Shadows of Golstar (65 page)

“Medical
facilities had been readied for such courses of action, but the final steps had
not yet been taken. This was the Founder, the creator of our civilization, the
most important personage in our history and culture.”

It
sounded to Owens like the rulers of Golstar still weren’t that keen to have a
rejuvenated Founder back in power and had delayed as long as possible before
beginning the medical procedure.

“Everything
needed to be perfect,” the Grand Patriarch continued. “We must also assume they
were confident in their safeguards and believed there was sufficient time to
initiate a procedure with minimum risk. Nothing would have been left to
chance.”

Except
redundant alarms and backup systems, Owens thought. Planning for contingencies
did not seem to be a strong point of the citizens of Golstar. The incredible
arrogance of Golstar’s sense of its own infallibility shouldn’t have surprised
him. He kept these thoughts to himself and asked, “And that’s all that you
really wanted me for? Cloning? You want an analog of the Founder in order to
regain access to the Technology? ”

“Yes,
the very life-fabric of your being will provide our ultimate salvation.”

 “But
why bother with all this senseless subterfuge to get me here? Why the elaborate
pretense? Wouldn’t a simple kidnapping have better served your purpose?”

The Grand
Patriarch frowned. “I need not justify my decision to anyone, least of all you.
However, I will provide you with this much.” He touched another panel and a
holograph appeared depicting a planet. Great continents dominated the globe;
the oceans comprised a little more than half of its surface. Splashes of
scarlet color were concentrated along many of the coastlines and scattered
areas inland.

“The
areas in red indicate Berralton’s population at the height of our
civilization’s growth.” He touched the panel again. The areas of population
shrank, in some locations disappeared altogether. “It seems to be one
side-effect of our exposure to Trah-tang technology. Our population levels have
retreated to a little more than half what they were two centuries ago. The
other populated planet within our system has, likewise, suffered diminished
birthrates.”

Owens
asked more calmly, “Do you know what’s causing it?”

“Yes.
What remains of our scientific community has its theories for alleviating the
condition. They have been promising a solution since the birthrate began to
slow, but we are no nearer a solution than when the problem first manifested
itself.”

Owens
could detect a subtle change in the Grand Patriarch’s voice. The man was
holding something back.

The
Grand Patriarch continued, “You can see that our need is great. My intent in
showing you this was to help demonstrate how truly diminished we are. In
addition to being cut off from the Primes, our industry, science and military
prowess have been weakened in line with our reduced population. Today,
Confederated Planets would have little difficulty in subjugating Golstar if our
plight was revealed.”

“To
your question, however slight the chance, if we were to be discovered during an
attempt at abduction or a retrieval of biological tissues, the consequences
could lead to Confederated Planets learning of our dilemma. I decided the risk
was too great. I instead chose an alternative; an effective alternative to hide
our intent in plain sight.”

His
voice grew strident, “Your government has continued to maintain a healthy
respect for Golstar’s technological superiority. To date, there has been no
cause for them to believe anything has happened to change that posture. Even
so, it is only a matter of time before their curiosity eventually overcomes
their caution. Another excursion into our territory could happen at any time.”

Owens
nodded, “So, you set up a situation of your own choosing, but in doing so you
must know you dangled a very, very large carrot in front of my government.”

“Of
course, I deliberately drew your government into my subterfuge in order to put
them off-balance and delay any possible action they may have already planned.”

Owens
nodded, “Without saying anything, your request led them to believe your
position may be softening. But you also whetted their curiosity. You’re taking
a tremendous risk.”

“That
may be true, but more importantly we gained some measure of control over the
situation. By asking for you specifically, we temporarily delayed the countdown
to Confederated Planets’ discovery of Golstar’s present circumstances and at
the same time assured your safe delivery into our sphere of control.”

“Father,
may I have your permission to speak?”

The
Grand Patriarch looked at her. He seemed to be judging her. Finally, he nodded.

She
said, “Owens, much of what we have heard today was unknown to me.”

He
looked at her face. She seemed to be telling the truth, but he still had a few
reservations. “I’m having a little difficulty believing you. You were after all
a principal player in your father’s scheme.”

“I
admit it, but I was told only a part of the reason for which you were needed. I
was led to believe your DNA was needed, but not as the means to access the Primes.
I had no knowledge their existence before Selane. I was born long after access
to the Primes was denied, and I was not provided the knowledge of their
existence by my father. I only knew that the advanced technologies were
controlled and maintained by the ruling families.”

“Go
on.”

“I
was told that your DNA was being sought for purely medical reasons; that it was
unique and would be used in further research and as the basis for a cure to our
falling birthrate.”

“She
was not given the complete story,” the Grand Patriarch added. “She had not yet
been initiated and made privy to Golstar’s precious secrets. She was given the
partial truth and from that she was allowed to draw her own conclusions.”

 She
nodded, “Owens, the elaborate scheme and cover story were only intended to keep
you and your government in the dark about the underlying rationale for which
you were brought. And regardless of the true reason for obtaining an adequate
sample of your DNA, it… it was never our intent to keep you here permanently.”

“Still,
you intended for me to investigate the elaborate pretext of the statuette’s
theft.”

“Yes,”
she said.

Their
opinion of his intelligence must be pretty low, he thought. “So, regardless of
the reason behind it, how were you going to get my DNA without my knowledge?”

Her
voice faded a little, “During the investigation, you would have encountered a
small accident. It was only intended that you be rendered unconscious for a
short while, but still long enough for us retrieve blood and tissue samples sufficient
for our purpose.

