The Tales of Two Worlds - Chapter 2

Chapter Two: The Mystery and the Table

       ‘Bad way to take leave, Ralph,’ II said over the rails of the hospital-bed. 

       ‘One way or the other,’ Ralph returned with a mischievous smile despite the injuries he sustained. ‘I just hope the people aren’t in chaos, losing their minds in panic, taking advantage of my absence, things like that.’ He rubbed a finger across his beak that was inscribed with scratches. These marks would stay for life in normal cases, but of course, being the emperor included such facial-care services as beak-polishing.

       ‘You do realize your role in Tundaweed, don’t you?’

       ‘Care to tell me?’ Ralph bantered.

       ‘Oh for sake!’ II threw a pillow at him.

       ‘Watch out, you just might break a bone.’

       ‘Whatever,’ II shook his head. ‘Just… take care, don’t try anything mindless while I’m not looking,’ he hobbled across the room in fascinating swiftness despite the short talons.

       ‘Hey! Don’t you even want to wish me get-well-soon?’ Ralph called after when II shut the door before him.

       There was a pause, then the door edged open again, ‘no, that’s too cliché,’ was the only response.

      

       II crossed a waiting hall inset between Ralph’s exclusive room and the corridor, which was thickly congested with armed guards and world-renowned surgeons. He found Trowa, waiting on the other side.

       ‘Morning there dog-faced,’ II greeted courteously.

       ‘Dog-faced!’ Trowa retorted in disgust, ‘no, no, no, it’s Atlantisian, don’t you see a reason in us being so much bigger?’ Trowa was an Atlantisian, a sort of dog anthropomorphic figure to be general; he had richly brown, moderately hard furs, a head of light peanut-colored hair, two very large triangular ears and a rather big muzzle- a curious mix of the ancient Chow-Chow and German-Shepherd breeds. Raised up alongside Ralph, Emperor Trowa had grown an incorrigible affection for constant visits to “Ralph’s-world” (as people often put it).

       ‘You all look the same anyway,’ II waved off the topic, ‘sometimes I wonder from whither do you have so much time to visit Tundaweed. You are the emperor, for sake; the whole planet hangs from your palm- I mean paws; how could the governing proceed when you are always in the neighboring planet?’

       ‘Yeah well, I have people to take care of my jobs,’ Trowa ran a paw along his head to smooth back his hair. ‘They honor me… or my father or whichever ancestors for discovering Atlantisa, setting up the land, develop everything…’

       Atlantisa, conveniently, was the next planet after Ralph’s, the fifth in their system. Physically, it laid on the outer edge of the habitable-zone, shrouded under year-long wintry clouds which often gave it a confusing bluish, reddish hue. But, in truth, the name “Atlantisa” defined more than Trowa’s planet, but a whole league of four worlds owned by the Stagonia family (Trolli, Trowa, Trowalia, and Troakia) that occupied different star systems. But in the context of Tundaweed, the term was used loosely.

       ‘You possess a relatively poor memory for history,’ II said.

       ‘Is that a direct statement? The past should be forgotten, the present and the future are more significant,’ Trowa puffed up his chest in reciting the adage, ‘isn’t that what they always say?’

       ‘“The past should be forgotten; the present and the future are more significant, if the past bears no wisdom that you should have”, you missed the last part.’ II knew well about Trowa’s actual status of an emperor, but did not hesitate to banter around with him. Chatting with Trowa was often quite fun, he admitted, like listening to a very light, joyful, and silly music.

       ‘Is that a Penguin-version of it? Never heard it before and-’

       ‘Never would acknowledge,’ II finished for him. ‘I know you too well.’

       ‘No more palace, no more Ralph, what would I do here then!’ Trowa berated.

       ‘What are you dropping here for, that is my curiosity,’ II rebutted the question. He caught Trowa.

       ‘Just… visiting, like always,’ Trowa chuckled and brushed the front of his little tuff of brown hair.

       ‘Like always, you visit us every single day, I guess Tundaweed should be designated your “primary-home”; perhaps you want to switch planet with Ralph?’ II hurried along the corridor in petty but cumulatively fast steps, ‘I can’t start to understand what gives you all the free time to wander across the universe, planets to planets!’

