Solbidyum Wars Saga 4: Too Late for Earth (3 page)

What are the Obarians like?” I inquired.

“I know that their planet is located in a very distant orbit from its red dwarf sun – far enough away that the light is dim, so they are known to have a very pale complexion.  However, the sun puts out immense amounts of infrared radiation that heats the planet to about 27°C at the equator and about 18°C at the Polar Regions.  There is no ice or snow on the planet, but there are numerous lakes and two small oceans.

“The people are a strange lot, due of the dim sun and their distance from it, their eyes are not able to take the brighter light found on most planets in the Federation.  As a consequence, Floss wears dark tinted goggles most of the time to protect his eyes.  In terms of government, they’re known to be politically moderate.  Right now Floss is serving as the rotating Leader and is traveling to the outer worlds of the Federation for the next five years to acquaint himself with the various governments and leaders of those systems.”

“What’s Roritat like?”

“He’s an even strange one,” A’Lappe said as he leaned back in his chair.  “He seems to have very liberal ideas and is in staunch opposition to the Federation taking actions against the Brotherhood.  He doesn’t seem to think the Brotherhood is any serious threat and he insinuates that you created the current conflict between the Federation and the Brotherhood.  Many of the citizens feel that his tour of duty in the outer regions put him out of touch with what has been happening elsewhere.  He is also in opposition to Admiral Regeny’s requests for more military funding and the replacement of older equipment within the fleet.”

“He blames me?”

“Yes, indirectly.  Roritat claims that you’ve aggravated the Brotherhood of Light and that prior to your appearance in the Federation, the Brotherhood was not a threat to anyone.  His public statements have hinted that you’ve exacerbated the situation for your own glory.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me?  How can he think that after what happened with the DUSTEN and the attacks that have gone on elsewhere around the Federation?”

“He insinuates those events never happened and that you and the Admiral concocted the stories – you for your own glory and the Admiral for the purpose of promoting new funding for military expansion.”

I shook my head.  “It would appear that politicians everywhere in the universe are idiots.  We had people on Earth that were equally as deluded about threats and dangers.  How’s the general population accepting his statements?”

“It varies from planet to planet.  The inner worlds pretty much disregard his comments, because they’ve been close enough to the action to see the Brotherhoods actions and feel the repercussions of their violence; but those on the outlying worlds, furthest away from the events, are easily misguided.  In his defense, he has been in the outlying sectors of the Federation for the past five years and, as you know, briefings and news transmissions to their sectors arrive only after a long delay.  I’m sure that, once he’s had a chance to talk to more people and review vids of the events, he will change his mind.”

“What are his political agendas?”

“That's a good question!  I would suggest you get with Commander Wabussie about that also.  He’s gained some information from FSO agents who have been checking into the people around Roritat.  I can only say that something about his circle of associates is very strange; but I’ll leave it to Wabussie to discuss that with you.”

We were suddenly interrupted by Kala entering the room.  “Well, I’m glad you see you’re awake and looking better today,” she said as she crossed over to me and gave me a loving kiss.  She glanced at the food tray before me and said to Jenira, “Did he eat well?”  Jenira smiled and nodded excitedly.

“I take it that you’ve been filling him in on some of the events of the past few weeks?”  She said to A’Lappe.

“As best as I can, First Citizen,” A’Lappe said with a nod of his head, “but I fear that Commander Wabussie will have to answer a lot of his questions, as he is better informed than me.”

“Well, right now I think that Tibby needs some more rest; and when he wakes up again we’ll let him talk with some of the others.”

Until that moment I hadn’t realized that I had been slowly sliding down in the bed again and my eye was beginning to droop.  Jenira hopped up off her chair, while Kana went to the other side of my bed so both could ease me down and re-adjust my pillows just as sleep once more prevailed over me.

The third time I awoke to find Marranalis and Kala sitting in my room.

Hi there,” Kala said with a smile.  “How are you feeling?”

