Chapter One Reticulum
It was a crisp fall day and
a large, festive crowd had gathered to watch the first official manned
untethered, hot air balloon flight. The balloon built by Joseph-Michel and
Jacques-Etienne Montgolfier and crewed by Jean-Francois Pilatre de Rozier and
Francois Laurent signified humankind’s adventurous spirit. Prominent
spectators included Benjamin Franklin, the representative from
As the balloon began its
historic ascent, someone nearby questioned the usefulness of this new
invention.
A young man joined the exchange
with; “This could be our first faltering step to the stars.” Waving
his arm to encompass the firmament, he asked rhetorically, “I wonder if
beings like us live out there?”
Reticulum
Concurrently, near the far
southern constellation of Reticulum, a race of aliens sought to answer the same
question. Reticulum, named by Lacaille in his Coelum Australe Stelliferum of 1763, occupies a position midway
between the stars Achernar and
The Alorians, while quite
alien in appearance, are physiologically similar to humans in size, form, and
function. Many generations of brutal rule under martial law had impoverished
the Alorians while developing weapons for which there was no need. A
significant technological development, based upon their knowledge of immaterial
force field generation, enabled them to create a passageway through hyperspace.
Their “Portal” would almost instantaneously shift cargo and living
creatures between two Portals tuned to each other. Further experiments revealed
that operating in a planetary gravity well limited the range of the Portal
despite its theoretically unlimited range when operated off-planet.
The Supreme Leader of Alor
ordered the design and construction of a computer piloted interstellar vessel.
This vessel, the Star Warrior, would serve to transport a Portal to their
nearest neighbor, the star we know as zeta one RET.
They began with the
placement of a large asteroid, intended to serve as an impact shield for the
vessel, into a stationary orbit above Alor. Several warships began to carve the
asteroid with energy beams to create a balanced, symmetrical hemisphere of
metallic stone, the flat side of which measured a thousand meters in diameter.
Cargo ships then began to deliver shelters, shops, and a Portal unit for
installation on the flat side of the asteroid. They then began too portal up
prefabricated components composed of a synthetic material formulated for an
extremely cold environment.
Construction began with the
assembly of a cylindrical structure deeply embedded in the center of the flat
side of the asteroid. This structure, five meters in diameter and four
kilometers in length, ended in a base structure designed to house the
propulsion system of the vessel. Concurrently, a mold assembled from portaled up
components began to produce circular ribs measuring five hundred meters in
diameter. They connected these ribs, placed at equidistant intervals around the
entire length of the central core, with a network of cables to complete a
truss-like structure.
Upon completion of the
vessel’s framework, two Portals designed for continuous operation
delivered streams of mineral bearing water that quickly froze, thereby filling
the interior of the vessel with ice. A third Portal delivered and placed
self-hardening, protective slurry of reflective material to shield the ice from
the evaporative effects of a hard vacuum and radiant energy.
Mounted in the stern
structure of the vessel’s central core were four thermonuclear reactors
that used water to produce the ion streams that propelled the ship. Other
equipment included steering jets, sensor arrays, and three independent ship
control modules installed deep within the asteroid. Placed along the
ship’s core were fifty self-repairing, mobile, energy beam emitters designed
to melt ice and provide the water required by the thermonuclear reactors via
the central core.
Attachment of several
interstellar Portal units and sixteen, cruiser-class warships, equipped with Portals, to the lee side of the
asteroid completed the ship. Designed and built in sixteen terrestrial years,
the Star Warrior began its twenty-year voyage to Zeta one
RET within days of the launch of the Montgolfier Balloon.
Upon arrival, the control
modules aboard the Star Warrior activated a Portal to receive a crew that would
evaluate the options available to them. They selected the most suitable of the
three planets of the star, zeta one RET. and assumed a high geostationary orbit
above their chosen planet.
They found no signs of
intelligent life from their orbital vantage point and dispatched a
Portal-equipped cruiser to establish a base camp, protected by a force field
dome, for further exploration. The atmosphere and climate proved to be
acceptable and surface water was plentiful.
Ominously, they found that
the herbivorous, warm-blooded, mammalian inhabitants of the planet were close
to extinction while a huge, aggressive, insect population thrived. These
vicious insects killed several members of their party soon after their arrival.
They named the planet Alor II.
