Preview - Bk 4

BOOK PREVIEW - THE ORACLE

Prologue

Planet: Brak, Klaxarian Galaxy, Loo System

A long time ago

On the second planet from Klaxan’s sun, as the ghimbob watched, a figure rose up from the steamy, early-morning jungle.  

They began an excited whispering among themselves.  “It he, one prophesied!  He come, then go,  then come, lead us!”  

“Yes-yes!  Happened true spoken!  Begun! See-see!  Wear  sign!  Cerulean!”

The figure appeared a little dishevelled, and from underneath a ragged, brimmed blue hat, hair hung in greasy disarray.  He’d been asleep in the bush and now, groggy and looking around, he wondered how he’d satisfy his gnawing stomach.  He noticed a rustling in the nearby undergrowth.  Nervously he backed away, hoping it was nothing dangerous.  So far, he hadn’t run into any wild animals.    

He heard more rustling around him, and then numerous and familiar, small blue and green-hued bodies rose from the undergrowth around him and approached slowly.  These he already knew; ghimbob, annoying but harmless.  They carried baskets over their heads containing fruit.  Edible things.  The question of food, he realized, was no longer an issue.   

A murmur trembled in the air above their heads, as together the ghimbob began chanting an indecipherable word.  He didn’t care what their customs and rituals were.  They had food.  The baskets were offered to him as the chanting droned on.  He still didn’t care.  All he wanted was to eat, and he did as, one after the other the baskets were offered to him.

He sat down and ate greedily with both hands; famished.  Finally, one lone ghimbob, still chanting quietly came with a cup - a hollowed out gourd containing a liquid.  He presumed it was water to wash it all down with, took it and put it to his mouth.  As the first taste hit his tongue he pulled the gourd back from his lips in surprise.  Not water.  It had an odd taste, mildly sweet, with a strange, almost musty aftertaste.  The ghimbob pushed the gourd back towards him, encouraging him to drink more.  It didn’t taste that bad, so he downed it to show his appreciation for the free meal.

As he finished the last dregs at the bottom of the gourd he felt a strange sensation rise from the pit of his gut, a tingling warmth, and for a brief moment he wondered if they’d poisoned him.  The thought was short-lived as the feeling was replaced with a sense of energy, as if his atoms were suddenly super-charged with electrical power.

The chanting grew louder.

“What is this stu…?” he began, but his words were drowned out with the sudden surge of sound until finally, the indistinct word that had been repeating became clear.  He had no idea  what they were saying. But somehow, he didn’t care.

  Oracle … oracle … ORACLE! … ORACLE!! … ORACLE!!!

*********

Planet: Gizmok -The Institute - Awatto City, Present day  

6 months ago - month of Satnar

“Querintium?  Are you sure?  Historically, so little of it has ever been found,” Ahmat exclaimed excitedly.  “even from our source on Bilbon!”  The head of the Tech Development Division trembled in his excitement.  “This changes everything!”

In his haste he forgot the floog mining captain who’d given him the surprising report, as he rushed to the office of the Padent to show it to him.  

Padent Tardin looked up in surprise, stunned at the unexpected news.  “Here?  On Gizmok?” He stared hard at his scientist for a moment.  “Is this a Gneisib joke?”  It was the season after all.

Ahmat shook his head vehemently. “No, no!  It is not!”  He waved a tablet at him. “Look at the report!  It is deep within our own far northern regions!”  He deposited the tablet on the desk and Tardin picked it up, still looking at Ahmat, suspicious that he was being pranked.   If he looked at the report he’d be instantly laughed at by whoever was still hiding out in the hall behind the professor.  But he couldn’t help himself, looked anyway, and couldn’t believe what he saw.  

Finally, they’d be able to put the production schedule of their new, but power-hungry air-lift transportation program into full gear without the impediments of its sky-high costs.  The AALT program was going forward thanks to the discovery of querintium, and plenty of it, on their own planet; all they’d ever need.

