Infinity (13 page)

   
“What, little boys and girls?”

   
“That’s enough of that.” Lebag slaps her on the face. “Oh, sorry, didn’t
mean that. I was just caught up in the moment.”

   
Just then the door swings open and Sarita walks in with her boyfriend
and Dvora swings her head to see. Lebag touches his wristband. Dvora turns back
and he’s gone.

   
Captain’s Chronicles:
 
Infinity
has left Earth II. We are on our way across the quadrant to another galaxy.
According to Infinity’s database on my home planet Earth, the galaxy cluster we
are now traveling through is 14 billion of Earth’s light years away from there.
Infinity’s data says it’s called Hoag’s Object. The fact that Earth had put a
name to it meant that we were getting closer to our goal. If the Earthlings
were able to view it from where they were, then we were not far away. I plan
not to make a mad dash for it right away, but keep Infinity on course at Hyper
Speed.

   
The galaxies they were passing they had never seen the likes of before.
There was a whole galaxy that looked more like a comet. There were different
bright colors and shapes of nebulae, quasars, and dead stars. Meteors and
asteroids filled the expanse of space. Billions of stars seemingly came up to
kiss Infinity like angels in the heavens.

   
Cruise was more excited than ever, as were the rest of the crew. Anxious
to find planets in this region, Cruise set Infinity’s search codes to the
proper frequency. Infinity had evolved to be able to pick up the sounds of life
from further away than ever before.

   
There were hundreds of galaxies in the cluster. The gravitational force
seemed to be greater than anything they had encountered thus far due to the
density of the cluster and the speed that most of the galaxies were moving.

   
“Captain, Infinity has picked up signs of life from the uttermost end of
this cluster of galaxies,” said the science officer Caleo, who was also now the
first officer. “According to Infinity’s data she just received, Earth named the
galaxy MACS0647-JD in the Earth- named constellation of
Camelopardalis, which contains approxmately sixty
stars in total.”

   
“Infinity, how many solar systems or star systems are there in that
galaxy that have any forms of life?” asks Cruise.

   
“All together, Captian, there are three solar systems that contain life
forms”

   
“Okay, Infinity, tell me how many have humanoid or human life forms.”

   
“Only one, Captain, I’m afraid. Would you like to know how many planets
have humanoid or human life forms?”

   
“Yes, please.”

   
“There are two, captain. The life forms on the two planets originate
from Earth.” Infinity projects a 4-D hologram of the galaxy, pinpoints the
solar system and then zooms in on it. “As you can see, Captain, the two planets
are in the habitable zone. One is slightly larger than the other. That’s the
furthest one, forth from its sun. The sun is larger than the Earth’s sun, but
weaker, as it is a red dwarf starting to form into a yellow sun, which will
become hotter and scorch the nearest planet. The furthest planet is now much
colder than the other one. It will survive and become much hotter, but will
keep its polar ice caps and have normal seasons.”

   
“How long will it take for that to happen?”

   
“The sun will reach full capacity two billion years from now.”

   
“Oh, so it won’t happen tomorrow then.”

   
“That’s right, Captain.”

   
“Plot a course, Gloraine, for that solar system, and Infinity, keep
listening.”

   
“Yes, Captain,” reply Infinity and Gloraine in unison.”

   
“Let’s do this in Quantum Super Hyper Drive 2,” Says Cruise. “That’ll
give Infinity some time to keep scanning for more data.”

   
Captain’s Chronicles: We reached their solar system in ten earth days.
According to the data Infinity
 
had
gathered during that time, both worlds are sustaining human life. The planet
closest to their sun is named Terrestra, and the other had been named Celestia.
Their technology is challenged, but they had managed to build spacecraft that
could shuttle back and forth from one planet to the other. They could go no
further than that. All the technology they would need for survival and
prosperity was at their disposal. The land masses had been divided into
countries and states, much like our own worlds in the Twelve Kingdoms. We would
attempt communication and socialization.
 