The favorable report on
Alor II launched the so-called “Coup of the Scientists.” Recent
technological advances now enabled the Portal to transport its intended cargo
from a remote location provided the cargo was located within the unit’s
line of sight. The scientists suddenly realized that they now had the ability
to rid their world of its tyrannical military dictatorship. They built fifty
airmobile Portals in total secrecy to implement their daring plan.
On “Freedom
Day,” the Supreme Leader, his command structure, and the elite Leaders
Brigade were portaled out before nightfall and immediately relayed through the
interstellar Portal network to Alor II. For the next six months, they portaled
out selected Alorians, their families, and supplies in a witch hunt-like
atmosphere until they felt secure.
Foolishly, the scientists
then formed their own military organization to defend their newly acquired
privileged status. The off-planet Portal was then shutdown for the next one
hundred and forty-five terrestrial years.
While on Alor II
A boisterous crowd of
hundreds gathered at the “Plaza of the Zaydar” to enjoy the
punishment of a fellow Alorian accused of sedition. Zann, an adolescent male,
his younger sister, and mother were present and securely tied to posts to
witness the suffering of their father and mate. The guards led Zann’s
father, who wore only a loincloth, out to the cage containing the dreaded
Zaydar. This dreadful species of the dangerous insect life found on Alor II had
killed hundreds of Alorians when they first arrived on this world some seven
generations ago.
His father’s escort
forced him into a face down, prone position on the drawer-like tray at the wall
of the cage and securely tied him to it. With a burst of laughter and vulgar
comments from the guards, one of them ripped off his father’s loincloth.
The egg-laden Zaydar, half
the size of his father, scampered about in frenzied anticipation, as she knew
she would soon join with this host for her eggs. After the joining, they would
cage Zann’s father on the plaza until the larvae hatched from the
Zaydar’s eggs and devoured him.
As the spectators began to
cheer, they pushed the tray bearing his father into the cage. As his mother and
sister cried out in horror, Zann bit his lip deeply determined to remain silent
through his father’s ordeal.
The Zaydar rapidly
approached and leapt upon his father’s back to deliver a vicious but
ineffective bite to his neck. In order to enhance the suffering of the
condemned, they had removed the glands that produced the Zaydar’s
paralyzing, anesthetic venom. Embracing Zann’s father tightly with its
six legs, the Zaydar's searching ovipositor moved up between the legs of its terrified
victim as an expectant hush fell over the crowd. Hysterical screams ensued as
the Zaydar began to deposit its eggs deep within the bowels of the
child’s father.
Zann awoke from his
nightmare screaming much as his father had on that awful day etched forever in
his memory. He suddenly realized that something was very wrong. The last thing
he remembered was gasping with pain when someone sprayed an aerosol mist in his
face as he left a crowded elevator. Looking around he realized that he was in a
prison cell and that a senior military officer was sitting in a chair just
outside the door.
The officer rose from his
chair with a quizzical expression on his face and said, “You were
screaming like they were joining you with a Zaydar. If you are not careful
today, you may soon be doing just that.”
Suddenly imbued with anger,
Zann began to stand and discovered that he was naked. Unable to sustain his
indignation without his clothing, he meekly asked, “Why was I abducted?
Why am I here?”
“We did not want to
give you an opportunity to disappear by ordering you to report to us and you
will find out why you are here soon enough. We picked up some of your clothing
from your home and it is on the bunk above. Select something to wear and I will
have a guard take you to the showers.”
Gathering a sheet around
him, Zann complied while thinking how grateful he was that his wife and
daughter were out of town visiting his wife’s mother. After he made
himself presentable, Zann’s captors placed him in the prisoner’s
compartment of a military police van that departed moments later. Once
underway, the officer informed him that Zarr, the Supreme Leader, had ordered
his arrest. His worst fears confirmed Zann tried to control his emotions and
prepare for the coming ordeal.
Upon arrival at the
Planetary Headquarters building housing the Supreme Leader and his staff, they
searched him again. They then led Zann to a well-furnished office on the top
floor and left him standing before a desk alone. A few minutes later Zarr
entered the room, took a seat behind the large wooden desk, and sat there
looking at his unhappy guest. Breaking the silence between them, Zarr said,
“I know we share a regrettable history, but I need your help and your
world needs it as well.”
