A Paradox in Retrograde (22 page)

As the ship came near the predetermined rendezvous point chosen many centuries before, the slip stream drive disengaged automatically. The ship again regained its mass in relation to the
space around as it dropped below maximum speed for the first
time in a very long while. With the main engines now reengaged
the long breaking procedure was initiated. The retro rockets fired
periodically over the course of a decade or more until the day this
millennium star ship, having navigated across the emptiness of
interstellar space, ended its journey within the system of Sol.
Captured there within the tidal forces of Jupiter, the mighty ship's
automatic systems came alive. One by one, a sleeping crew of
several hundred thousand survivors was reawakened for the first
time in more than ten thousand years.
It was by no accident that this life raft found itself here. For the

Earth was by far the finest specimen of a planet their scientists
had observed. It was here they set about to reintroduce the Eden
that they had long ago left behind. From there they sent groups
of scout ships to explore the far flung planets and moons that
populated the system. It was there on those lonely worlds that
what raw materials they needed they hoped would be found.
Three of these explorer ships never did again return. It is from
these lost souls it was believed that the inhabitants of Nibaru
evolved.

As for the human race, though its stock evolved directly from
that of the native anthropoid apes, it genome had been infused
with that of alien origin. Thus Modern Man was born. In the beginning man had been created as a labor force for the fledgling
planet. In time it is believed that many of modern man’s more
sophisticated adaptations were in fact derived from this alien
race's own genetic stock. This is the reason your appearance is
so divergent from the other forms that populate your world."

Without knowing the facts, James answered this question as best
he could. "It is a simple supposition to declare these creatures
extinct. However that simply may not be the case. It is conceivable that both the human race and the species on Nibaru are derived from the same stock, genetically adapted to live in their
quite different environments. So it is possible that at least some
genetic material of alien origin may continue to survive within
you to this day. Of the actual fate of these creatures, my data
base is mute. I suspect they as like all creature before them finally ran out of luck."

Xora seemed frustrated. Though she had learned much she was
lost on how Ananda fit into all of this. So she asked him. "Who
were the guardians of which Samantha had spoken? James
again dug deep into his data base as his avatar stood there quietly. After a short delay he again began to speak. "Yes the guardians, though their origin is unclear they seemed to be a kind of
biological fail safe. They were designed to maintain the biological integrity of these host worlds to ensure indefinitely a balance. It would seem the human race has evolved in parallel with
these creatures’ cyclical appearance."

Of all that she had heard within this room this to her was the most
disturbing. She tried to fathom what he had said but was struck
by one word in particular. "Did you say designed? Are you trying
to say that Ananda is some kind of automaton? He is nothing if
not flesh and blood."

"That he is, nonetheless he was designed and built to survive and
to complete his task." Her eyes heavy with sadness, unleashed a
torrent of tears that rolled down her face. She was beginning to
see him as he truly was. For this she was not quite ready to learn.
James looked on unmoved as she ran from the from the crystal
room in an inconsolable state.

She longed to be alone within the solace of her private residence.
And toward that end, in a fog of confusion she ran.Oblivious to
her surroundings she made her way past the familiar mile posts
that marked the rocky path. After some time of this her shoes
were worn raged by the sharp stones that studded the road. It
would be her penance, she mused for so easily letting down her
defenses. It was embarrassing for a lady of her age and station to
be as absorbed in such trivial matters as infatuation. She reached
her hill top estate just as the evening sun reached for the horizon.
It was then she recognized her sadness had turned to anger. There
she thought she could mourn loss of love in private. She knew
however this mourning would do little good, for forces beyond
her control were now converging. She passed through the fluttering curtains into the cool of a seaside overlook. With the cool afternoon wind blowing off the sea she sat there for a good while
contemplating her actions and her culpability. She had betrayed
the confidence of her friends and countrymen for a fantasy. She
swore to herself if she were given another chance she would act
differently.

Just as these thoughts crossed before her mind they were jarred
suddenly from her attention. There from the forest around her a
persistent humming noise began to resonate. She stepped back
out through the curtains into the open air. There hanging heavily
among the tree tops was the air ship moving gracelessly through
the cloud shrouded air. In an instant it had passed overhead and
was descending fast toward the citadel. She watched transfixed
as the great bulk of the airship grew small in silhouette against
the backdrop of Breideblic. "They've made it! I've got to warn
them" she exclaimed. Filled with purpose she now abandoned
her melancholy for action. She ran to her closet to change into
something appropriate to her new mood.

From below the fully laden air ship seemed to be falling like a
stone down toward the citadel. Landaus was alarmed by their
rate of decent and so advised the captain to make a straight shot
at the citadel. The captain realizing he might not now make it to
the air field, made the decision to attempt what he would ordinarily consider a rather daring maneuver.

"Alright men, we're going to try something a little risky. I fear
we may have no other alternative. We're falling faster than I can
compensate for. There is only one spot that can accommodate an
emergency landing of this ship that without major risk to life
and limb. It right there smack in the middle of theroyal court
yard. We’ll have to snake our way past some of the high spires
but we've threaded the needle before. Alright boys, take to your
emergency stations."

