Reflectiverse Saga - Chapter 5

“It simply can’t be miniaturized further, Ananuk. This is as far as we can go.” The bold, deep voice of the deputy Head, Hitaruk Puranim, complained through Ananuk’s visotalk.

“Then we would have to have a crew size of at least ten, Hitaruk.”

“Yes I realize that, but there is nothing more that can be done. Even with removing the energy sources and installing terraredundancy algorithms the size still remains sixty percent of the original Conductor.”

“But a crew of ten will mean more men will venture into unknown territories and risk their well being.”

“Ananuk, I realize all this, I reassure you; but you tell me what more do we do? We removed the outer shelling too, replacing it with a talitium alloy skeleton.”

“All right, Hitaruk, that is the best we can do I guess.”

“It is. Do we have the men ready?”

“Twenty of them have been training for this since we got the Emperor’s permission. Gotranik Pulmanim, the chief geologist, is a must; as is his sister, Yutarikin, the vayulogist. Apart from them we’ll need two mobile experts and two habitation engineers. Counting you and me, that’ll be eight.”

“There will need to be two more people who are as familiar with the Reflecting Conductor as you and I are, Ananuk.”

“Why?”

“What if something happens to us? If it’s only us and something happens the others might not be able to operate it correctly, and they will be stranded; or worse. The people on Thea will only assume the worse.”

“I see your point, Hitaruk. Do you have anyone in mind?”

“Chitrakin Ruvitin is the most capable, Ananuk. She has grasped the workings of the Conductor so well that I feel she is way ahead of even me.”

“And the second?”

“Are none of the Yaktukans interested, Ananuk?”

“None that I know of; why?”

“Well, I was thinking of Rabik. He probably knows more than all of us combined, and I wouldn’t doubt his capability for a minute.”

“I could talk to him, though I don’t think much will come out of that. There may well be some obscure Yaktukan scientist who would like to get involved; but I don’t think Rabik is inclined so.”

“Well you talk to him, and if it doesn’t work out, we’ll think of someone.”

“But we don’t have much time, Hitaruk. The Emperor grows impatient, as do Vaktuki and Ditana. The longer we take the greater the chances of this slipping out of our hands.”

“It will still take us another week to get the Conductor ready, Ananuk. We’ll decide on the tenth member within the next couple of days so that the final crew has a little time to get to terms with themselves.”

“Sounds good, Hitaruk.”

Ananuk removed the visotalk from his ear and reattached it to his polypod. Things had happened very quickly once the Emperor’s permission came through. Ananuk had feared that of all regions, Vaktuki would protest vehemently against Kadorra carrying out the first test; but to his surprise Retrapi had remained mysteriously silent. The Yaktukans, true to their word, had already prepared two capability modules. The first was secretly carried back to Kadorra and hidden by Ananuk; the second was presented to the Emperor in full regional view. When the official Emperor Order came, Ananuk received the second module from the Emperor and brought it back to Kadorra to begin preparing for the test.

The first part was deciding upon the test target. Edoran was the most suitable, but there were other planets as well, most notably Toladri and Halitar. Once they agreed on Edoran, Ananuk insisted on keeping the crew size as low as possible. This was hampered by the size and complexity of the Reflecting Conductor the Yaktukans had built, which was part of the capability module. While Ananuk headed the team that would observe Edoran magnitele-visually, his deputy Hitaruk set upon reducing the size of the Conductor.

That had been two weeks ago, and after his talk with Hitaruk today, Ananuk knew that the test day was fast approaching. Much of the magnitele-visual analysis had revealed nothing new, and the Reflecting Conductor had been miniaturized as much as possible. There would still have to be the official meetings with the Emperor and Regions Council, which Ananuk was not looking forward to.

His polypod sounded an urgent notification. He flicked on the sightscreen and put the visotalk back in his ear.

Elective One Karuntak Karunik’s soft, paternal face broke onto the screen. “How are you, Ananuk?” he asked in his soft, soothing voice.

In Ananuk’s experience, there was no ruler on Thea as effective and as sensitive to the needs of the people as Karuntak Karunik. His belief was perhaps influenced by the fact Karunik had been Ananuk’s father figure and mentor ever since his biological father had disappeared and been declared dead. It was Karunik who had carefully guided Ananuk away from field work to theoretical research, and had protected him from the reputation and fate of his father in the process. When Ananuk’s father had disappeared, Karunik was merely a Sub-Elective, and Ananuk in his early teens. Karunik was a regular instructor and Ananuk’s school and he had spotted the talent and potential in young Ananuk. When Ananuk joined the anti-Imperialism movement at the age of nineteen, it was Karunik who had advised Ananuk to pursue other causes which would be less detrimental to his physical and mental well being. Ananuk had never forgotten these favors, and part of his loyalty to Kadorra came from his loyalty to its Elective One.

Of all regions, Kadorra was the only one where the rulers were selected by the people themselves. The Electives were selected by a complex procedure of selection by the citizens and these selections were held every ten years. There were seven Electives in all, to represent the mythical seven sages of Kadorra, who had tutored the Tritha brothers in their adolescence. Elective One was their head.

“Doing well so far, Elective.”

“I’m afraid this call might change that a bit.”

“How so?”

“Have you decided upon your crew, Ananuk?”

“I just finished talked to Hitaruk about that, Elective, and we’ve just about decided.”

“Just about?”

“We’re thinking of a tenth member. I have fourteen capable Kadorrans that have been training, and one of them is going to make it.”

“I’m afraid not, Ananuk,” the Elective One rejoined; his pleasant face looking odd adopting a grave expression.

“Why is that?”

“The Vaktukans have influenced the Emperor slightly, and they want one of their men in this too.”

“But that’s absurd; this test is being conducted by the KSA.”

“Yes but it is being done for all of Thea. I think that is the argument that Chief Regulator Retrapi pitted. He contended that one of his men join the crew to insure a full report and no secrecy on the part of Kadorra.”

“And the Emperor agreed?”

“Seems so, since we just got an Imperial Command about this.”

“But now the other regions are going to want to do the same!”

“But they won’t manage like Retrapi did, and he has the military might to bend the Emperor to his will, occasionally.”

“Do we know who he is sending?”

“His chief aide, Utaril Tripun.”

“I’ve never heard of him.”

“I have, at previous Emperor and Region Councils. He’s intelligent, sharp, articulate, and fiercely Vaktukan.”

“Is he safe?”

“I cannot say. It is rumored that he has a nice hold over Retrapi, and much of Vaktuki’s policies are actually formulated by him. But on the other hand, Ananuk, he is also quite capable. He’s a Thinker in Quantum Vedics and Planetary History, apart from being a Postulator in Thean Biology, Vaktukan Politic, and Stellar Astronomy.”

“That’s quite a handful,” Ananuk commented sourly.

“I agree, but it means that he will be a helpful hand.”

“If he intends to be helpful, Elective.”

“True,” Elective One agreed. “So; Edoran…”

“Yes, Edoran. Quite suitable for the first run.”

“There’s a chance it may contain native species, Ananuk.”

“Yes there is, but not native intelligent species. Our neighboring planets Magrea and Tshea are home to numerous insect species and even a few mammalians, but none intelligent.”

“And what do you intend to do if you encounter intelligence?”

“I regard that as mere romantic speculation, Elective. Even if we consider the Quarm’s Equation as accurate there is no possibility of intelligence on Edoran. It may be more probable once we leave this galaxy but we don’t mean to go that far just as yet.”

“Yes; I suppose you are right, Ananuk. I have long forgotten my Thinker’s course in Probability Cosmology.”

Ananuk smiled mischievously, “matters little in your field of work now, Elective.”

The Elective One returned his smile genially, “Right you are, Ananuk. And this reminds me of our upcoming session with the Emperor and Regions Council. Are you ready?”