Zann angrily responded
with, “Before my mother killed herself, she told me how my father
prevented you from accosting her while intoxicated. Then you falsely accused my
father of sedition and sent him to the Zaydar. You are responsible for the
deaths of my parents and your term ‘regrettable history’ cannot
conceal the fact that you are a cold-blooded killer.”
“Your father hit me
from behind and knocked me down in front of my peers at the Supreme
Leader’s annual ball. While my behavior may have been questionable, your
father’s was outrageous. I sincerely regret the deaths of your parents,
but your anger cannot change the past and neither can I. Are you going to
cooperate and do as I ask?”
“I would rather join
with a Zaydar than support the murderer of my parents.”
In response to the push of
a button, several guards entered the room and took up positions near Zann.
Picking up a controller Zarr turned to the map on the wall behind his desk that
began to rise revealing a large video monitor. The monitor displayed
Zann’s naked wife and daughter clinging to each other in fear while
standing between two beds in a room full of naked, leering soldiers.
Later
Zaber, Zarr’s senior
aide, knocked on the office door and entered to make his report regarding the
task he had just completed. Zarr asked, “Well, did you get rid of
her?”
“A short while ago
your wife and her staff departed for your vacation estate as you suggested. She
will remain there until asked to return. Zann’s wife, daughter, and their
personal effects have arrived at the palace and now occupy the rooms assigned
to them. I told Zann’s daughter she would share your bed and that we
would send both her and her mother to the enlisted men’s brothel if she
failed to please you. She began to cry like a child. Perhaps she is too young
for the honor of sleeping with you.”
“Be careful or your
tongue will join you with a Zaydar,” Zarr replied grimly. “I will
share the evening meal with her and her mother in my suite and I want their food
seasoned with a tranquilizer. After we eat, return the child’s mother to
her room and ensure that they do not disturb us until I call for the morning
meal. Bring Zann to my office when I arrive in the morning. We will see if his
offer of cooperation is sincere.”
Next day
“Good morning Zann. I
trust you found your accommodations adequate.”
Zann meekly entered
Zarr’s office and in response to a gesture by Zarr sat in the chair in
front of the desk. Zarr began by saying; “I know you are concerned about
your family. We have returned them to your home and they are under house
arrest. An excellent tutor will continue your daughter’s education and
all their needs will be provided for as long as we have your
cooperation.”
“What do you want of
me?”
“The tools I need to
conquer a world! Recently, the home world reactivated their interstellar Portal
and sent a delegation of military officers to visit us. The home world has
detected primitive, coded electromagnetic radiation from a star system some
thirty light years distant. They intend to refurbish the Star Warrior, load it
with weapons, and send it to this star. They have invited us to join in the
attack on the world of those foolish enough to advertise their existence. I
have little interest in this venture, as the Star Warrior will not arrive at
its destination before I am dead of old age.”
“Responding to an
invitation to visit the home world, I led a large, heavily armed attack force
through the Portal only to arrive unarmed and completely naked. Their Supreme
Leader, his staff, their wives, and a well-armed security force were present to
welcome us with their laughter. The traitorous vermin have programmed their
Portal to receive only living organic matter while leaving everything else
behind including my dentures. My entire army was prepared to follow us through
the Portal and consequently it knows of my humiliation.”
“I am the rightful
ruler of Alor. I intend to rule both worlds and nothing will prevent me from
achieving my goal. You will use your skills as our leading geneticist to
enhance the ability of our most vicious insects to attack and kill well-armed
soldiers.”
“We will use your
insect warriors to lead the next attack on the security force of the home
world’s interstellar Portal. My soldiers will take the weapons and
clothing of the dead and hold the Portal while our technicians reprogram it to
portal in our army and their weapons. Failure in this task will result in your
joining with the Zaydar and your wife and daughter will spend the rest of their
lives working in the enlisted men’s brothel.”
“For the sake of my
family, I will do as you command.”
“Zaber, my senior
aide, will be in charge of this project and will ensure that you receive all
the support you require. Both of you face the same consequences for
failure.”
Three terrestrial months later
The recently completed
planetary support base for the overhaul of the Star Warrior awaited the arrival
of its tenants from the home world. Meanwhile, on the opposite side of Alor II,
a newly completed top-secret underground facility became operational. Located
within a large system of caverns, this facility lay well beyond the reach of
the surveillance equipment certain to accompany the home world’s overhaul
party. Lavishly equipped, well staffed, and very isolated, its disparate staff
had just begun to accept their forced exile and coalesce into functional teams.