“Sore.  Very sore,” I said.  Jenira’s absence was the next thing I noticed.  I asked, “Where is Jenira?”

“She’s in the gym.  She heard a few men talking about going to practice with Ruwallie Rasson swords.  Suddenly she got all excited and kept motioning that she wanted to go along.  It’s the first she has shown any interest in anything since your crash.”

“Hey, Marranalis, I hear you’ve been doing great things to get order established on the surface.”

“Hi Tibby.  Glad to have you back with us.  You really had us worried for a time.  I honestly didn’t see how it would be possible to restore you; but with the help of the medical unit here on the
NEW ORLEANS
, A’Lappe managed to do it somehow.  I can’t really take any credit for what’s happening on Goo'Waddle; that’s pretty much Padaran and Kerabac’s doings; and they wouldn’t be able to accomplish much, were it not for the cooperative efforts of the androids and the Ruwallie Rasson.  They’re the ones enforcing the new laws and rounding up the Brotherhood members who didn’t manage to escape.”

I looked at Marranalis and replied, “I sincerely doubt that they would have had the level of success that they’ve shown thus far without your interface and guidance.”

“Sokaia did a lot of the work,” Marranalis said humbly. 

Marranalis was head of my security forces and one of the best friends I’ve ever had.  When I first arrived in the Federation, he was a trooper assigned as one of my personal guards.  Later I was able to bargain with the Admiral for Marranalis’ service.  Since that time we had fought in several battles together – and I don’t believe I would have survived some of them without his presence and superior skills.  He was a giant of a man – nearly a head taller than me – with the look and body mass of a Samoan football player back on Earth; but inside he carried the heart and soul of a saint.

“Commander Wabussie said that, if you’re up to it, he would like to meet with you briefly today,” Kala said.  “But first I think you need to eat something.”

“Actually, I would like to have a shower first, if I can.  I’m feeling rather crusty at the moment,” I answered.

Marranalis chuckled.  “Yeah, Tibby, last time you looked this bad was on Alle Bamma when you came back to the ship after spending the night hiding in the jungle with Kerabac.”

“That bad, huh?” I said, as I tried to raise myself up.  Kala and Marranalis quickly came to my aid; and with one of them on each side of me they managed to get me out of bed and on my feet.  Pain shot through my body in every direction as my weight settled on my legs.  For a moment I thought I would fall; but with the support of Kala and Marranalis I was able to take the few steps to the small attached bathroom.  Kala began helping me out of the gown, which was more like a poncho than the hospital gowns of Earth.  There were no sleeves or tailored seams; simply a cloth with an adjustable sort of hole in the center that fit over the head and some ties on the side that allowed the two halves to overlap and be tied off.

“Do you think you can handle him yourself?”  Marranalis asked Kala, “Or do you need me to stay and assist?”

“What do you think Tib?  Do you think you and I can manage or will we need Marranalis?”

By now I was feeling steadier on my feet, so I said, “I think we can do it.”

“Well, if that’s the case,” Marranalis replied, “I’ll tell the Commander that you’re up and that he can see you after you’ve eaten.”

“I’d like to meet with all of my senior officers who are here on the ship – at the same time, if we can.  I think I may be able to sit through a single meeting in one of the conference rooms – at least I would like to try.”

Kala looked at me with a stern eye, but didn’t say anything.

“I’ll pass the word on, Tibby.  Will an hour from now be to your satisfaction or would you prefer two?”

“Make it an hour and a half.  I may need a short rest after eating.”

As Marranalis left, Kala began stripping off her uniform; and I knew that she was planning on going in the shower with me to make sure I didn’t fall.  I sat on a small bench, watching as she disrobed and admiring, as always, her incredible beauty.  Kala truly had the exotic body and features of a goddess.  Her long, black hair always had a healthy sheen; the remarkable blue-gray color of her almond-shaped eyes reminded me of the sky on a clear day.  She had olive-tan skin that one could have associated with any number of races back on Earth, yet she bore no resemblance to any of them in particular.  As she discarded her last piece of clothing, I found myself subconsciously glancing at her stomach, as though I expected to see some signs of her pregnancy; but I guess it was still too early, as I didn’t detect any changes.

