Chapter 11: Dealing with Dissidents
From the top of their ridge the men could see lots of activity in the area of the cave. Groups of armed men set off in different directions, but they were far from quiet, shouting loudly and angrily. Commander Koenig looked at the Professor.
"I hope they are still unaware of our presence," he whispered. "This is not going to be easy." Both men were armed with a laser cannon and a stun gun.
"Do we head for the Eagle?" Victor Bergman asked.
"We have to try, in case Ann does make it there," Koenig replied. "We'll take the long way around and come up from the back again. But we'll stay together. If we can make it to the Eagle unobserved it would be good. Once we start stunning people in the search parties, they'll know something is up. Right, back to back Victor, and if we are discovered, stun immediately."
"I'm not made for this, John," Victor sighed, "but I'll do my best."
The men checked their stun guns a final time, hung the laser cannons around their shoulders and started down the ridge, keeping among the dense vegetation. They had donned the camouflage jackets with the hope it helped a bit. Every few steps they stopped to listen. The voices were distinct but not near their position yet.
As they neared the foot of the ridge they became aware of a banging noise and hastily scrambled behind some rocks. Two bearded, wild looking men were moving through the trees, banging on the trunks with broken branches. It seems they were trying to scare the kids they were supposedly looking for into crying to give away their position. Koenig placed his hand over Victor's stun gun and shook his head while they watched the men. With a little luck the men would move on without spotting them.
They waited until the banging faded before resuming their stealthy journey, following the notches they had carved two days ago, which would bring them to the Eagle via a circuitous route. Voices from the searchers seemed to be concentrated closer to the cave, but now and then they took cover as they heard scrambling in the vegetation. They were heading away from the Eagle now and would only curve in towards it after a detour and the voices grew fainter. At the furthest point from the Eagle they crouched down and rested for a while. Koenig scanned through the trees with his binoculars and both men drank some water.
"Looks clear, Victor. You ready?" Koenig asked. The Professor merely nodded. Now they started creeping towards the Eagle very slowly from tree to tree, making use of every bit of vegetation for concealment. The voices had stopped for the moment.
Koenig took his friend's sleeve because he could see the man was very tense. "I think they're searching towards the other side now," he whispered. "We may be OK. You're doing great, Victor."
They crept through the trees, ever getting closer to the Eagle. Suddenly, without any warning two men appeared to their side and both parties were momentarily stunned at seeing each other, but Koenig was faster. Before any man could utter a sound he had stunned them and they dropped to the ground. When no one else appeared, they slowly approached the two figures.
"Get their weapons, Victor," Koenig ordered. "We have no choice but to leave them, but unarmed counts in our favor." Victor Bergman collected a laser cannon and two stun guns from the men and tossed a commlock into a clump of vegetation. They continued their nerve-wracking journey through the bush.
Finally they started seeing parts of the Eagle between the trees and crouched down. They had only waited for a few seconds before they became aware of two figures patrolling around the vessel. Koenig indicated to Victor to lie on his stomach and remain before creeping slowly towards their goal. Finally, after scanning carefully with his binoculars he signaled the Professor to approach. "It's Ann and someone else," he whispered as the other man joined him. "I'm going to take a chance. Stay here and stun them both if it's a trap."
The Commander crawled forward a few more meters before slowly getting up. "Ann… it's me." His voice was barely audible but they heard him and came towards him.
"This is Yasko Levin," Ann whispered back. "He'll help us. Come, it's clear."
Only after he reached the Eagle and looked inside did Koenig signal his friend and the party of four made their way inside. Yasko Levin remained in the doorway, facing out, his stun gun ready.
"Yasko, like me, is tired of the fighting and aggression, Commander. We just want to end this."
"Pete Irving has lost his mind," Yasko said with a shake of his head. "He killed Terry Bannion, and Sal Farino, who tried to restrain him. Being confined to that ship has messed with minds." The man looked down, ashamed. "I'm sorry for what we did to you on Berg."
"That's in the past," Koenig said. "We need to decide how to go from here."
"Mandy, Joan and Irving are in the cave with Luke Ferro," Ann said. "Everyone else is searching in groups of two."
"We stunned two of them not far from here," the Commander said, indicating the extra weapons the Professor was holding.
"We could hide near the cave and stun more of them as they return, but they'll hear inside," Ann continued. "Or I could go inside with Yasko and stun the three guards and bring Luke out. Then we can wait for the others to return."
"With Irving out of the way, the others are more likely to be reasonable," Levin added.
"Let's do that then," Koenig said. "You go ahead and we'll follow. We'll stay hidden until you signal us from the cave."
