Torian Reclamation 2: Flash Move (29 page)

“Alan, how are you feeling?” Jumper asked.

“Not great,” Alan said. At least that was a coherent answer.

“Did you see Kayla and me playing, down on the field?”

“Saw you on the video.” Alan looked up at one of the screens. “You and Kayla. Saw you on the video. Playing. Playing on the video screen.”

Well, not that coherent. Where were those red Sheen? Jumper looked around the patio and saw one of them mixed in with the aliens two layers away. Jumper tried to wave at him.

“Saw you kiss her, too,” Alan said. “You kissing Kayla. Up on the big video screen.”

Jumper shook his head while Kayla flashed him a smile that betrayed pure delight. She put her hand on Alan’s back.

“You want to go inside and sit down, Alan?” It was the sweetest sounding tone Jumper ever heard come out of Kayla’s mouth.

“No,” Alan responded. “No inside.”

There was a sudden commotion on the terrace and then the aliens all quieted down and faced forward. Jumper stretched his neck up and over, looking for a line of sight to see what was happening through. Finally, his vision found a narrow passage between the oddly-shaped heads and shoulders.

Belle-ub had returned and was standing in front of the entrance to the conference room. Brandon, Olut6, and Olut6’s three soldiers were there with him, but had separated themselves from Belle-ub and were turned sideways facing him.

“I know why you’ve come,” Belle-ub said.

No one spoke. Belle-ub continued.

“Fortunately, the Banorian military commander is here with us. He can address your concerns. I invite you all inside. Soldiers and guards, please stay out here so we’ll have enough room.”

Belle-ub turned and entered the conference room. He was followed by Olut6 and Brandon, and then the aliens filed in behind, the two other red Sheen mixed in with them.

“I’m going in,” Jumper said.

Kayla rolled her eyes. “Of course you are. And you want us to stay out here and take care of Alan.”

“Yes, thanks.” Jumper didn’t wait for more arguing and followed the procession. There wasn’t much room left in the conference room, so he remained standing just inside the doorway. But what he saw from there looked almost comical.

Belle-ub sat in the big throne-chair on top of the steps at the far side of the room. His two companions had made their way there as well, and were now sitting in the smaller throne chairs on either side below him.

“This is the new Amulen seat of government,” Belle-ub announced. “Right here in this room. Its birthplace is here, and here is will it will grow. You are all greatly privileged, but we are also honored by your presence.”

Belle-ub pointed to the table. “These twelve seats are where the representatives will have their voices heard, and where our policies will be drafted. One seat for each continental delegate, although I expect several to remain vacant for a short period. One for the traditional Sheen order, which I expect to remain permanently vacant. One seat for a Banorian representative, one for Cardinal-4, and one each for the other non-native races who reside in Tora.”

Jumper watched Brandon and Olut6 as Belle-ub spoke. Brandon’s face remained unchanged, but Olut6’s was clearly forming a grimace.

Belle-ub continued. “Now, our first assembly has yet to convene, so we will inaugurate this facility with an interstellar council. Considering the occasion, it seems appropriate. Would the one of you—and only the one of you—who speaks for each of your races, please take a seat? Any seat you choose.”

There was some mumbling and jostling, and for a minute Jumper didn’t think the aliens would comply with the request. But then one of the Dirgs sat down. Shortly afterwards, another sat. He was from an incredibly thin species and seemed to know the Dirg representative, as they nodded to each other. Those two set the precedence. One member from each of the remaining four races gradually followed suit and claimed a seat. Jumper found he suddenly had more room and moved inside the doorway a little more.

“General?” Belle-ub motioned to the table.

“I’ll remain standing, thanks,” Olut6 said.

Belle-ub frowned at that remark. Jumper saw Brandon also shoot Olut6 a look of disapproval before Brandon stepped forward, as if to take a seat.

“Jumper,” Belle-ub said. His voice was booming and direct. It stopped Brandon in his tracks.

Jumper looked at Belle-ub and raised his eyebrows. Was he about to be scolded for slipping in here uninvited?

“You may take your proper seat, as the Earthling representative.”