“All right mister crusty, let’s get you cleaned up,” Kala said as she gently lifted my one good arm around her neck and shoulders and raised me to my feet.

Most of the time I find that showers in the realm of the Federation are too short; the technology used for bathing doesn’t allow one to luxuriate in them for any period of time.  First, there is a fog-like mist that covers your body, which is followed by about a minute of some sort of ultrasonic-type treatment that loosens dirt and exfoliates the body.  Finally, a rinsing mist washes away all traces of the cleaning process.  Kala kept a firm hold on me as I stood with both hands against the wall while the mist covered me from head to foot.  The feeling of her smooth, warm body against mine was comforting; and I wished that I was stronger, as I wanted badly at that moment to take her into my arms and kiss her.  Normally, it seemed like a shower was over before it started; but in my injured and weakened condition it seemed like the shower lasted a near eternity.  When the rinse was completed, we were dried by warm blasts of air, after which Kala helped me slowly step into the mirrored grooming area. 

I was unprepared for what would be staring back at me from the mirror.  I nearly collapsed at first sight of my swollen and mangled body.  The nasty long, red scars that crossed my body where I had been knitted together were complemented by large, repulsive, dark bruises.  The patch over my missing eye seemed to mock me as I muttered, “Oh my god!” in English.  I started to lose my balance and thought I would faint; but Kala caught me and guided me back to the bench.  “Kala, how can you stand to look at me like this,” I sobbed, still staring at the horrific image in the mirror.

Kala chuckled as she approached me with the depilatory devices, one used for shaving and the other for hair cutting and styling.  “Well, you are looking rather a mess at the moment,” she conceded, as she began removing the several days’ growth of beard that covered my face.  “But in a few weeks you won’t see any sign that you ever looked like this.”

“I don’t see how that’s possible.

“Kala I am
so
sorry,” I said once again, choking on my words.  “I was such a
fool
.”

“You certainly were,” she said stirring my hair with her fingers.  “Now let’s get you dressed and situated so you can have something to eat.”  As she spoke, Jenira suddenly bounded into the room with a concerned face, apparently startled to find that my bed was unoccupied.  My first reaction was to turn away from her, as I was still nude; but then I remembered that I was in a culture where there were no taboos about nudity.  Nevertheless, I felt awkward and self-conscious about being nude in her presence.  Jenira didn’t seem to notice my discomfort and began assisting Kala.  Kala had selected one of my black dignitary-cut uniforms from the wardrobe.  She and Jenira fussed over getting me dressed like I was a display mannequin in a store window.  I would have much preferred wearing something looser fitting and more comfortable; but once they were finished I appreciated the choice, as the transformation was amazing when I next looked in the mirror.  All the scars were covered by the long-sleeved uniform and the Nehru style collar was just high enough to hide the bruises and scars about my neck.  Oddly, the dark eye patch seemed to complement the outfit and I now seemed to exude an appearance of power, or at least
I
thought so; but in my mind I looked more like a villain in a James Bond entertainment vid from my home world of Earth.  But I wasn’t complaining.  It was a far cry better than looking like the sewn together Frankenstein monster that I resembled earlier.

Both Kala and Jenira stood looking at me with admiring smiles on their face, as I tried to walk forward of my own accord, only to lose my footing and stumble.  Simultaneously they jumped to grab me before I fell.  They me back into the room, where I saw one of the conveyances that served as a wheelchair.

As the girls helped me into the chair, Kala said, “I think you’re ready to leave the medic unit and return to our suite for the rest of your recovery.  Jenira, would you like to take Tibby back to our suite while I contact Piesew to arrange for his meal?”  Jenira grinned and nodded her head, starting me down the hall in the conveyance at a brisk pace before I could say anything more.  Clearly she was enjoying her role in my recovery.