The twenty-plus Alsoo repeated the moves under the watchful eye of both the spirit speaker and the Alsoo speaker. The spirit speaker had the warriors go through the sequence a hand more times before he gestured for them to stop. The split-tail walked over to a spot directly in front of all the warriors, and then he lowered his body over his two tails until he was resting on his tails. The spirit speaker’s face set in a stern visage, and he did the lao/sot sequence. The spirit speaker then raised halfway up on his tails and did the lao/sot sequence again. The spirit speaker took a breath and then surged all the way to his full split-tail height and did the sequence. Every warrior’s feathers fluffed out before each returned to the normal flattened state when the split-tail reversed the process. Still lowered down, the spirit speaker looked at the gathered Alsoo. “Warriors that/do/you.”
The twenty-one assembled Alsoo looked at each other in consternation. Then one warrior, Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born, slapped his chest. “Warrior/me tall/be/me.” A look of great concentration appeared on his owl-like face. The assembled warriors’ feathers fluffed in response. Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born did the sequence and, with a barely suppressed pained warble, rose up higher on his tail and repeated the form.
The split-leg speaker walked over and stood behind Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born. “Great warrior/you, rise/you, tall/be you,” intoned the spirit speaker. Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born warbled in effort as he rose up higher on his tail than he, and possibly any Alsoo, had done before. As Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born went through the sequence, the spirit speaker stood on his split-tail just behind him with his hands on either side of the Alsoo warrior. Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born did the lau/sot sequence and then all but collapsed to the ground.
The surrounding Alsoo warriors, including the speaker, warbled in excited approval. “Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born, Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born, Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born!” the warriors chanted.
Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born raised his body up fully though tiredly. “Tall/be me short time. Short time short time tall/be me long time,” he said in tired resolve. “Good/be tall/be me.” Then his expression became fierce. “Warriors/you brothers/me. Know/me Spirit Speaker/he want/we/he.”
Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born suddenly stood high on his tail—not as tall as before, but much higher than any warrior would normally rise—and did the lau/sot sequence. Fifth-Son-Eighth-Born remained balanced high on his tail and gestured. “Brothers/me Eaters eyes high/they Eaters eyes see/me.”
The surrounding Alsoo started warbling excitedly as they rose higher and higher on their tails and did the lau/sot sequence. An impromptu contest among the Alsoo warriors broke out. The split-tail spirit speaker looked on approvingly and let them continue for most of the morning before clapping his hands together.
“This time, warriors/you learn/you truth/new,” he said. “This time warriors/you learn/you tall/be you truth/new learn/you tall/be you truth/old. Truth see/you not.” He raised both his hands to the side as if lifting something, and the Alsoo warriors all stood higher. “Truth see/you warriors/tall, Alsoo/you, Alsoo tall.” He slapped his chest. “Pledge/oath truth/oath.”
The Alsoo warriors rose up even higher on their tails. Some even executed all or part of the lau/sot form and warbled in approval.
Kasumi could barely suppress her own triumphant chitter. “Spirits and ancestors, I know exactly how that feels,” she breathed.
“Yeah, me too,” Mel replied. “Remind me to tell Grandmother that Gramps may be delayed a few more years.”
“I don’t think she’ll mind,” Kasumi replied cheerfully. She nodded at the relayed image displayed via her Torque. “They’re going to hate the spirit speaker,” she chittered.
“Whatever happened to, ‘I’d never hate Germy’?” teased Mel.
“I’ve trained with him,” Kasumi replied. She and Mel looked at each other with exactly the same expression and burst into laughter.
Morning Mist waggled her crest in amusement and returned to trying to make sense of all the Polig-Grug data that had been vacuumed out of the Polig-Grug ships’ data banks. “Spirits, this wasn’t programmed, it was … grown,” she finally said after trying to find some more appropriate description. Grown seemed the closest. Morning Mist sat up and frowned. “Torque: assume the following conditions are true. The Polig-Grug are a hive mind but not all the time. Assume that normally two or three—a king and two favorite queens, I suppose …” She paused. “What would cause kings to share queens?”
