S. R. Jaborsky
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My dad used to play a tape recording he made of me when I was 5
years old (1956). On it, I related a story about a ‘mechanical
man who roamed the land’. I guess that was my first science
fiction story. My favorite T.V. show in those days was ‘Science
Fiction Theater’ (“Let me show you something interesting.”)
Later, ‘Men Into Space’, ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘One Step Beyond’
and even ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ captured my imagination.
D.C. Comics were a staple. Tom Swift stories helped me to learn
to read. I’m not sure when I discovered Bradbury’s ‘The Martian
Chronicles’ but I reread it many times during my grade school
days. He became my favorite sci-fi author at the time. Of
course, I soon discovered Campbell, Asimov, van Vogt, Heinlein
and many others. A particular favorite is Fritz Leiber. All are
‘Golden Age’ authors and the genre I attempt to imitate.
Ordinary folks caught up in extraordinary events is the
template I begin with (the ‘Alfred Hitchcock’ influence no
doubt). It doesn’t matter if those folks reside on Earth or in
another galaxy or if the extraordinary events involve an
invasion from space, a domination by rogue computers, questions
of God and existence or speculations on the future; logic is
logic but the responses to such events and concepts make the
story.
Now retired, my working life was spent in CNC manufacturing. I
had the opportunity to be trained on early computers. Turned
out I had an affinity with computerized machining and ended my
career a few years ago working with state of the art computers
doing incredible things with unbelievable machinery.
Programming in the various languages, getting the utmost out of
the equipment and even going beyond limits to have the machines
do things they were never designed to do became my forte. I was
consulted on a few jobs after retirement. In my working years,
my main focus was Defense and Aerospace. I was involved in some
neat projects including F-15 engines, launching systems for
Patriot missiles, the JSOW missile guidance system and a few
others things I probably am not allowed to discuss even today.
During those years I wrote as much as possible, submitted a few
stories here and there and had a grand total of two short
stories published! Retirement has allowed me time to work in
earnest on a passion that has been inside me since I was 5
years old.
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Seron Ti’s military prowess was equaled only
by her achievements made in the areas of science. However, her
Travels for the advancement of The Chronicals of Dahr and the
veneration of All were unsurpassed by any other Dahren Traveler.
On this day she was to be celebrated by the Encyclopedians and
indeed the entire Citizenry. But Seron held a secret. She must
openly defy the Encyclopedians and institute chaos in the Hall.
And she must escape Dahr.
Blain had been through hell. Employed by Worldwide Newsgroup, he
was recovering at home from injuries while covering one of the
damned wars. He glanced at his Pulitzer Medal for Journalism.
Did it really mean anything? He was cynical and burned out. He
didn’t know that 3 golden discs were about to lead to the most
incredible journey of his life. And he would be unable to report
it to anyone.
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Most countries on Earth seem to be involved
in the revolutionary space project. Roy Blain, reporter for
Worldwide Newsgroup and his friend, Professor William ‘Wild
Bill’ Taylor, suspect the low earth ion powered orbiter tagged
‘VIP’ is much more than advertised. Their investigation leads to
more questions than answers. Could an Earth at last united in
cause be looking for an enhanced pathway to the stars? Or is the
entire Project VIP a fraud for a much more sinister purpose? The
notion of a Rosolite influence cannot be discarded. The return
of Seron and her cousin Quillian of the revered House of Ti,
more than 70 years after Seron’s last visit to Earth, prompts
Blain, Taylor, Seron and Quillian to embark on a dangerous race
to stop an experiment that could disrupt the entire Solar
System.
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Seron Ti once again travels to
Earth. Dahren gold has appeared on Earth, which means production
of devices banned by U.N. Decree. Expatriate, Worldwide reporter
Roy Blain has rejected society and changed his identity but due
to a device implanted within him, Seron Ti makes contact.
Emotions are rekindled, but must be set aside to combat this
latest extraterrestrial intrigue.
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| Ti |
Chapter One
The Truth is always palatable, but the heart determines the
flavor.
