Dryland's End

by Felice Picano

  No previous dead star had ever proved stable enough to be colonized. Thus when Bel8 in its crystallized form was discovered beneath successive layers of the “Plastro-iron” which was all that was left of the core and surface of this former red giant, attempts were made to see if the Bel8 could release energy in a discrete, containable, controllable manner by fusion with free hydrogen elements. The success of the experiment in 2634 meant that speeds heretofore only dreamt of could be achieved. Since Bel8 could cross a star’s 100-billion-kilometer stellar diameter in less than one second of “Flash” [more animation], once reactivated, it could reduce interstellar travel time considerably. Distances of 4.5 light-years could be crossed within one and a quarter hours; those of 45 light-years in two and a half hours; those of 450 light-years in twelve hours [charts] – each bit of travel known as a Fast jump.

  This discovery allowed the first practical intergalactic travel. Naturally, the only container possible for crystal Beryllium proved to be the Plastro-iron of the dead star itself, which became known as Plastro-Beryllium. Thus, the ash of a dead star – diameter 52,000 kilometers – made it the single most valuable object in the galaxy.

  Around 2800 STY, with the onset of the Bella=Arth. War, Hesperia became a key military base. Hectic mining of Bel8 to fuel war craft and Plastro-iron to construct vehicles brought immense wealth to the city, and attracted financiers, industrialists, architects, craftsmen, artists, entertainers, high society, and service industries. [Holos and still holo-shots, with a wartime emphasis.]

  Upon the successful end of the Bella=Arth. War, and fearing the Beryllium would become completely depleted, exploration of other dead stars was initiated – expensive operations which could be carried out by only the wealthiest Hesperian industrialists. At this time, both Beryllium ore and Plastro entered the Galactic Exchange on Spica V, the ore at a valued price of one million 2840 STY credits per gram, making it the most expensive material in the galaxy. Mining of the less-rare Plastro-iron used to build the girders which now formed the City resulted in the deformation of the sphere to the point of almost hollowing it out [charts, animation]. What remained of the original orb was a giant magneto of shifting ionized core balancing an elaborate framework of millions of girders which completely pierced and surrounded it.

  Thus, like the legendary “New Venice” of the Procyon system, set entirely amid water [holo-stats], and the legendary Bella=Arthropod “First Nest” of Algol III [animation], supposedly set entirely within carbon dioxide, Hesperia was a completely open city. Spacecraft of all but the largest sizes could be admitted directly to residences, offices, and factories. All inter-City traffic was vehicular, except for specific “pedestrian parks” and “alar-aerial parks” set aside for Hume and Arthropod recreation [charts and holo-stats].

  However, unlike those other cities, which were completely surrounded by a specific ecological element, Hesperia, with its millions of girders, was three-dimensional and contained a series of artificial atmospheres. According to Ni’oii of Merach Terce, Urbano-Taxonomist Class 3 [a holo-stat of her], by the opening of the 3rd Millennium, areas within the City were defined by conical geosectoring [charts, cutaways of the City]. A small percentage of the City’s “laboring” class (i.e., those who required employment for livelihood) resided in midhorizon specific areas close to places of work. Cyber-folk engaged in mining resided in areas near the star’s surface which were too radioactive for living species. Extensive administration and other avocationalists resided in “horizon-surfaces.”

  Ni’oii calls the late 2nd to early 3rd Millennia Hesperia’s “Beryllium Age” and cites the City’s extreme tolerance – architecturally, politically, sociologically, and culturally. For many who found themselves exiled temporarily or permanently or out of power due to the intricacies of Matriarchal politics, Hesperia became a political sanctuary as well as a cultural center. As it was one of the few urban areas expandable enough to absorb population, it’s no wonder that nearly every important religious, political, sociographic, and scientific development either began, found sustenance, or was launched from Hesperia.

