by Dave Gordon
“Three thousand of your years ago,” Cogent'R said as she shut the terminal down. “As our trading partners slowly returned to us, we found there was only one resource that mattered: information. We became purveyors of trade information. Eventually our blessing was required to conduct trade lest access to the information be lost. All of the delegates from all the planets in this galaxy conduct trade by our permission. If we deny trade to a planet, no one will trade with them. That was the fate of the Ti'nettis, the race that placed the buoy. That is a death sentence. So you see, our rule is strong, but our grip is soft. Earth may conduct trade here by our permission under the following conditions. Arms trading is forbidden. Animal or people trafficking is forbidden. Activities on Earth, which are detrimental to the environment or to the people's welfare are forbidden. In short, Earth must conduct itself in a peaceful, thoughtful manner. We will be glad to instruct your people in this.”
“I do not know if they will agree to it,” I said. The soulless economic monsters that ran freely across the planet were not accustomed to limits.
“We have been at this for three thousand years, Avron. They will do as we say,” Cogent'R said with a smile. “Now, let us depart this tomb.”
“Was the hall of letters the only technology you retained?” I asked as we walked.
“No, we also maintained our medical sciences although there are now more skilled living among us. We are not opposed to technology; we are opposed to not living simply. Sometimes very complicated means are required to achieve that. We have kept all the knowledge of all the ages, but we do not carry it around on our backs.”
“I know this is an obtuse question,” I said, worried she might laugh out loud at it, “but how much information do you have?”
Cogent'R did laugh. Not just the gentle laughs I had heard from all the other Illistari, but a real gut-splitter. It was a very odd sound. Cogent'R reeled over to a wall to support herself as she cackled and sputtered. “Oh, Avron. I know perfectly well why the Emperor favors you. I told him you were a good student.”
Cogent'R collapsed on the floor motioning me over to sit by her. When she had regained her composure, she said, “The city below the ground, their libraries were vast. The love of information is in the Illistari blood, it seems. When we moved above ground, information and learning became our passion. Knowledge is the only thing a wise person seeks. We have all the information gathered by all the peoples we have ever encountered, including yours.”
“Ours? How?” I asked in surprise.
“Having access to the information that we do, our means have become quite advanced. By the time you arrived, we knew who you were, why you came, and what you wanted. Chance brought you to us but as you neared we discovered you and your Tuya. It was a great fortune that two such worthy travelers were presented to us. When we learned that the very two people who could deliver Tel'as'Ti to us were arriving soon, we set about preparing for your arrival. We knew your language, your history, the conditions on Earth, the state of the Milky Way. In short we knew it all. And now we are finishing up gathering all the information from all the planets in the Milky Way. This will soon be very helpful to you. So you see Avron, your question is funny because not only is it a vast amount of data spanning several dimensions; it is all the information. From all places and all times. This dimension and others. We know it all Avron, all there is to know, all but one thing. Do you know what that is?”
I did. The one. I realized my conversion to Illistari was complete. The one that was there at the beginning and the one that would be there at the end. As I sat there considering the one, the ceiling and walls seemed to fall away. The way before me was clear. All ways were clear. They were not good or bad, they just were. On the landscape were people and events. All the choices I had made and was going to make lay arrayed in front of me united as a single path. Slowly the minds of countless Illistari came into focus. A swirling river of minds connected by the virtue of the one flowed through me as I became a part of it. Cogent'R appeared before me.
“That's right, Avron. You know the answer. Now it is time to seek the proper question.”
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Chapter 12
Cogent'R and I climbed up out of the darkness and into the light of the Royal Hall. We walked over to a table where Tuya and the Emperor were having an intense discussion with a group of delegates. As we approached the table, the Emperor saw us and raised a hand. Everyone fell instantly silent. “Well Avron!” he practically shouted out. “Here, sit beside me. Now boy, tell me the truth. Do you prefer palace life or life on the road?”