~ Ancient Dahren Book of Contemplations
Ti, Chronicle, Subjective Distributor, Register 2
“Citizen Seron Ti, Circle of The Most Excellent Cosmotic
Travelers, holder of the Holy Medal of All, Mechanical Physician... the list goes on, and is as numerous as it is glorious.
Your accomplishments for All have been revered and praised for
the Gathering of Truth and Knowledge. Now, with pride and
reverence, we bestow upon you the Crystal of the Hall and wish
you peace, happiness and success as The Coordinator of the
Archives. Your untiring gyres of work toward the orderly
compilation of the history of All has made you...”
“Has made me expendable, Aabec Ai! Tell me, First Encyclopedian,
what is your fear, that you choose this time to end my travels?
Why address me in the High Tongue when your hidden thoughts are
vile and conniving?” I shouted from the floor. Both
Encyclopedian and Citizenry in attendance became hushed. There
had been rumors circulating about my mental state, but a
forgiving Citizenry and respect for a Traveler had hushed
discussion of Calming. However, because of the stress caused to
the most accomplished Travelers, Calming had been discussed as I
have become one of the most prolific. I had enlightened the
Encyclopedians with scientific and engineering acumen and was
now being honored with hollow words and false accolade. There
must be strong reason for this chicanery.
All eyes—from those in attendance to the millions observing on
tele-distributor—were affixed on the images in the Hall.
“And what will be the outcome of this most recent treachery
perpetrated by our most high and respected Encyclopedian and his
cohorts? Shall there be more crystals and rare metals to line
their hungry pockets or perhaps a number of Rosolite sex nymphs
to warm their barren and perverted chambers? I would wager the
outcome of their efforts will benefit none save themselves,” I
spat with a mixture of High Tongue and the most common of the
language. In either eloquence or crassness, I do not allow
myself to be misunderstood when dealing with treachery.
“Seron Ti, I would speak,” began Aabec Ai. He paused to
carefully choose his words as a warrior would choose weapons. He
continued in the High Tongue, ignoring my previous harangue. “It
has long been known that our great and holy endeavors have not
been without consequence to the most prolific. We are not
without compassion, dear Seron. We realize the nature of your
condition and hear your words as confirmation of your
affliction. We regret this as our fathers did, but the procedure
of Calming will right your mind and bring you back to us,” Aabec
Ai said with insincere tenderness.
A murmur again arose among the Citizenry in attendance. Aabec Ai
was showing great restraint and compassion toward me. Perhaps I
was suffering illusions of the mind and the Calming was indeed
indicated. The First Encyclopedian would surely do all in his
powers to allow me to speak again with a Truthful tongue. Aabec
Ai motioned for dismissal of the gathering.
Suddenly, I arose from the chair that was located in front of
the Encyclopedic body. “I demand my Right of Statement as
guaranteed by the Law,” I insisted. Afflicted or not, every
Encyclopedian, Citizen, Traveler and least of the Coordinators
had the Right to speak Truthful words at public proceedings.
After some discussion, Aabec Ai answered a weary “Granted.”
This day, I was not dressed in Citizen attire, preferring
instead the black form-fitting uniform of my rank as Traveler. I
slowly paced in front of the long table that separated me from
the Encyclopedic Body. With hands clasped tightly behind my
back, the green of my eyes wild and angry, I at last stopped in
front of Aabec Ai and surveyed the faces of the Body. Troubled
thoughts raced through my mind, and memories of my mother when
she was whole and loving. I froze my glance on Aabec Ai and
began in a low voice that was nearly a growl, “I will not
trouble the Body with a lengthy statement. The First
Encyclopedian speaks of illusory thoughts locked in a troubled
mind. Allow me to speak of real fears that are substantiated in
All’s Truth. What has transpired here today is a sham which
cloaks a scheme that will mean death to millions here and
countless more far away. I fear that our holy endeavors are
being corrupted by schemes of those who have little regard for
life and peace. I also fear and believe that an ancient and
decadent philosophy has reemerged to again poison the minds of
our Citizenry.” I then startled all present and leapt the table
that separated me from the Body, springing like a jungle animal
in front of Aabec Ai. Crouched in front of him, with my face
close to his so that he could feel my breath upon his skin, I
cried out that oath which is considered the lowest epithet that
could be uttered to another Dahren, “Above all, I fear that the
First Encyclopedian neither hears nor speaks All’s Truth!”
