8FOLD/HCC: Journey Into # 24, "The Vampire Sun"

[Tom Russell]

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             "THE VAMPIRE SUN"
       ~~A HIGH CONCEPT ADVENTURE~~
            ~BY TOM RUSSELL~


         The LAST STORY has been told. EARTH
       endures, but is vulnerable and alone in
      the universe. All signs indicate that the
     PULSE COLLECTIVE is making preparations for
    its next attack, and that Earth is unlikely to
   survive without allies. KNOCKOUT MOUSE and JULIE
  ANN JUSTICE are sent on a top-secret intergalactic
 diplomatic mission, one that takes Julie Ann to the
 ruins of her own home planet...


Bethany presses her face near the glass: "Is that this system's star?
The light's awfully faint."
   "The star's dead," says Julie Ann. "Died a long time ago. The
light's being held in place-- or slowed, at any rate-- in a temporal
stasis field maintained by trillions of thermonuclear nanites. It runs
around the whole star, enclosing it like a wrapper. On the other side
of the field, inside it, the star is just this close," she holds two
fingers a millimeter apart, "to collapsing into a black hole and
destroying every world in this system."
   "How long ago did this happen?" says Bethany.
   "That's hard to say," says Julie Ann. "The field's been there
before recorded history."
   "And how far does the recorded history go back 'round these parts?"
   "Countless generations. But that's as precise as it can get,
because 'round these parts, time works differently. Side effect of
proximity to the stasis field. I came to your planet as an infant in
1980, the last survivor of my planet. That planet, there." She points.
   "I'm sorry," says Bethany. "I can't see it."
   "That's right," says Julie Ann, chiding her own absent-mindedness.
"I always forget that humans can only see in three dimensions. It's
long-gone. I can only see the echoes." If she's melancholy about it,
she doesn't give any sign of it. "Point is, more than thirty years
have passed out there," she waves back the way they came, "but there's
no telling how much time has passed here. A year? A day? A century?"
   "What happened to it?" says Bethany after a good long while.
   "My planet?" says Julie Ann. "From what I've been able to piece
together over the years... well, do you see that star there?" She
points out into the blackness.
   Bethany squints. "Maybe."
   "That's the vampire sun of Kyklokos System," says Julie Ann.
   "That... doesn't sound so good."
   "It's as old as this one," says Julie Ann, crooking her thumb at
the faint yellow light. "Like this one, it's been this close to
collapsing since time before time. The vampire sun survives by eating
other suns, destroying whole systems in the process. Same problem,
different solution."
   Bethany lets her jaw drop, stunned. "I can't even process that,"
she says. "The scale of it, the enormity of the crime. It, has, I
mean, has anyone tried to, to...?"
   "To stop it?" says Julie Ann. "To shut it down? Yes. We tried. We
hit them hard. We failed. They hit back. And that, Mouse, is what
happened to my planet."
   "They?"
   "The planets of Kyklokos System. As dependent on, and dedicated to,
their star's survival as the inhabitants of this system are on theirs.
Can't blame them I suppose, but..."
   "But?"
   "Not to paint all the peoples and planets of Kyklokos with the same brush..."
   "Paint away."
   "They're violent; bloodthirsty; warlike. There's a reason why they
keep their star alive at the expense of countless lives, while the
ancient races of this system, whoever they were, kept their sun alive
by doing harm to none."
   "And how safe is this star from Kyklokos?"
   "Safe enough," says Julie Ann. "The two systems have been at war
since, well..."
   "Time before time?"
   "Yes," says Julie Ann. "And save for my home, there's been precious
few casualties. The advanced defensive technologies they possess have
withstood the universe's greatest war machines for millennia. I'm
certain that they could protect the Earth from the Pulse."

