Traveler_Losing Legong

by Tim Dennis

  "And recall all Earth-orbiting K-ships," she continued, "the next landing attempt will be armed."

  Six left Pestano on Mission Control in Earth-space and took Nod and Morgan with her back through the Rip to Central Command. The Council Chamber was lit for full dramatic effect, and she appeared before her peers not as a voting Councilor, but as the Director of Council Guard. Krykowfert stood opposed, both sharing the narrow, blunt end of the long, oblong conference table.

  "As your Clerks will tell you," Six summarized, "the data we've gathered proves the decline of Earth society, its lack of cohesion and central government. It has degenerated into loosely connected city-states, it's completely defenseless and its food supply is insecure. It is clear from any rational analysis that they would not only accept our re-settlement, but welcome it, for we would provide security and strong governance."

  The other eight clerks dipped into their implant connections where they were treated to a carefully prepared presentation of Six's findings, annotated for each individual Councilor. Krykowfert knew the material, Feric's contacts had been providing the raw data as it was gathered, and he could not disagree more with Six's conclusions. He waited. Finally Councilor Five looked up, checked on the other Councilors, and addressed Krykowfert.

  "Director Krykowfert, have you a prepared statement?" She asked.

  "No, madam Councilor, all the materials I have to offer have been presented previously. I ask the Council for the Freedom of Laity."

  Six rolled her eyes and several of the Councilors relaxed back into their seats. "So granted." Said Five.

  Krykowfert stood, moving away from the table and thus drawing the Councilors eyes from Six. "Ignoring for the moment Councilor Six's personal enmity towards myself, she has tabled only one objection to re-settlement on Eden. That is, to use her own words, the risk of the unknown. Now, in preparation for whatever use the Council plans on putting to Eden I have transferred almost ten thousand Legongs. These men and woman have built small settlements in widely dispersed regions of the planet and none have yet come across any unpredictably dangerous flora, fauna, or geology. In contrast, every ship that Six has attempted to land on Earth has been repulsed-"

  "I've not attempted any landings." Six interrupted. "These incursions have been to test the planet's response-"

  "And their response has been an unambiguous 'no.' They don't want us."

  "Their behavior is irrational." Said Six. "It is the Director's unauthorized release of the Earthman, and the lies that he's told of us, that have motivated the repulsions."

  "Which supports my point." Said Krykowfert. "Traveler has met us, both Council and citizen, and his report to his people has convinced them that, at least for the moment, we are not welcome."

  "They cannot deny us for long." Claimed Six. "Their technology, although superficially advanced, is not utilized properly. There are huge areas of arable, yet unsettled land-"

  "Six is correct in that their technology, with certain important exceptions, has not advanced that far beyond ours, but what is more important is their interaction with their technology. We have still not been able to crack their code of control. They don't appear to make any sort of neural link with their tools."

  "Norte, and your man Tugot, had no problem operating their ships." Councilor Five noted.

  "Myles had great difficulty," reminded Krykowfert, "and Norte was killed." He allowed the quiet moment to pass, then resumed. "This unknown, this way that they interact with their superior technology, is exactly the kind of unknown that is likely to hide unforeseen dangers. We don't know everything there is to know about Eden, neither do we know all of Earth. Earth, however, is far more complex, inhabited by an advanced people who clearly don't want us there. Even if you accept Six's contention that we know more about Earth than Eden, there is also more that we don't know."

  The Council fell into an unexpected implant consultation. Five was clearly having difficulty controlling the inner debates. She silenced her peers and questioned Krykowfert. "Why could Tugot control the Earth ship from one end of the galaxy to the other, while Norte runs a surface vessel into a wall? Is this related to the neuro-aberrations that you've been studying?"

  It was a change in subject that Krykowfert hadn't prepared for. He wasn't certain if he should follow it or turn them all back to the Earth Rip. "It may be. We just don't know."

  "And this is the neurological trait you wish to isolate and transport to Eden?" Five concluded.

  "I would like to move the entire Colony to Eden." He said plainly.