Taking the extra weapons the two men followed the party from the Superswift. Ann and Yasko talked normally, moving unconcealed, while John and Victor crept stealthily behind them. The clearing in front of the cave was deserted and both men found cover from where they could see the entrance and sweep around them at the same time.
Ann called out a greeting before entering the cave and a few minutes later came out with Luke Ferro. Koenig and Bergman quickly made their way over and were greeted enthusiastically by the bearded Ferro.
"Give him weapons Victor," John said. "Is there any way we can secure the others inside?"
"There is rope," Luke said.
"Go tie them up, Victor, and gag them if you can. Ann, go help. We'll guard here from the entrance."
"Pete Johnson is the most reasonable one to speak to," Ann said before disappearing into the cave. "He's really the true leader for our group, but Irving bullied his way in as leader." By the time the Professor and Ann rejoined the men at the entrance, two searchers had been stunned outside as they returned and their weapons collected. Not long afterwards another two returned, froze when they saw their comrades sprawled in the dirt and were promptly stunned themselves. Luke dashed to collect those weapons too.
"Three inside, six unarmed, two of you with us. That leaves eight of you left?" Koenig asked.
"Yes, Commander. And I think only Johnson still has a laser cannon. The rest all have stun guns. Unless they return to the Superswift for more weapons."
"We removed all the weapons from there," Koenig said, looking at Victor. Their attention was drawn to the clearing, where the first two men stunned were beginning to stir. "Look up everyone," Koenig warned. "They'll probably call out and alert the others. For now, stun, until we have all the weapons."
The searchers sat up, looking around for their weapons, puzzled. They were still not fully aware of what was going on and went to check on the other two dissidents. Then, as Koenig predicted, one man straightened up.
"Hey! Pete, Jerry! We need you, something's up!" There was a faint shouted reply and minutes later those concealed at the cave entrance heard crashing footsteps through the bush. Four men appeared in a rush and were promptly stunned, together with the original two.
"Weapons, quick," Koenig whispered urgently and Victor dashed forward, snatching up the stun guns even as they heard more crashing through the trees. Koenig's party had stealth to their advantage though and as two more figures burst into the clearing they were dropped on the spot. One had been carrying a laser cannon.
The Professor piled the weapons behind the group and they settled in to wait for the remaining two armed men. A few minutes later two unarmed figures stumbled into the clearing: the search party first stunned by Koenig and Bergman. They looked around at the still bodies surrounding them, but Koenig indicated those with him to remain concealed.
"Hey! Irving? Mandy? Joan?" one of the men yelled and started heading towards the cave. "What the heck is going on?" Koenig dropped him as he drew near, and as the second man ran towards them, stunned him too. A few minutes later they heard the last footsteps approaching and finally had all the dissidents sprawled in the clearing.
"Right," Koenig ordered. "Let's collect all the weapons and get them moved together in the middle." The men sprang into action and dragged all the limp figures into the center of the clearing. All the weapons were secured behind some rocks and the Commander indicated for his party to take up visible positions with their backs to the rock-face but able to view the clearing. Some of the stunned men were starting to stir and sit up, bewildered. Most first looked around for their weapons, but the astonishment on their faces was almost comical when they finally spotted Commander Koenig and the Professor training weapons on them.
"Stay where you are," Koenig barked. "You know we will not hesitate to stun you again. We'll wait until everyone is awake, then we'll talk."
Men sat up and lowered their heads as Koenig repeated his warning. Most had expressions of shame on their faces, but a handful looked angry and defiant. Finally Pete Johnson had regained consciousness and John Koenig strode closer to the group of defeated men.
"John Koenig," Johnson said, unable to hide his surprise. "Are you a figment of my imagination, or are you real?"
"Stay down, Johnson. We're real, and you have stirred the attention of the intergalactic council by bringing your troubles to this peaceful planet. They brought us here to resolve it and get you back on your way."
All faces reflected puzzlement at the Commander's strange words.
"Where's Irving?" Pete Johnson asked.
"In the cave, unharmed, with the two girls, but restrained. We do not wish to harm any of you further, so start talking. Why are you here stirring up trouble on Arkadia?"
Pete Johnson hung his head for a few minutes. Finally he looked up at Koenig. "I don't understand what's going on, but I'll tell you. Confined in that ship for so long, with no end to the journey in sight, is enough to drive one insane. We had no idea what we were getting into when we left Berg." He shook his head sadly. "Some of us coped with it better than others, but there was constant bickering and fighting. Some started refusing to do their duties. Joan Conway and Pierce Quinton became almost catatonic. Pete Irving picked fights whenever he could. I should have stepped up, but there seemed to be no point. We all realized we would never see earth alive again."
