Curse of the Legion (10 page)

"We took our kids out of school, and formed our own schools, in our guarded communities. It worked for awhile but now that's been declared illegal. The Ormans don't worry, you see—they have their own schools in the milbases, and the rules don't apply to them. But for us—well, they want our children. This is the final straw. We're not sure what to do. We're sure not going to send them back to those schools. Some of our sons, the ones who stayed in school, have adopted Newhuman clothing and customs and joined the gangs. It's horrible to see that. And now we hear all private property is to be expropriated by the Ministry of Equality, to ensure nobody has more than anyone else. It looks like the end for us. We'll lose our homes, some of them in our families for hundreds of years."

"How many Ormans are there anyway?"

"They won't release any figures. There's not many, I can tell you that. They rule through intrigue and guile, not through numbers."

"But there are millions of Outworlders."

"True. But the transgens outnumber us by ten to one and they're breeding more every day."

"Right. But their intelligence is half yours, you say."

"That's right. They don't do the thinking, the Ormans do the thinking."

"And they can't function without you."

"Not if they want to keep the society going."

"Do you hate the transgens?"

He hesitated. I was watching his body language, but it seemed neutral. "No. Not originally. But we're beginning to. There's only so much you can take. Most of us feel sorry for the transgens. It's not their fault they are what they are. It's the System, if you want to blame someone. It's the Ormans, they're the ones that are manipulating all this. They're comfortable here. They were fat and happy here under the System, and when the System started losing it they realized they had to act fast, or they'd lose it too."

"They obviously acted faster than you did. Was there any Outworlder participation in the revolution?"

"None."

"Any Outworlder political groups?"

"Not really. Only the OCA—the Outworlder Cultural Alliance. It's an overt cultural group with a covert political element. We plan strategy, for the future."

"For the future."

"Yes sir."

"Call me James, please."

"All right—James."

"I spoke with the Minister of Equality. He said Outworlders couldn't stand the concept of equality. He said it was unthinkable to you. What do you say to that?"

Kaspar drew a deep breath, and poured himself another dox. "More?" he asked me.

"Please." It was great dox. He poured me some more.

"What I say about that," he said calmly, "is that it's true. Equality is a lie that's peddled to the masses to ensure their loyalty to the regime. Inequality is the truth, not equality. There are no two individuals in the galaxy who are equal, either from their genetic inheritance or from subsequent environmental influences. Everybody's different. And if you want to divide up mankind into groups or races, by whatever guidelines you use, you can reach valid general conclusions based on the groups and the groups are going to be unequal as well. And if you're going to compare human and non-human or semi-human groups, the inequality is going to be even greater. Anyone who says different is just parotting government propaganda. Equality? Give reality a try and then tell me about equality. Send your daughter to a public school here in Santos and then tell me we're all equal, humans and Newhumans. What rot! Equality of opportunity is fine, but equality of outcome? That's what they want here, and that will never happen unless it is imposed by force. Which they're doing. Equality is a fantasy—it's just political propaganda for the dim-witted."

"I see. Tell me, do most Outworlders here feel the same way you do?"

"Yes, they do. That's why I was selected to see you. I'm President of the OCA. Everything I've told you was discussed and approved in advance by the OCA. I'm not speaking for myself, but for the Outworlder people of Santos, through the Outworlder Cultural Alliance, which is the closest we have to a political organization."

"And are most of your members as satisfied with the current situation as you are?" Passive, I thought. They're just like sheep, being led to the slaughter.

"Satisfied? I'm hardly satisfied. Neither are they."

"It's just that you've taken no action. Millions of Outworlders, about to be disenfranchised. What have you done?"

"There's not much we can do, is there? Make a move, and we're tossed in jail. I spend most of my time fighting the bureaucracy, fighting for my people in court."

"Has any of that proven effective?"

"No."

"I see. Well, Doctor, I'd like to thank you for the information. I now have a much clearer picture of the problems faced by our Outworlder cousins on Santos. I wish you the best of luck in resolving your situation."

"We need more than luck…James. Can ConFree help us?"

"I don't know. But knowledge is the first step. And I can assure you that the highest levels of ConFree are going to be reading my report."

"That's great! Will you make recommendations?"

"No."

"What's likely to happen?" He was focused on me like a laser.

"From what you've told me so far, what's likely to happen is that the Outworlders on Santos are going to become an enslaved race, powerless and leaderless, ruled by half-human brutes who hate them."

"What I mean…is what is ConFree likely to do about this situation?"

