Chroniech!

by Doug Farren

  A very light furred Kyrra then said, "Your journey has been a long one and the quarters on your ship are cramped. We are preparing accommodations for your entire crew so they may rest. Several guides will be available to answer any questions and to bestow our hospitality upon you. You are free to go wherever you wish. We have also noticed that your ship has been damaged. It will be repaired while you are here."

  "There is no need to trouble yourselves," Ken replied. "The Dragon carries a crew of over 300 and although this station is the largest I have ever seen, there is no need to make room for us. We are anxious to begin our journey home. My crew can remain on the ship.”

  "As for allowing us to return home — please consider the fact that we do not know where your homeworld is located and as long as we remain on this station we will never find out. If you wish to remain isolated we will respect that request."

  The Kyrra looked at each other for a moment then began making the small yipping noises Ken had learned was their equivalent of laughter. Norpock put his hand on Ken's shoulder and explained. "I am sorry, but you do not understand. This is our home. You are inside a sphere having a diameter of over 2,000 kilometers. All Kyrra live here."

  Stricklen was stunned into silence. An artificial world 2,000 kilometers in diameter that was for all intents and purposes completely undetectable by any means! Ken could not even begin to imagine the level of technology required to accomplish this feat. His emotions ran wild as he tried to put it all into perspective. At first he was awed by the Kyrra and the powers they possessed. Awe gave way to fear as he imagined how helpless they would be against such power. Fear was finally pushed aside by respect as he fitted what he knew of Kyrra mentality into the picture.

  Eventually, Ken found his voice. Norpock's answer had raised Ken's level of concern over the Kyrra's suggestion they leave their ship. "If this is indeed your home, then why keep us any longer? We are anxious to return to our own home. The Alliance is currently at war with the Chroniech — you know of them as the slavers."

  A look Ken could not identify suddenly appeared on Norpock's face. There was a rapid-fire conversation between the council members. Norpock's attention finally returned to Ken and in a much different voice said, "This is disturbing news. Your voyage has been a long one, your ship requires repair and resupply, and we must decide how to proceed. This type of decision cannot be made quickly. There is no need for your crew to remain in their cramped quarters. Please accept our hospitality."

  Despite the strong desire to return home, it would be nice to spend some time off the ship before starting the long trip back. There was also the remote possibility that the Kyrra would be willing to help the Alliance defeat the Chroniech. A few more days would not make that much of a difference.

  "We will accept your kind offer," he replied. "I would like to learn more of this place. How was it built? How do you manage to cloak it? Why have you remained isolated for all these years?"

  Norpock rose and said, "All of your questions will be answered in time. For now, please accept our hospitality. The transport will return you to your ship. As soon as your accommodations are ready, we will contact you. Please consider yourselves our guests."

  Stricklen was led back to the waiting transport which then returned him to the Komodo Dragon. While he had been gone, the Kyrra had installed a large structure next to ship. The transport landed near the base of this structure and Ken was surprised to find that it was an elevator. It took him up to the level of the wide open hanger bay.

  Once aboard, he informed the crew of what had transpired. He then had Scarboro make up a minimum watch rotation for the ship. After listening to his captain's orders Doug said, "Are you sure you want to let the crew leave the ship? What if the Kyrra aren't as benevolent as we have been led to believe? We will be leaving ourselves wide open."

  "Doug, if the Kyrra wanted to harm us they could have done so at any time. These people control technologies that dwarf anything the Alliance has access to. They could crush us like a bug if they wanted. The Kyrra have extended their hand in thanks and I have accepted. Now go pack your things and get ready — we're both going to be on that first transport."

  Ken had just started packing when there was a knock at his door. Tasha walked in as soon as he opened the door and said, "Boy you sure know how to shake things up!"

  The couple quickly kissed hello before he replied, "I'm not sure I understand. What have I done now?"

  "There are all sorts of rumors flying around the ship," Tasha explained. "Everyone's glad to get the opportunity to go outside and experience some fresh air, yet they also want to return home as soon as possible. There are rumors that the Kyrra are going to give us all the advanced weapons we can handle to deal with the Chroniech. There are rumors that we will not be allowed to leave. Other rumors say the Kyrra themselves are going to join forces with us. People are confused Ken — and you're to blame."

  "They're confused! I don't know what's going to happen to us. Do you think I should have insisted on keeping the crew cooped up inside the Dragon while we are here? I think it will be good for them to get off this ship and relax even if it's only for a day or two."

  Tasha grabbed Kens hands and looked lovingly into his eyes. "I think you made the right decision. In my professional opinion the crew needs a break. I hear the Kyrra are putting us up in cottages. Do you think it would be inappropriate for us to share one?"

  Ken had been so intent on packing that he had not given any consideration to who he wanted to share his cottage with. His growing relationship with Tasha had not seemed to interfere with his ability to command the respect of the crew. There was probably some regulation against it but circumstances were definitely not normal. "My dearest Tasha — would you be willing to share a cottage with me?"