*********

Planet: Kruptaar - Dragons-Keep Lit-Wik

Present Day - 5 months ago - month of Ke-Lei

“How much is there?  And where?” The Struulkar Leader demanded.  She stared at the little duuggar who had brought the report.

“On Gizmok, in the northern polar regions.  The querintium seems to be plentiful, from what the drill tests show.” he answered.  He hoped that he’d be rewarded for his information.  His family badly needed the extras, and he tamped down the guilt he felt about going behind the backs of his floog associates to give this bit of illicit news to the recently chosen Struulkor Leader.  Perhaps Lit-Wik would be more inclined to see the lowly duuggar as more than just pawns and virtual slaves to be used and discarded.

“So … this changes things.”   Lit-Wik mused, almost to herself.  She turned to her lieutenant, Kindl-Eye, and poked him in the chest.  

“I must get membership with the KPAC.  It will be the way to access this treasure.  I need it!”

“I have heard great things of this miracle mineral.” Kindl-Eye nodded dutifully.  “It could be very useful to us.”  

“Unfortunately,” moaned Lit-Wik “I’m also painfully aware that as Struulkor we’re banned from ever setting foot on Gizmok!”  Again, Kindl-Eye nodded in sympathy.  He knew all of that, and why.  He’d been a part of it himself.

“We should never have responded to my exalted brother’s foolish idea to conquer Gizmok.” he groaned.

Lit-Wik snapped back at him, “I am the Exalted Leader now!  That is all past history, and I will certainly be doing things a lot ifferently than that over-blown idiot - no offence to your family.” she added in a hurry.  It wouldn’t pay to antagonize Fire-Breth’s family.

She had a brilliant idea that might work, and absently waved the long-forgotten duuggar out of her chamber.  A call to her counterpart, a rather remarkable character on Brak was in order.  She needed that mineral to further her grand plans, and she knew the perfect individual to help her. 

On Gizmok several weeks later, a rather extraordinary KPAC meeting was called to order once more.  An entire morning and half of the afternoon had been devoted to one issue - the admittance of Brak to the Klaxan Planetary Advisory Council, and most members were hesitant to admit them for fear of rampant ghimbob infestations on almost every planet.  

Convener Bilat looked  aside at the strange figure referred to as “the Oracle” who was present via the comm screen.  They were informed ahead of time that the Oracle was to be addressed with the pronouns ‘ge’, ‘gim’ and ‘gis’.

The upper portion of his body was all KPAC members could see of him, and even that was obscured by a strange, blue headdress of some sort covering his entire head.  Who was underneath was a mystery.  He’d said his piece, delivered in sonorous tones, and now sat back and waited as the council members deliberated.

There was a lot of dissension among the members regarding Brak’s admittance.  Ghimbob were considered nuisances in every corner of the galaxy.  No one wanted them on their respective planet, and the cloaked figure watched silently during a heated debate as all of the solutions and suggestions were offered up.  One stood out as viable.  

More discussions had followed, some members were still leery but the majority seemed to be amenable to admittance, with severe restrictions.  

The Oracle seemed to start at the word ‘restrictions’, but he said nothing.  The members were asked to vote.  On the ballot were two questions, yes or no on admitting Brak, and, with restrictions or without.

Bilat reconvened the meeting after the vote had been taken.  “Have we made a decision on the question of Brak’s membership?”  There were a few groans all around the table.  The secretary counted the ballots, and announced the approval for the admittance of the problematic planet to KPAC; with restrictions.

These were stipulated thus; One: only the Oracle and one other ghimbob acting as gis aide was allowed on any member planet at a time.  Two: arrivals and departures were to be closely monitored, and special security measures such as inspection, with personal scans at approved points of entry and exit in place.  Three: any ghimbob was to be checked for its hatching-sac.  If any were found to be full, entrance to any planet would not be permitted.

“I only hope that this Oracle does not try to secretly spirit more ghimbob in under that strange cloak ge wears.” growled the member from Eigril as he pointed to the Oracle still watching patiently on the screen.  Then he glared at him as if to challenge him to even try to flout the restrictions.  It was obvious that the Egrillian member had not voted ‘yes’.

