Nicole Krizek (12 page)

“Welcome to the Galactic Council, Captain
Kor’ijak.” He said in welcome, bowing deeply at the waist.

Kor bowed back in respect. “Thank you for hosting my mates and
I, ambassador. Let me introduce Tyrelian and Lacy, of Earth.”

Rexvan once again bowed deeply. “It is a pleasure to have you, and an honor to meet your newest mate. She is such a treasure to the entire species.” He smiled broadly at Lacy, then gestured towards a large doorway, “Please, let me show you inside where we can speak more openly.”

Kor understood the underlying message of the ambassador’s words.
Let’s go inside so we can talk without others overhearing.

Kor, Ty, and Lacy followed the ambassador off the landing pad and into the apartments. They were led into a sitting room with an oversized Arathian lounger and some deep-cushioned chairs, set apart with a table in the middle.

Everything, from the furniture, to the art on the walls, came from Arath and was chosen for comfort, not opulence.

“Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink? Eat?” The ambassador asked.

“No thank you, we ate on the Adastra before coming to the planet.” Ty replied.

The ambassador gestured towards the lounger. Kor and Ty sat, flanking Lacy, who was still admiring the surroundings while she sat.

“You have a lovely home, Ambassador Rexvan.” She said.

“Thank you, and please call me Rex. I save the ambassador stuff for official business only.” He said with a large smile as he sat in one of the chairs facing the lounger. Lacy smiled at the ambassador and Kor knew that she and Rex were going to get along just fine.

“I have to admit that your apartment is not at all what I was expecting.” She said.

Rex chuckled before replying, “We’re able to decorate the apartments however we choose while we live here, and I chose to treat it as I would my home. Other ambassadors seem to choose lavish furnishings, meant to impress, but I don’t think I need that.
I’m
the one that should impress guests or other diplomats, not my rugs or chandeliers.”

He stopped to pour himself a glass of dark liquid. “I also see no need to spend money on such things. I prefer that the money be used on Arath for genetic studies, to help find a cure.”

“That’s a wonderful thing to do.” Lacy said.

“There’s no point in me amassing a small fortune if I have no children to pass it to when I die. What’s our purpose in life if not to provide a better future for the next generation?” Rex seemed to sum up everything in that single sentence.

Ty spoke up, “Speaking of children, that’s why we are here, isn’t it?”

“Yes, congratulations to you all on Lacy’s pregnancy!”
Rex said enthusiastically. “Once it’s announced publically in front of the Council of Planets this afternoon, you will give hope to every Arathian.”

“It will also intensify the conflict between Arath and
Lazool.” Kor commented.

“Yes, it will do that as well.” Rex nodded in agreement. “That is one of the reasons why we must try and get Earth into the alliance, and ensure the planet’s protection, as soon as possible.”

They talked strategy for a while before an older Arathian male came into the room. “I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but it’s nearly time to begin.”

“Thank you,
Vorman. Shall we?” Rex asked, standing and motioning for everyone to exit the room.

Lacy’s heartbeat sped up as she stood, and followed Rex down the hall and through a massive, gilded door.

When the door slid open she expected a hallway, or patio, on the other side, but instead the doorway led directly into a small, oval-shaped room with glass walls.

She recognized the pod from pictures she’d seen on her tablet when she had been investigating the council. There was a console at the far end of the small room, opposite the door, and several comfortable looking chairs for them to sit in. She was directed inside, and asked to sit as the door closed soundlessly.

“I don’t understand… Aren’t the pods used in the Council of Planets?” Lacy asked Rex.

“They are, but since many ambassadors require different atmospheres, the pods take representatives from their apartments to anywhere they need to go, including the council chamber.” Rex explained as he inputted commands into the console.

Rex sat down, joining the three of them, while the pod began moving on its own. Lacy was instantly impressed by the ease of travel. Back on Earth, companies hadn’t even been able to perfect technology for self-driving cars!

“They’re like a self-contained bubble.” She said in amazement as they sped past other buildings.

All the men smiled at her, as she watched, enthralled, the sights of the alliance’s city. Everything looked clean, manicured, and well-maintained. Some gardens had flowers that looked larger than her body! There were paths laid out throughout the gardens and she wished that they had time to stop and enjoy the beauty.

Just over the tops of some large trees, Lacy could see was the domed roof of the central building that she assumed housed the Council of Planets. The pod continued its trip towards the central structure but soon slowed as it came to a massive arch with enormous pillars, flanking it on either side.

As the pod moved inside, it took Lacy’s eyes a moment to adjust to the change in light. She saw that the pod was traveling down a large hallway. A moment later it slowed to a stop. She was just about to ask what was going on, but the pod began an abrupt vertical climb. Lacy was deeply happy that the floor of the Pod wasn’t clear glass.

She hated heights.

Finally, it slowed in front of an empty space in the wall. The pod slowly moved forward and with a soft clamping sound, it came to rest. Lacy gasped at the sight of the massive Council Chamber and stood to move closer to the front of the pod to get a better view.

The chamber was enormous and was lined with archways containing pods. About half of the docks were occupied, but more pods were arriving with each passing moment. Inside the others she saw
aliens of every color and shape and she was particularly fascinated by one to their right. It looked like it was full of water and inside there were aliens that reminded her of jellyfish.

She reminded herself that each individual was an ambassador of a planet and held an equal weight in the Galactic Council, even if they didn’t look like it.