I surprised myself by blurting out, “I would rather share a meal of nuts with you in the dirt than live in the palace!”
There was an audible gasp from the crowd. I thought I had made a terrible mistake. The Emperor laughed in his gentle way and said, “As would I with you, and we shall again. For now though, we must abide complete luxury and comfort.”
“Everything in its time,” I said, making the Emperor smile.
“Have you thought of a better question?” the Emperor asked.
“How do I attain understanding?” I asked in all earnestly.
“Your question is wise. Understanding comes but slowly. Those things you consider, consider well.” The Emperor turned back to the group began talking to them in hushed tones.
I rose and turned. Cogent'R was gone, Stellant'I was standing in her place. “It is not considered proper protocol to leave the Emperor's table until dismissed.”
The Emperor turned around and said over his shoulder, “You are dismissed.”
I bowed deeply. The Emperor chuckled as he turned back to the discussion.
Stellant'I said, “You take great liberties with the Emperor, it is fortunate he likes you. Otherwise you might find yourself on a Kosh farm, shoveling manure.” I could not tell if she was joking or not. She guided me out of the room and back to our suite.
Late that night Tuya came in exhausted. “The Illistari are determined I am the Emperor of the Milky Way. They have decreed it, so it is real. The Illistari know everything about our galaxy. I am giving some access and denying it to others. I am making royal decrees. I have yet to set foot on my home to claim the throne yet I rule it and all the others in the Galaxy. We have not yet explored most of the galaxy but the Illistari already know everything about it. It is a challenge to maintain serenity.”
“Serenity may be dearly paid for,” I said, sitting down to hold her head against my chest. I gently rocked her back and forth singing an ancient nursery rhyme from Earth. “Hush little baby, haven't you heard. Papa's going to buy you a mocking bird. If that mocking bird won't sing, Papa's going to buy you a diamond ring.” She fell asleep with me humming. I held her for a long time as she lay in peaceful sleep. Was it the last she would ever have, I wondered? I undressed her for bed. She never woke up. I tucked her in and kissed her. I kissed her goodbye. My little bird was about to fly.
Stellant'I entered our chamber as the sun made its appearance above the horizon. “They are here,” she said.
Tuya and I looked at each other with plain realization. We dressed silently, Tuya in opulent royal robes and I in my common Illistari clothing. We looked at each other silently acknowledging the fate that was upon us. There was nothing left to say. We had come to that point that we had dreaded while knowing all the while it was what we had chosen. I called Stellant'I. I reached out to her with my mind hoping for strength. I was answered by the collective Illustari mind. I was buoyed by river of consciousness and melded with it. I flowed with time. I was water, not the stone. Stellant'I led us down the stairs and into the Royal Hall. The Captain, the ETC guy, and the Commander were standing in front of the Emperor. Palinta'R blocked the door as we entered. He announced to the crowd, “Tuya ‘al Ayan y h!dlay Zhia!tu, heir to the throne of Boriall, ruler of the Milky Way.” With that, the Captain and the Commander shot each other a glance. “And, her consort, Avron Tula'R, pre
sident of the Milky Way Trade Commission!” With that, the Captain's jaw dropped. I gaped at Palita'R in stunned amazement. “You were promoted,” he said.
Tuya and I strove for composure as we walked up to the small table. The Emperor turned to us and said, “We have already made introductions.” He motioned for us to sit as he sat down. Tuya and I immediately sat. The Captain was not pleased. I realized immediately that Tuya and I had breached military code by sitting in the presence of the Captain. The Emperor invited the Earth delegation to sit. The ETC guy was not comfortable as he was not well-built for sitting on the floor. “I'm sure you must have many questions for each other so please speak freely,” the Emperor said.
The Captain was visibly upset. “Well, what do you two have to say for yourselves? Where are your uniforms? Explain the titles you were given,” he demanded.