“We do not even know who or what is under that cloak.  It covers gis entire body; face, hands - if ge even has them - and feet.  I voted yes, but I am very uneasy.” warned the new member from Friggerkeld vehemently.  “We must ensure that this species, and their Oracle are strictly monitored as they come and go from any planet.  This could end badly!”

The Oracle rubbed gis hands together and ended the call.   It wasn’t exactly what he’d wanted, but it was a start.  

Just before the meeting closed, Bilat reminded all members that, with the security in place the danger of unapproved ghimbob entries were effectively addressed. Whether or not those fears were allayed remained to be seen.  There was too much past history of infestations and general unmitigated pestilence invoked by the ghimbob on all planets to warrant instant trust now.  They would have to prove themselves first. 

On Brak the Oracle immediately opened a communication channel to Kruptaar’s recently elevated leader.  When she answered he crowed triumphantly, “We’re in!  Ge told you ge could do it.”

The Oracle’s chest swelled as the Struulkor congratulated him.  “Well done!  Ge knows what to do now.  When can we start?”

“Well, there are a few restrictions in place.  They don’t trust us completely, so until ge can get ‘em dropped, you’re going to have to be patient.”  The Struulkor leader was not a patient individual.  Few Struulkor were.  She narrowed her eyes at the news.  “Restrictions?  What restrictions?”  

The Oracle told her, and Lit-Wik exploded.  “And you …

“Ah ah ah … pronouns, my dear Struulkor, pronouns!”  Her fury rose at the interruption.  “And ge accepted that?  How can we get what we need with just gim and one ghimbob?”

The Oracle shushed her, which only infuriated her more.  The temper tantrum didn’t seem to make him give her the deferential treatment she wanted, the way she got from her own people.  She realized then that she couldn’t rely on anyone but herself and her own kind.  Even an entity so loftily referred to as “the Oracle” wasn’t going to get it done.  

All patience gone, she ended the call, and started making her own plans, determined to accomplish what she’d set out to do.  “If you want something done right …..” she muttered out loud.  

The other species, the duuggar, a smaller cousin dragon, who shared the planet with the Struulkor had managed to forge their own agreement with KPAC.  And yet, she fumed, the Struulkor could not?  That needed to change, by any means necessary.  

She left a trail of angry smoke behind as she marched resolutely through the halls of the Keep, making plans as she went.  That new techno breakthrough and the tests so far, had indicated that it was almost ready for use.  That would come in very handy in the near future.  

She resolved to hurry the project along with a few choice incentives, and she knew exactly what kinds of ‘incentives’ she’d use.

At the other end of that call the Oracle disconnected his own device, sat back, picked another gadood fruit out of the ever-present bowl at his elbow, took a bite, burped, shrugged, and muttered,  “She should have listened to the rest of my plan.”

Chap 1

Planet: Earth 

year AD 2051 - the month of March - 21st day

The laughter of his family floating over Grampa Ethan’s head sounded like music to his ears, as he blew out ninety candles on his humongous cake.  The number was still a little foreign to him.  Ninety.  He had to keep reminding himself how old he was now.  He didn’t feel like ninety.  Inside, the image he had of himself was still one of a 50-year-old; a very young fifty-year-old.  

It always surprised him a little when confronting the image of an old man in the bathroom mirror.  Where had he come from?  Then he’d turn away, and the fifty-year-old returned to its rightful place in his head.  That worked for him.

He tried to blow out the glare of ninety candles as quickly as he could.  Thank goodness he’d never been a smoker, but still, it was hard to get to them all.  A few guttered as he took another breath to extinguish the last ones.

They all cheered, and when it had died down he stared at the mini-sea of charred wicks in front of him.  “You couldn’t have given me the number-candles to blow out, could you?” he groused good naturedly at them.

“C’mon Gramps, y’blew out eighty-nine candles last year!  What’s one more?” Graham teased, laughing.

“A whole year of still breathing, that’s what.”  Grampa shook his head.  “Maybe I used up a year and a half’s worth?”

