Her wrists were covered with thick bracelets, encrusted with jewel-like materials that reflected all the colors of the rainbow in the dim light.
It seemed as if she had deliberately chosen to dress in this fashion only for him! He knew it to be true.
The room itself had an ethereal beauty to it, and Ray felt in some fashion it reflected the essence of its owner. There was a faint odor of many flowers, something akin to what he had seen in a botanical garden on his own world. He saw no flowers, nor plants about. Or at least anything that looked like any plant life he knew.
As Ray looked around in amazement, Zanther began probing his feelings. She confirmed what she sensed from afar.
Zanther saw only his good heart, and felt his loneliness. She knew he was attracted to her and she to him. At the same time, the shibboleths of Rockoid tradition were uppermost in her mind. Zanther knew the consequences of having a forbidden romance with such a person.
Entranced, they regarded each other, eyes wide.
The moment they longed for had finally come to pass.
Zanther spoke, or seemed to speak, though she made no sounds. In his head, Ray heard a sweet, almost musical female voice, filled with a richness and vibrancy that rivaled that of any performer he had heard in his lifetime: “Greetings, Ray Perkins. I am Zanther of the Royal House of Zophine, Empress of the Rockoids. It is agreeable to finally meet you.”
“Wait, I don’t understand what’s going on here. Please just…” Ray tried to say.
“No, Captain Perkins, you do not have to speak. You only have to think of the words and I will understand them, despite the difference in our languages.”
Ray was about to say something out loud again, but concentrated on his words instead and thrust them back into his mind before they flowed out to Zanther. “It’s great to meet you too. Now what about those guards that were after me?”
“Do not worry about them. I have already given them the order to allow you to come here.”
Ray frowned. “Are you sure they’re going to agree?”
“Probably not. Right now, you are safe under my protection.” She smiled again. “For some reason our minds share the same frequency, the same wavelength; they are synchronized. That is why you were able to see the battle of Dorton from our perspective, and I was able to experience your ordeal in the desert from yours. You have seen the depths of my heart and soul, and I have seen yours as well.”
Ray almost blurted out a question, but he thought it instead. “You dreamed about…me?”
Zanther’s thoughts were calm, reassuring, “Yes, Captain Perkins. You have come to me in answer to my deepest wishes, my heartfelt desires. The greatest battle between the Alliance and the Rockoids has already begun, but we still have a chance to end this war for the good of all. We must share our souls utterly, completely, so I can discover the truth about you.”
“I don’t quite understand what you mean.”
Her face flashed its glorious smile and he smiled back. He couldn’t help it. He felt overwhelmed yet strangely comfortable in her regal…yes, divine…presence.
“Let me explain. I need to ascertain whether the thoughts and feelings I sense from you are genuine or implants. That requires you to reveal all of your thoughts and feelings to me. You will not mind, I hope.”
“I guess not. I want to stop this war however I can. I think after all I’ve been through, a little invasion of my privacy is fine. I don’t think anyone else would be crazy enough to even try something like this…”
Zanther interrupted and flashed her glorious smile once again. “Then, perhaps, that is your gift; you are capable of accomplishing the impossible.”
“If only that was true. So please tell me; what do I have to do?”
“I believe it would be prudent if we delay my probe of your thoughts for a few moments. I hope you will accept my own thoughts….so you will better understand me and our motives for attacking your Alliance.”
Ray interrupted. “Your Majesty, is that really necessary?”
“It is necessary, Ray Perkins, very necessary. If we are to stop this terrible war between your people and mine, we must both trust each other completely, absolutely. It would not be acceptable at all if I trusted you, but you did not trust me; trust must be shared. We must also understand the truth concerning the conflict between our peoples, why it occurred and who was behind it…that can only be done by understanding both sides of the story. However, we must do this quickly. I apologize for having to rush this delicate process, but time is short, and more and more die as we sit here.”
Ray sighed and nodded in affirmation. He knew he had no choice. If he wanted to help end the war, this was his only chance.
He stood there and again tried to use the concentration techniques his kung fu master had taught him. After a moment, he felt himself getting slightly dizzy. The feeling left him almost as quickly as it came.
Suddenly a black and white blur appeared inside his head, and he realized he had forged a different link with Zanther. The blur slowly assumed all the colors of the rainbow. The colors spread out, became scenes, scenes of events in the past, in the present, events Ray knew he never personally experienced.
In the next moment, Ray felt an onrush of memories and emotions, some so compelling he was nearly swept up by their intensity. He saw a small, beautiful Rockoid girl frolicking in a huge forest, playing with friends and family—Zanther as a child, a lovely being who beamed with happiness and joy.
He saw a regal-looking Rockoid male and a Rockoid female, who bore a strong resemblance to the adult Zanther, standing behind their young child, smiling, as she performed what appeared to be a ceremony of ascension. He saw Zanther as an adult, proudly receiving something that looked like a metal.
The onrush of events almost overwhelmed him, but he strove hard to sort things out.
There was a large planet that looked quite a lot like Mars, where millions of beings lived in peace and harmony.
