PASSION FOR TINION (WIP Novel 120,000 words)
© Cupideros, October 21, 2006
CHAPTER 3: THE SHEEP
The Speaker of the General Assembly of United Countries Association located on Planet Gian rose to speak: "Order! Order!"
A loud ruckus from thousands seated in the hall from Planet Gian, the Quoardians and Galans from Tinion speaking and arguing. Finally, the crowd grows quiet.
"This year 6666 A.D. After Destruction. April 3 opens the first meeting on ending the Eternal War. For the record or for those of you who don't know."
"Heaven help them," an unknown person said loud. A few laughed quietly.
"For those of you who don't know," the speaker continued, "Thirteen Intelligence families from each of your races escaped into a space pod for the suddenly discovered planet between Earth and Mars nicknamed Freedom in 4164 AD. They brought along with them remnants of their various cultures and schematics for nearly every design from recorded history and myth up to the year before Earth was obliterated by a nuclear war unleashed by two warring European countries in 4165 AD. No one knows who struck first."
The crowd erupts again from the various other races.
"The history only tells that the other countries quickly retaliated and soon everyone was fighting and nuking and soon the Class M Planet named Earth was no more.
It took some 2,500 years to get Freedom back at the nuclear level of technological, sociological and philosophical and political development of Earth at the time of its unfortunate demise. Every race has contributed to that development."
"Hurray, Hurray!" the crowd roars.
"Every race from Old Earth is accounted for on Freedom and that-- Ladies and Gentlemen may be our proudest achievement in this debacle. You have since renamed planet Freedom to planet Tinion in honor of the first woman scientist to discover your peaceful neighbors the Gian located in the next galaxy. The Gian were nice enough to make first peaceful contact and establish relations.
"Here. Here!" the crowd shouts.
"The Gians have provided this neutral ground for the Quoardians and Galans to discuss and resolve our differences. Queen Morah of the Quoardians and Lord Tweezer of the Galans have authorized each group with full authority to make peace. Each group has vowed to never use nuclear weapons again. Fate designed the Planet Tinion with one ocean in-between Galan on the East and Quoardians on the West. Quoardian and Galan shared a large land border rich in various resources. In 6556 AD, a land border dispute by the Galans claiming a water reservoir of Quoardians started a war which has lasted these 110 years."
A Quoardian shouts, "The UCA should be moved to Quoardian. We can protect everyone from the evil manipulations of the Galan."
"No it should be moved to Galan. We're the strongest country on the planet Tinion."
"Order! We'll you two come to your senses. The first action of this assembly is to call for the votes on UCA Regulation 2990--ending this Eternal War. The second action is UCA Regulation 3010--That all Congressman and even the leader's children in both Quoardian and Galan be considered for assignment in the Eternal War. This way perhaps the rulers will think twice about continuing this insane Eternal War."
A loud ruckus erupts and Quoardian and Gians, and Galans are all shouting.
"What about the Black Hole!"
"That's going to doom us before this Eternal War!"
"This assembly is not authorized to deal with that issue. It is being handled by the highest leaders of the Quoardian and Galan peoples."
An Galan ambassador, "They started this war and we're going to finish it."
An Quoardian, "All we want is peace and to protect our water supply from their evil manipulations."
An Quoardian ambassador Nico Deven said, "When will Planet Gian stop secretly supporting Galans in this war? It's high time you drop your neutrality. Help us defeat these modern Nazi Colonist!"
"Nazi Colonist!" an Galan blasts, "I requests that statement be stricken from all records of the UCA.
Nico said with a fury, "If the Planet Gians don't help the Quoardian, I'm going to develop a following and declare war against the Planet Gians. Not only that, get Planet Gian expelled from the United Countries Association.
The assembly erupted in a furious pockets of fistfights of Quoardian and Galans. The Speaker stood and tried to call for order. The UCA troops are called in to restore order.
***
"TelGara, The Quoardian Propaganda Office is searching for someone who knows how to manipulate classical fiction stories for the Eternal War effort?
"I can do that," TelGara smiled broadly.
"OK. Let's see. How about Romeo and Juliet."
"That's Easy. 'Juliet decides to join the war rather than being a stay-at-home traditional wife. Juliet says, "Romeo why should I wait and worry for your safe return. We'll both go to war. That way I can keep track of you and that way.... neither one us has to worry which one will die first!"
"You're hired! You may have a promising career in the movies."
***
Galan National News, two reporters.
"Eärélas the economy is still booming."
"110 years is a long time for the unemployment rate to be this low."
"A unbelievable 0.2 percent folks."
"Yes, the war is great for the economy."