  Because of its unique structure and growth, Hesperia achieved a special kind of representative iconism: each girder “points” to a place in the galaxy and beyond [cutaways, charts, animation]. Many wealthier citizens settle in girder sectors which “point” or have “affinities” to their stars of origin – based on a position fixed at midday at the beginning of the City’s new year. Quinx Premier Llega Francis Todd’s family, for example, live on a “row G-S 201,” related to their home system in Pyxis Delta.

  It is difficult to explain the diversity of Hesperia. A common joke is that one could buy a Thwwing fetus or a political assassination within minutes of arrival. True, the wealth displayed is indescribable. Magazine PVNs report small Hesperian children receiving birthday presents of Fast craft, Beryllium mines, entire planets, and considering them their rightful due. At a marriage celebration between two City families recently, a fifteen-ton crystal of Beryllium which could fuel an M-class planet for a year was used for display – the fireworks lit the City’s surface for a day Sol Rad.

  The size of the City is equally inconceivable. It grows by kilometers every local week, so people move about with astonishing ease, abandoning luxurious residences on a whim, taking over secondary and tertiary residences they can easily afford, waiting until an even more amazing edifice becomes available [holos]. One male moved into an ancient, abandoned interplanetary liner building – and is spending billions to turn it into a “nightclub” to entertain himself and his friends [holos]. As may be supposed, interior architects have become the ne plus ultra of Hesperian artists – along with entertainment purveyors who throw bizarre, expensive parties to celebrate each new reconstruction.

  There is so much of everything one could possibly want – even geographical diversity – now that the City has developed a system of resort worlds to entertain its huge populace (forty million at the last census) – that one should never be bored or lonely on Hesperia.

  “One shouldn’t be a soldier with the Matriarchy, either,” Lill said aloud and realized she had spoken only when Rinne turned to ask her to repeat what she’d said.

  Diad appeared in the room, just as something outside the viewport caught Lill’s attention.

  “We’re in!” He sounded pleased.

  The view outside the ship looked something like an ancient Metro.-Terran sewing aid called a pincushion. Only this one was vast and glittering, and as the freighter neared the point of one particular pin, the enormous size and profusion of the structure rising from an invisible center became more definable.

  “See the little circlet of blinking lights surrounding that sphere?”

  Taylor pointed to the outermost tip of the girder, “That’s where we’re headed. It’s O’Kell UnLimited. I’ve just finished talking to members of the Quinx. We’re going to be met by some extremely fancy Hesperian citizens.”

  The freighter was approaching the sphere Taylor had pointed out, and while it didn’t look very large at first, the circlet of lights below turned out to be a series of berthing slips for O’Kell Beryllium haulers. As Captain Mcr’ass’t guided the freighter into a docking berth, Lill was surprised by how much it was dwarfed by already-parked haulers.

  Lill knew she should be using this time to think about what she would say and what she would withhold when she met the Hesperian in charge, but she couldn’t help feeling like an ensign first entering the MC Academy again as she and Taylor and Rinne glided along the gangway out of the Bella=Arth. ship and into the huge lobby of the O’Kell UnLimited terminal.

  It wasn’t merely the size or newness of the place, nor even the many Humes and Cybers, all unflappably involved in their own business, ignoring the three newcomers – and the beauty of their surroundings. Lill had always thought of appearances as merely that: grand for government buildings, severe for the military, froufrou for artier places.

  But the sheer extravagant wealt
h displayed here stopped her – Plastro everywhere, as though it were some cheap alloy: on the backs of air-sofas, comprising the mobiles wafting slowly through the upper reaches above unseeing heads. And this, Lill had to remind herself, was merely an adjunct to an office building: it wasn’t meant to be seen by any public save those professionals who sped through it to destinations or gathered to exchange business tips at its luxurious cafes and bars.

  A handsome Hume male – he would have been a highly paid courtesan on any MC world – met the three as they entered and directed them to conveyances along the narrowest part of the lobby toward the Hesperian Entry desk. Lill and Councilor Rinne presented their wrists for identification and were passed through. Diad fidgeted. The escort led them to an open-bubble lift, which whooshed them upward through the lobby, past its roof, and outside, where Lill now could see the docking berths from above, the space-worn freighter they had arrived in wedged amid several elegant Beryllium haulers. Further up into another space, which she supposed from the shape and are of the Plastro-bubble must be the sphere Taylor had pointed out before.