       ‘Planet to planet! Hell no!’ Trowa burst out, ‘just Tundaweed. You have tons of leisure time, like now for example-’

       ‘This reminds me to remind you I need to be at the Table at two, that’s fifteen minutes ago. You might as well find a place to seek… entertainment.’ II ignored the big Atlantisian when he pushed through the glass door that, sadly, lacked an automatic-hinge.

       ‘Oh so now you are shopping for tables?’

       Ignored.

       ‘Here’s a suggestion if you looking for tables to replace the palace’s burnt ones…’

       Ignored.

       ‘You even listening to me?’

 

       The hall where the “Big-Table-Conference” took place was elaborated with grand decorations of all sorts. Crafted by the best selected builders from the designs of world-best designers, the whole grand building was no less attractive than the so-far-ruined Palace of Emperor. More conveniently, the building was structured with an integrated, user-friendly processing unit that computed all the twitches to be done here and there- actuated automatic water-dispensers and so on.

       ‘You are here for the Conference, sir?’ the unit asked him, booming in a lady’s friendly voice from hidden speakers.

       ‘Bring me in,’ II answered.

       ‘Me too,’ Trowa added, being reluctant to leave II.

       ‘I am afraid the Conference had commenced an hour ago, would you still wish to join?’ The “courtesy” that was wired into these units were somewhat ridiculous and vexing at times.

       ‘You heard me.’ II nodded.

       They were brought to a thick steel-door entrance, guarded by four security officers on each side.

       ‘Please show me your clearance, sir,’ the lead-officer inquired.

       ‘I’m II, that’s enough.’

       ‘Sir, this room, in there, contained very important people-’

       ‘Your computer cleared me,’ II reminded him, playing the game.

       ‘The computer can never tell ice-cream from grenade,’ the guard made an effort to sigh.

       ‘Indeed,’ II raised the top of an eye-lid (Penguins never had an eyebrow, except Rock-Hoppers) in amusement. ‘Nonetheless, it’s not my role to waste precious time here,’ II showed his clearance card (fished out from his many-folds scarf; Penguins rarely fashion any substantial clothing), which the officer scanned on a device to verify.

       ‘Have a good day, sir,’ he saluted.

       ‘Yeah, whatever.’

 

       ‘Ah, there you are II!’ the World-wide Security Coordinator boomed at the Penguin as he stepped clumsily down the huge-step stairs. In the middle of the colossal room was a proportionally large, plain-seeming wooden table by which the representatives sat around to converse. Holographic images shot up from a small device integrated to the table, displaying key-points information, translations of speech from headsets and other relevant data. ‘We’re just about to come to the conclusion of this Conference.’

       ‘All the better,’ II smiled, ‘let it rip.’

       ‘Assuming the current problem as the terrorism committed during midnight ere today’s dawn, I propose an innovative and efficient way of security on board all Empire-Fleet vehicles, buildings and other such structures that would provide the needed –and more– security: a solely computer-operated security system-’

       ‘By immortalizing the whole security operation,’ the director of Empire Fleet interjected, ‘you are looking at a worst possible solution. Computers are artificial, they are simply not adequate!’

       ‘They are accurate and flawless,’ the Security Coordinator rebutted.

       ‘Yes, but, in fact, too accurate and inflexible. You feed it one plus one and it gives two, without hesitating to consider the possibility of a catch within the straight question.’

       A much furious debate commenced over the computer-and-no-computer topic. Waters were spilled and malign insults were flung unguardedly across the room.

       It reminded II of how he had scoffed when the many nobles and officers always had the tendency to express a belying royalty and all-talking-no-grappling value in public. “When you get to the people in here, you’ll know how much they are similar to surly bus-drivers”, someone told him long ago. Couldn’t remember who.

       Even Trowa Stagonia joined the debate. Being impatient of peacefulness and as a sort of action-monger, the Atlantisian emperor found himself basking in the air of arguments.

       Suddenly all eyes were involuntarily turned upon II, as if he would yield the final answer.

       ‘To start with,’ II had this well-prepared. A simple Socratic approach, ‘first of all, do we know the actual cause of this tragedy, its nature, its purpose, its motivation?’ Already he could see a few scowls through the crowd. Lord of Eastern Region showed a you-are-wasting-my-time look and a sardonic smile. ‘Really, can any of you confirm the true status of this crisis?’

       ‘It is simple,’ the Security Coordinator said with a sigh, ‘a few guys decided to play terrorists or take a joy ride in the cruiser, then, purposefully or accidentally, smashed it into the palace, end of story!’ he stabbed a finger on the table that scarcely yield anything but a soft thud. ‘That’s why I propose that-’

       ‘How exactly do you know it was terrorism, not an accident from a regular port-in?’ II continued.