Tuya met the old man's ire with gentle softness. She spoke truthfully, candidly. She included everything right up to the Emperor declaring her ruler of the galaxy. She said she apologized for her lapses and she resigned her commission effective immediately.
The Captain sat before us stone faced. I thought back to the time when his stern continence filed me with awe and respect. While I still respected the man, the awe was gone. There was now only one thing I was in awe of.
“And you, Ensign Tular? What do you have to say?”
“I have this to say: From now on, Earth will endeavor to rid itself of the filth it has been living in for so long. Earth will do this because if it does not, there will be no more trade with Earth. The Urians will abandon you. There will be no more missions from Earth to anywhere. Earth ships will no longer be welcomed by anyone. The Illistari can make this happen. Do you agree, Tuya?” Tuya shook her head. “You will conduct trade with Andromeda through me and I will decide which is proper and which is not. Tuya will represent the galaxy in matters of state. All these things you will do because the Emperor has willed it.”
The Captain was silent for a short while and then spit out through clenched teeth, “Do you seriously expect me to take that message back to Earth?”
“Yes, for if you do not, Captain, then you will return with nothing from the Andromeda galaxy.” The Emperor nodded, the crowd of delegates lining the walls nodded, Tuya nodded.
I could see the Captain's thoughts written clearly across his face. He had to return with a triumph. A glorious mission celebrated by promotion to Major. He thought of the immense wealth he would accumulate from his part in the venture. “We agree,” he said tight-lipped. The ETC guy and the Lieutenant Commander both looked at the Captain slack jawed.
“Good!” the Emperor said as he stood. We all hastily stood. “Now that we are in agreement, please make yourselves known to the delegates. I'm sure they are anxious to speak with you.” The Emperor took Tuya by the arm and said, “These affairs are not matters for emperors. Let us eat.” They exited arm in arm as the delegates swarmed around us.
“Ensign, I could bring you up on charges!” The Captain said. His face was bloated and red.
“Yes sir. But I believe you should consider this: The Illistari are the absolute doorway to this galaxy. If I resign from Earth fleet, you might be required to explain how you allowed the one person who controls that doorway to slip away. I did not choose this, it was thrown upon me. I can only do all that is in my power to act justly.”
The Captain pondered the statement and then relaxed. “Yes, that is all we can do. Well, we cannot have an Ensign running the show. The highest rank I can promote you to is that equal to my own. I hereby award a field promotion to rank of Captain to Avron Tular. Congratulations,” he said and snapped a salute. I saluted back.
The Captain and the bewildered Commander turned and left the hall. Promoted to Captain, I thought. Just a few weeks ago that would have elated me. Now, it was just a word. The lower I have sought to go, the higher I have risen. The ETC guy turned away from an eager group of delegates speaking English in thick Russian accents and said to me, “Please, we must attend to these questions!”
“Of course, sir. Please forgive me,” I said, “what is your name?”
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Chapter 13
All was complete. The agreements that had taken weeks to emerge were signed and filed. I had scrutinized each of them remembering the Emperor's words, “what you consider, consider well". I had a lot of help from Cogent'R. She showed me how to use the information interface. The subtle neural interface reacted instantly to any questioning thought. The range of information was seemingly infinite. However, as the rules and laws for trade were well known, there were very few disputed points that required my attention. Ralph, the ETC guy, was not schooled in Illistari etiquette but he learned quickly.
I denied Earth a shipment of an unstable toxic chemical. By using the interface, I discovered an alternate production method that eliminated the need for the chemical and saved twenty percent in energy costs.
Ralph eagerly agreed to my representation of the Milky Way Trade Commission since there was no such commission yet. He and I made several binding agreements agreed to by the delegates, and more importantly, by the Illistari.
Tuya began acting differently. She became quieter, serene. She had found serenity after making a difficult decision; a decision that she had resisted but one that had chosen her. One morning as the sun streamed in through the window onto our bed, she turned to me and said, “I'm leaving you.”