“Seron Ti!” cried Aabec Ai amidst the hue in the Great Hall.
“You overstep the sanctity of this Hall! Your enviable additions
to the Compilations of All does not give you passage to profane
this Body.”
“It is you, whore Aabec Ai, and those with you, who profane All
and Dahr!” As the Patrons approached me, I continued the
harangue. “Acquaint us but with one single truth! What manner of
star vehicle was received by you from the Rosolites for allowing
that degenerate world of Rosol secrets of the Shear? What
advanced weaponry are the Rosolites providing to a world
millions of pulses from Dahr in hopes of plunging that world
into war? The outcome will be the enslavement of that world by...”
“Patrons!” said Aabec Ai. “Place Seron Ti in Reticence and alert
The Physician. She speaks from night burdens. We will help you,
dear Seron!”
Two Patrons assumed positions on either side of me, one of them
holding a small tube. I made no move of resistance. The Patron
activated the Reticence device and as the bubble surrounded me,
I cried out, “You are a fatherless liar, rotting bastard Aabec...” and then silence filled in the Hall, as no sound could
escape the bubble encasing me. The bubble rose slightly from the
floor and with mere touches to the outside surface, the Patrons
guided the bubble out of the Hall.
***
I was transported to a chamber adjacent to the Hall. The bubble
was dissolved after the chamber door was locked. I peered out of
the portal and observed the gardens three floors below. That put
me, the Physician and Tubes all on the same level. All was with
me thus far.
After a time, the door opened and two Patrons entered. “You will
accompany us to the Physician, Citizen Traveler Seron Ti. I do
not wish to put you in Reticence.”
“You shall not have to, Patron Zi. My anger is directed only
toward those who wish to do harm to Dahr.”
I was directed to the chambers of Physician Garta Ki. He’s an
old and cherished acquaintance to the family Ti. He’d assisted
in my birth and watched over and counseled me through my
schooling and eventual training as a Traveler. My thoughts are
always warm toward the First Physician.
“So dear Seron, we have not conversed in an age. How is that old
rogue Klalo?” Garta Ki asked as he slowly rose from his chair.
The Physician used the same older High Tongue that was used in
the Hall, but his tonal inflections were warm and friendly and
pleasing to my ear. I met the Physician and touched my fingers
to his cheek.
“Father is well and wishes you to join him in an evening of
gaming and refreshments,” I said, as Garta sat back down behind
his desk. I took a seat directly opposite him with my back to
the chamber door. “Father says that you seem to avoid his
company as of late,” I said with a knowing glance; the slightest
traces of a smile escaped my lips.
“Dear Academician Klalo’s company is most enjoyable and
stimulating, but his libations are powerful and he is a much
better Rokala gamesman than this old Physician. And his wagers!
All! I consider myself fortunate to possess even my chambers
after an evening’s gaming with him!” Garta said, smiling himself
as he obviously recalled evenings of merriment in the company of
the family Ti.
Our smiles faded as a sunset into an uneasy and dark silence. At
last, the Physician sighed as he said, “Dear Seron, you seem to
have incurred the wrath of Aabec for yet another time. I
monitored the proceedings in the Hall on my distributor. How
could even you reverse a time of pleasure and adulation directed
toward yourself into such a brawl? Have you not yet learned to
keep your innermost thoughts from your tongue?”
The anger in me welled up when I considered the actions of the
First Encyclopedian. I had to make Garta understand what I was
doing here in his chambers. “We are becoming prostitutes of
knowledge that was sworn to remain secreted in our Archives;
knowledge so dangerous as to cause harm to the entire Bendyre
system and others in systems beyond our own. Aabec Ai is the
perpetrator of these actions. He is a conniving bastard that
cares not for Dahr...”
