by R. E. Weber
OK, so here’s the deal. My name is Theopolis James Logan (god, I hate my first name), and I live on a space station, around a planet called Polisium, five hundred light-years from Earth. I’m surrounded by technology, which still amazes me even though I’ve been here for over a year. I’ve got an advanced computer, known as a companion, wired directly into my brain and all my senses, which I can control with just a few flicks of my eyeballs. Yet here I am, with a top quality, no expense spared, plastic pen, complete with ink (or something similar anyway), and an old-fashioned diary made of plain paper. And I’m writing with that pen onto that paper. Why, you may ask? Well, I’ll tell you why. Because Ruby, my best friend, thought it would be a good idea to retain some of the traditions from Earth and write down my thoughts on paper, old style. It’s time-consuming and messy compared to dictating into my companion. Yet somehow, I let myself be talked into it. And even worse, First Mentor and Governor Tallus agreed with her. By the way, First Mentor is an immortal creature of pure energy, and Governor Tallus is the head of the Affinity (an alliance of twelve advanced civilisations) just in case you were wondering.
‘Traditions are important’ Governor Tallus once told me. That’s why he paints pictures using brushes made of chamon hair and colours made from concentrated plant extracts, just like artists on Earth. And worse still, because I’m in The Star Agency (the Affinity’s secret service, obviously) I have to keep two journals: one I can show Ruby, Weng or any of the other recruits from Earth (there are seven of us in total) and this one, which I have to lock in a secure vault every night. I’m surprised Protah Haarrnn Toh allows me to do this since security is so important in the Star Agency, but he accepts it. Protah Haarrnn Toh is the Star Agency commander. The best way of describing him is like a bad tempered, walking octopus. Anyway, I digress.
Well, it’s been an eventful time, this last year and a bit. To sum up, I’ve left my family and friends back on Earth, to live on another planet – well in orbit around another planet anyway. I’ve learnt an entirely new language, Affinity Common, which is a minor miracle in itself since I was useless at languages at school. That’s the wonder of these companions. Anything you hear, you can remember forever if you want to. Mind you, Ruby puts us all to shame. She speaks several Earth languages such as English, Sinhala, Tamil, Hindi and Spanish. And then she speaks fluent Affinity Common – not just speaks it but teaches it to the rest of us can you believe? She also speaks the Protah primary dialect, and she’s even trying to learn T’hal’e’nad: the first language of the H’th’hka, which hardly anybody speaks because it’s all clicks, squeaks, burps and other weird noises. Still, she’s training to be a paltoor for the Affinity, so I guess it comes in handy. A paltoor is a planetary liaison officer, which is a kind of ambassador and negotiator rolled into one. They negotiate with other Affinity worlds for the exchange of technology, resources and information, as well as help settle disputes, of which there have been quite a few since I arrived. And she absolutely loves it. Anyway, I digress again – I keep doing that.
So I came to Polisium and spent the first few months learning their language, learning about all the other Affinity species and the weird (or should I say varied) ways they behave, their history and just about anything else you can think of. It’s called orientation, and it was like being at school but way more intense. Of course, the companions help you learn quicker, but it’s still hard. Imagine cramming what would take years on Earth into a few months and you’ll get the idea.
It was also during my orientation that I first learnt about the He’tal, or Metah Dah as they prefer to be called. They're basically cloned ancient Polisians, who were servants of the Affinity before they turned violently against them. Ever since they fled Polisium a hundred odd years ago, they've been at war with the Affinity. If you wanna know what kind of people they are, well they're the kind who slam asteroids into defenceless planets, killing thousands. And then there's their leader, Paranoemenos. Don't even get me started on him.