Zann, working late into the
night, sat at his computer terminal searching for information about his family.
He had recently noticed a similarity between the alphanumeric passwords
granting him access to the various scientific databases of the planetary
computer system. Zann had then written an algorithmic program to extrapolate
other possible passwords based on those they had given him. Zann, excited by his
discovery, waited impatiently as the computer completed its task.
Many hours later Zann had
the information he had sought so diligently. His wife and daughter had
committed suicide at the Supreme Leader’s Palace shortly after his second
meeting with Zarr. Zarr’s security force then covertly removed their
remains for cremation and disposal in a nearby landfill.
Burning with hatred for
Zarr and every member of his depraved species, Zann sat in shock at his
terminal. Pushed far beyond his breaking point, Zann came to realize that
Zarr's desired insect warrior could also serve as a means to extract revenge.
The on-screen information
regarding Zann’s family deeply shocked Zaber as he found Zann asleep at
his terminal. He rushed back to his office certain that his daughter would be
Zarr’s next victim. Using his personal password, he discovered that they
had disconnected his family’s comlink and that strangers now occupied his
home.
Before he could make a
direct inquiry about his family, the screen displayed a message stating that
the system was down briefly for software updates. When they restored service,
Zaber discovered that he no longer had access to any of the military, police,
and governmental databases.
Sick at heart, Zaber turned
to the bottle for solace. Finally surrendering to a long fought addiction to
intoxicants, Zaber could now drink to excess without feeling guilt.
Zann’s reaction to the deaths of his wife and daughter, an obsessive
drive to accomplish the project’s goal at all costs, initially surprised
Zaber. Later, he realized Zann believed that the project’s success would
enable him to achieve his ultimate goal of revenge.
Zaber then killed
Zarr’s blatantly obvious spy and continued to report to Zarr in his
stead. Very indifferent to each other’s pain, Zaber and Zann nevertheless
covered for each other as doing so permitted each of them to pursue their
personal agendas.
Five terrestrial years later
The Star Warrior began its
long journey with a perilous dive deep into the gravity well of zeta one RET.
The ship would soon enter the depths of interstellar space with the momentum
derived from its powerful engines and the gravity of zeta one Ret. As the Star
Warrior successfully completed this maneuver, the last members of the home
worlds overhaul party returned to Alor.
Zarr, free at last from the
home world’s ubiquitous surveillance, immediately scheduled a visit to
inspect the product of Zann’s project. Zarr arrived with an armed escort
fully aware that Zann had defeated the password system and knew the
circumstances of his family’s demise.
Zarr’s spy reported
that Zann continued to drive both himself and his staff to the point of
exhaustion despite the deaths of his wife and daughter. Zaber also reported
that Zann often courted open rebellion with the unreasonable performance
demands he imposed upon his staff. Zarr decided that the threat of the Zaydar
must be responsible for Zann’s dedication.
Zann and Zaber greeted Zarr
and his party properly when they arrived and led them inside for refreshments.
Later the group went to a small theater where a large video monitor displayed a
view of a huge cavern.
Picking up a remote camera
control and a microphone, Zann simply said, “Zarr, let me introduce the
Avenger, the insect warrior you wanted me to create.” As Zann directed
the camera view along the wall of the cavern, an awesome insect came into view.
Standing taller than an adult Alorian, it had a black, chitinous exoskeleton
and a segmented thorax joined by a slender, serpentine waist.
A short neck extending from
the top center of the smaller forward segment of the creature’s thorax
supported a large round head capable of turning from side-to-side. A horizontal
row of three large multifaceted compound eyes on the forward third of the head
provided the insect with a wide field of view. The top of its head brandished a
pair of seeking, sinuous antennae that drew attention to their constant motion.
Also attached to the forward thoracic segment were a pair of legs and two arms
ending with two pairs of opposable digits. A long stinger that continuously
flicked in and out of a cone-shaped orifice located between its arms on the
front of its thorax and suggested the dangerous nature of this creature.
