The Mutant World (18 page)

“Welcome, honored guest.”

Queen Bal looked up and saw a tall curvaceous woman walking up to her. The woman was veiled, but she could tell that she was very beautiful. She could also tell that she was
very
old, five or six hundred years at least, perhaps older. The woman’s hair was snow white and reached almost to her ankles. It was thick and lustrous. Beneath her own blond locks the hair on the back of Bal’s neck were standing up. This woman carried herself with great poise and grace. For all Bal knew she could be a former queen of some nation within the empire. “Great elder, you do me honor,” said Queen Bal.

“You are unwell, my lady. Is it…‘The Hunger’?” Bal blushed, but nodded. It was obvious. “How old are you, Your Highness?”

“Seventy, honored mother,” replied Bal respectfully.

“Why you’re just a youngster!” laughed the elder Bellasaris. “One so young’s face should not bear such terrible scars.” Bellasaris put her hand to Bal’s face.
Shocking, this girl is a queen descended from a line of queens,
thought Bellasaris.
Even Queen Mavie herself was of old nobility. A noble woman of impeccable mutant lineage should have regenerated completely with no scaring at all! I guess it’s true what I’ve heard, the Mavie have begun intermarrying with human men. The reason for this is obvious. Human men do not require collars and are much easier to control, and most mutant men shun the Mavie. Hmmm, these wounds are old. It will be difficult to correct this.
“I must reopen these wounds and eliminate the scar tissue,” said Bellasaris abruptly out loud, “come with me. This will not be pretty and the other guest won’t want to see this before their morning meal.”

At first Bal couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Only one in every few thousand healers had the skill to repair such wounds or regenerate limbs and other parts on people completely, but this elder obviously was one such healer. Numbly she began to follow Bellasaris, her heart now beating rapidly out of joy. But then she stopped. “No,” she said quietly.

Bellasaris looked at Bal curiously. “Why not, surely you’re not afraid of a little pain? Mavie have been accused of many things over the years, but cowardice was not among them.”

“No, honored elder,” said Queen Bal. “These scars are a reminder to all Mavie of our people’s past treachery and now our desire for peace. Only when peace is achieved and our honor restored will it be removed.”

Bellasaris looked at Queen Bal closely. “I know what just happened child,” said Bellasaris. “I saw it. I also know your chosen mate is desired by the empress’s youngest daughter. She is a bit of a Tom Boy, but she is
very
beautiful. Both of you have chosen him, you on a very deep, and you’ll soon see nigh irresistible level. But he has chosen neither of you yet. Your heart and body will not take rejection easily if he should go the other way. Are you
sure
you don’t want me to repair your face?”

Bal swallowed and said, “Yes. I…I will fight and win as I am…or die.”

Bellasaris smiled, she was now becoming very fond of Bal, mongrel though she might be. “Then allow me to at least repair your eye.”

Bal thought on this for a second and then smiled and nodded gratefully. “Thank you, honored elder!”

******

Beral walked casually down the street to visit an old associate of hers. Actually, the woman was one of her former subjects. Indeed, she was a woman of some historical significance. She had even founded a nation of her own many centuries ago. But now she lived here, in the hidden city of the elders. The city of Hylos was filled with people ranging from five hundred to two thousand years old. Many, like the person Beral was going to see, had achieved many great things in their lives and had changed societies…but not always for the better. Beral had no love for this woman, but she had promised to keep her apprised of how her descendant was
doing and the future of the nation she had founded. Beral announced herself at the door and the woman’s servant showed her in. Beral paid little heed to the old human as she entered.

“Greetings, former Queen Beral,” said the woman, trying to be pleasant.

“Greetings, former Queen Mavie,” replied Beral, with a smile that did not extend to her eyes. “I have just returned from Illia and the great summit.”

The other woman looked anxious. “How…How is it going? I thought the lady Gorgo was with former Queen Bellasaris.”

“Mother Gorgo is rather conspicuous,” replied Beral smiling. “So we traded places for a bit. Besides, I wanted to see how my descendants were doing. I have so many.” Mavie said nothing, but looked at her feet. Beral grinned evilly. “Your last and only living descendant seems like a very noble and clear headed girl however. Oh, but that’s right, she’s of my blood too, isn’t she? My father’s grandson’s child by your granddaughter, right? It really is a shame about what happened to her. But your offspring don’t tend to live long, do they? Indeed, your grandson died youngest of all. That really was tragic. I do believe that you were actually very fond of the cute little fella.”

