Genesis

by Lawrence P White

  “Who?”

  “Lor Tas’val is here. His attorneys and ours are working on formalizing Articles of Alliance.”

  Greg’s jaw dropped. “Right now?” he gasped.

  “Right now. Earth is part of the discussion, but we had to ask their attorneys to leave. They were making things so complex that no one, including themselves, understood the plan they were creating. They’ll be invited back into the discussion when things are more settled.”

  “I need to get dressed.”

  “Way ahead of you. I brought several outfits.”

  * * * * *

  Arlynn escorted Greg to the conference room where six people sat around a conference table. Lor Tas’val was the first to see them. He stood, and the others followed: the Atee, Kannick, Claire Stuvesand, David Rhodes, and Ollie.

  Tas’val was chairing the meeting from the head of the table. He stepped around the table and approached Greg with his hand out. “Well done, Mr. Chairman,” he said solemnly.

  “If you know the details, you know I had very little to do with our success.”

  “That’s not true, and I happen to know you’re man enough to admit it. You’re responsible for putting the right players in the right places over these past years. That’s what brought success.”

  Greg nodded to the others, then he turned his attention back to Tas’val. “Arlynn tells me you’re ready.”

  Tas’val grinned again. “I’ve been ready for a long time. What our combined forces did at Asval brought you the support of my people, including my commanders. They’re already conferencing with Grayson to work out the details of combining our forces. He’ll be in command.”

  Greg blinked, uncertain. “This is moving fast. I’m surprised.”

  “You needn’t be. My men aren’t stupid you know, even if they are hard-headed at times. They know that it took the combined efforts and wills of all three civilizations to succeed, and I’m not just talking about the crew of your ship. Most of the ships carried mixed crews. My men experienced first-hand the benefits of working together, something you’ve been preaching for years. Your single ship was the prime example, of course. A woman from Earth, a man from Ariall, and a Harbok persevered against overwhelming odds. Had any one of them failed, the mission would have failed. Working together, they won. The fact that a Harbok personally killed the Overmind adds a level of closure we badly needed.”

  He took Greg by the arm and led him toward the others. Handshakes went around, and they sat down at the table. Tas’val returned to his seat at the head.

  Looking at Claire, Greg said, “I heard your lawyers were dismissed.”

  “Just temporarily,” she said, the sparkle in her eyes telling him she approved of the action. “We want to produce a basic charter that outlines the processes for establishing details. For example, taxes will have to be levied by the Alliance. The lawyers wanted specifics. We—meaning we in this room—want to create a charter that provides for levying taxes and leave it at that. The same goes for details of member responsibilities and such—specifics will come later. We do, however, need to spell out the essential privileges, obligations, and protections of signatories, and we have to do it in such a way that it binds our descendants. We’re trying to keep the basic charter to one or two pieces of paper.”

  Greg felt a sense of relief. He might not have to wait years to resolve all the minutiae. Looking around the group, he said, “You certainly have my support on that.”

  Tas’val cleared his throat, which for a Harbok meant he had everyone’s attention. “Yes. Well. There’s one item that we need your agreement on before any of us is willing to commit further. We’re creating a new civilization here, but we want to walk before we run. Our Alliance is in its infancy right now. Children need a mother and a father. We want you to be the father.”

  Greg sat still for a moment, but only a moment. “You know I will,” he said, looking to each of them. “You mentioned a mother?”

  Tas’val visibly relaxed. “Arlynn already agreed to be Vice Chair. Not only is she qualified, but it seems fitting to us. It was your partnership that set this whole thing in motion all those years ago.”

  Greg locked gazes with Arlynn. She smiled back at him triumphantly and said, “I knew you’d accept.”

  He slid his gaze to the Atee. “Jemara, this whole thing was really your idea.”

  “If it’s a family we’re forming, I’ll settle for grandmother of the Alliance,” she said, nodding thoughtfully, “but you and I have been on the same page since the very beginning. I only gave you the tools to get started. Your ideas created a reality, and here we are.”

  Jarod cleared his throat again as he stood up. He stood back from his chair and held out a hand to Greg. “Your seat, Mr. Chairman.”