       ‘Er…that’s where my job comes in,’ it was the TCAC captain. II showed a don’t-you-spoil-everything glare. ‘Before it hit the palace, the ship had continuously violated a series of landing procedures and various regular protocols, too much to be an unintended accident. Firstly, the ship failed to establish a contact with the tower then it neglected from retrieving out of stealth-mood; thereafter, no one picked up our call to them when- they put a bar to our call-ins, just so you know; Sir II there used the top authority code to ring them; and-’

       ‘That’s enough, captain,’ II put up a flipper to cease his listing. What a patient and detailed man! ‘However, suppose an on-board system failed… and killed the crews or… through some other means, disabled their responding of those protocols. What say you to that?’

       ‘Nope,’ another officer –whom II did not recognize– wearing the TCAC badge said, ‘it seems obvious that those were not accidental violations, but someone deliberately breaking the rules. Let’s take the final operation of Revera Drive for example: gentlemen, it surely cannot be commenced without having the crews or an operator alive. And suppose if they were not terrorists, as you put it, they would have been adequate to stop the ship on collision- to brake it in time.’

       ‘And suppose they were alive, but without any other mean of banking the ship from collision saved using the Revera Drive?’ II said. The sentence drew everyone’s attention, including Trowa’s, who was staring at the ceilings and windows moments ago.

       ‘Wait, wait, wait,’ the Security Coordinator interjected, ‘the ship hit the palace, did not avoid it, isn’t that true? With lower velocity, the damage would have been less substantial. What did you mean by “avoiding the collision with Revera Drive”, Sir II?’

       Such mocking tones! II grimaced. He had collected impeccable renown among the Penguins, but it appeared the status of a mere Chief Researcher and Head of PU wasn’t going to be enough to convince every Tundawian of a P’s worth.

       ‘You spoke as if the ship did not collide with the palace, which apparently it did,’ an anonymous noble said, ‘if I were in that ship-’

       ‘You are right!’ II smiled, ‘the ship missed the palace.’ Everyone gasped or scoffed, either taken aback from the sudden and incredulous information revealed or from suspecting II’s sanity.

       ‘II, I know the pressure on you is great…’ a Penguin fellow muttered just enough for II to catch.

       ‘Of course, the debris and shockwaves did collide with Ralph’s grand plaza, but the ship itself did not,’ II puffed in pride revealing the yet to be discovered truth. ‘The Revera Drive is a powerful thing, and would have offered even faster an acceleration in space without air resistance. However, the Counter-Gravity-Mechanism’s efficiency functions unbiased anywhere. Know that this interesting device counters the acceleration’s G effect on calculations prior to its operation, not adjusting itself on real-time calculation- because that would be too slow. So when the air density, friction and every other factor slowed the Revera Drive’s effect, the acceleration’s G-force could not match with the counter-gravity’s

       ‘Guessed what happen?

       ‘True, the counter-gravity becomes a backward G-force which wrecked havoc with the ship’s structure and interior. It killed the crews, of course; they probably knew this too before committing the Revera operation. What the trash-picking team –pardon my discourtesy– missed in their after-scene evaluation was crucial. They expected the material from which Empire Fleet One was built to be hard enough to withstand even a direct impact. Not so, unfortunately, Aetroys are only indestructible to an extent. Through computer modeling and simulation with my own team of Penguins, we suspect several cracks were generated along the ship’s skin during the short semi-second of acceleration.

       ‘Guess what’s next!

       ‘The cracks joined to form a larger fissure enough to snap the already weakened ship. It’s like a… stack of tuna-cans –yap, like those you see in supermarket: you take a few off, the whole thing falls. And, so, “wham!” adieu to the ship, just moments before it hit the palace. Its respective debris and shockwaves, however, did much of the damage. A big portion of the destruction was actually from the ship’s fuel-tanks detonating.

       ‘So what say you all?’

       No one spoke; they were speechless from II’s informative announcement. A few even gone as far as stare blankly with gaping beaks. Live information were being fed into the holograms all throughout the meeting, but perhaps II’s new discovery had been too new so as yet to appear- or he could have meant to keep it a surprise.