“You never tire of hurting me, do you, Queen Beral,” said Mavie, with tears running down her cheeks now. “Haven’t I suffered enough?”

“No, you unnatural bitch,” said Beral with a smile. “Besides, this is what you wanted, right? The rest of us were too accommodating to our men, remember? You sure showed us! Women in your land held and still hold all the power. And men are properly on their knees. And when your daughter tried to change things you saw to it that she was put in the
proper
state of mind…although I think you didn’t intend for things to go quite
that
far, did you? So you see, you won! Congratulations! The ‘Mavie’ although a mere shadow of their numbers and nearing total extinction, are
truly
an absolutely female dominated society. Of course,” said Beral with a smirk, “your women’s preference for mating with each other did contribute greatly to your population problem.” Then Beral frowned. “I warned you what would happen all those years ago, but you just
had
to find out for yourself, didn’t you?! And now look at this mess!”

“I’ve paid in terrible ways for my folly, Queen, and I’ve paid dearly,” wept Mavie.

“And so have we!” snapped Beral in anger, “I
told
you the only way to rule men is by not stepping on their pride! By not throwing our power in their faces! And by not to abusing it! NOW, because of you, there is a rise in discontent, small, but growing, among our men. More and more
kingdoms
are popping up when once there was only one, and it’s all your fault! Soon they may even try to do away with the female councils just like the Barratians have, and switch to patriarchal societies. If that happens…Wait, isn’t all of this what you were so afraid of and trying to prevent? You BITCH, you’ve made it happen!”

“I…I’m sorry, Queen Beral,” stammered Mavie pathetically, “but Queen Bal may be able to…”

Beral laughed. “Your mongrel spawn of a human and a mutant? Disgusting! That you people would have defiled yourselves with the monkeys, even your own royalty, proves how desperate you are to survive. You dare to pollute the blood of my father with human filth? I will never let that…
thing
mate within my house! The main Catonian line
will
remain pure! Prince Pantherus will be the husband of my descendant, Princess Bellasaris. Your half-breed will just have to look elsewhere.”

“What do you mean?” said Mavie.

“At the summit, Bal was ignited by King Roc’s son,” said Beral in irritation. “She’s in
heat
now.”

“If that is true you have no choice but to allow her to mate. Besides…this could finally seal the breach between the Barratians and the Mavie,” said Mavie hopefully.

“Never!” hissed Beral. “First of all, you Mavie had your chance to do that once already, remember? It seemed to work for a while. But it ended in treachery and murder…by your people! The Barratians won’t be so easily put off from total victory by marriage this time. Secondly, the empress’s daughter, Princess Bellasaris, want’s him for herself.
Her
bloodline is impeccable, Bal’s is tainted! Noblewomen of Illyria do not breed or share with humans or hybrid mutants!”

“She has bonded even if he has not!” cried Mavie in horror. “She must mate with him! It would be barbaric,
inhuman
to prevent this!”

“You should know,” replied Beral in cruel sarcasm. “Yes, you have a
well-deserved
reputation for killing love between men and women. Why don’t you do what you do best and save your kinswoman from this situation? You
have
done it before.”

Mavie glared at Beral, but she couldn’t deny the charge. “I deserved that, and if
anyone
could undo what I did to Lord Barrat and my daughter it would be me, but I can’t. I swore I would make penance for what I did and never do it again to anyone…for any reason! If Bal’s body is truly responding to that boy, she will fight for him. Your descendant will not have him easily. And if he should bond with her too, there will be nothing any of
you
can do about it! Now,” said Mavie changing the subject, “what of the humans from Earth, particularly the Americans?”

Beral glared at Mavie for a moment and then sighed. “The Earth people are as predictable as ever, but they are trying to grow up. They actually have a real desire to learn and apply our energy solutions as alternatives to their own dirty and destructive fuels and practices now. The problem is the same one as always however, their love of money and the fact that they would have to give up immediate convenience for long term benefit.”