“Yes we are, Elective. Has its Imperial Command come yet?”

“No, not yet, but anytime now; it’s good that you are ready. I’ll let you get back to your work now, Ananuk; not that I do not have any of my own.” The Elective One concluded with a twinkling smile.

Ananuk disconnected the line. He was among the majority of Kadorrans who had voted yet again for Karuntak Karunik during the Kadorran elections a year ago. Karuntak’s closest contester, the Elective Four, had backed out of goodwill when he realized that Kadorra wanted Karuntak to stay for the job. Kinan Retrapi had come for the official coronation ceremony, but Ananuk could not remember seeing Utaril Tripun there. He shook his head to clear his thoughts. So often during the past month he had caught himself thinking about the near and far future more than the clear present. He had infected Faolvay and Rabik with the same disease, even though Yaktukans claimed they were not interested in the application of the technology. Now, with Retrapi’s latest move, he wondered if the Vaktukan Chief Regulator too was suffering from it. Slapping his tablet hover hard, he got up, closed his window screens, and went off to take a nap.

In another room of the KSA, Gotranik Pulmanim and his sister Yutarikin were bent over a tablet hover, studying various maps, diagrams, and charts of Edoran. The siblings had similar features- jet black, wavy hair that fell to their shoulders; light green eyes contrasted by a dark skin; and heavy, thick jaws. Gotranik looked redoubtable and handsome; Yutarikin was attractive, thought not entirely beautiful.

“It’s hard to pinpoint where exactly on Edoran we’ll land up, but if our calculations about its spin and orbit are correct, we’re gonna end up somewhere near the great ridges.”

“But that might not be the best place to set up the habitation, Yutari,” Gotranik countered. He traced his finger on the chart of Edoran’s terrestrial features, “I would estimate that around two thousand yonganas north of the great ridges would lie the native forests and a large ocean.” Gotranik traced the finger above the great ridges towards a darkly shaded area on the map.

“If we do appear near the great ridges, Gotran, then we won’t have much choice,” Yutarikin reminded him with her soft but slightly course voice. “It won’t be possible for us to take long distance transports when the RC is as huge as it is.”

Gotranik nodded, “I know, I know; but the ridges will present Edoran’s harshest side to us, and we will be strained to the max.”

“What else can be done, brother? It is possible that Hitaruk’s calculations are off, and we fall on the other side of Edoran,” Yutarikin glanced at the map, “where the features are visibly much tamer. But if the calculations are even approximately correct, then will fall at least a thousand yonganas away from your forests.”

Gotranik frowned, and clicked over a different chart of Edoran, this one showing the great ridges in more detail. He and Yutarikin together studied the Edoran plains as they rose in height along the banks of an invisible river from either side. Jagged and irregular, these ridges followed the invisible river as it wriggled its way through yonganas and yonganas of land, often overlapping itself. The overall appearance of the ridges reminded Yutarikin of the terraganglions that every Kadorran adored.

“It would be very easy to get stuck in this invisible river, Yutari. We won’t even be able to scale the ridges.”

“But it doesn’t really matter, Gotran. This first run isn’t really colonization is it? It’s just going to be ten or twenty of us, more to test the technology rather than establish a base.”

Gotranik nodded in agreement, “Yes you are right, Yutari. But I keep forgetting the whole process of how we’re gonna get there in the excitement of actually being there. Think about it, sister; we will be the first humans to ever set foot on a planet outside our star system!”

Yutarikin grinned happily, “I know! It’s a life changer isn’t it?”

“Totally!”

“So think about that, Gotran! And forget trying to decide where we should appear and where the best place would be. We have no control over that.”

“Very well, sister, I will try.”

Over the next few days, the Vaktukan, Utaril Tripun, joined Ananuk’s team. On Hitaruk’s advice, Ananuk decided to take along only one mobiles expert, and the other was replaced by the Ahurun-born KSA astronomer, the aged Triarka Ahuri, making him the oldest member on the crew. It wasn’t long before Ananuk called in the Emperor Sarvaraj and Elective One Karuntak on a multivisotalk conference.

“Emperor; Elective;” he began, as they viewed him through their own screens, “we are ready to go.”

Reflectiverse Saga - Chapter 4

VAKTUKI-

Vaktuki had long been the most powerful region on Thea, more than Ingika itself. It was often held that if Vaktuki went for an all out war against the Empire, the result would fall in its favor within weeks. Yet there were issues that withheld Vaktuki from such an all out war, and most of these issues were internal, having to do with trust and deceit.

Vaktuki was founded by Vaktuki Tritha, one half of the legendary wanderers. For long it was truly a sister region of Yaktuki, but in the past few centuries this kinship was only on paper. Vaktuki had outdone the wishes and ethics of its founder, having come under the reign of ambitious and often unrestrained rulers. They were not despotic or corrupt however, and their patriotism for their region was unmatched. As a result there was none of the decay of Ingika or the corruption of Ditana to be found here. Vaktuki topped the charts in most development indices and its technology was unmatched. Despite being against the Empire, the region approached most of its relations with Kadorra and Yaktuki with subtle hostility, even though these regions too would have liked a more decentralized governance on Thea.

The rulers of Vaktuki were the Chief Regulators. The first Chief Regulator was Kintuki Tritha, Vaktuki’s niece. Regulatorship stayed in his line for a few generations following that, after which violent succession wars resulted in Regulators of dubious lineage. Currently the Regulatorship was in the hands of the Retrapi dynasty, and it had been so for the past three hundred years.

“Trust the Yaktukans to come up with something like this and take it to the Kadorrans first,” spat Chief Regulator Kinan Retrapi.

“What else would you expect, Kinan? Our questionable political stance and motives do not inspire trust in any region,” reasoned his aide, Utaril Tripun.

Utaril’s appearance was far too unassuming to look convincingly Vaktukan. He was mostly bone, with flesh added as an afterthought. His gangly long fingers and an adam’s apple that protruded most insistently from a long neck were a far cry from the typical Vaktukan muscle and strength. His straight eyes were a contrast among a people whose distinguishing characteristic was the prominent slant in the eyes. The first Vaktukans and many generations following had swum across the great ocean from Yaktuki; setting up camps on the small islands that were strewn across the ocean. As a result, Vaktukans even now had feet that were flat and flippery; but somehow Utaril lacked even those. But physical appearances apart, Utaril was a capable, intelligent, and loyal Vaktukan, and that was enough for Kinan to appoint him as chief aide.

“But we are twin regions, are we not, Utaril? Vaktuki was founded by the brother of their beloved Yaktuki. Does that not count for anything?”

“It would have, Kinan, when the planet was young and the stories of the brothers were still stories, not legends. But Vaktuki is ruled by the Retrapis now, and the Admiyogi of Yaktuki has no connection to you.”

“It would still have counted for something in my eyes.”

“But it does not translate in your actions, my CR. Yaktuki does not know whether we are, or whether we ever were, planning rebellion. Neither does it know what we intend to do if and when we overthrow the Emperor. You might be the political descendant of Tritha Vaktuki, but not his blood descendant. This counts a lot for the Yaktukans.”

“And are their Admiyogis blood descendants of the brothers, Utaril?”

“They are sanctioned regulators, Kinan, whereas the Retrapis are the clan that emerged out of the bloody succession struggles that ensued after Vaktuki’s death. There is an underlying difference.”

Kinan fell silent, defeated. His slanted, tiny eyes drew together in an expression of anger, and the cords of his tied hair stretched visibly tighter as his frowning forehead pulled the scalp forward. In true Vaktukan fashion, they were in a chamber buried many feet below the ground. Aerials that passed through Vaktukan airspace saw only barren fields and rugged mountain ranges, with occasional clumps of wasted and lifeless forests. Vaktuki was a peninsula joined by land only on its eastern borders, neighbored by the region of Ditana. It was Vaktuki Tritha who first crossed the ocean from the west and discovered the region.

