Here Comes Earth: Emergence

by William Lee Gordon

  “Anzio,” Julie said. “Keep it simple for us, ok?”

  “Yes Julie,” said Anzio. “It actually is very simple. If we were under acceleration and that was the cause of our weight, when the power went off and the acceleration stopped we’d be weightless.

  “On the other hand, if the Noridian’s are artificially inducing a gravity fiend and the power to it went off we’d be either weightless because we’re coasting through space or we’d be crushed because we’d have no protection from the massive acceleration.

  “We are not weightless or dead therefore we have power – just no lights.”

  “What else has been turned off besides the lights?” I asked.

  “Well,” Dr. Spelini replied. “We won’t know about air recirculation or climate control until a little time has passed. Someone will have to check the matter manipulation chambers before we’ll know if food will be a problem.”

  “What kind of chambers?” Iron Jaw asked.

  “The food server thingies in our rooms,” Dr. Spencer’s voice explained.

  “Uh, Major?” a somewhat shaky unidentified voice asked. Has anyone tried the conference room door to see if it will open?”

  There was complete silence for a few moments and then you could hear several people moving and at least one, “Ow!”

  For a moment I forgot that the doors were totally silent and I was expecting the worst until someone said, “Thank God!” At the same time I registered the sounds of conversations drifting in from the hub. I didn’t hear any panic but the shouts for reassurance were a little beyond the calm point.

  I reached up to my earpiece and said, “I want to speak to everyone.”

  After a short pause I said, “Please stand by for an announcement but first I need a comms check. If you hold the military rank of Captain please acknowledge.”

  I’d never tried this before and had no idea if it would work but my Captains in the conference room all gave me a verbal thumbs-up.

  “This is Major Reagan and I’m sitting here with Major Reynolds and a number of our leaders. I know that being in the dark brings out some primal feelings and fears in all of us but I want to assure you that we’re working on the problem. Dr. Spelini assures me that the ship still has power so our situation is not hopeless; we just need to figure out who accidently backed into the light switch.

  “Our immediate concern is that you don’t hurt yourself. Try to stay where you’re at if that is at all possible. If you need to move or need help please contact your squad leaders and we’ll try to accommodate you. If you are relatively close to other people try to stay low to the ground and slide towards them; let’s try to team up as much as possible so no one has to be alone.

  “Above all please be patient. I have no idea how long it will take to rectify this but you have my word that no matter how long it takes we’ll keep working on it to get it done. That is all for the moment.”

  ∆∆∆

  The conference room was starting to get a little stuffy and I was waiting for someone to bring up the question of our other life support systems when the lights returned.

  Most people that live in the city rarely, if ever, experience total darkness. Even in your home in the middle of the night light still seeps in from streetlights and other lighting. It is darker in the country but who doesn’t have an alarm clock with an LCD display or appliances in the kitchen that have digital timers or even the small lighted diodes on modern electrical sockets for circuit protection? You can visit one of the few remaining Dark Sky Parks on the planet that purposely limits light pollution for better stargazing, but then there would be the stars themselves. Even a minute amount of light gives our brains reference and at least a portion of our surroundings definition.

  What many of us experienced for about 45 minutes was total blackout. Unless you were fortunate enough to be carrying your smartpad (or in a conference room like I was with other people that were) there was virtually no light. Julie later told me that despite all of the experiences we had yet to endure this blackout was the cause of more psychological traumas to team members than any other part of the mission. I’m assuming she was talking about those that lived, of course.

  When the lights came on everyone cheered.

  Iron Jaw and I grinned at each other with a smile our dentists would have been proud of and then we got up to start doing what we’d been trained to do.

  That damn conference room was making me claustrophobic anyway.

  It was just then that I received a communication from Captain Antonio Silva. “Major, can you please immediately meet me at the platoon hub elevator and I need you to bring a couple of security forces with you. Oh, and Major we’re going to need your conference room.”

  ∆∆∆

  We were all back in my beloved conference room; this time with Captain Silva and an unknown Noridian male.

  When we’d met them at the elevator the captain was holding the Noridian by the arm and it was clear that he was forcing the alien to accompany him. The Noridian was Captain Silva’s prisoner.

  He wasn’t in the best of condition either. The Noridian had a busted lip and what appeared to be the beginning of a beautiful shiner on his left eye.

  As I mentally checked-off a silly question that I had already known the answer to – yes, their blood was red – I looked around the table. Everyone was focused on Captain Silva or the Noridian except for Dr. Toni Andretti who was, surprisingly, looking at me.

  “Captain Silva,” I said in my calm voice of command. “Report.”

