by Ken Pence
Six stewards came to the door with fresh shrimp and mussels, crackers, wine, water and many-many small platters.
Commodore Williams motioned them in they set the accouterments around the table. He motioned them to help themselves. It was going to be a long meeting.
Andrew leaned forward and poured wine into a platter. He put some shrimp on a platter and did the same with the mussels, crackers, and water. He then indicated to Admiral Kyger to put them on the ground next to Easy.
Easy swung all his eyes toward Andrew. “You are very good,” Easy said and scooped the platters under his form with foot fingers. They could all hear the shells being ripped off. “Those are very good. I knew this area of the galaxy would be a good area to set up. You’ll have to give me the names of everything. After all – we are traders too.”
“Excuse me,” Admiral Kyger interrupted. “Traders.”
“Yes. Traders. My race got this galaxy as our territory. Other races got other galaxies. This one has been very good for us,” Easy said.
“Please explain,” Andrew said. He was sure everyone had a million questions.
“You are exquisite. You caught on so fast. We spread out enclosures around an area. They are cheap to send out on automated ships and those ships search for undeveloped worlds and start making lamlee – you call them. The lamlee are the bait. The enclosures are the snare. You see – we trade knowledge and found out a LONG time ago that just looking around is difficult. My race isn’t good at it but we found one of these enclosures and developed from there.”
“Wait, Easy. You said you made the enclosures we found yet you say your race found an enclosure and developed from there,” said Admiral Kyger.
“Yes, exactly. We found one and learned how to make them from the other traders,” Easy said.
“You can almost make enclosures now yourselves. Truth?” Easy said.
Tod spoke up. “Yes – we are close and would like to trade for the knowledge.”
“Finally. Somebody gets it. This is always the hard part when we first get started,” Easy said. “I would like to say that you are all protected from mental coercion which makes my job harder but the payoff greater as you know more.”
Tod leaned forward, “If I may. I think I get it. Your race found its first enclosure and you traded for knowledge from others. You learned to make enclosures and distributed them around our galaxy. The enclosures attract intelligence. You have to be highly intelligent to even use lamlee and that speeds a races development. When a race is able to turn them on and off it alerts the beings that made it. When we tapped into database in the enclosures – the enclosure tapped our minds.”
The Maker Makers
Everyone at the table started talking and it took Andrew slamming his hand down on the table to get them quiet. “Thank you Tod. I have million more questions to ask.”
“Let me explain a bit more. When a race turns off enclosures – we are on alert. We leave bits of information available so the beings can find us if they are so inclined. This eliminates contact with those races that just want to blindly use lamlee. The lamlee will run out for them and we will not meet. Truly inquisitive races will try to find us. They can be violently aggressive, cowards, intolerant – I can see from this room that you are none of those,” he said.
Shiv broke in surprising everyone in the group – she never spoke up. “My race would have just watched. We would never have interrupted another’s kill. We might have put on a threat display.”
Rett spoke up now. “The Tros would just watch.”
Easy looked around and asked Octi, “What would you have done?”
“We would have used the dimensional pulse weapon immediately without thought for the civilians. My race is lamlee,” Octi said.
“Really. I sensed there was something different about you. I have never seen this before. This is amazing. How do…I forget myself,” Easy said and then looked at Lee Post. “You too?”
Lee Post proudly said, “Yes.”
“You treat them as equals…this is amazing. I am so lucky to be in this galaxy. I will have so much for you and will trade for as much as you can give me. Let me explain further.” Easy looked around the room. “We trade knowledge for knowledge. The enclosures make it so we only get to contact the best of the best. Weak races never seek us out. The fake attack eliminates those that are a threat.”
Admiral Kyger spoke up. “What would you do if a race is hostile and attacks you?”
“I would destroy them all. We can’t let hostile beings ruin trade opportunities in an area. Hostilities in an area ruin trade,” Easy said. “When we contact races like you – it is ideal. I already know you have more knowledge for me.”
“But you could destroy us on a whim,” Susan said.
“Yes, but you know how to make intelligent peers out of lamlee – marvelous…and you have delicious food and drink. I think you are marvelous,” Easy said.
“But you trade how to make weapons,” she said.
“Of course. The intelligent races must be able to put down creatures that attack them. My race is wonderful allies but terrible enemies to have,” Easy said.
Andrew snorted on a swallow of wine. He couldn’t have said it better himself.
“What about the rest of the stages inside the enclosures?” Desiree asked.
“Good question. I said we traders – like your race obviously – look at life in the long view. We could just make lamlee – what an odd name? Does it have a special meaning?” Easy asked.
“It means excrement in another language,” Tod said and chuckled.
Easy shook with its eye stalks waving back and forth. “That is marvelous and especially appropriate for how we create it,” Easy said.
“You were explaining about the other stages…” Desiree said.
“Sorry. Your race distracts me. We would not be good caretakers by putting enclosures if they did not attract an intelligent race. We put them on barren worlds and then shorten the normal creation life cycle and generate new life for that planet,” Easy said.
“You create life,” Desiree said.