Elsewhere! Planet Prime! Most favored child of the vampire sun! The
seat of government for an empire that spans every planet in Kyklokos
system. Birthplace of Maledux!
   "Maledux is power! Maledux is life!" announces the loudspeakers.
The face of Maledux is painted on every building on every planet in
Kyklokos. Gigantic busts of his head loom in every place of gathering.
And the Voice of Maledux-- not his voice itself, for to hear it is
sacrilege, but the one Primean blessed with the holy task of speaking
the great words-- the Voice of Maledux blares in every building.
   "Thoughts are lies! Mercies are lies! Maledux is Truth!"
   For the denizens of Kyklokos system, there is no such thing as a
question mark. Questions are forbidden. "Maledux knows all! And all is
Maledux!"
   But not all is Maledux. Though they are indoctrinated from birth,
and carefully bred to be genetically predisposed towards being an
instrument of his One Will, there are some unfortunate souls who are
compelled to resist. And so compelled, they seek to free their fellows
from their bondage.
   Our scene is a munitions factory. Forty-eight hour shifts are
separated by four hours of body-rest in their locker: there is no such
thing as sleep in Kyklokos system, for there are no such things as
dreams. Every six hours, they give thanks to Maledux with parched
throats for a few drops of tepid water, and a handful of boiled bread.
If they work a double-shift-- ninety-six hours without rest-- they get
some raw, bloody meat.
   "Maledux is Truth!" says the Voice.
   "Maledux is Lies!" cries another, closer and more real.
   "Look in your hearts!" says the youth. "Filled with drudgery and
sorrow! Or better, look in your bellies, bone-gnawed with hunger!"
   "We hunger for Maledux!" recites the mob with a single voice. "We
hunger for Truth!"
   "And you will hunger for ten thousand lifetimes, never gaining
succor! Please! Please! You must listen to me! Why won't you listen to
me? No! No! Stay back!"
   But they don't stay back. For they know that Maledux is just, and
that they shall be given the meat they tear off his bones.

Their first stop is a small blue-white little ball that becomes
closer, and bluer, and whiter, and bigger with every second. "Side
effect of the dying sun," says Julie Ann. "Heat is minimal. You'll
need to put on this protective suit to survive." She turns around so
that Bethany can change.
   "And what about you?" says Bethany.
   "Oh, my body generates enough warmth that I don't have a problem
with these kinds of temperatures," says Julie Ann. "Really, the only
reason why I wear clothes is to make people feel more comfortable."
   Bethany tries to be sly and casual: you don't have to keep up the
pretense on my account. But when it comes out, she botches it: "Well,
you don't have to, you know, if you, if you don't want to wear, uh,
anything, that's, that's okay if it would, uh, yeah."
   "Wouldn't exactly be appropriate for this diplomatic mission."
   "Oh, I know, I know," blurts Bethany. "I just mean, you know,
around the spaceship, if you wuh, want, then I, don't have a problem
with it."
   "With what?"
   "With, you know, what we were talking about."
   "I forgot," says Julie Ann, indulging a cruel streak.
   "With you being nuh, naked."
   "You decent yet?"
   " yes ."
   Julie Ann turns around. "Are you alright, Bethany?" she says,
torturing her mildly. "You're red as a plum for some reason."

"Welcome to Gavloss," says their greeter after he has downloaded the
English language from Bethany's brain. He's agreeably human-looking,
decides Bethany, excepting the black dog's nose and the extra pair of
well-muscled arms. The muscles help, thinks Bethany as she steals a
glance at his impressive abdominals. Two hands he keeps clasped
together behind his back, and two he uses to gesture expressively. "We
are the most prosperous and populous of the city-states of the
Gavlossian League."
   "There are... six such Leagues?" says Julie Ann. (Actually seven,
she says in a text message that displays in Bethany's protective
helmet, but best to play Columbo for a while.)
   "Seven," corrects the greeter. "But only two that count. And one of
those is ours. Our 'great' rival is..." He makes a face to show his
embarrassment for them. (Their great rival, Anysh, has more people and
more money, and the Gavlossian currency has been devalued by massive
loans from Anysh.)
   "So, only one that counts," says Julie Ann.
   "Just so," he agrees. "I can see that you're a quick study. Good.
You'll need to be quick, with the Matriarch."

"Step forward! Maledux wills it!"
   The line of cadets steps forward.
   "This is the most important day in the history of your biomass!"
There are no lives in Kyklokos system; there is one Life, and that is
Maledux's! "For this is the Day of Three!
   "Number twos!"
   "NUMBER TWOS!" says a third of them.
   "Die for Maledux!"
   "WE DIE FOR MALEDUX!" BLAM!
   "Number ones!"
   "NUMBER ONES!"
   "Kill for Maledux!"
   "WE KILL FOR MALEDUX!" BLAM!
   "Number threes!"
   There is silence.
   "Number threes!"
   Silence.
   "There is no number three! There is no number two!"
   "MATH IS LIES! MALEDUX IS TRUTH!"
   "There is only One! There is only Maledux!"
   "THERE IS ONLY MALEDUX!"

