The Archer's Paradox - The Travis Fletcher Chronicles Page 12
“Good wine, good company and good conversation.” She said, imitating his movements and taking a sip. It was not unpleasant; the taste seemed to change as it hit different parts of her mouth and there was an aftertaste, that did not manifest until she swallowed, that was different again. There was alcohol but there was not too much. She took another, larger sip, to verify her findings and smiled at him holding the glass out for a top up. He gladly obliged.
“So, tell me did errm...?” He began.
“Xnuk Ek’?” She finished for him.
“Yes. She didn’t really slow down time, did she?”
The other’s tinkling laugh was enchanting. “No, she increased the activity in your brain to make it work faster and seem like time slowed down.”
“Nice trick.” He acknowledged with a nod.
“Essential if you want to compete at her level.” The girl’s voice sounded a little irksome and he looked at her. “I need to practice more.” She finished with a down turned mouth.
He laughed a loud guffaw that startled her. “YOU need to practise more?!” He exclaimed. She looked at him and started laughing herself.
Xnuk Ek’ arrived at Wingu Kanzu’s cabin. The door slid aside and she entered. Her Nuuktak was pacing the floor with a thoughtful expression on his face. Two chairs appeared and he motioned her to sit. This was unusual as he normally sat behind his desk for formal meetings and kept her standing if she was in trouble for some transgression or other. During the training session with Travis Fletcher, her curiosity had got the better of her and she had defied the Ts’ats’aak’s warning and slipped past his defences while he was distracted. What she found troubled her. Another conundrum with no answer. She kept her screens in place as Wingu Kanzu was also closed off.
“How is...” He started.
“Travis Fletcher?” She finished. He raised an eyebrow in question. “I cannot find it in myself to call him The Original,” she admitted, “and he is not truly an alien, so the insult I gave him offends my honour, just a little, so I find myself using his name.” She finished.
“But you also called him ‘primitive’, ‘primate’ and ‘animal’.” The accusation came with a smile that took the sting out of it.
“True.” She admitted. “He is still primitive, compared to us, but the other insults were unwarranted. I believe he is frightened and alone, and I contemplated how I would react in similar circumstances. Also we have kept the truth from him by evasion and misdirection, and he is asking questions.” She paused a moment and looked her Nuuktak straight in the eye, challenging him.
“And what truth is that?” He replied, with a warning undertone.
“Who he really is and who we, the Xi Scorpii, are and why we need him.”
“Do you think he would understand?”
“I think he deserves to know.”
“And if he then refuses to help us? Would honour allow you to go against his wishes?” He leaned forward.
“I…I do not know.” She faltered and her eyes avoided his.
“I thought so,” he concluded. “You are not to offer information that would jeopardise the mission, unless honour does not allow you to avoid it, do you understand?” His voice brooked no argument.
“Yes, Nuuktak.” She agreed meekly while seething behind her shields. Wingu Kanzu was strong enough to get through her barrier, but if she had nothing to hide it would affront her honour, and he could not afford the confrontation. Xnuk Ek’ meanwhile was now caught in The Paradox of Honour; to dishonour herself by disobeying a direct command from her Nuuktak, or to satisfy her own honour by being truthful with Travis Fletcher. Also, she was sure Wingu Kanzu was keeping something significant from her, but she could not bring herself to question his honour directly, not without proof. If she was wrong, she would lose all honour and her life. She was not ready for that, she was only thirty five years old.
“Five days and we leave hyperspace, six and we will be back on Otoch, where he will no longer be your concern.” Wingu Kanzu reasoned.
She had been so busy with her duties and enjoying Lak’in’s company she had not realised they were so close to getting home. She was a little surprised at Wingu Kanzu’s cold and offhand attitude towards Travis Fletcher, but maybe she had got too close to him. Wingu Kanzu had been her Nuuktak for twenty years and she trusted him implicitly, but this trip had changed him somehow; he seemed distant and cold. She dare not show her feelings but maybe she should think again about her relationship with him. Aloud, she said, “It will be good to be home.”