  The captain nodded his head and said, “There is a lot to talk about and this is going to take a while but the first thing you need to know is that the Noridians were going to kill all of us.”

  As the room sat stunned and quiet he continued, “This excursion was a cover designed to get everyone that could oppose the Noridian assimilation of earth out of the way. Their plan is to return to the planet with a ship full of influential Earthers that are unanimously convinced that earth should accept a formal Noridian Protectorship – they want no dissent.”

  “I can back-up what the captain is saying about how important it is to Noridians that we assimilate into their culture,” Dr. Spencer interrupted. “Last night Jaki admitted to me that she had basically bribed Dr. Helmer and Colonel Memphis with riches and power to help guide earth’s decision.”

  “Wait a minute,” I said. “Dr. Spencer, are you telling me that you had important information like that and kept it to yourself?”

  “No! I mean not exactly,” he said. I had never seen him totally frustrated because he just wasn’t made up that way but the conversation was clearly headed in a direction he was uncomfortable with… and I didn’t care.

  “Just how and when did you get this admission from her?” I demanded.

  Hands spread palms down in front of him and while staring at the table he continued, “It was late last night or early this morning in her quarters, I’m not sure which.”

  I could swear he snuck a glance up at where Julie was sitting but if so it must have been quick.

  “She was trying to convince me,” he continued, “to join them. I was trying to stall for time and convince her that I was going to consider the offer and if I’d run straight to you then she would have known it was a bluff. I was going to find a way to let you know today – I didn’t realize that we didn’t have that much time.”

  “How can we know that’s true?” asked Iron Jaw. “With all respect Dr. Spencer, isn’t that what you’d say if you’d been caught conspiring against us?”

  Iron Jaw didn’t know Dr. Spencer as well as I did but his point deserved to be addressed.

  Dr. Toni Andretti however spoke first, “If Mark was a Noridian loyalist he’d be on the main ship, not sent to die with us.”

  From the looks of everyone around the table that addressed it just fine.

  “But why is it so important to the Noridians that we become a part of their culture? What do we have that could possibly be
so important to them?” Captain Kamiko asked.

  While most everyone was focused on the Noridian prisoner I was staring at Captain Silva.

  He said, “Noridia wants earth to formally commit to being under Noridian protection. Another way to say it is to be assimilated by them or more precisely to formally become a Noridian Protectorate; part of Noridia in the eyes of the galaxy.”

  The captain continued, “What people from Earth can’t possibly understand is that earth’s civilization is unique. Earth has advanced further in just a few hundred years than other galactic civilizations do in tens of thousands. It’s not what Earth possess now that is necessarily so valuable, it’s the discoveries that will be made as civilization continues to explode exponentially.

  “The total sum of all earthly human knowledge doubles every few years and the rate is accelerating; there are more honor students in India than there are students in the United States. Earthers are advancing at an exponential rate and those advances could secure Noridia’s place in galactic society.”

  “Because the currency of galactic society is respect,” Dr. Spencer threw in.

  “Precisely,” Captain Silva finished.

  While he’d been speaking the Noridian had turned his head to watch. There was no outward sign of emotion but his eyes were filled with pure hate.

  There had been a thought in the back of my head that had slowly turned to certainty as Captain Silva stopped speaking. I thought about how he’d been placed on my team at the last minute and how he had always seemed to be a step ahead of everyone else when it came to knowing what was going on.

  “Captain Silva is Noridian,” I said to the table.

  Some around the table seemed surprised while others didn’t, but that soon changed.

  After slowly shaking his head Captain Silva looked up at me and said, “No Major, I’m a Coridian.”

  Chapter 24

  Dr. Mark Spencer

  What was wrong with me? Here I was surrounded by momentous events, selflessly turning down power and riches, seated around a conference table with mankind’s best hope and… I was still more worried about what Julie might think of me.

  When the lights had gone out I immediately realized that I’d screwed up. I suddenly understood why Jaki had seemed almost desperate to convince me to join her – it was my last chance.

  She’d known that within a few hours my fate would be sealed either way.

  What didn’t make any sense to me though was why me? Why was she so smitten with me?

  One of my best physical abilities has always been making love to a woman. I know I’m good at it; I pride myself on being good at it. Jaki never saw my best performances however; I just really wasn’t that attracted and yet it was just as obvious when we were together that I had the magic touch with her. There were times when I think she really had trouble catching her breath. It was great for my ego; it was almost like she’d never experienced a lover like me before – or anyone even close to me for that matter.

