by Ian Miller
"And why's that?" Vipsania replied, a little crossly. She was now becoming a little tired of the criticism of her efforts on this matter.
"Because . . . It depends on how you look at it," came the answer. "One way is, there aren't any Ulsian women."
"What?" Vipsania said in complete surprise. "Then how . . ?"
"The other way of looking at it is that you are the Ulsian women?" Gaius ventured.
"What?" Vipsania now looked at Gaius in surprise.
"Not quite correct, but near enough," another said. "Definitely a better guess, anyway. We are the reproductive class."
"You mean," Lucilla gasped, "you stay down here, and . . . well . . . all you do is breed?"
"We do a little more than that," another cackled, "but breeding, as you call it, can only be done down here. Our society is structured more like that of bees on your planet."
"Bees?" Vipsania asked curiously.
"If you like, I am like a Queen bee, and I lay eggs. Up above, they are like workers. Of course you must not carry the analogy on too far. Those above are far from mindless, but they have no sexual function, and they cannot breed. Also, we down here do more than breed, as you put it."
"I didn't mean to be rude," Lucilla started. "I was just so surprised, and . . ."
"We understand."
"I think I'm beginning to too," Gaius added.
"And you conclude?" came a challenging voice.
"The attack had nothing to do with libraries. It was designed to kill all you . . . er. . . Queens."
"But . . ." Lucilla gasped as she began to realize the consequences.
"They wouldn't have to defend their conquests," Gaius continued, "because after all the current Ulsians died of old age, there would be no further Ulsians."
"What about those who had gone to other planets?" Vipsania frowned.
"Klendor might travel through space," Gaius said, "but do you Queens? If not, then definitely no more Ulsians."
"You are correct," came the reply. "Had the breeding complexes been destroyed, eventually there would be no more Ulsians on Ulse. There are colonies on other planets, but these would also presumably be targets. The object was to remove the ability to produce new troops, or for that matter, workers."
"Could they have really prevented future Ulsians from, well, living?" Vipsania asked.
"Yes. Our science can keep living beings alive much longer than nature would normally permit, and we can clone life even from the dead, but the means of doing much of that is down here too. If you had not defeated that raid, our race would have been exterminated eventually. You, Gaius, have saved a civilization. Accordingly, Ulsian law requires us to thank you by granting you some wish, some service. What can we give you?"
"The head implants, for all of us," Gaius replied quickly.
"Agreed!" came a quick response.
"But . . . can we? There might be problems," came another voice.
"There may, but they will be overcome," the Queen in front of Gaius ordered.
"Otherwise we might ask for something else," Lucilla added, almost a little piqued at her brother's rapid response.
"And that might give us worse problems," the Queen who had acceded to Gaius' request agreed. When Lucilla began to give Gaius a very sour look, the Queen added in a softer but quite emphatic tone, "You would not have been permitted to return to Earth."
"Even saving your civilization isn't sufficient?" Lucilla muttered.
"We haven't done that," Gaius said to her, in an effort to calm her down. "All that's happened is that the first attack's been repulsed, through, we should add, the efforts of the soldiers there."
"We understand your frustration," the Queen addressed Lucilla, "but we cannot send you back. The damage to your civilization at the stage it's at could be catastrophic."
"By the time we got back," Lucilla pointed out, "it could have evolved to a sufficient level where we wouldn't do any harm."
"That is part of our dilemma," the queen said, "however we are not prepared to shoulder the responsibility for any disaster that might ensue if it hasn't. I'm sorry, but that issue is closed. And there is a second reason why we won't, and I'm afraid I can't tell you that yet. Now, Vipsania and Lucilla, would you please leave Gaius with me for a few moments?"
Vipsania nodded, and took Lucilla's hand, and they walked back towards the elevator.
"I am curious," the Queen addressed Gaius. "Why did you not request to return to Earth?"
"Because I didn't think you would permit it," Gaius said simply. "Accordingly, I asked for the best thing I thought I had a show of getting."
"You realize we can't let you wander around Ulse doing what you want either? There's too much scope for unintentional strife."
"You think you have to protect me?" Gaius said flatly.
"I think I may have to protect some of the Ulsians," the Queen countered with what Gaius suspected to be the equivalent of a smile on her face.
"You don't trust my self-control?" Gaius challenged back.
"After the defence of the library," the Queen changed the subject promptly, "you mentioned something about a prophecy?"
"Yes, I did, didn't I?" Gaius mused.
"Would you explain?"
"If you wish," Gaius shrugged, and told about how he went to the temple, what he heard, and how much had come to pass.
"And you believe this?" the Queen asked curiously.
"To the point that I asked for the implants rather than the return home," Gaius explained. "I don't know what it was, but if it were real, there were more things I must do before I return."
"I see," the Queen nodded. She thought for a moment, and said, "When you saw this woman who made the prophecy, describe what the walls of the temple behind her looked like, while she was speaking."
"The walls?"
"Yes, describe them."
"They were stone," Gaius shrugged. "All temples are made of stone blocks."
"Think carefully," the Queen said. "What did you actually see, as opposed to 'know' what ought to be there."