“But would you consider another expedition?” He changed the subject abruptly, catching her off guard.
She considered the friends she had made on this trip and she wondered if she and Lak’in would keep in touch, she hoped so. “To Sol?”
“No, I have something much more interesting in mind.” He smiled.
She nodded vigorously. Xi Scorpii had only recently returned to the stars after The Fall and only had two Interstellar Explorers, so it was a great honour to be chosen to serve on an expedition, but to be asked to join a second was almost unimaginable. She had looked at the stars since she was a child, dreaming about what was out there and imagining what life was like before The Fall, if only to escape the drab land outside the city’s shield. Only the ships’ crews and senior scientists, like Wingu Kanzu, took regular tours, and they came back with such stories that fired her imagination and made her desperately wanted to see more. Of course, the main reason for the expeditions was to find a cure for their condition, as they had done, or to find ways of speeding the recovery of Otoch, but adventure was a welcome diversion from reality. In her excitement her shields had slipped a little, enough to give her mentor a hint of what she was thinking and he took advantage.
“Xnuk Ek’, you are my most promising Paal Kanik, you have also been one of the most problematic I have ever met. When you first came to me, your attention was always drifting elsewhere but your enthusiasm was boundless.” He paused, smiling at a sudden memory. “As you progressed you swung to the other extreme and became too serious and excluded everything from your life except your studies. This expedition has brought back some of the innocent enthusiasm from the Xnuk Ek’ I first met,” he paused again. “Exploration seems to suit you. Do not pass up the chance to fulfil your potential.” His final statement sounded more like a warning than sage advice, and she felt a chill run like ice water down her spine.
“Thank you, Nuuktak,” she said. “Will that be all?” She just wanted to be out of his range so she could examine her thoughts without fear.
“You have yet to give me your report on Travis Fletcher’s progress.” He eyed her carefully.
“Of course.” She replied, suppressing her urge to flee, and gave a full account of her progress, finishing with the assessment that he would be fit enough by the time they reached Otoch, but his mental discipline required more work, but he did seem to be an uncommonly fast learner, considering his background.
Wingu Kanzu nodded his satisfaction and dismissed her with instructions to keep him occupied until they could hand over responsibility for him to The Council.
Xnuk Ek’ left Wingu Kanzu’s quarters with her mind in disarray and wandered the corridors of the great ship aimlessly while trying to put her thoughts in order. She had always considered herself stable and focused, “boring” she heard her friend, Turix Dayak' whispering in her head, she allowed herself a small smile. Ever since Travis Fletcher had come into her life, her steady, ordered and, yes, even boring, life, had been turned upside down, although she could not bring herself to blame him directly; he was merely a piece in this puzzle. If it had not been him it would have been another from Sol 3. Or would it? Would another have had the same effect on her? Would she have just followed her orders and not noticed anything if it had been someone else that had been found?
She ran down the events that had brought her to this impasse: she had despised Sol 3 with its pollution and smells, she despised the inhabitants for allowin
g such a diverse and beautiful world to become so damaged, she openly despised Travis Fletcher as he lay dying, but there was something about his thoughts and that pitiful, broken body that touched her so she despised his carers for not being able to fix him. She was troubled when Wingu Kanzu refused to tell him the whole truth before persuading him to agree to come with them. She had lost her temper, not once but three times, since meeting him, she had altered his dreams without permission. Was it really dishonourable to enter his mind without permission, or was she satisfying her honour by showing him what she thought he should know? She was no longer so sure. She was troubled by Wingu Kanzu’s apparent disregard for Travis Fletcher’s wellbeing. It did appear that Wingu Kanzu, in league with The Council, had no intention of honouring his promise to ‘make his life worthwhile again.’ Unless he meant that Travis Fletcher was expected to sacrifice his life to save the Xi Scorpii race. That is what troubled Xnuk Ek’ more than anything.