   
Cruise and the new communications officer Tristar Hoiler hailed both
planets by stellar radio after Infinity locked onto their frequencies. They
were still on the outer edge of the solar system and had slowed down. At their
present rate of speed they would reach the farther planet in five earth days.
From Infinity’s data Cruise learned that the larger planet, Celestia, was the
home of the present ruler or president of their Federation. Infinity’s data
also showed from their history that the two planets had fought a war several
thousand years before, and devastated most of both planets. The inhabitants now
were at peace and took turns electing a new leader every six of their years,
which were four of Earth’s years.
 

   
Connection was made and the president who lived on Celestia invited Cruise
and his crew down to the surface. He said that this was only the second time
they had been contacted since the two planets were colonized. That had been
recent, therefore Infinity did not pick it up. She was searching their past,
origins, species of animals and plants, and any information to tell us if they
were hostile or friendly. Cruise realizes that the visit they had must have
been Arthos.

   
“Welcome to Celestia, Captain,” exclaims President Cochran. “There is a
rich history here, we all share ancestry of Earth.”

   
“My mother was an Earthling.” says Cruise. The president looked at him
in a peculiar way.

   
“So you are a half-breed?” He smiled a forced smile and shook his head.

   
“We don’t call it that, Mr. President,” chides Cruise. The president’s
assistants, staff and bodyguards all held a breath. “But yes, I’m half Human
and half Quewythian.”

   
“I don’t know the origin of the other man who passed through here
several years ago, in fact, he never would tell us his name. Seemed like the
poor fellow was sufrering from memory loss,” chuckled the President.

   
“Did he say whoch way he was headed?” asked cruise.

   
“When he left I asked him. He said he was headed to Earth,” he laughed.
“I think he was delerious.”

   
“Why do you say that?” asked Cruise.

   
“Are you kidding?” replies the president. “Earth? Why would anyone want
to go there? And even if they could get there it’s all waste by now.”

   
“Do you have data that confirms that?” Cruise asks.

   
“Data?” the president laughs again. “Heavens no...we don’t need data to
know that Earth was made a desolate wasteland. That’s what I told the other
fellow too.”

   
Cruise felt that this man they elected as president was hiding
something; protecting something. Cruise cut their visit short. He wasn’t sure
he liked the attitude of the president and the people. It seemed like they were
prejudiced against races that were not all human. The fact that Cruise was half
human seemed to repulse him and the others. Cruise decided they woud not share
any technology with them but let them evolve into it themselves. They didn’t
seem to mind being backwards, and certainly didn’t have any aspirations to
explore other areas of space either.

 
The
president and his staff bid Cruise and his crew a farewell. Crusie thought it
strange that they didn’t offer any gifts of food or drink as was the custom
where he came from. He surmised that maybe Earth people were like these people.
Proud of being Earthlings, in fact, so proud that they took pride in not mixing
with other races. Cruise guessed that may be the reason why they do not even
try to venture out. They are satisfied and content with their little bit and
don’t want intruders. They want to keep their race pure Earthling. After they
returned to Infinity, she told them more about the Celetians and the
Terrestrians.

   
“Captain, while you were down there I scanned their physiology, biorhythm,
metabolism, cell-structure, heart rate and all other vitals of every man woman
and child on the planet,” said Infinity.

   
“What did you come up with?” Cruise asks.

   
“It is true that they are human, but the human genes have differences in
their chromosomes. Over the eons of reproducing only as humans, they acquired
mutations in their genes that affect their chromosomes. The very thing they
reject, mixing with another race, has caused mutations to form in their cells.
This has impaired their sense of humanity and caused the recluseness and
exclusiveness you observed while there.”

   
“So what is the bottom line we are talking about here, Infinity?”

   
“Captain, the bottom line is that the humans living on Celestia and
Terrestra are not really humans after all. They refused to mix with other alien
humanoid races by being recluse; closing themselves off to any intruders, as
they see it. In doing so they have also rejected the natural protections of the
alien environment and it in turn has turned them into aliens. Their DNA and
cell structure is no longer human.”

   
“So you’re saying that I’m more human than they are?” Cruise inquires,
hinting at the answer.

