Terra

by Mitch Benn

  Finally he reasoned that if the nation were to be mired in permanent serenity, then he might as well spend it at home. He resigned from the infantry with full honours, took up the Preceptorate job and his boots had rarely left his desk since.

  Now battle had found him at last, and he was beginning to see what it was that everybody liked about peace so much.

  He crouched behind the reception desk in the main atrium of the Preceptorate complex. Beyond the crystal doors of the atrium, a giant blue sphere throbbed and hovered. Fskp aimed his pulse-orb at the sphere. He had few illusions about being able to do it much damage. He held his aim and waited for the sphere to do something.

  What it did was speak. A voice, harsh, guttural, deafeningly loud.

  - MLMLN SLAVES! YOUR MASTERS HAVE ARRIVED! EMBRACE YOUR DEFEAT AND RECEIVE THEIR MERCY!

  - We’ve heard about your mercy! shouted one of Fskp’s guards. He had no idea if the G’grk could hear him but didn’t care. My brother was in Dskt!

  The Retinue had taken positions behind any upright structure they could find. They trained their pulse-orbs on the sphere, and waited.

  The tension was broken by the swish of the grav-chute door opening. Fskp wheeled round as if to fire, but lowered his weapon on seeing Bsht and Pshkf.

  - Get down, the pair of you! Take cover!

  Bsht and Pshkf dropped down behind the reception desk, alongside Fskp.

  There was a pause. - They’ve stopped, noticed Bsht.

  - What? asked Pshkf.

  - They’ve stopped firing.

  - The Wrath of The Occluded Ones, muttered Fskp. That’s what they call it. It’s how the G’grk began the assault on Dskt. Massive aerial bombardment just to show them who was boss. Then once everyone was terrified and disorientated they sent in the ground troops.

  - Cowards, muttered Bsht.

  - It’s war, said Fskp.

  The voice came again.

  - TEACHERS! LECTORS! EDUCATORS! YOUR WORK HERE IS FINISHED! A NEW ORDER BEGINS! HISTORY STARTS AFRESH!

  Bsht and Pshkf glanced at each other, wondering.

  - SEND THE CHILDREN OUT TO US!

  Bsht closed her eyes. Pshkf’s jaw clenched. That was why they hadn’t destroyed the building. They wanted the children.

  - THERE IS NOTHING MORE YOU CAN TEACH THEM. YOU CAN NO LONGER PROTECT THEM. THEY BELONG TO US NOW. THEY WILL NOT BE HARMED. SEND THE CHILDREN TO US AND THEY WILL BE SAFE.

  - Pshkf, whispered Bsht, that infralight drive of yours . . .

  - I know, I know, I should have left it behind . . .

  - Shut up a moment and listen. A ship can only engage its infralight drive once it’s in space, am I right?

  - That’s right; you use bubble generators to get off the planet and fire up the drive once you’re in orbit, why?

  - What would happen if you were to start up the drive while on the planet’s surface?

  - Something bad.

  Bsht gestured towards the blue sphere. - Bad for whom exactly?

  Pshkf smiled.

  3.15

  In the belly of another blue sphere, still travelling towards the city, Lbbp and Terra sat huddled together on the floor.

  - I’ve just figured it out.

  - What? said Terra.

  - How you managed to get the proposal document open when it was supposed to be secret, said Lbbp.

  - Good for you, muttered Terra.

  - Your slate was connected to our home terminal. The Source opened the document because it thought it was me trying to look at it, not you. Since I’m one of the signatories, it . . .

  - Can you really be thinking about that at the moment? asked Terra incredulously.

  Lbbp looked around him. - Well, what else am I going to think about? he said miserably.

  - You! Mlmln! No talking! barked the Drone Captain.

  - Or what? snorted Lbbp. Bad things might happen?

  The Drone Captain bent down and hissed in Lbbp’s face.

  - I have orders to keep the little one alive. For you I have no such orders.

  Lbbp fell silent. The sphere juddered on.

  3.16

  - So where are we going? asked Shnst and Thnst simultaneously.

  - Erm . . . replied Vstj decisively. Then, realising how much he sounded like his old self, the self he didn’t want to be any more, he said, - If we can get to the practical science laboratory, I may have an idea.

