by Dave Gordon
With that, he turned on his heel and entered his cabin. Wyan was crestfallen, it did not sound like Technical Specialist's heaven. Vincent and I shrugged. The security guys started getting even more grim and humorless. They inventoried all the armament twice. They debated what they would choose to carry if the Captain gave them the choice. It was unlikely the Captain would choose to make the initial contact accompanied by an armed squad of black-clad killers. That sort of thing usually put the locals off a bit. We would probably land near a population center. Two or three of us would stroll up and say howdy. The security guys were really more for protecting the ship so we could beat a hasty retreat if necessary.
We eventually came within sensor range. The planet was 4/5's Earth's mass, which was good because we would feel light on our feet. It was a bit on the dry side, no large bodies of water. There were many lakes towards both poles. The orbital rotation was perpendicular to the star so the climate was constant, no seasons. The star was 1.12 solar masses with some heavier elements in the core. That meant it was older than Earth's sun. The UV radiation level on the surface of the planet was below that of Earth so we could be outside without exposure suits. Showing up in full exposure suits was another thing that tended to put off the locals.
We finally reached the beacon. It was located in a high orbit of the system's fourth planet. It appeared the fourth planet was our destination; there were population centers visible during the nine hour night. There were no settlements on the other planets of the system even though there were a couple of good candidates. There was nothing further to be learned from the beacon, it was a simple radio device encased in a carbon fiber ball. The Captain did not feel bringing it aboard and dissecting it was necessary. Wyan was disappointed, it was likely his last chance at something to do.
We began our observations of the planet. The land masses showed signs of an active history ages ago. Great mountain ranges marched from pole to pole. The broad depressions that seemed to separate the mountain ranges looked like dried up oceans. It would take a full-on planetary survey to figure that out. I'm sure we would get to that later if we got the chance. There are some extremely valuable minerals scattered about the universe. Locating them was one of our primary goals. If we could locate any amount on this planet, it would be a very successful mission. There were approximately two billion inhabitants, very small by Earth standards. The population seemed quite dispersed. The cities were not large and there were smaller communities all over the planet. That argued in favor of a non-technological society. Large cities are required to drive the monstrous economic engine that industry and technology required. That engine announced itself with demonic heralds. Heaving mounds of filthy corruption writhe in competition for resources. A stinking, shrieking, cacophonous din arises from every quarter. The calamitous eruption of energy from such planet glows as if it were a small, degenerate sun. Not a sun blazing in the full glory of creation but a weak little buzz that announced to all that passed that here lives a people of such cleverness that they have forgotten everything of importance. There is nothing else that needed to be known about such a people. They will do anything, short of nothing, to sate their consuming hunger for wealth. Their greed and sinful lust hangs in the air about them as a stifling pall. Yet those were the very races we sought out. Those of our own race. The singular universal race of greed, the most common race in the universe. Now we were spreading this putrid religion to another galaxy. The moral ramifications of such an act seemed lost on everyone but me. Even Tuya believed that if a planet decided to descend into filth, they had the right.
A part of me hoped this planet would reject our offer and remain clean. The planet below seemed pristine and peaceful. There were no large energy signals but there was evidence of great works. Much of the surface had at one time been lined with canals that led to the cities. The canals were very large and clearly visible from space. The atmosphere was intact. Ozone levels were appropriate, particulates were low, and hydrocarbons were almost non-existent. Weather phenomena seemed mild and predictable. All in all, it did not look like a very threatening place.
The Captain gathered the crew after two days of observations. We would land in a depression behind a range of hills two miles away from a population center. This city was chosen because the lights stayed on later at night and the Captain believed that meant government and industry. The Captain, the ETC guy, Tuya, and I would leave at first light carrying only emergency transponders. I was not exactly sure how I fit into the whole thing but I was glad to go. I had never been on a first contact mission before, and a ‘dangerous’ one at that.
Tuya poked me in the ribs after a fitful night of sleep. She arose and dressed. I hurried to keep up as I did not want another dressing down by the glorious tyrant. When the crew had assembled, the Captain ordered a steep descent with an abrupt landing, no vapor trail, no fireball. That sounded like a difficult trick to me but Vincent the pilot dropped the craft into the atmosphere and we were landing two-hundred ninety seconds later without so much as a dust cloud. The crew, on the other hand, was reeling from the effects of the multiple G-force descent. The pod required most of its available power for engines and shields to manage the landing. Crew environment amenities such as gravity and buffeting suppression (called dampening) were not in the cards. We shot towards the planet as if we meant to go through it. At the last second we rotated one-hundred eighty degrees and the engines were brought up to full until we reached zero forward speed. The craft was then rotated ninety degrees and lowered eighteen feet, touching down on its skids as softly as a baby is laid in its cradle.
Tuya and the Captain looked fine. Vincent looked okay. The ETC guy, the Tech Spec., and I did not look okay. The security guys were keeping a stoic face with difficulty. The door to the pod was lowered and the Captain walked out onto the planet. He did it with such confidence. I, on the other hand, was not as anxious to poke my head out of the door. Tuya walked lightly out. The ETC guy and I looked at each other and we both stumbled down the short ramp. I was struck by an odd disorientation when my feet hit the soil. It felt weird to be standing on the surface. It did not move right. I had not been on terra firma for years. I swayed back and forth as I tried to get used to the odd sensation.