Kinan Retrapi was rash and hasty, but he was a good leader for his people nevertheless. His had moved away from his father’s policy of hostility against the Emperor and opted for development and welfare for his people. For that he had been rewarded with higher tax return rates, lower crime, and better responses to his legislations. This was not to say however, that he had forgotten the fight against the Emperor, merely that he had taken time off to make Vaktuki stronger and more prosperous.

“Sulking will do no good, CR. The Yaktukans may have ‘betrayed’ us, so to speak; but it is comforting to know that neither Yaktuki nor Kadorra will ever go against us. Our military superiority notwithstanding, both regions will try to avoid conflict as much as they can. And they will never submit to the Emperor willingly. Moreover, the cultural soft power we hold in the eyes of the Kadorrans and Yaktukans will inevitably influence their political decisions.”

“But with this Reflectiverse Technology in the hands of the Emperor, we are defeated, Utaril.”

“If you make Thea the center of your universe, CR; but with the RT’s help Thea is no longer the center of the universe. Already the Kadorran scientist, Ananuk, readies his team to journey to Edoran, and it won’t be long before we will get to send our first team.”

“You mean to say that Thea is no longer important?”

“It is not, CR; not anymore. Our technologies and people can be transported to off-planet colonies. We will build newer, better Vaktukis, away from the Emperor’s outstretched claws.”

“And what will become of our original homeland, Utaril?”

“What of it? Vaktukans are more important than Vaktuki itself, Kinan.”

“But to the Vaktukans themselves it is Vaktuki that is important.”

“To the Vaktukans of this generation, my CR, yes; but what of coming generations? What of the many Vaktukans that will now be born on different planets. Will they relate themselves to the original Vaktukan land? To Thea?”

“You look too far ahead, Utaril. The first generation of Vaktukan colonizers will forever be psychologically rooted on Thea. Their children and grand-children will make many visits to the original land. It will take quite a few generations for the aura to wear off. I cannot afford to let Vaktuki decay and weaken while its colonies grow stronger. By the theory you expound, who’s to say that the Vaktukan colonies will always be loyal to Vaktuki itself? Or Thea, for that matter?”

“You include unnecessary variables, my CR.”

“As do you. Thea, as the source and root of this impending expansion, will indeed be the center of the universe as far as humanity is concerned. And we will be foolish to assume otherwise.”

“Perhaps so, my CR. In which case, what do you propose to do?”

“I will call upon the Yaktukans, and as for the technology to be handed over to us, not the Emperor.”

“You think they will comply?”

“I cannot say, Utaril, but I intend to be as persuasive as I can.”

“You will threaten hostilities?”

Kinan shook his head sideways, “Quite the opposite, in fact. I will call on our ancient alliance, on the kinship of our founding fathers.”

Utaril smiled disdainfully, “You are an idealist if you think that will work, Kinan. The old alliances have long worn off, as I just explained to you.”

“But they are not dead, Utaril, they can be renewed; and there lies the chance for my persuasion.”

YAKTUKI-

“This is not entirely unprecedented, Rabik.”

“I must admit, Faolvay, that it missed my foresight. But what do we do now?”

“I wonder, Rabik, if Retrapi has advisors on his side to remind him that we are not brethren regions anymore. I want to know whether he makes this move despite their advice, or because he has no advice.”

“I don’t see how this is important, Faolvay.”

“It is important because it will help us judge Retrapi better, Rabik. If he has not been reminded this, then perhaps I can grant him more innocence. But if he has been reminded, and he moves in spite of it, then if would grant a touch of aggression.”

“If the case is the latter, Faolvay?”

“It would be even easier then to trust Ananuk.”

“And if it is the former?”

“I would trust Ananuk even then, but it will help us judge the future actions of Retrapi better.”

“Forgive me, Faolvay, but I must ask again; what do we do now?”

“I have just answered that, Rabik. We will stand with Ananuk no matter what.”

“And what will we say to Retrapi?”

“The truth, Rabik. Despite our old alliances we cannot trust Vaktuki at the moment. I will personally inform the Vaktukan Chief Regulator that our loyalty lies only to the Trithan Command.”

“And if he gets hostile?”

“The Trithan Command does not prohibit self defense.”

“Neither does it assure success, Faolvay.”

“But it commands courage, and both Yaktuki and its Admiyogi have enough of that, Rabik.”

Rabik bowed his head in obeisance, “No Yaktukan doubts that, my Admiyogi.”

“Nor was I suggesting that you do, Rabik. Now put in the call to Retrapi, and let me speak to him.”

Admiyogi Faolvay was not a stranger to the Retrapis. He was Admiyogi when Kinan’s father was the Regulator, and he was Admiyogi when young Kinan took over. He had watched with silent admiration as Kinan had ceased hostilities and proven to be a better leader for Vaktuki than his father. But he had also heard with disturbed musings the tales of atrocities against internal rebels and traitors and Kinan committed without restrain. The Admiyogi was old, wise, and honest enough to admit that despite having watched with interest the entire period of Kinan’s reign, he still could not decide whether the Chief Regulator was a man to be trusted or not.

There were a few moments of silence while Rabik called Retrapi through the interplanetary live communication system. After a while the pony tailed head of Kinan Retrapi appeared on the visoscreen facing Faolvay, with a curious smile on his face.

“Good evening, Chief Regulator,” greeted Faolvay.

“Good evening to you as well, Admiyogi Faolvay. I gather you have received my request?”

“I have indeed, CR. But I must inform you with sincere regrets that it is not a request we can meet.”

Retrapi frowned; he had not expected such a swift and blunt refusal. “Why is that, Admiyogi?”

“Because what you request is that we deceive the Emperor and the other regions, CR. And deception is not permitted under the Trithan Command.”

“We Vaktukans too honor and revere the Command, Admiyogi, but what I request is not a deception but a mere precaution. It would be unwise to let only one hand control the technology that your scientists have devised.”

“You are right, CR; but what makes you think that only the Emperor will have the control and ability?”

“Who else will then, Admiyogi? The Kadorrans?”

“No, CR, not the Kadorrans, but the Yaktukans themselves.”

Retrapi made a face, “That is not what I mean, Admiyogi. Yaktuki should anyways retain the ability of this technology, but we both know that Yaktuki does not intend to use it for itself.”

“And if I accede to your request, then Vaktuki does intend to use it?”

“For the mutual advantages of both regions, Admiyogi.”

“The regions have no mutual advantages, CR.”

“Of course they do, Admiyogi Faolvay. It is in the interests of both to have the Emperor’s power dwindle, and to keep the Ingikans and Ditanians considerably weaker.”

“You are mistaken, CR, if you think that such matters are of concern to Yaktuki. If they were, we would not have involved the Emperor, or even Kadorrans, into the matter.”

“Admiyogi Faolvay,” reasoned Retrapi, “the world is going to change with the advent of this technology; as you very well know. Does Yaktuki intend to forever stick to its line of neutrality and reluctant interference?”

“As far as we can, CR Retrapi.”

Retrapi recline back in exasperation, “But that is ill-judged, Admiyogi. How can you see yourselves existing among five regions that are continuously expanding?”

“By maintaining this very policy of neutrality and reluctant interference, CR. Our sincere disinterest will safeguard us against the hostilities of the other regions.”

“And have you no desire to expand for yourselves?”

“And embroil us in further political and economic complications? No, Sir Retrapi, I’d rather we not.”

“Is that what all of Yaktuki feels?”

“Chief Regulator, as far as you are concerned, I am all of Yaktuki.”

“And you will not consider my request?”