Once all of the docks were occupied a final pod emerged from floor at the center of the room. Unlike the others, this pod did not have a clear dome, it was open and only one individual occupied it.

The three men joined her at the front. Rex explained, “That is the Council Leader. He remains totally neutral on topics and leads the proceedings, allowing us to have an orderly discussion.”

Lacy had expected to hear the room quiet at his arrival, but she realized that she couldn’t hear anything outside of their own pod. “But, how can you have a discussion when you can’t hear anything?” She asked.

“Right now we can’t hear anything because the pods block all exterior sounds. Only the Council Leader has the controls that activate the sound, and allow ambassadors to address the entire council.” Rex explained.

Lacy thought that it was such an interesting concept. It allowed the ambassadors to be heard without interruption. She felt a wave of nervousness sweep over her at the thought of addressing all of those aliens to plead Earth’s case. She steeled herself, she knew that it had to be done.

“Greetings ambassadors,” the Council Leader began. “I will begin the Council Meeting by turning the floor over to Ambassador Rexvan, of Arath, who has asked to address the council.”

Lacy saw the Council Leader hit a series of commands and a symbol was illuminated on their pod’s console, meaning that the entire Council of Planets could now hear them. Lacy swallowed a lump in her throat and prayed that her morning sickness didn’t choose that exact moment to act up.

“Thank you, Council Leader.” Rex began. “I have requested to speak because I have good news and something very important to discuss with you all.”

Lacy was impressed with the way he took command and, with just a few words, demanded the attention of all present. In many ways, Rex reminded her of Kor.

“Firstly, you are all aware of the genetic problems our species has been facing. Many of your planets have been aiding us in trying to find a
cure, it is something for which we are eternally grateful. Today, I am pleased to report that one of our science ships has had a major break-through.”

He held his hand out towards Lacy, “This is Lacy, of Earth. She was stolen from her world by a
Blattarian, who auctioned her as a slave on Vox. Two Arathians saved her, and they are now mated. They discovered just a few days ago, that she is pregnant with their child.”

Rex paused to let the gravity of the news settle over the room.

Lacy couldn’t hear what the ambassadors were saying inside their pods, but she looked around at expressions of shock, happiness, and some races displayed what could only be, hostility. She recognized the blue-skinned Lazools and all she saw was outright hatred.

Rex continued, “As wonderful as this news is for our race, our scientists have unfortunately not been able to combine Earther and Arathian DNA in our labs. This means that Earthers are invaluable to the survival of our species. For this reason, I am making a formal request for Earth to join the Galactic Council.”

Lacy was glad she could not hear what the other races were saying because she could see their responses and many of them were not positive.

The Council Leader was the one to speak next. “You’re request has been officially noted, but I’m afraid that Earth does not meet the criteria to join the alliance.”

“With all due respect, I do not agree.” Rex replied. “The covenant clearly states the following: one, a member of the species must be present to make the request. Two, the petitioning planet must have an individual serve as ambassador, and three, have another ambassador, from a member-planet, second the request. Earth has met all three of these criteria. Lacy is the Earther present who will also serve as ambassador, and Arath seconds the request.”

The Council Leader seemed to take a moment to think before turning to a pod to the left of the Arathians’ and address the ambassador inside. “As Earth is currently under your protection, what does the Grays ambassador have to say on this issue?”

Lacy was surprised to see that the Grays’ ambassador was the exact image of what humans back home imagined. It wore no clothing and stood about four feet tall, with a slender gray-colored body and limbs. Its head was large and it had large, black, almond-shaped eyes.

It had a small mouth, but when it spoke, its voice was melodic. “It is true that they have met certain criteria, such as having a representative and support from a member planet, but this one Earther is not a representation of the entire population of Earth. It says in the alliance’s charter, rule number 3.1, subsection 3.156, that an ambassador must be a representation of the entire population of the planet.”

The Gray paused for a moment before explaining, “Earthers are not a united species. They are divided into countries, which have their own sets of laws. They do not have a central planetary government, or leader, and even today there are wars between countries, throughout their world.”

The Council Leader turned to the Arathian pod again and addressed them, “Is this assessment correct, Lacy of Earth?”

She stood, frozen by the question. If a planet belonging to the Alliance was required to have a central government in order to be included, then Earth definitely did not meet the criteria. The Grays’ ambassador was right, there were wars raging, at that very moment, over land, people, oil, power, and greed.

She was racking her brain, trying to find a way around the question, or to evade it completely, but the truth was blinding. No wonder some species considered humans to be barbarians. They couldn’t handle politics on their own planet, much less be involved in the politics of the galaxy.

“Yes sir.” She answered. “What the ambassador of the Grays has said about Earth is true, but I would ask that the council not punish Arath just because Earth is a younger planet and we have not yet learned how to unite our people. My mates and I are proof that Arathian and Earther DNA can be combined to form new life. Our two planets and races are now irrevocably connected; to allow harm to come to Earth is to allow harm to come to Arath.”

Kor stood at Lacy’s side and was, once again, impressed with his mate. She was standing tall, addressing the council with confidence, even though he could feel the slight tremble in her body. She was a pillar of strength and he found himself, again, thanking the Gods for gifting him with such a treasure. He looked over her head to Ty who looked back at him with a warm smile.

The Council Leader interrupted the moment. “You have made a valid point. Arath is a member of this council, and if Earth is the key to their survival, we have to decide if that entitles Earth to special consideration.”

“Council Leader, may I make once more comment on the matter or Earth?”
Asked the Grays’ ambassador.