  * * * * *

  Cass woke up a month later. At his request, Dr. Llambry gave him a couple of days to get on his feet before waking up Emily. When she awoke, she opened her eyes to him. She blinked a few times as she came fully awake, then she reached a hand out to him. Smiling, he took that hand and brought it to his lips, but she would have none of that. She pulled him to herself in an embrace that claimed ownership.

  He lifted her into a sitting position, and their lips met in a long, lingering kiss. No words had yet been spoken.

  He broke the silence. “Welcome back.”

  “To your world?” she queried, clearly intending to clarify his statement.

  He leaned slightly away and looked long into her eyes. “To our world.”

  The corners of her mouth lifted into a warm smile. “I accept,” she murmured, then buried her head in his shoulder.

  They held to each other for a long time, he hesitant to bring reality back into their lives, and she fearful of what that reality encompassed. This time she broke the silence.

  “I think I remember Ollie shooting into the spire. Did I imagine it?”

  Cass shook his head. “He killed the Overmind.”

  “Did we lose anyone?”

  “Greg, Arlynn, and Ollie are waiting in the hallway. They’ll be coming through that door any minute. The fleet paid a high price, and we lost all but a few of our escort.” He pulled back and peered into her eyes. “We’ll grieve later. For now, know that our mission succeeded.”

  She nodded and lay back into her pillows. She reached out and tentatively touched the patch over his eye. “We paid a high price too. I must look terrible.”

  “You look lovelier than ever. The fuzz on your head just adds character.”

  “You look like a pirate. My pirate.”

  “What’s a pirate?”

  * * * * *

  Two days later, Arlynn escorted Emily and Cass the short distance down the hallway to the conference room. Both of them were dressed in their Alliance uniforms. Cass gulped when they entered the room and he saw who he and Emily had kept waiting. Grayson, Angie Tolland, and Gertie were in conversation with an ancient-looking Admiral Douglas who was seated. David and Jackie Rhodes, Emily’s father and mother from Earth, stood in conversation with Claire Stuvesand, Lor Tas’val, and Ollie. Greg was arguing a point with Jemara, the Atee, while Kannick and Danaria looked on with furrowed brows.

  Lor Tas’val was the first to notice their arrival. He broke off his conversation in mid-sentence and strode through the room. Douglas, too, struggled to his feet and faced Cass.

  Tas’val’s focus was only Cass. When he reached Cass, he bowed deeply and held the bow for a time before straightening up. He looked Cass hard in the eye and said, “Well done, Lieutenant. We Harbok owe you a debt we can never properly repay.”

  Emily took Cass’ arm possessively, radiating her pride in him. Tas’val took one step back, still focused on Cass, and said simply, “Thank you.” He shifted his gaze to take in Emily. “On behalf of my people, I thank you as well.”

  “Your Majesty,” Cass said, standing rigidly at attention, “we did our jobs, nothing more.”

  “Oh?” Tas’val asked, the leathery skin above his
eyes forming into ridges as he lifted his eyebrows thoughtfully. “You discount so quickly the values you clearly hold so dearly, the same values we Harbok cherish? I speak here of bravery, strength, duty, honor, responsibility, integrity. Dare I add love to that list? Love for one in particular, but love for us as well? Love for the idea of a civilization that doesn’t even exist at the moment?”

  “Well . . . Ah . . .”

  Tas’val reached down and put a hand on Cass’ shoulder. With his eyes shining, he turned to include Emily. “We wanted both of you here today, not only to honor you but to play a part in the birth of the civilization you helped create. Today, three civilizations become one.”

  He stepped back and turned to address everyone in the room. “We’ve managed to condense the Articles of Alliance into a ten-page document. Four of us—one legal representative from each civilization—and Greg Hamilton, our Chairman, will sign the document. However, we’re inviting others of you, others who made material contributions to the birth of our Alliance, to add your signatures below ours. Your signatures will, we believe, become an inspiration to our own and future generations.” He turned to Greg. “Mr. Chairman?”

  Greg crossed the room and stood before Cass and Emily. “Are you two strong enough to stay on your feet a little longer?”

  “Yes, sir,” Cass responded formally, very much the reserved junior officer in these formal surroundings.

  Grayson spoke up from his place across the room. “Lieutenant, before everyone here, I tell you that you are no longer just a lieutenant. I’m not sure what you are, but for the moment, consider yourself among your peers. Understood?”

  “Uh . . . no, sir.”

