Solbidyum Wars Saga 4: Too Late for Earth

by Dale C. Musser

  “Why is that? It seems you can heal the rest of me relatively quickly.”

  “Eyes are not so easy. The eye is part of the brain, Tibby; and, as such, it is very sophisticated tissue. For it to be fully developed and completely functional it needs to be grown slowly and allowed to mature before it can be implanted.”

  “How long will it be before I can get out of this bed and move about?”

  “So far you have been healing rapidly, so I would not be surprised if you are able to get out of bed tomorrow and walk a few steps with some help. In two or possibly three more days you'll be capable enough to leave this room and return to your suite; however it will be some time before you are fully functional again.

  Jenira was tugging on my arm. I looked at her as she began to pantomime eating and pointing to me; and it wasn’t until then that I realized I was both hungry and thirsty. “Yes, I would like something to eat… and something to drink.” Jenira eagerly got up and hurried out of the room.

  “That young lady is really fixated on you Tibby. Everyone is worried about her. She hasn’t uttered a sound since Tanden was killed; and she frets over you constantly.”

  “Kala told me. Honestly A’Lappe I have no idea how to deal with this situation.”

  “I can’t give you any direction there. I hate to think what would have happened to her, had you died. She had lost a lot of blood by the time they got her to the NEW ORLEANS. Her wound was small, but an artery had been severed. We gave her a transfusion and treated the wound; that was all she needed and she was fine again in a few hours.”

  A’Lappe’s words echoed in my mind, as I realized just how selfish and foolish my actions had been in chasing after Shydak and the Brotherhood the way I did. I was so steeped in rage that I never gave any real thought to how my death might impact others.

  “Whatever happened to Shydak? Do we have any new information on him?”

  “We tracked him on our sensors for quite a distance. Then we saw a larger ship arrive and rendezvous with him. The ship turned and left the area, but their destination is unknown.” As A’Lappe finished relating Shydak’s last known movements, Jenira returned with a tray of food and some juice in another of those strange cups with the nub-like attachment for drinking. I tried to feed myself, but Jenira would have no part of it and insisted on spoon feeding me once more.

  “What’s the situation on the planet?” I asked between spoons full of food.

  “I think you will be pleased with what has been accomplished. It seems your values and senses of right and wrong have been deeply ingrained in your team. Padaran has been most amazing in what he has achieved by way of the Ruwallie Rasson. In the meantime, Marranalis and Sokaia have been occupied with the androids and what’s left of the local government, setting up new laws and seeing to the fair and effective enforcement. Prostitution is now a choice for women and men, and not one of slavery. Child prostitution is illegal completely. Unfortunately, the local economy and opportunities for businesses do not offer a lot of choices for women at the moment, so this has resulted in many women remaining engaged in prostitution just to make a living; but at least they have the chance to leave, if they find something else they can do. Of course, they are also able to keep the money they earn, so they can save it up and start their own businesses or go to school, if they wish. The population in general seems rather pleased with what is happening, as the heavy hand of the Brotherhood and Ruwallie Rasson has been lifted. The biggest surprise seems to be the way the Ruwallie Rasson are accepting the changes, though there still may be some grumblings among a few of them.”

  “I can’t wait to talk to everyone about what they’ve been doing. To be honest I would not have expected these things to happen on Goo’Waddle this soon.”

  “You’ll get to talk to them in due time. Goo’Waddle is still a rough planet and slavery is not yet eliminated; but the Ruwallie Rasson are delighted in making slaves of the Brotherhood that they have captured to replace the slaves they had to set free. So, now the groundwork is laid for bringing a slow end to slavery here.”

  “How about the enslaved children? What’s happening to them?” I glanced toward, Jenira who seemed to be paying no attention to what we were saying, as she was completely engrossed in spooning food into my mouth every time I opened it.

  “First Citizen Kalana set up a search team to locate all the parents and families and reunite the children with them where possible. To those with no living family, she has extended an offer to bring them back to your estate on Megelleon, where she plans to establish an orphanage and school to see to their care and education.”

  I had to smile as I thought of Kala making these arrangements. I really do love that woman.

  “How are Stonbersa and Felenna holding up?” I asked quickly, before Jenira could shove another spoon of food in my mouth.

  “When the Commodore saw you take off after Shydak, he immediately took action and coordinated a full-scale attack using the Mirage Fighters and patrol ships from both the NEW ORLEANS and the MIZBAGONIA. You’ll recall there were several hundred Brotherhood ships surrounding the planet. Well, they were totally caught off guard; and because all our ships were cloaked, they had no idea how many ships or what size ships were attacking them. I’m sure it seemed like the entire Federation military was assaulting them. In just a short time we destroyed two thirds of their ships as the rest retreated. Their losses here were heavy, greater than in all their previous conflicts with us combined. When they saw what was happening, the ships in the more distant stations fled the scene at maximum speed. I suspect they’re mighty upset as you’ve messed up their drug trade again. I imagine they were ramping up their operations here to compensate for their losses after you stopped them at Alle Bamma… and now you’ve shut them down here, as well.”