       ‘But- but I thought the fuel tanks are designed to be indestructible, to survive any impact- the designing process of the tanks were focused on safety, and that’s part of the criteria,’ said someone II could vaguely make out as the designer of Empire Fleet One.

       ‘So was the ship,’ II gave a mocking response.

Historically, the commissioning of Empire Fleet One was daubed with many a conflict of reputation: the Tundawian designers had wanted to utilize Aetroy (Aero Tri-Alloy; a metal of PU innovation commonly, mistakenly associated with indestructibility) for the ship’s main structures; but they stubbornly refused all PU’s offer of participation, as the ship also meant to be a symbol solely of Tundawian’s power. All these resulted in Aetroy panes carelessly slapped into ship-shape… literally.

       ‘Anyhow,’ II continued, ‘I am not trying to prove the event to be merely an accident, but to consider all the possible chances. If it was an intended terrorism, what was their motivation? Certainly not to bargain for some huge deals in exchange of Ralph’s safety- in fact, they did not much as given any notice beforehand-’

       ‘Could it be,’ the Security Coordinator spoke, ‘it should be! This attack is the pre-warning, a notification of their strength, to more up-comings!’

       ‘Not logical,’ General Defense Counselor denied the idea with a wave of his hand, ‘Ralph is the biggest “fish” so as to say. It would be more efficient to take something smaller, something less worthy, like a colossal plaza, to be the first target, and, then, threaten to annihilate the palace in the same method.’

       ‘But it could work the other way around too,’ Aerospace Defense Counselor rebutted. She was one of the very few women to have managed up to this political level. Being a hawk-breed Tundawian, her eyes showed piercing sharpness and audacity, ‘by taking out the biggest “fish”, they proved their extreme capability, and so we would not take their threats as bogus shots. It is relatively logical, too, if you work it this way.’

       ‘Just might be true,’ someone muttered through muffled mouth.

       ‘However-’ II paused in mid-stride of thoughts.

       ‘However, with Ralph as the primary “fish”- he loves fish, just so you know.’ He skipped the topic so suddenly no one actually caught it, ‘with the most worthy subject killed, how will they expect to cajole us into meeting their demands with less worthy subjects. Whatever their genuine goal is, the fundamental step is to annihilate Ralph. After the emperor’s death, Tundaweed will tip easily into anarchy. You Regional Lords and Local Kings may administer your power on the people, but on that day, the revolts, the distrust against our government, this calamity will be far beyond suppressing.’ A short silent pause ensued. No, not true, II told himself, Ralph is still a pathetic youngster put into an oversized chair at this year’s counting.

       ‘That’s when I come with my military, here, here, and here,’ Trowa traced a tactic map across the tabletop, ‘and take over Tundaweed, and Atlantisa will enslave the Tundawians, and- what?’ Trowa came to an abrupt pause finding everyone’s cold, cryonic stare focused on him; the mere will behind those eyes could freeze summer.

       ‘That’s his nature,’ II sighed with a shook of his head.

       ‘We should be prepared then,’ someone muttered.

       ‘No,’ II disagreed, ‘we must be prepared. Geor, his ancestors, did not rule Kalada [former Tundaweed] as a weak empire. His dream was shattered when the sun expanded into a red-giant; however, Ralph recreated Tundaweed to be wealthier, more powerful, more perpetual than what Geor had dreamed possible.’

Trowa gave him a “not stronger than Atlantisa” look.

       ‘We see the point,’ Security Coordinator interjected.

       ‘And it’s not time we let the empire fall,’ a Regional Lord encouraged.

       ‘You, I, and even the people are strong-willed; Ralph is no lesser, I can ensure you. However…’ he cast a storm into the otherwise rising morale, ‘I fear the mastermind behind this crime is stronger…’ Trowa puffed up with pride as if the description was of him.

       Without a spoken word, an air of dread washed through their room. Some quailed at the thoughts of possible nominees, but a few, like Trowa and the Security Coordinator, resisted such pressing menace.

       ‘A strong organization,’ II repeated. ‘I fear this could be a rough journey coming. Such a-’

       ‘Pardon me,’ said the computer’s speakers of a prerecorded lady voice, ‘there are urgent messages to be viewed immediately, or do you wish me to delay them?’

       ‘Bring it in,’ II agreed with a sigh of relief-mixed-disappointment at the breaking of his carefully crafted tension.

