Chapter 14 “Storm”
Stan couldn’t get through to the homeworlds. Strange, he thought. Never had they been out of contact for this long. He scratched his head trying to make sense of this. No way could they have been attacked, certainly they would’ve transmitted something. Never the less, he had to prepare for his job on Earth.
Earth sat on the cliff’s edge of total chaos, like the Middle Ages all over again. It wouldn’t be the first time this world had been plunged into the abyss, although it would certainly be the fastest. Since this world had developed the technology to communicate instantaneously. It meant things would happen incredibly fast, including global events. The bigger they are the harder and faster they fall.
Joe had been waiting for their technology to develop to this point for some time knowing first contact would probably be smoother with global communication. Joe and Stan had known each other for a long time. They both had transferred into other bodies so many times they were a mere shadow of their former selves. But, they still trusted each other and in the end, Stan believed Joe to be doing the right thing. Humanity couldn’t continue on its current path. One by one the Outpost’s would eventually fall to the attackers.
Stan put together an encrypted message for Joe and sent it toward the homeworlds. Stan knew only Joe’s ship would receive it. He didn’t know exactly when Joe would read it, but he wanted him to know that things were somewhat on schedule. Stan needed to get to Earth and try to calm things down. He didn’t say how bad things were, he figured Joe had enough to deal with. Stan went back to his room to wash up and make the final preparations for the trip to Earth; he had procrastinated as long as he could. He stared into the mirror after splashing water on his face, his mind racing.
Stan wanted to deal with Krell before Earth. This all began with strange energy bursts in and around the Krell system, something they had seen before the attack on the Earth system so long ago. The energy bursts were almost like some form of sonar detector, coming in clearly defined patterns. When the same patterns were detected on Krell, Stan and Joe put two and two together and feared the worst. Stan wanted to go straight to the council, but Joe, the voice of reason, realized that the council might order the destruction of the Krell system. What would they do in the long run? Destroy colony after colony? The homeworlds would still eventually be found.
Since the last attack, the Earth system had sat protected in a nest of dark energy and dark matter, making it almost impossible to detect. Masking the system in this way caused the visible light to bend and refract in different directions, so unless one knew exactly where to look, they’d never find it.
Stan had his doubts. He’d hoped for the best but planned for the worst, and plotted another asteroid bombardment incase the unthinkable happened. He also plotted gravity wells near the Sun. This would cause the Sun to oscillate back and forth destroying all the planets, including the Outpost. The doomsday switch as he thought of it, only to be used as a last resort.
Joe let Stan plan this but he knew the attackers would never find Earth again. The energy bursts would be muffled by the dark energy. As Stan boarded the transport to Earth, he planned on linking up with the International Space Station to make his grand entrance. Unannounced, of course.
Joe headed back to his old place. The rooms weren’t a home like on Earth, they were mostly just for sleeping. Almost everything else happened in a big community setting, like a giant 1960’s hippie commune. People ate in big dining halls, relaxed and bathed in large common areas. The average or “common” person on the homeworlds, never had any privacy. They did everything around other people; sex, bathing, everything. Having been on Earth for so long Joe instinctively reached into his pocket as he neared his room and pulled out a handful of change. Money. He palmed the coins and smiled; the homeworlds had no monetary system. Well, not really. In all human cultures some form of money existed, and the homeworlds were no different.
In order to access anything on the machines, it required registering a thumb print. The higher level a person was, due to their IQ, the more times they could access the machines, so in a sense they had more credits. Money. The access credits were traded for goods and services. Rooms could be enlarged and even Earth style houses could be built. Since no real laws existed, nothing was done about it.
In fact, a black market in the lower level common areas thrived as people searched for more powerful drugs. Reen, pental boxes and alcohol were common and provided to everyone, but a more potent form of reen could be injected directly into the veins. This provided a longer and more intense effect. Although it was not illegal, it was only available on the black market.
This black market existed mostly due to an unwritten caste system, again based on ones IQ level, which also determined what job or task people were assigned to. The menial jobs were assigned to people with lower IQ’s. The smarter ones worked in the control rooms and even around the council chambers. The system was falling more and more into neglect though. If a person did not show up to their work assignment, no one cared and they still got credits. As time when on less people showed up to work, causing the cities to fall into disrepair.
