by Paul Phipps
“Master Chief, I mean Sarah, why are you crying?” Sandy asked.
“I’m crying because the best friend of my childhood is gone. Her body is still alive but the person, the soul that made her who she was is gone.” And with that admission, Sarah burst out into racking sobs of grief.
It was some time before the pain had burnt out and the rational part of her being was in control again. She sent a copy of the conversation to Captain Fuller in Intelligence and an additional one to Ansel. She didn’t have to wait long at all before they, Ariadne and Admiral Webster were joining her in a VR conference.
“First off Sarah, I truly am sorry that your childhood friend has become a casualty to the Quarn.” Admiral Webster began, “From our analysis of voice tones and such, I have been advised that Dame Meredith has not been made a Quarn-Slave by means of a Q-Mot. And we do know that she was under the influence of the Zombie drug.
What that all means is something we are not sure of, the drug could make her more susceptible to the Quarn Mothers’ telepathy or it could simply be a proximity thing. We simply don’t have enough data to go on.” He told her apologetically.
“Thank you Admiral, I appreciate that. It still means that tomorrow I am going into the lion’s den though. I’ve done as much preparation as I can for the moment, I could use some advice though on what vessel I should go there in.” Sarah told him.
“I suggest the Helen of Troy.” Ansel told her, “She’s already got the degraded processors and the crew has been similarly prepared. And now that we know that a heavy duty jammer field will stop the Mind Bombs, so we can use that as a defense.”
“I thought of her too, I was thinking of a Scalp Hunter or maybe a MARS Unit. Something a bit smaller that could assist me in a rescue attempt if one is called for.”
“A rescue of whom? Yourself or Dame Meredith and you?” Asked Captain Fuller.
“A bit of both I believe, I plan on bringing a full spectrum recorder with me. It will have a real-time connection to a single wholly dedicated Synced Crystal. If something happens that I can’t escape from then at least there will be a recording of what occurred. Also there is a self-destruct for the recoding unit.”
“I see, and your other preparations?” Ansel asked.
“They are as complete as I or Ariadne and Jerry can make them. I feel a lot better now knowing that Petty Officer Van Nells survived another mind-bomb attack.”
“Hmmm, that’s true… How would you feel if I got Petty Officer Wilson and Van Nells to be your crew on the Helen of Troy. They are both on Asimov City right now according to Ariadne.”
“I could use the backup and they already have experience with the mother…” Sarah said musingly, “Thank you for thinking of them, if they accept the offer I would be pleased to have them with me.”
Captain Fuller then started to brief Sarah on the layout of both the Ayesha Orphanage and the surrounding area. He then included what they knew about the base that the Mother Quarn was using on Weh Island.
“Now Weh Island and in particular Sabang city on it is now nearly abandoned. Anyone who could leave has left. The Mother’s telepathic rages have driven them all away. Banda Aceh is also affected but not to the same degree as Sabang.
Now what’s interesting to me is that the local news media are not reporting on any of this. It can therefore be assumed that the Quarn are in control of just about everything in Indonesia, The Government for sure, the various media companies and we now know that the Orphanage system is fully controlled.
An aerial survey from Sunday shows that the population has been culled by about a quarter, most of those missing are children. In the near and long term that means that demographically Indonesia is doomed. Our projections show that within twenty years there will be no native Indonesians left. Primarily this will be due to the Mother’s predations on the Human populace, secondarily by the fact that no young people will be joining the adult work force and killing their economy off, especially their agricultural economy.” Captain Fuller finished with a frown.
Admiral Webster then said, “Thank you Captain Fuller. Now then Master Chief Cavendish, you are not permitted to enter into any unilateral agreements with the Mother Quarn. Tell her that her demands will be brought to me and my command staff for review. Hopefully that will keep her at bay for a long enough time for you to get away from her safely.”
Sarah nodded her head in agreement.
“Very well then, good luck Sarah, take care and do your best.” And then the meeting broke up. Ansel, Ariadne and Sarah stayed together for some time going over matters personal to the three of them.
* * *
Weh Island, The Mother’s Base
The Mother Quarn was having her daily ‘conversation’ with her first child who now called himself ‘The Master’. He was once again traveling with his bodyguards to a new location. As the day for the attempt to free him from the blockaded nation of the Iranian Unified Republic neared, his paranoia also increased.
::I wish I could communicate like this with the others who are working to release me from this place.:: He complained to the Mother.
::It takes time and more maturity to communicate over long distances.:: She soothed him, ::I would think that your current range would be sufficient for now, is it though?::
::I can communicate with all of the Quarn-Slaves here in the IUR and most of the Middle East.:: He mused. ::For now that is sufficient, it’s the ones in America that I need to communicate the most with now.::
::Would you like me to do that for you?:: The Mother asked in a ‘sweet’ tone of voice.