“And what of weapons?” said Mavie. “I assume they’re still bent on getting their hands on our military technology?”

“Oh, they’ve hinted at it,” laughed Beral. “They want it badly, but they don’t want to seem too eager and spook the empress. But they have openly discussed trade for the teleportation technology.”

“That’s just as bad,” snorted Mavie. “You know they only want it so that they can teleport spies, strike-forces, assassins and eventually whole armies into their neighbor’s cities.”

“Yes, that option is there, but they also want it for peaceful uses, like travel and delivery,” said Beral seriously. “Our telepaths have confirmed this.”

“Until they have foresworn weapons of indiscriminate killing and mass destruction, the teleportation technology must be kept from them!” said Mavie.

“Agreed!” said Beral firmly. “But the empress and the American president are discussing the installation of teleportation devices in her country under the supervision of Bellasarian mutants. Of course, the usual measures will be built in, just in case Non-Bellasarians try to dismantle them to see how they work. Still, it’s not going well. The Americans tried to renegotiate the agreed upon price. It would seem that the suggested mass adoption of mutant children from Earth was deemed unacceptable by many of the president’s advisors. It seems they felt this could be taken the wrong way by the American people. Besides, they now value mutants for their own purposes. Naturally, the empress wasn’t pleased.”

“I could have told you
that
wouldn’t fly,” said Mavie dryly.

Beral chuckled. “If you ask me, all this is a waste of time. The humans have absolutely nothing we need. And the only thing we
want
they are hesitant to trade…for various reasons. Anyway, soon the whole lot and the empress’s representatives will be leaving Illyria and traveling to other major domains within the empire and the Akkadian Republic.”

“They should feel right at home in Akkadia, but I’d give anything to see them in Melmoria or the Great Western Forest Kingdom,” Mavie chuckled.

Beral grinned with equal amusement. She knew that the Melmorians would defiantly not bend even in the slightest to accommodate the social and moral sensitivities of the aliens. The Earthlings would just have to suck it up and deal with it.

******

CHAPTER SIX
PRESIDENT CHAMBER’S JOURNAL

P
resident Chambers was busy writing down her notes of what she had seen and heard so far on this truly amazing trip. The city of Illia and, indeed, Bellasaria, was absolutely amazing, but then, so were the people.

The city and towns I’ve seen are truly amazing! I’ve NEVER seen cities so clean! Bellasarians are very conscious of their ecology and of overpopulation. Most cities and towns are allowed to grow only to a certain size and then people leave to establish other towns elsewhere and the proper distance away from the parent city. Bellasarian cities are usually surrounded by vast wilderness with a certain amount of farmland and villages with large towns scattered around. The distance from a village to a town can be anywhere from thirty minutes to several hours depending on one’s means of travel.

Borders between countries are very loose, even among nations that don’t get along…with some exceptions. Feral tribes of mutants move freely across borders at will often owing no binding allegiance to any one nation particularly. They primarily follow food and see one nation’s forest as much the same as another nation’s and there are a lot of forests to go around.

Although one land is specifically called “The Forest Kingdom”, I believe that many of the nations of the empire are in fact forest nations. Yes, trees and windmills are very common on Bellasaria. The Bellasarians have mastered the techniques of wind and solar energy to a degree unimagined on Earth. Windmills are numerous and buildings have special windows and other sunlight absorbing materials lining them. There are “Old-School” solar panels here or there, but I do believe that these are around for historical and nostalgic reasons.

Vehicles are not as numerous here as on Earth. I really can’t say that I’m surprised. Many of these people can fly and teleportation stations are far more efficient than trucks, trains or other forms of long distance delivery or heavy cargo transportation. Civilian transportation is often monorail, personal air-car, bikes or one’s own two feet. I don’t believe I’ve seen a single vehicle above bicycle that had wheels. Of course, horses and various other beasts, native to this world are also used to a degree, especially in rural areas. The air-cars and other similar urban transports are the most impressive things you’ll ever want to see. They literally hover over the ground using air pressure. I’ve only seen these things in science-fiction shows and movies. I suppose that this is yet another case of science-fiction becoming science-fact…at least on this world. Shockingly, they run on everyday household organic waste. Now I truly know what clear skies are. These things don’t seem to give off any harmful exhaust. If there is anything I can bring home from this trip for the American people and the world, its air-car technology.