  The questioning continued in random spurts, dying slowly as Councilors dug into hypothetical corners in an effort to uncover insights that might make their decision easier. Krykowfert cooperated, as did Six, at times finding themselves pushing the same point. But these moments were fleeting, and the fundamental rift between them ossified. At the end of it Krykowfert returned to his offices and Six gathered her crews and headed to Legong, in support of the already popular Digest show her edited Earth data had inspired.

  Six's tour of Legong, by necessity, included only the largest settlements, leaving Mallick, and most of the rest of Legong's population, to follow her arguments by Digest Broadcast. This Mallick did, in his court in Snotty Rocks, with Fernstrom and Midgfet by his side.

  "Do you think that's why the Council Guard hasn't come after you? This resettlement plan?" Asked Fernstrom.

  "Could be." Said Mallick. "Could be they haven't got the resources to come after me, could be they don't care. I've always said the Council didn't really care."

  Fernstrom avoided that avenue of debate and shifted back to the task they'd been engaged in when the Digest broadcast started. "We have fifteen thousand liters of water a day from the primary well, and many of the outlying properties have private wells, so I don't see any water problems."

  "Did you include the protein farm in that?" Mallick asked. Fernstrom used his manual link to flip through strings of figures hovering over them in f'window. "Yes, there." He pointed. "It's just an estimate though, the guy running the farm is a Junior."

  "Where'd the boss go?"

  "Krykowfert assigned him to the Eden project a month ago."

  "Oh." Mallick was concerned that his more vital subjects were sneaking away from him, but they weren't. Hardly anything had changed in the daily life of Snotty Rocks. People were already forgetting they were 'occupied.'

  Fernstrom's review of local resource allocations were interrupted by shouts and doors slamming in the hall. Two Mallickite Guards dragged two arguing citizens into the chamber.

  "What the hell?" Mallick cried.

  "Excuse us Father Mallick," said one of the Guards. "General Cokely said we should bring these two to you."

  "General?" Mallick whispered to Fernstrom. "Is that what he's calling himself now? Hardly been king a month and they've already sidelined me from my own revolution." and then, to the Guards and their prey, "Oh, all right. What's the problem?"

  "He's moved into my cousin's vacated housewares shop and won't leave." Said one of the complainants.

  "A squatter, eh?" said Mallick. "Where's your cousin? Why isn't he complaining?"

  "She was called up for the Council Guard." Said the man.

  "And she left you in possession?" Mallick asked.

  "Yes. Sort of. She's my cousin."

  "I've put all her gear into storage," said the other, "I've not stolen anything, or damaged anything. But the place has a better view, it's closer to the town center."

  "But it's not yours, eh?" Mallick asked. The second man slinked back, avoiding his gaze. Mallick turned and whispered to Fernstrom. "What do you think, Fernny?"

  Fernstrom rubbed his chin in a ridiculous manner and whispered back, "Well, I don't rightly know, boss, I reckon we should hang 'em both."

  The two leaders laughed, the Guards looked worried. Mallick put on a serious face and spoke to the two complainants. "You think this is the kind of issue that warrants bothering Father Mallick?"

&n
bsp; "No." Said the first man. "I just about had this jerk out of the building when your goons came and dragged us both in."

  Mallick stood quickly enough that he startled the Guards and their charges. "Well, I don't think so either, but I suppose somebody needs to settle this." He turned to Fernstrom who looked back at him with unease. "So until we get some sort of tribunal set up, Fernstrom here will be in charge of petty disputes. I'm going to go attend to other, um, Mallick business." With that he stepped out from behind the table and marched himself rigidly out the door.

  Once outside the room Mallick regretted leaving Fernstrom behind, so he went and found Midgfet and dragged her away from her revolutionary duties for a drink. The first bar they stopped at turned out to be the only one remaining open in all of Snotty Rocks. So much of the population had been absorbed into Council Guard that there were only enough drinkers left for one establishment. Being the left-behind lovers and mothers of newly minted Guards, the patrons weren't terribly fond of Mallick and let him know, but not until after he'd paid for his and Midgfet's drinks.

  "Once this Earth thing is sorted out the Council's going to deport you, Mallick." Said the bartender.