"Long live the Eternal War."
"That our nightly news program for tonight. See you tomorrow."
***
RaydGalil went home to enjoy a peaceful night rest. When he got inside his hand began jerking around in an uncontrolled manner. He tried to go into the kitchen but notices his body is being turned to stay in the living room. He looks around wildly. "What the fuck!"
Slith Officer on a loud speaker speaking to RaydGalil inside his house just off the military base. "RaydGalil don't try to figure out how we're moving your arms and legs, fingers and head and heart--"
"Owww," RaydGalil yells and clutches his heart.
"Like a puppet. I'll tell you. It's the Body Magnet Program...miniaturized iron pellets in the food and water you drink. Think of it as ironized powder. We can put it everywhere. It's in everyone's food and water. With exception of Lord Tweezer and of course the Slith Offices and homes. We can spray this on any object inside or outside your house. We have teams of people in every municipal job from road crews, to city plumbers to housing construction to electricians working for us. Plausible Deniability RaydGalil"
RaydGalil turned around. He looks at the walls and under the lampshade and at the floor.
The Slith officer continues, "We can turn it on or off at will. Don't try to tell anyone because we can attack you anywhere in Galan with it. We can attack your relatives, your friends, coworkers. No one is safe. When we affect the water supply of the Quoardian, we'll finally win this war!"
"Any technology can be beaten!"
"And if you tell, we'll just shut it off and you'll seem crazy to them. They'll say, RaydGalil, you have OCD or any of number of illnesses we attached to the reporting of the Body Magnetic program. You ever wonder why there are no protestors here in Galan. Now you know, " The Slith officer chuckles. "In fact," in a cold dry tone, "You know more than you should be allowed to know and still live. RaydGalil take my advice. Lightening up. Take your one-week vacation on Planet Gian. Meet a pretty girl. Get laid. We'll talk about you joining us as a Poison Dove first thing Monday morning next week."
***
"TelGara will you put away that damn romance novel," said her father, Thrylas. "Were on vacation at the beach in Sirap, Gian to relax and enjoy our freedom. This is our time to talk freely to each other."
With one hand TelGara pulled the hair scrunchies holding her two blonde ponytails on opposite sides of her cute little head. "Oh, Dad." A quiet anger smoldered inside her. "Forced Propagation" was rank wording in her opinion. Not because it meant having children, you may not have wanted; but because it also meant marriage without love. And falling in love is what TelGara desired most. Unfortunately, she hadn't met anyone worthy of her passions or that stirred her relationship imagination about a long-term meeting of the minds. TelGara put down her book for a second, "This is no mere romance novel." She pointed to the cover and combed out her shoulder length yellow hair. "It's high literature, Romeo and Juliet. Isn't that right mom?"
"Thrylas, TelGara is right Romeo and Juliet is classified as high literature by the 13 families of old Earth," said Megyra. She leaned over and patted Thrylas on his almost sunburned knee. "Let me put some suntan lotion on that before you burn."
Thrylas looked back and forth between the two of them seriously. He admired the beauty of his red-haired, dutiful wife. She had kept her figure after 37 years and two children. She had the mature look of a beauty in her second blossoming. "How can the two of you be so blase, if I can use that expression."
"You may, Thrylas," said Megyra.
"Blase! When we all know TelGara is turning 18 in the fall and she'll--" he paused as Megyra put the sunscreen on his knee and he looked at TelGara who was back reading her novel and blushing and giggling at a particular hot passage. "When TelGara will have to decide whom she's to marry. Now I've chosen a nice fellow in the Propaganda Office--"
Megyra slapped his leg. "Stop it Thrylas. I know this will make your superiors happy at the Air Force base, but TelGara has another year to think about that sordid "Forced Propagation! business. I don't know why we Quoardians put up with it."
TelGara flipped her book in the air and it landed face down in the sand. "When it's time for marriage, I'll marry just like mom did, Dad!" I won't embarrass you and join the army to escape the forced marriage clause." She giggled and picked up the book. "Ah see. From the page this is fell opened on, I should go to the fountain of love and I'll find my mate." She giggled and stood up and brushed the sand off her five-feet-sixth inch slim figure. She moved in a casual almost carefree way. She was a thin girl with everything proportionate on her. Not too big or too small breasted and her hips gently moved outward under the hips of her red and blue sixties style bikini. "I swear the sixties hippie chicks must have had a lot of nerve. They were the coolest! I'm going to get a nice tattoo."
"Dear, you know the tattoo restriction for Quoardian girls."
"Oh mom! I saw the prettiest tattoo on this lady. A shatterered rose tattoo. That's what I'm going to get." TelGara pointed to her left ankle.