  Tasha performed a small curtsy as she said, "I would be most honored sir. We had better keep separate rooms though," she added. "We can't have too many rumors flying around the ship."

  Six hours later, several transports larger than the one Ken had first used, arrived. A message from the Kyrra informed him that the crew would be transported in five groups of up to 50 per group. The message also requested that Falnath join the first group. Special quarters had been prepared for her larger bulk. Ken had the computer randomly select 45 of his crew and had them muster outside the ship where he joined them.

  After being loaded, the transport began its journey. They passed through a large metal door which opened only long enough for them to pass through. After traveling through a long, well-lit tunnel, they passed through another metal door. On the other side lay an almost unbelievable sight. Stricklen could not believe his eyes.

  The transport had exited the tunnel not at ground level, but at a height of several hundred meters. Below them lay a vast expanse of forest. Tasha squeezed Ken's hand that she was holding and exclaimed, "It's beautiful! It looks like were planetside."

  Quickly turning around, Ken saw the metal wall which they had just passed through and gasped. The wall extended as far as his eye could see in either direction and appeared to rise many kilometers above his head. Looking up, he was shocked to see what appeared to be light wispy clouds and a warm sun in the sky. If it were not for the receding wall behind them, he would have sworn that they had just been transported to a warm, comfortable, planet.

  The transport moved without a sound. Although the passenger compartment was open, the wind was not whipping in their face despite the fact they were now traveling at a very high rate of speed. A force field similar to the containment field used at the entrance to the hanger bay had obviously been erected.

  As he watched, Ken saw several small villages pass beneath them. Birds (or at least animals capable of flight) could be seen flying over the tree tops. The trees themselves were tall and full-leafed. A small city soon became visible and the transport headed directly for it.

  Before reaching the city, however, they slowed and dropped lower in altitude. A series of small, cottages arranged in
three concentric circles could be seen in a clearing. The transport dropped into a clear area at the center of the cottages and settled into the grass.

  A single Kyrra approached and said through a translator, "Welcome. These dwellings have been prepared for you. Each will accommodate up to four people. There are fifteen dwellings in this area and everyone except Falnath may choose to occupy any one of them. A special dwelling has been prepared for Falnath which will better suit her needs. These accommodations are yours for as long as you remain with us. Your guides will be arriving shortly. Until then, please do not leave this area. Falnath, please follow me."

  Holding hands Stricklen and Tasha walked toward the nearest of the cottages. Scarboro came up from behind and asked, "Mind if I room with you two?"

  "Not at all!" Tasha replied before Stricklen had had a chance to say anything.

  The inside of the cottage consisted of a large central room with several smaller rooms accessible from it. One of these appeared to be for preparing meals. Another had a table and several well-cushioned chairs in it. There was a sun-room which could be quickly converted into an open porch.

  Stricklen found an alcove with four sets of stairs leading into an underground portion of the cottage. Each stairway led into a private room where Ken found a large, comfortable bed, a properly equipped bathroom, and storage for his personal belongings. A small study could be accessed from the room. In the study was what appeared to be a computer or a communications terminal.

  After making a quick tour of the room he had chosen, Stricklen returned to the central living space and discovered a small Kyrra waiting for them. "I am Silstras, and I will be your guide," he said in greeting. Ken noticed that Silstras spoke to them without a translator.

  "I am Ken Stricklen. How is it that you know our language?"

  "I recently learned your language. We are able to… "

  "That's right! I forgot," Ken interrupted. "No need to explain further. The Kyrra we recovered from stasis told us about your phenomenal memories. But, I seem to recall that it took them awhile longer to learn our language."

  "We have advanced," Silstras said matter-of-factly.

  "The rooms are wonderful!" Tasha remarked as she joined them. "Much better than what we have been sleeping in for the last few weeks."

  "We have learned that your species requires sleep and have therefore provided you with suitable sleeping arrangements. Are the accommodations adequate?"

  "They most certainly are!" Doug exclaimed as he entered the room. "This sure beats sleeping on my cot on the ship!"

  "What did you mean by ‘your species requires sleep'?" Ken asked. "Don't Kyrra sleep?"

  "No. Fifteen thousand years ago it was discovered that a change was taking place within our people. We had apparently advanced in biological complexity to the point where sleep was needed less and less. Over a period of several hundred years this change eventually resulted in our people no longer requiring sleep. Our brains have developed the capacity to process and sort the information as it is received and therefore sleep is no longer needed. We rest our bodies, but unconscious sleeping is no longer possible or necessary for us."

  "Good Lord!" Doug exclaimed. "Imagine the amount of additional work that could be done if we did not have to sleep."

  "It would give a whole new meaning to working overtime," Tasha remarked.

  "It has improved our efficiency," Silstras replied. "It also resulted in many changes to our society. Some of the changes were not easy."

  "Have you taken a close look at how this building was constructed?" Doug asked Ken.

  "No," he replied with a matter-of-fact, I don't really care, sort of voice. "Looks like a regular cottage to me."

  "The corners are rounded; there are few, if any, seams; and, unless I miss my guess, they were all recently built."