She was too close to the problem and she needed someone to help her see clearly. But who to trust? Certainly none of the senior scientists; they would consider it their duty to report Xnuk Ek’’s problem to her Nohchil and she would be in a worse position than she was now. How about the old Ts’ats’aak, Sundaravāda Ciṭṭe? She seemed troubled by something in Travis Fletcher’s Mindscape that seemed important, but she did not know her well enough and therefore she was not to be trusted. Her friends? All Paal Kanik, but all she had left. Tezozomoc? Too wrapped up in himself and his art. She was not sure if he would understand. Atototl and Xocoyol were too wrapped up in each other and too immature. Turix Dayak'? Her best friend and trusted confidant, but not this time. That only left Lak’in; the only person she felt she could trust as much as Turix Dayak'. She stopped, took stock of where her meanderings had taken her and headed to his quarters.
Lak’in’s smile at the unexpected visit of Xnuk Ek’ quickly faded when he saw the troubled look in her eyes and the turmoil of her mind. Xnuk Ek’ had left enough of her defences down so that he could see she was in trouble without her giving away any particulars.
“Tell me about The Paradox of Honour” she asked, without preamble.
“The Paradox of Honour?” He repeated in query. She nodded, her eyes pleading not to ask questions yet. He summoned up a pair of chairs, facing each other, and refreshments. He motioned his friend to sit, poured her a drink and sat himself. He took a moment to gather his thoughts. No-one spoke of The Paradox of Honour lightly, and if they did it meant trouble, this time for both of them, he surmised looking at Xnuk Ek’’s face. “Will you tell me why?” He asked.
She looked at the floor and shook her head, “No, not yet” she whispered.
What had happened to bring his friend to this? He wanted to throw his arms around her, but she shot him a warning thought to keep his distance for the moment.
“Not yet.” she repeated.
He nodded. “The Paradox of Honour is a theory,” he began, “it is a conflict of honour against honour that cannot be resolved.” He held up a closed fist. “A matter of honour,” he held up a second fist and moved them close to each other, “that if executed would cause dishonour. The person is caught between, in The Paradox of Honour.” He indicated the space between his fists. “If the paradox cannot be resolved then…” He brought his fists together.
“Give me an example.” Xnuk Ek’ asked, her voice flat and emotionless.
Lak’in wracked his brain for a moment. “I cannot,” he admitted. “It is only a theory. We are taught to live within the Codes of Honour from when we are born.” Xnuk Ek’ nodded agreement. “If you live and act within the Codes, your honour cannot be questioned.” He continued. “There have been many documented instances, but they have all been resolved one way or another.”
“I have an example.” She still did not look him in the eye and her shields were now impenetrable. Lak’in waited, without comment. She spoke slowly, choosing her words carefully. “If someone was given a choice that that would mean either life or death for them,” she held up a fist, imitating Lak’in, “but they were not given the full facts, so they chose life, but their choice would end their life anyway.” She paused a moment and held his eyes. “Did the choice giver act honourably or dishonourably?” She asked.
“Dishonourably.” He replied warily.
“So,” she held up her second fist and brought the two close together, as Lak’in had done. “If the death of this one person saved the lives of millions, did the choice giver act honourably or dishonourably?” She finished, still holding his eyes with her fists between them.
“Dishonourably.” He replied, no longer sure of himself.
“If the death of this one person could save a race from extinction?”
Lak’in had no answer. She smashed her fists together indicating she was caught between them. The colour drained from his handsome, tanned face and he fought down a wave of nausea at the enormity of what his friend had brought to him. If their conversation ever got out of the cabin it would have serious consequences for both of them, Xnuk Ek’ most of all. On the one hand he wished he had never met her, but on the other he was glad she trusted his council, such as it was, above all others, including the senior crew.
“Will you give me specific details now?” He might as well know everything and the telling may show a way out.
“I feel dishonour because I did not insist Travis Fletcher was told what might happen if he came with us.” Her voice was small and wavered with uncharacteristic emotions. “I even tampered with his dreams to give him a hint.”
“Must he die to save us?” Lak’in asked, ignoring her admission at entering another’s thoughts without permission.