       ‘Greetings,’ a male’s voice greeted them, ‘ETR here. Request permission to proceed.’ He, an Empire Tidings Report officer, waited until II gave the “go”, ‘approximately fifteen minutes ago, Gallupa State’s palace endured a confirmed terrorism collision from a Y900-100 model freighter craft; just half a quarter ago, a yet-to-be-confirmed-as-terrorist crash occurred just outside Tabu Coast’s ICBM silos. The same model freighter was shot down before it could make a straight plunge into one of the silos, fortunately. That’s basically the whole story; Joan would be sending a full report to you any moment now.’ Silence.

       ‘Such a…’ II continued gravely, ‘such a large-scale attack can only, probably, be arranged a huge organization, or an empire, such as…’ he left it dangling.

       They heard a chuckle from across the room muffled by huge paws.

       ‘What is so funny,’ an anonymous guest retorted angrily, ‘have you no sympathy! We are under severe threatening from some confounded person who didn’t even take an honor to clarify its demands, and you are laughing at us!’

       ‘Couldn’t help it,’ Trowa burst into uncontrolled laughter, ‘did I tell you the tire of my wife’s cart blow out this morning?’ He was stared at with go-be-stupid-somewhere-else glances. ‘Never mind, probably not “large scale terrorism” anyway.’ He clicked his stubby paw-fingers to quote. ‘You know why whoever that is attacked you and not me?’ For change in taste, everyone looked at him intently as if he would reveal the solution. ‘Because Tundaweed is too weak!’ he burst out in laughter again. ‘Nice government trying to please the people? Bah! Me, autocracy, absolute powah! Young age, we picked people randomly –or at least with some basis I don’t care about– to train in military. Come out all strong and disciplined. One third of our empire is composed of these people.

       ‘So you see the differences? No one dares to challenge the nobility of Atlantisa and its family planets. That’s why we prospered!’ He sang up to fortissimo by the last word, leaving a hollow phantom echo in the room.

       ‘Oh please,’ the Security Coordinator flung himself against the chair’s flexible back so it arched dangerously under his mass-times-velocity (momentum). ‘In case you don’t know, Ralph do possess absolute power; it is a matter of whether he wants to assert it or not. But that’s of no importance, for the point is- we have our reasons for choosing our style of political units; we refrain from picking any random brawny dog-headed individual for leaders, which probably your highness do; no, but we consider his wit, reliability, everything!’

       ‘Being moderate, not boastful, is a great virtue,’ the Penguin officer said. ‘Lie low, that’s our motto. We don’t call ourselves the Greatest Empire or the like even if we are, much less naming ourselves after the misleading “Atlantis” as if name itself would prove certain density.’ Being a Penguin, he carried a significant amount of sarcasm.

       ‘I suppose you lie low because you are low!’ Trowa found amusement in everything when the mood comes. ‘Tell you what- oh never mind.’ He waved the topic off. ‘Come on, continue, shoo, go, whatever!’ He gestured further for the discussion to resume when no one spoke for an interval of five minutes.

       No one was in the mood for rational thoughts and discussion.

       ‘Okay,’ Trowa stood up so he would be gaining more attention, ‘you decide to give me the “silent-treatment”? Fine. Tell you what, tighten the security, put a… whatever you call those computer thingy that can remotely override the ship, investigate slowly for the root-cause of this event. Voila!’ he clapped both paws together, but the paw-pads-padded clap wouldn’t sound.

       ‘You never would learn…’ a new young voice spoke softly.

       He arrived so silently and unexpectedly everyone was caught by surprise. Supported and guarded by ten guards that somewhat formed a phalanx before him, Ralph stood shakily in front of the crowd. His light-green feathered face seemed sicklier than ever, even his four strips of yellow cockatoo hairs slumped visibly- though that was probably because he didn’t comb them.

       ‘I told you to-’ II began angrily but didn’t finish when Ralph gave him the ever-so-cajoling sweet, weak smile.

       ‘I see that this room is in a fury to yield a solution to the crisis,’ Ralph spoke softly, but respectful silence made his voice carry across the vast room.

       ‘We were yielding a solution,’ the Security Coordinator answered boldly, ‘however, there were also lots of challenges to that almost perfect solution.’ He glanced at II in particular.

       ‘Let me hear it,’ Ralph said patiently.

       ‘So,’ the coordinator cleared his throat absently, ‘I was proposing-’

       ‘Yes, yes,’ II interjected, ‘you were proposing an all “innovative computer actuated security system”, all the fancy equipments taken off the newest inventions list.’