  "Transport you to Eden!" said a customer.

  "Eh, I've been transported before." He sneered and took a gulp. This slowed the epithets without quite stopping them, for although most Legongs sympathized with the upset suffered by the polar refugees they didn't accept it as justification for his actions. They were allowed to sit at the bar while they finished their drinks, fending off insults and accusations periodically hurled at them like so many Legong-striking meteors. Finally tiring of the constant volleys, Mallick and Midgfet left the bar, continuing their own bitchfest about Cokely, and Krykowfert, and the Council Guard.

  "I get why they've concentrated themselves in the larger settlements," offered Mallick, "but to not send anyone after me, not a single troop? I don't know. It doesn't make a lot of sense."

  "They're preoccupied." Offered Midgfet. "They're just stretched too thin."

  "But I've- well, Cokely, has taken over a dozen settlements. They've done nothing in response. Nothing."

  "There were those Guards in Plateau." Midgfet reminded him. "Took an hour for me and Fernstrom to lose them."

  "That's only because they were hoping you'd lead them to me. Those Guards could've taken you at any time."

  "Well then, they have made a move on you." She said.

  "Yeah, but not a very effective one." Mallick stopped walking. "Besides, those weren't Council Troops, they were Shield Guard. Those were Krykowfert's, and not S.I.. There hasn't been a Shield Guard troop on Legong since the Council Guard was formed." Mallick spun around, looking at the shops lining the warren of alleys that served as Snotty Rocks' downtown.

  "What?" Midgfet took a ready pose, scanning the shadows for hidden danger. Mallick halted his search and grabbed Midgfet by the shoulders.

  "The Council's too disorganized to chase me, and I don't think Krykowfert wants me found. I need a sheet. A big, black sheet."

  "What for?" asked Midgfet.

  "I'm gonna hang it from a pole and mount it atop the highest pinnacle in the badlands." Mallick skittered down the alley like a lunatic, running up to each shop in turn while he sang to himself, "drink and the devil had done for the rest, yo-ho-ho and a bottle of, of, something I don't remember..."

  42

  Myles tried sleeping, finally giving up about two am. He walked down to the beach and looked into the sky. Before bed Sach had explained that the Council's Rip was fixed in position about sixty million miles above the plane of the ecliptic, centered above the sun. She translated that for him: a hundred million kilometers over the sun's north pole. As such, it was visible only during the day, or twilight at best. That was clear enough for Myles. He stood in the sand, looking over at Gabrile and ToEv's hut. It was dark.

  They really are sleeping.

  He joined Trendle in the lanai. "Myles. You should be sleeping."

  "Yeah." Myles sat beside Trendle on the sofa. Two balls sat on the low table, above one hovered an image of the Rip, the other showed a little parade of Legong ships en route to Earth.

  "Shouldn't I be meeting with your government about this? I should think they'd be gathering intel, or preparing for a meeting of some sort."

  Trendle smiled kindly at Myles. Myles scowled back. "There will be a meeting, but not for several hours yet."

  "These are my people, I've spent a lifetime on Legong, almost ten years dealing with the Council. I should be involved."

  "ToEv knows your Councilors, and Krykowfert. If you are concerned, you should get some rest, be at your best tomorrow."

  Sidelined already?

  "There is nothing to be done 'til morning."

  Myles avoided Trendle's numbing gaze and watched the progress of the ships. Within the fleet Myles identified several Rail-ships and a Diversion Transport along with multiple varied examples of Krykowfert's new class of high-speed gravity-controlled patrol and excursion ships. Most had mounted Guns like the one Bento had installed over Caldera.

  The image of the Rip itself showed a second Diversion Transport and the stringy dumbbell of Six's mission control hovering just a few thousand kilometers away from the Rip Frame and its hive of little control ships. An alternating stream of shuttles shot in and out of the Rip itself. Frustrated by the lack of urgency shown by Trendle, Myles finally tired and went back to his hut.

  "Myles. It is time to get up now."

  Mom?

