As everyone left the dining hall, Tessslan quietly pulled Crusher and the other Drewlayians aside and invited them to his quarters. Sitting comfortably inside his living room, Tessslan asked, “Would you care for a cup of Tasssley tea?”
“Yes. That would be nice,” replied Crusher.
Just then came a knock at Tessslan’s door. As he opened it, he was surprised to see Antamus and the other Wicterians standing there.
“Hello, Tessslan, may we come in? Antamus asked. “I saw you inviting the Drewlayians to your quarters and thought it would be a good time for us all to talk about some things.”
“Yesss of courssse, pleassse come in. Thisss isss a pleasssant sssurprissse,” replied Tessslan. “Can I get you a cup of Tasssley tea?”
“Thank you, please,” Antamus replied.
“I wasss jussst about to exxxplain the ‘Way of the Flidoring’ to our Drewlayian friendsss,” started Tessslan, “if you will indulge me for a minute?”
“By all means, I love hearing about it myself,” said Antamus.
Over the next few hours, Tessslan was in his glory as he told all about his experience with the Flidoring and his “Walk of Decision”. He felt his life was moving into his true purpose, and he knew that everything he had gone through was leading to that very moment in time. “The Creator has finally blessed me and is using me like I knew he would,” he thought to himself.
Just then came another knock at the door that jerked him from his place of self-contentment. With a somewhat confused sound in his voice he squeaked out, “Um… yesss… I mean… who isss it?”
With only further knocking as an answer, Tessslan opened the door as he said, “Hang on, what…” –stopping in mid sentence as he saw Lyemad standing right in front of him.
Looking over Tessslan’s shoulder and seeing the Wicterians and the Drewlayians, Lyemad said, “Well I figured that I would find you all here. I bet you are having a good time spreading more of your propaganda to our friends. In any case, it is time for the evening meal and everyone is waiting for you all in the dining hall.”
With that, Lyemad spun around with a certain flare, which Tessslan took as an insult, and swiftly walked down the corridor towards the dining hall. The Wicterians and Drewlayians were not sure what to make of the encounter, but they could feel the bad blood between Tessslan and Lyemad. Tessslan just stood in the doorway totally stunned by the encounter. He felt slighted, but that was not what was bothering him the most. The real issue for him was that Lyemad, once again, had managed to ruin his perfect moment of peace and contentment. The longer he stood there the more he burned with anger and disdain for Lyemad. Finally, Antamus broke the stressed silence and suggested that they should all head towards the dining hall.
The atmosphere in the dining hall was thick with anxiety and distrust, as Lyemad looked intently at Tessslan and the other animal-like ambassadors. He tried to determine what plots they had developed to undermine the Electerian-initiated mission to unite their worlds. It was becoming quite clear to him that the worlds with non-humanoid creatures were not to be trusted. He was sure that their animal passions would over-ride logic and bring about the destruction of anything good and positive that had been built between their worlds.
Tessslan—feeling the cold stare from Lyemad—could not hold his tongue any longer and let out a sarcastic, “What isss your problem Lyemad?”
Immediately, as if he had been waiting for the opportunity, Lyemad shot back with, “No, you have the problem. You just cannot cope with the fact that there are planets that are more advanced than yours, and we do not have to rely on some irrational Flidoring thing to be that way.”
“Now you have gone too far. I have had all I can take of your blasssphemousss tongue,” Tessslan replied harshly. Then as he stood up to leave the hall, he finished with, “Any world that isss ssso hungry for power and technology like yoursss should be excluded from usss that ssseek ssspiritual enlightenment and peaccce.”
Before he could walk away, Lyemad yelled back at him, “If you are talking about the backward worlds full of animal passions and superstitions like yours, then I see no reason to have you in our alliance anyways. You have been nothing but trouble since the day we first made contact with you.”