Then he frowned and grinned at the same time, reminding them all to “be nice, it’s my birthday today.”

Later that day he brought up the subject of one more visit to Gizmok.  He knew he was slowing down, a little creakier in the joints, not quite as agile as he once was.  He still wanted to do one more trip under his own steam.

“Sure Grampa, why not ?” said Lewis enthusiastically.  At age twenty-six, his journalism and political science degrees still fresh on his wall, he was free from school obligations, and his boss at the popular political publication, Up Your Democracy was always on him to write some interesting stories.  

Lewis snapped his fingers and suddenly exclaimed, “Say!  I have an idea.  Gotta talk to my boss!”  Before anyone could stop and ask what the idea was, he left the room in a hurry to find his cell.

Janet had her misgivings about her ninety-year-old father going on such a trip alone at his age.  Ethan huffed, “I’m still sharp enough to travel by myself y’know.  I’m not a senile old man yet.”  Janet didn’t argue, but the idea made her nervous.

As conversation about trips to planets and outer space drifted about the room, Lewis came back, with his cell phone still in his hand.   “So, Grampa it’s settled.  I’d love to go back to Gizmok.  It’s been a while since I was last there.”  He grinned as he invited himself to go along.  “I’ll go with you!”  

Grampa Ethan raised his eyebrows at his grandson and said with a grin spread across his face, “Not that I don’t love you kiddo, but did I invite you?”  Lewis’ face fell a bit and Ethan started to laugh, “Awww, now he’s feeling left out.  Sure, I’d love to have you come along!”  They both started laughing then, knowing that they always enjoyed each other’s company.

Janet felt a bit of comfort at the not-so-subtle self-invite proposed by her son.  She knew what kinds of trouble her father could get himself into.  After some more discussion and another self-invite from Lewis’ sister, Milly, Grampa knew he’d have his daughter’s blessing to make the trip.  At least his grandchildren would make him feel as if he was still going on his own steam.

With two years worth of time at her  job at  the national magazine, Truth Exposed, Milly had some vacation time coming.  May would work for her.  A little push-back from Lewis made it June.  

“I’m free any time, makes no difference to me.”  Grampa told them.  “You kids just make up your minds before I have to go coffin shopping and let me know.”

“Dad!” came the sharp, in-unison reply from Janet and Graham. “Coffin shopping?”

“Gonna die someday.” was his only response, but he smiled as he said it.

“Just don’t do it before June.” Lewis growled in mock anger, I’m badly in need of another adventure.”

Janet groaned, “No adventures!  Don’t you dare!  Just a nice quiet vacation!  You’re not coming home with another grey-hair inducing story like the last few times.”

The next day Grampa Ethan and Milly began their vacation shopping.  Milly declared she “had nothing to wear!”  Lewis took a look in his own closet and judged he had enough clothes to make do.  

“Of course you do,” Milly scoffed at him, “you wear the same thing day after day.  Your clothes don’t get a chance to get worn out, they spend too much time hanging in your closet!”

Lewis rolled his eyes.  “And you, dear sister, are a clothes horse.  I’ve seen you wear three different outfits in the space of one day!”

“That’s because I do more than one kind of thing in one day.” she clarified.  “I can’t wear my office clothes to the gym, and I can’t wear either of those things when I go out on a date.” 

“Oh yeah, who would date you?” Lewis shot back and then ducked, laughing as her hand-bag sailed over his head.

“Ethan shook his head as he and Milly drove to the mall. “You two are going to make your mother even greyer than she is now.”

“Oh Grampa, you know we don’t mean anything by it.  We’re always taking digs at each other.  It’s fun!”

“Tell that to your mother,” said Ethan as he eased into a parking stall.  Then he sighed, “I’m due for another driver’s test next week.  What do you think my chances are of passing this time?”

“Grampa, you know we’ll drive you anywhere you want to go, if that happens.”

“I know, but it’s not the same.” he sighed.

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much.  You’re still a pretty sharp driver as far as I can tell.  Your chances of acing this next test is pretty high!” Milly assured him.

