A Larger Universe (51 page)

An hour before, the renamed
Fist
had entered
synchronous orbit above the longitude passing through Washington, D.C.  Within
minutes, ground-based radar detected them and frantic transmissions from Earth
began.

Tommy sat in front of a television monitor trying to make
sense of what he was hearing.  He changed to a public television channel in an
attempt to get a more reasoned discussion.  "The Kadiil were here less
than two months ago," he interpreted to Leegh.  "A moon-sized ship
with an escort of smaller ships."

"Your scientists must have begun testing a gravity
generator," Leegh said.

Tommy listened to the bearded man on the screen, a professor
from M.I.T., and continued.  "That is what is strange about what I am
hearing.  Testing is not mentioned.  The Kadiil demanded that Earth stop
working on gravity and quantum physics and ordered the end of further research
in computer hardware.  Why would they do that?"

"I assume that is a rhetorical question," Leegh
replied.  "Perhaps we can learn the answer when we talk directly with the
Earth humans.  Did the Kadiil make the same offer to provide transit
drives?"

Tommy listened while the moderator filled in some
background.  "No, and the demand to stop computer research caused an
immediate uproar.  A big percentage of Earth's economy depends, directly or
indirectly, on computer advancement," he quoted.

"What happened?" Leegh asked.

"The Kadiil left after giving their ultimatum and
saying they would be back.  Everyone on Earth believes we are the Kadiil!"

Next, the television panel discussed the sudden onslaught of
signals coming from civilizations outside the solar system.  The communications
barrier around the system vanished about a month before.

Tommy translated for Leegh, and then added, "That would
be at about the same time as our last battle with the Kadiil ships."  He
listened while someone from the SETI group discussed what all of this might
mean.  "I think they are in shock.  Except for a few people whom everyone
else thought were crazy, the people of Earth believed they were alone in the
universe.  Now, the Kadiil and transmissions from hundreds of other
civilizations have disproved that."

"What will they do?" Leegh asked.

The answer came later in the day with the appearance of the
President of the United States on all American television channels.  He urged
everyone to remain calm while "our military protects us from alien
invasion."  Within minutes, the
Fist
used Tommy's ball-filled
missiles three times to destroy incoming ballistic missiles from the United
States and once against missiles from Russia.  The spectacular meteor showers
formed by falling ball bearings added to the hysterical radio and television
traffic.  

Tommy wondered if he would be able to keep his promise to
the former slaves after all.

He had been able to keep his word to the Nesu, landing
everyone, except Leegh, Cauth, Ulsu, San, Suna, and Leegh’s relatives, on
New
Stream
.  Leegh and her family wanted to discuss mathematical physics with
human theorists before joining The People.  Leegh also wanted to experiment
with creating wormholes for space travel, something she couldn't do on a
planet's surface.  The four young Nesu wanted to stay with Tommy.  They claimed
they felt safer with him than with their own people and were too young to
settle down on a single world.

#   #   #

Tommy sat in front of a camera in the largest chamber they
had available.  Leegh stood nearby but out of the camera's view.  All of the
humans on the ship watched a monitor, also away from the camera.  Everyone had
a right to know what was happening and that this wasn't going well.  Tommy also
brought Potter for moral support, but the cat disappeared as soon as Tommy put
him down.

His first inclination when they arrived had been to take
down a lander.  The missile attacks ended that.  The U.S. military didn't seem
to understand the disadvantage of being at the bottom of a gravity well 35,000
kilometers deep.  Overnight, the United States launched against them five more
times, each salvo with an increasing number of missiles.  The ship's forward
track guns effortlessly repelled each attack. 

Since then, he had tried three times to contact someone
rational on the ground.  The third time, he took off all his clothes except his
underwear and turned slowly in front of the camera in an attempt to prove his
humanity.  Even that hadn't gotten a response.

The monitor Tommy was using for video reception cleared,
showing a man wearing a business suit.

"Are you Tommy Yates?" the man asked.

