»I don’t think that these people will find many followers nowadays,« Hassan hoped.
Nok shook her head as she continued reading the info.
»Those who don’t believe in religion, pack up their belongings and try to bring their families to safety. Many, however, do not know where to go and from what to protect themselves. Friedberg’s appeals to stay at home and wait for the recommendations of the Union government are widely ignored. No one knows exactly how the Great Tremor will affect them. Unfounded speculations are making the situations worse while Armageddon forecasters are profiting.«
Nok looked around with a hard expression on her face.
»The situation is critical. If we can’t master it soon, then chaos will break out on all our worlds. I fear that the government is already overwhelmed and no longer capable of acting. The message says that many people leave their residential towers and cities for fear of imminent, devastating earthquakes. Someone has published in the press that a cosmic catastrophe will shake the Earth to its core. While many people leave the cities, other people come from rural regions and move to urban areas, hoping to find better protection there. This is madness!«
»I don’t want to be in Friedberg’s shoes,« said Nexus Tor in a deep voice. »If the panic continues to spread among the population, then, Creator of the Universe, have mercy on us!«
»Some residents of the coastal regions are trying to reach higher grounds, in fear of massive floods. Still others see the ocean floor as a safe terrain and are desperately waiting for a place in one of the underwater habitats,« said Nok. »There will be situations where streams of refugees cross each other in their search for safety. The public transportation systems have collapsed almost entirely. Friedberg has enacted a news blackout to prevent further fabricated broadcasts. It seems, however, that he achieved the exact opposite.«
»Is there any information about Mercury and the sun?« Nuri asked nervously.
Nok nodded.
»The appearance of the Shwakan fleet has caused panic. There’re still no signs that a devastating outbreak of the sun is imminent. Friedberg has approved the evacuation of all Mercury bases. Arkroid’s message was important enough to him to act quickly. The people on Mercury left everything behind and boarded the Shwakan ships. Our biggest solar power plant can operate in automatic mode and without maintenance for some time, if necessary. Despite the preventive measures, the evacuation is perceived as a disaster and, therefore, stirred up new fears. I could well imagine that news of an impending Nova outbreak is soon making the rounds.«
Nexus Tor said with a serious face, »We received radio messages by mutinying cruiser crews who want to return to their home bases. People on Mars are looking for salvation under the surface and have flocked to the ancient Mars mines. Hundreds of thousands are crowded together in confined spaces. Our contingency plans have failed miserably.«
»We’ve never faced such a threat,« Nok whispered, laying the holofoil on the console before her.
»Friedberg and the Union Government do everything possible, but the situation is falling apart. All we can do is wait and see.«
40028 hovered closer to Nok.
»A second time marker was verified. We are on the right path into the future. Maybe that gives you some comfort.«
»It all depends on how this future looks like,« Hassan replied mutedly.
Not everybody understood the Techno-Cleric’s concept of forward memory with which they were able to verify the correct progress along the timeline. Hassan knew, however, that the robot wanted to be absolutely sure that the future arrived exactly as it was foreseen by the Creators.
»What happens if unforeseen things occur, forcing a change to the future? What if a time marker is missing and the timeline drifts?«
While 40028 had previously evaded similar questions, he seemed to be a little more forthcoming this time.
»A paradox would be the result, which could lead to unexpected side-effects for the Galaxy and its inhabitants.«
»A paradox?« Hassan responded and glanced at Nexus Tor, who looked up surprised.
»Time paradox, as I understand, could only affect us if the events of the present have an influence on the past, but such a thing is impossible or did I get this wrong?« Nexus Tor explained himself.
»Perhaps, the Techno-Cleric wants to suggest that the outcome for us could be a particularly inopportune future constellation. In other words, the disaster takes place and we all vanish,« Hassan said.
He looked at 40028 for a moment, but the robot remained silent. Hassan’s face seemed tense. Nuri knew this expression in Hassan’s face. It was always like that when he tried to make use of his heightened senses.