“I know,” I replied. There was nothing more to say. All our choices had only appeared to be choices. The way ahead was clear. It was the only path left open to us. With each step along the way we had been drawn to this end, our feet choosing the path laid before us by some unknown master. The words of Stellant'I rang in my ears, “You have to let it go".
The footmen were busily packing Tuya's things into royal trunks. Even though she arrived some few weeks ago with nothing, she now had need of several large trunks to hold documents, mementos from delegates, royal robes, and treaty documents. Tuya was returning to Borial as a queen, an entourage of Illistari with her. Many Illistari were also accompanying the Triton to Earth.
The departure of the Earth ship had been delayed for some time while a propulsion deficiency was corrected. The Illistari had decided two years was overly long for a simple journey. They had installed technology that would get the Triton home in several months. The technology was given on the condition that it would be freely shared.
The Emperor came to the door and announced, “It is time.”
We formed a royal procession with the Emperor in front, Tuya on his arm. I followed the Emperor, Perian followed me and a large number followed us. The streets were again lined with Illistari paying their respects to the Emperor. The Emperor endured the adoration good-naturedly, waving and bowing to the crowd. We walked out the opposite side of the city from whence we had originally come. I pondered the transformation Tuya and I had experienced on the path that led through the city. We had been transformed as completely as a worm is made into a butterfly. Now we soared on winds that stemmed from the furthest reaches of the past into the unknown future. Although the winds may vary, the course is unchanging. It is not for us to fight it, virtue is found by living in it. United with the one, peace is certain no matter the events. A pod sat out on the high plain outlined against the blue sky. Our feet would not be diverted from the path that led to it even though Tuya and I both clearly knew what it meant. An honor guard lined the trail leading up to the hatch. As we approached, the Captain and the Commander stepped forward.
The Emperor stopped and said, “For thousands of years I have stood upon these plains and bid farewell to friends. This farewell is heavy, for I will miss you, Tuya ‘al Ayan y h!dlay Zhia!tu. Captain, you have come through a great deal in a short time and done well for yourself. I hope Earth uses your talents well.” The Emperor stepped back and the Captain and Commander entered the pod. Tuya and I stood facing each other.
“You
are my beautiful flaming goddess and I will love you always,” I said.
“You have given me your love freely and for that, I too shall love you always,” Tuya replied.
With that, she entered the pod and the door closed. That was last I ever saw of my beautiful flaming goddess. As the pod rose into the sky, I turned to the Emperor and said, “Thousands of years? You look pretty good for an old guy.”
The Emperor laughed and slapped me on the back. “Yes, we are a long-lived race. You shall be, too. You are one with the virtue of the infinite.”
“Ah, a trick to raise me high so I might fall. But I'm on to you.”
“You will wear out three roads to Duhain before you are on to me, child.”
We bantered back and forth, laughing and kicking stones while the reverent crowds looked on. As we entered the Royal Hall the Emperor said. “I believe a trip to Es'tar is in order. Will you join us if your body has not become too soft from lying about on soft beds?”
I bowed and said, “I am honored.”
“Not yet, but I believe you will be,” the Emperor said as he strode into the hall. I was immediately swallowed in a sea of delegates who wanted to know everything the Emperor had said. Stellant'I walked up and said, “You are required in the Hall of Ministers. You have been named Minister of Inter-Galactic Relations.”
Titles held little meaning for me any longer. I accepted this new one calmly. The future would tell what it meant. “The Emperor said we would be journeying to Es'tar soon, the name is not familiar. Is it a long walk,” I asked Stellant'I.
She looked at me oddly. “Es'tar is a galaxy, Master.”
Es'tar is a galaxy and I am Stellant'I's master? Understanding comes slowly, I thought. I entered the Hall of Ministers. A very old Illistari rose and said, “Master Tula'R, welcome. We have much to do before we travel to Es'tar. Let us begin.”
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