Civilization (I'll Stay Right Here)
By Kachimoochi
Chapter X
Decorative Spoons
Anaximander played through a multitude of scenarios in his head as to what Altair would do or say in response to bringing an alien into his galaxy, or at least try and find a way to keep his head or his life.
"I learned on the flotilla that Altair was a misogynist, but he hates aliens too? Or just Quarians?" Hakon asked, finally talking for the first time in hours, not acknowledging his emotional episode.
"No, no…no. He doesn't hate aliens…he thinks that they aren't ready for Civilization yet. I mean keep in mind; most human males can't feel pride in their gender, country, or even their skin, that isn't a fact of life for most non-humans. They wouldn't appreciate it as much as we do"
"Shouldn't Altair give this gift to all beings, so the women could leave men alone forever by having their own galaxies?" Hakon asked, wondering if all the drama and espionage was worth such a cheap gift.
"You don't understand…Altair isn't the person who led the first exodus…that was his older brother; he hasn't been seen for years. Altair has had to manually enter men's dreams and convince them to join Civilization. All of this espionage and mind-controlling drugs are just temporary…just until he returns." Anaximander answered, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief, feeling more tired than he'd ever felt in his life.
"But you didn't answer my question, why are they only liberating men, why not liberate all, then everyone would leave each other alone?" Hakon responded, understanding the purpose, but not the logic.
"Firstly because they are controlled by a…force. Not like a ghost…but more like puppet strings. There is a force that makes women behave the way they do to us, we don't know what it is, only that it exists. So even if we gave them the gift, they would be manipulated by the force to use it for the collective forces. It sounds cryptic…I know…but it's all we have to go on." Anaximander continued to explain.
"Isn't that a little paranoid, maybe they are just bitter or hateful, how could anyone or anything control an entire gender?" Hakon asked, still not fully understanding, but beginning to.
"It's…just something you'd have to see first-hand; you'd know it existed then. Oh and secondly, it kind of defeats the purpose of suffering for thirty-thousand years of DNA imbedded control if they allow their captors to join them side by side…Altair can explain it better to you, if he even decides to speak to you" Anaximander continued, light tan skin becoming paler by the second, as they approached Altair's planet: Freedomain.
"You're sweating so much, I thought this guy was your friend, why are you afraid of him?" Hakon asked.
"I'm not afraid of him, he is my friend it's just that…he can be a little unpredictable at times" Anaximander insisted.
"How?"
"Let me tell you a story" Anaximander began.
"So…this would be around 9th grade, about when we were 14 years old. We would go to the Computer console lab in our school to study, play virtual computer games, or work on projects. I would sit by my other friend Nasir, I hadn't met Altair in the alley yet. Altair always sat alone, he could have sat with anyone, he wasn't hated, but he preferred his own company." Anaximander started
Hakon nodded along
"So one day this other boy sat beside him, he was the same age and very athletic. Altair didn't know why he sat beside him, as most never did, and was quite annoyed to have his personal space violated. There were at least 5 other computer consoles beside Altair, but day after day the dickhead would sit beside him"
"So what?"
"Well this boy was on the football team, so he was used to being very loud and opinionated. If Altair ever had a page on his console that he didn't agree with, he would either insult or loudly commentate on every page he opened, he never explained why he sat beside Altair either."
"So, he fought him or something?"
"No…he was much too smart for that. Altair never got angry at him; he would simply deactivate his console and walk away, for that time. It was about a week later we found out in class that the football player's sister had gone missing…then his mother."
"You mean he…y'know"
"Oh no…that'd be much too easy. I didn't find this out until I first met Altair mind you, but what he did was much worse, I still can't believe he did this to this day"
"What did he do to them?"
"He kidnapped his sister and sold her to a Batarian slaving vessel, on the edge of the galaxy. As for the mother…he introduced her to the joy that was Red Sand, she became addicted on the spot. He then sold her to a pimp"
"By the Ancestors!"
"That's not all…he brought them both back to him a year later, but they weren't the same people they once were. Did you know that Batarians and Humans are genetically compatible? His sister returned carrying two Batarian babies, and his mother lost her legs from a blood clot. He had to quit school and the football team to take care of them all.
Hakon was speechless.
"All because he sat next to him in class" Anaximander finished, closing his eyes until they arrived.
If Hakon wasn't hesitant, he certainly was now. He had just discovered that the co-ruler of Civilization was a manipulating sociopath, at least by Anaximander's testimony. If he did such a thing to a person who sat next to him in school, what would he do to an intruder in his galaxy?
"You shouldn't worry…Hakon is it? Altair hasn't done that to anyone in months" Kaisar tried to calm the nerves of their new guest, forgiving him for the previous confusion.
"Do not speak to me Rettis!" Hakon yelled, beckoning Kaisar's immediate silence.