With that outburst of raw emotions, both Tessslan and Lyemad stormed out of the hall in different directions. The other Ambassadors all sat in shock and disbelief until Antamus stood and excused himself and his party. Crusher quickly followed his lead while Timsssack and Bellmus both apologized for their sons’ outburst and left to confront the boys. Everyone else slowly dispersed back to their quarters with feelings of disillusionment and dismay.
The Nebula Worlds
Electerus
first planet
Styner system.
Graznos
second planet
Styner system.
Angelus
third planet
Styner system.
Noteorius Minor
second planet
Paylee system.
Platon
first planet
Tamsek system.
Wicterus
second planet
Tamsek system.
Furzon
third planet
Tamsek system.
Lipkus Prime
first planet
Demsey system.
Drewlay
only planet
Sinkar system.
Maceon
first planet
Bancy system.
Mech
second planet
Bancy system.
Zanar
third planet
Bancy system.
Chapter XII
Shock and Fear
The Bancy star is a bright white star that outshines every other star in the Nebula region. The Maceonians, Mechs and Zanars all came from Maceon, which is the closest planet to Bancy. Over the centuries, they spread out to Mech and Zanar—the second and third planets from Bancy. Over time, each world developed their own culture and each is uniquely different from the others. The three worlds trade with each other but they no longer consider themselves related to each other.
Bellmus had called together Timsssack, Slabriel, Huglam, Peckenson, Antamus and Crusher to discuss the future of their mission in light of the outburst from the previous night. The Volkran was just about to enter the Bancy system and they needed to decide if the relationships could handle meeting three more worlds. It did not take long for Bellmus to realize that emotions were still strong, as the meeting quickly turned into a shouting match. Each leader, caught up in taking sides with either Lyemad or Tessslan, was disputing which worlds were peaceful, religious, superstitious, or logical. Much to Bellmus’s dismay, he was realizing that their mission could not continue. The future of all their worlds was at stake and they reluctantly decided to call the Bancy worlds and inform them that another time would be better for meeting them.
The journey back to drop off all the Ambassadors was long and quiet, as they all realized that uniting different races and cultures was harder then anyone had imagined. Lyemad and Tessslan had to be on the bridge together at times, but they never spoke a word to each other during the entire trip. Bellmus spent much of the voyage sitting in his captain’s chair starring into the colors of the Nebula, trying to figure out how he could salvage his reputation. He had determined to keep his log focused on all the positive events, and he thought that history would still remember him as the one to start interstellar travel. He still had strong support from the Angelians, Platonians and the Furzonians, and he was bringing back new technologies that would bring him fame. Still, he felt his dreams of greatness had slipped into something less than he had envisioned.
The Volkran was feeling very lonely to Lyemad as they approached Graznos and the final stop before returning to Electerus. He felt partially responsible for the mission coming to a short end, but he also felt like he had foiled any schemes that Tesssla
n might have been plotting against them. His side was still sore from the blow of Tessslan’s tail and a part of him wanted to get even for that. He was getting some small amount of gratification knowing that Tessslan was receiving as much—if not more—of the blame for the early return. Still, he was dreading having to say goodbye to him. His father wanted him to sacrifice his pride for the sake of diplomatic appearances, but it did not seem worth it to him.
Tessslan had spent most of his time on the bridge during the voyage back. He spent days replaying in his mind the events that had made him feel angry enough to hit Lyemad. He knew it was wrong, but he also felt that Lyemad deserved it. He had treated him with disrespect and rudeness in front of the Lipkians and others. Tessslan was starting to see Lyemad as something less than civilized and more spoiled than a child. As far as he was concerned, they should forbid Lyemad, Bellmus, all Electerians and anyone that supported them from Graznos—even if it meant using force. He believed it was sacrilegious to allow any further polluting of their culture from beings that could not even comprehend something as basic as the Flidoring. Nevertheless, he had determined that he would do as his father asked and be polite when saying goodbye—once they were on Graznos.
Realizing that it would be the last time he would be giving the next command before returning to Electerus, Bellmus sighed and said, “Tessslan, take us down.”
“Yesss sssir, he replied.