Ann Couther now stood up and came to stand beside John Koenig. "Mandy Lindsay was pregnant and having some real trouble. We did what we could, but her constant screaming and moaning drove Pete over the edge. He snapped at Terry Bannion and shot him, and then a man who tried to restrain him before we could overpower him."
"From then on he remained by the weapons," Johnson continued, "And simply started a reign of terror. We had to bring him food and water, and when our computers showed we were within range of Arkadia he decided we had to land and get rid of the bodies."
"Why didn't you just eject them into space?" Koenig asked.
"No one was thinking clearly, Commander," Ann replied. "It's hard to explain to you the atmosphere on that ship, but it was deteriorating by the day. When we landed, we were met by Luke and Anna and the two babies. They were happy to see us, but sadly we treated them pretty harshly. We had been here a week, eating their food and keeping them hostage when you arrived. Mandy had lost the baby, meantime, which put Pete Irving even more on edge. He was the father."
"What were you planning to achieve?" Koenig asked, pacing around the huddled group.
"Just being out of that ship was a relief," Johnson sighed. "But we don't know."
"The fighting just continued, Commander," Ann Coulther added. "Some of us wanted to return to Berg though we didn't know how and knew we would not be welcome. Going to earth had lost its attraction as constant talk was about the devastation we would find there. Some of us wanted to land anywhere and start all over. We could not agree."
Koenig circled the group some more before he spoke with resolve.
"I've had two days to think. This is what you will do, and it is not negotiable. You made the choice to take the ship and return to earth, so the majority of you will continue your goal. Luke and Anna can accept three people, maximum, to remain here on Arkadia with them. They need the help, but they need people who are willing to work hard and live with them in peace."
"I'd like to stay, Commander," Ann Coulther said softly. "There is nothing more for me on that ship but sadness."
"I'd like to stay too," Yasko Levin added.
"Anyone else?" Koenig asked.
Pierce Quinton scooted backwards towards Ann. "Me too, Commander Koenig," he whispered, his eyes full of tears.
"Right then, if Luke and Anna agree, the three of you will become Arkadians." The Commander turned back to the rest of the group. "Pete Johnson, you will assume leadership of the Superswift group. You will return to the ship, unarmed, and get it back into shape to resume your journey." Koenig paused for a moment. "Victor and I have been to earth during our journey. There are groups of survivors doing very well, so you'll not be going to total destruction. Luke and I will accompany you to your craft and supervise and help while you take stock of your remaining supplies, get them in order and check your systems. Victor, you'll go and get Anna and her kids and bring them back here. Then you'll start an inventory of the supplies Arkadia can spare for the Superswift. Meanwhile, we'll unload one ATV from the Superswift for the Arkadians. You were also given two rabbit breeding pairs on leaving Berg, Johnson, so you will hand over a male and two females to Ann, so they can set up their own breeding for food here. Yasko, when Anna returns, those of you remaining behind will start learning your tasks on Arkadia."
The huddled captives listened quietly. Some faces were beginning to show relief at being given direction, but a few men were still scowling.
"Irving and the other girls will remain confined in the cave until you are ready to depart," Koenig concluded. "We will keep all the weapons secure and when you are ready to leave, we'll give you, Pete, and one other man chosen by you disabled weapons. You'll have enough time on your journey to fix them. We will also see if there is any surplus equipment that can be used on Arkadia. Any questions?"
There were none. "Any attempt at aggression towards us will result in that person being stunned and tied up in the cave until your departure. Our goal is no more than three days." Koenig raised his weapon and the others in his party stood too. "Get going!" he barked, nodding at Luke. "Yasko, you guard the prisoners in the cave. Ann, come with us so you can bring back the ATV. Victor, go get Anna and the kids. And bring me the letter for Burger, and the photographs, so I can show these people the hope they are heading towards." Then Koenig, Luke and Ann followed the group of men heading towards the Superswift.
Under the strong leadership of John Koenig the work on the Superswift continued relentlessly while Victor Bergman mostly helped Luke, Anna and their small group with tasks on Arkadia. Some superfluous inside paneling was removed from the Superswift so a shelter could be built for the three newcomers. An ATV and an extra moonbuggy were unloaded from the Superswift pod. Using a cabinet dismantled from inside the earth vessel, the rabbits were homed. Anna made a huge pot of vegetable stew so the tired workers could eat in the clearing at the end of each workday.