“Seron Ti! You have voiced these accusations before, but without
substantiation.” Garta’s eyes glanced toward the open chamber
door where Patron Zi was standing. “Perhaps the Calming is
certainly indicated at this time. You have been a Traveler for
many gyres, not even pursuing a mate and offspring.”
“You then think me mad?”
“Of course not, not in the sense that you fail to discern right
from wrong. You have a fear of
the Calming procedure because of the sad accident of your
mother. With all of your accomplishments added to your fear of
the procedure, these factors may have clouded your mind. Total
madness? No. The fact of the matter is that I must be present
when you are put through the Calming that Aabec will surely
insist upon. And for no other reason than that only the recorded
thoughts of your harrowing Gatherings of All will be effaced.
You will still know Dahr, family, friends and one particular
Physician.”
“And what of my mother? Will I remember how her Calming made her
as so much vegetation, the night burdens terrorizing her and
then brought out to be dressed, fed and returned to her chamber
at night?” I asked with anger.
“That thought will always tear at our hearts, dear Seron. The
Ghy-wave reduction device is no longer employed in Calmings. But
we still have her memories and great contributions to All.
Nothing can dim your mother’s truthful memory. And you, dear
Seron, have her fiery green eyes and space-black hair, even her
svelte frame and physical mannerisms. I do see your dear mother
when I see you. Of that, you can be proud.”
“Yes, dear Garta, her memory is Dahr and her thoughts are of
All, but that truthfulness of technology which we must keep
secret so that it is not transformed into destructive power is
currently being whored to the highest bidder by the faithless
First Encyclopedian! That is unconscionable! I would surely end
his ways! I would swear to see his demise!”
Garta put his hand up to stop my speech. He was watching the
Patron, who surely had heard the conversation. The Physician
feared for my immediate safety. I had always put my faith in All
and never feared to speak the truth and this sometimes had put
me in heated situations. Garta apparently wished to dissuade me
from further outbursts by saying, “Let us begin the
examination.” This would be the time to let him know of my plan.
With my back to the Patron, I raised my thumb to my lips as a
sign for silence. I motioned with my eyes to a universal
distributor that was on a shelf behind Garta. He realized what I
intended and casually picked up the device and laid it on the
desk between us and then placed an instrument against my temple
and began the examination. Still facing away from the Patron, I
quickly removed a contact disc from one of my eyes and placed it
in the omni-receiver of the distributor. The swift and practiced
motion was undetected by the Patron. The disc was a clandestine
information-gathering device used by Travelers to record
personal contacts on other worlds.
The actions were not wasted on Garta who picked up the
distributor so that only he could see the screen. A universal
distributor was always used by Physicians and did not arouse the
suspicion of the Patron. The Physician was silent for a long
while as he viewed the distributor screen, which had swiftly
translated the encrypted information contained on the contact
disc. He read of a plot I had discovered through the deciphering
of what Aabec Ai had thought was a secure and hidden distributor
log. Indeed, to most, it would have been secure, but I had
strong suspicions and applied all of my technical skills to
decrypt his entries. A shadow drifted across the wizened old
face of Garta Ki as he read.
Aabec Ai had sought and gained knowledge of a distant world that
would be exploited for personal gain by using that world’s
certain concentration of atmospheric gasses and liquids. This
perfect combination, not found on other worlds in this enormous
a concentration, would be used to create a fission, simply,
massive and of unfathomable power. It appeared the inhabitants
of this world would be manipulated into building the reactor and
a light transfer beam. However, the world would literally
consume itself after a number of gyres and die. The unfathomable
power generated by this reactor would be concentrated in a beam
and transmitted through the Shear, to be received by satellite
weapon stations in the Bendyre system. These satellite stations
could be directed toward any world in the Bendyre or other near
system. The least of these stations would be capable of
destroying a world with nearly limitless and highly-concentrated
light quantum-particle beams. Indeed, the date 694/os9 was
indicated as to when the final stages of some plan was to
commence. That was scarcely 12 periods in the future. And I did
not know what the actual plan was to gain control of D-8-3.