  They arrived at a chamber comprising most of the top half of the sphere and were led to a waiting area. A minute later, two Humes half floated across the “growing” carpet toward them. Lill immediately recognized one of them from recent Hesperian Inter. Gal. Comm.s holoed all over the Matriarchy: Quinx Premier Llega Francis Todd.

  Military training made Lill stand up so quickly that she barely noticed the second Hume until the pair were but a meter away and Lady Todd was making her greetings, asking them to please take their seats: she hoped this would be a relaxed informal meeting. It was only once they were seated that the male introduced himself as Mart Kell – and Lill immediately remembered seeing his face before on some gossip network program one of her gynos viewed constantly.

  So this was Mart Kell! Lill thought. Well, he’s only a Hume, despite his emerald green eyes and his hair like banked fires. Only a male, yet what an attractive male! No wonder every gyno in the galaxy attempted to imitate Kell!

  Unlike Lady Todd, who was wrapped sedately in a silken drape of Beryllium-lame from her throat to her sandaled feet, Mart Kell was scandalous, near naked, as though to emphasize the fact that he was beautiful, male, and perfectly proportioned. He wore knee-high City boots; a small, suggestively sculpted silver codpiece; and a short, iridescent cape thrown over his shoulders and held by a thin neck chain, clasped by a cabochon of crystal Beryllium big as Lill’s fist – probably worth the Annual Planetary Product of Deneb XII.

  “I’m certain you’ll want to change for the later greeting from the Quinx Council,” Premier Todd said. “I understand that Lord Kell has a complete wardrobe somewhere on the premises.”

  The two Hesperians glanced at each other over the joke.

  “For now, I merely want to express our pleasure that you’re alive and unharmed and that you, ladies, have come to Hesperia. Given your positions in the Matriarchy, consider yourselves honored guests for however short or long a time you see fit to remain. Naturally, word of your arrival has been comm.ed to the MC, and we await a reply. We understand that four sandskimmer pilots accompanied you into the City. Naturally, Commander Lill, these women are under your jurisdiction during your visit.”

  She was answering so many of Lill’s unasked questions so quickly that Lill merely nodded.

  The Premier continued, “As far as we’re concerned, you have been rescued by a Hesperian from a perilous situation upon Deneb XII. You are under no pressure whatsoever ... beyond that expected of all visitors. No conversations, either public or private, will be recorded and no comm.s tapped, unless you request it specifically. No public appearances beyond the primary visit to our Quinx – which is honorary – are required of you, and no public utterances will be demanded of you.”

  Lill had difficulty believing all this.

  “We’ll attempt to keep the media as far from you as possible, although if you choose to travel through the City, that might be difficult. Negotiations will be opened between Lord Kell and whomever the MC names for your return; we’ll attempt a speedy return to any destination.”

  Lady Todd smiled, relaxed a bit.

  “Off the record, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance, ladies. Given what I saw on holos and what Ambassador Taylor comm.ed us of your behavior in the crisis, I’ve formed a high opinion of you. I hope you’ll feel free to ask for any aid whatsoever.”

  Mart Kell still hadn’t spoken, but his body language told Lill that he found her attractive – or at least interesting, perhaps even challenging. She wished now that she had listened to gyno-chatter more so she would remember something about him. She recalled a family tragedy, but nothing else about his personal life. If he was a typical Hesperian male, he would undoubtedly make a pass at her. But she suspected that Mart Kell wasn’t a typical anything. His thighs and forearms were as large and as well muscled as her own. Sex with a powerful male might be intriguing. The last bed partner who had managed to overpower Lill physically had been a Delphinid female, an oxy/hydro athlete.

  Councilor Rinne spoke up. “Since you brought up the recent crisis, ma’am, you must know that I shall not be returning to Melisande. I would like to apply for political asylum.”