With the Volkran on the Graznosian landing pad, Bellmus, Timsssack, Tessslan and Lyemad made their way to the hatch. Bellmus and Timsssack said their farewells and hoped for a quick return to the Bancy system. Lyemad and Tessslan were each waiting for the other to say something, until Bellmus said, “Lyemad, it is time.”
With a deep inhale, Lyemad said, “Well Tessslan, it has been an interesting trip. I hope there are no hard feelings.”
Somewhat surprised by his choice of words, Tessslan said, “Hard feelingsss, isss that what you call being disssressspectful?”
“Hey, I am just trying to be nice to you,” Lyemad replied with a frustrated tone.
“What do you know about being niccce?” Tessslan replied. “Where wasss your niccce when you were embarrasssing me on other worldsss?”
“Alright, this is exactly what your problem has been all along. You think everything is all about you and your needs,” said Lyemad, getting more frustrated every minute.
“No. You are the problem! You are like a ssspoiled child that hasss to have everything hisss way,” yelled Tessslan. “If you are not in control then you have a sssevere outburst of temper.”
“Temper? You are one to talk about temper,” shouted Lyemad, “and stop flapping that forked tongue at me and spitting all over me like some kind of animal!”
Just then Bellmus stepped in to break up the yelling as Tessslan—again out of anger—swung his powerful tail at Lyemad, but struck the unsuspecting Bellmus, sending him flying into a bulkhead and knocking him unconscious. Looking down in shock at his father lying on the steel floor grating, Lyemad started to shake in rage. The situation had become surreal to him and he could not think straight. His head started hurting increasingly more as he tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Then, in an instant, he ran into his quarters without saying a word and grabbed the handheld laser that he had built for the science fair when he was twelve. Moving slowly back into the corridor, he lifted the laser up; pointed it at Tessslan; and fired without hesitation.
The laser hit Tessslan in the shoulder and burned clean through his thick skin. As he shrieked in pain, Lyemad pointed the laser right at his head when Timsssack jumped in front of him and looked at Lyemad just as he squeezed the trigger. It was as if the beam was moving in slow motion as Lyemad watched it stream down the corridor and hit Timsssack right in the throat. With his eyes still fixed on Lyemad, Timsssack slumped to the floor right beside Bellmus.
Tessslan, still clenching his shoulder, yelled, “Father! No! Lyemad ssstop!”
Lyemad started to realize just what he had done as he dropped the laser and ran to Bellmus, saying, “Father, can you hear me? Father!”
Tessslan had knelt down by Timsssack and discovered that he was alive but having trouble breathing. Helping him to his feet, they hurried off the Volkran and down the ramp to where many of the Graznosians had gathered for the homecoming. The other ambassadors had left the ship before the confrontation had started, but when they saw the wounds in both Tessslan and Timsssack, they started to make their way back to the Volkran.
Lyemad saw the angry mob of Graznosians coming toward him and, in a panic, he shut the hatch and raised the ramp. He knew that Bellmus was alive but hurt badly, so his first thought was to get them out of there and back to Electerus. There were a handful of Electerians on the ship and Darkel was the replacement pilot for Tessslan. Lyemad pushed the intercom button and yelled, “Darkel, get us out of here now!”
With that, the Volkran blasted off Graznos—leaving behind a crowd of angry and confused Lizard-people. The laser wounds in Tessslan and Timsssack did not bleed because the beam had cauterized the vessels as it burned through the flesh. Tessslan watched as the Volkran took off into the sky and faded into the colors of the Nebula. His pale-green skin turned almost a reddish-brown from the anger that was boiling up inside, as he thought about Lyemad shooting him and his father. In his heart, he knew that whatever it took, he would get even for the unwarranted assault.
Chapter XIII
Blazing Fighter Seats
“Bring her in nice and slow, Darkel,” ordered Lyemad as the new Electerian “Fighter Class” space ship rendezvoused with the Electerian “Super Space Station”—or the SSS—as they liked to call it. “I would say that she performed her shakedown cruise very well.”