Without warning, a great, silent terror from space arrived.
He saw that which he had dreamed about, the battle of Dorton.
Alliance ships opened fire, and Ray sensed the wanton massacre of millions of creatures. He understood the nature of the Rockoids’ hive consciousness, where everyone grieved in unison over the deaths of their fellow beings. He understood how the entire Rockoid race had been devastated by the deaths of so many of their people. He was appalled at the barbaric action Thompson had taken against the Rockoids, and realized why they sought revenge.
His eyes were full of tears, and his ears ringed with the sounds of long-ago explosions as he came to realize intelligent beings throughout the universe were very much alike, even if their external appearances were different.
The process of receiving Zanther’s thoughts, up until now, seemed to proceed rather slowly. It suddenly sped up and images poured into Ray’s mind, almost literally, at the speed of light. He was able to get glimpses of a few scenes; most of them went by too fast for him to tell what was really going on. He was overwhelmed, but at the same time, the feeling of love stirred with greater passion.
He knew the truth now. He truly loved the glorious creature that sat before him.
His feelings about Zanther overwhelmed all else at this point. They slowly blanked out the images received from her mind, and they quickly disappeared from his consciousness….
After a few minutes of silence, Ray managed to get his senses under sufficient control to speak to Zanther again via telepathy. “I grieve for you and your people, Empress Zanther. What Thompson did to your people is the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen. When I tried to contact you before, I tried to tell you she was a traitor, a renegade who fled after our authorities tried to arrest her. We have to stop this madness right now!”
“We will get to that shortly, my very dear friend. First, do not forget there is still one matter of business left. You must reveal your own thoughts to me…so I can confirm what you have said is the truth.”
Ray wondered whether Zanther sensed how much he really cared for her. What did this glorious creature think of him? Was he just an alien curiosity, one to be dismissed with a flick of her royal hand?
For now he had to push such selfish feelings aside. This meeting was the best hope…perhaps the only hope…the Alliance had for peace with the Rockoids.
He closed his eyes and relaxed his mind.
Suddenly he felt an odd tingling inside his head. It was as if soft fingers touched his brain, gently massaging it. It felt good and it made him comfortable, almost drowsy, and he felt like he could fall asleep right there and she would protect him. Within seconds, the feeling had passed, and another one entered his head: love. As Zanther probed his mind, he realized she, too, was deeply in love with him. He felt it and her smile radiated that love whenever she looked at him.
At the same time his heart leaped with this knowledge, his feelings of happiness were tempered with the awareness that theirs was a forbidden love.
He was human, she a Rockoid. Her society didn’t recognize such relationships, forbade them. That, too, was implicit in the images that came to him.
The thought saddened him. Ray felt their love was strong enough to survive against the most impossible odds. He knew that; she told him so, body and soul.
By the time she was finished, they were transfixed, gazing longingly at each other, as Alliance troops marched to the Rockoid landing site on Earth and the battle in space became fiercer than ever.
Zanther looked at Ray for just a moment, with a glance of understanding and care. He remained transfixed by her eyes. They struggled to brush off the almost hypnotic influence one had upon the other.
The feeling was so intense, Zanther couldn’t help but speak out loud in her native language with words that seemed to come from another person, words that Ray could not understand. “It is you, Ray Perkins. You are he. You have a destiny; we have a destiny…”
They returned to the real world….
Zanther’s intoxicating smile faded, and she turned serious. Other matters required her attention right now.
“I now understand the truth about this entire situation, Captain Perkins, just as you tried to relay it to me. I understand how one of your corporations put its own interests before those of Alliance citizens and started this war to further those interests. I must contact the Alliance president on your trans-space radio system so we can stop this war immediately!”
She pointed to her viewscreen and said to him, in his mind, “You know the secret codes you must speak to reach him; even though I have seen them in your mind, I cannot speak them because voice prints will be checked. Please do it now, for time is of the essence.”
Quickly, Ray uttered the numbers that would activate the secured trans-space channel. President Rogers’ worried face appeared on the viewscreen.
The President’s eyes widened at the sight of Ray and he exclaimed, “Captain Perkins, Ray, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me!” It wasn’t lost on Rogers’ eyes that Ray beamed from ear to ear, never seeming happier.
Rogers thought to himself: Just what happened over there? I sincerely hope he didn’t…no, he’s not that kind of person! What am I saying? This man is a hero!
“Let me ask you a question, Ray,” Rogers said, as if he didn’t believe it was him.
“Yes?”
Rogers grinned and asked, “Ray, is the sun shining?”
Ray smiled back and said, “Yes, but the ice is slippery.”
Zanther stared strangely at both of them, but she smiled, almost chuckled, knowing Ray had given the right password.
Rogers examined the voiceprint Ray made before his departure, and he smiled broadly. “Ah, then you’re not a prisoner, are you?”
“I’m here of my own free will, sir,” smiled Ray.
Rogers turned serious and said, “I must speak to the Rockoid leader right away! Can she speak English?”
Ray heard Zanther’s voice in his mind. “We have a translation device and I am sure we can synchronize it with the trans-space radio so your president can understand me.”
