Scaevola's Triumph (Gaius Claudius Scaevola trilogy Book 3) (65 page)

"And when it's repaired?"

"It will be better than ever," Gemep smiled, "because we have some of the latest improvements."

"That wasn't quite what I meant," Gaius began.

"I know it wasn't," the Ulsian smiled. "I have messages from Ulse for you, which you could consider to be orders, but you should leave them until after the triumph." The Ulsian looked at Gaius, then added helpfully, "These are conditional messages. You will only receive one lot, the remainder being destroyed, but which one you receive depends on confirmation of the Plotkynn acceptance of our requests, and of course confirmation that the
Actium
really is fully repaired."

"And if it isn't?"

"I have different orders to cover most eventualities," Gemep patted him lightly on the shoulder, "and you can assume Ulse thinks very highly of you in them, and feels in your debt. So don't worry about them. Enjoy the party!"

Chapter 46

According to Lucilla, he looked quite resplendent in his uniform. What the reptilian or bird-like inhabitants of Plotk would think was another matter. Not that it mattered, and indeed, the average spectator might spend little time watching him. He was to lead the procession, mounted on a platform that carried the emblems of the Ulsian fleet, fluttering as large pennants of brilliant shimmering golden colours. To his right was a strange staff set into the platform, a staff which gave off a sequence of brilliant colours, which projected a sequence of illusions to change the nature of the platform so that it appeared at one moment that Gaius was standing on a section of field or forest from Earth, then on a battle ship, then on Ligra 2, and then on Ulse, and so the images cycled. Behind him was what had the appearance of a stone wall, on which were engraved the symbols representing the power of Ulse: the emblems of the two fleets Gaius had commanded, the emblem of Slaben's battle group, the emblem of the Ulsian Home Defence Force, and above those, symbols of Ulse's ancient military. But behind and above that was a further staff, carrying a flag bearing the symbols
Legio
XX
Valeria
, and above this hovered the giant finned boar that would turn its head to examine the crowd. He would lead the procession, and behind would follow all the members of his battle group.

As the attendant signalled that it was time to commence, he mounted the platform, which in turn raised itself from the ground then began to move at a slow walk towards the avenue that had buildings even more massive than those of Ulse. A glance behind showed that the other floats, each of which would bear senior officers who had served with him, and concluding first with one bearing Lucilla and the senior Ulsian representative, and finally the new Space Marshall Klendor, were beginning to move.

He grasped the staff to his right as the platform glided into the great avenue, and was stunned to see the huge number of Plotkynn. Every reasonable vantage spot was filled, as were one or two that were decidedly unreasonable. Plotkynn could be seen on the sides of walls, one foot on a slight ledge, one arm holding something, all at a frightening height, and each of them waving the other arm, leg and tail furiously. An immense roar emerged, flags waved, light coloured objects were thrown to flutter down like flowers, as the platform slowly made its way forward. Gaius stared at the crowd, and, totally dazed by the experience, waved back. How genuine this was he could not tell, but he knew he would never have a moment like this again in his life. On the platform went, and gradually a small layer of "flowers" began to grow about his feet. "Flowers" began pouring from the windows of the surrounding buildings, the cheering, if that was what it was, increased until all he could sense was raining "flowers", Plotkynn waving furiously, emblems waving furiously, huge banners with messages he could not translate, but more than anything else, an overwhelming wall of roaring.

The platform entered a large square, then made its way towards the centre, where it stopped. A darkness came over the city as, out in space, a giant screen created this eclipse. The roaring stopped, and everybody knew that this was the time for the Ulsians to show their legendary ability at creating images.

From the silence, a deep whining roar began, and in the distance a spot that quickly grew into a full size image of the
Actium
appeared from the distance. It slowly flew above the avenue, then hovered above the square as Ulsian ship after Ulsian ship paraded past, followed by the procession of every enemy ships that had been captured, each showing the terrible damage it had suffered. Ship after ship passed, each more damaged, then images of the great battles filled the sky. It was spectacle in the highest, but it also served a purpose: Plotk was to be reminded that there was a power nearby.