  - Practical science is through there, said Pktk glumly, pointing at the rubble.

  - There’s bound to be another way through. This building is over six eras old, it’s full of passages, corridors and tunnels that everyone’s forgotten about, said Vstj. I don’t think anybody knows the complete layout.

  Fthfth had an idea. - Not yet they don’t. Come on, back to the lectorium!

  - But we just came from there! protested Pktk.

  3.17

  - TIME GROWS SHORT. IF YOU TRULY CARE FOR YOUR CHILDREN YOU WILL SEND THEM OUT TO US. OUR PATIENCE IS SPENT AND OUR VENGEANCE WILL BE SWIFT AND TERRIBLE. YOUR CHILDREN CAN LIVE UNDER OUR PROTECTION OR DIE UNDER YOURS. YOU WILL CHOOSE NOW.

  - What are you doing with that thing? hissed Fskp. Pshkf and Bsht had cracked out Pshkf’s tools and were making adjustments to what looked to Fskp like some sort of antique cleaning device.

  - Almost done! replied Pshkf.

  - We’re refocusing the drive’s displacement field, said Bsht. Instead of throwing the field around itself, it will throw it around something else.

  - I didn’t understand a word of that, said Fskp, will it annoy the G’grk?

  - Severely, said Pshkf, and it’s ready.

  - Let me do this bit, said Bsht.

  Slowly, she got to her feet, holding up both hands to show she was unarmed.

  - I’m coming to talk! she shouted.

  To everyone’s surprise, the sphere answered.

  - NO TALKING. THERE IS NOTHING TO TALK ABOUT. THE CHILDREN. NOW.

  - The children are being gathered together. They will be brought to you in a moment. First, we offer this tribute to our new masters. Hail the G’grk!

  She looked over her shoulder.

  - Hail the G’grk, said Fskp, without even feigned enthusiasm.

  Pshkf now walked to the crystal doors, carrying the infralight drive. It hummed gently. Eight, seven, thought Pshkf.

  - Please accept this tribute in the spirit in which it is given! he shouted, with absolute sincerity. The drive hummed more loudly. Five, four . . .

  Pshkf walked slowly backwards. Three, two, one . . .

  - NOW! shouted Pshkf, diving behind the reception desk. Bsht did likewise.

  There was a bright flash. The crystal doors shattered.

  The sphere, enveloped in the displacement field, became massless. Its own gravity engines, which until that moment had been struggling to keep it off the ground, now repelled it away from the planet at almost the speed of energy. A few of the G’grk on board survived the trauma of the acceleration long enough to see the sphere, which was not built for extra-atmospheric travel, split apart in the pressureless vacuum of space. They hurtled out into the freezing void, giving thanks to The Occluded Ones for granting them such an interesting death.

  3.18

  - We don’t have time for this! said Pktk.

  - We don’t have time NOT to do it, replied Fthfth crossly. Now are you going to help me or not?

  Fthfth had set up the Interface on Bsht’s desk. She was powering it up and adjusting the dome to her height.

  - Might I ask what’s going on? enquired Vstj as diplomatically as possible.

  - It’s simple, said Fthfth. We need to find our way around this building. It’s possible we’re going to be trapped here for some time and need to find places to hide, possibly for days. As you point out, nobody, not the G’grk, not us, knows the whole layout of the place. So anyone who DID have that information, she patted the dome of the Interface, would have a distinct advantage.

  - That’s a lot of information, said Pkt
k warily.

  - We’d better get on with it then, said Fthfth, jamming her head into the dome. Pktk, files, please. Complete schematics and architectural history of Hrrng Preceptorate to the present day.

  - Er, shouldn’t I . . . I mean, wouldn’t it be better if . . . Vstj pointed to his own head, then to the Interface, then his head again.

  - No, smiled Pktk. She knows what she’s doing.

  - Well, I will in a moment, said Fthfth from inside the dome. Start the programme! Now!

  Blip . . . blip . . . blip . . .

  3.19

  Down in the atrium, the celebrations had been short-lived.

  The disappearance of the sphere had brought hisses of triumph from the Retinue guards, who now fell silent.

