A tap on Emmi’s shoulder woke her. Tholml said, “They’re here.”
She blinked away the dryness from her eyes and yawned. “How long?” “Around two arni.” Two ships hung motionless, with a small ringed planet in the background. “Ararandaaran vessel, your request for a tour of our facility has been granted. We will escort you to the landing pad.” One ship made an arc and settled off their port aft as the other rotated its bow toward the planet. “We appreciate your hospitality. Please, lead the way,” Tholml responded, then tapped the mute. “It was a good idea not bringing the Pocket Chicken.” Emmi nodded. The leading ship’s engines illuminated and brightened. She pushed the throttle forward, matching its speed. To conserve fuel, the leading ship’s engines fell to a dim blue. As they approached, Emmi noted the sensor data aloud. “The planet is geologically dead. A magnetic field array encompasses the planet. An artificial magnetic field.” She glanced out the starscreen. “Wow!” A large platform formed from the mass of blue. Subtle flashes of light streaked down toward the surface inside a taut tube housed in a robustly designed framework. Robotic arms could be seen shifting pallets from cars and loading them into cargo vessels. Some of the cargo ships could be seen porting out of the system. Tholml’s ship and the escorts settled on a platform in orbit over the planet. Emmi couldn’t contain her enthusiasm and was the first to leave the flight deck and put on her suit. Tholml smiled as he shut down the ship and followed his companion. The escorts deplaned and silently waited for the guests to step down from their ship. Once Emmi and Tholml were on the platform, they walked, using their omnetic boots, to the apron around the elevator. They waited for a passenger car. She took note. When the car arrived, they stepped aboard. First the outer doors and as soon as the lock cycled, the inner doors opened. The room gave Emmi the impression of being a control center for a seafaring vessel on Earth. A bright, sickly shade of green adorned the bulkheads. The overhead was awash with light. Two beings near the back of the car sat at stations and initiated the omnetically propelled fall sequence once the doors were closed. To Emmi, it felt no different from a high-speed elevator. There weren’t any jarring movements or sudden gravitational forces acting against them. It was a pleasant descent to the planet below. First, the outer doors opened, and then the inner doors followed. Politely, the pilots gave Emmi and Tholml to another being. The being’s tunic had pictographic symbols that translated to Aserate Micro Technologies Transportation Division. The escort remained silent as they followed. Emmi believed she would be remiss in her pursuit of knowledge, so she took an atmospheric reading. The data flowed onto the inside of her visor and took note. ‘The atmosphere is artificial. Its CO2 content is 290 parts per million. That’s damn near perfectly balanced. Oxygen is at twenty-one point seven percent. Nitrogen seventy-seven percent. Not bad. The relative humidity is thirty-seven percent. Air quality index, twelve point four. Wow!’ After a ported flight, they settled on a platform that had extended from the side of a building. The pilot extended a gangway and clamped to the platform. Once the connection was deemed secure, the pilot opened the door and ushered them from his vehicle. By the time Emmi and Tholml were on the platform, another being dressed in something akin to a kilt with a loosely weaved tunic approached. He, too, was the same species as the three pilots that brought them. A breathing apparatus was affixed to his head. It covered his mouth and several other breathing holes above and below his eyes. His taut, yellowish-olive skin bore a resemblance to a grass frog, complete with spots. A thick, dark line ran from his forward eyes back to his auricles where it curved downward and disappeared in his tunic. Emmi’s implant identified the species as Quire. Once inside the building, the Quire removed his mask and drew a deep breath before speaking. “I don’t know, nor do I care, how you finagled your way into a tour of this facility. We have vetted you. We know who you are. I don’t care to acquaint myself with you, so I will not be giving you my name.” “We requested to meet the head of the research lab, a Ribgah,” Tholml pressed. The tour guide stood, annoyed. “So what?” Emmi squinted at the guide’s discourtesy. “It would be in the best interest of this company that we speak with Ribgah. I suspect he would be quite interested in what I have to say.” “I doubt it. Follow. The atmosphere is quite clean here, you needn’t armor yourself against it. However, in designated areas, you will be required to apply a clean room suit. One will be provided.” They were led to a room with red lockers lining the walls and matching benches placed before them. “I assume you want privacy.” “You assume correctly,” Emmi replied with a mocking tone. The guide left the room. Emmi removed her helmet and took a deep breath. “He makes me feel like we’re Antichrists.” “Who?” Tholml asked. “The antithesis of all that is good.” “It could be a trait of the species. His actions have been benign thus far.” Emmi rubbed her face. “Judge not the word of others, but by their actions and the reasons behind them.” “My brother told me, ‘Deeds garner respect or fill others with terror, words are nothing but dirty air.’” She smiled warmly. “You don’t believe that.”
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2024
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