“No.” She shook her head slowly. “We were expecting Sol 3 to be populated by Originals and that at least one could be persuaded to help us. An Original would be able to undergo the operation safely and with no after effects, as Wingu Kanzu explained to me when he asked me to be his Aantah for this mission. So if Travis Fletcher is trained properly and his higher functions activated, a highly skilled Ts’ats’aak can extract what we need, but it would be a long process.” She dropped her head and looked at the floor to hide her expression. “Something changed between then and when we found Travis Fletcher. It seems to me that The Council will not wait, so his brain will be dissected as soon as we reach Otoch, and he will die in the process.”
“Other than the death of The Original, what is different?” Lak’in asked, trying to understand and find an answer to this mess.
“We can only treat a limited number of people because the cure would deteriorate quickly.”
“And who would choose the lucky few?” He asked, rhetorically. The expression on her face confirmed the answer: The Council. “And if we wait?”
“We could synthesise a cure from the extracted tissue that could treat everybody in maybe ten or twenty years or so.”
“You must confront Wingu Kanzu.” Lak’in said, maybe a little too forcefully.
“I cannot. What if I am wrong? I have no proof and my honour would be forfeit.” She replied plaintively, shaking her head. “Also I am sure he is under the orders of The Council. I cannot go against an agent of The Council.”
“Then you are truly caught in The Paradox of Honour.” He could not believe what he was saying.
“What can I do?” She pleaded.
Lak’in got up and paced the room, deep in thought. Xnuk Ek’ followed him with her eyes. Her mind was in such turmoil she could not hold a cognitive thought. Had her short life come to this? She wished she had never been asked to come on this mission and that she had never heard of Sol 3 or Travis Fletcher. She was going to die for honour for a man she did not know and was not sure if he had any honour himself. Her friends would never speak of her again and her name would be erased from existence. That was the end result of someone caught in The Paradox of Honour. She felt tears of regret forming in her eyes.
Lak’in finally stopped his pacing and faced her, a grim look on h
is face. “The Paradox of Honour,” he began, “is two conflicting forces, agreed?” He finished, holding his fists together again.
Xnuk Ek’ nodded. “Agreed.”
“So to break the paradox you must introduce a third force that will nullify the other two.” He brought a fist vertically upward and spread his fingers, moving his hands apart to indicate the dispersion of the paradox. It was Xnuk Ek’’s time to stand and pace in thought. Lak’in sat and watched her. He liked to watch her move; she was the most graceful person he had ever met, even now with all her troubles.
“I have an idea.” She announced suddenly and bent to kiss her friend.
“May I know?” He asked.
“No,” she replied with a grim smile, “because you would try and stop me.” As he rose to argue with her she delivered a stunning blow to a particular nerve cluster and he collapsed unconscious to the ground. “And I am sorry, because if this fails I cannot have you dishonoured along with me.” She whispered. She knelt to make sure her victim was not injured, but also to make sure he would not wake in time to foil her plan. She stroked his face and left a message for him in the form of a dream which included her apology and a replay of their last ‘session’ together for him to enjoy. Satisfied, she left the cabin and headed for her own quarters. There was something she needed.
The door chimed softly, dragging Travis out of a deep sleep. He groggily opened his eyes as the door slid open to reveal Xnuk Ek’. She had an odd expression on her face that Travis could not identify. As she surveyed the scene, the silver in her eyes flashed dangerously. He struggled to full wakefulness and took in his surroundings; there was still a half empty bottle on the table, the third, if he remembered correctly, and two glasses. He was slouched forward with his feet on the low table he had created and the young alien girl was asleep on his chest with her feet tucked under her legs, her thick black hair covering her face. She had released it from the severe, multi-banded pony-tail favoured by males and females alike after the second bottle. Travis’ arm was resting protectively round the girl’s shoulder while she slept, breathing gently. Sensing something was amiss, Niji No Tori stirred and swept her hair from her face. On seeing Xnuk Ek’’s expression she sat bolt upright, her mouth open in shock.