::No… No need to do that Mother, I am managing.:: He answered in a tone of voice that would have reminded anyone of a ten year old boy rolling his eyes and telling his mother to butt out of his business.
She in turn was a bit worried; her first child had never really seemed to mature emotionally as he grew older in body. She would have to study that later when she had more time available. ::Very well then, I am calling in all of your brothers and sisters to come home. Make sure your brothers in the IUR join you in your escape.
The Whole of Us is required, we are about to claim this world for the Greater whole and we are all needed for this task.::
::Is it time to reveal ourselves?:: The Master asked eagerly.
::Soon, soon it will be. If the Terran Space Navy will agree and abide by the ancient bargain then the end is in sight.:: She said confidently.
::The Ancient Bargain? What is that?:: He asked in confusion.
She explained it in flashing pictures and then with his understanding and agreement the telepathic conversation was done.
The Master opened his eyes and looked out over the barren lands around him, with a sly smile he quickly made some decisions. And then with the ease of shorter distance he contacted the Quarn-Slaves in the IUR and gave his orders.
It was unfortunate that the Ayatollah Al-Quds would have to remain behind. But suicide could be easily ordered if necessary. But with the others here and his supporters and followers both voluntary and involuntary he would have more than enough power to supplant the Mother. He now knew that there could only be one Mother Quarn on a planet. ‘And who better than himself to take her place?’ he plotted silently. He removed the small titanium case once again and fondled it lovingly. How he wanted to press the two recessed buttons… he sighed gently and caressed them once again then with a well-practiced motion he placed it in its usual place near his heart.
With a casual turn he walked back to the Toyota Land-Cruiser he had left on the side of the road with his entourage so that he could talk to the Mother in privacy. The distance to her had required that he speak out loud to focus his telepathic ability. Now though it was time to continue the journey to the next safe house.
‘How he missed the luxury limousine he had as ‘President for Life’.’ He thought. ‘Soon…Soon the glory days would be back and once again he would be where he belonged, on top, with all of the humans’ worshipping hi
m or fearing the boot on the neck and the bullet to the brain.”
* * *
The Mother was pleased at the acquiescence in her first child and his willingness to return to her. She wondered briefly what he would think of the ‘ceremony of joining’ that she had planned for him. It really didn’t matter she supposed, his essence, his life force would become a part of her and his personality would be restructured, if he was found worthy that is. Otherwise… Her children were delicious in more than one way.
She received the touch of one of her youngest children, similar to a tap on a closed door asking permission to come in and speak with her.
::Mother, we will be home soon. I have two hundred and fifty human children gathered by our agents in Europe.::
::Excellent! I will inform your sister to let the Mother’s Touch through with no problems. Did you experience any difficulties?::
::Not really Mother, I kept the Mother’s Touch below five hundred feet for most of the journey and stayed away from the normal sea lanes. It took a few days longer than usual but I believe it was worth it to deliver our cargo safely to you.::
Tuesday, March 23, 2027
Jakarta, Indonesia
Sarah watched the scenery out the window of the Limousine that was taking her to Banda Aceh and the Ayesha Orphanage. There were no children to be seen and of the very few people that she happened to see most appeared to be in a daze and shuffling as they moved rather than moving purposefully to their individual destinations as they had the last time she had been in Indonesia.
“You seem a bit… distracted, Master Chief Cavendish. Are you concerned about your upcoming meeting?” Per Bindu’s voice’s oily tones intruded upon her quiet.
Sarah thought for a moment and then decided to be blunt instead of diplomatic. “Yes I am concerned, Per Bindu. Meeting the Mother is always a chancy thing. Don’t you agree?” She was gratified to see him jerk his head in surprise.
“You mean the Mother Superior, Sister Donnelly?” He asked.
“No, I mean THE ‘Mother’, Per Bindu.” Sarah said looking him straight in the eyes. And then with a challenging look she gave the other three members of his entourage the same. “We don’t know all that much about her, but we have learned a few things.” With that she went silent and continued to stare out the side window at the countryside. She ignored all of their questions and eventually they all were stonily silent as the limo continued toward Banda Aceh.
The Ayesha Orphanage was a magnificent structure, in many ways it reminded her of a mosque or perhaps the Taj Mahal. However it was eerily quiet, there were no voices of children to be heard and the seven sisters in their traditional habits were much like statues with no movement to be seen. One was to the fore as the Limo’s door was opened and Sarah stepped out holding her valise in her left hand. The chain connecting it to her wrist had been the only thing that had kept it with her despite several polite attempts to remove it from her person.
“Greetings to you, Command Master Chief Cavendish.” Came the soft yet rich tones of Mother Superior Donnelly’s voice.
“Good Morning to you Ma’am.” Sarah replied back courteously.
