A Galaxy Unknown 10: Azula Carver (15 page)

The next person asked, "Kordorl says you told him we can't wear what we want. Why not?"

"I never said that, and I'm sure Mr. Kordorl didn't say that either. What I said was that you will not be allowed to dress in accordance with former religious doctrine."

"Our religion doesn't require us to wear these grey cloaks. It's our preferred clothing."

"Are you a farmer?"

"Yes."

"Do you wear that when you're out working in the fields?"

"Of course not. It would be too hot and we need to move easily and freely."

"Do you wear it when you're home?"

"Of course not."

"When do you wear it?"

"When we go to town."

"Why?"

"Because— everyone wears one."

"So, you wear it so you don't stand out as being different?"

"I guess."

"Here, no one wears one. If you wear one, you will stand out as being different. Why would you want to stand out as being different here when you wore one only so you wouldn't stand out on Yolongus?"

The person sat down without replying.

"You may wear whatever you want, as long as you cover yourself sufficiently so as to not offend others with a too-scantily-clad body. But the clothes you choose to wear cannot conform to any religious doctrine that would make it immediately obvious to everyone that you are a practitioner of a religion other than the one-true religion observed by Nordakians and Obotymotians."

"You call that religious freedom?" an unknown speaker shouted.

"Wearing clothes that announce to others you are different will ensure you remain different— and apart. No one invited you to come here, and the people of this planet owe you nothing, but they are willing to provide a refuge to anyone who wants to become one of them. Remaining different and apart is
not
becoming one of them. 'In your face' apparel that announces you will
never
assimilate into this society makes your position perfectly clear. We will not establish protected enclaves within our society for people who wish to be apart. I've offered food for the journey to all who choose
not
to become an accepted member of Obotymot society. I suggest you leave now and attempt to find a place where you can happily remain different and apart from the main population. I wish you well."

Jenetta stepped down from the small stage as Mr. Kodorl came running up to her.

"Azula, we have more questions."

"Mr. Kordorl, I thought I made it perfectly clear that the rules I established regarding religion were not open to debate. Since you apparently didn't communicate that effectively to your people, I'm wasting my time here. Good day."

"Azula, please. I did tell them, but there are always a few fools who refuse to accept the facts."

"Then get up on that stage and make it clear that I'll make one more effort to answer questions about becoming a citizen of Nordakia and Obotymot. But if one more person again asks
why
the rules exist, I leave."

"Yes, Azula."

Kordorl stepped up onto the stage and looked out at the assemblage with obvious anger. "I told you all that questions about religious issues were
not
to be brought up here," he shouted. "The rules regarding religion are the rules, and that's it. This meeting is to clarify issues relating to tenancy of farms and becoming citizens of this planet. As far as anyone on this planet is concerned, the religion you practiced on Yolongus was left on Yolongus. What you do inside your own home is your business, but you will not bring that issue outside your home in any way. Do you understand? Now, if anyone broaches that subject again, they will be carried bodily to the ship and will not set foot outside again until that ship reaches another planet. Anyone who can't abide by the rules of this nation will be taken elsewhere. You probably won't find a host anywhere in the galaxy who is as hospitable as Azula Carver, nor a planet as ideally suited for agriculture, but you'll be able to stand outside your home and shout your personal religious convictions to the heavens all day, every day, as you slowly starve to death. Azula Carver has consented to make one more effort today. I know that many of you have important questions regarding tenancy and she will attempt to answer them.

Jenetta answered questions for the next twenty minutes before someone jumped up and said, "I'm not giving up my god for a nice farm and a comfortable life." Three burly men immediately rushed to where the heckler was standing and lifted him off the ground, then carried him away. That was the last time anyone interrupted to talk about religion.

~     ~     ~

Mikel Arneu came awake with a start. Alarms were sounding throughout his underground complex on Pelomious. Jumping from bed, he raced to his control room. Images of a dozen shuttles landing on his property filled the screens. It was an invasion, and he knew instantly who it was. The Raider organization had found him.

~ December 5
^th
, 2288 ~

Arneu knew he couldn't escape, or rather that
she
couldn't escape since Arneu's most recent body change had been from male to female. While Nicole Ravenau, Arneu had sworn an oath to herself that she'd never again use any of the DNA Manipulation Formulas she possessed that would make her a female. The sexual frustration she'd felt every day of her existence as a woman was responsible. Although a woman in every way except her memories, she'd been unable to even contemplate having a sexual relationship with a male. And her sexual trysts with females had been most unsatisfying when compared to the memories of sexual encounters she'd enjoyed as a male.

But after killing the real Strauss and then successfully acquitting herself/himself as Arthur Strauss for a time, he needed a new identity. He knew that the people searching for Strauss would be looking for a male, so he'd decided that a female body would be the best hiding place. It had meant another year of pain and suffering because of the changes necessary in a gender switch, but he was nearing the end of his transition and the pain was largely a thing of the past.

Arneu, now assuming the newly created identity of Aliana Shanara, hurried to take a shower, dress in the sexiest clothes she owned for the new body, and get her makeup as close to perfection as possible.

The people above her hidden, underground complex were just getting ready to use equipment that would smash through the reinforced walls and roof when Shanara pressed the control that raised the large, camouflaged plasticrete pad to reveal the entrance to the underground parking area. They were going to get in either way, and there seemed little sense in having them destroy her home. She still hoped she might be able to make them believe that she hadn't seen Arneu in years.

~

"Mikel Arneu?" the man wearing black commando armor said to Shanara when she opened the door from her living quarters to the underground parking area.

"No. My name is Shanara. Aliana Shanara."

