THE EDEN DILEMMA by Tucker Spolter
Chapter 2
Sagra sat in the same chair in the center of the chamber known to every citizen of Lakal as the Council of Equals. The chamber was empty except for Sagra, his only son Hanar, and his third child Tyree. His progeny did not sit beside him. They were not invited to. They stood together, in front of their father. Almost at attention. Hanar with his hands clasped behind his back. Tyree with her arms wrapped defensively across her chest. Heads straight on their shoulders. Eyes lowered.
“And now the shuttle. . . My shuttle is gone. . .” Sagra glared. Neither Hanar or Tyree moved. “AND you both are certain she didn’t return to the Erebus before it left orbit,” he added with a hiss. . .
Neither adult budged.
“I am waiting.”
For the first time, Hanar lifted his eyes. “Sir, everything was going as planned. Krista entered the shuttle with a smile. Tyree and I—”
“She said she wanted some alone time,” Tyree interrupted. “She needed to think. Call it intuition, but I knew she was staying on Iuama.”
Hanar shot his sister a vicious look.
Tyree waved it away with the palm of her hand. “Father, Krista had to have a moment to say goodbye to her friends. Most women need to be alone to reach important decisions.” Tyree turned to Hanar and executed a faux courtesy. “I apologize for interrupting you, my dear brother. Please continue with your enlightening narrative.”
“Stop with the sibling tomba!” Sagra scowled and let an uncomfortable silence prevail before he nodded to Hanar.
“Sir, you know we couldn’t act while the Erebus was still in orbit. When Krista shut the shuttle door we pretended to wait patiently. If she
decided to leave then what would happen in the future would happen. . . But when we left this chamber . . . and we were walking back to the shuttle. . . I . . .” Hanar looked at his sister for confirmation. “We were confident Krista had decided to stay on Iuama. She isn't stupid. She is compassionate. She knew if she left, there would be dire consequences for everyone on our planet.”
Sagra forced a smile, “And now she’s decided to fly around and take the grand tour of Iuama. . . I want that shuttle before those damn metal-eating bastards . . . What do we call them?”
“Feris bugs, Father,” Tyree answered politely.
“Yes, those damn things. They drooled and shit on every piece of metal we brought to Iuama. We have to get control of that shuttle before anyone else does. And before those damn bugs use the shuttle for a buffet.”
“Feris bugs travel in packs.” Hanar offered softly. “And they would have to find it. Krista and the shuttle have been on Iuama for less than one turn.”
“Besides, Father, Krista seems to be a gentle, responsible woman. She is unaware of the importance of her shuttle and all it contains.” Tyree stepped forward and with a daughter’s sarcastic edge to her voice. . . “I mean no disrespect . . . but, maybe if you hadn’t sent Rechat and his Blue Capped cohorts to the shuttle —”
Sagra flew out of the chair and leaned forward, “Never raise your voice to me, young woman.” Sagra pointed to Hanar. “First, your brilliant sibling injected her with Malc. A wonderful introduction to the first person to step on Iuama more than a hundred and fifty years. Don't you start to—”
Protectively, Hanar stepped in front of his sister. “That was my fault. I made a bad decision. A decision I have tried to atone for. But Tyree is right. Before Rechat arrived at the shuttle, everything was going as planned.
Krista had to make contact with Erebus or there was no way to predict what the captain would do. When the Erebus’ fusion engines engaged and the lights flashed, we knew Krista had decided to stay. The shuttle was ours — I mean the shuttle was yours. We had Krista’s goodwill and her expertise to teach us how to fly it. She appeared in the portal of the control center and waved. I think I saw tears. . . Which were reasonable under the circumstances. She motioned she would be joining us soon. ”
“Father, the woman was smiling,” Tyree added. “At least until Rechat and his gang of Blue clowns appeared. They were patient for a bit, but not for long. Rechat pulled out a Tineke club from somewhere and started whopping it against his thigh. His gang egged him on. Encouragement was all he needed. He strutted to the side of the shuttle and started beating the club against the hull. Other Blues joined him.”
“Then Krista reappear in the portal,” Hanar said. “But she didn’t appear scared. . . She was angry.”
“Furious is a better word,” Tyree said.
“And after I got the club from Rechat the shuttle’s engines kicked in and—”
“And enough.” Sagra paced slowly. “Now find her. . . ” His eyes roved from son to daughter and back again. “Where might a tourist—locked up in a starship for who knows how long—go on her first few days on a tropical planet?” Sagra rounded the table and approached his Tyree and Hanar. “Any ideas? Where would you go?
"The beach. . . The ocean.” Hanar offered.
“I agree. Go.” Sagra pointed to the exit. “Both of you and take a few close friends. Travel light. You can reach the ocean in a few turns. Find the wajike, though I prefer the old term better. Find the Bitch. Find the bitch and her shuttle before those damn feris bugs do. Her shuttle is the ultimate weapon against the Violators. And the solution to so many problems.” Sagra rubbed his chin. “Maybe bring back a few young packages for our gene pool while you’re at it. Do not disappoint your father.”
Hanar made a quick exit. Tyree sauntered up the aisle slowly. Twice looking back over her shoulder smirking at her father.
Sagra's heart hammered in anger as he watched his daughter exit. That one is a wajike. But my wajike. A red-headed witch like her mother.
A tooth-grinding click and following chirp came from a carrying case at his feet. Sagra reached into the case and withdrew an owl-eyed, female sera. Both tails wagged. “Hungry little one?” Sagra asked as he rubbed up and down her scaly spine. The sera's purple tongue lapped across her black, thorn-like teeth. Pretty soon I'll have someone you can nibble on. Would Ta Ta like that? Both tails wagged furiously.