However, the successful outcome would make Dahr the most
powerful and dangerous force in the Cosmos, an aspiration never
intended by the Founding Encyclopedians.
Garta looked up to see the Patron approaching. I suddenly stood
up in front of the Patron. “Do you have no respect for a Citizen
and her Physician?” I began with fury. “Does Aabec Ai instruct
you to seek my medical records in order to use them to his own
ends?”
“I serve my office, Citizen Traveler,” was the Patron’s curt and
proper reply. He brushed past me and took the distributor from
Garta, but my stall was successful. The Patron saw only medical
readings on the screen.
“I beg indulgence, First Physician and Citizen Traveler,” the
Patron said with the highest inflection of the Tongue. He then
turned and stepped into the anteroom and sat at the far end with
his back toward Garta and myself. The Physician tapped the keys.
“What proof?” he wrote. I tapped a few keys on the pad and
returned the distributor to Garta. On it, he read of a journey
Aabec Ai had taken two gyres past. The Citizens were informed it
was a visit to the world Elpa-2 in the Renza system for the
purpose of trading food to that starving world for mining rights
on one of their moons. I had extracted the vehicles’ logs for
that journey, log entries thought by Aabec to have been
destroyed. Indeed, the vehicle had actually traveled to Rosol,
the fourth world in our own Bendyre system. Garta knew that the
world Rosol is known to be a harsh but technologically advanced
world ruled by a single leader whose methods were brutal and
totalitarian. With Dahren knowledge of most weaponry in the
explored Cosmos, Rosol was not eager to confront Dahr in a
conflagration, but was willing to trade knowledge for knowledge.
Garta saw the proof of the journey and the lies of Aabec Ai on
the copied logs, but what hopefully caused him the most fear was
that a Rosol Hostilvehicle was what Aabec gained and the
knowledge of the area of the Shear was what was exchanged for
that vehicle. A Rosol Hostilvehicle is a superbly designed and
built war vehicle that is nearly impregnable and highly
destructive. In more than one instance, Rosol had welcomed other
worlds into their sphere of influence through the employment of
a single Hostilvehicle. That would be the only vehicle Aabec
would need to overtake a world. And worse, knowledge given to
the Rosolites about the location of the Shear would give them
pulse access to any part of the Cosmos, an ability perfected and
used by Dahr in Gathering for All. Most certainly, Aabec had not
informed the Rosolites of his intention of destroying a world to
gain nearly infinite power, as even the Rosolites would fear the
intentions of the First Encyclopedian and not have acquiesced to
the trade. His explanation to the Rosolites was that Dahr
intended to study belligerent worlds with the Hostilvehicle.
They would have given him 10 vehicles for the knowledge of the
location of the Shear and the technology to enter and navigate
through its depths. The possible consequences of this treachery
were more than frightening.
Garta Ki set the distributor aside and again began touching the
examining probe to my temple and neck area as he weighed the
information that I had revealed. After a time, the Patron again
entered the chamber.
“I beg indulgence, First Physician, but I fear the Chief Patron
will soon be inquiring as to the Citizen Traveler’s whereabouts.
I am bound to...”
“Get out, Patron!” Garta said as he rose to his full height.
“I serve my office, First Physician!”
“Patron Zi! I know your parentage and saw you into this world,
but I will surely see you on your journey to All if you do not
depart immediately!”
“I shall report to the Chief Patron,” replied Patron Zi.
“The Chief Patron be damned! Go fetch him and quickly as I
surely have truthful words for him!” the First Physician said,
with reddening face and clenched fist. The Patron departed, but
not without securing a time lock to the Physician’s chamber
door.
“Seron, what would you have me do?” Garta quickly asked.
“You then believe me and not think me deranged?” I asked with
some surprise.