  Ken's eye's widened as he glanced around the room to confirm what he had just been told. "Amazing! How do you do it?" he directed the question toward Silstras.

  "The building is constructed from a fast setting plastic which can be quickly formed into virtually any desirable shape. The material is easy to work with and is our primary construction material for simple structures. We have machines which can build one of any number of structures in a matter of hours. Robots complete the assembly by installing the internal components. I am not sure how they work but if you wish to know I can find out for you."

  "Not at the moment," Stricklen replied.

  Silstras explained some of the appliances included in the cottage. The data terminal in each person's room was programmed to respond to spoken commands much like the computers of the Alliance. By simply making a request, the terminal could provide the answer to virtually any question or function as a communications device. A similar terminal was located in the kitchen area. Silstras demonstrated its operation by asking Ken to provide the device with a food item.

  "How about if you pick something," he deferred to Tasha.

  After thinking for a moment Tasha said, "How about a piece of apple pie?"

  "Assembling components," a voice replied. After two minutes the same voice said, "Apple pie equivalent is ready, please remove from processor."

  Silstras opened a door and removed what appeared to be an apple pie. Stricklen's eye's grew wide and his jaw dropped. Doug reached out and broke off a chunk of the crust. After examining it closely, he popped it into his mouth. "It's not like any apple pie that I've ever tasted but it's not bad."

  Tasha picked up a fork and tried a bite. Her eyes squinted as she chewed. "You're right. It might look like apple pie but it sure doesn't taste like it. But I like it. How is it done?"

  "We have received a large database of information from your ship's computer concerning the foods you eat," Silstras explained. "This database gives us basic information concerning your food but does not give us the molecular structure of the item. Our computer will extrapolate from the information available to create food items using our own foods which should hopefully please your tastes. The pie you have just eaten is probably based on the molecular structure of a fruit which we call chinfla."

  "But how did you make the pie?" Doug asked.

  "We can manipulate matter on a molecular scale within certain limits. There is a supply of the basic food elements stored within the food preparation machine. The bulk of this device is located beneath the cottage. The proper elements are combined and manipulated to create the requested food item. As we learn your tastes we can provide you with actual fruit and food items which you can prepare although you are more than welcome to continue to use the food dispenser."

  "I'll be damned!" Doug exclaimed. "Artificial food from thin air!"

  "Not quite correct," Silstras replied. "The elements incorporated into the final product originate from actual food items. In the instance of the pie, the original fruit has been converted into an easily manipulated form and compactly stored. We normally prefer unprocessed foods, however, this form of nutrition is both convenient and fast. It will serve you until we learn your tastes."

  "On my world," Doug said, holding up the pie for emphasis. "This would be called fast food."

  After being shown how to work the bathroom fixtures and other items in the cottage Silstras offered to take the Humans on a tour of the city. "I would like that very much," Ken replied.

  A few minutes later a small egg-shaped craft landed lightly near the cottage. Stricklen did not recall seeing Silstras call for the taxi. When he mentioned this to him the Kyrra replied, "Each of us has a small device implanted within us that allows us to communicate with any nearby data terminal. I simply told the terminal we needed a small conveyance and it responded."

  "We have such technology," Ken replied. Turning to Tasha he added, "It's like Sorbith's biolink implant."

  As they boarded the egg, Tasha asked, "I hope you don't mind my asking, but — how old are you?"

  "In your measurement system, I am 37 years old. In our society I am considered a youngster. I have not yet chos
en my occupation."

  Silstras slowly cruised through the streets of the city, if one could call them that. The egg floated without a sound and easily maneuvered between the widely spaced buildings. The city was unlike any the two had ever seen. No structure over eight stories tall existed and all the buildings were surrounded by parks and vegetation. The typical concrete landscape of a Human city was not present. There were no roads, as all travel was accomplished by floating eggs. There did not seem to be very many people about and Stricklen asked about their absence.

  "Throughout our history, our population has grown very slowly. We have become accustomed to open spaces and uncrowded conditions. We have no lack of space within the worldship to build new cities or additional housing. All of our manufacturing complexes are located in the industrial areas which are on the levels below us. There are large portions of the worldship which remain unoccupied or unused."

  "You seem to have created a paradise," Doug remarked.

  Silstras showed them as much of the city as he could from the air. It appeared clean and well organized with a large number of parks and open spaces located throughout. Silstras then took them to a large air purification plant which drew in enormous amounts of air to be purified. This plant was responsible for a steady breeze which blew across the entire area.

  On their way back to the cottage Ken remarked, "It's easy to forget that you are living inside an artificial world. Don't you ever worry that some unforeseeable disaster could occur and your entire race will become extinct?"

  "No. Every conceivable danger has been anticipated and guarded against. There are hundreds of backups and thousands of safeguards in place. This structure has existed for tens of thousands of years and it will remain here for tens of thousands of years in the future."

  After a full evening of exploration, the three travelers returned to their cottage. Doug tried to order a steak from the kitchen but instead received a bland tasting plant substitute. The Kyrra, he remembered, did not eat the flesh of other animals.