Before he left, Joe suspected that even some of the council members were trading credits. He had never really looked into it though, out of sight out of mind. Joe noticed on his way back to his old place that some of the council member’s rooms weren’t rooms anymore. They were homes and they were big. Clearly things had changed here since living in a large private home used to be looked down upon as decadent. Before Joe left for the Earth system, he had never heard of someone obtaining a mass of credits and using them to provide a luxurious lifestyle. Now some people had large places to live in. He even noticed that some council members had a harem of woman following them. The place had turned into Rome, with humanity burning down as the council members played their fiddles.
Joe grasped the coins in his hand and threw them down. Standing in front of his old, small place he took a deep breath, wondering how things got so screwed up. He opened the door and paused as he looked around the room. A small bed shoved into the corner, at the foot of the bed was a round table with one chair, the same tables that were haphazardly scattered about in the circles. There was nothing on the walls, absolutely no décor to speak of. The place almost looked unfinished, as if something was missing.
Sitting down on the bed he couldn’t stop thinking about the state of humanity. His own mind sometimes became his worst enemy. As time passed the council members spent less of their time in the council chambers and more in the circles, imbibing in the pleasures of these worlds; sex, drugs, and gluttony. Decadence was slowly becoming the norm. Before, if you didn’t show up for work and stayed in the circles all the time, you were disowned, although you could still get your credits and no one would come after you. Now, no one seemed to care.
He shook his head, trying in vain to clear his mind. Sleep, he needed sleep. Kicking off his shoes he laid back fully clothed. He stared at the ceiling before slowing drifting off into an uneasy sleep.
Steve had fallen asleep on the plane. He’d become numb to the chaos around him. One of the agents woke him up before landing. He asked where they were but no one would tell him. After they landed he was quickly shoved in a car that took him to a row of buildings that resembled a military bunker. The secret service shuffled him through a series of doors and into a large room with a lone conference table in the center. This was ground zero. A well-known figure sat at the head of the table with people from NASA and JPL all around him.
The President looked up. “Good, you’re here. I wanted to hear this straight from the horse’s mouth. I know you’re probably sick of telling this story, but please, just one more time so you can fill in some questions I have.”
Steve nodded and went straight over to the coffee pot. He took his time pouring himself a large cup. He didn’t care about hurting anyone’s feelings anymore, even the Presidents. Everyone looked at each other nervously as he
slowly poured in some creamer and swirled it around. He enjoyed pissing everyone off. It was the only time he felt in control since returning to Earth. He sat down at the opposite end of the table and began from the top. He’d told the story so many times that he had decided to take the liberty of a little creative freedom, and began describing the events at the circle on the Outpost. He didn’t care what they thought; they wanted it so he gave it to them uncensored, a little revenge for their treatment of him and the others. He finished by describing how they were treated criminals. When he’d finished he stared unblinking at the President. The silence was deafening.
“Thank you for being so candid, I rarely get that around here. Sometimes it’s hard to get the truth out of people. They seem better at dancing around the subject than actually getting to it.” He leaned back crossing his legs. “First I want to say that I’m sorry for your treatment, we shouldn’t have detained any of you. It’s been chaotic around here as you can imagine, so I haven’t been able to oversee all the details. The events of the last few weeks have been unprecedented and things haven’t gone well.” As the President spoke, Mr. Blatowski, the Secretary of Defense, walked into the room and leaned over to whisper something in his ear. The President nodded his head and looked directly at Steve.
“There’s a ship headed towards the ISS (International Space Station). What do you know about it?” The President casually turned the chair resting one elbow on the table, his legs still crossed.
“I guess that must be Stan, the commander of the Outpost. Like I’ve been saying for the last few days, he’s going to meet us here.” Steve unknowingly scratched his nose then he remembered the communication devices that had been taken away from them when they had arrived back on Earth. “Oh yea, we were stripped of our communication devices. Stan is probably trying to contact us right now.”
The President motioned to Mr. Blatowski who ran out of the room. “We’ll try to get those devices and bring them here as well as the rest of your party. They’ll be treated with full respect, I promise.” The President gently tapped the table top with his fingers. He was so calm and relaxed it made everyone in the room feel the same way, except General Strock.
“What are Stan’s intentions when he gets here and what are the capabilities of his ship?” General Stock rudely butted in, the tension in his voice was obvious.