“I have considered it, but I must politely decline.”

A shrewd look entered Retrapi’s eyes, plainly visible through the visoscreen, “But the ability that you will retain, will that be available to Vaktuki in times of need?”

“Who will judge that need, CR?”

“All of Yaktuki, Admiyogi Faolvay,” was the sardonic reply.

Faolvay smiled dourly, “You would trust my judgment then?”

“I don’t trust it even now, but I must accept it.”

“We will retain the ability, CR, precisely to insure that no region is unjustly treated by the Emperor.”

“Does our common history not matter at all, Admiyogi Faolvay?”

“Only so that I would feel better aiding Vaktuki in times of distress more than Ingika or Ditana, or even Ahurun.”

“And Kadorra?”

“You are insistent on knowing of our relationship, Chief Regulator.”

“And you seem insistent on hiding it, Admiyogi Faolvay.”

“But I have nothing to hide. Kadorra and Yaktuki are neighbors and allies from a time before when Vaktuki Tritha first cross the ocean. He set foot on banks of the Kadorran Holy Lake long before he did on the Vaktukan shores. We are but natural allies, CR.”

“Is that why you went to the Emperor through Kadorra?”

“It is only part of the reason, CR. A bigger reason is that our scientists have collaborated with the Kadorran Science Agency on many occasions to much success. On the other hand the Vaktukan Science Center has clung to its secrets most arduously.”

“The Center complains the same of you, Admiyogi Faolvay.”

“That is baseless. Yaktuki has always shared its science impartially. The Reflectiverse technology is a recent example, CR.”

“My Center maintains that there is also science that you do not share.”

Faolvay frowned, “I cannot allow for such accusations, Chief Regulator. I repeat again that our actions are all guided by the Trithan Command; if you cannot believe that, then you will find very few reasons to trust Yaktuki at all,” he concluded.

“Is that your final stand?”

“My stand has been clear from the start.”

Faolvay saw Retrapi stand up and reach towards his own communication device. “So be it, Admiyogi Faolvay.” The visoscreen went blank as Retrapi closed the connection from his side.

Reflectiverse Saga - Interlude 1

INTERLUDE 1

Back on his aerial, on his way back to Kadorra, Ananuk’s mind was in a daze. He had been on a brainwave back there with the Emperor, and half the things he said he had never thought of before. But now, in the familiar and comfortable surroundings of his aerial, he realized that much of what he said was true, and it made sense. The system he had proposed was one that was likely to keep all sides happy; and it would help strike a balance between the expanding human groups.

“Call up the Yaktukans,” he said to his pilot, “ask for permission to enter their territory. I want to go there before we go to Kadorra.”

“Yes, sir,” his pilot obeyed, after a few moments of silence he replied, “permission has been granted, sir. I am making the necessary route adjustments.”

His mind now reeling with what was quickly becoming an elaborate plan in his head, Ananuk had no time to view out his window. He instead worked on his polypod, furiously putting together the database he was to relay to the Emperor. It couldn’t be complete without inputs from Rabik, and he hoped that the latter would see the merit in Ananuk’s plan. He sent in a quick message to Rabik, who was waiting for him at the Air Fields when he landed. They took the ground transports to Rabik’s residence, where another Yaktukan was waiting for them- Admiyogi Faolvay.

“Welcome back, Ananuk,” Faolvay began, “I trust your swift return means some success?”

“It does indeed, Faolvay. But we must act quickly; it will not be long before the Emperor thinks about all that I have told him, and decide that he can use force to wrest the technology from us.”

Rabik’s eyebrows shot up, “when he knows that he will have it anyhow?”

“We cannot put it past him, Rabik, and there is much that we need to arrange before we hand this over.”

“I gather you have a plan in mind, Ananuk,” said Faolvay.

“I do indeed, Faolvay. And we need to get onto it fast.”

Faolvay made an allowing gesture, “then tell us what to do, Ananuk.”

Ananuk handed over a visodisk to Rabik, “this holds the database on the discovery, Rabik. I need you to you check it and make any necessary additions. Withhold nothing; there is nothing that we need to hide from the Emperor.”

Rabik took the visodisk and departed to his office-cabin. When he was gone, Ananuk turned to Faolvay.

“The last time Rabik and I spoke, Faolvay, I mentioned to him that the use of this technology will have repercussions on the Empire.”

Faolvay nodded, “I realized this when our scientists first approached this discovery.”

“What’s more, Faolvay is that the Emperor realizes this too. He thought of it almost right after I explained the discovery to him.”

“This would explain your eagerness in getting down to business just now.”

Ananuk nodded, “yes. Now when he mentioned this to me I had a sudden insight into the whole issue, and without thinking twice about anything I suggested to him a detailed plan. The more I think about this plan now, the more I feel that it would work to the benefit of all; including Yaktuki and Kadorra.”

“Then I would be interested in hearing more about it, Ananuk.”

“It is most likely that as we colonize planets the hold of the Emperor will grow weak. But without a central unifying force like the Empire the expansion will be hampered by numerous conflicts between the six regions. We can count Ingika and Ditana to be against us on all counts, and Ahurun and Vaktuki will make their allegiances as dictated by self-interests.”

“I agree so far, friend Ananuk.”

“But if we let the Emperor regulate the use of the Reflectiverse, if we let each journey go through his permission, we ensure that no region rebels against him after expansion and his over-hand will ensure any infighting.”

“I see how that would work.”

“As the expansion continues, the Empire itself will be inevitably confined on Thea, whereas the component regions will spread out to their satisfaction. A weak, but existent Empire on Thea will serve to ensure peaceful or at least conflict-less expansion of humanity.”

“What did the Emperor think of all this, Ananuk?”

“Who knows what really went on in his mind, but he admitted approval.”

“And what happens if the technology falls into the wrong hands? Or is cut off to a select region?”

Ananuk let that question sink in. “That’s where you come in, Faolvay. I want Kadorra to secretly retain the technological ability for this discovery.”

“Deception…”

“Not deception, mere precaution. I am not saying that we will surreptitiously use the technology to our benefit; Kadorra has its sense of morals too, Faolvay. We will go through the Imperial channel like the rest of the regions. But by having a backup capability we will provide a safety net if the technology were to be misused or withheld.”

“When did you manage to think up all this, Ananuk?”

Ananuk shrugged helplessly, “it came to me, Faolvay; if you can believe that. But look, regardless of what Yaktuki in general feels, I know that Rabik in his heart is confident this technology will work; and to be honest, that is enough for me. In the right time, of course, it needs to be and it will be tested. But the time to prepare for a changed world has arrived, and I want to be ahead of others.”

“So you want us to in fact prepare two databases. One will faithfully go to the Emperor, while the other will remain with you.”

“That is exactly what I want, Faolvay. But more than that, I also want your trust. I do not seek an upper hand from other regions, nor do I want Kadorra to develop as the most powerful. But I do think that a backup should remain in the hands of someone trustworthy; and I can think of no one more so than myself.”

“Valid enough, Ananuk; this will be done.”

And so Ananuk also set the course for humanity’s future.

Reflectiverse Saga - Chapter 3

The next morning Ananuk found himself back in his aerial, flying west further north to the Imperial Capital, Ingika; seat of the Emperor. Below him was the vast Yaktukan Ocean, teeming with multitudinous species, many of which had not yet been discovered. Even here, the Yaktukans had spread their twisted, mangled architecture. He made out sharp towers rising out of the waters, their grisly metallic branches in stark contrast to the trees that lined the shore he had just left behind. For hours there was nothing but the ocean, and then he spotted small patches of land among the waters. These, he knew, were the beginnings of the southern islands of Ahurun. Ingika was further north and further west. The three regions of Ahurun, Ingika, and Ditana were the regions that submitted themselves to the Emperor willingly. On the other hand, Kadorra, Yaktuki, and Vaktuki were always brimming with rebellion.