Anyway, just before my orientation finished, everything changed for me. I got dragged out of my room in the middle of the night and taken to the moon – the Polisian moon, I mean. Then I learnt all about the Star Agency. And somehow, in a moment of unbelievable stupidity, I agreed to go on what was referred to as a reconnaissance mission to the planet Athonesis, to prove myself to them. A good idea that was. To start with, everything went well and I completed my primary mission on the planet’s research station easily enough. But then I went and got myself trapped there, with the self-destruct clock ticking towards zero. That was when it was time for my escape plan – a plan so ingenious, I nearly got myself killed. The only way out was through the observation window, so I blew a big hole in it, got myself sucked out of the station (rather violently I might add) and flung into a very deep canyon, without a spacesuit and with no way of slowing my fall – not really big issues when you’re gonna get blown up anyway, but still a bit of a worry. So anyway, I carried on falling for a while before eventually passing out – well technically, I died for about a minute, but I won’t bore you with the details. Then, just before I hit the bottom, I got rescued by my ship and escaped from the planet.
Once we were back in orbit, it looked like we were gonna be safe – I say we, because First Mentor and Orientator were there (Orientator’s a riot, I tell you) – but then we were attacked by the very thing that was supposed to be protecting us: a star shield weapons platform. Just as we were about to die again, two Affinity Navy warships arrived from nowhere and rescued us. I still wanna know how that happened. I mean, it makes no sense. We’d already sent a distress call and established there were no ships in the area. So where had they come from? The Star Agency still haven’t given me an answer for that one.
Anyway, once we got back to Star Agency command, they asked me to join them. And stupidly I said yes. Don’t I ever learn? Anyway, I’m pleased to tell you I haven’t had any more near-death experiences since. Not that it’s been boring mind you. Although the training has been tough, very tough, there’s been some good stuff too. I’m now an automation auditor, which is a fancy way of saying I test technology. Basically, I get to test all the new stuff they develop for field operatives. I’ve got a knack for it, apparently. Plus it happens to fit in well with my cover story, which is that I work at the Teng Muah Technological Research Academy – obviously, being in the Star Agency is top secret so I need a cover story.
Basically, I try all the new tech and report back. It’s so cool. You wouldn’t believe some of the stuff I’ve been given to try. For starters, there are threat bots, which kick in when you’re in danger. They’re a kind of heads-up display for your companion, warning you of any threats to your personal safety. They only help you with physical danger though – they can’t read minds. So if somebody decides they want to strangle you with their bare hands/tentacles/tongues (delete as applicable), it won’t help. They’re already using them out in the field, and they’ve saved quite a few lives apparently. They’re going to give me one soon, which I can’t wait for.
Then you’ve got personal shields. They can protect you from any kind of weapon, and they work in conjunction with the threat bots. It’s just a shame they can’t stay active for long – only a minute or so.
But the best thing is remote reconnaissance, or drifting as I prefer to call it. It’s a brand-new technology, at least as far as integration into a companion is concerned. Basically, they plant these sensors everywhere. Well, when I say everywhere, I mean in all public places. Then the sensors scan in the environment and build up a three-dimensional map. But they don’t just record the way things look, they also record smells, noises and even how things would feel if you could touch them, and they do it all in real-time. To use it, you start the companion app – well I call it an app, the Star Agency refers to it as an exofeed. Then you can take a trip wherever you want, virtually. It’s so crazy. It’s like an out-of-the-body experience. However, it’s real in a sense and not a simulation. You’re rea
lly there in a way, seeing and feeling what happens, as it happens. Of course, you can’t interact with anything and nobody can see you. It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever used. Currently, they’re only installed on specific orbital habitats. But soon, hopefully, they’ll be using them everywhere.
So anyway, that’s where I am. That’s my job – my lot in life. And it’s really amazing. I’ve left Earth behind, good and proper. I don’t miss it much now. Yes, it was where I grew up and became who I am. But now, out here among the stars, that’s where I feel at home.
The only thing I miss about Earth is Jules. She was my best friend, indeed my only friend. And she helped me get here. Part of me thinks she should be here instead of me, because without her, I’d still be on Earth. But then it was my dream to be in a place like this. My head was always in the clouds. And anyway, I’ve got new friends now. There are six other people from Earth. They’re all about my age too, which is great. No moaning grown-ups telling me what to do when they don’t know any better themselves. Not that being here is a walk in the park. No, it’s hard work. But somehow, it feels different. For one, you’re treated like an adult. That’s because in most alien cultures, being my age (or the equivalent) is being an adult.