   
“That is correct, Captain.”

   
“What does it mean, Captain?” asks Glorainne. Caleo and the other crew
members on the control deck also listen.

   
Cruise looks in their eyes one at time as he explains. “That means the
so called pure humans we just encountered are a new breed of an alien form of
life. Through the eons their bodies have absorbed so much of the natural
spores, dust, radiation, pollen, bacteria, and even the food they grew all of
this time has evolved and mutated. It’s been been genetically modified. They
didn’t have the alien humanoid genes from the blending of races to protect them
from infection. They’re dying as a race. Infinity, how long do they have before
they become extinct?”

   
“They will be extinct in five more generations, roughly two hundred of
Earth’s years.”

   
“Wow, scary,” says Glorainne.

   
“I know,” replies Cruise. “I know now that’s why my brother Arthros
didn’t stay there long either. He knew somehow.”

   
“Captain, one more thing,” adds Infinity.

   
“Yes, you have more information?”

   
“If you had landed on their planet fifty earth years from now, even you
would have been infected with the virus they will be spreading then. It’s
dormant now, but in fifty years there will be a horrible epidemic that will
take most of the population. The survivors will keep reproducing and the virus
organism will be passed on to their offspring. This virus also eats away at
their brain cells and produces a catatonic state. The next two generations will
be catatonic by the time they reach adulthood.”

  
 
“How will it be for them in the end?” Cruise
asks.

   
Infinity answers, “
Everything hurts, the entire body is screaming in
pain. It is unbearable. They will be paralyzed and can't move. The body is too
weak, too tired. There will be blotches on skin, blood running from their eyes,
ears and noses. It will be apocalyptic condition and eventually no one will
survive. I have copied the genomes for our archives.”

   
“I’m not sure about this,” expressed Emedria, as they neared Cassiopeia.
“I think we should turn back.”

   
“No, Emedria,” Snaps Ophelia. “It’s too late to turn back and I wouldn’t
anyway. We’ve come too far to run like criminals.”

   
“What if father really hates us and he said those things just to get us
to come back so he could really let us have it? What if he wants to kill us?”
Emedria continues.

   
Yearalai steps up to defend her step father. “Emedria, bite your tongue.
He knows we had no choice in following our mother. He couldn’t have let us go
free and not the others. It’s better this way.”

   
Chajux Motreq, who is sitting in the dining area finishing up his lunch
overhears what the girls are dalking about. “Ophelia’s right. We have no choice
now but to go through with this. If we turn tail and run now, Casseopeia’s
sentinel crafts will only chase us and maybe perceive we are invaders. We could
even get blown out of the atmosphere before we even have a chance to get away.”

 
  
Chajux’s spacecraft entered
Cassiopeia’s airspace and was hailed. “Identify yourselves and your craft.”

   
“This is the transport trade vessel called Providence. We are a cargo
vessel transporting and picking up merchandise. We are...”

   
Just then he is interuppted. “Are you transporting Daxu Korth’s daughers
aboard your vessel?”

   
Chajux’s heart raced for a few cycles as fear took ahold of him,
wondering what he should say. “Uh...three women named Emedria, Ophelia and
Yerali have sought transport aboard my vessel and I am bringing them to Daxu
Korth at his...”

   
He was interuppted once again. “You are cleared to land at the private
landing field of Daxu Korth. Just follow the cyan beam of light tracking your
vessel.”

   
Looking out the cockpit’s windows he could see a narrow beam of blue
light trained on Providence. “Okay, here we go. Keep your fingers crossed. Oh
did I just say that?”

   
The spacecraft is guided to the field by the beam of light. Chajux
seemed to lose control of his vessel when they were just above and the light
took over bringing them in all the way. Upon disembarking, Emedria, Ophelia and
Yeralai saw a tall, strong figure walking towards them through a misty garden
at one end of the landing field. The figure sped up as he got closer to the
vessel and they could see it was Daxu Korth, their step father.

   
Not knowing how to react, they froze for an instant as they didn’t
expect him coming to meet them personally.