The man raised a viewpad and held a key down while different images flashed on the screen. He went too far and had to back up. Then he held up the viewpad and compared the image to Shanara. "Yep. That's him," the commando said to the four others with him. "Let's check her for weapons. She's obviously not carrying a pistol or knife, but we're warned to watch for jewelry with poisoned barbs that can kill in seconds."

Shanara took a quick step backward. "Don't you dare lay a finger on me, you cretin."

Her protests did little good. They knew they had the right person. And Shanara knew they had her. After checking for poisoned jewelry and finding two pieces that appeared to fit that description, Shanara's hands were cuffed behind her back and she was led to the surface.

Once above ground, the small group headed towards the nearest shuttle. Shanara suddenly stopped walking and the lead commando walked into her, almost knocking her over.

"You left my house open. You could at least close the garage door."

The commando looked back at the raised plasticrete cover. "How do we close it?"

"You took my remote control. Press the red button and then the yellow button to close the cover."

The commando removed the confiscated remote from his pocket and stared at it for a second, then pressed the two buttons. Nothing happened.

"We're probably too far away for the signal to reach the receiver. You have to be closer."

"Get her aboard the ship," he said to his men. "I'll be right there." He began walking back towards the underground garage, repeatedly pressing the buttons as he walked.

Shanara, being led up the ramp of the shuttle hollered before being pushed inside, "You're still too far away. You have to get closer."

The commando continued to walk and press the buttons. He was almost to the cover when it finally started to move downwards. He watched as it closed completely and then turned back towards the shuttle. Suddenly an explosion lifted him high into the air. The full perimeter charge was sufficient to ensure he was dead before his body began to fall back towards the ground.

"I told you not to touch me," Shanara mumbled under her breath when she heard the explosion. Then she smiled.

~     ~     ~

"The people I brought from Yolongus have made their decisions, Azula," Storrgatl Kordorl said to Jenetta after being escorted to her office in the palace.

"And?"

"About three-quarters want to remain here and become citizens of Nordakia and Obotymot. They understand they will never own the land they farm and agree to lease it from you as do your present tenants. They also promise to work at being accepted as part of the community rather than seeking isolation in the familiar and promise to keep their religious observances inside their homes. The others refused unconditional acceptance of your terms and voted to continue their voyage until they find an acceptable home where they'll be welcome without having to change."

"Fine, Mr. Kordorl. I'm sure the people who stay will find that their new neighbors will welcome them and do everything possible to help them adjust. And what about you, Mr. Kordorl?"

"Uh, I'm obligated to help the remaining twenty-five percent find a new home on another planet. But— if you permit me, I'd like to return here after they're settled. I'm a good farmer and I have enough GA Credits from selling my property on Yolongus that I'll be able to lease virgin farmland and build a home right away without borrowing."

"As long as you agree to abide by the rules I've established, you'll be welcome here, Mr. Kordorl."

"Thank you, Your Grace. Uh, that is the proper way of addressing you isn't it? I heard some of your servants address you that way."

"Yes, it is the proper way, Mr. Kordorl."

"Thank you for welcoming so many of us to your planet, Your Grace. From everything I've been able to learn about you through media accounts and from your present tenants, I think the ones who have decided to go elsewhere are making a monumental mistake."

"Each person has to decide for themselves what will make them happiest. Obotymot is a wonderful place to live, but I understand that some people have to be able to, as you said, 'stand outside their home and shout their personal religious convictions to the heavens all day, every day.'"

"I'll contact your farm management group when I return from delivering the other refugees to whatever planet they choose. I don't know how long that might be."

"We'll find you a farm you can approve of when you return, Mr. Kordorl."

The Jumakas were in the doorway and stepped out of the way as Kordorl left. Jenetta, sitting at her desk, looked at them from across the room and noticed a change.

"Girls, you appear to be putting on weight," she said.

"Feeling fat," Tayna said. "Eating too much. Palace chefs putting too much food out for us."

"Are you sure that's it?"

"Not sure," Cayla said. "But always hungry."

"I hope this isn't too indelicate, but have you engaged in sex with either of the guys?"

"With Thor," Tayna said.

"With Nicky," Cayla said.

"Just one partner each?"

"It our way." Tayna said. "Just one."

"We call that being monogamous," Jenetta said, "when you mate with just one partner. Uh, I'm not suggesting that anything will happen to either of your chosen partners, but if it did, do you take a new partner?"

"Only if alone again," Cayla said. "Is your mate coming soon?"

"Do you remember Hugh?"

"We there when you first mate," Tayna said.

"Hugh will be here in a couple of weeks."

"Will you get fat then?"

Jenetta chuckled. "Uh, we'll have to see. I've considered it."

"You control it?" Cayla asked.

"Yes."

"Why?" Tayna asked.

"It's complicated. I haven't decided if it's the right time yet."

"When right time?"

"That's the big question. I suppose I have to discuss it with Hugh after he arrives. It's customary for humans to have a ceremony where we pledge ourselves to each other. I guess it started as a way to ensure the children would always have two parents to care for them. Human babies are much more fragile than Jumaka babies and for a much longer time."

"We see with Arturo and Berl. Jumaka babies be having own babies by now."

"Yes. We must be very careful with our children for the first five years because they're not totally coordinated during that time. And until they become teenagers, they need help and guidance."

"We always careful with babies," Cayla said.

"I know, and we appreciate it. Both Arturo and Berl will grow up to be strong men one day, able to take care of themselves and make their own babies. Uh, do you know how many days your pregnancy will last?"

"We think it about three moons plus a little, or hundred of days," Tayna said.

"And, uh, do you know how far along you are?"

"Maybe about one moon," Cayla said.

"So then your babies will be delivered about the middle to the end of February. How many baby Jumakas are usually in a litter?"

"For first time momma, can be one two. But usual is three four. Could be five, but not to first time momma."