The Matriarch is probably beautiful, by the standards of Gavloss, but
while Bethany could forgive the puppy-nose on the male greeter, it
makes the female look distinctly ridiculous. Something captivating
about her eyes though, and it takes Bethany a moment to realize that
she doesn't recognize the color.
   "Matriarch," says Julie Ann with a little curtsey. "I'm afraid I
don't know the proper forms." (I do, she confides in Bethany: I'm just
playing up the doe-eyed innocent angle.) "I hope you will forgive the
lapse."
   "The lapse is forgivable," says the Matriarch. "But please, call me Martha."
   "Martha?" says Julie Ann.
   "It is a name in your language, is it not?"
   "Yes," says Julie Ann. "I'm just wondering why that particular name."
   "Of all the names in the language template created from your
companion's brain, it's the one that connotates the most strength and
intelligence."
   "I don't even know anyone named Martha," says Bethany, and then she
stops, "Oh wait. Martha's my favorite companion. From..."
   "From Doctor Who," facepalms Julie Ann. She turns to Martha to
explain. "It is a... cultural construct. A story. Art."
   "I am familiar with the concept," says Martha. "We used to have
such things ourselves. It ate up a lot of our time, made us less
productive. We have engineered a new form of art, that distills the
experience into its pure lingering emotional resonance, so that it can
be experienced in a matter of seconds."
   Yeah, thinks Bethany, but you can't quote a pure lingering
emotional resonance.
   "There are many ways in which Gavloss is more advanced than Earth,"
says Julie Ann. "Many ways in which Gavloss can be a friend to Earth."
   "Earth is already a friend to Gavloss," says Martha. "For it
sheltered you from the wrath of Kyklokos. You are the last child of
Vanirron, are you not?"
   "I am," says Julie Ann quietly.
   "Come closer."
   She does. Martha touches her face with her two right hands.
   "Yes," says the Matriarch as she withdraws, "yes. I see it. Your
people were renowned for their grace and their beauty. But you surpass
all your ancestors in these qualities, and are all of their hopes
realized."
   "Thank you," says Julie Ann demurely. (She's think I'm vulnerable
there, Beth. We'll let her think that.) "Your planet has escaped the
fate of Vanirron," she says, "despite being just as fierce an enemy of
Kyklokos."
   "We have proven formidable," says Martha. "What is the phrase that
reoccurs in your language? 'This planet is protected'."
   (Oh my God, Bethany, you giant nerd.)
   "Well-protected," says Julie Ann. "Earth needs such protection, desperately."
   "If we were to extend such protection to Earth-- and I believe that
'if' is the right word for what I wish to convey?"
   (Now she's playing Columbo.) "Yes, we understand that there is no
commitment at this time," says Julie Ann. "If you were to help us, how
would we help you?"
   "That is the essence of it, yes."
   "Please forgive any ignorance on my part," says Julie Ann.
   "There is nothing to forgive."
   "But it seems to me that this planet is not rich in natural
resources. You depend on trade with other planets in this system. And
such trade might be... unduly constricted?"
   "I wouldn't say that," says Martha.
   "Then Anysh is no hindrance to you? I am glad to hear it."
   "They do have some exclusive trade agreements with some of our
neighbors, yes." (With almost all of them.) "And our friends in Anysh
sometimes do not ask friendly prices." (Which leads to more loans from
Anysh, and further devaluation of the Gavlossian money.)
   "Earth is rather rich in natural resources," says Julie Ann. "And
would be happy, I think, to deal exclusively with the Gavlossian
League."
   "Exclusively with Gavloss," corrects Martha. (So that they can in
turn charge an arm and a leg.)
   "Of course, that is what I meant," says Julie Ann. "I think we
understand each other, Martha."
   "In abstract, at least," she says. "But let's get down to the
nitty-gritty. Why does Earth need protection?"
   "You mean from whom."
   "I do." (She already knows the answer.)
   "We are at war with the Pulse Collective."
   Martha laughs, pretending that it is spontaneous. "You would have
us stand with Earth against the Pulse?"
   "I would have you stand with Earth," says Julie Ann. "But not
against the Pulse."
   "I don't know if the Pulse would see it that way," says Martha.
"You have a saying in your language, the enemy of my enemy is my
friend? Have you not thought of the corollary, the friend of my enemy
is my enemy?"
   "We have thought of it, your grace," says Julie Ann. "Indeed, we
have heard it many times, from many planets since we set out to ask
for help. I thought Gavloss had more courage and sense than they."
   "More sense, yes," says Martha. "Sense enough to keep out of it.
For as soon as the Pulse has destroyed the Earth, we will be next on
their list."
   "But with your technology, we will withstand them."
   "For a time, yes," says Martha. "If it's long enough, they'll deal
with us first, to punish our temerity. That's hardly to our benefit,
child."
   "If we could survive them, surely you could," counters Julie Ann.
   "But not the Pulse and Kyklokos both. The hordes of Kyklokos hates
the Pulse almost as much as they hate us. They would never ally
themselves with the Pulse. But to end the war between our two stars?
They would surely become..." She stops for a moment. "Co-belligerents.
What a lovely, useful word that is! We shall have to adopt it into our
own language."
   "It is but one of many gifts we have to offer," says Julie Ann flatly.
   "But none are so enticing as to risk annihilation. I'm sorry,
child. But you have nothing to offer us."
   "Perhaps Anysh will be more receptive."
   "Perhaps," says Martha. "But I think not. And you know that
already, don't you? A poor bluff, dear.
   "I'm afraid we have nothing more to say to one another on this
subject. But you are my guest, last daughter of the Vanirron, and my
household and its pleasures are at your disposal until such a time as
you see fit to move on."
   "I do have one thing more to say on the subject," says Julie Ann.
   "Very well," says Martha. "I will indulge you."
   "What happens if Earth wins?"
   "The Pulse never loses."
   "Neither do we," says Julie Ann. "Earth stood with the Red Hart and
defeated the Never-Lord Sedenion. Earth saved time itself from the
Dyzen'thari. We spoke the names of the Last Warden and solved the
Forever Paradox. Have you heard of the Legions of Kah'nai?"
   "Of course," says Martha. "And I know what became of them. Yes,
yes, you're a scrappy little planet indeed; so what? You've an
impressive resume, but it is only ten years long. What is any of this
against the three million year empire of the Pulse? And if you are so
resilient, why do you come begging for help?"
   "Don't look at it from our point of view," says Julie Ann. "Look at
it from yours. What happens to Gavloss if Earth wins?"
   The Matriarch shrugs. "Then you'll trade with someone else. Our
loss, I suppose, but we'll manage without you, as we have since time
before time."
   "No," says Julie Ann. "What happens to Gavloss when Earth wins, is
that there is no Gavloss. There is not even a memory of Gavloss. There
is only ashes, and sorrow."
   "What generous terms," says the Matriarch. "You're even stupider
than I thought. And as short-sighted as your ancestors. If this is the
like Earth chose as ambassador, it chose poorly. And in light of this,
I think it would be best if the both of you would take your leave
immediately. Allons-y!"