"I don't know. It appears we'll be going to war with Asumara soon. I wouldn't expect that any resources are going to be freed up to intervene on Santos. As a matter of fact, if I were you, I wouldn't depend on ConFree."

"You're not giving us much hope." He appeared stunned.

"It sounds like you want Deadman to drop from the sky, smite your enemies with his sword, and solve all your problems. I wouldn't count on that. Doctor, you have a fine home, a wonderful family, and a relatively comfortable life, despite the problems you've described. If you want to change the situation on Santos, all that has to change as well. You have to risk all that. You have to risk your life and the lives of your family—all of them. You have to risk all you own, to build an alternate future. If you're not willing to take serious personal risks, you'll not get what you want. It's going to be up to you, and the rest of your Outworlder colleagues—not ConFree. Take a poll. See how they feel. Then decide what to do."

"What would you advise?" He was desperate—that was clear.

"I'm not giving advice. It's up to you, not me. I'm just gathering information. You have all the facts you need. Who do you think your enemy is? The transgens?"

"No—it's the Ormans."

"Of course it is! And there's not too many of them."

"Right. So you're saying…"

"I'm saying nothing. I was told to make no promises and offer no hope. You know the situation here a whole lot better than I do. The future is up to you—not ConFree."

"Perhaps you should talk with some Ormans?"

"No. There's no need. I already know how their minds work. There's nothing they could tell me that I don't already know." My last conversation with an Orman had been short, I recalled. I had terminated the discussion by shooting him in the head. Tara had a list of Ormans I was supposed to see, but I was ignoring that.

"What shall I tell the OCA?"

"Tell them the future is entirely up to them. Goodbye, Doctor. I'd better go now. You've told me all I have to know, and I'll relay it all to ConFree. I'll pray for you, for your family, and for all the Outworlders on Santos." I traced the sign of the Legion in the air, before his face. I swear I could almost see it burning there. I sure didn't envy him. Being a slave was not easy, and becoming free was harder yet.

Chapter 5
The Biogen Liberation Front

When I entered Tara's office she was alone, standing up against the viewport, looking into the distance, seemingly lost in thought. It was a dark morning out there, the sky completely overcast with grey rainclouds, a faint mist in the air.

"Hello, Tara."

"Hello, Wester. Welcome back."

"Did you get my report?"

"I've read it, Wester." I joined her by the window. She was pale and grim—not even looking at me.

"What did you think of it?" I asked.

"What did I think of what?"

"My report—about Santos."

"Oh. It's not important, Wester. Not any more."

"Not important." I tried to remain calm. It wouldn't do to strangle my superior.

"We've just declared war on Asumara. Only a few hours ago. We've declared a galactic embargo and…and struck the capital with an antimat. Incinerated it. Our troops are downside already, as holo-x, recovering their weapons and moving on their targets." She appeared stunned—pale and shaken.

"You know what the U'tal did?" she whispered throatily. "They replied to our ultimatum with a recording that showed the three missing Fortuna girls, in the playing field of a stadium filled to capacity. The girls were holding hands—they were scared. Then a wild pack of those transgen apes came charging into the arena. They—they tore the girls apart—they ate them alive." Tara continued gazing vacantly into the distance.

"I'm sorry to hear that," I mumbled. What the hell else could I say?

"That's when we declared war," Tara said. "Only then." She was in an icy rage—I had seen her this way before. She was just barely under control.

"I didn't want this, Wester." Still glaring out into space, jaw clenched tightly.

"I know you didn't, Tara."

"I really thought they'd accept our terms."

"They're insane."

"I don't want war. Nobody who's sane wants war. It's them. They're the ones who've done this. They attacked us. Now we must show them the consequences. Not only them—but everyone. Everyone in the galaxy is going to see the consequences of attacking a ConFree world. Asumara is going to glow in the dark, for a million years. We'll kill every living thing on the planet's surface if we have to. We'll hunt down every government official, every lunatic priest, every murderous U'tal cannibal mercenary, and every mad dog transgen ape, and kill them all. That will be the mission directive—kill them all!"

I nodded mutely. She was absolutely right. There was nothing else we could do. Not if we wanted to survive. It was a cruel galaxy, and any perception of weakness could be fatal. We weren't weak, and the whole damned galaxy was going to get that message, loud and clear.

Tara turned away from the window. She was pale and trembling and her slightly slanted Assidic eyes were wet, but they were burning with rage and resolve. "Deadman will not find this generation wanting! We will meet every challenge, and smite every foe. We will defend our women and children, and our home worlds, to the death! Our brave soldiers will go right into Hell if they have to, and shoot Satan right between the eyes. Oh Wester, I'm sorry." The tears burst forth and I took her gently in my arms. She did not resist, just sobbed quietly on my shoulder. This was a first.