  Myles felt a soft touch on his shoulder and the gentlest whisper in his ear. He stretched and opened his eyes. Sach sat on the edge of the bed, her hip resting against his own, just a light sheet covering him.

  "Good morning." She said. "The others have gone on ahead. When you're ready we'll join them."

  Sach stood and went over to the cabinet. She held up a fresh set of Myles's Legong clothes in one hand and the Earth outfit from the day before in the other. Myles indicated the Legong version. Sach came to the side of the bed and held the pants open for him. He lay still, naked under his sheet.

  "Thanks. I can handle it."

  Sach took the hint and left to wait for him in his other hut. Myles had a wash, dressed, and met her there.

  "We've set up a meeting place." She said. "It's in one of Earth's oldest cities, about six thousand miles from here." Myles looked at her befuddled. "Nine and a half thousand kilometers. Your Council has landed a delegation."

  She led Myles out. No horse, not even a chair, but a silvery, seven meter long bulging ellipse, hovering slightly above the ground on one edge. In its center, where it bulged the most, a meter-and-a-half wide hole revealed a pair of closely placed seats. They stepped in and the hole sealed itself behind them.

  A basket of woven reed sat on the floor. From it, Sach extracted a block of cheese, some fruit, nuts, bread, and two cloths of a sturdy, but soft, white woven material. They ate in distracted silence. When they were done Sach put the remains back in the basket. Myles struggled with a piece of nut between his teeth.

  "Open." Sach insisted.

  "Excuse me?"

  "Open, just a little." Myles did. Sach looked at him sternly. "You have to want it. Watch."

  Sach opened her mouth wide. Myles thought he heard a slight hum. A faint blue glow filled her open mouth, brightened and quickly disappeared. She closed her mouth. "See?"

  Myles opened his mouth. He felt a tingle, panicked, shut his mouth. The tingle continued and Myles's alarm increased. Sach grabbed his chin and nose and pulled his mouth open. "Let them out!"

  The tingle stopped. "What the hell-" a column of almost invisibly tiny spidery spheres crawled out of his mouth and disappeared. Sach suppressed a smile. Myles looked forward, trying to find something in the cabin to focus his attention. Sach kept staring, eyes twinkling. "We do it differently back on Legong."

  She let out a laugh. "You should have seen your face!"

  Her manner was so good natured Myles couldn't help
but join in. Their little capsule became bright and cheery and Myles felt a true closeness to Sach, like when he'd first met the Traveler, but better. Sach's laughter died away and she pointed across him. Myles turned. The hole was there again. The ship hovered about fifty meters above the ground, slowly sliding sideways to come up against a tall glass-and-steel building.

  "We're here."

  The ship pulled in to just three inches from the wall of the building. A square panel in the wall vanished, matching the round hole in their ship. Sach urged Myles through, followed him, then led him down a series of corridors. They stopped at a door no different than any other. "They are ready for us." She said.

  Sach walked in, leaving Myles standing in the open doorway. All talk ceased. He could have been back in Central Command. In the center of the room, a large oblong conference table, its curve flattened on the end near the door. Plain semi-circular columns terminated around the edge of a slightly arched ceiling. The most obvious difference between Central Command's Council Chamber and this replica was that one side of the room was entirely windows. Through them could be seen a half dozen similarly plain buildings, and beyond them gardens, with tiered red roofs poking up through the greenery in the distance.

  At the far end of the table sat two Legongs, dressed in formal Council robes. Behind them, two others in full Council Guard uniforms. Gabrile and ToEv sat with their backs to Myles. Sach took a place beside them, across from Gwirionedd and Chanly. A third robed Legong stood at the window with the Gardener from the lake compound. His helmet seemed a little smaller than before.

  I know that guy...

  The helmet-man turned. He was much older than ToEv and the others, just as dark, but a little sallow and tired looking. He turned back to finish the conversation with the Legong, excused himself and left, barely acknowledging Myles as he passed.

  "So you see," said ToEv, "we have Myles. There is no need for anyone else."

  ToEv's voice brought Myles to attention. He stepped into the room but didn't sit, instead walking over to the Legong whom helmet-man had been talking to. He was Pestano, Six's crest on his breast.