So anyway, onto my friends. Well, first of all, there’s Weng. He’s Chinese American. Or is it American Chinese? Anyway, he’s got a wicked sense of humour, and he’s probably the most confident person I’ve ever met. He’s not afraid of making a fool of himself, not to mention the rest of us. He gets people to do the craziest things you can imagine. I don’t know how he does it, but he does. He’s joined the Affinity Navy as a cadet. You can bet yourself he’ll be rising up the ranks quickly. Officer material and no mistake.
Then there’s Cristos. He’s what you might call the strong silent type. He’s a big lad at six feet, yet he’s as gentle as anything. You can always rely on him to do exactly what he says he’ll do. Although he’s quiet, he’s strong in himself. He’s got a very real sense of right and wrong, and he’s not afraid to speak up if he sees something that isn’t fair. He’s a great guy to have on your side.
Next there’s Abubakar, or Abs as he prefers to be called. Although he talks quietly, he’s not quiet if that makes sense. Somehow, although you can hardly hear him, he gets you to listen to him. He’s what granddad used to describe as wise beyond his years. Somehow, people listen to him, even the non-humans (we’re not supposed to call them aliens, apparently).
Then there’s Lara. She lives in her own world most of the time. But then just when you think she’s not been listening to anything you say, she’ll suddenly blurt out something you said weeks ago, word-for-word. And she’s incredibly intelligent. She’s already grasped how most Affinity technology works. I get the technology and how to use it, but she not only understands how it works, but why it works. She’s like a sponge for facts and figures too. And to top it off, she’s got a photographic memory.
Next there’s Larissa, lovely Larissa, from São Paulo. She’s cool – really cool. Almost everybody seems to like her, boys and girls alike. She’s just one of those people others are drawn to. She’s training to be a Xenobiologist, which is essentially a specialist in all life forms throughout the Universe. By all accounts, she’s doing really well. Mind you, she enjoys telling everybody about the icky habits other species have, especially when we’re eating. Sometimes it’s enough to put you off your food altogether. Except me, of course. Nothing puts me off my food.
Lastly, there’s Ruby. She’s from Sri Lanka. Well actually, she was born in mainland India, but moved to Sri Lanka with her family when she was little. She’s my best mate. I can talk to her about pretty much anything. Mind you, she’s not somebody you want to get on the wrong side of. She’s got a hell of a temper. But she’s also loyal, brave and pretty special really. She once tried to wrestle a Protah off me. Protah are basically about ten times as strong as humans, so that tells you how brave she is. I spend more time with her than anybody else. We’ve fallen out a few times, but we always make up. She’s great.
So in a nutshell, that’s my life so far. How long I’ll keep writing in my journals for, I don’t know. Still, as my great grandmother kept one during the Second World War (which can’t have been easy) I’m sure as hell going to try. So I’ll stick at it for the time being. Now over to the other journal to write the same thing again, minus all the juicy, interesting stuff. If that isn’t a recipe for writer’s cramp, I don’t know what is.
3 - Guiding Hands
‘Earth calling Theo Logan, respond, please.’
‘Eh?’
‘Theo,’ said Ruby sternly.
‘What?’ replied Theo, irritated at being dragged out of his daydream.
‘You’re not with it today, are you mate?’ said Ruby, holding his head in her hands to draw his attention back to her.
Theo took a deep breath, then forced a smile.
‘No, I’m OK, Rubes. It’s just been…’
‘Yeah, I know. A hard day at the office.’
‘Something like that.’
‘And you don’t wanna talk about it, I’m guessing?’
‘You know me too well, mate.’
‘So anyway, what I was trying to ask you was, do you still wanna meet with the rest of the gang tonight? I mean, I could always call it off if you’re tired. I’m sure La…. everybody would understand.’