Then dark. The sun was totally blacked out, then a sequence of lights brought a uniform orange glow to the surrounds, and a brilliant white light over Gaius. He now stepped down from the platform and marched towards a dais bearing the recently arrived representative from Ulse.

"Despite not being Ulsian," the Ulsian said, "more than anybody else you have saved Ulse. In accord with Ulsian tradition, we honour such of non-Ulsian origin also in the ways of their own culture. We give you two honours from your culture, both of which, oddly enough, also occur in Ulsian tradition. As the victor of a major and defining battle, the name of the field of battle is awarded to you. Adjusting it to your culture, you may be referred to as Plotkynnius.

"But more than that, we have a tradition similar to one of yours, even though it has not been awarded for several million years. This does not come from us, but rather it comes from the Ulsians who served under you, who believe that, but for you, they would all be dead. As it happens, we concur. This is normally restricted to those who save an army or a battle group, and it can only be awarded by acclaim from the soldiers; we believe you not only saved a fleet, but also a civilization and your pilots are convinced you saved them. Please kneel."

Gaius knelt, and watched as one of the junior pilots approached, with his hands behind his back, concealing something. The pilot stopped in font, then placed something on his head. He looked up towards a screen immediately before him, and could hardly believe what he saw. On his head was a crown of grass.

As he stood up, an immense burst of cheering erupted. He turned to face the wall of cheering.

* * *

"Pleased?" Gemep asked the two of them.

"Dazed might be a better word," Gaius smiled. "I know I shall never have a day like that again."

"I'm simply overwhelmed," Lucilla smiled, "and I was only on the sidelines."

"Then you'll have to pull yourself together," Gemep advised Gaius, "because you now have some decisions to make."

"My orders?" Gaius asked with a smile.

"Yes, and even I have no idea what they are. My instructions are to show you to a room specially fitted. The requirements, I might add, are like nothing I've ever seen before, but the room has been made to comply. It is up on the top of that mountain in the distance, and a shuttle will take you and your companion, and only you two, there.

"Once there you will enter the specially constructed room, and open the box. Even I do not know what is inside, but there should be a sphere. This is a conduit for a message for you from the members of the reproductive class you have met before on Ulse. The message is interactive, which means you can ask questions, and generally converse. Marcellus will make it work for you."

"If it's recorded, how do I get any answers?" Gaius asked.

"The basic types of questions have been anticipated, and where they have not, the attitudes permit the message generator to synthesise answers within certain guidelines. If you ask something quite unanticipated, the reply will be, 'I cannot answer that.' That you will have to accept, and it is given not because the sender refuses to answer, but rather because they never considered it. So, when you are ready, the shuttle's outside."

"This'll be interesting," Gaius muttered, "but it seems to be a bit drastic to go to the top of a mountain just to get a message," Gaius frowned. "It can't be that secret."

"I have no idea," Gemep replied, "except I believe there is more than one object in that box, and I suspect that the second one can only be used up there."

"What could that be?" Gaius asked curiously.

"Go and find out," Gemep replied with a shrug. "I'm only guessing, but the room was built specifically for this, and the specifications make no sense unless there is something with quite unexpected technical demands in that box. So, off you go. For what it's worth, I have no idea what will be asked of you, or offered to you, but I am ordered to follow your instructions, whatever they are, when you have finished."

"I could ignore the message and ask for anything," Gaius frowned.

"You could, but you won't," Gemep said simply.

"Then you must know what's on this message?"

"I can guess, of course, but I'm reasonably confident that having gone to this amount of trouble, very important Ulsians trust you implicitly, and more to the point know that they have to offer you something that you consider very valuable. But enough of this. Take your shuttle."

