatory manner you used to describe them so dismissively. None of us or they have treated you badly, and we have endured your abuse for long enough.

  “There are multiple habitable worlds that have been free of Krall presence for many centuries, and which have no intelligent alien occupants or Kobani to offend your sensibilities. Your group can become colonizers of one of these worlds, with our initial support to help you establish yourselves there. After that, we will leave you on your own. When the Hub learns of our system’s location, as they surely will at some point, we will tell them where to find the ‘Loyal Opposition’ to those of us living here. That is my solemn promise to you, and I do not break promises.”

  He waved her down sharply as she opened her mouth for a retort.

  “Be quiet. Take this offer to those you represent, discuss it, vote on it, and the majority decision will apply to all of you, no exceptions or exclusions. It will apply to all of you. If your group elects to stay on Haven, you will no longer be allowed to attack and insult the community that protects and serves you. If you do, you will all be relocated to one of the offshore landmasses, where you can rule yourselves as you chose in isolation, with only our limited support until you become self-sufficient. The offer of a new colony world will still be available to you. You have one month to decide. Tonight marks the final end of this discussion, if not the disagreement.”

  She started to renew her argument, but when Mirikami moved towards her, threatening to remove her forcibly from the chamber, she promptly shut up and sat down. Her face was red with suppressed anger, and she experienced more than a little fear. There was no possibility her followers wanted to have to take care of their selves on a new planet or even on an uninhabited island on Haven. That was exactly what was about to happen if they continued to vigorously and publically oppose every action of the Kobani, and avoided most of the work of settling Haven. She had finally managed to alienate the closest group her faction had ever had as an ally on Haven, the people Stewart MacDougal represented.

  Dismissing her from his attention, Mirikami addressed the first member of the alien contingent. “Wister, the Prada have worked very hard to make a home on Haven, not just for your people, but for humans, the Torki, and the Raspani. You certainly aren’t responsible for the actions of us Kobani, but our revealing details of our gene mods could have a long-range repercussion for your people, if it leads to political problems with our Hub worlds.”

  With a wry grin, he added something else for the over twelve hundred year old leader, “I know you Prada take the long view of things. We might someday find ourselves in conflict with our own people, if humans somehow manage to win the war with the Krall. I’d like to hear your opinion and comments about the risk of revealing ourselves to our own people.”

  Wister stood, pulling his prehensile tail through the hole at the base of the chair’s backrest. His short stature at a human scaled table only lifted his head six inches higher. He looked around at his audience with his large amber eyes blinking, his black nose quivering, head, tail and ears held steady. That very steadiness indicated the sense of certainty he felt about what he was about to say, at least it was clear to those who understood Prada mannerisms.

  “Many of my people are slow to resume thinking for themselves, after so long of accepting being told what to do, and never to be asked what we thought or wanted. We owe humanity a great debt for enabling us to recover the right of self-determination. In truth, the greatest debt is owed to you Kobani, although to any Prada, most humans seem to think and act the same.

  “I heard you say this is a risky thing, and future conflict is possible, but we cannot understand why your leaders in Human Space would consider turning on you. However, your differing motives, and many opposing factions are alien and difficult for us to grasp. Your species seems to have conflicted with itself very often in your history. The Prada are united in our core beliefs and slow to change. We willingly support and work for those of you that live in this system. Well…, we do this on Haven,” he amended, “but on Koban, it is too difficult. I will urge my people to continue to do this, even if there is risk to us someday for that action. It is right that we do so, and in truth, it is self-serving of us. My species needs the help of all of humanity to survive the Krall threat and its eternal slavery. The Kobani are the branch of humanity that is the driving force that can make that happen.

  “We see no valid reasons for concealing what you are. You are the hope of your entire people, and of mine.” He sat down.

  Mirikami nodded, aware from previous conversations what the Prada position was. “Thank you Wister.”

  He gestured to a pair of eyestalks aimed his way. “Geltra, what is the Torki viewpoint?”

  The Torki, as was their custom, remained prone on the long angular ridge of her couch, which mated with a longitudinal crease in a Torki’s carapace, left there when they molted into their first purple adult shell. One eyestalk stayed on Mirikami, while the other stalk, disconcertingly for a human, pivoted around the table to scan the other attendees. Her claws clicked under the table, in unconscious conversational ticks as she focused on using her Olt to link to the black speaking device, adhered to the front underside of her carapace.

  Geltra had had time to compose a response as she listened and awaited her turn to speak. Accordingly, her voice and sound replicator slipped into a lecture mode many of the Torki had taken to using, at least when addressing a gathering consisting of mostly humans.

  In short, she sounded very similar to Dillon’s speaking voice, the pattern they had adopted. “I am in a communal Olt link with all but a few of our population on Hearth. The sense that predominates is one of encouraging the Kobani to be open with those humans they have been protecting from the Krall. To do otherwise would create unwarranted distrust if they learn the secret of your physical modifications on their own. We are sharply opposed to informing them of your unique form of insanity. At least until you earn their trust. Although human mind aberrations may not be as risky to admit, as we collectively and previously believed, because of an assurance we heard spoken by Doctor Martin recently. He said: all humans are a bit crazy.” The last was a recorded playback of the actual words.

  Eight pairs of human eyes turned to stare at Dillon, who looked sheepish at this unexpected quote, and he shrugged.

  Viewing the scene around the table through the Olt link, the Torki commune sensed a misunderstanding, so Geltra clarified. “We are referring to the mental aberration you describe as the Mind Tap ability. It is aberrant in the sense that it is a departure from the normal or ty
pical human mental ability. Even other crazy humans may find this strange and threatening at first. We Torki certainly found it strange, and initially troubling, until we learned we could prevent your reading of our minds if we wish to withhold our thoughts.”

  She grew quiet, other than the normal chitin scraping, and small claw clicks.

  Never having risen from her couch, she naturally didn’t sit down, so Mirikami wasn’t certain the Torki had finished. “Geltra, this particular crazy human isn’t sure, but I think you have completed your statements. Perhaps our expert on crazy, and a prime example of the condition can confirm this?” He shot an amused look at Dillon.

  Geltra lightly bobbed her carapace, “Yes, I have imparted the majority opinion of our dispersed population. We were unaware Doctor Martin was your expert on human mental aberration. We will all now recognize him as such.”

  “He’s certainly one of our finer examples of the condition.” Mirikami confirmed.

  He next looked to the Raspani, sitting to his right, beside Maggi. “Wind Song, could you share with us the Raspani viewpoint on possible risks of revealing our Kobani abilities to the leaders of the government of our species. I know you have only recently had your mind enhancer implanted in the host body you now inhabit. To be certain you understand, let me say that we Kobani, in order to fight the Krall, have violated one of the most stringent prohibitions in our current culture. We have employed outlawed genetic modification of the human genome to make us superior in strength and speed over the Krall. I understand your people have discussed the science behind the human Clone Wars and subsequent Gene War, which explains why the prohibition on using that form of science was enacted by our government.”