The Bellasarian Empire (I would say ‘Federation’) is made up of many smaller nations that still have their own queens, and increasingly, kings. Many of these rulers share the same ancestors as the imperial family. Some have even had a daughter of their house sit on the throne as empress themselves. Empresses’ rule and retire after a century or two…or death. The requirements for an empress are clear. The first is obvious, to rule the entire empire a person must be capable and female. The second, she must be a direct descendant of the first High Lord, Cato Curtis, and if possible a direct descendant of Cassandra, the mutant from which the original female members of the imperial family are descended, including Bellasaris the Great. Thirdly, she must possess a certain level of telepathy. This is more important than physical strength or any other abilities she may have. Until an acceptable daughter of the main line comes of age, a half-sister or cousin of Cato’s bloodline alone, but possessing the other requirements, will rule. It has even been known for an ex-empress to return if required. After a few decades or even centuries of rule, most empresses are happy to retire and hand over the job to someone else. I am almost certain that some of the oldest and most formidable queens and High Lords are still very much alive and active behind the scenes though.

Mutants of Bainian descent seem to age at a much slower rate than many of the original strain from Earth, remaining quite strong and active well into their nineties before old age becomes very apparent and eventually natural death. However, the highest levels of mutants, especially of the royal houses can live for centuries before even a hint of age appears. People who appear to be only in their late twenties can be as old as two to five hundred years old. The only way to guess their true age is usually their white hair…and maturity of mind. These elders may look to be children in their teens and twenties, but in manner and speech their true age will show, even if their hair is dyed. I have seen some as old as five to six hundred years old. I now have very good reason to believe that there are mutants much, MUCH older than this creeping around.

Culturally, I see many familiar things, but always with a Bellasarian flavor. The culture seemed mostly of American origin, but other influences are evident as well. For one, people take off their footwear when entering private homes. Travelers are often invited into people’s homes for lodging for the night and refusals had to be given with great care as not to offend the potential host. For a stranger to be invited into a home for the night or even longer is a great honor for both parties. For both the guest and the host, it is a show of great trust. As such, it is the obligation of the host to protect his or her guest as if they were a member of their own family and avenge them equally so if any harm should befall them while in their care. On the other hand, it is one of the greatest villainies for a guest to betray the trust of his or her host. The punishment for this crime (depending on the offense) could be a severe fine, temporary enslavement, permanent enslavement or death in a slow and most unpleasant and appropriate manner.

The Bellasarian family is complex, as well as their ideas of morality. Monogamy is now the norm, or perhaps I should say, ‘the intention’ but polygamy and even polyandry is still very much alive. I remembered, with some amusement, a young woman from my staff who had made friends with a young girl of the empress’s personal attendants and discovered that the girl had three husbands.

“You…You’re married to all three of them?!” she said in shock. All three of the young men were what a woman dreamed of physically in a man. The other woman beamed and nodded. “Jesus,” said the aide under her breath, “any girl back home would be lucky to have just one of these guys! And you sleep with them?” Again the woman nodded happily. “ALL of them…at the same time?” pressed the aide. Again the woman nodded.

“Do you have a husband?” asked the Bellasarian girl. The American girl shook her head. The Bellasarian made an expression of pity. “Aw, would you like to borrow one of mine for a night?” It was then that I stepped in and saved the poor aide from what was becoming a very awkward situation. Fortunately, I had learned enough of Bellasarian customs to extradite the aide from that tight spot without offending the Bellasarian girl’s honor. Aggression and passion run deep in Bellasarians, this is especially the case with adolescents. A refused gift is an insult. Refusing the highest show of Bellasarian friendship, the offering of one’s own mate for a time, would be seen as a VERY grievous offense requiring only one response if a good reason wasn’t given.

I told the Bellasarian girl that the aide didn’t have a husband, but she was engaged and was devoted to her lover. The other girl nodded in understanding and my aide escaped unscathed. It could have easily gone the other way with violent results.