In a few moments she broke away and found her way to her desk and composed herself with the help of some tissues. I sank into a chair.

"I feel I've failed everyone, Wester. Sorry about the tears. It wasn't for me. I was crying for our soldiers. I was crying for everyone who's going to die in this war—even the enemy."

"Tara, you once told me that doing the right thing is never easy. It's always difficult, you said. Well, you were right about that. And you're doing the right thing here. That's certain."

"Yes. I agree. Now—your report. I'm afraid we can't help the Outworlders on Santos. Not now."

"Yes—I told them as much."

"How did they strike you?"

"They seemed like good people. But unwilling to take risks. They claim they're more intelligent than the Newhumans, but—well, I'm sure that's true, but the Newhumans were their slaves, and now the Newhumans are the masters, and the humans are the slaves. It makes you wonder who's really smarter."

"Wealth, laziness and apathy always ends in slavery, Wester. It's one of the laws of history. I have something I want you to look at—read this." She tossed me a single sheet printout, done in elaborate, formal script.

Demarche and Ultimatum

To the Director of the Executive Council and the Council of Ministers of the so-called Confederation of Free Worlds.

From the First Comrade of the Leadership Commune of the People's Egalitarian Stellar Commune, assembled in the name of the People and the Revolutionary Union Party at the People's Hall at New Life Martyr's City, Angaroth, in Year 12 RV.

"Skip all that stuff up top," Tara said. "Go to para 5." I did so.

5. The People's Egalitarian Stellar Commune of Angaroth and Kotazh solemnly declares that it will never falter in its fraternal defense of the Asumara Holy Commune and that it will support unwaveringly the brave people of Asumara against all outrages, provocations and sacrileges committed by the Legion of Death and the Vulture Fleet of the so-called Confederation of Free Worlds. Furthermore, the People's Egalitarian Stellar Commune stands strongly by our Asumara comrades in any justified action of self-defence taken by them against the Criminal Conspiracy. In addition the People's Egalitarian Stellar Commune hotly rejects and forcefully denies the Criminal Conspiracy's frantic accusations that the People's Egalitarian Stellar Commune supported or was in any way responsible for the so-called Fortuna Affair.

"We're worried that the Pegal Stelcom may intervene on the side of Asumara," Tara said. "Asumara is independent, but they're loosely aligned with the Pegal Stelcom. What do you think of Para 5?"

"Well, let's see…they'll defend Asumara unwaveringly etc.…etc.…Asumara is justified…and the Pegal Stelcom didn't do Fortuna."

"Right. How about 'justified action of self-defense'?"

"Just hot air. How else can they justify it?"

"How about these 'outrages, provocations and sacrileges' we're supposed to have committed?"

"How about it? We didn't do anything like that, did we?"

"No. We didn't. Until now. The thing is…the Pegal Stelcom, amidst all the propaganda rhetoric, is saying they didn't back, or do, Fortuna."

"Well, what else are they going to say? Why should they admit it?"

"No, Wester. I believe them. They've got all this hyper rhetoric, for the benefit of their ally, but they're telling us, strongly, we didn't do it! I tend to believe them."

"Will it make any difference? Are we going to war against them as well?"

A buzzer sounded on Tara's desk. "The Biogen Delegation, Sir," her secretary announced.

"I'll be right there, Lori. Come with me, Wester. I want you to see this."

###

There were two of them, awaiting us patiently in a small conference room behind a table of polished wood. As we entered they rose to greet us, two lovely young females, one blonde, one brunette, both with short haircuts, clad in identical khaki uniforms. It was only their fragile, unearthly beauty that gave away the fact that they were both biogens.

"Greetings," Tara said, "from the Confederation of Free Worlds. I am Antara Tarantos-Hanna, Deputy Minister of Galactic Information, and this is James Wester who represents the Ministry of Interstellar Relations. You asked for contact with the Ministry of Galactic Information so I am the lead official for this meeting. Mr. Wester will monitor this meeting for the Ministry of Interstellar Relations. They are most anxious to meet with you but we are honoring your request. I can assure you that I am empowered to speak on behalf of the Executive Council of the people of the Confederation of Free Worlds. How may I help you?"

The two lovely girls were standing still, focused on Tara. They seemed…uneasy. The blonde finally spoke. "Is it a biogen?"

Tara looked at her in surprise. "No, I am fully human."