“Resources,” the Torque replied almost immediately. “The more kings that cooperate through their queens, the greater the resources they would be able to control.”
“Of course, and competition would eventually lead to larger and larger collections of … kingdoms.” Morning Mist paused again. “There must be a limit,” she frowned. “Is there a limit?” she asked.
“Unknown,” replied the Torque.
“Of course,” muttered Morning Mist.
“David, status?” Kasumi asked. This was the daily briefing, and Kasumi’s inner circle was assembled in the main conference room in the main building of the colony. While these meetings usually were held with only the inner circle, there were exceptions, and today was one of them.
“I’m going to let Meadow Flower brief you on what we’ve discovered about the Polig-Grug home … system,” David Eisenstadt replied.
Meadow Flower’s crest flicked nervously as she became the center of attention. However, as a senior member of Eisenstadt’s command crew, she was becoming used to providing intelligence to the upper echelon of the Rynn/human hierarchy. She chirped to her Torque, and the Torques of all those attending displayed the same image. “This is, as the commander said, the Polig-Grug home system.” She chirped again and the image rotated. “When we first began receiving data, we found what appeared to be a single artificial habitat, what we’ve dubbed ‘the orange slice.’” She chirped again and the vantage rotated. “Since then, we have found a second orange slice. It sits 180 degrees opposite the first.”
“Is this right?” Kasumi said in disbelief. “Both are over 200,000 kilometers in length?”
“Yes, Captain,” Meadow Flower replied.
“Impossible,” objected Morning Mist. “The Polig-Grug are incapable of creating anything of that order.”
“I have to agree,” Meadow Flower replied. “However, the predominant life-forms found on both megastructures are Polig-Grug.”
“Predominant?” echoed Morning Mist. “Meaning that there are other life-forms?”
Meadow Flower nodded grimly. “The good news, I suppose, is that none of those other life-forms are human, Rynn, or Alsoo.” Her crest fluttered for a moment. “But that does not mean they are not sentient.”
“Considering the Polig-Grug penchant for predating on sentient beings, the chances are good that they are,” Eisenstadt commented. “Why sentient?” he added in an undertone.
“Unfortunately, there is an easy answer to that one, commander,” Meadow Flower replied grimly. “They’re more adaptable and therefore more likely to survive,” she said. “The more adaptable, the longer they will survive as a food source.” She chirped to her Torque. “There is some evidence that the Alsoo have been predated upon for nearly three hundred of your human years,” she said. “And they are nowhere near as adaptable as humans or Rynn.”
Kasumi nodded grimly. “And with the Alsoo nearing extinction, the Polig-Grug will …” She broke off. “Have you been able to estimate the population size of the Polig-Grug?”
“We’re still refining the data,” began Meadow Flower.
“Best guess,” ordered Kasumi sharply.
Meadow Flower’s crest dropped, and she covered her eyes. “I apologize,” she said. “Best guess is somewhere between eighty and one hundred billion,” she said in a quiet voice.
Kasumi nodded. “I suspected it would be something like that,” she said. “Each one of those megastructures has four or five ti
mes the habitable surface area of Earth.”
“Closer to eight or nine,” corrected Morning Mist. “Maybe more.”
“Plus virtually unlimited energy from their home star,” Kasumi continued.
“That would be the expected situation,” agreed Meadow Flower. “However, that does not appear to be the case. Analysis indicates that there is a heavy reliance on fusion reactors.”
“Unlimited solar energy, and they are using fusion reactors?” Morning Mist asked in surprise. “The whole point of creating megastructures like that is to use solar energy.”
“Since when have the Polig-Grug done anything rational or logical?” Kasumi returned in annoyance. “Nothing they do makes sense,” she said. “They live on an artifact that should be able to easily handle their population size, yet they continue to expand. They use fusion reactors instead of the solar energy that is abundant. They predate instead of domesticating a sustainable food source.”
