The Unscheduled Mission (19 page)

“Thank you,” Farns nodded. “Well, for starters, from what I can tell, you and your people are not what most people of the Alliance refer to as the Originals.”

“No?” Park asked. “How can that be?”

“I have determined that Van Winkle Base pre-dates the earliest known existence of the Originals by at least ten million years,” Farn told him excitedly. “This is an estimate, of course, based on the age of archaeological strata found and recorded on several nearby worlds. I also did a study comparing the morphological data of your people with that of the earliest known Originals and there has been some definite genetic drift or even intentional manipulation, but your people are almost definitely the earlier ones.”

“So wouldn’t that make us the real Originals?” Park asked.

“Literally true,” Farns agreed, “but that is the term that has been officially applied to that species of Human. The fact, of course, that the Originals were not the very first Humans is very likely to change people’s perspective of Earth and of their own evolution. It was the fact that the Originals have been found on several worlds in this part of the Galaxy that led people to believe in the multi-planet origin of Humanity, but the fact of your existence is a strong argument in favor of the single planet theory.”

“Doesn’t that make more sense than some earlier civilization seeding us on several planets?” Park asked.

“To me, it does,” Farns agreed, “but I have never been an adherent of the multi-planet theory. It is theoretically possible that we just have not found earlier species on any other world. I don’t believe they are there to be found, but… And speaking of earlier species, did you know that you have records of hitherto unknown hominid and anthropoid species in your data banks?”

“Not so hitherto for us,” Park chuckled.

“Hmm, I suppose not,” Farns agreed, “but we absolutely must get a physical anthropologist to see what you have here. This is completely forgotten knowledge for any
Alliance scientist and, I might add, another nail in the coffin of the multi-planet theory. Nowhere else are there records or fossils of pre-human ancestors and related species.”

“It could just be that our records are older than yours,” Park pointed out, playing Devil’s advocate.

“Maybe, but not very likely,” Farns shook his massive head. “So would it be acceptable to invite some colleagues here to study your files?”

“It’s fine by me,” Park agreed, “but you may want to wait until after this Pakha Grintz is done here.”

“I don’t see why,” Farns replied.

Only one ship descended to Van Winkle Base the next day. It was smaller than either
Phoenix Child
or
Pride of Dennsee
, about the same as
Trenisi
had been. Park decided that rather than leaving the ship on the runway as he had originally planned, he saw that it was instructed to taxi off and be parked inside one of the recently rebuilt hangers.

When the Pakha protested, Park merely replied, “I moved our own ship in order to allow your ship to be sheltered from the elements and to give your people some privacy.”

“And how do I know you do not have hidden cameras in side that hanger?” Grintz countered.

Because I didn’t think of that
, Park thought silently. Aloud he replied, “You don’t, but then if I kept you out on the tarmac anyone in town could see you anyway. Are you seriously refusing our hospitality?”

That turned out to be the question that shut Grintz up several times. Courtesy and hospitality to visitors was a key tenet within the
Alliance. As a multi-system nation with many different species as members, such a mentality was almost essential. Hospitality was expected; it was a gross breach of manners, in fact, not to extend almost any courtesy. And it was an equally grievous breach to refuse such hospitality even when it inconvenienced the recipient.

Park was tempted to start making up strange customs and observances on the spot, all in the name of hospitality, but decided that particular weapon would be most effective if not over used. So Grintz was spared a thousand useless parades, long and boring dinners and various other observances such as sirens every third hour in his honor and the annual “Taming of the Shrew” a raucus event that flittered through his imagination at just the wrong time and nearly had him laughing in Grintz’s face.

“No, of course not,” Grintz replied, sounding pained.

“And besides,” Park added, “After Mister Jance’s treachery we would prefer not to have any
Alliance ship out in the open where it might destroy our spaceport for the second time this year.”

“And what about Lord Rebbert’s ship?” the Pakha asked pointedly.

“I only have so much hanger space to go around,” Park replied. “You are the official inquisitor, so we allow you to have the place of honor and as it happens we do have Lord Rebbert’s son to guarantee his peaceful intentions. All we have from you is your word that you intend no mischief.”