       ‘However,’ the coordinator reclaimed his floor with a raised voice, ‘that is the best solution. By including advanced security program, self-navigation system, and system status analyzer and prediction system in the all-in-one package, it is certain to annihilate all the possibilities of such a happening again! Suppose it was an accident, a system like this could detect the cause of this faithful accident much earlier, allowing reaction time; but suppose it was a terrorism, which most of us suggest,’ he glanced at II again as if it was a revenge of sorts, ‘the system would not allow the terrorists on board in the first place!’

       ‘But suppose someone,’ II suggested. The heavy menace pressed down on them again; they knew who “someone” indicated, but was quite reluctant upon admitting, ‘but suppose he bribed one of the pilots? The system-’

       ‘That’s the most unique part.’ II was rebutted, ‘you,’ Sec. Cor. looked at the TCAC captain, ‘suggested that before the collision, they violated a series of protocols?’ a nod was the response. ‘In this case, the unit would answer the first protocol to make-up for the violation, recognizing it as an involuntary mistake, but on the second or third violation, on-board security system would identify it as unexplained anomalies and the auto-pilot would take over. No more Revera Drive deployment! No more calamity!’ he gestured with the sideway slicing of both hands for emphasis.

       ‘Sounds reasonable,’ Ralph agreed while trying to descend into his elaborate seat painlessly.

       ‘What if the terrorist disables the system? Say, just pull the cord or something?’ II said it leisurely as if this was only to be expected.

       ‘Not if the system is integrated into the ship!’

       Trowa, edging around so he could be beside Ralph, was showing no interest in the debate. In Atlantisa, it was all man-power, so to term it. Safety comes from absolute docility, which comes from absolute control and discipline- which he had achieved with the prowess of his staffs and a very good emperor’s-replacement son.

       ‘Integrated into the ship?’ II scoffed.

       ‘You haven’t been informed have you?’ the Security Coordinator seemed pleased. ‘Not much wonder, really. It is the latest non-Penguin breakthrough, something not even the PU could achieve!’ The Penguin Union, a union of all Tundaweed-bound Penguins, was a partially separated race and social system from the Tundawians’ society; it implemented its own laws and governing unit in coexistence with Tundaweed’s. Entirely different in statures and minds from Tundawians, the Penguins can truly be termed as a race of its own and not just a mere division of the avian anthropomorphic people- and perhaps should have been. Throughout the planet’s history (which wasn’t more than half a millennium) they had, with undeniable higher specific intellectual capabilities, receive most of the funds for researches and were credited for endless breakthroughs in science and technology. “Ninety-nine percent of all Penguins are scientists and/or inventors, while the one percent is jobless” was a common bitter joke among Tundawians.

       Apparently, Tundawians had finally –after much prayers and hair-pulling– surpassed them in one technological aspect. ‘I’m sorry we got there first,’ the Security Coordinator was getting carried away. ‘The system lives in the ship itself, not just on one processor, but, to some extent, jumping through wires and chips. Disabling it would be disabling the ship it self!’

       ‘And what if I am to insert a virus that would complete my attack?’ II said coolly, with a look close to Penguin-anger in his eyes.

       The Security Coordinator puffed up in similarly suppressed fury. It was a deadlock; no getting any further without an “uncivilized” outbreak.

       ‘I am the Security Coordinator,’ he said slowly and firmly to emphasize every word and its corresponding definition, ‘I know the technologies that could provide us with the ability to counter any such future attacks. It happens again, might not be so lucky not to have anyone important on-board! The unmanned security system, mind you, is a tool in any case; it is an all-beneficial-and-no-draw-backs solution!’

       ‘For the moment,’ a Penguin spoke merely to support his leader, ‘II, in one way or the other, is the most intellectually capable person; you might want to consider his words.’

       ‘If the Penguins are so “intellectually capable” why don’t they live on another planet of their own!’ the coordinator slammed his thick notepad on the table, and took a somewhat very daring departure.

       You done it II, Ralph thought.

       Silence ensued, even for Trowa.

       ‘Dismiss for teabre- dinner, and be back,’ Ralph said softly, but quite adequately to carry across the hushed room.

       ‘Very well,’ II drew a flat-beaked dissatisfied grimace, ‘everything said here will be confidential for the time being.’