Gaius frowned, and tried to remember. Eventually he had to admit, "I'm sorry, but . . ."
"But?"
"As far as I can remember, there was nothing there at all. Obviously the light was so poor I couldn't see the stone, but I assure you, the temple was made of stone."
"Yes, but were the inside walls while she was talking?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't say. But they must have been, mustn't they?"
"Not necessarily," the Queen said, "and if you say there was nothing there, maybe there was nothing there."
"There has to be something," Gaius frowned. "Just because I couldn't see the wall doesn't mean it wasn't there."
"No, but there could be a reason why light from the wall doesn't reach you," the Queen mused. "Still, there's nothing more to say on this."
"So, do I go now?"
"Before you do," the queen said cautiously, "what would be your response if I asked you and your family to go into space and fight for Ulse?"
"My family?" Gaius frowned. "Do the women have to come?"
"You can't leave them behind," the Queen said, "unless you don't wish to see either of them again. If you did, they'd be dead by the time you returned."
"Of course," Gaius muttered. "Sorry, I forgot." He paused, then in an effort to make sure he did not look too enthusiastic, asked curiously, "And why should I do this?"
"Well, you did command the defences in our recent battle," the Queen pointed out. "On top of that, the lot of you are bored on Ulse," the Queen challenged, "because you can't really join in our society. Also," she added with almost an enticement, "if you went on a number of space flights, you would effectively burn up a large number of centuries without your aging significantly."
"I see," Gaius said slowly. They were prevented from returning to Earth now, but if sufficient centuries passed that Earth might develop independently, the need for the restriction would diminish. "But no promises to what you're impl
ying?" he added.
"No, but you might be pleasantly surprised. Now, what would your response be, remembering that it is not binding?"
"I don't understand," Gaius replied. "You have plenty of soldiers, don't you?"
"True," the Queen smiled, "but right now we are quite short of winning commanders."
"Commanders? You would put me in command?"
"Of course," the queen continued to smile. "As you said, we are not short of soldiers."
"I don't know anything about operating space ships," Gaius frowned. "Yes, I know they fly automatically, but good strategy requires a knowledge of operational constraints, and everyone tells me I don't know enough about −"
"You have been learning, and you could learn more!" came a challenging interruption.
"From?"
"Assume the information would be made available. Assume every support aspect is our responsibility. The question is, would you? Would you risk your life for a race you really have nothing to thank for?"
"And if I did?" Gaius asked curiously.
"You would join the military class. That would give you a role, a position, in Ulsian society, and you wouldn't have to sit around being bored."
Gaius thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "You are correct on one point. If I am to have a position in Ulsian society, only my military background looks like being of any use to Ulse. However, I'd still have to convince myself I could do the job properly."
"We understand."
"So, provisionally, yes, maybe."
"Excellent," the Queen said, "but don't expect anything to happen quickly. Those up top have a habit of not taking a lot of notice of us down here. Wayward children they are, always trying to ignore parental instructions."
"But they do what they're told eventually," another said firmly.
"Of course," another Queen added, "we down here don't take much notice of them either."
"We rejected all their nominations to command our defence and chose you," another added.
"You trusted your futures to a primitive alien?" Gaius asked in disbelief.
"We did indeed. Mind you, we had some reasons that we aren't going to tell you."
"And our faith was justified," the first Queen added. "Now, we have things to do. You should return to the surface, and please be patient."
"Yes, indeed," a deeper voice added, and yet a different head appeared, smaller, and far more powerful looking. An arm was waved, and the end seemed more like pincers than fingers. "In the end, there are reasons why they cannot ignore us. Let me make a prophecy. Your career is really only beginning."
Chapter 23
The three Terrans were lead by an Ulsian called Kuldek into a small clinic, and instructed to lie down on the beds provided. There was a strange feeling of apprehension as well as elation. As they had been told many times, they were to be given access to equipment which would give them power far exceeding any God from their culture.
"Not necessarily," Gaius smiled.
"Unfortunately," Kuldek said, "we have no choice. Our orders are −"
"I meant the bit about the God," Gaius continued.
"Oh, we know about your religions," Kuldek said in a superior tone. "We have access to all of Timothy's knowledge."
It suddenly occurred to Gaius that Timothy had not known Rebecca, and he had never discussed the Christ. "So with your device, you can die, then resurrect yourself?" Gaius asked.
"What?" Kuldek asked in surprise.
"Can you?" Gaius pressed.
"No," Kuldek said with shake of his head, as if questioning the sanity of his charges. "Death is irreversible, at least as far as the body is concerned."
"One of the religions from my planet claims that is not necessarily so," Gaius explained, "although I should add only the prophet himself claimed to have resurrected his body. In general it is supposed to be spiritual."
"And your point?" the Ulsian asked.
"Even your technology will have limits," Gaius remarked. "It's just a tool to make life easier, not to turn the body into some sort of God. It . . ." He noticed the Ulsian staring at him, his mouth partly open. "What's wrong? You don't believe me?"
"No, no . . . I mean," Kuldek stuttered a bit, "nothing's wrong. I'm just surprised."
