Notes from An Alien (12 page)

~~~

The funeral of those who'd died in ecstasy was broadcast on the Worlds' News Mesh. The Council hoped it would serve as a potent weapon against future settlers' irresponsibility.

    Several months after the funeral, Delva had completed her indoctrination of the elected members of the new Worlds' Mediation Board. The Worlds' Council had insisted she retain her title of Worlds' Mediator and maintain abundant contact with the Board. Shortly after the announcement of the Board's incorporation, the Council released the Proclamation of Settlement for Angla-Palli.

    There was a list of requirements for emigration that alone could deter those who wanted to be settlers solely from urges for excitement or adventure. Among them was the stipulation that all émigrés be subjected to approval by all existing Local, Regional, and Territorial Councils before the Worlds' Council could approve or deny their acceptance. This assured two things: The people selected would be, as best as was possible, those most suited to establish a population that expressed the many facets of the existing Worlds' culture. And, those desiring inclusion would have to wait at least a year before the approval process had run its course.

~~~

Chirzt and Laiy were meeting with the twenty-six people who had been recruited for their cause. Nineteen were Independents—those who wanted to influence the Worlds' Council toward more liberal attitudes—attitudes that included measures that fostered more control by individuals over the flow of goods and the practice of services. Seven of the recruits were Dissatisfieds—those who could be used to foment various forms of insurrection to support the desires of the Independents.

    One of the Dissatisfieds was a former Aklan. Her name was Haalii. She was an old friend of Verluin's. She had met Delva numerous times. She was prone to vast silences and had what most called a seductive personality. Haalii had, and kept secret, her own agenda for membership in this particular movement.

~~~

Delva was at the shore, communing with Anglana.

    "We want the best for the Worlds."

    "As we do."

    "Those chosen for incorporation with you will be tested."

    "They are already known."

    "The testing is for our society."

    "The testing will include us."

    "I will help."

    "You and Verluin."

    "Yes."

    Delva began her dance, externally and internally. Anglana communicated her pleasure. People remote from their celebration felt an urge to taste Anglana. All of them told those nearby, who also had felt the urge.  They were getting used to it. They were also taking a drug that would either calm the urges or have no effect. The ones who experienced no effect were tested further.

    Five people were eventually determined to be capable of safely ingesting a portion of Anglana. Further tests were done. Worlds' Council was informed of the cumulative results. Approval was given. Stricter procedures were also communicated to those on Angla-Palli. A special detachment of scientists and physicians was selected to travel with the first group of settlers. They were informally called the Enforcers.

    The first flight of settlers occurred seven years after Verluin had incorporated himself with Anglana. There were 17,421 people on board. One of them was Haalii...

~~~

Delva was pregnant.

    Anglana was, too.

    Delva would give birth to a girl.

    Anglana would give birth to a dream.

    Delva's child would be called Mura.

    Anglana's child would be called Coherency.

    Delva had Morna set up a routine to communicate her thoughts and appraisals directly to Worlds' Council without her previous approval.

    Morna was pregnant.

    She would give birth to another Artificial Intelligence.

    Technicians were set to the task of creating the new AI's body.

    Its name would be Rednaxela.

~~~

It was evening and Verluin and Delva were sitting on the top of a hill, close to Anglana's liquid form. They were communicating with the trees and rocks and dirt. The conversation was almost entirely emotional. Anglana's liquid form would often interpret for Verluin and Delva. Delva spoke:

    "Our child will have a very good friend to grow up with."

    Verluin shifted his position, looked up at the glowing plasma sheath of the Mother planet, Beli-Pallos, and said:

    "Mura will be the most unique Angian ever."

    "She'll have to take second place to you, Verluin, if unique is the criterion."

     Verluin touched Delva's lips then kissed her forehead: "Delva, I know you love me and I know you have solid reasons for not believing in Akla. But, how do we convince the complete unbelievers that they don't have to join a religion to receive the benefits of Akla's Wisdom?"

    "I think your incorporation with Anglana has fogged your awareness. You and every other Aklan uses action to spread your message. Conviction from observed action is much stronger than words alone, even when that action is the willingness to die for one's beliefs."

    "I know Akla loves you and is helping you."

    "I know I love Akla because He was the wisest person ever to live on the Worlds of Angi."

    "Anglana. Do you know of Akla?"

    Anglana remained quiet but didn't remain unresponsive.

    The plasma glow that was always present, to some degree, around her liquid form began to grow brighter and its colors became more distinct and formed a localized swirl that turned into a funnel of light that began to extend itself into the sky. It continued to grow until its distance from the planet rendered it invisible. Shortly after that, the glow surrounding the gas giant, Beli-Pallos, began to intensify. It became so intense that it caused objects to begin to faintly appear in the darkness.

    Morna began another thread in her analytical routines.

    Verluin and Delva began to dance.

    Anglana said: "All is one. Believe it or not. Only, in all your strivings, respect the possibilities of the potential of Oneness."

    Morna immediately communicated Anglana's words, which she could hear in Delva's mind, to the Worlds' Council. She appended a few words of her own: "Recommended that Anglana be considered for appointment to the Worlds' Council."

9 ~ Names

Industry and services on Anga-Param and Anla-Purum were in constant growth and flux. Local Councils approved what they deemed appropriate for their locality. They did consult with Regional Councils because they could overrule a Local Councils' decisions. The interplay between Regional and Territorial Council rulings was more complex and definitely became quite a challenge when the power of the Worlds' Council came into the equation.

    In spite of this multilayered oversight, the growth continued and the flux intensified. There was still room for the enterprising individual or group to find ways to use the various levels of regulation for their own purposes. One particularly favored method was to bide one's time with the actual set-up of a business until the proper people were in place on the Regional or Territorial Councils. The activity of  covert politics was rampant. There were groups of people devoted to each level of the governmental structure whose employment was strictly the currying of influence with individuals who had a larger sphere of influence. Some, who had the leisure and wherewithal, estimated that twenty percent of all Local and Regional Council members were beholden to trade and service groups. Because of the closer tie between the Territorial and Worlds' Councils, the estimate was closer to ten percent.

    Trade and commerce regulations were overseen by boards appointed at each level of government and enforced by the appropriate level of Protective Force. In all the years since the formation of the current governmental structure, there had been only 98 instances of regulation by force, most infringements of law being settled by mediation. The Worlds' Council had yet to bring the Worlds' Protective Force into direct coercive action.

    Still, the best single word to describe the Worlds' economic activity was frenzy. And, this term was certainly most appropriate after settlement of Angla-Palli had begun.

    The first contingent of settlers had inhabited a portion of the land mass now called Surai, connected to the large peninsula that had been the first outpost for exploration. Three more voyages had brought settlers to three more land masses—Mero, Amar, and Ardros.

    There were now nearly 70,000 settlers on Angla-Palli and they were mostly involved in the export of various plant and mineral substances. Delva and Morna had determined that any non-liquid form of Anglana's substance was perfectly safe for use on other Worlds. Naturally, the amount of these exports was strictly controlled by Anglana. Any attempt to export more than Anglana wished was met by atmospheric plasma stunning. The planet was inhabited by a protective force stronger and more rational than the other Worlds had at their disposal.

    Needless to say, Anglana also controlled any indigenous misuse of her planet's resources. If there were any settlers who had successfully fooled the rigorous selection process, they quickly were discovered, and, if their activity was egregious, banished from the planet.

    Anglana also controlled importation of goods. She had relied on Delva and Verluin and the other five who had incorporated with her to oversee the importation of service activities.

    Since the first group of five, who had now become another of Delva's Mediation Boards, only seventeen others had passed the testing. They were being considered as Territorial Council members but Anglana had yet to agree to complete alignment with the Worlds' Council.

