Sondranos: The Narrative of Leon Bishop (22 page)

The thought occurs to Admiral
Perry in less than an instant.

No semblance of his conscience
plays a part in it.

He believes the phrase came
from an old professor at the Aeronautics school he was trained in,
and Perry repeats the phrase verbatim to Velric: “Sometimes you
need a big change. Not a small one; something big enough to
jumpstart your life. I suppose you could say a mid-life crisis for
your entire species.”

“
I don’t
understand.”

“
On Earth,
humanity was stagnating. Not many changes save for technological
ones in hundreds of years. Sure, the quality of life got better,
but the inherent flaws in the system remained the same. When
International Aeronautics made the discovery of Aurichrome, and
started their spaceflight tests, it seemed we were on the edge of a
new frontier.”

“
Aurichrome
is highly volatile,” Velric says.

Admiral Perry is uncertain.
Does Velric mean to ask this, or is he stating a fact? He chalks it
up to a miscommunication, and hopes the string continues.

“
Yes,” Perry
chooses to answer both ideas at once. “But that’s what the change
was. You can hop on a jet and take to Earth’s moon in a couple
hours – it’s about as safe as the mental stability of the pilot. No
worries. But if you strap a starship to your butt made out of a
refined explosive, well, you’re riding more than just by the seat
of your pants.”

Velric shifts in his seat. A
moment of silence tells Perry that the Belovore still isn’t quite
following. “Aurichrome changed our world, allowed us to reach the
stars. That was our catalyst. Maybe our arrival at Sondranos is
yours,” Perry said. “All you need is a ship, and a good crew.”

“
Our entire
species could fit into the
Irene
,” Velric sits up straighter.
Perry’s heart thumps in his chest – eager.

“
How old are
you, Velric?”

“
By your
standards, I am quite young. But I am able enough in my culture to
be considered an adult. I have not yet begun to lose my faculties,
and can still retain the thoughts that drive my most base
emotions.”

“
What does
that mean?”

“
You have
senility,” Velric shoots Perry a look that could almost be
considered a wry smile. “We have an aging hive mind. Once we reach
a certain age, the elders can be controlled and told how to best
suit society without having to be a burden. The young shape the
minds of the elders, after the elders have done the same. Those in
the middle ensure that survival is at the forefront. It is how it
must be.”

“
Then you
could be a very strong voice amongst your people,” Perry
says.

“
I already
am.”

“
You could
convince your people to take to the stars, to find a new home, or
to find something that will cause your people to expand much like
the human species,” Perry says.

“
I could,”
Velric responds. “But how will that solve the issues we face
now?”

“
You will
face a new world up there, much like we did. Oh, the stories,
Velric. Humanity has done nothing greater than reach the stars.
The
Irene
is a
trifle compared to the quests of hundreds.”

“
We have been
going through your database, as you instructed. We believed you
shared everything with us,” Velric says.

“
This is
where I admit where I’m wrong,” Perry says. “I ordered them closed.
All of the tales we shut off from access. We didn’t want to show up
and make your species feel inadequate. But, now, I realize that
that’s what needs to be done. You need to see what kind of lengths
you can reach when you have the means. You have us at your
disposal. The
Irene
. The resources we can muster – Belovores can survive long
periods without eating and sleeping, so let us provide you with
ways to ensure that every time you need to eat aboard our ship, you
will feast.”

“
I don’t know
what to make of what you are saying,” Velric says. “What about
Sondranos?”

“
The
population numbers will change. We will live where you did, and
continue the survival of your home. Call it an exchange. Our
economic situation will stabilize, while yours survives the way we
couldn’t. If your people take to the stars, you can only thrive.
The human race has done its thriving. I will prove it to you. We
have hundreds, if not thousands, of historical records of
humanity’s space program. We, as a colony, need to settle down. The
time has come for the Belovores to take their place where the human
race once blossomed.”

“
This is very
generous of you,” Velric says.

“
I only want
to see both our people flourish and succeed.”

Perry stands,
retreats from his desk, and shifts the screen of his monitor on. It
hums to life, and he straightens his uniform as the screen latches
on to the database from the
Irene
. He scans through a dozen
names, before stopping on one. A blond girl, roughly twenty years
old. She’s a child of one of the scientists, training to be amongst
the diplomatic personnel.

“
This is
Annika Granger,” Admiral Perry stands. “I will set up a meeting
with you. I want you to compile a team of your own. Storytellers,
teachers, people who hold importance in your community. She’s going
to head up this project. Everything you need to know, you come to
her and she will find a way to get it taught. I trust her in this,
and will brief her on it. Understand that you can be more. You can
always be more.”

Velric stood and extended a
hand. Perry always appreciated the gesture, even though his hand
would come back throbbing. He took Velric’s large hand and clasped
it.

“
I’m sorry,
Velric,” Perry says. “I’m sorry I didn’t think of this sooner. Just
think. The human race did so much, all because it could. Imagine
what your people will be in a few years out there. I look forward
to that day, Ambassador. I very much do.”

“
To the
survival of Sondranos and the growth of my people.”

After Velric leaves, Admiral
Perry sets his hand on the table. His hands tremble. The
thoroughfare of thoughts in his mind settles somewhat as he takes
deep enough breaths to smother them. He can’t believe what he’s
done, but he can understand. The conversation came as easy as if it
came from a politician. It’s for the good of the people. The next
phase will be to send the historical documents to Velric and his
people. After that, he’ll find Miss Granger and allow her back into
the training program. He will explain to her and her father that,
after her consistent failures and lack of understanding of basic
colonial techniques, he’s finally found a job suitable for her
skills. And if she doesn’t perform is adequately, then her father
will be punished accordingly.

