Ammonite Planets (Omnibus): Ammonite Galaxy #1-3 (60 page)

“Why do you care if Atheron likes it?”

“I don’t – that’s the whole point.” She shook her head. Sometimes Arcan could be a bit obtuse.

“It is a very big thing for a species like yours.”

“You can say that again!”

“It is a very—”

“Not literally!”

A black cloud crossed the bubble. “Are you laughing at me, Grace?”

“Never. It’s just that you take everything we say at its face value. It makes conversation very difficult.”

“It is a continuing mystery to me why you should want to say things that do not mean what you say. However, since I only converse with the three of you it doesn’t matter very much, do you not think?”

“No.” She smiled. “I like it.”

“Good. Because I have no intention of changing to suit transients.”

Grace giggled. “I know, Arcan. We are nothing more than flimsies, hardly worth your attention.”

“Exactly. Except for you three, of course. You played a vital part in my awakening – together with Cimma and Vion – and I shall not forget that. But I will not have my life dictated to by transients. They must learn to respect me, and if they cannot do that, then I shall have them removed from my vicinity.”

“Arcan! That sounds very fierce!”

“They have tried to destroy me once too often. I will not allow this to continue. And I will be used by them no longer. They show no respect. It is as if they do not recognize me as a superior being.”

“I think the Sellites still think that they can win,” said Grace.

The bubble doubled in size, making Grace cringe back automatically.

“Then they will discover that they are wrong!” he said.

“You … you are quite scary when you do that, you know!”

“I am getting tired of these Sellites of yours!”

“I am not surprised. I can’t say that I blame you; they haven’t been exactly welcoming!”

“They are like flies buzzing around a Cesan mule – very irritating. If I weren’t against all violence I would have transported all of Sell straight into the upper atmosphere of Nomus.”

“I don’t think they realize that everything has changed. They are like the Elders on Kwaide, desperately trying to cling on to something which can never come back because circumstances have changed. The universe has moved on.”

“And I certainly won’t allow them to store nuclear weapons on Valhai ever again.”

Grace nodded. “Tell them that. Make them see how the system has changed. It is just that their society got so used to being the leaders that they think it will go on like that forever. They are unable to change”

Arcan glittered. “They are very silly beings. Not to know that even if their dominance lasted for a thousand of your years it would be nothing to somebody like me! They are short-sighted, short-lived inferior beings. I find them extremely boring, with their feeble attempts to maintain a status quo only beneficial to themselves. They are unworthy of their status as evolved animals. Their greed has stumped their progress, turning them into self-seeking fools.”

Grace went red. “I am one of them,” she reminded him.

“You are the exception, Grace. I am happy to talk to you – and you are not greedy.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all. Now, when will you and Diva be ready to join me back on Valhai? I would appreciate your help with the negotiations, as I really would prefer not to have to transport my fellow participants into the effluent conduits of Benefice!”

DIVA WAS PRONOUNCED fit to travel three days later, and Arcan moved the two girls smoothly over to the 21
^st
floor of the 256
^th
skyrise. Diva looked around her with pleasure.

“A bath!” she exclaimed. “First of all – a bath.”

Grace giggled. “Is that all you ever think of, Diva?”

Diva drew herself up to her full height. “Certainly not!” Then a corner of her mouth twitched. “Though I must say, living on Kwaide does tend to limit one’s ideas of fun!”

“Will your leg be all right in a bath?”

Diva shook her head. “No. I shall have to keep that whole leg out of the water, but I don’t care. I really need a bath.”

“Even if it is only with water?”

“I am past caring. Whatever.”

Grace walked through to the bathing chamber and opened the taps on one of the tubs there, and then jumped as a familiar metallic voice interrupted her.

“Are you intending to drink all that liquid?”

“No. We wash in it.” Grace looked around for the video camera. She could see nothing. “Are you blended?”

“Sorry, I forgot.” The round sphere suddenly became visible in front of her. “Why do you wash? What is the purpose?”

“It removes dirt. And, in Diva’s case, it seems to be a necessity to her mental health.”

Diva gave her a light shove. “Very funny. It is a question of hygiene. Don’t Dessites wash?”

The visitor had to think about that one for quite some moments. “Not exactly,” he said eventually. “They don’t have to.”