  “I suspect they have many planets set up like this one. They can’t afford to have all their crop production and lab operations in one location. Nevertheless, I’m sure we hurt their business substantially.” By now I had finished my meal. I tried to sit up a bit more, as I seemed to have slid down in the bed, and immediately Jenira was on her feet trying to assist me and adjust my pillows. When she thought that I was sufficiently situated, she looked at me with a smile and sat down in her chair once more.

  “How about our losses? How many men and ships did we lose?”

  A’Lappe chuckled, “Tibby, you, Tanden and Padaran were our only casualties and the ship you crashed was one you stole from the Brotherhood, so we lost none of our own ships. Padaran’s leg is almost completely healed now, though he still limps a bit.”

  “Has the Admiral been apprised of the situation here?”

  “Indeed he has and he’s been calling twice a day for briefings on your progress. He is also bursting with pride at Padaran’s accomplishments.”

  I grinned as I imagined the Admiral’s pride over his nephew’s exploits. I was just wondering what display he would try to make over it all. “Has there been any more news about the Tottalax?”

  “I think it would be best if Commander Wabussie addressed that matter with you. I believe he has some new information, but I would be remiss if I were to speak for him and inadvertently present you with the wrong data.”

  Commander Wabussie was the head of the Federation Security Organization, an ultra-top-secret Federation intelligence-gathering organization also known as the FSO. Its very existence was only known to a few within the Federation. The FSO had been formed in secrecy, when it was discovered that the Federation Office of Investigation, or FOI, which was considered to be the primary source of intelligence gathering, had been infiltrated by the Brotherhood of Light. The FOI had been passing on false information to the Federation military; and since there was no way to be certain what other government entities may have been infiltrated, the FOI was allowed to continue to function largely as a intelligence gathering organization until the FSO could determine who among them were Brotherhood infiltrators.

  “Is there any other news i
n the Federation that I need to know about?” I asked.

  “Well, Leader Turaine’s term expired and a new Leader from the Kopalac sector has been elected to fill the third leadership slot. In the meantime, Leader Roritat, who you’ve never met, as he was the rotating Leader previously in the third slot, will be rotated to the capital to serve with Leader Rieam. The new Leader from the Kopalac sector is an Obarian, one of the first non-humans ever to take office as a Leader. His name is Floss. As you know, the three Leaders are never together in one location at the same time, in order to ensure that there is always at least one Leader in place, if some calamity should occur.”

  What are the Obarians like?” I inquired.

  “I know that their planet is located in a very distant orbit from its red dwarf sun – far enough away that the light is dim, so they are known to have a very pale complexion. However, the sun puts out immense amounts of infrared radiation that heats the planet to about 27°C at the equator and about 18°C at the Polar Regions. There is no ice or snow on the planet, but there are numerous lakes and two small oceans.

  “The people are a strange lot, due of the dim sun and their distance from it, their eyes are not able to take the brighter light found on most planets in the Federation. As a consequence, Floss wears dark tinted goggles most of the time to protect his eyes. In terms of government, they’re known to be politically moderate. Right now Floss is serving as the rotating Leader and is traveling to the outer worlds of the Federation for the next five years to acquaint himself with the various governments and leaders of those systems.”

  “What’s Roritat like?”

  “He’s an even strange one,” A’Lappe said as he leaned back in his chair. “He seems to have very liberal ideas and is in staunch opposition to the Federation taking actions against the Brotherhood. He doesn’t seem to think the Brotherhood is any serious threat and he insinuates that you created the current conflict between the Federation and the Brotherhood. Many of the citizens feel that his tour of duty in the outer regions put him out of touch with what has been happening elsewhere. He is also in opposition to Admiral Regeny’s requests for more military funding and the replacement of older equipment within the fleet.”

  “He blames me?”

  “Yes, indirectly. Roritat claims that you’ve aggravated the Brotherhood of Light and that prior to your appearance in the Federation, the Brotherhood was not a threat to anyone. His public statements have hinted that you’ve exacerbated the situation for your own glory.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me? How can he think that after what happened with the DUSTEN and the attacks that have gone on elsewhere around the Federation?”

  “He insinuates those events never happened and that you and the Admiral concocted the stories – you for your own glory and the Admiral for the purpose of promoting new funding for military expansion.”

  I shook my head. “It would appear that politicians everywhere in the universe are idiots. We had people on Earth that were equally as deluded about threats and dangers. How’s the general population accepting his statements?”

  “It varies from planet to planet. The inner worlds pretty much disregard his comments, because they’ve been close enough to the action to see the Brotherhoods actions and feel the repercussions of their violence; but those on the outlying worlds, furthest away from the events, are easily misguided. In his defense, he has been in the outlying sectors of the Federation for the past five years and, as you know, briefings and news transmissions to their sectors arrive only after a long delay. I’m sure that, once he’s had a chance to talk to more people and review vids of the events, he will change his mind.”

  “What are his political agendas?”

  “That's a good question! I would suggest you get with Commander Wabussie about that also. He’s gained some information from FSO agents who have been checking into the people around Roritat. I can only say that something about his circle of associates is very strange; but I’ll leave it to Wabussie to discuss that with you.”