The aerial was flying too high for him to discern anything on the Ahurunian lands, but once in a while he thought he could make out their megalevitators stick their heads above the clouds. The landmass ended soon, followed by the ocean again; and he knew that much of Ahurun laid to the east of the path his pilot had chosen. This part of the ocean was devoid of any signs of human activity. Once or twice he caught a primamatsya jump out of the waters, float idly for a few moments, and sink back in. He kept an eager watch after that for the turanigyak, the primamatsya’s arch rival, but the creature did not oblige.

He recalled how these regions were all discovered by Thea’s legendary wanderers, the Tritha brothers. Together they travelled all across the globe, discovering new lands and new peoples; introducing to these cultures what they themselves had learnt along their journey. It was in Ahurun, then savage and barbarous, that Vaktuki Tritha had met his end, and the grieving Yaktuki had carried his ashes all the way back to his deceased brother’s adopted homeland- Vaktuki.

By the time the Thean Sun began to set on the horizon behind him, his pilot started the descent into Ingikan airspace. Even as Head of KSA, Ananuk had never gotten the chance to visit Ingika. To a Kadorran who was new to Ingika, its jumbled and chaotic City proper came as a total shock. By the time his pilot was halting the aerial on the landing strip, he was aware of the heavily polluted air outside. Still, when he exited the aerial what first hit him was not the pollution, but the cacophony of noise. He could hear loud transport horns from every direction, and they were accompanied by regular booms that could only come from the region’s infamous Quantafactories. The Quantafactories produced a little over a quarter of Thea’s energy and more than three-fourths of its pollution. Less pollutant technologies were available but their costs exceeded their returns, making them unfeasible. It took a while for him to get used to the assault on his auditory sense, and he was relieved when he was inside the Aerialport terminal, which cut out all noise from alfresco.

He called his counterpart from the Ingikan Science Agency who promptly sent over an aerial transport to take him to the Imperial Sector. The ride inside the aerial was dreadful, with the pilot weaving carelessly between traffic and structures alike. Adding to that was the outside din that the aerial did not suppress quite as well as the Aerialport terminal did. When the pilot took a transport tunnel and the aerial switched to autodrive, Ananuk heaved a sigh of relief.

With the aerial hovering harmlessly through the tunnel, his attention shifted to the city outside. There was a general aura of decay about the structures and even the transports. He spotted many minilevitators that were not exactly suspended still, and were instead bobbing dangerously in the air. Quantafactories in the background were mercilessly spewing out fumes that were giving their filtration-drones a hard time. Then, to his left, a large blank barrier emerged, blocking his view. His aerial turned sharp left and immediately the scene to his right changed. The levitators were much crisper, and there was no sign of the Quantafactories. The only aerials he spotted were in the tunnels above and below him, with quite a few ground transports that seemed to be moving at high velocities. The barrier to his left continued until the tunnel turned sharp left again, into an opening in the barrier.

When he was barely five, Ananuk’s father had told him all about the Emperor. As an astronaut on the Imperial Space Fleet, his father was stubbornly loyal to the Empire, even if Kadorra wasn’t. He instilled into Ananuk the fact that the Empire was a benevolent and stable entity that sustained the existence of Thea and its six regions. Young Ananuk was easily taken in by the things his father said with utmost confidence and belief. It was not until he was in his late teens that he began questioning the true nature and character of the Empire, and by that time his father was not around to hold him back.

Ananuk was plunged into near total darkness for a brief while, during which the aerial seemed to pick up speed. A slight hum told him that the pilot had regained control of the aerial, but before he could worry about that, a mechanical and monotonous voice broke through the audiocomp of the aerial.

“Welcome to the Imperial Sector on Ingika. In a moment you will arrive at the Security Gate. You are requested to co-operate with the security drones, which reserve the right to deny you entry. Should you show any signs of aggression or violence, immediate and punishing action will be taken.”

No sooner had the voice ended that light flooded the aerial again. When his eyes readjusted Ananuk found that the aerial was out of the tunnel and approaching what he made out to be the Security Gate. He was the Head of the KSA, and he had official sanction, so he had nothing to worry about. But the oddly mechanical voice and the prospect of automated drones as security made his stomach churn, much to his embarrassment. However, his fears were not necessary. No drones came to check him and the aerial stopped at no Security Gate. It instead halted at a levi-plank right outside the Imperial Palace.

“This is where you get off, sir.” The pilot informed him, in a tone to match the mechanical tone of the audiocomp message.

He exited the aerial and followed the levi-plank to a metal gate that slid open at his arrival. As he entered, he found himself standing in a large hall, facing a seemingly endless span of area. The hall was dimly lit, and on the walls near the distant ceiling he could see nevon powered lamps hung at equal distances from each other. One light shone directly below to a huge podium, where the Emperor, Ananuk realized with a jolt, was seated on his throne.

He prostrated ritually, and when he looked up he saw the Emperor beckon silently for him to come forward. Head still bent slightly in obeisance, he took careful, measured steps towards the Emperor, Sarvaraj the Fifth. He felt, rather than saw, the nevon lamps behind him turn off as he passed them, making the hall behind him darker. Up ahead, he knew, the Emperor was patiently waiting for him to approach. When he was near enough to the podium, he stopped, and took one final bow, kneeling down to touch his forehead on the first step of the pulpit.

When he rose up straight, he took his first, good look at the Emperor. It was impossible to know what his real physical structure was like. The Emperor wore armor so huge and redoubtable that no part of his body was visible. His helmet was three times the size of Ananuk’s head, and the visor was nevon blue from outside, so that the eyes were not visible. The helmet rested on the powerful shoulders of the shield that covered the Emperor’s neck, down the shoulders, all the way to his wrists. His hands were protected by metal alloy gloves that, Ananuk had read, were immune to damage. Similar impressive armor covered the Emperor’s torso down to his abdomen, and the legs were protected by a material similar to the gloves. When he stood tall, with all his armor, the Emperor was eight feet tall and four feet wide.

The Emperor’s voice was loud and deep, matching the magnificence of his appearance perfectly, “Ananuk Vikratik, Head, Kadorran Science Agency. What brings you to my hall?”

Despite being in the presence of a man who had shadowed his entire life, Ananuk found his voice confidently. “A matter of exciting possibilities, Emperor Sarvaraj. I come to you with reports of a potent new discovery, carrying the success of our Yaktuki brethren.”

The Emperor spoke slowly and patiently, almost soothingly, “and why haven’t the Yaktukans come to me themselves?”

“They are bound by their Trithan Command, Emperor, and can only do what it permits.”

“Is this Trithan Command greater than the Imperial Command, Vikratik?”

“Not to me, Emperor, but perhaps to them.”

“But why send you?”

“Kadorra and Yaktuki are neighbors, Emperor. We have a long history of initial conflict but everlasting affinity. It is but natural that they seek our assistance.”

The Emperor was silent for a while, as if deciding whether Ananuk’s explanation satisfied him. “Very well, Vikratik, speak what you have come to speak.”

“The Yaktukans, my Emperor, have discovered a mirror universe, lying directly below the plane of our own. They have devised a method by which we can use this new universe to transport us where our current ships cannot.”

“Beyond our star system?”

“Yes, Emperor. This is a discovery of great potential, and may change our fate forever.”

“Indeed, Vikratik, but what more can you tell me? Explain things to me in detail, Kadorran, I will grasp them I assure you.”