“Thanks for your vote of confidence kiddo.” Ethan smiled.  Deep down though, he knew that, realistically, his driving days were numbered.  He had to be prepared for it.

The shopping trip was successful.  Grampa Ethan looked as sharp as he could for an old guy, in his colourful shirts and slim pants.  He’d chosen his colours with an eye on the floog custom of bright colours for males.  Milly had followed suit with her choice of not only paler colours as a female, but also trending towards slacks and jumpsuits to fit in with female floog fashion custom.  

They paraded their purchases to applause, in front of the rest of the family.  Milly’s mother, Janet had a sudden hungry gleam in her eye as she looked at her daughter’s new outfits, and she sighed, “Maybe it’s time I upgraded my wardrobe a bit.”  Graham groaned, and prepared to shift his own clothes over even more on his side of the closet to make room for his wife’s additions.

*********

Planet: Gizmok, Awatto City

Home of Xerix and Qantuu - parents (adoptive) of Ethan

Year (79) 894, 22nd day of Roddbur

“Are they really coming?” Qantuu asked one more time.  Xerix sighed.  “Yes, my Oomor, they arrive next month on the thirty-fifth day.  You already know this.”

“Yes, but I still cannot believe it.  It has been so long.”  She sighed, thinking of the last time she’d seen her great-grandchildren, or her own adopted hu-man son for that matter.  She was painfully aware of how old that adopted offspring was now; an old man by ‘Urf’ standards.  They themselves were even older, but floog lived much longer than humans.  It was a reality they’d been resigned to long ago.  Their beloved adopted son would be long gone before they took their own final breaths.

Qantuu bustled about straightening and fussing nervously with things.  Xerix had to laugh.  “You know housethings will get messy ten times over before that date arrives.”  Qantuu grumbled a bit, “Just let me do.  It makes me feel better.”  Yes, he thought, smiling, her feeling better is better off for me too, and he walked away, content to wait patiently.  KPAC had requested his participation as an advisor in his capacity as a scientist and tech expert.  He had plenty to keep him busy while they waited for his family to arrive.

Today Xerix had a meeting to attend.  His report was ready and the torv stood at his door to take him to KPAC headquarters.  Luckily, it was in the same building as the major government offices.  That fact sometimes bothered him, and one of his recommendations had been to move the KPAC offices to another part of the city.  

He’d given his reasons.  The attempted Struulkor occupation in the not-so-distant-past had made him nervous.  Their Leader, Fire-Breth was still incarcerated here, and sometimes he wondered if some day, Kruptaar’s new rulers would try again, if only to free Fire-Breth and perhaps make another bid to take over one of the most abundant planets in the system - theirs.

He felt that having the entire government in one place made it an easy target.  Crippling the entire world order with one strategic blow would be simple.  He’d had many conversations with Targon, their thirtieth Grand Floogonitax, as he had with Biik-Taar, the Grande Floogonitel during the first Struulkor invasion.  The NECCAS disrupter, developed at that time, had quieted the fears for a while.  Still, if someone ever made their way past the defences, it would be harder to take control if the various government headquarters were in separate locations around the globe. 

Today there were other things on his mind, as he reviewed the schematics for the latest mining tech on the tablet in front of him.  They were preliminary of course.  It would take an expert to work out the finer mechanisms.  

The querintium discovery had been welcomed with relief, as it solved the ongoing energy problems that the domestic sectors of most planets suffered from.  KPAC planetary members had all been willing to work together to solve their energy depletions, and querintium seemed to be a rich and promising source.

After this, he was going to take a leisurely vacation, especially since E-fan, Mee-lee and Loo-iss would be here.  His heart began beating a little faster in excitement, and patience sometimes grew thin.  He remembered what he’d said to mate, Qantuu.  Best I’d heed my own words, he thought, smiling to himself.

Xerix’s patience paid off more than one month later as he and Qantuu watched their human offspring and their two great-grandchildren step off the passenger flam.  The children looked like grownups.  Strike that, Xerix thought, they are grownups.  He wondered what other changes he’d notice.

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