“Seron Ti, I know your family and I believe I know you. That is
first. Also during your brief examination, I applied the probe
to those areas of the brain that had affected previous Travelers
and those with signs of mental disease. There are no
abnormalities of your mind as far as I can tell,” the Physician
replied in a matter of fact manner.
“I expected no less of you, First Physician,” I replied in the
same stern verbal form. I then lightly touched his cheek as I
picked up the distributor. “There are instructions contained on
the contact disc describing what I require. Those items will be
found in my lodgings using this sequence of numbers found here
for all locks.” I indicated on the distributor where to find the
numbers which had been programmed into it by the contact disc.
“Also is described and recorded in language spoken on the world
to which I travel. I require an engram injection when we meet
tomorrow for my second exam. You will deliver the items to tube
26...”
“The redesigned Traveler vehicle? How will you...”
“I will acquire the vehicle by my own means. I will use the
vehicle to travel to the world of Aabec Ai’s intended conquest.
Aabec Ai may have already sent a vehicle to that world. I must
leave soon to intercept the assassin,” I replied.
Garta contemplated for a time and said, “Dear Seron, I fear you
put your life in peril. Surely, if we approach the entire Body,
they would hear you and explore your evidence.”
“Aabec Ai has recently manipulated my logs and reports and added
erroneous entries and lies. It was my own carelessness that
allowed that to happen. In the process of gathering the evidence
against Aabec, I left my own records open and vulnerable to
distributor tracers. The evidence no longer exists in public
records, only that which I showed you on my personal
distributor. He knows I am aware of his plans, but I no longer
have any tangible proof. You see, he must have me Calmed. The
more I rant, the more insane I appear without the actual records
and logs of his deceit. The more insane I appear, the more the
calling for my Calming and a meeting with the First Physician.”
“So the disruption today was...”
“A regrettable sham to contact you without suspicion wafting to
me or your own House. You are the only one I trust. Will you
please assist me?” I pleaded with my eyes as I did when I was a
young girl to gain some small favor from Garta.
“Dear conniving Seron, you knew that I would assist you before
you ever entered my chamber.” |
| Back to Ti |
| |
| Ti,
Hypershear |
Chapter One
Professor Taylor’s Office
Case Western Reserve University
“Am I talking to Roy my old buddy, or Blain, reporter
extraordinaire of Worldwide News?” Taylor asked the man seated
across from him at his desk.
“C’mon, Bill. You know me better. What you say goes into print,
will. What you say doesn’t, doesn’t.”
“Well, what we discuss now, doesn’t.”
“Fair enough.”
Taylor looked away from Blain and began. “I’m in a sensitive
position this time, Roy. Oh, I’ve dealt with the govs on
projects before, but this is different. It... feels
different. Some of the data needed for VIP has come through us
here at Case. I, myself, have furnished schematics for one of
the onboard computer systems for the command module. Some of
what I hear makes me feel this project has had a little special... help. I’ve felt this for a while.”
“Ever since our little trip to Hawaii a couple of years ago?”
Blain interjected.
“It truly sucks to be one of only two people in this world who
had proof positive of visitation by extraterrestrials and
couldn’t convince anyone because the evidence... disappeared.
I tried so hard to find proof, something the Dahrens overlooked
when they eradicated the equipment and thoughts of those
involved.”
“As has the other person who knows about the extraterrestrials,
and is a reporter, to boot,” Blain said. “I’ve tried to jog
Megan’s memory—what she knew, what she saw. All she says is that
you and I were on a fishing trip in Hawaii during that period.
They completely cleared everyone’s memory of those events,
except for yours and mine, but we’ve been through all this crap
before. What do you feel VIP really is?”
Taylor sat back down behind his desk, looked at Blain as if he
were debating a decision within himself, then opened a drawer
and withdrew an artist’s rendering of a spacecraft. He handed it
to Blain. At the top of the rendering were the words: VIP,
Vulkan Ion Propulsion. Restricted Use.