“They use a computing method that appears more junk than logical,” added Morning Mist. “They really should not be spacefaring at all,” she pointed out. “Joseph Franklin says that their ships are actually organic shells that were grown around engines and other technological instrumentality.”
“And their tactics are absurdly simple,” Eisenstadt pointed out. “None of this adds up.”
“Let’s look at this another way,” Kasumi said. “The Polig-Grug are not acting intelligent,” she said musingly. “Maybe it isn’t acting,” she suggested. “I know Cool Evening Breeze said she spoke directly to a king and it responded, but …” She waved a hand. “As David keeps saying, this does not add up.” Kasumi sat back. “We need more information. Meadow Flower, thank you for your report. It was more than expected in such a short time, but not enough.” She smiled apologetically. “I hate to add more work to your already busy schedule …”
“I don’t mind,” Meadow Flower replied with a smile. “It’s certainly more interesting than doing a cost analysis.”
“I’m sure,” agreed Mel. “I’d like to recommend that Meadow Flower take command of Polig-Grug analytics and further, that she be included in all future general staff meetings.”
“Seconded,” Eisenstadt said immediately.
“Objections?” asked Kasumi. She looked around. “As there are no objections, Meadow Flower is now officially a member of the general staff,” she said. “I’d say congratulations, but the job comes with a lot of added responsibilities.”
“And one added perk,” Mel added with a grin. “You get to speak to my grandfather,” she said. “Or rather, he gets to speak to you.”
Meadow Flower covered her eyes. “I will strive to provide competent service,” she said in serious tones. “And while I consider it a great honor to speak to the Teacher, I will hope it does not occur too frequently.”
Kasumi and Mel laughed in response.
44
JAMAL
“You do not have an appointment,” Raindrops in a Tide Pool said in mild tones.
“Do you have any idea who I am?” snapped the man. He was a clean-shaven white man in his mid-fifties. His white hair was recently cut, and he wore a crisp gray suit. He might have been considered handsome except for the scowl on his face.
“Not really,” replied Raindrops in a Tide Pool. Actually, he did, but he wasn’t going to give the man the satisfaction of admitting that. “The captain is a very busy woman, and I can’t let just anyone in to see her.”
“I am not just anyone,” the man said impatiently. “I represent the rightful government of the United States of America, and I demand to see this Captain Kasumi.”
Raindrops in a Tide Pool chittered in amusement. “Rightful government? There was just an election, and I don’t remember seeing anyone resembling you being declared the winner,” he said. “In fact, I seem to remember President Newgate winning another term.”
“Do not play with me, alien,” snarled the man. “The only reason Newgate won was because you aliens stuffed the ballot boxes.” He waved a finger under Rain Drops in a Tide Pool’s nose. “And don’t pretend otherwise.”
“I pretend nothing,” replied Raindrops in a Tide Pool. “The New Christian Party received exactly 10 percent of the popular vote,” he said. “I fail to see how that makes you the representative of the rightful government, Mr. Sawyer.”
“So you do know who I am,” Mr. Sawyer accused.
“I didn’t recognize the face, but that annoying voice is hard to forget,” replied Raindrops in a Tide Pool. “No matter how hard I try.” He matched the man’s glare with his own. “The vote was validated and certified,” he continued. “If you had any evidence of voter fraud, you should have presented your evidence,” he said. “As it is, there was ample evidence of your party attempting to suppress votes.”
“How dare you,” snarled Mr. Sawyer.
“Shut up!” Raindrops in a Tide Pool returned. “In my years living on Earth, I have met humans who have inspired me, made me question my beliefs, and made me try to be better,” he said. “And I have met humans who have made me want to, what’s that word? Oh yes, puke.” He stood with his crest at full extension. “You make me want to puke,” he growled. “I saw what people like you are capable of. I have seen the result of those policies. Polig-Grug only eat people. Your kind denies them being people.” If possible, Raindrops in a Tide Pool’s crest went even higher. “You represent nothing except the worst of humanity,” he said. “Now get out.” He chirped to his Torque, and a door opened.