The two girls glanced at each other briefly, and smiled. The blonde spoke again. "Our apologies. It is truly beautiful. It resembles a biogen. We are designation Stelzu Unit 920345 and our companion is designation Minzu Unit 112009. We represent the Biogen Liberation Front of the Hyades Cluster. Specifically we represent the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Zequord 3."

"We wish to express our sympathy," the brunette Minzu said, "for its tragic losses on the planet Fortuna and offer our condolences on behalf of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Zequord 3 and the Biogen Liberation Front. We also have been informed of its declaration of war on Asumara and, on behalf of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Zequord 3 and the Biogen Liberation Front, we wish to express our hope that its aims will be resolved satisfactorily and that the loss of life associated with this decision will be minimal."

"On behalf of the people of ConFree, we thank you," Tara said. "Please be seated."

"We have been sent here," the blonde, Stelzu, began the instant she was seated, "to informally determine whether friendly diplomatic relations are possible between the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Zequord 3 and the Confederation of Free Worlds."

"We are most desirable of friendly relations," Minzu stated, "and are fully empowered to initiate formal diplomatic relations as soon as possible, subject only to approval from our respective governments."

Biogens—they were a pair of beauties, almost irresistible to a hetero maniac like me. The System had used them as soldiers, lovely sweet things just like these. They were so tough it was scary. We had fought them on Pherdos in a horrible, bloody battle. Their only mission was to exterminate Legion soldiers. We were imprinted right into their brains. The only way we could stop them was to kill them. I killed plenty of them, and I hated it. To me, they weren't biogens, they were girls. And I don't like killing girls.

"We have been instructed to explain the goals of our revolution clearly," Stelzu said, "and to determine whether the Confederation of Free Worlds will embrace a new nation of free biogens or will oppose the birth of this new nation and side with human forces from the Hyades Federation and the United System Alliance to deprive the biogen people of the political and human rights to which we are entitled."

"We have long admired the Confederation of Free Worlds because it has always opposed slavery in principal and favored freedom and liberty for all peoples," Minzu said. "Now we ask whether the Confederation of Free Worlds will favor freedom and liberty for all peoples, or only for human peoples."

"Zequord 3 is now firmly under control of the Provisional Revolutionary Government and the Biogen Liberation Front," Stelzu informed us. "All organized resistance is over. The purpose of our revolution is to establish a homeland for all exploited and oppressed biogen slaves, to give their lives meaning and fulfillment, to join the galactic community of human worlds, and to live in peace with our former exploiters. We are showing mercy and fairness to our former masters on Zequord 3. We invite it to visit us there and observe for itself. We will work with the human population to restore the society and economy to peaceful conditions as soon as possible. We seek no vengeance or even justice. All our human enemies will be forgiven if they promise to work with us peacefully to build a new world, and anyone who wants to leave the planet will be free to do so."

"These documents will explain our revolution and our aims in detail," Minzu said. She slid a fat packet of datapaks across the table to Tara.

The two biogens settled back in their airchairs, silent, focusing on Tara. I had no idea what Tara was going to say, but I sure knew what I'd have said—what an opportunity!

"On behalf of the people of ConFree, I thank you for your presentation and for the data," Tara said. "I can assure you that the Executive Council of the Confederation of Free Worlds has been watching the situation on Zequord 3 with great interest, and we congratulate you on the success of your revolution. Although I cannot give you a definitive answer until I meet with the Council in full session, I can assure you that our attitude towards the Biogen Liberation Front and your provisional government is completely friendly, and as you know, we did not have friendly relations with the Hyades Federation, its predecessor the Democratic People's Federation of Loyalist Worlds, or the United System Alliance. I see no immediate reasons why the Confederation of Free Worlds and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of Zequord 3 should not initiate full diplomatic relations as soon as possible."

Some people say biogens don't show their emotions but I'll tell you those two were thrilled. It looked like they had to restrain themselves from jumping up and cheering.

"And as for ConFree favoring humans over biogens," Tara continued, "I feel you should know that at this very moment our Executive Council is discussing a change of policy to give all biogens within ConFree full civil rights, equal to those possessed by non-citizen humans. This proposal was initiated once it became completely clear that biogens had become self-aware. Given our new policy towards biogens, diplomatic relations with your revolutionary government would seem to be a logical development."

The biogen dolls stood up. "May we kiss it?" the blonde asked Tara. "It's a sign of affection and a seal of friendship among biogens."

Tara gave them a dazzling smile. "It's the same for humans," she said, and she gave both of them big wet kisses as I stood by foolishly. "I'd like to offer you some refreshments. What would you prefer?"

"Does it have any ZD-70?" Minzu asked. "We could use a hot lube."