The group scheduled to depart on the journey to earth offered no resistance, having resigned themselves to their destiny. In the evening around the fire Koenig shared with them all the experience on earth, which made hope come alive in the eyes of most of the men. Yasko, Pierce and Ann had subconsciously always grouped themselves with Luke and Anna and it looked as if the new Arkadians would settle in well. By the end of the second day Koenig had Victor join him on the Superswift, checking the computer systems with those responsible for it. The Arkadians had filled two containers with some fresh vegetables for the earthbound vessel and had topped up the water supplies and the recycling equipment had been checked and cleaned. Some of the surplus bunk mattresses had been unloaded for the Arkadians together with some blankets, as well as a small cache of medical supplies.
Finally Koenig had sent the Professor back to their own ship to get half of the seed supplies they had been given on earth for Luke and Anna. As they sat around the fire that evening, Koenig delivered his last instructions: "Tomorrow, Pete, you'll board your ship to resume your journey. Victor has disabled one laser cannon and two stun guns slightly, they should not be hard to fix, and we'll leave those with you. Having more weapons on your ship will not be a good thing. Once everyone is on board, we'll bring Irving and the two girls, still restrained, on board. It is your decision what to do with them. I've had a long talk with them, explaining what was going to happen, but they've remained sullen."
"It will be your responsibility, Johnson, to keep discipline on board. You chose the path you are now continuing, and you need to remember the training you received for duty on Alpha; the things you learned on our long, uncontrolled journey on the moon. Regard this endeavor in the same way, doing your duties and looking out for each other. You have a home to go to, if you have the strength of character to endure."
There was a long silence before Pete Johnson finally looked up. "Thank you, Commander Koenig," he finally said. "We lost our way, but you have shown us the way to our future. I admire your leadership skills and I think the intergalactic council is lucky to have you."
"We wish you well on your journey, Pete," Koenig replied. "Making a choice and sticking with it even through adversity builds character." Now he turned to the three new Arkadians. "We wish you the same, Ann. Please help Luke and Anna with all your strength and you will build on their excellent foundation."
"And perhaps in future, we will meet again," Victor Bergman said.
Pete Johnson got up and stood in front of the Professor. "I owe you an apology too, Professor Bergman," he said. "We meant you harm on Berg because of irrational fantasies. We wish you and Commander Koenig all the best too, with your families on Berg." Then the Superswift party headed off towards their ship, where they had been sleeping at night. Once they were out of sight, Koenig turned to Luke.
"We'll stay until they have departed tomorrow. I'll make it clear that any attempt from them to land again will result in a shoot-to-kill reaction. We'll leave you three laser cannons and a stun gun each."
"Thank you, Commander," Luke said. "Words are not enough to convey our thanks, really. You've brought peace back to Arkadia. I hope that we'll see each other again in future."
"Raise your children well and teach them about their history and us," Koenig smiled. "That is thanks enough for us. Now, Yasko and I will take first watch, and you and Victor can do the morning watch."
The women went inside the cave with the Professor and Luke while Koenig and Levin took up positions from where they could watch the clearing and keep the fire going. Everyone was thankful that it would be the last night of vigilance; the stress had taken its toll on all three parties. Sleep was uneasy.
The morning brough joy to the faces of Luke and Anna as they excited the cave to a light, gentle rain. They hugged and danced with abandon.
"You brought the rain too, Commander Koenig!" Anna hugged him happily. She quickly had her new helpers setting out the empty hollow containers they had brought their first supplies in to catch some of the precious water. As the group watched the young boy playing in the rain joyfully, Pete Johnson appeared.
"We're ready, Commander."
"Bring them," Koenig ordered, indicating the cave. Luke and Yasko escorted a scowling Irving and a subdued Mandy and Joan, their hands still tied but the gags removed, to the Superswift. Victor and the other Arkadians followed at a distance. Pete climbed on board and helped the three prisoners inside, setting them down on bunks in the main cabin but making no effort to untie them yet.
The Professor stepped forward and handed Pete Johnson a laser cannon and two stun guns, then held out his hand. "Good luck, Pete, all of you. It is our hope you will reach earth."
"Thank you, Professor Bergman. Commander Koenig." The man stepped back and the door to the Superswift slid shut. The others hastily retreated a good distance to watch from the trees. After a few minutes the engines of the huge ship started up with a mighty roar and the vessel lifted from the rain-blessed surface of Arkadia slowly until it disappeared in the cloud cover, but they could still hear it for a good while. When all was silent again, the small remaining group turned to make their way back to the cave.
"Our dilemma as beings of the mind is that we are physically restricted. A mind without a body cannot move, so to overcome that, we have learned to manipulate things with our thoughts to get things done."
"Alternatively we can inhabit any physical entity if we should so choose, but as it will inevitably result in that entity ceasing to exist, that is always our last option."