“That’s what the Kwaidians think,” retorted Diva, “but they are mistaken.”

“Are you calling me mistaken?” The machine gave a whirr. Grace interpreted it as irritation.

Diva shrugged. “Whatever. Would you mind going away while I bathe?”

“Why?”

“Sacras! Something else you have in common with Kwaidians!”

“Why should I go away?”

“Because I don’t particularly want my ablutions transmitted in glorious technicolour to billions of Dessites?”

“I am not currently transmitting to Dessia.”

“And how am I supposed to know that?” Diva made shooing movements with her hands. “Go away!”

“I am a type 2a sentient. You are not addressing a Coriolan servant!”

“I don’t care who you are! You are getting between me and my bath!”

“I am here in representation of 552 billion type 2a sentients.”

“The mind boggles.
Now
will you get out of my way?” Diva hobbled over to the edge of the tub.

The sphere buzzed. “I don’t think you appreciate who I am,” it spluttered.

“I know perfectly well who you are. Scram!”

Grace thought it was time to step in. “Why don’t you let me take you to the music room?” she suggested. “I don’t suppose anyone has shown you how the musical squares are used?”

“That would be acceptable,” the machine whirred again and followed Grace out docilely. Diva raised her eyes skywards.

“Aliens at bath time! Whatever next?”

GRACE THANKED THE visitor for its help with the Kwaide missiles.

“Six told me what you did. That is the second time you have broken your Dessite laws to help us. We are very grateful.”

“Some laws make perfect sense when they are studied in theory, but not so much in practice. It is true that type 2 beings should not interfere in the fleeting lives of transients, but I found I could not abandon you, since I had met you personally through the orthogel entity.”

“But you will be punished?”

“Certainly. However, since my first punishment was death, and not even advanced entities can be killed twice, I can’t help feeling that the Dessites failed to take into account the lack of deterrent arguments.”

Grace smiled. “Like adding an atom to Almagest,” she agreed. “Six said he would have been killed if you hadn’t put your ship between him and the missiles.”

“Yes. That is why I felt I should act. Since I have been sentenced to death I have found myself valuing life more than before. And I hypothesized that you inferior beings might feel the same way.”

“We do.”

“Ahh! I wondered if you would possess such advanced sentiments. I am beginning to feel a certain empathy with you now.”

“That’s because we are friends.” Grace turned the music squares on, and got ready to give a demonstration. “
You
may need empathy when you hear this music! I haven’t had much time to practice recently!”

THEY HELD A meeting before all the delegations were due to arrive on Valhai.

“Why do you wish Diva and Grace to be present?” inquired the visitor, through the video camera.

“Because they know how the Sellites think. You forget that I have only been awake for a couple of years. There are still a few things that I am not yet familiar with. They have helped me before. I consider them as friends.”

“Do you think them capable of understanding the problems? Fascinating! The Dessites have never experimented the desire to communicate with inferior species. Until now, of course.”

“These Dessites are beginning to get on my nerves,” muttered Diva to Grace. “It is like listening to the Sellites all over again!”

Grace nodded. “They obviously like lording it over everybody else. I wonder how Arcan feels about that. He is just as powerful as they are, and he doesn’t go around looking down his nose at us all.”

“Looking down what nose?” said Diva, with a grin. “And he doesn’t have 552 billion others just like himself. I guess he would have felt pretty lonely if he hadn’t made friends with us.”

“Shh!” They turned their attention back to the others. Arcan was busy explaining his idea of how the meeting should go.

“I am bringing all the delegations over, so that should make them realize that to antagonize me would be a great mistake. Did you say something, Grace?”

“Dream on.”

“I am awake.”

“It means that I don’t think they will realize that.”

Arcan shimmered. “You see?” he said to the sphere, “it is most useful to know the limitations of the participants. That is where Diva and Grace can help.”

“Delighted to be of help,” said Diva. Grace looked at her with a worried frown, and gave her a nudge. The Coriolan girl rolled her eyes, making Grace give a chuckle.

“So I shall simply state my case, and then point out to them that they really need me to travel about the system, and that it would be against their own interests to deny me sovereignty over Valhai.” Arcan looked around. “It should go well, I think.”

Diva muttered something, and Grace looked dubious.

“If you think I am getting too angry for any reason,” Arcan went on, “then all you have to do is stop me, and tell me to reason my actions before I continue.”