The Captain surveyed the horizon and pointed to a gap in the hills off the port bow of the pod. “I believe we are headed that direction. Shall we?” He strode off at a brisk pace with Tuya close behind.
The ETC guy gave me a sympathetic look as we staggered off after them. There was no path to follow but the going was easy. The vegetation was generally Earth-like. There were several varieties of low growing brush, some tufts of grass, an occasional stunted tree, and some patches of what appeared to be plant colonies resembling Earth lichen.
When approached, the lichen moved in a manner that suggested one should avoid it. It almost looked like it was tensing for a spring. Tuya noticed it first and warned us of its predatory look. It did not really look all that dangerous but when I got too close, a small clump literally jumped onto my shoe. It ate a two inch hole in my upper boot before I could dislodge it. Tuya gave me a flat look and said, “I told you it was predatory, do not approach it again.”
Less than an hour into the mission and I had already been attacked by a plant. I sharpened my senses and started paying more attention. A large creature was flying across the horizon in the distance. It was too far away to make out its shape. Small creatures resembling insects scurried about on the ground. Tuya turned back and said, “Avoid the small black creatures, they too are predatory.”
I began to appreciate the hazardous nature of missions such as these.
After about a mile, we rounded the point of the hill and saw the city in the distance. The buildings were low, rounded structures no higher than thirty feet. Round windows dotted the structures in an apparently random placement. Three beings emerged from the city. We continued to walk towards them as they walked slowly towards us. They were a bit taller than we were, dres
sed in long robes and carried nothing in their hands. Their slightly elongated, fair-skinned faces were basically humanoid with just a hint of a nose and small ears. They all had sandy colored hair in a single braid that reached down to the back of their legs. They stopped when we were within five paces of each other. One of them raised a hand. We stopped and the Captain raised his hand.
The Captain said, “We come from far away to learn your interest in trading with us.”
The alien with the raised hand stepped forward. He spoke perfect English. He said in a resonant voice, “We know of your purpose. We have watched you for many days. You have brought men of violence with you. They, you must take back to your ship in space. You must return to your ship also. When you return we will speak again but do not bring the violent men.” He dropped his raised hand and pointed at Tuya and I. “We will allow these two to remain.”
I was flabbergasted. I had a dozen questions whirling around my head. If Tuya and the Captain were at all concerned, they certainly did not show it. The Captain said, “Please allow me to discuss this with my crew.”
The alien dropped his hand and bowed his head. The Captain took us away a few paces. “I will not order you to stay. You are aware of the danger. It will be five weeks at least before we can get to the Triton and another three to get back. What say you?”
I knew Tuya would not hesitate for an instant so I spoke up. “I would love to eat something other than ship food, I'm in.”
“That's the spirit, Ensign. If we survive this, you'll be Chief!” The Captain looked at Tuya and she gave him a nod. “Okay then. Find out what you can but no negotiating,” he said. He walked back to face the aliens and said, “We agree. May my crewman accompany me back to the ship to retrieve some personal items.”
I believed the Captain was referring to personal items such as mineral deposit analyzers, a long range communications device, personal logs, a language computer, and maybe a small personal firearm. The aliens were implacable but I definitely got the impression that they had read the Captain's intentions.
The alien said, “Your crewmen may not return to the ship unless they intend to depart. You must also take their emergency transponders as they will not be of any use once you leave.”
The Captain hesitated momentarily. “Very well,” he said putting his hand out to take the devices from us. “Our ship shall return in approximately seventy-five days.” He and the ETC guy turned and walked off. I was still trying to figure out how long seventy-five eighteen-hour days were in Earth time as I watched them walk away.
The aliens turned and began walking back to the city. Tuya turned and followed them. I gave a passing thought to staying outside the city but the attacking lichen made me change my mind. I followed them wondering if we would survive the night. As we walked slowly back to the city I probed ever so lightly trying to get a glimpse of the alien mind. The first impression I got was their awareness of my probing so I quit. Then I realized they were probing me so I opened my mind. I let them get the whole picture. No use trying to sugar-coat things, let them see who we were, warts and all. I began to get impressions of teeming masses of aliens joining the meet. I became disoriented and stumbled. Tuya turned and helped me up. The probing stopped but it had left me dazed. Tuya had a look of concern but I patted her hand and told her I was okay. She held on to me the rest of the way into the city.
I expected a greeting of some kind as we passed through the outlying houses. These were smaller, one and two story dwellings spaced well apart. Some had gardens and others had fanciful rock and clay structures. A few aliens went about their business as if off-worlders were an every day occurrence. We continued to walk slowly towards the center of the city. The buildings grew larger as we approached the city's center. They retained the domed form but many were several stories tall with four small domes at the corners, four more on top of those. I made a mental note to begin a survey of the architecture as soon as possible. We entered a round plaza and climbed the steps of a large, single-story building. The walls appeared to be made of clay. Polished green stone framed the entrance. There was no door. The many round widows around the upper portion of the dome bathed the room in a muted, soft light. An intricate rug woven of fine material covered the stone floor. In the center of the room stood a low table made of a rose-colored stone set inside a circle of light blue stone flooring. Two aliens sat upon cushions at the table. They appeared to be quite old. Their braids were gray and were coiled in their laps. The three aliens leading us stopped and bowed.