Steve looked over at the General. He could see a vein on the large man’s neck pulsate. “As far as I understand it, he’s here to ensure a smooth transition of this world into the larger human community.” Steve took a sip of coffee hoping the vein would pop.
General Strock pressed his lips together as his face turned red. He didn’t buy this flower child hippie crap that Earth is the saviors of all humanity. The military wanted to stop them from coming here until it was certain there was no threat. Fear and caution ruled the military; hope for the best, prepare for the worse. If these people were intelligent and knew Earth, then they would understand. General Strock even entertained the thought of a coup. Humanity, at least Earths’ humanity, hung in the balance.
“Mr. President, with all due respect, we have to be very cautious here. We have no idea what we’re dealing with. We don’t know their true intentions, we don’t know their capabilities.” General Strock seemed nervous. “And where’s Bill? Why didn’t he return with you?”
“Like I said, he went on to the homeworlds to continue to gather information.” He turned to look directly at General Strock still holding his cup of coffee.
“How do we know he wasn’t taken prisoner? Hell, how do we know this isn’t some alien in human form?” The General angrily thrust his finger at Steve.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake.” Steve threw up his hands, tossing his cup on the table.
“Settle down everyone, settle down.” The President stood up and raised his arms. As the commotion stopped he then sat back down. “As you can see, everyone’s a little jumpy and we’re letting our imaginations get the better of us. I must confess the same thoughts have crossed my mind.” The President shifted in his seat and he adjusted his coat. “You understand that we need more proof. We need to talk to Bill and Tom. We need some answers before paranoia really does get the better of us.”
“I understand Mr. President. I think we should wait until the rest of the party gets here before we have this conversation.” Steve turned and glared at the General.
Everyone turned toward the President except General Strock. He sat rigid with both elbows on the table clenching his fists. His was chewing his jaws making that blood vessel on his neck look like a caterpillar beneath his skin.
“Let’s wait until we have everyone in the room,” before the President could finish speaking General Strock interrupted him.
“With all due respect Mr. President, we have been waiting long enough. We need to act now to protect the human race here on Earth.” The General pounded his fist on the table.
“General Strock, I understand your concerns but we have no proof that we are in any danger.” The President leaned over the table. “The only dangers we’re facing are panic and fear. Those are the real enemies at the moment.”
“Then what the hell is that space ship doing near the ISS?” The General questioned as he pointed up in the air.
“It’s probably Stan. We’d know if our communicators hadn’t been taken away from us.” Steve’s voice rose almost to a shout.
“General Strock, remember your place and who you serve!” yelled the President.
“I serve the people of the United States of America sir,” snapped the General.
The President sprang to his feet and pointed at his chest, “And I’m their constitutionally elected leader sir, don’t you forget that!”
An awkward silence filled the room for a few moments before General Strock stood up with both hand at his side. “Forgive me Mr. President, it’s just that I’ve spent my entire life protecting this country and I fear for its safety. I didn’t mean to undermine your authority. I’m at your service.” The General wiped his mouth, ashamed at how he had acted.
“No need for apologies General Strock. You’re a passionate man and your service to this great nation has never been in question. The military couldn’t be in better hands.” At that moment Mr. Blatowski walked back in and whispered something in the President’s ear.
“Well it would seem whoever’s on that ship couldn’t wait. They’re approaching the ISS, heading straight for the docking port.” The President sighed as he slowly sat back down in his chair.
Joe awoke having actually gotten the best night’s sleep since this whole thing started. The morning had come and the sun’s rays filled the room. He could easily lay there all day in the comfortable dawn of consciousness, not quite asleep and not quite awake. But his mind began to second guess himself, what the hell was I thinking putting this whole plan into motion? Will it work? Am I even capable of going through with this? Thoughts of doubt raced through his head and weighed heavy on him like an elephant on his chest. He forced himself up. Deal with it. Don’t think too much, focus on one situation at a time. I’m doing the right thing, at least I have to try, Joe thought to himself as he struggled to sit up in the bed. Just then someone knocked on the door.
“Yea, hold on a second!” Joe threw on some clothes and opened the door.
“Morning, how the hell are you?” There stood Nell with a big smile on his face. “Thought you might like to go get something to eat, you’ve got a big day ahead of you.” Nell curiously peered into the room.
“Oh, yea why’s that?” Joe swung the door open and motioned for him to come in.
