The Copernicus Deception (The Human Chronicles Saga Book 15) (5 page)

Chapter 5

Adam and Riyad watched the planet Visidor grow through the viewport as Copernicus’s ship—
Vivian
—approached.
A
dam hadn’t found the right moment to ask how the ship got her name; it could be sensitive subject, just as the
Cassie I
was for Adam.

“You’re going to like this place,” Copernicus offered, scanning the monitor he was reading. “The gravity is pretty low—just over half of Earth’s—so all that superman-like stuff you’re known for should come into play. It’s also hot and humid with an abundance of jungle vegetation, which provides an oxygen-rich atmosphere even with the low air pressure. The only thing we’ll have to worry about are some sinus problems and ear-popping.”

“I thought you said you’ve never been here before.” Riyad stated.

“I haven’t, but I can read an environment summary,” Copernicus replied.

Adam looked up from the monitor screen he was scanning. “So can I, and it says here that Visidor is on the far side of the Frontier from the Union and has only been rarely visited by Humans. But you still think our fame will be enough to get Kaylor and Jym released? ”

“Have faith, Mister Cain. I’ve spent quite a few years kicking around the galaxy, and you’d be surprised how well-known the two of you are. In fact almost every time someone finds out I’m a Human they ask if I know you, as if every Human knows everyone else.”

“I just hope you’re right. Hey Riyad, get a load of the natives.”

Riyad moved to where he could see Adam’s screen. “Is that a male or the female?”

“Does it matter?”

The image displayed on the screen showed a somewhat short creature with bulging muscles and covered almost entirely by coarse-looking hair. The thick head had a prominent brow jutting out above deep set eyes, reminding Adam of a Neanderthal. “Not very far up the evolutionary ladder, are they?” Riyad said. “They look tough.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” Copernicus said. “Take us for example.”

Adam snorted. “You ever met a Diklakean?” he asked Copernicus. “They’re four feet of mean muscle with a temperament to match.”

“But they come from a heavy-gravity world,” Copernicus countered. “The Visidorans may look tough, but I’ll bet their bones are made of marshmallows.”

“Let’s just hope we don’t have to find out. Where are we going? The whole place looks like it’s covered by jungle.”

“I’m homing in on a place called Swiv. It’s in the northern hemisphere, close to the poles. Hopefully it will be cooler there. Prepare for landing; we should be making landfall in about ten minutes.”

********

As the
Vivian
dropped toward the surface, Adam got his first real glimpse of the dichotomy that was the planet Visidor. As details became defined, he saw what appeared to be a light coating of snow on the huge, fern-like leaves of the far-reaching jungle. Upon reaching the forest canopy, the snow would convert to a gas that fed clouds of steam wafting back into the atmosphere. Once airborne, the gas would immediately condense to fall back to the surface in the form of short-lived snow. The cycle appeared to be constant, with the process depositing a light mist of rain below the forest canopy. From his observations, Adam couldn’t tell if it was hot or cold outside the starship.

There was always something both familiar and strange each time Adam landed on an alien world. He had thought about this before, about how similar most of the worlds he visited appeared to be. Yet when put into perspective, it all made sense.

Throughout the galaxy, there are literally trillions of planets, yet to Primes—such as Humans—most hold little interest. Primes are interested in worlds compatible to Primes, so it makes sense that most would have similar traits. They would all be within a certain gravity-tolerance, with an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, a magnetic field, a stable rotation and carbon-based lifeforms. The surface temperature would allow for the retention of liquid water, which just happens to coincide with the optimal survival range of Human-like creatures.

Even for mining, it’s easier to extract needed metals and minerals from the countless asteroids and uninhabited worlds scattered about rather than go to war over something that was more easily attained without all the hassle.

Of course, Earth-like worlds are few and far between, yet in a place as large as a galaxy, that still leaves a million or so perfect worlds for Primes to covet.

And it was from this coveting that conflict arose.

Now the empires of the Milky Way sought to consolidate as many of these Earth-like worlds into their fold, to stake claim to territory and to extract from the natives all the labor and treasure they could, before enough became too much for the population to endure. And no one was innocent. The Humans, the Juireans, the Klin—everyone was guilty of this overt coveting of other people’s stuff. It’s what kept Adam Cain—and others like him—fat and happy. Adam had once called it Human-nature, but now he had to amend that description. He realized this was how all living organisms survived.