“Would you like to refresh yourself after your trip here?”
“No Sister, I thank you for the offer, but let us begin at once.”
“Very well then, please follow me.”
Sarah was right on her heels as they crossed the threshold to the central courtyard, when she slowed down and said. “This is an amazing space, it feels so peaceful her..”
There was a hissing noise in her ear and then she was completely unconscious. The mother Superior turned to watch her crumple to the ground and then with a steadying hand she kept Sarah’s face from smashing into the paving stones of the courtyard.
With a cool glance at Per Bindu who was putting his darter into his suit pocket she directed the others. “Put her in the restraining chair, the Mother’s Avatar will speak to her there.”
Although Sarah herself had lost consciousness the Valise’s full spectrum recorder kept on working. The chain was able to repel all attempts to remove it from Sarah short of cutting off her arm. So with expressions of disgust and resignation they placed Sarah in the restraining chair and made doubly sure that there was no way for her to touch the valise.
An injection of the counter-agent was administered. In a few minutes Sarah began to resume consciousness. After determining her situation and that she was tied up in a chair she opened her eyes and saw the concerned eyes of Sister Donnelly watching her.
“Would you like some water and a pain reliever?” the Mother Superior asked.
With a nod and a croaking voice Sarah said, “Yes please.”
After the drink of water Sarah asked, “Why did you knock me out and tie me up?
“You have worried Per Bindu and through him the Mother. You appear to know more than a human should know at this point in time. That makes you potentially dangerous to us. Also… you appear to be resistant to the Quhoal.”
“Quhoal?”
Yes… the Quhoal… It is a substance we produce that when injected in a human makes them our… servants. They will do whatever we tell them to do, immediately and with total obedience.” She stopped and watched Sarah intently. “You are not surprised at what I’ve said are you? And you show no curiosity when I talk about humans as though we are not human.”
“We call it the Zombie Drug and yes, I know you are no longer human. The body you wear might be, but the consciousness controlling it? No… you are not human.”
“Interesting… I see that Per Bindu was correct to be concerned.” She mused out loud. “No matter though. The Mother’s Avatar is here and only she knows what she will tell you.”
The door to the room opened and a wheelchair was brought in. Sarah’s heart took a thump of despair when she saw that the occupant was Dame Meredith. A thin line of drool came from the left side of Merry’s mouth and her eyes were dim and out of focus. Her hands were clasped loosely on her lap and it appeared as if a restraining harness held her upright in the chair.
The wheelchair was placed in front of Sarah’s own restraint chair and then everyone left the room with the Mother Superior being the last one out. With a look of pity she said, “If you don’t survive is there anything you want me to do for you?”
“Yes please. My valise contains a recorder. I would appreciate it if you would return it the Terran Space Navy.”
“If the Mother allows it, I will do so.” Then the door shut with a heavy thud.
Sarah stared in growing horror and disgust at the shell of her oldest friend. Then a change occurred, it was very rapid but still Sarah could see it occurring. Dame Meredith straightened up and her eyes cleared and focused like a raptor on Sarah. The drool was wiped away and she began to speak.
“I don’t have much time to speak to you. The life force in this body is rapidly diminishing and I must tell you some things. If time permits you may ask some questions when I am done. Do you understand?”
“Yes, I understand and what I don’t will be recorded anyway by my recording device.” Sarah said with a nod towards her Valise.
“Good! I am the Qua-harn Mother for this planet you call Earth. My children are everywhere and we control the governments of this world and through them all of the humans of this world. You cannot stop us in our mission to bring this world‘s life force into the ‘Whole-of-us-all’ that exists throughout this Galaxy and the surrounding Galaxies.
However you can hurt and hinder us and cause major loss of life force if you oppose us forcefully. This has happened several times before on other worlds. Therefore the ‘Whole-of-us-all’ has in our wisdom come up with a ‘deal’ as you call it. Where it was accepted the humans of those worlds managed to keep a racial core and start anew on a different world. This world for your information was one of them.” She said with a sardonic look.
Sarah kept quiet and just watched in amazement.
“The deal is this, you have ten year
s to choose and remove ten percent of the human populace off of this world and move it elsewhere. That’s ten percent as of today numbers, if there are any wars or natural disasters that destroy large numbers of humans, then those numbers will be subtracted from the ten percent you are allowed to have.
At the end of that ten years you will leave this solar system and you will not return. If you do return, you will be destroyed to the last human.” Dame Meredith stopped and then drank sparingly of some water. “Do you understand what I have said?”
“Yes Mother, I understand what you have said. May I ask questions now?”
“Yes, but be aware all questions and their answers have consequences.”
“The Terran Space Navy has come across others similar to you in their voyages across the parallel universes. In most of those places the Quarn had apparently eaten all of the life force and had finally died. Will that happen here too?”