“It would seem your friends have gotten to know their way around pretty quickly.” Nell walked in and sat down on a chair at the foot of the bed.
“Ah, crap what’s happened?” Joe winced as he practically fell onto his bed.
“Well, it would seem that Bill and Tom are on their way to the islands.”
Joe flopped his head back on the bed coveri
ng his face with his hands. “Well, they’re big boys. I guess they should be allowed to see the better things this place has to offer.” Joe struggled to sit back up.
“What about the other two?” He looked over at Nell and scratched the back of his head.
“It would seem that Jead has taken an interest in them. He’s entertaining them.” Nell stood up and slid the chair beneath the small table.
Joe let out a big sigh. He sat up on the bed leaning forward, placing his elbows on his knees clasping his hands behind his neck. “I knew I shouldn’t have let them wander off.”
“I think you should get some food before you go over there. And take a shower.” Nell chuckled at Joe’s predicament. “I’ll be waiting for you in the dining room.” He slapped Joe on the back as he walked by. “We can talk more then.”
Joe sat there for a second. He dreaded going to see Jead. He didn’t want to get into some kind of religious or philosophical debate with him.
Imbedded in the serene forest outside of the city, the linies main temple blended perfectly with its surroundings. You wouldn’t know that such beauty could harbor such evil, Joe thought to himself. The linies were nothing more than a brainwashing cult. They would have rituals called rites, a deadly meditation that took place four times a year. Preparation and the subsequent recovery would take months. In the meantime the temples were a place to discuss their philosophy. There were no books or written history, just a free thinking philosophy where everyone would sit in large circles and have an open discussion, at least that’s what was supposed to happen. Lately a few figure heads had emerged, Jead being one of them. Not to be taken lightly, Jead wasn’t a freeformed human, although he was very intelligent. Nell explained all he knew about Jead and warned Joe about him. Joe wondered how he had gained so much influence in such little time. Staring at the temple where Jead had taken Dr. Becker and Dr. Zanagar, he thought about turning around, but instead he took a deep breath and walked into the temple.
Joe had never been in one of these places, he’d only heard rumors. Joe remembered the linies as a curious nuisance. How people spent their free time just wasn’t his concern. If someone wanted to get high and have sex all the time so be it. If a linie wanted to kill themselves in one of their bizarre meditations, no one would stop them. Sadly, a society with so much free time on its hands had very little morals. Stimulation of the senses was the driving force and nothing could get in its way.
Joe entered the large dome like temple which was covered with what appeared to be white plaster. There were small streams of hot steaming water running everywhere. It felt like the tropics inside, actually more like a sweat lodge. The small streams flowed through a field, no wider than a few feet, something that could easily be stepped over. A very fine grass covered the ground, almost like a carpet. Jead stood speaking from a large mound in the center, and Joe could see Dr. Zanagar nearby. Everyone wore see-thru white robes and underneath they were naked. Joe walked in almost unnoticed as no one paid any attention to him. He felt a little strange being fully clothed. Joe looked around for Dr. Becker, and wondered where she could be. He shook his head in disbelief upon seeing Dr. Zanagar in one of the sheer robes. These two were too intelligent to be brainwashed by this cult, Joe thought to himself.
Joe had to be very strategic about what he was about to do. He didn’t want to insult anyone. He wanted freedom of religion like what he saw back on Earth. Joe stood in the back and listened to Jead’s speech.
“The energy of the universe flows through each of us. We are all important, we are all relevant, we are all needed. The energy inside of you is trying to get out. One day it will flow and join the river of energy that feeds the universe. Don’t stand by and let this pass you. Believe in yourself and you can touch the river. One day this higher power, this river of life’s energy, will touch yours and you will be free.” Jead went on and on about energy and flowing rivers.
Joe listened for a while becoming more and more amused at what he heard.
“Our existence in this form is fleeting, this flesh and blood is only temporary, this is not who we are,” Jead rapidly tapped his chest with his fingers.
This rambling seemed innocent, nothing to be afraid of. Joe had a pretty good understanding of human behavior, since he’d observed it for thousands of years on many planets. Many humans needed something they perceived as greater than themselves to guide them, something to tell them what to do, almost like a father figure. In their present form Joe thought the linies were somewhat harmless. But like many cults on Earth he knew they could be perverted into something dangerous. Any religion could be hijacked by those whose interest was only for themselves, not their followers. He thought of the Earth cult led by Jim Jones whose followers ended up killing themselves for their leader. Joe hoped in a morbid kind of way that all the linies would also line up for punch. As he thought of this he laughed out loud and the noise echoed though the dome. Everyone turned toward him. Joe gathered himself when he saw everyone staring at him. He felt his face flush.