  “I understand, Councilor. May I personally sponsor your application for Hesperian Cityzenhood?” Premier Todd was graciousness itself.

  “An honor, ma’am.”

  “As for your companion ... Ambassador Taylor, you have exceeded all expectations. The death of Pascale Syzygy in the battle of Near Norma has vacated a seat on the Quinx. At this morning’s session, Lord Kell put your name up for nomination and it was seconded. Approval by the full Quinx requires only your presence.”

  Lill had never seen North-Taylor Diad blush before. He stammered his gratitude.

  “Councilor Rinne,” the Premier went on, “the Quinx also recommended that if you wish to continue the work you were doing for the Matriarchy on our common problem, a position can easily be found for you in the City’s Health Department, Research and Development. Naturally, if you wish to retire we will understand. And if, as I’ve been led to understand, yourself and Ambassador Taylor are ...” Lady Todd faltered for the first time, then caught herself. “Hesperian Cityzens receive a generous untaxed income, which makes a vocation unnecessary.”

  The male who escorted them appeared to whisper something in Mart Kell’s ear. Kell but glanced at Premier Todd, and they rose as she excused herself.

  “Feel free to discuss anything you wish with Lord Kell. I’m certain he will be quite open with you.”

  When she had gone, Mart Kell looked at the trio and said, “Well, any news?”

  “I didn’t know a new nest was being formed on Deneb XII,” Rinne said. “And neither, I suspect, does the Matriarchy.” She glanced at Lill who, in fact, hadn’t known either and now could only shrug her shoulders. “Yet,” Rinne went on, “Diad was able to contact the Bella=Arth.s, without whose help ...”

  “Your point being, Councilor Rinne, how much is the City behind the reestablishment of a Bella=Arth. nest there?”

  “I suppose, yes. As Hesperia is titular guardian of Deneb XII ...”

  “I expected that question from Commander Lill,” Kell admitted. “But it’s true that we are, as you put it, titular guardian there. I wish to remind you that nowhere in the Treaty of Formalhaut does it say that Bella=Arth.s may not return to any of their homeworlds to resettle and rebuild their nests. As guardians, we’ve been aware of the movement and have done nothing either to support it or to stop it. A policy which, in this case, proved most useful.”

  Whereas, Lill finished his sentence silently to herself, the MC’s policy had – once again – worked against Matriarchal interests: an all too common theme of late.

  “Since the three of you were there, right in the nest –” Kell began.

  Diad interrupted, clarifying that they’d never been in the nest, due to the Bella=Arth. policy of neutrality, even in th
e face of the MC’s misuse of power.

  “But you did converse with its members at some length?”

  “Yes, certainly.”

  “Then perhaps you can tell me: how close is the new nest toward becoming a viable social structure?”

  Diad explained what he had heard from Ckw’esso and what they had seen of the tunnels between the ruined nests as well as their curiously beautiful underground gardens. He concluded, “It’s not a finished community, not a solid nest yet.”

  “I don’t understand. What’s missing?” Kell asked.

  “An appropriate queen! Bella=Arth.s are physiologically as well as emotionally matriarchal. They must have a queen as genetic and moral center of their brood. Right now they have a female Vespid acting as regent, but she can neither command their allegiance, nor produce the proper offspring.”

  “Why not?”

  “She’s not from First Nest lineage. I refer to the First Nest on Algenib Delta III, which is the way Bella=Arth.s count.”

  “Why don’t they get a First Nest lineage queen?”

  “Ckw’esso told me they’ve tried. It’s not that there aren’t any of the proper female Vespids around. Simply that the few who do exist were born offworld following the Bella=Arth. War. Usually they’re daughters of ambassadors and interplanetary merchants who remained where they were when the war ended. The females that have been contacted have no interest in leaving what are, after all, rather comfortable lives to become a brooding machine for the new nest, no matter how prestigious the position. Most of those females are physically Bella=Arth., but not mentally or emotionally. Yet only one of those females will be accepted as a true queen, both on Deneb XII and among the Bella=Arth. galactic diaspora.”