 

       ‘You knew better than to argue with him, II,’ Ralph said, accompanying the disgruntled Penguin down the solely-glass-constructed suspended bridge of the building. He could see hundreds of feet down through stainless inches-thick translucent quartz panels into the jet black forest which covered most of all Tundawian lands.

       ‘I’ve been with you for years now, II, I know you don’t have anything particular against artificial processor units, so why against the suggestion. The Security Coordinator probably had given in his best on the case.’ Despite being the emperor, highest in the social classes of Planet Tundaweed, Ralph respected and treated II as his mentor. After being brought up all by the single old Penguin, it was hard not to cast certain devotion for him.

       ‘Mayhap you should be in your bed, Ralph, I mean it. The accident had taxed your body hard.’

       ‘We are old friends aren’t we?’

       ‘Depends on the connotation,’ II replied coolly.

       ‘Tell me, what is so detestable about it? In fact, I’d feel a little safer with it.’ They had reached the end of the building.

       ‘Well.’ II sighed and look up at the bright Polaris, then to the very dim Alpha Centauri, somewhere close to where his old home belonged. ‘It was a long time ago isn’t it? The good old days, I mean. So very distant away, my old home, where you were born, Ralph, and mayhap you too, Trowa,’ he gestured to Trowa who had been silently accompanying them all along. ‘And probably you, you, you, and you too,’ he looked to the guards. ‘But eventually, all was crumbled, destroyed, along with Geor, your father.

       ‘He left me with the task; one I have done but couldn’t entirely fulfill till the end of my days, which was to see you, and the empire, grow again to its past glories. I would not, at all cost, decide on or against anything that would jeopardize your safety, Ralph.’

       ‘I understand that,’ Ralph muttered softly.

       ‘Suppose I tell you the autopilot was the one that really crashed the ship?’

       ‘This is not fancy ancient science fiction, II, no computers trying to take over the world or similar things.’

       ‘But suppose-’ II gestured for the guards to leave and wait. ‘But I meant someone programmed the autopilot to do so- of course the machine could not do so itself, yet.’

       ‘Who would-’ Trowa began, but was interjected.

       ‘Melas,’ II nodded, ‘it’s him, absolutely.’

       ‘How’d you know that?’ Ralph was dubious. ‘The pick-up-the-debris groups were in charge of after-scene investigations, they should be the first ones to notice, if there are any solid evidences of what you said. Or does the ever-so-wise II have something he wishes to notify me?’

       ‘You are right,’ II smiled. ‘Remember, I am the head of the Penguin Union, the second after you, my emperor- in a sense. I’ve ways to hush the trash-picking groups and sneak out with some debris collection of my own.’

       Ralph was not by the least bit surprised. It was all too cliché that the Penguins, with II in particular, liked to rely on themselves to yield the world-stunning solutions. A very old habit of theirs; whether by superfluous self-esteem or simply certain other reasoning, he knew not.

       ‘A straight disobedience towards the empire,’ Trowa sniggered, extending a paw-finger, with which he made a gesture of slicing across his neck. ‘That’s what we do to rebelling and indocile parties.’

       ‘I’ve learned autocracy, I know,’ Ralph said impatiently.

       ‘I happened to pick up a rather significant trash,’ II continued, ‘a metal-encased cube, which my investigation team analyzed as an autopilot box, formatted to fit on Tundawian ship’s navigation and piloting systems.’ His eyes widened, ‘and there were markings on the exterior in Melasian: “manufactured by Kaz Tech Corp” it says. Very interesting isn’t it?’

       ‘You trash-scrutinizing team did a pretty good job,’ Trowa asserted, and could see II fluffed up with displeasure.

       ‘I see, I see it now,’ Ralph nodded. ‘But why not inform the Security Coordinator, inform others? You would not be planning to keep this among the Penguins until last minutes, would you?’

       ‘“Why”? This,’ II tapped his head. ‘Melas could not, probably, have it inserted by his own men. Too risky, they would stand out like a sore thumb. He would, a wise leader would, try to manipulate the warfare by turning the enemies upon itself. Money is one matter, but considering the damage it does, it’s worthy. If we let this break out, think of the public hysteria, think of the distrust against our unit.’

       ‘Melas is wise,’ Trowa growled, ‘and very evil in his doings…’

       ‘That’s why he is Melas,’ Ralph said. ‘So I presume the matter would stay closed until th- you think it is safe to reveal.’

       ‘That’s the way it stays at the moment.’