He studied it a while and said, “Yeah, okay, Bill. This is what
the VIP is supposed to look like when it’s built. VIP is
supposed to test a new concept in ion propulsion, once it has
established orbit around Earth. It’s been in several papers and
in all the tech journals. I’ve seen it before. It’s what the
Russian rocket is blasting into space.”
The picture was of a round, tubular-shaped craft with four
immense exhaust nozzles toward the rear, and eight engine blocks
affixed in a circular pattern around the main tube. A
rectangular-shaped projection located nearly in the center of
the main tube shape had small windows/ports on it, and appeared
to be the actual command module. On the front of the command
module was another nozzle, octagonal in shape with the open end
facing the front, or bow, of the craft.
“That octagonal object on the front of the command module. What
is it, why is it there?” Taylor asked.
“An air scoop? A collector of some kind? A mail slot? Look,
Bill, if you’re asking me...”
“Certainly not an air scoop and there’s nothing in space to
collect, at least not with a clumsy scoop.”
“You know, I don’t remember that nozzle or scoop in the press
releases,” Blain said as he studied the picture.
“That’s because it’s not in the press releases. This rendering
is for those of us involved in the project. This picture is
designated Ultra Secret. Just showing you could get us both
locked away in a cold, dark dungeon.”
“What do you say it is?”
“It’s called a Projector, which denotes matter being projected
and not collected. What it will project is a matter I am not
privy to and am pondering.”
“Well, whatever it is, does it matter?”
“There are other things that don’t add up. The Russian Vulkan
booster seems an overkill. A spacecraft the size of VIP should
be able to be launched from a much smaller platform. The actual
VIP craft must be of extreme weight.”
Taylor began slowly to swirl a finger around an empty drinking
glass on the table.
The pause became lengthy, and finally Blain said, “Look Bill,
I’ve known you long enough to read between the lines. If you’re
worried about me running to Megan with a hot story...”
“I think we’re about to embark on a path that is irreversible—”
Taylor said to the glass on the table, “—and extremely perilous.
What bothers me isn’t just the experimental ion drive. This is
not purely a NASA project. It’s unprecedented in scope. The
security is phenomenal. The ESA has a hand in it. Security is
shared with the Russian FSB, Chinese MSS, German BND, Japanese
PSIA and the English MI-6.”
“A lot of letters.”
“And three more: CIA.”
“Sounds like everyone is keeping an eye on everyone else.”
“I have taken extreme precautions in this very room just to talk
with you.” He gestured toward various devices around his office.
“Sound interrupters, maskers and low-level white noise to muffle
our conversation. Projectors aimed at the windows so prying
devices can’t peer in at us. If you, old buddy, had entered my
office with any sort of sound or visual recording device, I
would have known.”
“My cell phone...”
“Has been rendered inoperative.”
Blain looked at the screen on his phone. He tried to activate
it. The screen fluttered and slowly, letters appeared. The
screen soon read, YOU’RE FUCKED.
“Nice touch,” Blain said.
Taylor stood up and turned toward Blain. His facial expression
changed to a look of concern mingled with fear. What he said
next was blurted out as if unloading a heavy burden. “There are
other elements of this craft that have nothing to do with
testing a new generation space-drive, elements that point toward
serious experimentation in quantum physics. If what I suspect is
true, we, the inhabitants of Earth, are about to explore an
intergalactic jumpgate—a wormhole through space and time—near
Jupiter. And the public, hell, ninety-nine percent of the
inhabitants of Earth, are not in on this little endeavor.” |
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Ti, Au79 |
Chapter Nine
“I haven’t seen or heard from Seron Ti since she last departed
for Dahr two, three years ago.”
“And you haven’t had contact with any of our Dahren cousins here
on Earth?”
“One of the reasons I came to this end of our world was to get
away from our Dahren cousins. You do remember my last few
lectures before I dropped out of view?” Blain asked.
“I might have read an excerpt or two,” Nagle replied. She
actually had paid close attention to Blain after he resigned
from Worldwide.