»We’ve received a message from our forward Kuiper Belt satellite surveillance network,« an officer announced. »A large ship has started from Sedna a few hours ago.«
Petrov, the commander of the Blue Moon and still in Triton’s orbit, immediately took the word.
»That can only be the Globuster mothership! You should’ve listened to my advice, Commander!«
Nok Daralamai looked at the course data and determined a couple of seconds later, »The ship is not coming for us. The flight vector points at the Oort Cloud. They’re leaving the Solar System!«
»Is that also one of your time markers?« Hassan asked 40028, who didn’t want to comment on it. Instead he said, »You possess remarkable powers. The amalgamation of your Human body with the degenerated technology has produced something extraordinary. In a way, I envy you about this hybrid phenomenon which is able to interpret feelings and emotions, as well as technical precision.«
Hassan was astonished by this statement and said, »Although, this is not an answer to my question, you should know that the Human part of me has complete control over the technological components.«
»The Human part …,« the Techno-Cleric repeated stereotypically before he continued, »The former person who you have been, no longer exists. It merged with the degenerated technology at the genetic level and created a new being. This separation, which you want to believe, no longer exists. You have become something new, an independent and very capable species, a species, which impresses us Techno-Clerics«.
Hassan Khalil approached the robot cautiously and held out his hand. His fingertips touched the glossy shell. Surprised, he quickly pulled back his hand.
»What’s going on with you?« Nuri asked worriedly. »Is everything okay?«
»Yes … uhh … yes …,« Hassan replied absentmindedly and then said, »The Globusters are leaving because they’re no longer needed.«
Nok looked surprised.
»Is this observation based on your heightened senses, Hassan?«
»No, it’s based on logic,« he answered unhappily. »However, I sense something else, a feeling that startles and irritates me. Nuri, can you accompany me? I need to see the Fronites. I want to look at these extraordinary beings again, a bit closer this time.«
Nok nodded in Nuri’s direction.
Together with Hassan, Nuri left the command central.
How much time do we have left
The exit from the tachyon continuum was hard and abrupt, or as Pi put it, very bumpy. Briefly, pale blue compensation fields established, enveloping the crew, protecting it from impinging inertia forces.
»We have been slowed down hard and entered normal space right behind the solar protection field,« Nautilus announced and activated the tactical holos.
»The field still acts as a barrier, but I noticed a change in its structure. It may sound strange, but I remember just now that this structural change is essential and necessary.«
»You remember just now?« Maya said dryly and looked at Vasina. Herimos was knitting his eyebrows. Nobody of the crew was able to correctly interpret what Nautilus had meant.
Arkroid appeared anxious but concentrated.
»Nautilus, tell us what’s going on in the Solar System. Can you pick up radio messages? Did they already notice our arrival?«
»The beacon influences faster-than-light communication. I cannot contact Triton Base. All high-order frequency bands are blocked. I can only receive normal radio frequencies for now. The messages are disturbing and about five hours old. States of emergency have been declared on Earth, the Moon and on Mars. Riots have broken out on Earth and in the colonies. So far, we have not been detected. Perhaps, they’re too busy in dealing with the current situations.«
Arkroid wiped his hand across his forehead.
»That’s not good. I was afraid of that. I don’t want to know what’s happening on Earth right now,« he said.
Kuster~Laap’s face was twitching as he said, »The people are intelligent and interpreted the signs correctly. They pretty well know what’s going to happen next.«
»It’s probably also my fault,« Arkroid said.
»What do you mean?« Vasina asked and looked at him.
Arkroid felt like hypnotized for a moment.
»Boiltos warned me. He told me specifically not to tell anything about any future events before they occurred.«
»What sense does it make to know the future and not been able to talk about it,« Pi said dryly. »It hasn’t even arrived yet.«
»Listen to me,« he requested quietly. »I didn’t exactly follow his advice because this knowledge in my head was overwhelming.«
»What did you do?« Maya hissed.