Ray repeated what Zanther had said to President Rogers. For the first time, he saw Zanther’s face, and the look of amazement appeared square on his countenance. The President could not have imagined such a young and lovely creature being the supreme ruler of a civilization of billions of intelligent beings.
Seeing this woman as a flesh and blood creature, he knew why Ray was attracted to her. May his wife forgive him, but he could imagine Zanther winning a beauty contest with ease, if he were the judge.
Zanther spoke aloud to him through the translator with a serious expression, her voice changing subtly, accustomed to the mantle of leadership, “President Rogers, I am Zanther of the Royal House of Zophine, Empress of the Rockoids. It is agreeable to meet you at last. It is with deep regret this state of war has existed between our peoples. I see now who is to blame for this conflict: your traitorous commander named Thompson. I am ready to stop the bloodshed this instant if you are willing to do the same. I also pledge the work of our people to help you rebuild your colonies if you will help us rebuild our settlements on Dorton.”
Rogers looked into the large, expressive eyes of the Rockoid Empress and her ever-widening smile. He stared at Ray, confirming she was, indeed, telling the truth. Ray just smiled. There was an unmistakable look of relief in the President’s eyes. His response was measured but sincere.
“Yes, I believe you, Empress Zanther. I am giving the order immediately to cease all hostilities. You have my personal assurance the Alliance will help you rebuild the Dorton colony. In addition, I pledge our help in relocating the citizens still left homeless by this unprovoked attack. I also assure you we will use any means necessary to bring this renegade commander to justice.”
With great relief, the two leaders spent a few more moments exchanging the details of what was intended to become the beginning of a formal peace agreement between the Alliance and the Rockoids. They both expressed the hope this would be the first of many such agreements that would ensure a lasting peace between their governments.
The conversation ended, and with it ended the war as well. For many people, their hopes of peace had finally been fulfilled, but not before vast destruction had been inflicted on both sides.
Zanther was especially pleased at the turn of events. She was certain now the ancients were right. The Rockoids were not meant to be a war-like people. It was time the barbaric policies that had gained supremacy were halted. They must acknowledge their true heritage, open themselves up to the younger races of the galaxy as they had already done to other great powers.
Zanther realized that while the races the Rockoids had conquered were treated far less harshly than they had been in years past, distinctions keeping them from becoming further integrated into Rockoid society had to go. All beings were equals in the eyes of the gods. Lots of work for her and her ministers to deal with in the weeks, months and years to come. Zanther realized there would be severe opposition from some quarters, from ministers who preferred the old ways. Despite the anticipated political conflicts, she eagerly looked forward to the process of change. She could also sense that a divine will was at work here.
With the tentative peace accord between the Alliance and Rockoids, she strongly suspected there would yet be tasks for her military forces as well, for she knew there lurked even greater dangers in the galaxy.
This was one thought Ray picked up, but he never had the chance to question Zanther about it then.
Meanwhile, the trans-space radio signals quickly reached the Alliance and Rockoid fleets across the galaxy, as well as ground troops, as they were immersed in battle.
One moment there were the loud sounds of gunfire, flashes of light, and death cries of Alliance and Rockoid troops.
And the next…
The troops stared at each other in surprise and relief. With the command to “stand down,” they slowly set aside their
weapons and retreated to fallback positions.
The war was over!
After a few tense minutes, one Rockoid soldier smiled a strange half smile; a human soldier did the same. The soldier walked over to the Rockoid, who did not retreat any further. The soldier gently grabbed the alien’s hand and shook it. Rather than be repelled at the gesture, the Rockoid smiled even more. They tried to exchange words, but the universal translation systems were not equipped to translate the alien tongues. Only the translation system in Zanther’s throne room had been reprogrammed.
Once the new codes were generated, temporary translation devices were quickly set up, allowing the Alliance and Rockoids to communicate. While tensions were sharply reduced, it would take time for the two to warm up to each other. There was still a pall that hung over the entire episode. No peace treaty could bring back the many thousands who had perished in needless conflict. The political realities of the situation were certain to create obstacles to a lasting peace on both sides for some time.
In time, it was hoped the Alliance and the Rockoids could truly live together in peace and friendship.
As news of the end of the conflict spread across the galaxy, Zanther sat back on her throne and observed the proceedings with a confident smile. Suddenly, without warning, Minister Xorax burst into the room.
When Xorax entered, he started speaking Rockoid. The translation device was switched off, and Ray could not understand exactly what they said. He could read the words in his mind, deliberately relayed to him by Zanther, although the tone of
their voices was more than sufficient to convey the sense of their conversation.
“What is the meaning of this intrusion, minister?” Zanther asked, angrily.
“I thought you were in danger, my Empress. I thought this…this…this outworlder was trying to make an attempt on your life.”
“Minister Xorax, how dare you think such a thing! This human would never dare harm me…now that the situation has changed!”
To Ray’s surprise, she actually winked at him.
“What do you mean, my Empress?”
Attack of the Rockoids Page 25