The visitor interrupted. “Would you like me to help? Do you wish me to announce myself as an envoy of the Dessites?”

Arcan darkened. “No. It is unnecessary for these beings to know of your existence. It would be better if you were to be blended during the meeting. I would not wish to subject you to any impertinent demands from these species.”

“Thank you Arcan. I appreciate your concern. You are quite right, of course. They definitely do not need to know of the existence of the Dessites. I will leave any talking to Diva and Grace here.”

THERE WAS A respectful silence in the Valhai Voting Chamber as the dignitaries of all the planets entered.

Coriolis was now represented by Diva’s mother, looking very beautiful and unattainable in an exquisite Coriolan Ceremonious Robe. She swept in with immense nobility, inclined her head vaguely in the direction of the other dignitaries, and then took up a delicate conversation with one of her own aides. The rotund figure of her husband stood meekly two steps behind her, his head low. He appeared to have nothing to say to anyone.

Kwaide had sent the predictable smattering of Elders, all very old and decrepit, insipid in their white robes. The Xianthans swept in wearing the vibrant-coloured rainbow garments they were famous for. The Cesans were indistinguishable from the Sellites, although they walked with far less confidence.

As Arcan appeared – a translucent shape flanked on either side by Grace and Diva – there was a sudden silence. All of those present paused, and for a second the only movement was from the lights on the tridiscreen in the centre of the room. Then there was a rustle of material as the participants prepared to sit down on the chairs which had been positioned for them.

Atheron, dressed in gold-weave on white, slid up to the central rostrum, together with a young boy. He put his hand on the boy’s shoulder, and began to speak.

“I am here today, in my position as principal trustee for Mandalon 50, in these difficult times after his father’s demise. Since Mandalon 50 is underage, all negotiations on his behalf will be carried out by myself.” Atheron gave a gentle pat to the top of the boy’s head, which made Diva cringe, and then indicated a seat set well off to the left, where the boy was to sit during the proceedings.

“Cian! That man has got worse!” hissed Diva to Grace.

“Shh! They will hear you.”

“Where is the visitor?”

A whirr came from just in front of Arcan. “Here,” said the video camera, damping the sound. “I am blended.”

“Oh.” Diva gave a sigh. “Well, you get on with the charade then, Atheron. Slimy is as slimy does.”

“I do not understand you, Diva,” said Arcan sounding only in their heads.

“I have a nasty feeling about all this, that’s all. I just wish it wasn’t Atheron you were dealing with.”

“It’s beginning; be quiet all of you!” whispered Grace.

ATHERON GRASPED BOTH edges of the lectern and pursed his lips deliberately prior to speech.

“Fellow Sellites,” he began. “Honourable visitors from other worlds—”

“More than you think!” breathed Diva.

“—we are here today in order to debate the sovereignty of Valhai with the being who claims to have rights over it.”

Arcan darkened alarmingly and began to tower over the two girls.

“Not a good start,” said Diva.

“He didn’t even acknowledge Arcan!” protested Grace.

“What a breach of protocol!” exclaimed the machine, giving a creak of disapproval. “These species need a lesson!”

Atheron went on. “Since the Sellites hold a rental agreement with all the other species in the system, we can prove our rights to Valhai. This the orthogel entity is unable to do. Furthermore, the orthogel entity is not indigenous to the system, which means that any rights it may have as a native must be forfeited. Your duty is clear: you must uphold the agreement with the Sellites over Valhai, and the orthogel entity must be asked to leave.”

A ripple ran through Arcan, and he scintillated ominously. “I reject all these bogus arguments,” he said. His voice sounded like a boom in the heads of all those present. “The Sellites themselves admit that they have no prior rights to this planet. The very fact that they are paying rent to occupy it acknowledges that it is not their own. I, on the other hand, am paying nothing – since it is my own planet that would be absurd. The Sellite speaker has said that I am not indigenous, and this is true.”

A rustle of surprise ran through those present. They had clearly not expected the orthogel entity to concede this point.

Arcan continued. “However, it is also true that Valhai itself is not from this system, which completely annuls the Sellite arguments. It is irrelevant whether or not Valhai and the orthogel lake are from the Almagest System; what is important is if we came here together, if I am an originary of this planet. I should warn you that I do not agree to abide by any decision made here, as I do not recognize the competence of this meeting to judge the question.”