Ananuk bowed is acceptance of the command. “Emperor Sarvaraj, let me give you the case of the planet Edoran, which lies in the binary star system Wetraki. Wetraki lies more than three light-years away from our star system, and is thus, impossible to reach given our current technology. But both the KSA and the Vaktukan Science Quarters have determined that Edoran might be perfectly suitable for human habitation. For one, it has an atmosphere of eighteen percent prana-vayu, which is adequate for human respiration. Moreover, it has a surface cover of water of around fifty four percent, again, adequate for our energy needs.”

“This is all known to me, Vikratik, where does the mirror universe come in?”

“The mirror universe can help us reach Edoran, Emperor. Using the Reflecting Conductors the Yaktukans have built, we can shoot a chunk of matter across to the mirror universe, at a proper angle, and the matter will be deflected onto Edoran.”

“That sounds more like magic, and less like science, Vikratik.”

“Except that we know how and why this will work, Emperor; so it is not magic, but science.”

“Has this been tested?”

“No, Emperor, it has not. The Yaktukans will not test it themselves, but are confident that it will work. But with your permission, the KSA is more than willing to conduct the necessary tests.”

“Relay this database onto my systems, Vikratik, and I will have my scientists examine the details. If they are satisfied, you will have your permission.”

“I will relay it the moment I get back to Kadorra, Emperor.”

Emperor Sarvaraj fell silent again. Ananuk waited patiently for him to say something, but he did not.

“Emperor?”

“No, I may not be Emperor for long.”

“Why do you say that, Emperor?”

The Emperor jeered, “Do not pretend ignorance. I understand the potential consequences of this discovery. How will I, with regions under sullen resentment on this very planet, manage to hold a leash when humanity spreads beyond?”

It was Ananuk’s turn to be silent.

“But it is important that I do, do you not see? If the Empire dissolves, the six regions will find it difficult to maintain the current peace. With their infighting, we will have only a scattered and divided expansion, quite unlike how we have dreamed for centuries.”

In spite of himself, Ananuk realized that the Emperor was right. It was another matter if the current Empire was not acceptable to most regions; but to have an organized expansion and to arrange a coordinated use of the new technology a uniting governing force was essential. Without realizing it, Ananuk’s brain went into overdrive, and his future was set.

“I would like to know what you are thinking, Vikratik.”

“I must admit, Emperor, that you are right. But in this technology lies the very key to your power. Let the use be directed through your hands, let regions come to you to employ it.”

The Emperor, interested, sat up straight. “Continue.”

“Set up a system, Emperor, whereby you regulate the colonization of planets. See to it that each region gets a fair amount of planets to colonize for itself. Your power on Thea will not wane as regions turn their attention to the colonies, yet in having sovereign control over the technology, you will ensure that each region needs your allegiance. This will prevent any from even thinking of rebelling against you.”

“And will the Yaktukans let me monopolize the use of this technology?”

“The Yaktukans have no desire to use it, Emperor. They have no want for expanding and are quite satisfied with keeping their own borders safe. It will be easy to convince them to hand over the technology to you.”

“And what is there in this arrangement for you, Ananuk Vikratik?”

“This will work both ways, Emperor. The regions, including Kadorra, will have a more or less free hand in the colonies. They will gain the autonomy there that they so arduously desire. Kadorra, with the reverence it holds across all Thea as a holy and blessed land, will continue to prosper in that direction; while the Kadorran people will find new lands to expand.”

The, Emperor smiled indulgently, “a wise, and perhaps too wise, proposition. But we go too far ahead. Send me the database, let my scientists examine it, and let me decide if I allow you to conduct the tests. Then we will think about how I handle my leash beyond the confines of Thea.”

“Very well, Emperor. The database will be relayed to you.”

The Emperor nodded, “you may go now, Vikratik.”

3rd DimEnSiOn

Reflectiverse Saga - Chapter 2

School had never been easy. Everyone knew who his father was and for that he was an object of ridicule. He had very few friends and even the teachers tended to ignore him as much as they could afford to. To young Ananuk this did not matter however. He had long decided that he was going to follow in his father’s footsteps, and the ridicule he faced at school was only the beginning of what he would have to deal with later on in life. But somewhere between his undergraduate term and his postgraduate session he moved away from field work to theoretical research. His father’s reputation (or lack of it) made for him being bumped from department to department till he had to collaborate with a young scientist from Yaktuki- Rabik.

This morning, last night’s discussion with Faolvay and the Yaktukan scientists was playing on his mind, and he admitted to Rabik- “I do not know what to make of this.”

“What’s there to make, Ananuk? Agreed that the technology is weird and abnormal, but it works, and that is all we need.”

“How do you know it works when you haven’t tested it yet, Rabik?”

“Because it is Yaktukan, my friend; the theoretical testing it has been subjected to by the best of us is more than adequate to ensure its validity.”

Ananuk chuckled in spite of himself, “you Yaktukans are notoriously haughty, Rabik; do you know that?”

“Yes I do;” Rabik replied with a mischievous grin on his face, “but you Kadorrans are notoriously holy, and do YOU know that?”

Ananuk snickered knowingly, and nodded. “But on a serious note, Rabik, I want you to explain it to me again, without the Yaktukan terminology.”

“I will try, Ananuk. For your ease, picture the targetspheres game. Your point is fixed on the surface, and you cannot move your striker. But you can direct the targetsphere to any of the seven holes. Picture the targetsphere as the chunk of matter we would want to move, and the seven holes as seven colonize-able planets. The surface borders are analogous to the plane of the reflective universe.”

Ananuk’s mind wandered back to the first time he met Rabik. They were both a lot younger then. Ananuk a frustrated but talented scientist and Rabik a promising and optimistic one. They were assigned to a marine project where the tasks of both were limited mostly to sample collection. But it gave them ample opportunities to debate and test each other. The long nights during the project found the two in each other’s company, smoking viso-karas and discussing science. Each found intellectual satisfaction in the other. When Rabik went back, he made sure that the Yaktukans commended Ananuk and placed him on the global scientific map. After that his superiors could not afford to ignore him anymore and it was that initial push that then propelled Ananuk towards the journey that ended at the leadership of the KSA.

Ananuk nodded, “an apt analogy, my friend; I begin to see the picture now. In targetspheres we shoot the sphere at the required angles according to the hole we target. Similarly, to direct a chunk of matter across space to a particular point, we must shoot it at the reflective universe at the necessitated angle.”

Rabik nodded encouragingly, “you see the picture now. Our discovery of this ‘Reflectiverse’, so to speak, combined with the technology we have devised to direct matter onto its plane, is the key to inter-stellar travel.”

But Ananuk shook his head in the negative, “while I admit this is a groundbreaking discovery, Rabik, there are many questions that need to be addressed first.”

“Like?”

“Like what will be the side-effects of such matter field disturbances? What will be the time lapse involved? How will we get the matter to return? This is an entirely new field of science, Rabik. No scientist is going to accept it without rigorous testing.”

“All questions can be answered with time, my friend. The side-effects of this we can only study once the process begins full scale. To return the matter we must of course build a Reflecting Conductor on the other side of the journey as well, and I allow that we will need much planning and work on this aspect. As for the time lapse, there will be none.”

“How does that work?”

“Because in theory, the matter will not be traveling any distance at all. Take the analogy of the targetsphere again. There is a time difference between the moment you strike the sphere and the moment it enters the hole because there is some distance between the sphere and surface borders, as well as the hole and the surface borders. But in this case, there is NO distance between the Reflectiverse and our own universe, simply because the former does not lie with the space of the latter. So the matter will hit the Reflectiverse at the exact moment of activation and re-appear on the target planet at precisely the same moment it disappears from the point of origin.”

Ananuk sighed heavily, “Rabik, it is hard for me to accept all this without a single test run or at least some form of empirical backing.”

“It is backed by Yaktukan theory, Ananuk; and this is enough for us. But remember that we do not intend to use this discovery for ourselves, as per the Trithan Command. There is no need for Yaktukans to spread to the stars, it is enough that humans in general do.”