A young black man, at most nineteen years of age, walked in. “Did you need me, Raindrops Drops in a Tide Pool?”
“Yes, I did,” Raindrops in a Tide Pool replied. “Mr. Sawyer, this is Shadowed Heart,” he said in introduction. “He was born Jamal Johnson. He was renamed Jehoram by his so-called master when the CSA was attempting to … what was that term, Shadowed Heart?”
“‘Return order to America,’” replied Shadowed Heart. He stared balefully at Mr. Sawyer.
“Shadowed Heart was among those we recovered,” Raindrops in a Tide Pool said. “His parents were murdered. His rights were taken. Do you want him to show you his slave brand?” Raindrops in a Tide Pool almost purred. “No?” He almost smiled. “Maybe another time,” he said. “He told the Teacher that Jamal was dead with his parents, and that he would not ever be Jehoram.”
“Raindrops in a Tide Pool was kind enough to provide me with a new name, a Rynn name,” Shadowed Heart added. “And a new family.” He smiled warmly at the Rynn. His scowl returned as he turned his attention back to the visitor. “I am also a member of colony’s security force.”
“Which is why I called you,” Raindrops in a Tide Pool said. “Please escort Mr. Sawyer back to his vehicle, and then make sure he and his entourage leave.”
“It will be my pleasure,” Shadowed Heart replied. “This way,” he said to the man. When Sawyer refused to budge, Shadowed Heart said, almost conversationally, “I would leave if I were you. As a member of colony security, I am authorized to use lethal force.” He added, “Please give me a reason to.”
“Stay away from me, boy,” Mr. Sawyer said.
“Boy?” Shadowed Heart replied. “I was expecting another word.” He smiled coldly. “That would have been a reason.”
“I would have considered it a valid one,” Raindrops in a Tide Pool commented. “Goodbye, Mr. Sawyer. Don’t bother coming back.”
Meadow Flower chirped, and the display she was reviewing vanished. She chirped a sigh. “It makes no sense,” she grumped.
“Talk it through,” said a voice at her elbow.
Meadow Flower’s crest snapped open in shock. “Teacher!” she gasped. She hastily covered her eyes in respect.
“Enough of that,” Jeremy Blunt said. “Talk it through,” he ordered.
With some effort, Meadow Flower got control of her trembling crest. “Yes, Teac
her,” she said. “The more we learn about the Polig-Grug, the less sense it makes,” she said. “They are spacefaring, and they should not be. They live on an artificial habitat that they cannot have built. They use fusion reactors when they could be using the nearly unlimited power provided by their home star. They somehow are able to capture or create a mini-singularity, but they don’t use it except as a weapon.”
“How would you use it?” asked the old man.
“I’d use it the way we do use it, as a power source,” Meadow Flower returned instantly. “Or to create a local gravity well.” She chirped, and an image of Safe Haven appeared. A circle appeared outlining a section of the trading ship. “That’s how Bright Sunlight uses it.”
“Interesting,” commented Jeremy. “What else is confusing?”
“They do not domesticate animals and instead rely on the survivability of their prey,” Meadow Flower continued. “Even the Alsoo had, at one time, domesticated a food animal,” she added. “The Polig-Grug do not do anything a sentient and sapient being would do,” she complained. “Yet all evidence points to them being both.”
“What have you learned about the other life-forms found on the megastructures?” asked Jeremy.
“Not a lot,” admitted Meadow Flower. “There seems to be whole sections of the habitats that are free of Polig-Grug and populated by …” Suddenly, Meadow Flower broke off and started chirping. An image of one of the megastructures appeared. Meadow Flower chirped some more and a section, almost a third, was outlined. “That’s where the other life-forms live,” she said.
“And no Polig-Grug live there?” Jeremy asked. Meadow Flower nodded. “What keeps them from invading?”
“Unknown, Teacher,” Meadow Flower replied.
“Maybe we should find out,” suggested Jeremy. “The Alsoo mastered domestication?” he said in musing tones. “Interesting.”
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