"Yes, I am," Tommy said.  He stared for a long
moment at the man on the screen.  "I know you.  You're the newsman who
interviewed my family the day I was kidnapped.  I don't remember your name,
though."

"Bob Wilson.  You don't look much like the little boy I
interviewed."

"I've grown up," Tommy said.  "Why am I
talking to you instead of someone from the government?"

"Your television broadcasts have been received by
everyone on this hemisphere.  I don't know why you haven't been contacted. 
That's their business.  If you're who you say you are, my bosses decided we
couldn't pass up a chance for an exclusive.  Will you talk with us?"  The
camera view panned from Bob Wilson to a man and woman seated on a lumpy sofa. 
"And with your parents?"

"Mom.  Dad," was all he could think to say.

They looked off camera, and then his dad spoke to someone
Tommy couldn't see.  "He could be Tommy, but he's so much bigger!"

"He does look like you, Tom," his mom said. 
"Is that really you, Tommy?"

"Yes, it's me," he replied.  Tears ran, unnoticed,
down his cheeks.

Potter, who had been exploring the cables behind the camera,
leaped into Tommy's lap.  The cat circled once to get into his favorite position,
with his head down next to Tommy's knee and his rear held high to be scratched
at the base of the spine.  His tail vibrated against the side of Tommy's face.

"Tom, that's Potter!" said Tommy's mother. 
"That has to be Tommy!"  She grabbed his father’s arm and leaned
toward the camera.  "Are you in that huge spaceship?"

"Yes, I am Mom.  A lot has happened in the past four
years.  I hope I get a chance to tell you about it."

"Why wouldn't you?"  She spoke to someone off
camera.  "Why wouldn't he get a chance to tell us?  When are you coming
home?"

"The United States and Russia keep attacking us with
missiles, Mom.  It isn't safe to land."

Tommy leaned forward to look more closely at the monitor. 
"Why do you still have that old sofa?  That was one of the first things
you planned to replace with my software money."

His dad’s voice was gruff.  "We never got the money. 
The contract had a clause saying you had to be available for support.  When you
disappeared..."

The screen went blank, and then the image of a man wearing a
U.S. military uniform appeared on the screen.  "Who’s in control of that
ship?"

"I am," Tommy said.

"You say you are an eighteen-year-old American citizen
named Tommy Yates.  A boy by that name disappeared four years ago.  You claim
to be that person?"

"Yes, I am."

"An eighteen year old in control of a spaceship the
size of a small moon?  Why should we believe you?"

"Actually, the ship is a small moon, except for certain
parts.  I’m in command.  How it happened will take a while to tell."

"What is that animal beside you?" the officer
asked.

Tommy turned to Leegh, who had moved into range of the
camera.  "That's not an animal.  She's Leegh, a mathematician and
physicist, and one of the species that originally inhabited this ship.  She's
here because she felt she could find colleagues on Earth.  Now, she's not so
sure."

"If you’re in command of that ship, it's your duty to
turn it over to the United States Government and surrender yourself," the
officer said.

"Surrender?  My duty?  Why?"

"Because you are a citizen of the United States, and
you have knowledge vital to our national security."

"I'm not sure I follow; my school didn't have civics
classes.  Besides, I'm not the only human on board this ship, and the others
are not citizens of the United States.  I may be in command, but their opinions
matter."

"Who are you talking about?" the officer asked.

Tommy beckoned Sisle in front of the camera.  "This is
Sisle.  I’m talking about her and several hundred like her, plus a few hundred
more who're different."  He turned to the crowd of human farmers and
artisans off camera.  "The first Jack, come over here where he can see
you."

The officer took his time examining Jack.  Finally, he said
flatly, "That's not human."

"Yes, he is," Tommy said curtly.  "I'll call
you again tomorrow at this time."

He cut off the camera and receivers.

"They don't seem happy to see us," Valin said.

"They think we're freaks," said the first Jack.

A murmur of agreement went around the room.

"I promised I would return you to Earth," Tommy
said.  "If we keep negotiating with them, eventually we should be able
to.  We do have something they want."