"No tattoos and I won't change my mind young lady!" Megyra said vehemently. "Not until your nineteen atleast or on your own."
TelGara pulled her rose-tinted sunglasses from her tiny shoulder purse and started to walk off. After a few steps, TelGara put her black flip-flops. "I wonder if Juliet would have been a hippy...?"
"Where are you going, TelGara!" her Dad said. "We need to discuss this matter. Where we have the time and are not being spied upon like back at home.".
She yelled back, "A tattoo's not important."
"Not the tattoo, TelGara. You know--" Her dad gave her a overwhelmed facial expression, but TelGara kept twisting her feet in the hot sand and walking away.
"Maybe when I get back, Sir, Dad." TelGara said dryly looking back for a second.
"Thrylas, you ought to relax. We girls know our duty as Quoardians. And this Eternal War has gone on for one hundred and ten years. Do you really think one year or one child will make a difference?" she said rubbing sunblock on her shoulders and turning around her back to Thrylas. "Do you mind--"
"We're very short of people, Megyra. Who knows? She may have the boy child who could change the war entirely?" He rubbed the sunblock down pass her shoulders. "It's not a sordid business. It's just loyalty."
"TelGara is a dreamer girl. But she is compliant. She's not once said she wouldn't marry Anorfiviel. That's feels so much better." She turned back around to face Thrylas. "We have to wait and see."
"What I'm afraid of is she'll fall in love."
"With whom, the way you keep her sheltered, and your Intelligence officers shooing away all the unsuitable troublemaker boys?--that's hardly going to happen."
Thrylas gave an evil smile. "I should relax. TelGara will come around."
"Sure she will," said Megyra.
***
TelGara walked into downtown Sirap, Gian. She admired the shops and the grassy parts and the fountains. The river of love flow right through the center of town and it was so romantic to her. She could understand why the Gians wanted to keep the peace with both countries. They were the only sane people in two galaxies. A large statue of Venus and Eros hugged and kissed as water spouts from the tops of their head and pooled beneath their feet in a large fountain in the center of the city. "I see paradise for is for lover's," whispered TelGara to herself admiring the view.
Just then a guy came up behind her, "Unbelievable isn't it."
"Yes. Unbelievable," said TelGara and she turned around to see who the deep voice might belong too. When she saw him her heart fluttered briefly and she said loud, "Your physique is as handsome as your deep voice." She smiled.
He put his hand out to shake hers, "My name is RaydGalil and I'm flattered you find me attractive in both the aural and sight manifestations." He held her hand longer than usual. "I think I'm in love."
"I agree," said TelGara as they leaned closer to one another. Then TelGara stepped back. "You were not sent my father to entrap me in love so I could be forcefully married?"
"Heavens no!" said RaydGalil with a deep confused look on his face. "And I don't think you're paranoid either."
They both said together, "After all everyone on Tinion comes from the 13 Intelligence families of old Earth. We all have an instinct about these methods, of manipulation and spying don't we?" It was like a secret code of a Co-ed Secret Society.
TelGara laughed. "It's just my father wants me to--" she looked down.
RaydGalil washed his hands, "It's hardly a matter you want to discuss with a stranger."
"You don't feel like a stranger at all to me, RaydGalil." She stared into his brown eyes. His slight tan revealed information about him that she wanted to asks, but decided to wait.
"And you feel like I've known you all my life. Could it be possible?"
"Right here in Sirap," she giggled, "just like all the vacation films say?"
"Oh I believe so, TelGara. I'm in love with you."
"I can explain it, RaydGalil. I tossed my copy of Romeo and Juliet into the air, it’s on the classics list you know."
"I know." He stood watching her attentively. "And--"
"And it fell upon on this passage. So I came here and there you stand. My Paramour." TelGara adjusted her bra strap and showed him the passage. RaydGalil read from it to her in his deep voice. TelGara closed her eyes.
He leaned in and kissed her. They stood like that the sprays of love from Venus and Eros blessing their newfound love.
RaydGalil said, "Are you a Galan. I've never seen you before?"
TelGara blinked her eyes a bit as if waking up. "I'm an Quoardian."
"Oh!"
"I thought--"
RaydGalil rubbed his hands through his black hair. His brown eyes shook like a flashlight moving to and fro in the dark night. "I won't give you up, TelGara."
"It is fate, RaydGalil," as she took the copy of Romeo and Juliet back from RaydGalil and closed it slowly. "My father's going to kill me."
"As my mom would me."
"What are we going to do?"
"I don't know. I'm an officer in the Galan army here on vacation."