»The Kokradian didn’t tell me literally. There was no real dialog on this issue. He just anchored the thought in my head. If you could put yourselves in my place, then you’d feel it. This feeling warned me not to violate the rules. Nevertheless, I’ve done it and I regret it now,« said Arkroid and confused his teammates even more. »If you know the future then you become part of it,« he explained. »Who knows it is obliged to do everything possible to preserve the timeline.«
»That sounds reasonable not to change the path of time,« Herimos threw in. The specialist of temporal anomalies knew what he was talking about.
Kuster ~ Laap had been lost in thought for a few seconds and suddenly looked up again. Presumably, he had consulted with Nood and Naad. His argument sounded simple, »Nothing has happened yet. We still haven’t contacted your people and as I recall, you haven’t disclosed anything to us either. If you possess critical knowledge, then you should just keep it to yourself and let things take their course.«
»It’s already too late,« Arkroid declared. »I asked Klori’Tar to fly ahead to convey a message to Humanity. I think, he’s done that already. The turmoil in the Solar System could be related to the message.«
»Hmm … but you’re not sure?« Pi asked.
»What seems strange and irritating is also the fact that Boiltos had foreseen my behavior.«
»What? He knew that you’d break the rule?« Kuster~Laap asked, flapping his ears nervously. »He, nevertheless, entrusted you with the details about the future. It still will happen as it is supposed to happen. Boiltos is a future thinker. If the Kokradian foresaw this development, then it is also part of the future.«
»That might be, but it’s not that simple,« Arkroid rebutted. »At first, I assumed that he had transferred this fragmentary knowledge so we survive the fight against Morgotradon. But since our arrival in the Solar System, I know that this matter is not yet over. The upcoming events will reach further into the future, but I won’t appear in it!«
Vasina’s lips trembled nervously as she asked, »Are you telling us at this moment that all of us will die?«
Arkroid shook his head.
»I have no picture of your futures in my head, my friends. Don’t worry about that. It only pertains to Pi and me …«
Pi froze in his seat and paled.
»Me? I know nothing at all about the future and don’t want to hear about it!«
»I know Pi, but it won’t help us,« said Arkroid. »The Kokradian has thought ahead with high precision. We need to be careful and consider this information. I have a plan on how we can tackle the timeline.«
»How does this plan look like?« Pi asked eagerly.
»I’m receiving a signal from my home-world!« Nautilus interrupted. Techno-Center’s dimensional anchor is located in the Neptune System.
The team was speechless for a moment.
»I also detected the signatures of ships with faster-than-light propulsion systems in the Neptune System,« Nautilus announced further and displayed the results on the main holo.
Arkroid thought at first of a defect or error, but Nautilus confirmed that there were more than ten-thousand units. Many red highlighted echoes appeared on the holo like a swarm of bees, circling Neptune, Triton, and the other moons.
»What’s going on out there?« asked Maya excitedly, looking at the unknown fleet.
»Activate disguise field!« Arkroid commanded. »If this is an invasion, then it’s better they don’t see us.«
»What’s the beacon’s actual countdown right now? How much time do we have left?« Vasina asked calmly.
»Taking the beacon as a reference then we have exactly ten hours to go,« replied Nautilus.
Vasina glanced at the box with the Jamal-Combs.
»I just hope you know how to use these keys when the time comes. I have no clue.«
It will hit us
Hassan Khalil opened the airlock and entered the hangar where the Fronites were housed. The reduced atmospheric pressure and oxygen content didn’t matter to him due to his protective field. Even if the external gates opened, the cold of space and the lack of air pressure would have no effect on him.
»Are you sure that a direct contact is not dangerous? We know nothing about this species,« Nuri warned, who was watching him from the control room through the bulletproof glass window. Hassan didn’t need a radio and connected to the hangar’s communication system.