"But what will happen to us when we land?" asked
the second Jack.  "Will they accept us, or will we always be freaks?"

"I don't have an answer to that," Tommy said.

"Do you think they would accept the warriors?" Fen
asked.

"Warriors look more like Earth humans.  Actually, you
look like football players or professional wrestlers.  You would be more likely
to be accepted, I suppose."

"Is that what they would want us to do, wrestle or play
football, whatever that is?" asked another warrior.

"You must do something," Tommy said.  "Earth
has no free meal rooms or lodgings.  Everything has to be paid for."

"Just like on Toblepas?" Fen asked.

"Yes.  Exactly," Tommy said.

"Could we have our own world, like the Nesu?  Why must
we stay here?" called another voice from the rear of the room.

Tommy made the Nesu whistle of surprise.  "You don't. 
You're here because you asked to be here, and I promised."

"Are you staying here, Tommy?" Fen asked.

"What?" he said. 
Not stay here?  Not return to
Earth?  Of course I will. That was what I worked for, wasn't it?
  He
glanced at Sisle, who had the strangest expression, as if she wanted to say
something but was afraid to.

Tommy looked around the room.  "How many would prefer
your own world instead of returning to Earth?"

About half those in the room raised their hands.  Of those
who didn't, one spoke up.  "Could we discuss this for a while before we
decide?"

A murmur of "Yes, Yes," moved around the room.

"Of course you can," Tommy said.  "Meet here
again at the same time tomorrow."

Leegh had been attempting to learn English, but all this
rapid conversation was beyond her.  After Tommy's explanation, she said, "I
am not sure you or the governments of Earth realize what is about to
happen."

"What do you mean?"

"The Kadiil repressed us.  We could not advance our
technology, and we were not allowed to conquer worlds like your Earth.  Now,
Earth is defenseless against attack.  If this ship moved to the orbit of your
moon and launched one of our solid missiles against your capital, the missile
would have enough kinetic energy when it struck to vaporize rock and send a
wave of water around the globe.  If we used all of the missiles we carry, we
could make Earth uninhabitable, even without the black hole technology we now
have.

"Soon, other ships of The People will come here. 
Eventually, the other seven sapient species in this neighborhood of stars will
discover your Earth.  For this world to remain independent, it must learn to
defend itself."

"Are you saying I must give them this ship?" Tommy
asked.

"No, but you must give them the Kadiil technology, or
they will be enslaved or destroyed."

She looked at Tommy.  "Giving them this ship and
yourself would be a mistake.  This is your ship, and, of all humans, only you
have the skills to command it in defense of your world."

Leegh lashed her tail back and forth.  "Something
else.  Are you certain the Kadiil are dead?"

"You have seen the dead ships," Tommy said.

"I have seen dead ships run by computers.  I have also
seen you turn your computers off and on without damaging them in any way.  Are
you sure the Kadiil, the actual Kadiil, will not turn their computers on
again?"

#   #   #

The next day, the President of the United States joined the
same uniformed officer on the screen.  Tommy tried to be properly respectful,
but, when the President insisted Tommy allow the U.S. military on board and
refused to let him talk to his parents again, Tommy abruptly cut him off.

"That won't make him happy," Leegh said in her
limited English.

"No," Tommy replied in the lords’ language. 
"Leegh, I have been thinking about the military officer's demands.  Once
they have me, I am worried they would never let me go."

"Why?"

"How could they be sure that I had given them
everything that might be vital to national security?  And, even if I had, they
would fear I might give the same knowledge to someone else."

Tommy turned to the other humans in the room.  "What did
you decide?"

Fen stood up.  "Before you arrived, we asked everyone
who wished to return to Earth to move to that corner of the room," he
said, pointing.  The corner was empty.

"We asked everyone who wanted a planet of their own to
move in that direction."  That corner contained about half the artisans
and farmers with their women and about a third of the warriors and warrior
women.  The artisan Tillie stood in front.