“My word is good,” Grintz blustered.

“I’m sure it is,” Park agreed easily, “but we still want you in the place of honor as befits your official status.”

If Grintz scowled at Park, it was difficult to detect as his face and those of his species were much stiffer than those of most Humans, so emotions had to be deduced by body language and Park did not know Grintz’s species well enough to be certain, but he suspected Grintz was highly offended, but unwilling to show it. “Very well,” Grintz replied very stiffly. “The honor is not necessary, but if you insist.”

Grintz’s ship was towed into the hanger and his official investigation began. He started out by demanding that Arn come to the office on his ship.

“Excuse me?” Arn asked of the young man Grintz had chosen to deliver his summons. “My ears must be failing me. Does your boss understand that I am in charge, not only of this town but and the de facto and de jure leader of all Humans on Earth?”

“Not all Humans,” the young man who had nearly pure white skin and bright blue hair replied. “We are human too. You are merely the leader of the Pirates.”

“We are the first Human species and we do not call ourselves Pirates,” Arn shot back. “But my point was, does this Grintz think he can order planetary leaders around?”

“Pakha Grintz,” the man replied in rebuke, emphasizing the title “is here as the voice of the Diet of the Alliance of Confederated Worlds. As such he has the power, ex-officio, to command kings, governors, and other planetary rulers within the Alliance.”

“You are not in the Alliance now, boy,” Arn told him harshly. “That might be part of the problem. Had your Galactic overlords not decided to quarantine the Earth and ban the people here from membership in your precious Alliance, Grintz would likely have never had to come here.”

“Of course this is part of the Alliance,” the younger man replied, but his voice did not match the certainty of his words.

“In what way?” Arn pressed. “Oh, there might have been an argument in your favor two years ago when the Covenant was still in force, but even then the Mer were told constantly they could never be a part of your Alliance, so I think the Alliance claim on Earth dies from a lack of gravity. In any case we Pirates, as you insist on calling us, have never been a part of your Alliance and certainly do not recognize your sovereignty over us.

“Now, I understand your notions of hospitality and that which is due one’s guests, but perhaps you should also remember what is due to one’s host,” Arn continued. “If Grintz wishes to speak with me, I will be happy to grant him an interview here in my office as time permits. But we ancient barbarians understand courtesy as well or better than you do and since you all are technically in a foreign and sovereign world from the Alliance, it would behoove you to act accordingly and not try ordering the people here around. If you care to bully your own people around, that’s your business, but I expect my guests to extend the same courtesy to me they expect in return.”

“But,” the younger man began, “but you are a part of the Alliance, whether you want to be or not.”

“Really?” Arn asked. “And for my membership in this Alliance you expect me to quietly ignore the slanders and slights of the Alliance toward me, my people and our allies? Am I supposed to quietly thank you for the murder of my people? Well, sonny, I don’t know what you use for a dictionary these days, but try looking up the definition of revolution or rebel. Also try looking up words like foreign and sovereign while you are at it. Also try reading the Covenant. It is no longer in force, but the wording explicitly stated that Earth was a world apart from the rest of the galaxy.”

“That doesn’t mean you are not ruled by the Alliance,” the messenger insisted.

“Are there any other worlds in the Alliance who have no representative in the Diet?” Arn pressed.

“You have a representative,” the young man stated and added less certainly, “you must have.”

“If we do,” Arn growled, making a mental note to look into that, “I guarantee you that he or she has not only never been here, but has never spoken to anyone on this world. We refuse to acknowledge the existence of any representative we cannot communicate with or choose for ourselves. Now get back to your master and tell him we expect politeness and courtesy from our guests on this world.”

The young man almost ran out of the office, nearly bumping into Iris who was standing in the doorway. He mumbled a few apologetic syllables and went on.

“I only caught the end of that,” Iris commented as she entered the office. “Are we intentionally trying to get this Grintz fellow angry?”

“I’m certainly not about to allow him to boss any of us around,” Arn replied. “Did you know Earth supposedly has a representative in the Confederation Diet?”