»Is there a particular reason why you want to look at these beings again?« Nuri asked.
»It’s absolutely safe. The Fronites are peaceful beings. The term “aggression” is alien to them,« Hassan commented softly. »I want to hear their chants again and try to see what they see.«
»Only one of them is still active. He continues to dance,« remarked Nuri.
»The others have gone back into their cocoons. They’re scattered throughout the hangar,« said Hassan and focused on the Fronite, who silently danced not far from him. »It’s a fascinating life-form. An instinct controls their reproduction rate and tells them exactly how many of them can survive under the prevailing conditions. The others cocoon themselves and wait for better times. More interesting is, however, how they perceive the universe. They don’t have eyes and ears but see more than us.«
Nuri was nervous.
»Do you mean the tachyon chants?«
»Exactly,« confirmed Hassan and sat down next to the Fronite. The quirky being ignored him. It was questionable whether it was able to consciously perceive changes in its environment. Hassan closed his eyes and concentrated. He seemed removed as if meditating and appeared to be listening to something. Hassan’s torso began to sway gently back and forth. He moved to the same rhythm as the Fronite.
»What are you doing down there?« Nuri asked, but Hassan didn’t’ hear her anymore.
He was completely focused on the singing, phage-like creature, trying to participate in its exclusive communication. Countless trembling sensors grew from his scalp. Hassan groaned when he picked up the first signals.
»It sees incredible things,« Hassan whispered. »Its songs are like the signals of a sonar device. They form something like pictures. You have to learn this way of seeing to understand how to use this ability.«
»Can you do that?«
»Yes, Nuri. I can. I sense this cosmic energy almost physically, not because I’m closer to the Fronite, but because the echo has become stronger in the last hours. It’s no longer a weak echo but a strong reply! The echoes or chants arrive amplified with added information.«
Hassan reached out for the alien being and softly touched its crystalline body.
»Hassan, don’t do that!« Nuri shrieked, but it was too late already.
The Fronite had sensed the touch and stood still as if frozen. A moment later it folded itself within a fraction of a second and disappeared inside its cocoon. The song had stopped abruptly after Hassan had touched it.
»What did you do?« Nuri yelled excitedly. »Did you hurt the being?«
Hassan looked back briefly and then looked up at the control room window.
»He’s okay. Don’t worry. My contact has scared him. He has encapsulated reflexively. I believe that I can mimic this tachyon chants now and transmit them.«
Nuri held her breath as Hassan began to move according to the rhythm of the soundless music. She could only hear his breathing via the speakers in the control room. Nuri watched him with tight lips, as the sensors on Hassan’s scalp frantically began trembling. She would never get used to this sight.
Then, strange sounds came from the speakers. At first it sounded like a melodic hum then as if someone was trying to form words. Hassan tried to say something, but his larynx only produced gurgling sounds.
Nuri tried to taste his aura but pulled back. To her, it looked as if Hassan was enveloped in glowing flames.
Then Nuri suddenly believed to hear quiet words. They sounded like a whisper as if Hassan spoke to her from another dimension.
»Oh my God. I see it ... it’s unbelievable. So beautiful! I never expected ...,« Hassan’s words stopped in emerging knowledge. »Now, I understand it! It suffers! Yes, it twists in pain ... like the phantom pain of a man whose limbs were amputated ...«
Hassan sounded confused. His voice was desperate, tormented, full of sympathy and pain. Hassan evidently spoke from a different perspective and seemed to succumb to those emotions and feelings.
»Hassan! You’re overwhelmed and get pulled into it. Let go of this influence or I’m going to step in and stop it! Your aura begins to flicker!« Nuri yelled from the top of her lungs.
Hassan slumped and groaned.
»No, let me experience it. It’s overwhelming. I can feel how it reacts, how it lives, pulsates and feels. It possesses a consciousness!«
NEBULAR Collection 6 - The Great Tremor: Episodes 27 - 30 Page 39