“Can we go somewhere a bit more private? I need to discuss some
matters with you,” she said. The tone of her voice was just
below urgent.
As they entered the library in The Shanty, Nagle stopped and
glanced at the books on one of the shelves. She selected one and
sat in the chair offered by Blain. She slowly paged through the
book. It was The Subliminalists, the book that won Blain the
Pulitzer years ago, before Dahr, before Seron Ti.
“You were one hell of an investigative journalist in your day,”
she said as she set the book on a side table and accepted a
drink from Blain. “There’s always talk of another Pulitzer for
your Seron Ti works.”
“Not if I can help it,” Blain said sharply. “Those goddamned
books helped get the world in the state it is now.”
“Roy, do you consider cures for diseases a negative?
Preventative genetic vaccines for the elimination of Alzheimer’s
and diabetes before their onset? Control of weather and
monumental advancements in psychotherapy?” Megan asked.
“And all we have to do is become exactly like the Dahrens!”
Blain fairly shouted. “A benevolent and kind Government by
decree, we all could live to 200 and vacation on Jupiter, all
these marvels achieved in a few short years. Given to us on a
silver platter! That is, as long as we forget all of our
antiquated concept of government and become one happy family.”
“Advancements to benefit all of mankind seems a logical goal,”
Nagle retorted.
“But we don’t do the work! We don’t make the discoveries! Hell,
we don’t even make the mistakes! Decision by decree and
committee instituted and lovingly explained to us by a
philanthropic alien occupancy. Note that term: occupancy.
Everything in its own little box in its own little bureau and
again in its own little box. How orderly! Einstein in a cage.
Beethoven by generated digits. It ain’t us, Megan. It ain’t us.
What the hell has happened to you to buy into this crap?”
“So you assume the Dahrens wish is to discreetly conquer Earth?”
Nagle asked.
Blain became quiet and sat near Nagle. He then said, “No, I
truly believe the Dahrens only wish to advance their Earthly
cousins. They have stated that we are the closest relatives to
themselves that they have ever found in their travels. Parallel
development seems to have occurred between us. Genetically we
are indeed quite similar. I suppose a certain galactic love
exists with the Dahrens toward us. All good and well, but their
advancements came by their own discoveries. They were not handed
light speed space travel, control of gravity and manipulations
of space and time through Shears in space. Even the incredible
weaponry they either developed or gathered from far-off worlds
are used for defense and not conquest. The Dahrens discovered
those things. They invented them. Dahrens bled and died for
those discoveries. They have disciplines and respect for their
discoveries because they indeed own them. Their continued
advancements come from their unity. We are a planet without such
disciplines. We have not even achieved that level of acceptance
of all of our very own Earthly cousins. Our motives can be
either evil or generous, depending on our feelings that day. Our
level of discipline does not even approach that of the Dahrens.
Their motives might be rooted in generosity and a sort of cosmic
unity, but the outcome might become chaotic and divisive on our
world.”
“But we can learn. We can certainly achieve that level of
consciousness,” Nagle offered.
“Yes, but until we do, how many will die when the spread of
Dahren technology will allow a dictator the capability of
dissolving armies and any who disagree with their form of
governance and social order? Hitler with an E-disrupter.”
“That is the very phrase you used at your lecture that I
attended in New York.”
Blain smiled. “Is that the lecture from which you heard an
excerpt or two?”
“Roy, I needed to hear what you just said. I wanted to be sure
you haven’t adjusted your opinions.”
“Adjusted my opinions? Megan, we are in even deeper with the
Dahrens than when I ended my lectures. The threat is continually
increasing as long as the Dahrens are sharing their science with
us.”
“So you have not been in contact with Seron Ti or any of the
Dahren technicians on Earth?”
“Again with that crap! All right, Megan. Spit it out. What the
hell is all this about?”
She swiveled her chair toward Blain and looked directly into his
eyes.
“We have uncovered evidence that forbidden and threatening
Dahren technology is being developed by a major American
corporation, likely with the assistance of Dahrens and possibly
others.”
“What technology?”
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