~~~

What had once been simulated recreational use of the Worlds' Mesh had evolved into a wealth of news, information, and study sub-Meshes. There was still a recreational Mesh but it was no longer used as a method of mass control.

    There were also Local, Regional, and Territorial Meshes and a completely isolated Mesh for the Worlds' Protective Force.

    People could have their own private Meshes but access had to be granted to the Territorial Councils' oversight. This particular point of law was the impetus for the formation of many groups of somewhat organized Independents and Dissatisfieds. It also spawned a definite increase in bootleg electro-plasma devices.

    This type of device was of no use to Haalii. She wasn't in contact with Chirzt and Laiy and wouldn't be until her own plans reached a successful level of implementation. Being on Anglana's planet posed a severe challenge to her activities. However, she was blessed with an abundance of resourcefulness that nearly balanced her straightened situation. She had yet to contact Verluin or Delva and she was extremely happy to know they had a daughter who was growing into a decidedly independent young woman.

    She needed to meet Mura before she reacquainted herself with Verluin and Delva. She had no desire to be incorporated with Anglana and stayed well-clear of large bodies of water. Her cover was a weaving business. She had an ability to sense the emotional desires of her clients and weave them an item that completely entranced them. Her clients thought they were just devoted to an exceptional artisan. Haalii knew better...

~~~

Excerpts from the Worlds' News Mesh (WNM) interviews of followers of the Faith of Akla:

WNM: Thank you for letting us interview you, today. A first question, that seems to be on the minds of many people, is to what do you attribute the increasing conversion rate of your Faith?

    Serva Mestul: I think it's the appeal of the combination of religion and rationality. Also, we have no priests and each believer is responsible for their own spiritual growth; but, working with the community of believers in our outreach with social and economic programs is just as important to us.

    WNM: Could you explain the operation of your Council of Justice?

    Beslu Rednii: We have our own Local Councils of Justice, elected by each community. They send representatives to our Territorial Elections and those representatives elect the members of the Worlds' Council of Justice. All the Councils have as a governing mandate to see to the spiritual welfare of their members and to aid them in carrying Akla's message of Worlds' Peace to all people. The Worlds' Council of Justice also has various legislative duties—actions taken to implement the spiritual Laws that Akla revealed in His Writings.

    WNM: Why do you think the election structure of the Worlds' Council and your Council of Justice are so similar?

    Eia Oplin: Because Velu and Zena had proven themselves to be extremely worthy people and their recommendations on the formation of the Worlds' Council were accepted.

    WNM: Velu was a known follower of Akla but Zena was not, yet Zena was just as desirous to have suggestions from Akla incorporated into the structure of Worlds' government. Why do you think that is?

    E. O.: Zena was extremely intelligent.

    WNM: What part do you think your Faith will have in decisions made by the Worlds' Council?

    Dislu Catuo: As you know, Aklans are required to not take part in purely political issues. Still, in the interests of justice and equity, we feel that considered statements of principle will need to continue to be sent to Local, Regional, and Territorial Councils. Statements to the Worlds' Council are only made by the Worlds' Council of Justice.

    WNM: What do you make of the recent slaying of one of the members of your Faith?