“Why
would you require so much tissue and blood? Even I know that a few hair
follicles, or a skin cell or two, would be enough for your purposes.”

 
“We needed to allow for unforeseen
circumstances. My Father has told you about the deplorable level of our
technical knowledge.
 
That applies to
genetic related sciences as well. We had to be sure to allow for mistakes. Your
accident would easily cover the relative small loss of blood and tissue, while
ensuring us a more than ample supply of your DNA.”

Owens
wasn’t particularly shocked by Sharné’s admission. Still, he thought it better
he played the outraged victim. He looked at Sharné, his face set carefully into
hard lines. “I must say that you played your part quite well.”

“Owens,
I thought it was to cure my people. I believed there was not another choice.”

“So…
this was all just to get a piece of me, literally.”

“We
were truly desperate,” she said. “Had… had it succeeded, you would never have
known.”

“Now
why doesn’t that make me feel any better?” It wasn’t hard to achieve sarcasm in
his voice. “Yeah, you’re right. I wouldn't have guessed a clone of me had been
grown and indoctrinated with the sterling values laid down by your incomparable
society. I would never know, due to my special DNA, your benevolent, or should
I say, parasitic civilization could once again leech alien technology for its
own ends.” He looked harder at Sharné, and inwardly winced when saw that her
face had flushed with what he knew was shame. 

“You
should not judge her so harshly, Janus Owens,” the Grand Patriarch said
sharply.

With
genuine anger, he turned back to the Grand Patriarch, “Why not?”

The
Grand Patriarch shook his head. “As she said, she was not aware of the
Controllers or the Primes. Her purpose in helping to obtain samples of your DNA
was for an entirely different reason. She was only aware of the need of your
DNA for research. Cloning was never mentioned.”

“And
that justifies her role in all of this?”

“When
I was told your DNA was the key in curing our sterility,” she said quietly, “I
thought you would save my people from the brink of extinction. So yes, the need
was great. I believed obtaining your DNA was justified… using any means. ” She
took a deep breath, “But the fact remains I deceived you in order to extract
your DNA without your knowledge.”

He
shook his head, “You’re a regular Florence Nightingale.”

She
looked at him blankly.

He
turned to the Grand Patriarch. “So, in addition my being part of a key, my DNA
is a cure for your people’s low birth rate?”

“No,
I felt it prudent that Sharné not be made privy to the true nature of your
value to Golstar. It was a convenient fabrication.”

“My
true and sole purpose in this grand scheme of yours was to be a walking,
talking container for DNA that happens to match that of your precious Founder.”
His voice was winter, “I was to play the blind fool, investigating a fictitious
crime while unknowingly donating a piece of my body.”

He
turned and stared at Sharné. She looked down at the floor, avoiding Owens’
eyes. Her voice barely above a whisper, “Is it so hard to understand our
desperation? We are dying... and I was led to believe only you could provide
the cure.”

He
just stared at her and could see a little from her perspective. Still, he
thought cynically, why would such a flawed culture need to be saved? From where
he was standing, it seemed better for all concerned that they fade quietly into
the night.

She
lapsed into silence, unable to look at Owens or speak further.

The Grand
Patriarch broke the tableau. “Much effort and resource were expended to
recreate the illusion of our once invincible image. Areas of the city where you
were to conduct your investigation were cordoned off and restored so that your
experiences on Berralton would reflect us at our best. You would have
interacted with people who had been carefully coached. On your return to
Confederated Planets, we hoped you would tell your government of our
undiminished might.”

The
Grand Patriarch became contemplative, “It was a sound plan. We tried to account
for any eventuality. Even if Confederated Planets still harbored suspicions, by
the time they moved to satisfy their curiosity, we would have regained enough
of our heritage to discourage any incursion into Golstar territory.”

“Implanted
memories would have been a whole lot easier,” Owens snorted.

“No.
We considered that. Even if done properly, such a procedure can be detected,”
the Grand Patriarch shook his head. “We could not chance such a discovery. We
needed to make sure all of your memories were genuine. As you can see, it was
our original intention that you be returned to Confederated Planets.”

“But
you hadn’t counted on the attack on the
Light Saber
or our being forced
to land on Selane.”

“True
again,” the Grand Patriarch admitted. “Nor had I anticipated your own unique
perception. My daughter told me of your little talk aboard your ship. With the
inner workings of the
Light Saber
exposed to your inquisitiveness and
your subsequent deductions, you further reduced the chance of the original plan
succeeding.”

“So
instead, I’m now a captive, but still a handy source for your precious DNA
culture.”

“I am
so sorry,” Sharné whispered.

The
Grand Patriarch muttered, “Wasted.” He sighed, “All of that effort was wasted.
Nevertheless, our great need of you remains. Through chance circumstances or
not, you survived your ordeal and now you are here and know the reason why;
pretenses are no longer necessary. It is fortuitous we will not have to wait
for a cloned embryo to develop before we can regain access to our lost
heritage. You will provide us immediate access to the vast resources of the
Primes.”

So,
Owens thought, now he knew the story, too bad it didn’t make him feel any
better. He was in Golstar’s custody and soon they would remove some tissue,
maybe a few cubic centimeters of blood. His DNA would provide a long term,
living half of their precious key to the alien technology. After that, his days
were numbered. With their limited resources, it would probably be easier keep
him alive to act as a temporary key, and as a ready reservoir of his DNA.
 Still, he knew his life would last only as long as his usefulness. Once
the clone had matured sufficiently, he had no doubt his services, along with
his life, would be terminated.