* * *

Gaius stood before what seemed the most primitive building he had ever imagined. It seemed ridiculous to come up here for this. The only redeeming feature was that the view was magnificent. The great city was spread out below and he could see the buildings as tiny blocks, the great avenues as thin bands, and there was the great square. To the west of the town there were large areas of farmland, with their very solid rounded farmhouses, large paddocks, and tiny dots of animals roaming in them. But in other directions the land seemed largely untouched, with vast areas of almost untouched forest, except for a strange network of pylons bearing overhead cable, on which the occasional cable-car could be seen travelling along. He had been told this reptilian race enjoyed hunting, and while they did farm, most of the very wealthy owned several hundred hectares of prime hunting area for their exclusive use.

Gaius turned back towards this little hut and entered, then saw to his surprise that it merely covered an entrance to an entrance to something excavated from the rock. Marcellus followed. He went carefully down the stairs, wondering whether this could really be a trap, but eventually he entered a room hacked out of the rock, and lit only by a light in the stairwell, and by another light embedded in a very deep cavity in the rock. In the centre of the room was a small table, and beside this a divan to lounge on. As instructed, he placed his box on the floor and opened it. There was a sphere, and something that was carefully wrapped, and had the instruction, "Use the sphere first to learn what to do with this."

Marcellus placed the sphere on the holder at the centre of the table, and requested the message. Immediately his surroundings changed, and what he saw was almost equivalent to that deep below the library. In front and above was the 'Queen'.

"Greetings, Gaius, and congratulations on your victories."

"How do you know . . ?" Gaius started, then felt silly, to be talking to an image.

"If you had not succeeded," the Queen smiled, "you would not have received this sphere, so I am not entirely prescient. Still, you may rest assured we shall be extremely pleased and satisfied to know our faith in you has been justified when the details eventually reach us."

"I'm pleased you had such faith," Gaius said. He was still doubtful about this interactivity.

"Not as much as we are. Ha, I see you wish to test this interactivity. Ask what you will?"

"You could have guessed I'd wish to test that."

"More than guess," the Queen laughed. "Everybody wishes to test it the first time."

"Well, at least you're honest," Gaius shrugged.

"Of course I am. Now, I can see that response puzzled you. You ask yourself, how could I have known you would say that? Well, the answer's simple. I had no idea. However, the sphere is programmed to be honest, and to agree that it is honest, and to make up such explanations as you are receiving now. The real me has no idea exactly what is being said, but I have set firmly the boundaries of what can be said. What is your next question?"

"I am curious why you had such faith in an alien," Gaius said.

"Excellent question," the Queen beamed, "which leads into the first part of the message. The following are my words, as long as you do not interrupt.

"What was critical to us was your statement about the prophecy. So much has come true, hasn't it?"

"Yes, it has," Gaius said. "And I cannot understand why. It doesn't make sense that the future could be known so accurately, but then, it has, so . . . Perhaps you could explain to me how it was possible?"

"You are correct. It is impossible to know that which has yet to happen, because it may not. However, it is possible to know the past."

"What?" Gaius frowned.

"Your prophecy came from your future," the Queen said simply.

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"Because we got more than one such message too, which in turn was why we had such faith in you."

"But . . . That makes no sense."

"And why not?"

"Because," Gaius said, "if it happened in the past, why bother. It happened, and all this could do was to change things."

"Exactly," the Queen said. "You may be wondering about the other object in the box. I shall give you instructions on how to use it soon, but that will give you the means to contact once again your young lady from the future.

"However, let me give you my interpretation. Somehow someone did something to alter their past, and they are trying to rectify the problem. They are changing both our futures, and quite dramatically. You see, our first message came before, if that has any meaning, yours was formulated. Our original future, if we believe the story told to us, involved the ultimate defeat of Ulse and the extermination of all Ulsians. This happened through the destruction of most of our nests, then we lost our entire fleet. It is possible that that part of our message is all the work of imagination, but there's no way we can tell. What we do know is the message gave us a sequence of events that would happen, and they did. Since the others cannot happen, they are rather irrelevant, however we still trust that they would have.