********

The surrounding jungle had been cut back to provide for the growth of the city. As with most Prime-friendly worlds, the settlement was filled with box-like structures, some reaching several stories in height, with a grid-pattern of roads running between them. With open land scarce on Visidor, the natives took advantage of every square meter. The city was large, with a population of four million according to the Library, yet only one modest-size spaceport serviced the city, telling Adam that the Visidorans were not that much into space travel. Even so, when they set down on the muddy ground of the port, the place was packed to the gills with starships—and mainly of Juirean design.

“Looks like we got here just in time for the Annual Overlord Convention,” Riyad said. “Hey Copernicus—I mean Coop—I didn’t recognize the make of the your ship. Do you think the mane-heads will be able to tell we’re Humans just by looking at it?”

“I doubt it. I pieced this thing together from at least half-a-dozen models, none of which originated on Earth. Even so, it’s a good bet there aren’t a lot of people like us roaming around.”

“Just because the Juireans want to annex the Frontier doesn’t mean we don’t have a right be here,” Adam offered. “We
can
be here, right?” He directed the question to Copernicus.

“This is the Kidis Frontier. There are very few rules, but the last time I checked, there was no moratorium on Humans visiting the planet.”

“Let’s hope that hasn’t changed. But just to be on the safe side, I’m wearing a full-hooded cape and taking my trusty 1911 Colt .45-cal with me.”

“We’re not out to cause any trouble, Cain,” Copernicus snapped. “We’re here to schmooze the natives, not blow them apart, which I know is your usual modus operandi.”

“Don’t use big words around him,” Riyad said with a grin. “They make him nervous.”

“Thanks for the support, buddy!”

Riyad shrugged. “But seriously, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.”

“Have it your way,” Copernicus conceded. “But before you start shooting up the place, try a little diplomacy first.”

Riyad shook his head. “There you go with those big words again.”

********

The three Humans departed the starship dressed in dark brown capes with hoods covering their heads. Fortunately, they fit right in with the rest of the population, who wore similar garments to protect against the near-constant rainfall. The capes also shielded them from the near freezing temperature. Obviously, the flora of Visidor had adapted to the cold, and in the light gravity grew to gigantic proportion, even in the coldest of climates. All around the spaceport, the towering jungle struggled to overtake the clearing, even as several huge rotating trimmers skirted the perimeter, cutting back huge swaths from the juicy green vegetation. The ten-meter high discs sloshed through mud and snow on dual tracks; even so, Adam could swear he saw the jungle grow before his eyes, invading cleared space almost the moment the trimmers moved by.

The sticky soil of Visidor caked their boots, making movement toward the line of waiting transport vehicles a chore, even in the light gravity. The relatively heavy weight of the Humans caused them to sink deeper into the mud than the natives, whom Adam saw wore a form of narrow cross-country snow shoe to traverse the muddy field. Arriving at the vehicles, he was relieved to see that at each door a water hose was provided to clean off the gooey mess before entering. Once inside, only the slightest increase in heat was felt. The temperature of Swiv was normal for the Visidorans, if not their visitors.

Copernicus gave the driver an address, and the dual-tracked vehicle lurched forward, plowing through the mud before reaching a paved road that led into the city. The ride was rough, from a combination of the heavy tracks and the coarseness of the pavement. Adam stared out the window, with only a passing interest in the scenery streaming by. This was just another alien city on another alien world. Outside, the natives huddled against the weather, shuffling from place to place, going about their daily routine on a never-ending quest for food, shelter and procreation. Those were the big three drivers of motivation for creatures like him. He could add
power
as the fourth motivator, yet that was usually the means most often used to acquire the other three. It was all the same, here on Visidor, or on faraway Earth.

Adam shrugged. Sometimes too much travel, too many experiences, served to take the wonder out of life.
Jaded
was the word that came to mind, followed closely by
bored
….

The transport jerked to a halt, shaking Adam out of his depressing reverie. “Are we there?”

“Yeah…and where the hell have you been?” Riyad asked. “You looked like you were in a trance.”

“Just trying to put things into perspective.”

“Oh, damn!”

“What’s wrong?” Copernicus asked.

“Nothing, really. It’s just that when Adam starts getting introspective, he begins to seek out surprises, challenges, something to get his juices flowing again.”

“Save it for another time, will ya? All I want to do is get my ships back.”

“And Kaylor and Jym,” Riyad amended.