  As silly as that sounds I hadn’t been able to think of another reason for her fascination with me. Of course, I guess that fascination only went so far. The invitation to join me forever or else I’ll massacre you in the morning along with 50 of your closest friends wasn’t exactly a testament to a healthy everlasting love. Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman…

  And when the lights went out I knew we were going to die even if Jaki hadn’t spelled it out. I think I really must be at peace with myself because when I was sitting there in the dark I didn’t panic. I was almost content… almost.

  I was regretting that I hadn’t figured it out earlier so I could have done something or warned somebody. I was regretting that I’d never get to show Anzio the beaches of Costa Rica like I’d promised. I was regretting that I’d never kissed Julie.

  Now that was a funny thought. Usually I imagined women in bed with me and don’t get me wrong, now that I thought about it I knew her body would fit perfectly next to mine, but at the moment all I could really focus on was holding her and kissing her. It was just strange.

  What wasn’t strange was Major Reagan. He had taken charge in that calm collected way of his that just instilled confidence. I suppose I could add not getting to know him better to that list of regrets but who could know? Maybe we would get out of this like he’s suggesting?

  At any rate, these were my swirling thoughts when the lights came back on.

  Once again we were seated around the conference table; this time with Captain Silva and a beat-up Noridian. I knew the tables had turned; Jaki’s plan had somehow gone awry and my slowness to figure it out had not doomed us after all.

  I was anxious to share my confirmation to the now unveiled plot and I belatedly realized that doing so might forever cost me that kiss but so be it. What I hadn’t realized was that my confession would cause Iron Jaw Reynolds to question my loyalty. Why is it that every time I did something noble people questioned me?

  As Captain Silva explained why Noridia wanted to absorb the people of earth under the Noridian umbrella more pieces started snapping into place. In a brilliant flash of introspective insight it all came together for me.

  “Say that again,” I said.

  Captain Silva responded, “I said that I am a member of the Coridian Dynasty.”

  ∆∆∆

  It turns out that the terms ‘Noridia’ and ‘Coridia’ didn’t really refer to planets after all. They referred to family dynasties but according to Silva you had to be willing to use the term ‘family’ rather loosely.

  Using us as an example he explained that if Earth developed like other planets we would go through an evolution of single authority or one world government but that didn’t mean we would all be of one culture. When government started fading away, which it eventually would, what would be left are a number of different cultures that have no need to compete with one another and plenty of room to expand throughout space. Most of those cultures would find a new planet to call home and 99.99% of their population would have no need to ever travel from it.

  “Galactic society has long ago passed beyond planet based cultures,” Silva was explaining. “Planet bound cultures are for the most part ignored. They’re like small islands to a seafaring culture; they’re places to stop over, rest and vacation but they’re not home.

  “Some relatively few cultures will reject being bound to a planet and embrace the stars. Just like that seafaring culture they make their homes wherever they are; whether that’s a temporary layover on an already occupied planet or an unoccupied planet they find use for or on their ships themselves.

  “If such a spacefaring culture does have something to offer and becomes respected for its knowledge and contribution to galactic society it can be considered a Dynasty. Many times these Dynasties are the historical remnants of powerful corporations, religions, or extended family lines that had become a culture among themselves. There are thousands of Dynasties in known space and its members receive far more respect and have far more privileges and courtesies offered to them. Planet bound cultures can tremendously benefit from the new knowledge the travelling dynasties can bring to them and look up to them almost as royalty.

  “Occasionally, if a dynasty likes or finds enough use for or wants to protect a planet bound culture it may offer a Protectorship. This is what Jaki hopes to convince Earth of – but we’ll revisit that in a moment. You need to understand galactic society to fully comprehend the ramifications.

  “Above Dynasties in the galactic social hierarchy sit the Lower Houses,” Silva continued.

  “Wait a minute,” I interrupted. “I thought we were told that hierarchical thinking was primitive and had been left in the past.”

  “Jaki lied, Mark. On a smaller scale when it comes to titles or working together she was right but we are all social creatures and we crave status; we’ve just learned that it’s only important on a cultural level. Didn’t you ever question that?”

  “Why would she hide it?” I asked. />
  “Probably because she didn’t want you figuring out her real agenda,” he replied.

  Except for the Noridian and his two guards we had all moved into the hub and every member of our inner circle was present. Captain Silva had also somehow put a live image of himself answering our questions on the view screens. Word had gotten around fast and we’d taken the time to catch the latecomers up on events. For a while it had reminded me of what it felt like when I was a child and Aunt Sally would visit. As her favorite daytime soap opera would start Mom would whisper and quickly fill her in on all the convoluted happenings of the last four or five episodes. I actually enjoyed listening to Mom’s succinct explanations and Aunt Sally’s exclamations of disbelief far more than I did watching the shows.