  We were suddenly interrupted by Kala entering the room. “Well, I’m glad you see you’re awake and looking better today,” she said as she crossed over to me and gave me a loving kiss. She glanced at the food tray before me and said to Jenira, “Did he eat well?” Jenira smiled and nodded excitedly.

  “I take it that you’ve been filling him in on some of the events of the past few weeks?” She said to A’Lappe.

  “As best as I can, First Citizen,” A’Lappe said with a nod of his head, “but I fear that Commander Wabussie will have to answer a lot of his questions, as he is better informed than me.”

  “Well, right now I think that Tibby needs some more rest; and when he wakes up again we’ll let him talk with some of the others.”

  Until that moment I hadn’t realized that I had been slowly sliding down in the bed again and my eye was beginning to droop. Jenira hopped up off her chair, while Kana went to the other side of my bed so both could ease me down and re-adjust my pillows just as sleep once more prevailed over me.

  The third time I awoke to find Marranalis and Kala sitting in my room.

  Hi there,” Kala said with a smile. “How are you feeling?”

  “Sore. Very sore,” I said. Jenira’s absence was the next thing I noticed. I asked, “Where is Jenira?”

  “She’s in the gym. She heard a few men talking about going to practice with Ruwallie Rasson swords. Suddenly she got all excited and kept motioning that she wanted to go along. It’s the first she has shown any interest in anything since your crash.”

  “Hey, Marranalis, I hear you’ve been doing great things to get order established on the surface.”

  “Hi Tibby. Glad to have you back with us. You really had us worried for a time. I honestly didn’t see how it would be possible to restore you; but with the help of the medical unit here on the NEW ORLEANS, A’Lappe managed to do it somehow. I can’t really take any credit for what’s happening on Goo'Waddle; that’s pretty much Padaran and Kerabac’s doings; and they wouldn’t be able to accomplish much, were it not for the cooperative efforts of the androids and the Ruwallie Rasson. They’re the ones enforcing the new laws and rounding up the Brotherhood members who didn’t manage to escape.”

  I looked at Marranalis and replied, “I sincerely doubt that they would have had the level of success that they’ve shown thus far without your interface and guidance.”

  “Sokaia did a lot of the work,” Marranalis said humbly.

  Marranalis was head of my security forces and one of the best friends I’ve ever had. When I first arrived in the Federation, he was a trooper assigned as one of my personal guards. Later I was able to bargain with the Admiral for Marranalis’ service. Since that time we had fought in several battles together – and I don’t believe I would have survived some of them without his presence and superior skills. He was a giant of a man – nearly a head taller than me – with the look and body mass of a Samoan football player back on Earth; but inside he carried the heart and soul of a saint.

  “Commander Wabussie said that, if you’re up to it, he would like to meet with you briefly today,” Kala said. “But first I think you need to eat something.”

  “Actually, I would like to have a shower first, if I can. I’m feeling rather crusty at the moment,” I answered.

  Marranalis chuckled. “Yeah, Tibby, last time you looked this bad was on Alle Bamma when you came back to the ship after spending the night hiding in the jungle with Kerabac.”

  “That bad, huh?” I said, as I tried to raise myself up. Kala and Marranalis quickly came to my aid; and with one of them on each side of me they managed to get me out of bed and on my feet. Pain shot through my body in every direction as my weight settled on my legs. For a moment I thought I would fall; but with the support of Kala and Marranalis I was able to take the few steps to the small attached bathroom. Kala began helping me out of the gown, which was more like a poncho than the hospital gowns of Earth. There were no sleeves or tailored sea
ms; simply a cloth with an adjustable sort of hole in the center that fit over the head and some ties on the side that allowed the two halves to overlap and be tied off.

  “Do you think you can handle him yourself?” Marranalis asked Kala, “Or do you need me to stay and assist?”

  “What do you think Tib? Do you think you and I can manage or will we need Marranalis?”

  By now I was feeling steadier on my feet, so I said, “I think we can do it.”

  “Well, if that’s the case,” Marranalis replied, “I’ll tell the Commander that you’re up and that he can see you after you’ve eaten.”

  “I’d like to meet with all of my senior officers who are here on the ship – at the same time, if we can. I think I may be able to sit through a single meeting in one of the conference rooms – at least I would like to try.”

  Kala looked at me with a stern eye, but didn’t say anything.

  “I’ll pass the word on, Tibby. Will an hour from now be to your satisfaction or would you prefer two?”

  “Make it an hour and a half. I may need a short rest after eating.”

  As Marranalis left, Kala began stripping off her uniform; and I knew that she was planning on going in the shower with me to make sure I didn’t fall. I sat on a small bench, watching as she disrobed and admiring, as always, her incredible beauty. Kala truly had the exotic body and features of a goddess. Her long, black hair always had a healthy sheen; the remarkable blue-gray color of her almond-shaped eyes reminded me of the sky on a clear day. She had olive-tan skin that one could have associated with any number of races back on Earth, yet she bore no resemblance to any of them in particular. As she discarded her last piece of clothing, I found myself subconsciously glancing at her stomach, as though I expected to see some signs of her pregnancy; but I guess it was still too early, as I didn’t detect any changes.