Theo tensed for a moment, realising that Ruby had been about to drop Larissa into the conversation – a topic that had become a little awkward of late.
‘No, no way. I’m coming tonight. You just try and stop me.’
During their time on Polisium Prime, each of the recruits, except for Lara, had taken it in turns to arrange a social gathering in their personal quarters – when their schedules permitted – providing food and entertainment. Tonight, it was Ruby’s turn, and she had prepared a lavish buffet of food for all tastes, mixing local specialities with more familiar Earth dishes. Secretly, Theo had always preferred Ruby’s food to anybody else’s, including his own. However, he’d never said that to anybody except her.
‘Well, I’d understand if you didn’t want to come, you know.’
‘Yeah, I know you would, mate. But it’s gonna be ages before we can all get together again. Weng’s off to command school soon. We might not see each other for months. And Larissa’s off on another one of her field trips. She’s going to the Protah homeworld to study life form adaptations to high gravity. She…’
‘OK, fine,’ said Ruby, clearly irritated that the subject of the conversation had turned to Larissa once more. ‘So you’re coming, are you?’
‘Yeah, mate, I’m coming.’
‘Good. That’s all I need to know.’
‘So anyway, enough about me,’ said Theo, quickly steering the subject away from Larissa, ‘what about you? What you been up to today?’
‘Top secret. If I told you, I’d have to kill you.’
Theo winced inwardly at the thought of his level four security clearance. Then the words of Orientator leapt to the front of his mind, helping him focus. Remember your training. Your face is a doorway to your mind. Concentrate. Show nothing. Tell her nothing. Move the conversation forward, immediately.
‘Very funny, Rubes,’ he blurted out. ‘Remember, I’m the same as you – level two.’
‘Well, I guess it’s not really a secret as such. It’s the H’th’hka.’
‘What about them?’
‘There’s a delegation coming tomorrow.’
‘And?’
‘There’s something ominous about it. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I think there’s something going on. Something major.’
‘Any ideas what?’
‘I’ve got an awful feeling it’s... actually, no. I really shouldn’t say.’
‘You tease. I thought I was gonna get some juicy gossip then.’
‘Well put it this way, if it’s what I’m thinking, it’ll soon be common knowledge.’
‘I�
�m not sure I like the sound of that,’ said Theo, his smile dropping away.
‘Me neither,’ replied Ruby.
‘Rubes, you know in these meetings – these negotiations. Are you allowed to speak – you know, give your opinion or take part in them?’
‘No, I’m supposed to be a passive observer. Its watch and learn only. Strictly no interference.’
‘But I bet you’re tempted sometimes – you know, to say your piece?’
‘All the time, yeah. But Paltoor Tan Shah won’t hear of it. She keeps telling me it takes years to be ready. One wrong word could sabotage months of careful negotiation.’
‘I still think it’s weird though, the idea of a Polisian diplomat. I mean, they’re not exactly diplomatic when they talk to us, are they?’
‘Yeah, I know. But they’re quite adaptable. You’d be surprised if you ever attended a negotiation.’
‘Yeah, I guess. Would I be allowed though?’
‘Depends. Some negotiations are open. You could attend one of those and sit in the viewing gallery. But a lot are closed. Only paltoors, provincial leaders, planetary leaders and high-ranking mentors attend those, although I dare say they sneak in the odd Star Agency operative every now and then, just to keep an eye on us.’
Suddenly, Theo’s heart skipped a beat. In all the time he had known Ruby, the Star Agency had never entered into any of their conversations. Did she possibly know or suspect something about him? Theo’s first instinct was to blurt out…‘The Star Agency, what’s that?’ Yet his training had taught him that although the Star Agency was scarcely mentioned in general conversation, most if not all Affinity beings knew of their existence, even if specifics of their activities were hard to come by. And it didn’t take long for his training to kick in and frame a response.
‘What, you reckon the Star Agency spies on us, in the Affinity?’ said Theo, knowing full well that operatives operated, under cover, in all professions within the Affinity.