Joyride Chapter 3

The thought of Earth terrified Luna. Of the known habitable worlds, Earth was among the most hostile. The planet was prone to mass extinction, with sudden climatic shifts, planet wide storms and immense volcanic eruptions that blackened the sky. Even the marauders dared not set foot there – they had lost every expedition crew they had ever sent. The sole survivor told of giant horned beasts that could trample or gore a dozen men and vicious predators that could silently stalk an unsuspecting prey before tearing it apart with razor sharp claws and teeth.

Deadliest of all this world’s predators were the ones called humans. The creatures who had killed Luna’s mother and father.

Luna would stand before the council of elders the following morning to formally accept the assignment her uncle had told her of. Presently, she let the feeling of fear pass and brought to mind the beautiful feline creatures she had helped set free. She relaxed knowing that the mother and her cubs would go on living in freedom.

The Council of Elders convened to discuss a grave threat to the Spira civilization – one such not seen for many generations. Four representatives from each of the Spira homeworlds were gathered in the council chambers on Luna’s planet of Saritania. Seated at the center of a semi-circular desk was Luna’s uncle, Sempres. As host to the representatives from other worlds, he presided over the meeting. The desk to Sempres’ right was conspicuously empty.

Luna had seldom seen Spira from other worlds, and was struck by the physical diversity of beings she saw in the room. They were all the descendants of the same lost ancestral homeworld, but over countless generations, each planet’s population had adapted to their respective environments, and evolution took its course. She had never before seen a Spira from the water world of Amphelia. With blue skin, gills and webbed fingers, they could scarcely be thought of as the same species any more. Seated at the opposite end of the desk were the members from Thaleos, who had adapted the ability to photosynthesize through their green skin, and grew lush bouquets of leaves and flowers from their heads instead of hair.

Luna suddenly became conscious of her appearance, and wondered if her long black hair and copper-toned skin seemed as strange to these creatures.

“Thank you, delegates, for making the journey here to be with us” Sempres began. “Council member Veshano, our head researcher of developing worlds, has violated our constitution. He resides on a distant planet called Earth, where he researches indigenous life. His primary focus is a species in the early stages of civilization, called humans. Veshano has begun to interfere in the dealings of human culture, in violation of our laws. He has ceased communication with our world and installed himself as a leader among the humans. Veshano must be brought back to Saritania to stand trial before the Spira council.”

“How do you propose we bring him back?” asked a member of the Thalean delegation.

Councilor Karuna, the woman seated beside Sempres, replied “we need to avoid any collateral damage to this developing civilization. As such, we need to use the utmost discretion.” She glanced at Luna, then returned her focus to the Thalean delegate. “We will send Luna, a protection officer for sanctuary planets, to apprehend Veshano. She has proven quite resourceful in apprehending poachers without being detected.”

The Thalean delegate turned to face Luna, and studied her. Luna again felt self-conscious as she became aware of just how different this woman was from herself. The leafy vines growing from her head gave the impression of flowing locks, and a ring of bright yellow flowers above her ears formed a crown. Her eyes were like Luna’s, white with brown irises, and the shape of her body was more or less the same. She wore the same black robes as all of the council members, her green hands folded on the table before her.

“Luna” she began. “You intercept poachers on undeveloped worlds, yes?”

“That is correct.” Luna replied.

“Have you ever been tasked with intercepting a marauder raiding party?”

In addition to poaching animals off of wilderness planets, the marauder gangs would send raiding parties to ransack primitive civilizations, loot their treasures and take any captives as slaves. Raiding parties were larger and more heavily armed than simple poaching outfits. As such, interdicting these dangerous groups was military jurisdiction.

“I have not” Luna said, feeling uneasy about the question.

“Have you been trained to engage a raiding party in a simulated exercise?”

“No.”

The Thalean delegate turned back to Karuna and said “Are you sure about sending this officer to apprehend Veshano? Luna is not trained for this. I recommend military intervention.”

“I will not start a war with Veshano” Karuna replied. “That could destroy the planet. Luna will have support from the military – resources and intelligence – but we will not engage in all out war.”

Turning back to Luna, the Thalean said “Coucilors Sempres and Karuna speak very highly of you. Your record of service is exemplary, but you should know that Veshano is far more dangerous than any poacher gang. He is the reason marauders will not set foot on that planet. Before you accept this assignment, I suggest you read his accounts of his time on Earth.”