"Well," says Bethany once they had skedaddled back to the ship. "That
was another smashing success."
   "It was," says Julie Ann in complete seriousness. "When things
start to turn against the Pulse, she'll remember our threat. They all
will. All the planets we've visited, and all the planets we've yet to
visit. And when one of them turns, so will another, and another. Once
they realize that we can win, they're going to hurry to hop onto the
winning side, rather than risk our wrath. It's not even a matter of
whether we would actually do it; it's just enough that they think it's
credible. And if we can take out the Pulse, we're capable of
anything."
   "I'm not sure if the U.N. is going to feel the same way," says
Bethany dourly. "And after all, before we get any of them flocking
over to us, we've got to get the war to turn against the Pulse in the
first place, and we're not going to do that if we don't find someone
who's willing to take them on now, when things aren't weighing in our
favor, and why are you smiling?"
   "Because the Matriarch told us something very interesting today,"
says Julie Ann.
   "About?"
   "About Kyklokos."
   Bethany's eyes go wide. "They hate the Pulse. But you don't mean...?"
   "Enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?" says Julie Ann. "And I
think the greatest war machine in the universe will tip the scales in
our favor, don't you?"
   "And all the other planets will think we're crazy enough to
actually follow through on all that talk of ashes and sorrow. But
won't they just try to kill you on sight? Last of the Vanirron?"
   "Of course they will," says Julie Ann.
   "I have a bad feeling about this."
   "That's why you're flying solo on this one."
   "...Great."

COPYRIGHT (C) 2016 TOM RUSSELL.