Jumper looked at Brandon, who cocked his head, chuckled, and backed up against the wall again. Olut6 glared at Jumper. Jumper felt his face involuntarily contort. He looked out to the terrace. Kayla, Alan, and Hol4 were still up against the rail. Kayla was pointing down at something while talking to Alan.

Jumper turned back around, stepped forward, and quietly sat down. Brandon was still chuckling. Olut6 had turned his glare back to Belle-ub.

“Now then,” Bell-ub said. “Admiral Hochob of Dirg, since you were first to sit, why don’t you speak first. What is your request?”

“The light weapon,” the Dirg leader replied dryly. It was as if he was placating Belle-ub with his answer, and he hissed slightly afterwards.

“What about the light weapon?” Belle-ub asked.

“If the source and technology is to be disclosed, we will not be excluded from that information.”

“What leads you to suspect such information will be disclosed?”

The Dirg motioned around the table. “It’s why they’re all here. So we came, too. In case you will reveal the technology. We would not be left out.”

Belle-ub then looked at the alien spokesperson with the thin, wide head. “Inquisitor Errshlin of Latia, is this correct?”

So those were the Latians. Their appearance was intriguing, but they didn’t strike Jumper as being particularly formidable polwar opponents. Appearances were not reliably indicative of such things, of course—but often, first impressions were. Jumper caught himself. Why was he thinking about that? He was going to forfeit the match, anyway—wasn’t he?

“We made concessions in your mediated peace negotiations,” the Latian Inquisitor responded, “partially because we did not strongly suspect the light weapon to be something possessed by the Torians. The time has come for straight answers. I’ve witnessed the light weapon twice now. You claimed knowledge of its origin at the peace talks, and vaguely implied responsibility for it. Now we’ve seen it wielded again, this time deployed from your space station. All of us here are more or less in concurrence. This technology of yours must be fully disclosed.”

“Interesting,” Belle-ub said. “You are resolute enough to come here and make demands, even when the weapon you speak of was first discovered as it was coming to your aide? And has only been witnessed thus far in defensive actions? You still view it as a threat?”

“Yes,” the Latian Inquisitor said. “We do.”

Belle-ub calmly went around the table, giving each alien spokesperson a chance to voice their thoughts. The issue was the same. They all agreed that no race in the Erobian Sphere could be allowed sole possession of such an unheard of weapon of mass destruction as was seen defending the Torian space station last night. The technology must be shared, they contended. Two of the alien commanders phrased their demand in a way that sounded close to being a blatant threat. When they finished, Belle–ub looked across the room to Olut6, who was still standing with his back against the wall.

“General? Do wish to address this council?”

Olut6 leaned forward and began walking around the far side of the table. The aliens who were standing stepped out of his way as he came near them. His silence was unsettling and his gait deliberate. As he arrived on Belle-ub’s side, Belle-ub’s two companions looked apprehensive—as though they partly-expected to have to stand and defend Belle-ub physically. But Olut6 passed right by them and continued circling the table, displacing more standing aliens as he moved. The energy he emitted was not something to be spontaneously opposed, and everyone could sense it. When he had made a complete orbit, and was back on the far side of the table directly across from Jumper again, he spoke.

“Who attacked us last night?”

The sitting alien commanders glanced back and forth at each other, but no one responded.

Olut6 continued. “Banor and our space station were ruthlessly attacked by an unidentified race. Early reports place the casualty count in the thousands, including many innocent civilians. Does no one in this room know the identity of the attackers?”

More silence. The alien commanders stopped looking at each other and only waited on Olut6. He obliged them.

“So—you storm in here with thinly-veiled threats, demanding from us what you can only perceive as classified military intelligence, but offer no information in exchange? This after sitting idly by, watching us murdered in an unprovoked attack, not coming to our aide, and not offering us any manner of help in our current crisis? Do I assess the situation correctly?”

The Dirgs could be heard hissing and their bodies seen rapidly pulsating, but no one spoke.

Finally, the Latian Inquisitor responded. “How can we provide information that we ourselves lack?”

Olut6 made a snorting sound that sounded not much different than Kayla’s. It reminded Jumper to turn around and check on his friends. They were still at the rail on the deck, but Kayla was looking towards the conference room and had her arms folded in front of her.

