49. Rain Of Fire
1308 Words
We get in 2 shuttles. 1 is going to land, the other is going to float. We get above the village and turn the lights on. People point up at us and yell. They don't run, they watch us. Then we get to the ground. The people drop to their knees.
I get out with Alden, Victor, Tobias, Clark, Elek, Collin, and Alkawn. People try to sneak up and touch us. Then they back up quickly.
Alkawn nods. "They think we're Gods."
Tobias smiles. "Who is in charge here?"
They point us to a little hut. Then an old man comes out. He laughs. "Well, this is different. Are you Gods?"
I shake my head. "No sir, we have more technology than you."
Tobias nods. "If the planet submits, we can give you better technology."
"I will show you all something. But it is a long walk. Let's get horses."
"We can take the shuttle. It's faster." I point at it.
He tilts his head. "Is it safe?"
"Yea, that's how we got down here."
"Down?"
"From space."
"You're from space?"
"A different planet. Up there somewhere."
The old man gets in the shuttle with us and directs it to a cave. We follow him in. "This is where our people hide during the end of days."
"End of days?"
"Every 12 hundred years, the heavens rain down fire on us. Nearly all civilization is wiped out. Entire species of animals are made extinct. It's etched on these walls."
I grab the brain. "Figure out what rain of fire is."
"Yes ma'am. Can you narrow down the rain of fire, sir?"
"Boulders of fire falling from the skies."
"Searching now."
"Thank you."
"The last civilization tried to make technology to combat the rains, but we don't know what it is. Very few survived, but they were able to repopulate."
Alden crosses his arms. "Do you have any of the technology they created?"
"Yes sir. We keep it in this cave." We move deeper into the cave and I can't make sense of anything. The etches on the walls are very clear though.
"When was the last rain of fire?"
"A little over 400 years ago."
"This planet passes through a meteor belt every 1200 years. It would be passing through for 8 to 10 days. The next pass is 783 years. The planet will be destroyed. It is in the direct path of a meteor larger than itself. Nothing can be done."
The man shakes his head. "Well, that's some bad news."
"Not necessarily. We have 783 years to prepare. We can get your people moved to a new planet in that time. I know we can find 1 in 700 years."
Clark nods. "We can find you an empty planet or merge you into another 1. But we're not going to let your people get wiped out."
Alden drops something to the ground. "Can you make anything out of this?" The brain goes over and checks the area.
Another brain pulls me out. "A large area of gold has been found on this planet."
"How large?"
"There is more gold in it than there is on your entire planet."
"Where is it?"
"An unexplored continent."
"Would it hurt the people here if we take it?"
"No."
"Being operations to get it out. It's going to blow up in 700 years anyway."
"Requesting 3,000 brains to the area. We will begin mining immediately. Once processed, it can be returned to the ship."
"Do you need anything else?"
"No, we can build the items to mine and process it from what's on the planet."
"Only 3,000?"
"With 3,000 we will be done in 12 years. 6,000 will take 6 years. Completion within 5 years is not possible no matter how many brains you send."
"Send 6,000 and return the shuttles immediately."
"We will notify you when gold can begin being removed from the planet."
"Thank you. Any other ore here we need or can use?"
"We have located nothing rare and no big deposits of anything else. The search is ongoing, ma'am."
"Good. Write out the full report and seal it confidential. Put it on my desk. Also, is there a vault on my ship?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Put a vault on the smaller ship plans as well."
"Yes, ma'am."
"What was that about?"
I turn and smile at Alden. "I'll tell you later, sir. Are they making any progress?"
"They're going to submit to him, and he's agreeing to get them off the planet within 700 years."
"Well, I guess we have got time to find a new planet."
We laugh. Then he puts his arm around me and leads me to a flower. I smile and touch it. It's so soft.
"Sir, would you like to send out a message to anyone coming close to this planet in a ship? They have submitted."
"Yea, I better." He moves over and stands in front of a tree. "You have entered restricted airspace. It is under restriction by High King Alden. This is our planet. Everything you do here is being monitored. This planet is under evacuation orders. It is on course to hit a meteor. This is a global killer. Evacuate the area."
"That will be sent to all approaching ships, sir."
"Thank you. I think there's a total of 1 other ship right now though."
I smile. "True, but in 700 years there will be more, and they could really get hurt by then."
Victor comes over to us. "Now I need another planet."
Collin runs over. "No. I get 1 first."
Alden shakes his head. "Fix up the 1 you have and make some improvements to their lives, Victor. Give someone else a turn."
"Nobody has even submitted to you at a king level yet. They're going to walk away with their planets."
I laugh. "And I'll run a warship up their asses."
The boys laugh, and we walk over to the shuttles.
The village has 3 times as many people in it now. They are dancing and seem to be starting a big feast.
I smile at a girl dancing. "Why so happy?"
"King Tobias. He will save us all from the rains of fire."
"Yea, he will. He might even give you some shoes."
Then I get pulled by another girl to the fire. I laugh and start dancing with them. They do seem to be happy people. We mingle with them for an hour, then Tobias stands on a table. "I WILL RETURN WITH THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIVES EASIER AND WE WILL BEGIN LOOKING FOR A NEW PLANET FOR YOU. I WILL RETURN WITHIN 2 WEEKS."
I grab a brain. "Put 25,000 brains on this continent and keep watch for any issues."
"Yes ma'am."
I motion for Tobias. "I'm bringing 25,000 brains down. You need to make sure some officials here know how to get a hold of you before you leave. They have to be able to contact you for emergencies."
"Ok, thank you." He runs off again.
Tara comes up to me. "This is really good. You want to try it?"
"Not at all. I had people try to give me blue meat once. I will only eat when I know what the food is now."
"I didn't think about that."
"Do not offend them with that food. If you don't want anymore, pass it off for someone else to try or pretend to finish it."
"Good thinking." She roams towards the shuttle.
Alden scoops me up. "Did you send some brains down, baby?"
"Yea, 25,000 and I told Tobias to make sure the people know how to get a hold of him."
He puts me back on my feet and kisses my head. "My smart girl." Then he leads me to the shuttle and we pile in with everyone else.
- Writer