"Hakon! Please! I haven't slept in 4 days and I have to explain this situation to the executive of Civilization, can I ask for 1 hour of silence!" Anaximander bellowed.
The Trio remained in silence until they reached the atmosphere of Freedomain.
The planet of Freedomain was modeled after ancient Greece, with white obelisks and pillars lining the mountainous regions of the planet. The cities throughout the Earth-size planet were populated with human-androids, male and female, wearing togas and other outfits of the sort.
The Futura approached a city modeled after ancient Athens, where people debated on platforms, recited plays in amphitheaters, and shopped in markets, not noticing the space-age vehicle flying through the sky on their way to the home of their ruler.
Altair resided in a mansion of his creation, or rather the GECK's creation. It lied at the top of a mountain on the centre of Athens, formed by pillars and statues of the Gods and Goddesses that citizens of the time believed in.
The Futura and its inhabitants exited their vehicle, after touching down on the artificial ceiling of the mansion and were beckoned inside the mansion by a manservant. Anaximander took this opportunity to remove his trenchcoat and fedora, which only inspired sweat in such an arid climate, the manservant waited patiently, not even noticing the Quarian that stood before him, he must not have been programmed to notice non-humans.
Anaximander, Kaisar, and Hakon entered the home of the co-ruler and were led into the living room, or whatever the Greek equivalent would have been. Altair was dressed in a toga, unlike his previous armored clothing choice, his skin having gained some of its color back from their last encounter.
"Ah Kaisar…so nice to see you again, and Anaximander…I suppose this means that the mission was a success" Altair introduced.
"Oh yes indeed, the plans were destroyed, and the samples were extinguished, we only need Nasir to destroy the real facility and formula to ensure that this never happens again." Anaximander spoke, trying to inspire his usual spring in his voice, trying to hide his massive sleep debt.
"I see you brought back a souvenir, though I always was more of a decorative spoon kind of guy" Anaximander commented, his attention falling to the Quarian guest, in rather filthy clothing.
"Uh right…Altair this is-"Anaximander tried to introduce Hakon.
"Hakon'Lorric Vas Lorcraff, born to Saliv and Rastin on the Flotilla vessel Lorcraff, your mother's pilgrimage gift…if I'm not mistaken" Altair recited.
"How did-" Hakon said.
"My brother mostly, I believe you asked for his assistance on the mission, the rest from my moles on the Flotilla" Altair enlightened.
"Then I suppose you can guess why I brought him here?" Anaximander said.
"You want me to make him part of Civilization, to give him his liberation, his own galaxy"
"Yes…look I know the rule is no aliens, I should have checked before I brought him here, but he reminded me of myself when you saved me, and he was homeless, and he tried to rob me, and he really put up quite of a chase…" Anaximander rambled, as he did when he was nervous.
"You did what you thought was right, I can't expect more than that, it's the conscious that separates us from the animals, from the force" Altair spoke, patting Anaximander's shoulder, wanting him to calm himself.
"You mean you're not-"
"Angry? No not really…of course I would have appreciated a call before, but as you know I-"
"Like to turn misfortune into an opportunity…heh heh…it's like your catchphrase" Anaximander finished.
"In any case, I am please to meet you Hakon, though I'd like to interview you before I give you a universe, you understand" Altair beckoned to the manservant to lead Hakon away, no doubt to change his clothes and feed him.
"Don't worry I'll take care of him, now as for the Batarians-"
"Oh please Altair, I haven't slept in 4 days, can't I rest before I go on another suicidal mission" Anaximander complained.
"There is nothing more I would like to offer you a rest after what must have been a mentally and physically taxing mission, but there isn't time, and I have failed."
"What do you mean?"
"I didn't finish my project, the way to liberate all men, to save them, I still need more time. There is no other way; we have to preemptively strike against the Batarians."
"I understand, but can't you let Nasir take the first shift?"
"Sorry, this is a first come first serve business; Nasir needs the rest more than you if I may say"
"Is he alright?"
"Yes, quite…but we need to assemble fast, we have a month before the Batarians attack, or so my moles say-"
"WE HAVE A MONTH AND I CAN'T TAKE ONE DAY OFF?"
"You need to assemble a force strong enough to defeat the entire Batarian blockade and armada, I think you know the people I'm talking about, and so I'll defer the people to you"
"I have no choice do I?"
"No…not really, think of it as a favor to me, Civilization could use the good publicity after all"
"I thought you didn't care about publicity?"
"I don't, but it may give the men on Earth some more hope, buy me some more time so I can save some more"
"ARRH…fine, I think I know who to start with too, I guess I'll just sleep in the Futura, let's go Kaisar" Anaximander surrendered.
"Thank you so much my friend I really appreciate this, just one more thing" Altair finished.
"Yes?"
"You didn't tell Hakon about that football player's mother and sister did you?"
"Er…no?"
"Ah good, I didn't want him to get the wrong impression"