   
“It’s okay.” He stopped and sighed with tears in his eyes. “Welcome home
my daughters,” he said with open arms. They all ran to him and were swept up
into his muscular arms as he kissed them and held them close.

   
“Oh, father,” spoke Ophelia, “I’m so...”

   
“No need to speak about ages past now,” He sobbed, “The only thing you
three are guilty of is being the daughters of Dvora. If only she would come
back to me as you have with a contrite heart, we could all be a family again.”
Daxu Korth then remembers Chajux and looks up at him still standing on the ramp
of the vessel. He motions a welcoming gesture for him to join them. “Bring your
crew. I’ve prepared a feast.”

   
Chajux and his crew joined Daxu and his daughters in the great hall for
a lavish feast. There was every kind of edible fowl and fish on the planet, and
hundreds of kinds of fruits and vegetables.

Larger animals were not killed for food, as their
meat would not sustain Quewethians, but kept for breeding and to fertilize the
land for crops. When they had passed their days of usefulness they were
mercifully let out to pasture until they died. After that, their hide was used
for making articles of clothing, shoes, bags, purses and wallets.

There were certain types of large animals bred from
Earth samples brought to Cassiopeia ares before that had attractive looking fur
so some were used for winter wear and throw rugs. The Quewytians were patient
people so they were not in a hurry to kill off animals for their own pleasure
or comfort. Hunting and poaching was a crime punishable by prision. No animal
would be killed before it had lived out its usefulness, and the euthanization
was painless, akin to merely falling asleep.

   
“My daughter Ophelia,” announced Daxu Korth rising up form his chair,
“has been promised in matrimony to a very brave man.” In the Quewythian
culture, bravery, valor and honor were everything along with integrity. “He
sits on her left side, as says the custom of our people. After the union
ceremony he will always sit on her right.”

   
The Northern and Southern Quewythians had similar customs, so they
understood each other well, especially after the ages they spent at each others
throats. Now they enjoyed a peaceful and friendly relationship as allies.

   
As for Emedria and Yeralai, their beaus were also at the feast and at
the end had asked Daxu Korth for their hand in matrimony also. Daxu Korth
agreed, believing that they would find happy and useful lives with an honorable
man rather than be dragged all over kingdom come by their wayward mother.

   
“If only the rest of my daughters could break free from Dvora’s
tenacious grip,” he said to himself, standing on his spacious veranda
overlooking the city that was sparkling like a thousand jeweled crown.
 

   
Daxu Korth contacted Lebag Kralc, secretly as always. “Is everything
set?”

   
“I took care of it, Daxu Korth,” replied Lebag. “They will arrive in
twenty five Cassiopeian phases. Their mother knows nothing of their transfer.”

   
Lebag had Daxu Korth’s promise that no harm would come to Valenza, Kyn,
Kathara,and Sarita if he had them brought in. Strong persuasion was not
necessary. Their boy friends were all working for Lebag Kralc, and had been
paid to bring the girls back to Cassiopeia, promising them that clemency would
be shown them. Valenza and Kyn wanted to stay and watch over their mother while
Kathara and Sarita wanted their lives back. The choice was left up to them.
Whatever they decided, Daxu Korth promised protection. His hope was that when
Dvora realized that her daughters, or most of them even, had chosen to return
to their father, that she would ask for forgiveness and also return. They could
be a family again.

   
Dvora, however, became even more furious thinking she had been deceived.
“I will never go back to that monster who calls himself king,” she fumed when
Lebag had presented the plan to her.

   
“Kathara and Sarita are already on their way,” he replied. Emedria,
Ophelia and Yeralai have been there for quite some time now and have been
united in the matrimony rituals.”

   
“That means I’ve lost them forever,” she fumed.

   
“I implore you to set the other two free. Your welfare shall be
provided. Let them have a future,” Lebac pleaded.

   
“So that’s what your real business here was. To take my daughters away
from me,” she steamed. “You planned to take them all along.”