“Oh, yeah, them, too.”

Chapter 6

They were outside the Visidoran Judiciary Building, a large, ten-story stone structure with a series of short steps leading to the front entrance, and barely above the flood plain from the stains on the concrete. The doorway was small and narrow, designed to accommodate the smallish natives while keeping the weather outside.

The trio entered the building, along with a crush of others all anxious to escape the weather and get about their business, including no fewer than have a dozen huge Juireans. The Humans were about a foot taller than the Visidorans, yet a foot or two shorter than the Juireans. That helped to keep them from standing out in the crowd, at least to a major degree. Still, they kept their hoods on, while blending seamlessly with the parade of natives.

As far as Adam knew, there was no reason to hide from the Juireans, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Even through a shaky peace that had lasted almost seventeen years, Humans and Juireans seldom mingled, not without consequences.

Copernicus asked for directions from an automated attendant and then led them to a bank of rotating platforms rising up from the floor around a central pole. Copernicus boarded one, while Adam and Riyad shared the next platform, each gripping the center pole for balance.

Five levels up, Copernicus stepped off the platform. Adam and Riyad followed suit. They quickly assessed the area, and seeing no Juireans, pushed the hoods from their heads.

“You were right. There are Juireans everywhere” Adam said. “Where to next?”

“I was told to ask for someone named Marshal Manis in the detainment section.”

“Really?
Marshal
Manis? I didn’t know we’d just entered the Visidoran version of the Wild West.”

“That was the translated title. Who knows what it refers to here.”

Adam smiled. “Let’s get on with it. Time to start being dip-lo-matic.”

“My friend is a quick study,” Riyad said, patting Adam on the back.

Copernicus turned toward the reception desk at the end of the hallway.

A moment later, Adam and Riyad shared an amused look with each other. Neither had seen hairy boobs before, until now. And it wasn’t that they weren’t nicely formed, adorning a female Visidoran receptionist with a narrow waist and slender legs. It was just that her breasts were fully exposed and covered in a coarse blanket of black hair. But it didn’t end there. Her face was also covered in hair, all except for circles around her eyes and thin strips of skin surrounding her lips. She eyed the three Humans with curiosity.

“We’re here to see Marshal Manis,” said Copernicus Smith.

“Do you have business before the Marshal?” came the voice in Adam’s ear, out of sync with the movement of her hair-lined lips, a side-effect of their imbedded translation bugs.

“Tell her Copernicus Smith is here to inquire about the confiscation of two of his starships. I have a docket number.”

After giving her the number, the receptionist pressed a comm link and spoke into a panel. She must have been wearing an in-ear speaker because all Adam could hear was the one-side conversation. “She will be out momentarily.” Then the young native frowned, or what Adam took as a frown through the layer of hair on her prominent brow. “Enquiry…as to your species?”

“We are Humans,” Copernicus answered.

“I have heard of you, but never met one. Do you always have such an offensive odor?”

Adam smirked. How many times had he thought the same about aliens?

“I apologize,” said Copernicus.

“Forgiven. I say to you that the odor is less offensive than that of the Juireans. But more, I was expecting you to be bigger, based upon your reputation.”

“We’re compact and tough,” Riyad said with a grin. “Just like the Visidorans.”

Adam saw the glint in the alien’s eyes as she looked at Riyad. Perhaps it would be his old friend doing the schmoozing here….

A much older and gruffer-looking native stepped up to the trio. She, too, had hairy, exposed breasts, just not with the same healthy prominence of the younger alien, not by a long shot.

“I am Marshal Manis. Come with me.” She turned on her heel and walked off without waiting for the Humans to react. She led them to a conference room and then waited impatiently for Adam and Riyad to enter before stopping Copernicus at the door. There was a brief huddled conversation before they entered the room and closed the door. There were two other Visidorans in the room, both females, each armed with bolt launchers. They stood guard at the rear of the room.

Adam and Riyad shared a glance as they took seats at the table. Under their capes they placed hands on the handles of their weapons.

“You have come regarding the disposition of your crew and vessels,” Manis stated as she sat and flipped open a data screen that was inset in the tabletop.

“That’s correct,” Copernicus said quickly. “I’m sure you know that confiscation of repair vessels and crews is highly unorthodox, even for the Frontier.”

“That depends on your perspective.” The alien scanned the screen before continuing. “Copernicus Smith, Human, operator of a repair and recovery service.”

“That’s right.”