The Trithan Command was a code of ethics and behavior that was laid down by Yaktuki Tritha, the founder of Yaktuki. While the Yaktukans vehemently denied such claims, the Command was taken on the rest of Thea as a radical and forbidding religion. The Command encouraged minimalism as a way of life, and ordered its followers to use only that which they need. As result, while Yaktuki was at the forefront of scientific research and development, it lagged behind other regions in putting the knowledge to practical and progressive applications.

“Yes, I know,” accepted Ananuk. “Under the Command you have no use for this technology even if it proves to be wildly successful. So you want us to test this thing and use it?”

“When it comes to that, yes, but we want you to take this to the Emperor.”

“Why can’t you do that yourself?”

“Because the Emperor’s ways are objectionable to Yaktuki, and we want nothing to do with him. Neither do you for that matter, but you do nothing about it.”

This taunt brought the two to a major bone of contention between them, and Ananuk scoffed, “and what do you do, Rabik? You share your farm produce and your scientific advances with his other regions, you let his fleets patrol your skies and man your borders, you even pay him a tax out of the very resources he allocates to you, just like all other regions do! Or do you think that in not going to him yourself you are committing great rebellion?”

“There is a fundamental difference between what you do and what we do, friend Ananuk. You serve the Emperor to protect yourselves, to ensure that the fleets that guard your borders do not attack your cities in turn. You serve him so you do not have to waste resources on military expenditures, and use them for the welfare of your people. We, on the other hand, serve the Emperor plainly because it falls under the codes of the Command. We are not to build armies and maintain fleets, even though we do have the resources to do so; we are to share our produce so that our human brethren in the other regions are not starved; and we do not keep our sciences to ourselves because human interests come first. We may be against the Emperor, Ananuk, but we are not against Theans.”

The Empire had existed for as long as history could remember. The first names that historians could dig out of Thea’s long and rich past were of the Tritha brothers- Yaktuki and Vaktuki. In time it was uncovered that even the brothers had submitted to an Emperor. The Yaksargik Dynasty was thus the ruler of Thea since ‘the beginning’, and while no one questioned that the Dynasty had begun the Empire, many challenged its right to hold the throne. The past dozen or so generations of the Empire had been tested by numerous rebellions, and at one point the throne had been occupied by ‘the Cleaner.’ The first rebellion had been by Kadorra itself, when its people had tired of the Emperor’s greed and increasing taxes. Not all rebellions were fuelled by righteous zeal however. Vaktuki’s first rebellion, indeed all of Vaktuki’s rebellions, was charged by the lust for the throne of Thea. It was ironical when one considered the fact that Vaktuki, under its founder Vaktuki Tritha, was the first region to have accepted the reign of the Empire.

At different courses of time, different regions rebelled for different reasons. Sometimes the rebels weren’t from any region but were just united under the common cause of taking down the Empire. Thinkers like the Ahurunian- Kaferr, and the Yaktukan- Yakut, had espoused a different system of governance, where they wanted the people to decide who was to rule them. With the populations of Thea and its regions growing exponentially every decade or so, their system had soon been ruled out as unfeasible. Then came the military rebellions, which were the most powerful the Empire ever had to face. Large sections of the Imperial military had decided that they could do a much better job of ruling Thea than the Emperor, and did not his power lie in his military? But generations of rule by a single Dynasty had forged loyalties that were hard to break, and the military had to face dissent and insubordination within its own ranks whenever it got too close to controlling the throne.

Ananuk was growing weary of the argument. “But if I take this to the Emperor, Rabik, I want an understanding with you.”

“There is always an understanding between us, Ananuk.”

“I mean a specific understanding.”

“Name it.”

“That Kadorra and Yaktuki are on the same side, Rabik. I cannot speak for the other regions, but we are as weary of the Emperor as you are. If the Trithan Command is a valid reason for you to not retaliate, then concern for our homes and lives is valid enough for us. I want to know that you, and all of Yaktuki, understand this.”

“I do, my friend, coming as this is from you; and perhaps all of Yaktuki could too. But what I don’t understand is that why is this so important?”

“Think about it Rabik, if this discovery is as potent as you promise it is, then the world is about to change. Do you think the Emperor will be able to keep a hold on all the planets we might colonize? His control is going to spread thin, and your twin region Vaktuki will be quick to take advantage. I don’t want us to get confused between ally and enemy in those times.”

Rabik smiled; a faint twinkle in his eyes. “You need not have worried, my friend. Our regional misconceptions about each other notwithstanding; it is Kadorra that Yaktuki has called on first, and it is Kadorra that Yaktuki asks of for assistance.”

“Then I will go to the Emperor.”

Reflectiverse Saga - Chapter 1

His father had to leave again, and this time it was a longer trip, to the farthest planet possible. He could see his mother weeping silently, trying to hide her tears from him, her seven year old son. The military truck carrying the Imperial insignia rested a few inches above the ground, waiting for his father to board it. His father gave his mother an awkward hug, and gave him a wink. He clutched onto the toy figure of the Imperial Explorer, as if hoping that holding it tighter would prevent his father from leaving. As his father gave the family one last glance, a steady beep-beep sound broke into his dream.

He awoke with a start and realized that it was his polypod beeping. The polypod was one of his most prized possessions, and only a few people were privileged enough to own them. Polypod was short for Poly-Purpose-Device, and it was a creation of the Agency. One piece had to go the Emperor, naturally. Another was gifted to the Coordinator of Kadorra, one to the Admiyogi of Yaktuki, and the last one was with him. In a single device the polypod captured the most general to the most specific tasks a human needed to engage in. A peripheral, the pod lens, was inserted in the left eye, and it acted as the interface for all but a few of the tasks. So far, apart for using it to watch videos, listen to his favorite music, and communicate on the TheaNet, he had not been able to put it to any more uses.

Now most people do dislike being awoken in the middle of the night, and he was one of them. But being the head of the Kadorran Space Agency was a full time job, and so bleary eyed he dragged himself out of bed. His office-cum-residence was located on the top floor of the Agency’s west wing. From the window, Ananuk had a clear and impressive view of the entire Kadorran skyline. Like most of Thea’s major cities, Kadorra never slept, and even at this hour he could see the illuminated levitators and flashes of the aerials whizzing by. Making his way to the polypod, he accepted the incoming audio-only call.

“Ananuk Vikratik, who’s on the line?”
“Ananuk Vikratik the Head of KSA?” An even, composed voice asked.
“The very same.”
“I am sorry to call you so late into the night, Sir Vikratik, but I am calling from Yaktuki, you see; and it’s not quite evening here.”
Something in the voice eased Ananuk’s irritation at being awoken so late. “That’s understandable; sir?”
“Faolvay Yuan.”
“THE Faolvay Yuan? Admiyogi of Yaktuki?”
“The very same, sir.”
“This is quite an honor, Sir Faolvay. How may I be of service to you?”
“On the contrary, it is I who can be of service to you, Sir Ananuk.”

His bleariness had now vanished. Admiyogi Yuan was the supreme ruler of Yaktuki, but he was respected and held in awe by all of Thea. Despite being the head of the KSA and having worked on numerous projects with the Yaktukan Science Quarters Ananuk had never talked to or met the Admiyogi. But from his education days in Thean politics he knew that the Admiyogis had been Yaktuki’s spiritual, political, and social leaders right from the founder of Yaktuki- Yaktuki Tritha.

“How so, Sir Faolvay?”
“What I have to share with you cannot be told through the wire. I am inviting you to Yaktuki, in my official capacity.”
“When would you want me there?”
“As soon as possible.”
“I can leave in an hour.”
“Then counting the time it will take you to reach here, we shall be expecting you in three hours.”
“I’ll be there,” Ananuk replied, and hung up.