"So, by becoming beings of the mind we realize in hindsight the limitations we have placed upon ourselves."
Therefore it would be in our interest to add entities with a perfect balance between mind and physical manifestation to our number."
It was difficult to follow a conversation in the empty green chamber where mere voices were heard, but there were no beings to observe and the two men found themselves looking at the areas where they thought they could pinpoint the voices.
"So what you are saying is that we could be useful to you?" John Koenig asked. "By communicating ideas to us as to what needs doing, we could go do it for you? But why not just tell us? Surely there are intergalactic communications systems…"
"The mind is that system, Commander Koenig. It is always with you, wherever you go, and needs no technical knowledge or material."
After returning to the ship on Arkadia the men had found themselves cocooned into their seats again, only to wake up on the triangular beds in the green room from where they had first set off in the ship, with a fresh pair of black silk pajamas at the foot of each bed. There had been no sign of the triangular robots and as the men had dressed and discussed their experience on Arkadia, the voices had started up out of nowhere.
"You needed rest after your successful endeavor on Arkadia," a voice started again. "Now you need nourishment. After that it will be time for you to meet our representatives. Please do not be afraid. You have exceeded our expectations at this point."
Now two of the robots came through an opening in the wall, bearing trays of food. It looked like nothing they knew but the Alphans trusted that it would be edible and harmless. Both were very hungry and ate quickly, surprised that the colorful pieces of triangular food was quite tasty.
"Well Victor, what do you make of this?" Koenig asked when they had finished eating.
"I don't know, John. I'm really ready to go home. I'm a scientist, not a politician."
Before the Commander could reply, one of the robots appeared. "Follow," it said, heading towards the opposite wall where a doorway appeared. With a glance at each other the men complied.
They followed the creature down a long passage and entered a huge room where the green glow continued. The walls stretched away into the distance giving the appearance that the chamber went on forever. There was a large round black table surrounded by chairs, and as their little escort turned and whirred away, both men headed to it.
"Knights of the Round Table?" Victor remarked sardonically as they took adjoining seats.
"A circle in a world of triangles," John observed with a wry grin. "It must have some significance."
From the furthest reaches of the long room a tall figure robed in black approached them slowly. Both men stood as the veiled being drew near.
"Arra?" John Koenig asked.
With smooth, slender hands the figure drew back the veil to reveal an astonishingly beautiful, youthful face.
"When I came to you, John Koenig, to warn you about the coming war on Berg, I came in a form you knew and could relate to. Now you can see me in my mutated, immutable form."
Both men stared in amazement, unable to find words.
"Not to worry, John Koenig." She nodded at Professor Bergman. "You are both quite safe. And this is not a political endeavor, Professor. You underestimate your strength and resourcefulness as human beings. Your tenacious survival on your Moonbase and your extraordinary effort at building a new civilization speaks volumes of the strength of your human spirit." She indicated the chairs. "And yes Professor, at a round table there is no head. We of the intergalactic council are all equal, just different in our abilities and contributions. Please sit. The others will be here shortly."
Still stunned into silence the men sat and Arra took up a seat beside them.
"How long have we been gone from Berg?" Victor Bergman finally asked.
"About 18 months in their time, Professor. Time for you have been suspended, but your son has grown up and is doing well." She turned to Koenig. "Your people are doing very well, John Koenig, but they do miss you. This will be the last part of your training, and if you are successful, you will return home in your new ship."
"New ship?" Koenig asked, perplexed.
"The ship you have been traveling in is even now being refitted to your needs," Arra explained. "Your things from earth are quite safe. The ship will be yours to use for official purposes. It is currently the fastest ship in the universe, and is called Te Wera. It could travel from earth to earth's sun in less than an hour earth-time."
The men looked at each other in awe. "We won't be returning in the pyramid?" John Koenig finally stammered.
"The pyramid was simply a tool to intrigue you and draw you, John Koenig," Arra replied with a smile.
"So we could return to earth, to Arkadia?" Victor Bergman asked.
"Intergalactic travel is not easy, Professor, nor generally undertaken. But I'm sure the council could grant you permission if it was necessary."
"So," Koenig said, his eyes still filled with unbelief, "That ship becomes ours? But how can I fly it if I can't see where I'm going?"
"The ship is being refitted to your needs, John Koenig. Have no fear; you will be able to fly it. During your return to Berg you will teach Victor Bergman."
In the furthest reaches of the vast green chamber three more distant robed figures appeared, seemingly gliding their way. As the two men stared, mesmerized, Arra put her hand on John Koenig's arm and whispered: "You have one more question, John Koenig. My answer is, be patient, and do not lose hope…"
(To be continued…)