  Another sphere descended slowly from the sky, to take the place of the vanquished (and vanished) one. Then another, then another.

  The spheres landed a hundred metres or so from the atrium entrance. Circular apertures appeared on the blue surfaces and ranks of G’grk drones emerged, armoured, painted, fearsome. They began to march towards the building.

  - Hand to hand, muttered Fskp. They only fight hand to hand with those they consider their equals. You’ve impressed them, he said to Pshkf. Don’t suppose you could do it again?

  - No, sorry, said Pshkf, looking sadly at the twisted, blackened remains of the infralight drive. Two whole orbits’ work. Worth every moment. At least we gave them something to think about, and we may have bought the children some time, he said.

  Bsht shivered as she looked at the advancing phalanx. Some of the G’grk drones activated gravity bubbles and ascended the outside of the building. That’s why they’ve been blowing holes in the walls, thought Bsht. Run, children, run and hide. I’m so sorry.

  - Any of those going spare? asked Pshkf, indicating Fskp’s pulse-orb. Fskp handed his spare side arm to Pshkf; another guard handed his to Bsht.

  - Know how to use that? asked Pshkf.

  - Of course, said Bsht quietly. She looked at the pulse-orb. How hard could it be? She looked at the advancing G’grk. What difference would it make?

  - I’m glad I finally got to know you, Bsht, said Pshkf.

  - Me too, said Bsht.

  They took aim.

  3.20

  - What was that? asked Yshn.

  - Orb-fire. The G’grk are inside the tower, said Pktk. Come on, Fthfth!

  - We have to go! urged Vstj. Get her out of there!

  - Not while the programme’s running! You’ll cook her brain, said Pktk.

  The programme finished. The dome dimmed. Fthfth didn’t move.

  - Fthfth . . .? said Pktk quietly. The sound of battle was getting nearer. Seriously, Fthfth?

  Fthfth flung the dome from her head and announced:

  - Hrrng Preceptorate was founded in the seventeenth era by Bft-sh-Bft of Hrrng and was relocated to its present site in the twenty-fourth era. Renowned as the birthplace of GravTech, it is regarded as one of the . . .

  - I think it worked, said Pktk. Fthfth . . . Fthfth . . . SHUT UP, Fthfth. Thank you. Now can you get us to the practical science lab?

  - Of course! said Fthfth, skipping into the corridor. The practical science lab is situated on level thirty-one. Opened by Preceptor Hsk in orbit forty-one of the twenty-fifth era, it . . .

  3.21

  - I think we’re landing, whispered Lbbp to Terra.

  - What will they do to us? Terra asked, trembling.

  - If they wanted us dead they’d have killed us when they found us, said Lbbp. They must want us alive, and while we’re alive, there’s always hope.

  The sphere jolted as it touched down. A circle of bright daylight appeared in the side of the vessel, causing Terra to blink.

  - On your feet! barked the Drone Captain.

  Standing, Terra could see that the sphere had landed in the middle of the Preceptorate itself.

  - Move! Outside!

  Terra and Lbbp shuffled out into the light. Terra gasped as she saw the Lyceum tower. Smoke billowed from great gashes in its side. What had become of her friends?

  Lbbp scanned the city skyline. Plumes of smoke, flames. Sounds of panic and distant explosions. I thought I was rescuing her by taking her away from Rrth, he pondered sadly. Away from savagery, from brutality . . . What do you call this?

  - Lbbp . . . look . . . Terra gazed tearfully at the courtyard in front of the atrium. Tnk’s statue had been smashed; metallic blue pieces of it now whirled crazily in mid-air.

  - March!

  - Where are we going? asked Terra. Lbbp gave her a not-now look and one of the drones turned towards her, savagely.

  - Silence, beast! He raised his hand; Terra flinched but no blow came.

  - Unharmed, drone, remember. The alien is to be unharmed. The Drone Captain’s voice was commanding. Terra looked at him in confusion.

  - You are to be presented, little monster. The Great K’zsht himself wishes to see you. Now march!

  3.22

  - . . . and although the practical science laboratory itself retains that name, the Practical Science department was amalgamated with Life Science and Theoretical Science in orbit sixty-one of the thirty-second era. And here we are!