“Hello brother, please share with us what you find so amusing.” Jead spread his arms out wide.
“I’m sorry, my mind wondered. I didn’t mean to disrespect what’s going on here. Please don’t let me interrupt.” Joe waved his hand as he attempted a vain apology.
“You obviously came here for a reason brother.” Jead moved his arms about as he spoke. “And since you have already interrupted, please, say what’s on your mind.” He grasped his hands in front of himself and raised his chin looking down upon everyone.
“Um,” Joe scratched the back of his head. “I would like to have a conversation with you, in private.” He looked up at Jead and raised his eyebrows.
“There are no private conversations in these rooms brother. Here we say to all what’s on our minds.” Jead turned around in a complete circle as he spoke, making sure everyone heard him. “Everyone has a voice here and no one is more important than the others. Please enlighten us all.” He knew he had Joe in a corner and he continued to provoke him.
“I need to talk to my friends.” He clenched his fists by his side.
“We are all friends here brother.”
“I mean my friends from Earth.” Joe’s voice raised as his annoyance grew.
“Dr. Zanagar is here and Dr. Becker is with Sister Bellow. Sister Bellow is our historian and they are down at the breakers. The good doctor is getting a history lesson. Are they not free to feed their minds brother?”
“Cut the crap Jead, you can feed them the shit all you want but they are too intelligent to believe this stuff.” Joe waved his arms toward Jead. He couldn’t help himself. “Look, believe in anything you like, I don’t care and I won’t stop you. Just don’t push your beliefs onto me.”
“We’re not pushing anything onto you brother, the door is open, and anyone can come and go as they please.” Jead turned his head from side to side, making sure everyone could hear him and taking full advantage of the opportunity to preach in front of everyone.
“And what about the people who die during your rites? Can they still come and go as they please?” Joe slowly walked toward the center. He couldn’t just leave now.
“They are free. Their energy is reunited with the universe.” Jead raised his arms, looking up towards the ceiling.
“Oh come on Jead, when they die what happens to their credits? Do the credits go with them as well or do you get them?” Joe stopped in front of the center mound pointing directly at Jead. There was a low murmur in the crowd. Jead fell silent for a moment with a forced smile.
“Those who choose to help us by donating their credits after they reunite with the river do so by choice. No one asks them or forces them too.” Jead calmly stood with his hands clasped in front of himself.
“Oh I bet no one forces them to.” Joe looked down, turning his head and mumbling to himself, ashamed that he’d been drawn into an argument.
“Is that what you are worried about Joe? Credits?”
/> “I’m worried about their lives, their freedom of choice.” Joe paused for a second and scanned the room. “I’m worried about them being sucked into this cult and having their freedom taken away.”
“Like I said, these doors are always open and they have no locks.” Jead raised his arms motioning to the doors located around the dome.
“These people deserve more of a productive life than this, Jead. They deserve a life that tries to better oneself and strive for a greater understanding of nature and the state of the universe.” Joe stood firmly in front of Jead glaring at him.
“That’s exactly what we are doing here, trying to understand the universe. The energy of the universe,” Jead leaned forward, ready to continue his preaching, but he was abruptly interrupted by Joe.
“I’m not talking about some abstract idea that you cannot prove brother,” Joe raised his arms as he spoke, he could not hide the sarcasm in his voice. “I’m talking about reality, the real world what you can touch, smell, hear and taste.” Joe pointed to this chest rapidly tapping it. “I’m talking about learning and understanding our physical world how it behaves and how it acts and our roll in all of this.” He raised his hand in a gesture to stop. “Look, believe what you want. I don’t want to preach to you, I’m not about that. I just want to talk to my friends that’s all.” He looked away from Jead and walked toward Dr. Zanagar and motioned to him to follow. Dr. Zanagar grabbed his clothes and put them on as they both left the gathering to go looking for Dr. Becker.
“The door is always open my friend, here you are always welcome. I hope we will talk again brother.” Outwardly Jead projected calmness, but inside he was boiling.