   
“Our daughters, you mean, don’t you?” reminded Lebag. Dvora reached into
her desk drawer and pulled out a laser blaster and fired it at Lebag. She was
fast, but he was faster and was gone, vanished into thin air before she pulled
the trigger. She had now done the unforgivable thing. Attempted murder of not
only the king, but her first husband also.

Lebag had wiped his hands of her blood after that
last show of disdain and hate for him, the king and also her daughters. There
was nothing left to do but to take Valenza and Kathara forcibly, with the help
of their beaus, and leave Dvora on that planet to suffer the gruesome fate of
her own choosing. The criminal planet of Togaran would be under seige and all
wanted criminals captured, including Dvora.
 
  

   
Sertis had a new vessel provided by Lebag. He would not ride with them,
but would take his own spacecraft. Valenza and Kathara had the most striking
resemblance to their biological father than any of the other sisters. Thet were
highly intelligent and if they saw Lebag, it wold not be very long before the
resemblance was obvious. That is why he could not even meet with them. They
could not even know of his existence.

Lebag had a crew of loyal men and women and since he
worked for the king as a top spy, enjoyed special priviledges. Dvora’s
daughters all thought their real father was dead. Long before Dvora was united
with Daxu Korth in matrimony, Lebag served the king as his top agent. Lebag had
tecniques and talents that only he could perform. It was necessary for Lebac to
be away most of the time, and he dedicated himself to the kingdom for that
purpose, returning only long enough to visit his wife and then his family after
children started coming.

   
His daughters never really knew him but had faint memories, even when
they were growing up. The situation grew vital for Lebag not to meet his family
anymore as they would already be in danger. Enemies sought to get revenge, and
since they could not get to Lebag, they tried to kill his family.

   
That’s when Daxu Korth, out of the kindness of his heart, brought Dvora
to the Citadel and adopted her daughters after pronouncing Lebag dead. It was
actually Lebag’s idea he do that and Daxu Korth at first refused vehemently. At
that Lebag threatened to kill himself to save his family. That was when Daxu
Korth caved to Lebag’s request and took Dvora and her daughters to the Citadel
were they would be safe. Lebag didn’t know if he could ever face them after
letting them believe their father was dead. Only Dvora knew the truth but never
told her daughters. She knew if they ever found out that their lives would be
in danger again.
She hated them both now and
blamed Daxu Korth as well as Lebag Kralc for ruining her life. She also hated
The Subjugator for making her life miserable on Togaran. She had saved her
precious earnings to get her own space vessel and had amassed enough to hire a
crew. She knew she needed a way to control them, because they were cutthroat
pirates, Argranian. They were aggressive and needed a strong hand.

   
She remembered someone she knew from the club she owned. He was the
bartender and bouncer all in one. She remembered how he toed the line and got
everyone else to also. If anyone got out of line, Mortak Rawgue got them back
in. He liked Dvora a lot and respected her he; would do anything for her.

   
“Ah...my lady Dvora. What an honor. Haven’t seen you in a long time.
What brings you to The Dark Matter Tavern?” Asks Mortak Rawgue.

  
“You offered your assistance once, and I’m here to see if your offer
still stands,” she replies. “You would be well paid.”

   
“I like your words,” said the giant of a man who was neither human nor
Quewythian. “I would fly to the farthest star for you.”

   
“Then you’ll work for me?” she asks.

   
“I am at your service,” he bows. He then calls his assistant Nukil
Hikix. “Watch the place.”

   
“Lead the way, my lady. It’s the quiet season, so my assistant can
handle things while I’m gone,” He said. He wore a black beret type of hat on
his baldhead. He stood about seven feet tall in earth measurements and was wide
at the shoulders and chest. Narrow at the hips he looked almost like a boulder
standing on a tree trunk. With one hand he could break the heavy wooden counter
in two. Those standing at the bar knew it. By trade he was a pirate, and all of
the crewmembers on Dvora’s vessel knew him well and what he could do.

   
When Dvora told him what his job entailed, he accepted, named his price,
and she agreed. He wanted half of everything they take as booty. She was more
than fine with that as booty wasn’t her motive. She just wanted to get the job
done.