Admiral Perry picks up the
transceiver on the edge of his desk and connects to Russell, who’s
taken over as an impromptu mayor of Sondranos Colony. The people
like her, and she gets along well with the Belovores.

“
I want you
to pull up some literature, Miss Russell.”

“
Yes, sir.
What would you like?” She tilts her head, curious.

“
Pulp.
Science Fiction novels from the early twenty-first century. I want
you to pull them all out. Mostly space-opera, or those weird ones
about spaceships and aliens, and whatever make-believe you could
bank on in this age.”

“
Time frame,
sir?” She masks a slight sense of incredulity behind a casual
laugh.

“
After the
renaissance period, and only if they have happy
endings.”

“
Light
reading?”

“
Call it a
cultural exchange.” Perry swallows, committing to his
mission.

“
They’re looking for revenge,”
Annalise stopped the story. “They were lied to. They have had
years to suffer in space, never finding a home. Sondranos was
colonized was because the Admiral took a sudden turn for a
habitable planet, otherwise they would have continued untouched for
years. Of course they want us dead.”

Davion
concluded: “Admiral Perry pushed them out; he made them think star
travel was what they’d wanted, and the only way they could survive.
And, as they weren’t truly ready, the Belovores never left
the
Irene
. I would
not be surprised if they called for a complete and unconditional
surrender, and then wiped those who’d condemned them off the face
of the planet. Only those who are forgiven would
survive.”

“
But everyone
from the
Irene
is
long gone,” I said.

“
The sins of
the father.”

“
Life
expectancy of a human was nearly cut by a third in colonization
flights. It had to have happened to the Belovores too,” Melanie
added.

“
Children
often follow the words of their parents when they witness their
parents being cast down,” Davion said. He sucked in a deep breath.
“Or, like we couldn’t comprehend their aging, perhaps they fall
victim to the same. I’m willing to concede that they may have
reasons beyond your comprehension. You must be open to that
possibility as well.”

“
Every colony
had an economic model. If you didn’t adhere to it, then you were
boned. Perry did what he thought was necessary,” Kayt said, stood,
brushed off her backside, and trundled away from our campsite. We’d
all finished eating about halfway through Davion’s story, but
pieces of Kayt’s steak still sat on the ground surrounded by the
convection foils Annalise had bucketed it in. All of our eyes were
on Kayt. She stumbled just shy of the opposite end of the road.
Having tripped, she let herself fall to her hands and knees, and
vomited twice. I was the first to stand and waved everyone else
away as they stood, saying I’d take care of it. Annalise joined,
but kept a few steps behind.

Davion whispered to Melanie,
“Poor girl.”

I approached slowly, and she
vomited again. The sun was halfway down the horizon, so the shadows
cast by her hair created a shadowed barrier against her face. I
knelt down beside Kayt, pulled up any stray bits of hair dangling
down, and let my hand rest on her back.

“
I just don’t
want to hear it right now,” Kayt said through a hoary tone. “I
shouldn’t have asked to hear it. Every time he mentioned the
Belovores, I saw Lancaster getting … Lancaster dying in that way,
on the street. He was watching as we drove away. I know
this.”

“
You can’t
let yourself obsess over things you couldn’t have
helped.”

“
Just leave
me alone, please.”

“
I understand
what you’re asking,” I said. “But I don’t want you wandering off
alone.”

“
Why not?
Getting mauled by a creature I only just learned existed sounds
like a good idea. It was good enough for Lancaster, and he didn’t
even know why the Belovores hated us,” Kayt straightened up, and I
helped her to her feet. I wiped a tear away from the corner of her
eye.

“
You don’t
mean that.”

“
Why not?
It’s what I deserve.”

“
Nobody
deserves that. At least now we know what kind of past we’re up
against. We’re going to survive this. I promise.”

“
I promised
Lancaster we’d be fine when we were at Lise’s house,” she choked
back a sob. “Look how good my word turned out to be.”

“
Don’t be so
negative,” Annalise came up behind us. Kayt jumped at her voice.
“We’re surviving this. Leon is right; you couldn’t have done
anything without getting yourself killed.”

“
Oh, be quiet
jailbird. Why don’t you go murder more innocent people, or whatever
it was you did?” Kayt glowered. “It’s your fault, you know. If you
hadn’t had that stupid plan, he wouldn’t have thought to be a hero.
He’d still be alive. It’s your fault he’s dead.”

I suddenly saw why Annalise had
apologized, earlier. When the bad stuff came, she was an easy
target for blame. The way Kayt said it, I could tell it stung both
women. Kayt pushed past Annalise and stalked to the car. She opened
the door to the backseat and climbed in. She pulled the closed and
everyone in the group could hear her sobs. And swearing. Annalise’s
name came up more than a dozen times, and Davion made a gesture to
be the next to attempt consoling her. Melanie pulled him back down.
Kayt’s words were harsh enough to silence Annalise.

For the first time since we’d
met, Annalise looked distant. It’s true that she didn’t need to
come with us, but at the same time - if she was right and we truly
did share some bond, then I knew it was true that she needed to be
with someone. She needed to share the accusations when her
suggestions went awry.

“
She didn’t
mean it,” I said.

“
Yes. She
did.”

“
Well, she
wouldn’t have said it under other circumstances.”

“
That’s why
we’re letting her have it. She’s young; she doesn’t know how to
handle life without lashing out, or playing the part of a drama
queen. Something horrific has happened, not just to her, but to all
of us. Melanie’s keeping Davion busy, so us staying away for a few
minutes gives her time to collect her thoughts.”