"At what?"
"My first task was to convince you of just that," Kuldek replied. "I'm just surprised at how easy that part was."
"We have discussed this," Vipsania said. "We're only too well aware that most of the things we can do with these new devices, we mustn't."
"Good," Kuldek said, with an air of self-satisfaction. "Then we should move on, to stage two, so to speak. I have these headpieces . . ."
Gaius stared at the rather large monstrosities, and said, "I thought we were going to get a small internal device, and we would look more or less unchanged after insertion?"
"You will," Kuldek said, "but because you are a new species we still have to design the items, and before we can do that, we have to learn as much as we can about how exactly your brain works. So, to do that, you will have to wear these. What will happen is this. When you're fitted, we shall get you to do a number of things and experience as many emotions as we can arrange. Some of these, I should add, will be quite unpleasant. You have to feel pain, you have to feel real fear. For the first few tests, let yourselves go. Get as angry as you can, feel as frightened as you can. Whatever else you do, do not try to control yourselves, because that only defeats the purpose. Oh, and don't worry about our judging you. It is accepted that you may behave quite badly just to get through this.
"Then, after that, assuming you survive, and I should warn you that that is not guaranteed, since you won't know fear if you think you can't die, you will have to learn self-control, which means a repeat of what you go through to begin with. It is only after you have learned self-control that we can progress to the next stage. Now I'm sorry for all this. Ulsians can progress directly to stage three, but you can't. It's nothing to do with you personally, and everything to do with the fact that you're a new species for us. We have to learn as much as we can about the way your brain works, because if we make a mistake in the design of what we shall insert in your head, irreversibly, I should add, you could be driven mad, you might even have to be killed. If any of you wish to pull out, say so now. Otherwise, you shall progress, and, I should point out, separately. Each of you will have to face your own individual hell, as well as a heaven, alone. We need as much data as we can get, so we can't afford any collaboration."
They agreed to continue. They already knew about the problem, and they had discussed it thoroughly. They all knew there were risks, but they had all agreed that they could not spend the rest of their lives in that apartment, essentially doing nothing, and stay sane.
"Then I am afraid the next part won't please you either," Kuldek said. "I'm afraid there's no option, but you all have to have your hair removed." He watched their surprised faces, then added, "This headpiece has to make as good contact with the skin as possible, and it will push some microwires into your head. We can't do it unless you remove your hair. We will put something on your head so the hair doesn't regrow while the headpieces are on."
"Does that mean we can't take this thing off?" Lucilla frowned.
"Not until we remove it," Kuldek said. "It will be fixed to your skull, and will go through the bone. Oh, when we do take it off, at that point your skull will be repaired, your head will be slightly larger, and your hair will start regrowing again, I promise."
"Do it," Gaius said, and moved forward. A droid came forward and massaged a strange cream onto his head, and he shuddered as the hair was effectively rubbed away. With a complete lack of enthusiasm, the two women allowed their hair to be removed. Then they each sat still while the device was placed on their heads, and they gritted their teeth as metal bored into their heads.
"Now say goodbye to each other, at least for the time being, and each go through the door marked with your name."
To
their surprise, they looked across at what had been a blank wall, and saw three named doors. Gaius kissed Vipsania, then wished both Vipsania and Lucilla luck, then walked towards his door. Just as he reached it, he felt a tug on his arm, and he turned to see Kuldek holding a hand up to his mouth.
"Just wait a minute," he said.
Gaius shrugged, and watched the women go through their doors.
"Gaius," Kuldek said at last, "You are going to a special testing centre. When you get there, it is absolutely imperative that you give everything you can to the tests, and when asked questions, make sure you answer with absolute accuracy. You're in a slightly different position to your women."
"How so?" Gaius frowned.
"Because there's only one of you," Kuldek explained. "We have two women, and we can average out discrepancies, or at least we can check for inconsistencies, but for men, you are our only source of data, so we have no idea how to screen for emotions you're trying to hide, through pride, ego, or whatever. Your duty is to see we get the fewest as possible."
"I understand," Gaius nodded.
"Good! Well. On the other side of that door's a capsule waiting to take you to the testing centre. There's a team of Ulsian specialists there who've been assembled, at some cost, I should add, because they're supposed to be devoted to the war effort. So, be on your way, and do your best to follow their instructions as closely as you can. Good luck."
Gaius nodded. Marvellous! The whole exercise was set up with the built-in excuse for the Ulsians that he had not contributed properly. Still, there was nothing for it but to keep going. He walked through the door. There, before him, was a capsule, lid open, so he got in, and closed the lid. A light flashed, inviting him to commence when he was ready. He took a breath, then he pressed the "Start" button.
Nothing happened. He pressed the start button again, more firmly this time. Again, nothing happened. What had he done wrong? He looked at the instructions, and they were quite clear: destination pre-selected; when ready, press Start. He was now becoming more than a little concerned as he pressed for the third time. Once again, nothing happened. For some reason, this wretched capsule was not working. There was nothing for it but to go back and complain or explain. He released the catch for the lid, and pressed.