“Yes, Sir. She is a beauty,” replied an enthusiastic Darkel. “I bet she will fly circles around anything that the Graznosians have.”
“I wish I was that confident. With the Wicterians and the Drewlayians backing the Graznosians, I think we will find our technology evenly matched,” Lyemad said, with a concerned sound to his voice. “I never wanted this to get so out-of-control. For the past five years, since that failed voyage to the stars, we have lost far too many good men fighting over some religious thing.”
“Yes, Sir. But Tessslan was the first one to strike,” rebutted Darkel. “We are just defending our honor now.” Then realizing he might have been too forward, he said, “If you ask me, Sir,”
“It is hard to see any honor in blasting a ship apart in the freezing darkness of space,” replied Lyemad. “Right now I am just looking forward to getting a good meal of Tilkner and Kabla leaf with some Ritnum root. I cannot remember the last time I had that combination, but I sure am craving it now.”
In the time that had passed since the Volkran had left Graznos—the day that Lyemad had shot Tessslan and his father—the various worlds built or acquired many warp-capable spaceships. In all the traveling back and forth between them, the different worlds quickly separated into two groups. With the Electerians were the Angelians, Furzonians, and the Platonians. Siding with the Graznosians were the Wicterians and Drewlayians. The Lipkians and the Bancy system planets decided not to get involved in any disputes and even the Platonians were limiting their involvement.
Bellmus had returned to Electerus badly-wounded, with internal bleeding and many broken bones. He spent nearly a year in the hospital and had to relinquish his power to the counsel. Once the fighting had started, the council decided to suspend electing any new Supreme Ruler until they could establish some kind of peace with the other worlds. Bellmus felt worse about losing his title than he did about his injuries. From the confines of his hospital bed, he watched his dreams of greatness crumble right before his eyes. It was not much comfort to him at the time, but he did make it into the history books as the one to start interstellar travel. They also noted him for bringing the technology of cold fusion to Electerus and for developing the Tasley Tea Elite. They had already started carving out tunnels on Playzoru
s Prime to build an experimental cold fusion plant and a communication facility to monitor the other worlds.
Tessslan spent weeks in rehab with his father recuperating from their laser wounds. He spent the entire time plotting how he would get his revenge on Lyemad for what he had done. The “Way of the Flidoring” became more of a battle cry to him than a philosophy of peace. Peace was not something that he thought about except when he was preaching it to the Wicterians and Drewlayians. Both of those worlds made numerous trips to Graznos to learn more about the Flidoring and the Creator, but they were more interested in power than they were in enlightenment. Tessslan drank up their attention like a cool Matia drink—the only thing from Electerus that he did like.
One day, less than a year after the Volkran had left Graznos, an Electerian shuttle piloted by Lyemad was making a supply run to the new space station in orbit around Electerus. Just as the shuttle was about to dock, a Graznosian impulse drive ship started shooting at it. Lyemad struggled to keep control of the shuttle, but the attack had damaged the lateral controls and the shuttle was spinning away from the station. As Lyemad and his shuttle hurled into the atmosphere of Electerus, Tessslan radioed to him and said, “That wasss for my father.” Lyemad regained just enough control of the shuttle to make a bumpy landing that ruined the shuttle but saved the lives of fifteen crewmembers.
After that incident, the Electerian counsel decided to bring sanctions against Graznos and to beef up their planetary defenses. The sanctions led to the Wicterians developing fast cargo ships that were equipped with blaster cannons capable of shooting through the embargo blockades. The Wicterians were trading with the Graznosians for the Tasley plants and its longevity properties. They destroyed or severely crippled many Electerian, Furzonian, and Angelian ships before the Electerians lifted the embargo. The Furzonians retaliated against the Wicterians by hunting down the cargo ships, which brought the Drewlayians into the picture. They developed fighters that outmatched the speed and power of all the other worlds.
Flidoring The Early Wars Page 11