“The age-old question. We know how life starts but who started us? Did we get started in an old enclosure? The other stages generate whatever evolves best for that world. We put enclosures in chlorine and methane atmospheres. We put enclosures on water worlds and on rocky worlds. We get the best returns so far from planets that develop oxygen-nitrogen atmospheres. I did not answer your question,” he said.
“The enclosures generate life so we will have future clients. The long view…we do have knowledge to GREATLY extend life. With that knowledge must come knowledge to harness energy and food – you already know you must travel and multiply. Our trade is in knowledge to make life more comfortable. We also seek friends to trade food and art. I got glimpses of that from what the enclosure recorded when you traded for the knowledge of energy or power or biology.”
“Your database does the trade and probes our minds?” she asked.
“Yes. Your race can adequately tap into our system. How do you do that? I sense a mechanistic approach,” Easy asked.
“We developed an implant after we met a race that mentally coerced us to give them knowledge,” Desiree said thinking about the race on Omega Sagittarii III. We then learned we could just use lamlee.”
“Really. That is wonderful. Usually we have to wait until a race develops mentally – this might be something we want to add to the programming in all our enclosures.”
“We thought we were going to find the beings that made the lamlee,” Andrew said. “We find you.”
“You will find the knowledge trade worth your while. We find that some areas go unlooked from one culture to another – it is exciting. We travel all over the galaxies, eat marvelous food and see sights that chortle your waffle,” Easy said. “You will not be disappointed. Lamlee means excrement. It is hilarious. Speaking of excrement, do you have a convenience – a toilet,” Easy asked Andrew.
&nb
sp; “Certainly, though on a ship we call it a head,” Andrew said.
“That is hilarious. You do have a sense of humor,” Easy said.
Andrew had Chief Warrington escort their guest to the head.
The room started clamoring. Was he a threat? What knowledge could we ask for? What to give for each? Each question raised a hundred more? What species had built the enclosure Easy’s race discovered? It came down to how the trade was conducted. Would they do it here or on the alien’s ship? How could the knowledge be used? Was there harm to either during knowledge transfer?
Andrew turned to Brad. “Admiral, want me to run this fubar for you?”
“Doing fine. Keep it up.”
***
Everyone had freshened up and was more relaxed.
Andrew ordered food for everyone – even Shiv but she would have to use the blinders so they would not have see her eat her food live.
Easy squished down until he was level with the seated crew.
“How does the trade work?” Andrew asked.
“We can do it here. I sit with beings that exchange information mentally. You have shown you could do that or you wouldn’t be here,” Easy said. “You think of questions to ask me verbally and then we touch. Keep your query in your mind and you will find the information you need -- whatever I have on that subject and anything attached to that topic. What do get from us? I ask questions and get information from you.”
“Why send out enclosures?” Andrew asked.
“They make barren planets come alive. Intelligence seeks intelligence. The new music, art, food, technology makes life even more interesting. You come to enjoy the new. You do not need much when questing.”
“Questing?” Andrew asked.
“Seeking knowledge. You need some piece of equipment…use some lamlee…do not throw it away. Change it into something else. Your people made a device to share mental thoughts. Then you made it out of lamlee. I would like to learn how you did that with lamlee.”
“Let us trade,” Andrew said.
“Touch this,” Easy indicated a small box around its neck. “Just think a question.”
Andrew sat entranced for almost a minute.
Andrew drew back from Easy. “God. I asked you other things you do with lamlee…I had no idea.”
“I am afraid I did an unfair trade. I asked how to change lamlee into a device to exchange mental thoughts – I never thought you could do that with lamlee and then saw your memories where you create Lee Post. That memory led me to how the Octi had been created. That was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced,” Easy shook.
“I learned how to make weapons, tools for things I have never heard of – I am still going through it all. I thought I had an imagination. So many things – anything…How can one being know so much?” Andrew asked.
“I absorb the knowledge from many beings over millennia.”
“How can you live so long?” Andrew asked.
“Another question,” Easy said.
“Get Lieutenant Tanaka up here on the double,” Andrew said. “She is our psychologist – physician. She would have intimate knowledge on longevity and could ask the right questions.”
“You still have specialists?” Easy asked.
“Yes. My planet is where we just now doubled our natural life expectancy. We spend our entire life learning one or two topics with a few others along the way. Learning in later life comes with learning cylinders by other – greater specialists,” Andrew said.
“This crew in here is generally made from specialists from different areas of knowledge. We make learning cylinders and then distribute copies,” Andrew said.
“How long has your race been able to travel to other stars?” Easy asked.
Andrew looked around questioningly. “I guess about fifteen years.”
“You mean fifteen generations do you not?” Easy said quivering.
“No about fifteen years,” Andrew said. “Our orbital year is almost the same as the year in the Trade language. Almost identical in length.”
“How long is your average lifespan now?” Easy asked.
“About two hundred standard years now after our new medical knowledge,” Andrew stated.
“Well. I think I can increase that by five,” Easy said.
“Five years is not much,” Desiree said…always the practical one.
Easy swung his eyestalks toward her. “No…if I cannot increase your lifespan five times longer I will eat my own arm.”
“One thousand years…oh no…what will that do to society?” Desiree said.