It was too late in the night to select any fellow travelers and Ananuk knew his deputy head would be asleep too. There would be a few researchers working in the lab but it was simpler to just leave a message for his deputy rather than leaving it to them to deliver the news of his departure. He took a quick shower, tied his long, wavy black hair into a neat ponytail, and put on his official KSA adaptosuit. Within twenty minutes after the call, he was in the air.

Inside the steady hum of his aerial, he could barely hear the sound of the city outside; but if its skyline was impressive from his office, the vista was breathtaking when viewed from the air. Kadorra was regarded on all of Thea as the most beautiful region of all, and on flights like this, Ananuk knew why. Directly below him lay the Holy Lake, believed to have been formed from the tears of the deity Drah-mi himself. He could see the light of his own aerial reflected as a tiny pinprick on the Lake surface. Beyond the Lake, to the north, were the terraganglions, weaving through the forest to make a dizzying view. It was towards the southern borders of the forest that Kadorra proper ended. He could make out, as his aerial rose higher, and towards the forest, the elaborate structures that he knew were built by the KSA to study and observe, at close range, the various species that resided in those woods.

He turned left in his seat, and his eyes followed the transport tunnels further south to where the Residential Sectors began, and that’s where the levitators were visible. Tall, imposing, and suspended many feet above the surface, the levitators were home to almost eighty percent of the Kadorran population. He too had lived there when he was younger, and it was only after becoming Head of the KSA that he had moved out. He recalled playing the dangerous but exhilarating sport of levitator hopping youngsters all over Thea loved to indulge in. Pick up an air-board, jump from a balcony on one levitator and try to glide your way down to a balcony on another. He remembered, with a stab of pride, that he was great at the sport, and in his seven years of levitator hopping, he had never once been hurt.

He could make out the densely packed transport tunnels, aerials moving in them at high speeds. Quite a few of them were roaming in the free air, and their drivers, Ananuk knew, were in no hurry of time. The tunnels led further south, winding through the Administrative Sector, circling the Industrial and Commercial Sectors, leading back to the Lake, at whose southern tip laid the KSA.

In this way the transport tunnels defined the southern boundary of Kadorra proper. Further south of them were the Kadorran mountains, but there were not visible from his aerial. His eyes feeling a little tired, Ananuk reclined on his seat and closed them. But he could imagine the aerial flying over the forests now, and climbing higher still to avoid the Thean Gir Mountain Range that would appear in a few minutes. He recalled that it was on these mountains that the people of Kadorra had first encountered the Yaktukans.

His pilot broke into his thoughts, “mild atmospheric turbulence has been detected, Sir. You better put on you safety shield.”

Ananuk opened a panel on a pod to his left and pulled out a thin metallic sheet. Carefully opening it, he spread it on the surface in front of him. It was covered with numerous touch sensitive pads, each to fulfill a different function. He pressed one of them, and an invisible but perceptible envelope covered him entirely. This was the Etal-Mesh, short for Enhanced talitium mesh. Talitium was the most widely used element on Thea, used for purposes ranging from metal coating and hi-tech gadgets to power generation and weapons manufacturing. The Etal-mesh, or Etal, was a plasma version of talitium that could be powered to cover and protect a surface or a human from shock and damage.

Looking out below, he could see the Gir Mountain Range drawing to a close. On its northern borders here, the mountains gradually fell in height, merging seamlessly and elegantly with the Yaktukan plains. As his pilot began to lower the aerial, individual structures appeared discernible. Ananuk spotted the bizarre Yaktukan architecture at once, with its erratically twisted edifices and angular domes. All of them were varying shades of grey and black, and stood in a stark contrast to the pale yellow fields. He guessed that there were farms, as farming was perhaps the only physical activity the Yaktukans indulged in, the remainder of their time spent in mental exercises and endeavors.

“We will arrive at the landing strip in less than ten minutes, sir.” His pilot informed him through the headpiece.

Seven minutes later Ananuk could see the aerial aligning itself with Yaktuki’s auto-land grid. He felt a slight jerk as the grid took control of the aerial, guiding it to an empty landing spot. The landing itself was smooth, but he waited for the aerial to stop completely before turning off his Etal. As he alighted, he spotted a few men waiting for him.

The Yaktukan in the middle was tall and skinny. His cheeks were hollow and he had a protruded chin. Ananuk could see he had the stereotypical Yaktukan nose and ears: sharp and pointed. But his eyes were deep and bright, almost curious. The Yaktukan broke into a welcoming smile as Ananuk approached him, extending his left arm in greeting.

“Welcome, Sir Ananuk, we appreciate your joining us on such a short notice. I am Admiyogi Faolvay.” He stated the latter part with a simple bow.
“I am honored, Sir Faolvay. I wasn’t expecting you to personally come welcome me.”
“You are a guest on official invitation, Sir Ananuk, and I must request you to call me merely Faolvay.” He led Ananuk away from the aerial to a surface transporter. “If you will take a seat in this transporter, it will lead you to my office, where we can discuss the business that brings you here.”

Faolvay waited while Ananuk seated himself in the transport, then departed with another bow for his own transport which was parked next to Ananuk’s. Looking around, Ananuk figured that the transport was automated, and there was no human manning it.

Yaktuki did not possess the transport tunnels of Kadorra, nor did Ananuk sight too many aerials. This, he knew, was not because the Yaktukans were ignorant of such technologies, but because they tried to use as little of it as possible. The ground transport was not much fast either, and it glided along the ground at a comfortable pace, giving Ananuk ample opportunity to take in the Yaktukan landscape. He was struck by the fact that despite their relative austerity, the Yaktukans designed structures that were at best, bizarre, and at worse, macabre. He watched numerous constructions, in varying forms of awry projections go by as the transport slithered through the pathways. Before long, however, the transport made its way into a tunnel, which led to the Yaktukan Science Quarters. When it halted, Ananuk saw the entire interior panel to his left rise up and leave a comfortable opening for him to exit.

Admiyogi Faolvay was already waiting for him, this time flanked by Yaktukans Ananuk knew through contact to be the YSQ’s scientists. One of them was Rabik Humek, who had interacted with Ananuk on numerous previous projects. Rabik was the opposite of Faolvay in terms of physical structure. He was short and plump with a dense, pure white beard that fell all the way to his round belly. Like Faolvay though, his eyes too were deep and bright. With a stab of pain that had nothing to do with the situation, Ananuk remembered his father telling him how all Yaktukans possessed the trait.

“Ananuk, my old friend,” Rabik delightedly exclaimed the moment he saw him, “it is a pleasure to see you again!”
Ananuk found himself grinning in return, “and it’s a pleasure to see you too, Rabik!”

Faolvay and the others waited politely while Ananuk and Rabik exchanged a few more pleasantries. Then Faolvay gestured for him to follow and he was led through various corridors to a large room with just enough seats to seat them all. Ananuk noticed that two Yaktukans always flanked Faolvay, and as the latter sat, these Yaktukans remained standing by his either side. Ananuk himself took the seat directly in front of Faolvay, and Rabik sat next to him.

When everyone was seated, all eyes (including Ananuk’s) turned to Faolvay. “It is important that we first introduce our guest, Sir Ananuk, to the matter of discussion.” Ananuk waited for Faolvay to continue, “tell me, Sir Ananuk, why is that we have been unable to colonize other planets so far?”
“Our technology restricts us, Faolvay; that and the nature of our star system.”
“By that you mean to say that there are no planets in this star system that are habitable.”

Ananuk nodded.

“And we do not have the technology to propel us beyond?”

Ananuk nodded again.

“And that is what we have called you here for, Sir Ananuk. We have discovered the tool that will help us reach beyond the lonely confines of our star system.”