“That’s news to me,” Iris replied. “Who is it?”

“I’d like to know that too,” Arn replied.

“I imagine Lord Rebbert should know if anyone does,” Iris replied. “Although if we had a representative, shouldn’t Prime Terius have known?”

“I’m not convinced we have one,” Arn replied. “I suspect that kid was just speaking from the depths of his idealism. But I doubt that’s why you’re here.”

“Well, I’m not sure what I was about to propose is such a good idea,” Iris admitted, “but Marisea and I were thinking that whenever we go to a Mer city they hold various celebrations in our honor. It’s a bit embarrassing at times, but the one sort of event that always occurs is the banquet, like we first encountered in Ghelati. It is not only a Mer tradition, but completely in keeping with how foreign dignitaries were treated in the Twenty-first Century.”

“I didn’t think of that,” Arn admitted. “Of course none of us were in a position to get to many such events. I wasn’t, were you?”

“Not on the national or international level,” Iris admitted, “but that sort of thing happened all the time at the schools I taught in and I was occasionally obligated to attend such parties held by the local city. You were a teacher, Arn, you must have had faculty dinners to go to.”

“Once in a while,” Arn shrugged. “I usually tried to have something else to do on those evenings, but then I left Academia years ago.” He stopped and corrected himself, “Millenia ago, Eons? Uh, you know what I mean.” Iris nodded politely. “Well, you’re right. We should throw a party in Grintz’s honor, but you don’t have the time to organize it do you?”

“I wouldn’t have brought it up if I weren’t willing to get stuck with the job,” Iris replied, “but some assistance will be in order.”

“I’ll ask Patty to help,” Arn replied.

“Or, better yet,” Iris told him, “I will help her. She’s your partner even if you haven’t gotten married. She should be the official hostess.”

“That might be better,” Arn admitted. “She already thinks I give you and Park too much… uh…”

“Status?” Iris prompted him. “Equality with you? Freedom to do what we like, maybe?”

“I think she believes I should be the uncontested ruler of Van Winkle Town,” Arn admitted, sounding a bit embarrassed.

“You are,” Iris laughed. “Neither Park nor I are even interested in your job. And, though by your own actions we’re technically outside your chain of command, we would do nothing to undermine you. That really should be enough for her.”

“It’s enough for me,” Arn agreed, “but I don’t think Patty understands Park really. There are times I don’t either, but I know he’s at his best when allowed a free rein. And I know I can work with him. I used to be his teacher and it took a while to get used to our current arrangement, but really, this is something that works so I’m not about to try changing it.”

“Good,” Iris agreed. Silently she thought,
Not that you could
. “Well, do you want to tell Patty about this, or should I?”

“Let me give her a quick call and then I’ll leave it up to the two of you,” Arn decided.

“Pakha Grintz does not look pleased by the official reception,” Iris commented the next evening.

“How can you tell?” Marisea wondered. “I think that scowl is a permanent part of his face.”

“It is,” Sartena chuckled. “The facial skin of Felinans is very stiff and they almost never show emotion unless the individual works at it.”

“His face may be locked in a permanent scowl,” Iris told them, “but his body language is clear. He does not want to be here.”

“Here at this reception?” Marisea asked. “On Earth? Living in general?”

“The first two definitely,” Iris replied. “Life in general? I’m sure I do not know him well enough for that and I was never a fan of pop psychology.”

“What’s that?” Marisea asked.

“Later,” Iris promised. “I can also see that while he seems willing to speak to Arn, Park and other Pirates, as they call us, he is not so tolerant of Mer.”

“It’s that stupid prejudice,” Sartena remarked.

“You never had it,” Marisea pointed out.

“Tzantsa is a very liberal world,” Sartena replied. “Dennsee isn’t, but while socially conservative, they are not the reactionaries that the people of Felina are for the most part. I think you’ll find more Galactics, as you call us,” she added with a smile, “I like that actually – would accept you on sight and not worry about the fact your genes are locked, but some people… Well, let’s just say there are those who are still foolishly biased and Felinans are likely among them. Pakha Grintz certainly is.”