“I want most of that,” Tod said with a grin. “I can see it now. No…you don’t look a day over 500…I swear.”
Desiree couldn’t help herself and started laughing.
Rett spoke up at this point. “Do you know anything about conception? What can you do if a partner is sterile?”
Everyone was shocked but Easy just said. “I know treatments with special equipment that can repair almost anything. The equipment can be microscopic. It can be administered easily.”
“Do you have that equipment?” Rett asked.
“If you have the knowledge you can make it yourself – lamlee. With lamlee it is easy. I picked a good name did I not,” Easy said.
Rett looked bouncy.
Andrew said. “Oh that is what that is for…I had no idea. Rett. I know how to do it.”
Steve came up to Easy. “I will trade you how to make our entertainment systems without lamlee. You can make the equipment to make the equipment with lamlee. Here is one,” he said and gave Easy one of the mass produced video players that showed the view of a snowboarder gliding down the side of a mountain.
Easy went to his full height – about a meter and a half and started swaying from side to side with the snowboarder. The view changed to falling from a great height and then stopped by an inertialess belt. Easy passed gas. It smelled like rotten seaweed. He was floored. “What do you want for this player? You can make the device with lamlee but we do not make the video.”
“I want to know how that dimensional device works and how to communicate between distances over 100 light years,” Steve said.
“I will show you how to communicate between galaxies. You should not let distance bother you. You will need to keep contact longer I suspect. I suggest you sit.”
Steve touched the same place Andrew did earlier.
Easy started swaying back and forth and Steve leaned forward until his forehead was almost touching. They kept it up for almost nine minutes. Tod was timing.
They pulled apart and Easy almost fell over. Steve said he felt sick. He went over and retched into the trashcan.
“Holy crap. Holy crap. We can talk – send video – anything to anywhere. Holy crap. I’m still a little nauseous. So much information… It was a little quick. It is hard for me to process. There is so much. Admiral, you will never miss talking to any of your ships – ever,” Steve said.
Easy was still swaying and the Admiral had to keep him from falling over. Easy looked drunk. “This is what you mean by a specialist. Holy crap…is that the expression. Holy crap. Who would ever think of doing that with diamond? I am sorry but I cannot absorb any more. Would you mind if I asked other of my race here. One individual cannot learn so much. I had no idea you could do some of the things with nano-circuits. We probably could do some of this with lamlee but you do the job without lamlee. I have sometimes run out of lamlee or I would have to change something useful out of lamlee to make something else work…this is wonderful.”
“How long will it take the others to get here?” Admiral Kyger asked.
“A few hours at most,” Easy said.
Admiral Kyger looked at Commodore and circled his arm around his head. Andrew nodded.
Easy was less wobbly now. “What did the arm movement over your head mean?”
“It means to circle the wagons,” Admiral Kyger said but explained further when he saw no comprehension. “It means prepare a defen
sive formation.”
“You are preparing to fight my colleagues?” Easy said.
“No. We are preparing for those that might fail your test,” Kyger said.
Chief Warrington escorted Easy back to the airlock and watched him cycle the lock and squirt back to his ship. The Chief wondered how the alien’s suit worked – if there was a suit. He had never seen anything like it. He’d ask Doctor Fredrickson – Joel. He’d know or find out.
The Big Trade
It didn’t take long before other little ships came in – and it looked like a small fishing fleet of eight little ships.
From the Journal of Lieutenant Ling Tanaka
It was like being in a room of sea cucumbers playing video games or flying a simulator. They went absolutely nuts over the things – they loved ‘em. Like a bunch of adolescents…Easy happened to be the adolescent of the group at only 2,000 years old – no shit – 2,000 years. The oldest was a little slower was 5 – no shit – thousand. I know biology pretty well. I went and got Doctor Sheldon. She was a neurosurgeon having studied at Johns Hopkins and Vanderbilt. She knew doctoring. We implanted a lamlee mental transfer module. She then touched old cucumber dude – there was as long a pause as with Easy but she got the best end of this deal.
She talked with me afterward and went to get a ration of lamlee to make some new equipment. She said she thought she knew her topic but felt like she had been at the kindergarten stage instead. There were going to be a lot of holy crap statement going on today.
Old cucumber then motioned to me. Evidently our doc hadn’t phased him-her-it. My turn. I was a little scared. Cucumber smelled like wet lettuce. He felt solid though – bet he was tough. I concentrated on viruses and bacteria. Holy crap. I learned the process as if I was bacterium and how it worked the break a cell wall, and saw how a cell turned cancerous from radiation or chemicals. One thing led to another – it was organic chemistry – genetics – cellular engineering. It filled me up. I felt like I had eaten a full meal. Old cucumber was swaying like Easy had done. I was a bit nauseous. The contact lasted twenty-seven minutes. People would start whispering when I walk by – a bit dazed but god – the ideas I had now. Cure cancer – sure – different ways. I don’t mean poison it. I mean to target the bad stuff automatically as easy as cleaning wax out of someone’s ear. Holy crap. I went down to supply and checked out a kilo of lamlee and then went to medical. Old dude down there had a liver cancer we were going to get rid of today while cutting several decades off his looks. Holy crap.