One of the two seated aliens looked up at Tuya and I and spoke in English. “Avron Tular, you have come to our planet even though you were warned not to. You have decided to stay and face unknown dangers. Explain yourself.”
I knew full well that this being probably knew everything that had been learned by the mind probing. There was no use in trying to put anything over by babbling about cultural exchanges. I said, “I was tired of eating the food on my ship.”
The alien threw his head back and roared in laughter. The other seated alien was trying not to laugh. The old alien finally regained control of himself and said, “Spoken with wisdom, Avron. You are welcomed to Illistar. Please be seated.” I glanced at Tuya and reluctantly went to sit by the Illistari. The old alien gave Tuya an appraising look. “And now for you Tuya ‘al Ayan y h!dlay Zhia!tu.” The old alien pronounced her name perfectly. “You must prove your worth.” One on the aliens that had accompanied us to the city began issuing a challenging call to Tuya. I knew she could not resist the challenge. I tried to rise but the old alien grabbed my arm with an iron grip. Soon Tuya's eyes were aflame. She began snarling and circling the alien. I hoped she did not hurt the creature too badly.
The alien stood erect, calmly watching Tuya while challenging her to attack. She sprang at the alien. The alien made a light sideways movement and brushed her aside with a gently sweeping motion. Tuya flew across the room as if she had been hit hard. She let out a scream and jumped fifteen feet in the air. When she landed on the alien, he pushed her away with his palms. She landed on the floor hard. She rose and began a series of kicks and punches that would have destroyed any opponent on the Triton. The alien stood with legs slightly spread fending off the blows as if he were shadow boxing. Tuya's ever-more athletic moves did nothing to move the alien. She landed after another failed kick and stood panting. Her opponent placed his hands together in front of his chest and bowed low. Tuya did the same.
Tuya and her opponent turned to face the old alien at the table. The old alien looked at Tuya and said, “Tuya ‘al Ayan y h!dlay Zhia!tu, you have fought bravely and with wisdom. You are welcomed to Illistar.” He motioned to the seat next to mine. Tuya calmly walked over and sat. She was still breathing hard. I wondered if her opponent had been the champion of the planet or if everyone could fight like that. I was glad I got to answer an easy question and Tuya had to duke it out with the alien. I had a feeling Tuya would have something to say about that later.
We sat in silence for several minutes. Three trays of food were brought in. The old alien who had not spoken before said, “These three trays represent the three general types of food available on Illistar. Please sample them and we will make every effort to supply you with those you prefer.”
That's one thing about space travel, you get used to alien food. Just because it looks weird, moves, smells odd, or is otherwise troubling does not mean it is not good. Tuya and I tried a bit of everything. All of it was some kind of fruit, vegetable, root, or nut. No meat. There were a couple of things I did not like. One of the nuts was insanely hot. Tuya loved those. There were several beverages. Two served hot, one served cold, and one that was definitely alcoholic. Tuya gave me a glance that seemed to say ‘do not get drunk the first night here'. It was a great meal. The Illistaris did not speak much but there would be time for that later. Darkness fell and the table was cleared. The two aliens rose and we followed suit.
“Your quarters have been prepared", one of them said. A
female entered and bade us to follow. She looked very similar to the men in terms of dress and hairstyle. She wore a robe of pale yellow with a red sash. Her face was slightly different having a more pronounced nose. All the Illistari had very dark, pupil-less eyes that contrasted greatly with their fine features.
We walked through quiet streets. No one paid us any attention. The alien said her name was Stellant'I. She also spoke perfect English. Tuya could see I had a thousand questions but she silenced me with a gesture. We followed Stellant'I several blocks to a small abode. An oil lamp was burning; a light scent of perfume filled the air. There was a large bed positioned under a round window. The absence of a toilet led us to fear we might have a difficulty. We were reassured after Tuya spoke with the Stellant'I. Our needs would be met by a portable unit until they were satisfied no contamination to their sewer system would occur. Stellant'I took Tuya out and showed her our ‘outhouse'. There were clothes on the bed. Stellant'I asked us to wear the clothes provided instead of the clothes we had on because the synthetic materials might cause others some distress. There was a low table against the wall and a set of shelves on the other wall. She showed us a place in the floor covered by a flat rock. Steam issued from the vent when the rock was lifted. She said to use the vent for cooking and to replace the rock when not in use.
She walked to the doorway and said, “I will be seeing to your domestic needs during your stay. I will be back in the morning.”
We thanked her and she made a small bow as she left. I began to speak to Tuya but she shushed me. She began examining the room for bugging devices. She lifted the table and looked under the top. She scoured the walls and then ducked outside to see if we were being watched. She announced we were free to speak when she came back in.