  Fthfth had hardly paused for breath since the gaggle of fugitive children had left the lectorium. She’d opened secret doorways, led them through abandoned passageways, through crawlspaces and maintenance hatches, all the while narrating their route like a hyperventilating tour guide.

  Pktk seized the momentary lull in the commentary. - Do you have to do that?

  - Yes. I think so. It helps me sort through all the new information. It’s annoying, isn’t it.

  - Just a bit. But at least we’re here now.

  At the far end of the corridor in which they now found themselves, lay the practical science lab. Vstj looked at the door and swallowed hard. His plan was coming together, and there was still a chance that he wouldn’t have to . . .

  A high-pitched buzzing filled the air. It was coming from the floor. Someone was cutting through the floor.

  - What’s that? asked one of the little ones.

  - Are we being rescued? asked another.

  - There’s no one left to rescue us, said Pktk. Run!

  They ran towards the laboratory door. The first of them reached it just as the G’grk Drone Sergeant burst up through the corridor floor. Vstj stayed at the doorway, ushering the children through. A squad of G’grk drones emerged behind their sergeant; they formed a rank and began to run down the corridor, weapons raised.

  - The children are to be taken alive! barked the Drone Sergeant.

  - In here! said Vstj, pushing the last of the children through the door and rushing in behind them.

  Once inside, he hit the orange paddle which activated the laboratory’s lockdown mechanism. This sealed the lab in the event of a dangerous leak or other such accident. The laboratory door slammed shut and locked itself with a clunk that didn’t sound nearly solid enough.

  - That won’t hold them for long, said Pktk.

  - Long enough, said Vstj. Now, Fthfth, does your newly installed knowledge of the Preceptorate layout extend underground?

  - Yes it does, said Fthfth proudly. There is an extensive network of tunnels underneath the Preceptorate complex, some dating back to before the . . .

  - Yes, yes, that’s all very commendable, said Vstj. Here. He wrenched open a stiff metal shutter in the wall. It revealed a blackened chute, which descended in a spiral pattern off into darkness. This leads to the old incinerator.

  - Incinerator? said everybody, alarmed.

  - Relax, it’s been deactivated since orbits ago. Vstj knew this; he’d been responsible for turning down the request to have it repaired. Pointless, now they had matter scramblers. Would have been a waste of time and resources. Just one more wise decision for which he’d never be recognised.

  - If you slide down there you can climb through the incinerator into the disused service tunnels . . .

  - . .
. which were built in the twelfth era to facilitate repairs to the old generators, before the fusion system was installed in the thirty-first era, said Fthfth, unable to help herself. She was getting less and less keen on the Interface.

  - Whatever. Once down there you can find your way outside the city without ever coming above ground. Here, take this. Vstj handed a small metal tube to Pktk.

  - What is it?

  - The key to my house. It’s the big one on top of Hrrnf-Kth Hill. Pktk had often wondered who lived there. You’ll find everything you need there to hide out for a few days. I hope you like configurations four and twelve, though.

  - Will you come and meet us there? asked Shnst.

  - Well, that’d be lovely, wouldn’t it, replied Vstj. And indeed, the thought of that big draughty house being full of children – and him not being there to see it – added another twinge of regret which he immediately shoved to the back of his mind. No time for any of that now; the G’grk were hammering and orb-blasting away at the laboratory door.

  - Quickly, in you go, said Vstj, and the children climbed one by one into the chute, Pktk staying until last to help the little ones in.

  As the last of the children slid away, Pktk climbed into the chute and turned to Vstj. - You’re not . . .?

  - You have to take care of them now, Pktk. I’m sorry. Vstj shoved Pktk down the chute and slammed the shutter closed.

  Vstj looked at the equipment scattered around the lab and racked his memory. The hammering on the laboratory door was very distracting, but looking around, he was fairly sure he had everything he needed.

  3.23

  The G’grk tend to favour brute force when confronted with obstacles. Had they thought of finding a way to override the laboratory’s lockdown system they might have opened the door rather sooner, but they preferred the direct approach. After a shade or so of battering and blasting, the door gave way.