“There are nineteen different races visiting on this occasion,” Olut6 said. “I find it extremely difficult to believe not one of you is able to identify the attackers.”

“But only six of us are here now,” one of the other alien commanders responded.

“Yes, only six.” Olut6 circled the table again. “If none in this room is able to offer us any information, perhaps one of the others is. Videos of the attackers are posted on the Torian general broadcasting station. You would seek to learn the source of the light weapon? We will disclose nothing while the identity of the attackers remains unknown to us. I suggest you talk with the others. I might find myself in a more agreeable mood if I had some cooperation. Otherwise, I am forced to assume you leave us to our fate, alone. And I will continue to suspect the malice of an enemy alliance lurking somewhere out in this valley.” Olut6 pointed out to the east, where all the alien shuttles were parked.

“And one more thing,” Olut6 said. “Regarding the threatening language some of you have so boldly used. I will overlook this, and consider it to be an ill-advised outburst of emotion. Before any of you even begin to contemplate the potential use of force against us, I would ask you to think upon the light weapon you witnessed, and consider whether you would like the next demonstration of it to be directed at your ships. That’s all I have to say until the attackers are identified.”

Olut6 returned to the wall next to Brandon and resumed his former position. Some of the alien commanders could be heard muttering to themselves.

“Thank you, General,” Belle-ub said. “I believe the Banorian military policy has been made clear. Does anyone else have anything further to say?”

“What about the tournament?” the Latian Inquisitor asked.

“Thank you for asking, Inquisitor. It will begin on time, in the morning, as scheduled.” Belle-ub looked to his left, out the window. One of the large video screens was well within his view from his vantage point up on the platform. “I see the final playoff game is about to conclude. The first-round brackets will be completed in a matter of minutes. I invite you all to stay and watch the opening ceremony. The red veil will be lifted.”

“No,” the Inquisitor snarled. “The prize. You are still prepared to provide the prize, Belle-ub, to the best of your ability, should the winner’s prize request impose upon you?”

“Yes, of course. As the host, I expect the prize request to impose upon me, and am fully prepared to comply.”

“You claimed knowledge of the light weapon,” the Inquisitor said. “If the winner requests as their prize for you to reveal the source of it—you will comply?”

“To the best of my ability, Inquisitor, yes. I warn you, however, not to hold high hopes that the extent of my personal knowledge of it will be satisfying.”

The Inquisitor persisted. “If the winner requests you to escort them to the salvage ships at Milura, and organize a conference with the half-breeds, to discuss the details of the light weapon—you will comply?”

Belle-ub frowned. “Yes, that would be within my power to grant. Very well then, assuming I am promised safe passage home afterwards. I must congratulate you on a clever prize request. Now, shall we all go back outside? It’s time for the ceremony.”

The Latian’s inventive prize—and Belle-ub’s concession to it—at least partially satisfied the alien council. They stood and exited to the patio, all except the Dirgs. The Dirg commander remained seated, and his two associates stayed in the room. So did Brandon and Olut6. Jumper got up and came over to Brandon’s side. Belle-ub said something to his two companions which caused them to run out. Belle-ub then approached Olut6, Brandon, and Jumper.

“Do you know why he stays?” Belle-ub said quietly to Olut6. He motioned with his head to the still-seated Dirg commander.

“How in Erob would I know that?” Olut6 said.

“He is insulted, General.”

“Well that’s too extat bad. I’m insulted that thousands of Banorians have just been killed, and your makeshift town full of aliens only cares about playing a game.”

“Do you not understand, General?” Belle-ub turned to Brandon. “Do you?”

“I think I do,” Brandon said. “General, please step into the corridor with me.”

Olut6 cocked his head, but followed Brandon through the doorway that led to the lift.

Belle-ub turned around to face the Dirgs and said, “Admiral Hochob.”

The Dirg commander looked up at him.

“What if I told you the light weapon was not so much a what, but a who?”

Admiral Hochob thought before responding. “A superior being?”

“Yes. What would you think if I told you that? Would you believe it?”