Atheron leapt to his feet. “You see? This … thing is in contempt of the meeting! This is most disrespectful! The Sellites lodge a complaint!”

Arcan suddenly expanded until he towered above the hapless Atheron. “For you to speak of disrespect is totally—”

Several of those present clutched their heads at the volume sounding inside them.

“Arcan!” Grace moved closer to the bubble and pummeled her hands against the thin walls, trying to get his attention. “ARCAN!”

The voice roaring in their heads lessened a smidgen. “What?”

“Err … don’t you think you are getting a little angry?”

“Well of COURSE I am … Oh …” The bubble began to subside again. “You are right, Grace. Thank you.”

Diva stepped forward. “What you decide today is crucial for the well-being of all the system. Arcan is here – he exists, and all of you have seen what a powerful friend he can be.” She paused for a moment and looked around. There were some nods – especially from the Coriolan delegation.

“So it would be extremely short-sighted,” she went on, directing a meaningful look at the acting president of Sell, “to do anything but accept the orthogel entity with open arms and thanks. Circumstances have changed. The rental agreement with the Sellites can no longer be valid. Indeed, if the Sellites are allowed to stay on Valhai, they should pay their rent to the orthogel entity.”

Atheron’s face was a picture. He looked utterly horrified. This had clearly not even occurred to him.

“We object!” His voice had risen several octaves.

“Why?” asked Diva. “You should be thanking this being for allowing you free energy for all these years. It would have cost you billions to install proper electrical plants on Valhai, to run a system similar to the orthotubes. And how much would the space elevator have cost you if it had been built in carbon compounds?”

“We would use shuttles and build a spaceport,” said Atheron defiantly.

“The truth is,” Diva said sternly, “that you have been abusing this creature for fifty generations, and that the time has come to correct this. You must no longer expect something for nothing. You must accept Arcan’s presence on Valhai. You should ask him if he will allow you to live here in the future, and beg his pardon for all the abuse he has suffered.”

“Abuse!” Atheron gave a dismissing laugh. “What abuse? You are being ridiculous. In any case, those present do not wish to listen to a Coriolan repudiated by her fellow-worlders! You are crazy. There has been no abuse. You are delirious!”

There was a flash of colour right through the bubble representing Arcan, and he swelled ominously to encompass all those present. They stumbled helplessly against each other as they were transported instantly to a white world a long way away from the Valhai Voting Chamber.

“Where are we?” screamed Maximus, red in the face with fear.

“You are on the ice-side ortholake, on the far side of Valhai,” Diva informed them after a quick look around her. “This is the burial site of all the previous donor apprentices sent by the Sacran worlds to Valhai. They were all deliberately left to asphyxiate in the orthogel by the Sellites. We brought them here to the ice to give them a decent burial. The Sellites made Arcan an unwilling accomplice to their murder.”

The Xianthans and the Cesans looked confused. The Kwaidians did not appear to be particularly interested. The Coriolans seemed shocked.

A burly Xianthan stepped forward. “You mean that all the
Valhai
are buried here? None of them survived? This cannot be true!”

Diva extended her long neck. “I am the only
Valhai
who has ever survived,” she informed him. “And that was because Arcan rescued me when the Sellites disconnected the air in my bubble of orthogel. The apprentices were held in bubbles under the orthogel lake. Then, when their reproductive material had been harvested, they were simply disposed of.”

The Xianthan looked around him at the ice. “You have proof?” he asked.

Diva bent down, and the bubble under her feet dissolved, she scraped away some loose snow from the top of the ice, and pointed to the pure ice below. Within the ice the remains of the donor apprentices could be seen, still tumbled together in a grotesque dance, frozen for posterity into a tangle of half-decayed limbs.

The Xianthan gave a start of horror, and held up his forearm, as if to ward off the picture.

“We left a sign to mark their burial,” said Diva calmly, and the bubble reappeared under their feet and floated them over a little to the right, until the post with the sign Diva had scripted came inside the bubble. “It was the least we could do.”

Grace made the sign of the Sell Cross, and Diva copied her.

Atheron gave a shriek. “That Coriolan made the sign of the Sell Cross. Blasphemy! I impose the death penalty! You are all witnesses!”