"My father is a retired pilot in the Air Force." TelGara smiled broadly suddenly. "Heck they don't have to know. We can write each other and figure something out before next fall arrives."
"You'll write me in some sort of code." RaydGalil said anxiously.
"Yes. Will use passages of Romeo and Juliet to tell each other what we mean."
"It's perfect." They both hugged.
TelGara said, "In a year we'll meet here again and settle down and have a real free family."
RaydGalil took both of TelGara hands and held them gently. "I don't know how to tell you this, but if we escape and seek asylum here on Gian, we'll have to get plastic surgery so no one can recognize us."
"Our families?"
"We can never talk to our families again."
"I hate this Eternal War."
"It's is crazy and no one can win it anyway. The resources are evenly matched--though different."
"I heard you have slightly more people than us Quoardians."
"Funny our media and government is telling us the same thing."
TelGara frowned and said anxiously. "It's all a lie."
"This whole war is a lie, a useless lie."
TelGara grew more frustrated. "RaydGalil I want to marry you and live in Gian."
"I'll come back for you TelGara. I'll figure out a way.
"
TelGara giggled, "I always wanted to be rescued by a knight."
"I'm afraid I'm no knight though. Just an officer trying my best to stay alive."
"You stay alive and come get me before it's too late, RaydGalil."
***
The couple went to a private hotel and for the first time TelGara made love and that love was exquisite and joyful and everything she dreamed it would be. When they had finished. She asked him, "You will return for me?"
"Yes, My Juliet I will return."
"Then promise me you will never take your own life, no matter what."
"I won't." He said as he sat on the bed in his underwear with TelGara standing between his legs.
"Swear it!" TelGara demanded.
RaydGalil said out loud, "I swear it!"
And at that exact moment he spoke, TelGara gave him a hard slap on the right cheek. "I have now made you Knight of My Love." Then she softly kissed his bruised cheek.
"Kind of strange to be knighted by a Woman."
TelGara moved back and put back on her sixties bikini. "What I learned from Romeo and Juliet is that a man has to have faith. He has to believe in something and now you'll never forget me, now will you?" She giggled. "I don't want to be just any girl or some girls you've slept with. You and I have something romantic and special!" she said adjusting her bra strap.
"I've never felt like this before," he got up and hugged her tight to him.
"I want to be with you forever, RaydGalil," TelGara returned his hug and they kissed again.
"I'll write you TelGara."
"Take my copy of Romeo and Juliet." TelGara put the classic in his palm. "Let me show you this. I learned this from the ancient Wars of old earth. Each passage has a number. You simply write down the number of the passage to communicate your thought. If you don't believe the passage, you say you dislike the phrasing. If you believe it, you say this is one of my favorite parts. You try it."
RaydGalil nervously took the book. Here he was on vacation trying to figure out how to avoid intelligence work and now, now he had become a spy for the sake of love. "It'll never work TelGara. The Intelligence Corps will scrutinize every letter."
"Does the Intelligence Corp have time to check everyone's correspondence?"
"No. They only guess on probabilities based on suspected people."
"Are you a suspect deserter?"
"Of course not." TelGara moved to his side and pointed to a passage quietly.
"I--. Oh. I see."
RaydGalil laughed. "This may just work."
"Hey, I'm just a silly 18-year-old romantic girl."
RaydGalil pointed to a passage, "I'll think of something so we can be together."
"Easy as counting to ten this system," TelGara said giving RaydGalil another kiss.
end chapter 3
This page was last updated: August 29, 2009
The Last Prophet told a story about why the Generic Herd is always first betrayed by their Generic Herd Class A; Then further betrayed by the Specialist Herd Class B.
A wolf one day came upon a herd of generic sheep. Seconds later a Specialist Leader, Mr. Sheep, protecting them came around the front and said to the Wolf,
"BAAAAAAAAAAAAA."
"I'm here to protect you and your herd," said the Wolf.
Mr. Sheep replied, "BAAAAAAAAAAAAAD!"
"Right," said the Wolf. "Those nasty gangs of hyenas love to snatch your little ones away and rip them to pieces. The lions out there can't wait to crunch your bones under their strong jaws. Even a small gray fox could be trouble."
Mr. Sheep replied, "BAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!"
The Wolf flashed a great big smile, which lasted a little longer than necessary and showed how long and sharp his teeth were, "Hey, I'm just trying to help."
Mr. Sheep gave in and allowed the Wolf to escort them on their journey. The fact several sheep disappeared didn't bother Mr. Sheep. If he didn't follow the Wolf's orders precisely, he might be next.