There aboard the descending airship the crew facing head on the
impending collision, knew their mission and their very lives were
on the line. Pretending to ignore the evident danger, for them the
seconds seemed to pass like hours. Despite the latent anxiety of
the crew, the steely nerved captain, trusting their skills, gave the
order and they obeyed. With all his might the helmsmen struggled to control the shuddering wheel as the lumbering ship kissed
the tops of the passing buildings. Hurdle after hurdle the crew
skillfully averted. To do so they ran full throttle. Countering the
steep angles and downward momentum, the motors screamed and
groaned. As their target rushed toward them, the crewmen held
their breath awaiting the captain's next order. With great restraint
he held off giving the order to trim the rudder and cut the motors
until the very last possible moment. He shouted out the order,
"All engines stop! Turn hard to starboard rudder!" With the order
stated the crew leapt into a frenzy of controlled action. On cue the
ship responded gracefully but he could not be sure if it was
enough. Over the intercom the voice of the captain boomed,
"General order, brace for impact!" Those within responded. For
fear, the shaken passengers held fast onto anything fastened down
tight. Landaus held on tightly onto Ibsen. This was more to
calm his son's fears than to protect him, for he knew if they
came in too fast it would make no mater, all would be lost.

Plummeting now toward the earth in a controlled free-fall there
could be no second chances. Though they were moving quickly
the ship seemed to lumber heavily along on what remained of
air between them and the hard ground. This last minute delay
designed to soften the blow did little to serve the shattered
nerves of the passengers. Coming in hard the gondola at last hit
the ground with a sudden and powerful shock. Those within
were pried loose from their moorings. For an agonizing instant
the people and cargo were thrown around like leafs of paper.
With a bone jarring thud it all came to an instant stop.

The billowing cloth that had so elegantly held the airship aloft
now laid about the ground torn and ragged. The gondola that
held within its precious cargo had however survived mostly unscathed, albeit on its side. Dazed, but for the most part mostly
unbroken the survivors of the airship crash slowly emerged from
the twisted wreckage. Having survived by the skill of the crew,
their spirits were high. The celebration however did not last long
as the work of securing the injured and the artifacts took immediate precedent.

Several hours had passed since the airship had returned with
wreckage of the alien ship tied to its belly. Despite the danger
and miscalculations, its passengers who had landed relatively
unscathed into the safety of Breideblic were now set to new
tasks. By this time, Xora had returned to the citadel and observed as the majority of the captured materials had been carefully off loaded and brought into the great hall for inspection.
She was familiar with many of the faces she saw there. As she
watched them she sensed that there was an unspoken urgency to
their task, and that time was of the essence. It was with little
wonder then that the services of some of Baldur's finest minds
had been called upon to help. There then the work of building
from these scraps a weapon that they had been promised would
have the ability to strike back at the heart of their enemies, had
begun. However, there was much frustration for theyhad not
been given a specific plan. The best they could do was to organize these parts as best they could. This was made all the more
difficult by the fact that there had not been time enough to absorb
what was happening. Despite Ananda's grand plans, most among
those who had assembled there were possessed by a range of concealed emotions. As might be expected, many had hoped firstly to
make some kind of sense to it all. However most were possessed
firstly of an anxiety born of uncertainty.

None of this escaped Xora's keen eye. She thought then to seek
out Landaus. From across the room she spied him in an office
otherwise distracted. He stood peering out through a window into
the darkened sky. She crossed the room toward him yet as she
commenced to speak he seemed strangely preoccupied. "Landaus
what are we to make out of all of this?"

He turned to her and said "Lady Xora, how are you?" Upon closer inspection she noted how he had managed to acquire a number
of minor injuries since she had last seen him. Shepulled the door
closed behind her and said, "Never mind that, you need to see a
doctor."

Though Landaus had sensed this growing mood, he felt powerless to move forward without Ananda's guidance. "I am confident
that Ananda should soon return for he has promised us a means to
defend ourselves. We will wait for Ananda's return. It was he after all, who knew this enemy better than all the rest. It was also he
that had so easily rallied these men to action. So too then, it was
Ananda who was now responsible to lead them. For these reasons I will hold in check this anger and frustration for precious
hours have already been wasted. And it is certainly no time to go
off joy riding." Again he stole his gaze back toward the window.
He scanned the darkened horizon for a sign of the other ship.
"Blasted Ananda, where are you?"

Xora walked toward him resting her hand on his shoulder she
spoke. "Landaus you are correct to have misgivings about Ananda. There are some things you should know about theone you
have invested so much faith in. Until you do understand the men
are your responsibility. There is no other military unit in all of
Baldur. You, as the commander of the guard need to step forward. "He looked up at her and nodded in agreement. Just then a
knock came upon the door, interrupting their conversation.

By now word had gotten out to the general populace. Looking
for answers, some began to congregate before the shuttered
doors of the citadel. Though they probably could not guess as to
the bizarre details, it was obvious that something unusual was
afoot. There before the citadel gates, a crowd of citizens began
to form. From above the gate one of the trusted guards took note
of the situation and thought it might be wise to report it back to
the sergeant. A moment later a knock came upon the makeshift
office where Landaus waited. "Come in." The sergeant came in
and saluted in his usual manner, awaiting his superior's instructions. "At ease sergeant, what can I do for you?"

"Thank You Colonel." He turned toward Xora and with a respectful nod said, "My Lady." He turned back towardLandaus.
Colonel, excuse the interruption. I'm here to make you aware
that a small but boisterous crowd has begun to assemble outside
the citadel gate." "Sergeant, you see I'm engaged here in business. Certainly you can handle this boisterousness on your own.
Or is there something else? Could you be more specific?" "Yes
Sir, Private Lance reported what he saw to me. He stated that
though as a group, their demeanor was not yet out of control
there were among them a handful of troublemakers well known
to the guard."

"I see." Landaus was keen to keep order so he would move
sooner, rather than later. So he gave the order, "Sergeant of the
guard come with me." The sergeant with a silent hand gesture
summoned several of the accompanying guards to follow. Landaus buckled back his sword around his waist as he walked. He
turned back toward Xora and said, "We shall finish this conversation when I return."