In major market squares or other public areas, formal challenges are publically posted by not only warriors, but common people seeking redress for a real or imagined injury, insult to someone’s person or family, or even by an interested female seeking to test a potential mate’s strength and durability. Curiously, these challenges are as often as not made by humans as well as mutants. People have been known to die in these fights, but these deaths are not considered crimes unless it is proven that the killer actually had real intent to kill at the outset or the death occurred because of underhanded tactics. These matches are formally judged, and the matter officially settled when they are over. Any further violence afterwards over the same issue would be considered a criminal offense punishable by the law. Unsanctioned fights are considered minor civil offenses and, depending on the severity, punishable by fines or temporary public service in a control collar. Naturally, if a fatality occurs under these circumstances, this then becomes a felony, and the punishment becomes much worse. In these cases a much longer period in a collar and temporary or even permanent banishment from the city or even country in which the death occurred will be demanded. It all depends on the circumstances. Also, a person’s immediate family, clan or even the entire town could be severely fined in these cases, making it to everyone’s best interest to stop these fights before they get out of hand.

When I asked about Prince Tabba nearly killing that young forest noble at our first feast, I was told that the prince was completely in his rights under the circumstances. He had been assaulted and insulted in front of a woman in his own home unprovoked by a guest. This was a serious breach in etiquette for a guest in the home of his host. His status made the insult even more offensive. This is why the empress and the majority of the nobles did not intervene on Lord Stanly’s behalf. I was told that if it were not for the empress deciding that her son had avenged himself enough, Queen Tana probably would have had him stripped of his titles, collard for a year or more and then banished. Needless to say, his clan would disown him publically. If they tried to protest or aid him in any way, they too could share his shame and suffer banishment.

Interestingly enough, the same rules applied for crimes in general. A person’s family and even village, town or neighborhood could be held accountable for an individual’s offenses, and be forced to pay recompense in some manner. Interestingly, not reporting a crime is also a criminal offense and if discovered, the witness would be found equally guilty for any crime the culprit committed afterwards as well as the witnessed crime. This of course, makes it very difficult to get away with anything easily in this society. Indeed, from what I have seen, there is very little crime at all in the city. It did exist, but nowhere near on a scale as any major city on Earth. When it did happen, justice was swift. Again, death was very rarely the penalty for even the most serious of crimes, the opinion of the Bellasarians being that dead people are of no use to anyone and, especially if the crime was bad enough for death to be even considered, it was too merciful for the perpetrator of the crime.

Amazingly, prisons are few and only used to hold people until guilt or innocence were proven. Believe it or not, criminals walk freely and live freely (sort of) in Bellasarian society. Bellasarians see putting people in cages for years as barbaric and cruel. They believe (and I’m forced to agree) that this only makes bad people worse and even more dangerous once freed. The Bellasarians have other ways to punish and control serious felons. I, and indeed everyone else, was shocked when we realized that criminals are enslaved for their crimes here. Serial murderers, rapist and the worst criminals are locked in collars for life and had no human rights whatsoever. They are literally animals to be used for the benefit of the empire. Just short of killing or maiming them, anything could be done to them with impunity. In a world filled with mind-reading telepaths it was a certainty that they were indeed guilty, so pity was not an issue. Also, mental suggestions were put into place by special telepaths that would cause severe discomfort, like cramps, migraines or nausea the moment the felon tried to repeat the offense, disobey a command or retaliate to any abuse a free citizen dished out. Then there was the collar itself. I have been told that the pain could be so severe that it can cause unconsciousness or even death if the prisoner is too stubborn. I and certain other Earth delegates mentioned something about human rights, but the prime minister had waved this off contemptuously.

“These creatures are neither human nor metahuman! By behaving like animals - no, worse than animals - they have forfeited the right to be called by these titles. In this land, those who are lacking in humanity and human virtue are not considered human! This scum is also a good deterrent for anyone who has ideas of committing similar acts.”

Still, in many ways these people were better off than the inmates in our prisons back home. They are not confined and can move freely among the populous, but the collars see to it that they cannot flee the city or their allotted areas. However, they can be insulted with impunity and must perform the most odious of task for their masters. Naturally, such people bring shame on their clans, and sometimes worse, so any physical abuse is more often as not done by their own former kin. Mostly, aside from their supervisors, they are simply ignored as not worth acknowledging by most free people.