The larger, rear segment of
the thorax was a black, chitinous platform supported on four legs and topped
with a flexible, hairy integument that enclosed the creature’s abdominal
organs. Beneath this platform hung two, parallel rows of red, coiled tendrils
running front to rear which added to the creature’s malevolent
appearance.
Zarr, enraged by what he
saw, said, “That creature is too big and slow to be effective against
even a lightly armed, trained soldier!”
“My Avenger can kill
anyone here without difficulty,” Zann responded. “If any of you
believe otherwise, I challenge you to prove me wrong.”
“Zann, you are a
fool. You can watch as I kill this ugly creature myself and then I will deal
with you.” Turning, Zarr ordered Zaber to take him and two others to the
Avenger. He ordered the remainder of his party to take Zann into custody and
watch the monitor to see how easily he could kill the Avenger.
Moments later with his
weapon drawn, Zarr boldly closed on the Avenger whose antennae moved as though
tracking his approach. As Zarr raised his weapon to fire, his body began a
violent involuntary trembling motion and he dropped his weapon as his two
companions fell to the ground unconscious.
Picking up the microphone,
Zann calmly began a running commentary as they watched the Avenger approach the
stricken Zarr. “As some of you may have deduced, the Avenger’s
weapon is its telepathic power. It can selectively induce the synaptic
junctions of its prey to fire at rates that will produce effects ranging from
immobility to death. Zarr’s trembling is the result of his fear and I can
assure you that he is fully aware of the danger he faces.”
“The Avenger is now
removing Zarr’s clothing as it would interfere with its digestive
process. The Avenger enjoys its victim’s psychic distress and will
frequently torture its prey before consuming it. Now that Zarr is naked and the
Avenger is holding his arms, it will release Zarr’s mind from its
influence.”
“The Avenger will now
employ its stinger to prepare Zarr for digestion. As the stinger painfully
pierces Zarr’s shoulder and hip joints, it is injecting a fluid that
dissolves his connective tissue resulting in a total loss of physical mobility.
Now the Avenger is placing Zarr’s butt on the floor and forcing his head
down between his ankles to create a smaller package.”
“The Avenger will now
squat over Zarr so that the tendrils hanging below the rear thoracic segment
can grasp Zarr and hold him for digestion. Watch carefully as the Avenger
rises. There, you can see that Zarr is still conscious and aware. The two
glands next to the tendrils are now exuding a transparent, viscous liquid that
will form a digestive sac around Zarr. This sac is now filling with a yellow
digestive fluid that will turn dark brown as Zarr dissolves. Honored guests, it
gives me great pleasure to announce that Zarr is dead!”
“While we wait for
the Avenger to finish with Zarr, let me tell you more about my creation.
Intelligent, powerful telepaths, the Avengers can understand and use our
technology. Asexual, they have no idea of love or even friendship although they
will work together to achieve a common goal. After every large meal, they molt
and reproduce by binary fission during their fifth molt. The resulting pairs of
offspring are small adults, each possessing the complete memory and mental
powers of their parent. They will eat live prey only and are always
hungry.”
“Have any of you
noticed that Zaber and I are the only ones remaining of our original complement
of more than a hundred? Were you aware that tens of thousands of refugees
hiding from our despotic rulers once occupied this wilderness area? The
Avengers have eaten our entire staff and most of the refugees and will
compulsively eat and reproduce until the Alorians become extinct. When food is
no longer available, the Avengers will become dormant until they ultimately die
off. They now number in the thousands, and as I speak, they are capturing the
entire Portal network on our world. For the time being, the Avengers have
accepted my leadership and as they flourish, the Alorians will perish.
Eventually, they will achieve my goal of bringing about the destruction of the
Alorian race.”
“Watch the monitor,
as the Avenger will soon release the remains of Zarr. The abdomen is beginning
to swell as the essence of Zarr flows into it. Now the glands that produced the
digestive sac will quickly reabsorb it.”
Suddenly, the Avenger
dropped Zarr’s wet steaming remains to the floor prompting Zann to reveal
the depth of his dementia with the onset of his hysterical laughter.
Zarr’s hair, his eyes, and some of his internal viscera remained with his
bones prompting some of the terrified members of his party to retch with
revulsion. One of them shot Zann just as Avengers began to enter the room.
Thus began the end of the
Alorians while their interstellar steamship continued on its long voyage to
Earth.