  Grayson frowned. “Come on, Cass. I know you too well. Did you not press your will upon your commanding officers—me and Douglas—despite our strong objections? Did you not prepare both of our fleets to fight the Overmind? Did you not face the Overmind on its own terms—and prevail against overwhelming odds? Surely you agree that without your perseverance this meeting would not be taking place, not today and possibly not ever.”

  He shifted his focus to Emily. “And you, young lady! You essentially gifted us with time travel in the form of fast ships. Besides the ramifications to our civilization, where would we be in our quest to find the Fourth Race without your creativity?”

  He took a couple of steps forward and stared around the room, taking in each person. Softly, he said, “A lot of people paid the ultimate price in our battle against the Overmind. Many more gave everything that they are to defeat it. The act of flying that fighter into the Overmind’s front yard will live on long after our passing. The five of you symbolize everything our Alliance stands for. Like it or not, you will be the face of our Alliance for years to come.”

  He looked back to Cass and said, “Suck it up, Lieutenant.”

  Cass stood taller. “Yes, sir.”

  Greg turned to the room. “It’s time. Each of you has had time to study and discuss the proposed Articles of Alliance. Does anyone object to signing them?”

  No one did, so he nodded to Arlynn. She retrieved a box of papers and carried it to the conference table, then set out 16 copies of the Articles.

  “Each of you signatories will receive an original, signed copy. In addition, Earth, Ariall, and the Harbok will each receive an official original, and I’ll retain one for Alliance records. You have a lot of signing to do. Greg?” she asked, motioning him to go first.

  Greg, followed by Tas’val, the Atee, and Claire Stuvesand signed first. When Arlynn motioned to Grayson, he stepped back, saying, “You first, Cass. Emily, you’re next, followed by Ollie and Arlynn. The rest of us will follow you.”

  Cass blanched. “Ah, sir, this will be . . . forever.”

  “Yes, it will, Cass.”

  The two of them stared at each other, then Cass went to the table and began signing. Emily was right behind him. Before bending down to sign, she turned to her birth parents, Dave and Jackie Rhodes who were grinning with unabashed pride. She then turned to Arlynn who nodded her support, and Greg, who winked as he continued signing in the line ahead of her.

  Ollie followed Emily, and Arlynn followed Ollie. As the crew of the fighter worked their way down the line of documents, Admirals Grayson and Douglas took their places, followed by Kannick, then David Rhodes.

  When the last signature was in place, Greg turned and spoke to the room, “Thank you. I think we’re done.”

  “Almost,” the Atee said, speaking so that her voice would carry to everyone. “I once asked you for your vision of what civilization would be like 500 or even 1,000 years in the future. Do you recall your answer?”

  “I do, Atee.”

  She smiled knowingly. “Take us there, Mr. Chairman.

  About the Author

  I grew up hoping to be an astronaut, but less than perfect vision put that goal out of reach. Instead, I joined the army after high school and flew some 600 combat missions in Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller. After discharge, I went to college, then stayed with the private side of commercial aviation.

  My career as a pilot spanned 49 years, a time during which I managed to cover most of this wonderful globe we call Planet Earth. I met people from many walks of life, and I have to say that I enjoyed nearly all of them when I took religion and politics out of conversations. Because of all the people I’ve met, treating aliens as people requires only a slight extension of imagination.

  I began writing seriously in 1986. My English teachers would be horrified if they knew what I was doing. I was not a great student since I spent most of my time staring out the window at blue skies, clouds, and airplanes.

  In light of the grammatical and spelling errors in these books – errors that you’ve found and not hesitated to bring to my attention – I’m sure many of you believe those teachers were right. I can only say thank you to them for successfully cramming what they could into my mind. I take complete responsibility for the rest.

  As for what comes next, as of this publication I am working on Book 6 of the Spirit of Empire series. I told my readers that Book 5 finished that series, but they decided otherwise and did not hesitate to let me know they wanted more. So, Book 6 is about half done as of Christmas 2018, but the story is nowhere near complete, and it’s already the size of a standard sci-fi novel. Since my books sort of write themselves—they take me along for the ride just as they do you—I won’t know how long or where this will all end until I reach the end of the tale. It’s possible that it will turn into a new spinoff series.

  Thank you for your patience and loyalty. A special thanks to those of you who send emails. I enjoy getting them, whether they’re good news or bad, and I always respond.