“Primary assignments from the Gradis Cartel and the Rigorians.”

“I wouldn’t say primary,” Copernicus stammered. “I service vessels in need. I do not ask their affiliation before providing that service.”

Manis looked up at Copernicus and stretched her white lips wide. “We have a complete file on you and your operation, Human. That is the reason your ships and crew were detained.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You may deny that you are a contractor for the contraband smugglers moving throughout Affiliation space, but your record indicates otherwise. When word of your most-recent distress service came in, we moved to intercept the smuggler’s ship, with designs of providing evidence of your collusion.”

“I’m not responsible for what’s aboard a service call vessel. That’s standing law.”

“Whose law is that, Human? In Affiliation space,
we
make the laws. And in this case we deemed it legal for us to confiscate all ships and parties involved.”

“I’m not aware of what the distress vessel was carrying. How could I? I received the call and I sent my crew out to investigate.”

Adam saw a clouded look cross the face of the Visidoran officer. When she looked up, her eyes locked with Adam’s. “Are these also employees of yours”

“No, they’re friends, fellow Humans of some importance and notoriety throughout the galaxy, brought here to help plead my case.”

“Who are you?”

“This is Adam Cain and Riyad Tarazi,” Copernicus said before Adam could reply. “Perhaps you’ve heard of them. They just returned from the Sol-Kor universe after defeating our mutual enemy. They are responsible for saving the galaxy, including Visidor.”

“I have not heard of you, but I have heard of the Sol-Kor.”

“You haven’t heard of them? Surely there must be others here who have?”

Manis whipped her head around to stare at Copernicus. “Are you suggesting that I am ill-informed? I have been told Humans are arrogant creatures with extreme self-importance. Now you arrive with these two, claiming I should be impressed simply with their names.”

“I didn’t say that. All I meant was that Humans defeated the Sol-Kor—these Humans—and as such, they are due some respect.”

Adam blanched. He could tell by the expression on the Visidoran than all Copernicus was doing was digging the hole a little deeper with each comment.

“Forgive my friend, Marshal Manis,” Adam said, deciding it was time to speak for himself. “He’s a little overzealous with his love of race. I’m sure you can understand that. We are also friends with the repair crew. Is there any way they can be released, seeing that all they were doing was following orders?”

Again the clouded look.

“Has something happened to them?” Adam asked, sensing something was wrong.

“They are well. They are being detained at the prison of Fasnis.”

“And yet there’s something troubling you.”

“It is not a troubling, but a frustration.”

“Please explain.”

Manis closed the computer screen on the table and leaned back in the chair. “The frustration comes from the fact that we have investigated the smuggler’s ship and found nothing that would qualify as illegal cargo aboard.”

“Wha…what?” said Copernicus stammered. “You didn’t find
anything
, no contraband?”

Manis narrowed her eyes at the Human. “You seem surprised by the news. Is there something you know that we do not?”

“No…that’s not it. It’s just that if you didn’t find any contraband aboard the ship, then why is it still being held?”

“Along with the repair crew,” Riyad added, speaking for the first time.

“It is because we have just concluded another thorough search of the vessel. All we found were a few restricted intoxicants in the crew quarters. Those have been removed.”

“So I can get my ships back?”

“And the service crew?” Riyad added again.

“The documents are being prepared even now.”

“Why didn’t you say that in the first place?”

Manis leaned forward, her eyes burning. “As I said, we have a complete record on you, Copernicus Smith. We know you are involved with the cartels. You and your crews are not welcome in Affiliation space, and neither are your so-called celebrities. You should be aware that I informed the local Juirean authorities of your presence here prior to our meeting. Although Visidor has no cause for incarceration, that is not to say the Juireans would not.”

“And why would they do that?” Riyad asked. “The Juireans and the Humans—”

“Are on the brink of war. Everyone knows that. And with recent actions by the Juireans, you are in Expansion territory without authorization.”

Adam blinked hard when the words sank in. “Authorization? What are you talking about? This is the Frontier; it borders the Union. We have every right to be here.”

“Now it is you who are ill-informed. The announcement has been made, and Visidor was instrumental in bringing about the annexation. The Kidis Frontier is now part of the Expansion.”

“Bullshit!” said Copernicus. The reaction by the Visidoran was like all other aliens when first hearing the translation of the word. “When did this happen?”

“Only two days prior,” answered Manis, shrugging off her confusion.