Platonia (12.2)

Droselphine approached the crew and led them to a bench in the front. She took a chair facing the audience.

"After our evening story, we will have a simple dinner, and by then it will be time for sleep," Droselphine said in a voice that all could hear, although it seemed more intended for the Star Traveler crew.

Captain Mitchell sat his MTD down on the floor beside her so it could pick up her voice more efficiently. Droselphine started the story…

"A few years ago, we were all members of the Platonian Military Guild, a large body of Platonians whose intent is nothing short of capturing and plundering other worlds and peoples. Not all of us are of that mind. About thirty percent of the Platonians in the Military are conscripted, some as early as the ages of six to nine. They are forced to leave their homes and they are trained in the way of murder and deceit." Droselphine glanced at the Star Traveler crew sitting on the first bench on the right hand row. "Hate, greed, and the desire to plunder were drilled into all of us. I, myself, was kidnapped at age seven. For many years, I followed the orders of my commanding officers. Then one day, that all started to change.

"It happened when I was eighteen years old. While seated at the mess hall, a fellow soldier came and sat next to me. I was deep in thought and he must have noticed.

"'What are you thinking about?'" He asked me.

"What?" I asked, startled.

"'You look just like my children used to when they were thinking deeply about something they didn't quite understand,' He said, 'what's on your mind?'"

"Tentatively, I told him that I was wondering why we are trained to feel such malice towards others, most of whom we have never met, and to bring pain and suffering to those who have done nothing to us.

"To my surprise, he smiled. It is a very rare thing to see someone in the Military Guild smile. He told me that 'I Am' wants us to love one another and that the Military Leader, Escrib, was leading us astray.

"'I Am'? Who is 'I Am'?" I asked him.

"Before he could answer, two guards came over and confronted him. They said he was spreading brainwashing nonsense that would not be tolerated. That was the last time I saw him." Droselphine stopped a moment and stared at the ceiling before continuing with her tale.

"Anyway, as I was saying-- from that day on, I began to question the orders we were being given. This caused me to be sent into solitary confinement quite a few times. The more I was sent there and the longer my sentences became, the more I began to question our way of life.

"I soon began to find other soldiers of the similar opinion. Eventually, we all decided that we didn't want to live like that anymore. One of us had heard tales, mostly made fun of by the others in the Guild, about a town of peaceful Platonians. We decided to escape and see if the tales were true. Anything had to be better than what we were being ordered to do.

"We determined we would leave the following night. We carefully planned our escape. We left under cover of darkness and after seven days of traveling on foot, we found the town just about hidden between three hills, right where the stories had said it would be.

"It was in that town that our lives changed completely. We were told about 'I Am' and about His great love for us; how he created all living things and how he created us to care for our planet, to love one another, and to worship him.

"After hearing this news, we decided to never return to the Guild and to turn away from evil and wrongdoing and live the way 'I Am' wants us to.

"I do believe you humans refer to him more frequently as 'God'." The Star Traveler crew all nodded in agreement.

"Well, after spending a week in the town known to us as Quiescence, we left to try to bring the good news of hope, love and joy to the billions of Platonians living in the Guild. Our news was not warmly welcomed by the Commandant. We were lucky that he banished us rather than having us destroyed. Even as we were banished, our message had struck a chord. When we travelled back into the country a messenger reached out to us with the news that others had chosen a new path. Among them my brother, Elnhide.

"A year earlier, my brother had secretly invented an electronic… I guess you'd call them walkie-talkies or two-way radios. The Guild, had designed a high frequency energy wave that monitors and disables all electronic devices, uncertified by the government. The equipment detected and disabled most frequencies of electricity and radio signals. My brother found the frequencies not affected by the weapon. My brother programmed his walkie-talkies that used one of these 'ghost' frequencies. He sent me one of the two-way radios so we could stay in touch.

"My brother is stationed in the medical squad, yet secretly he is a computer technician. He hacks into the headquarters' main computer to keep tabs on everything that is going on. Our other two insiders tell my brother of any members who wish to desert and find a new way of life. My brother radios us and we secretly organize a way to get them out. The deserters either go off to Quiescence or stay here in our underground city. Some return to the barracks, in order to further our cause.

'Those of us who worship, trust, and obey 'I Am' make up a small minority. It is our mission, to spread our news to others. One day, we would also like to take our mission to other planets.

"Anyway, early this morning, my brother hacked into the mainframe computer and found your ship, the Star Traveler, on radar. Realizing that you were listed in the mainframe as enemies, he called us. Knowing that you had already entered the frequency barrier that blankets our planet, he knew we must hurry. He was sure that troops had already been sent to capture you. He transmitted what he could find about you, so we could be of some help to you. We sent young Atet to bring you here; she knows how to hide well and was the least likely to be caught. She would also be the least intimidating to a crew of people who were forced to land in unsafe conditions. The Guild has become very determined to find and eliminate our people. It is unlikely they will be able to find the city of Quiescence, let alone our enclave.

Shortly after Atet left we sent Tack and Endil to see to hiding your ship. Meanwhile, we used my brother's information to create a warm atmosphere in your rooms, provide suitable clothing, and prepare food to your liking. We wanted you to feel at ease. It is our creed, to help those that need us. I do believe that you are now up-to-date with just about everything."

With that, Droselphine ended the story and rose to her feet. Captain Mitchell stood and shook her hand.

"We thank you for your hospitality," Captain Mitchell said, "but I am sorry to say that, although we are grateful to all of you, we must leave as soon as possible. We were on a mission to respond to a distress call from one of our ships in a planetary system named Nemir before we crash-landed here."

"We understand," Droselphine bowed her head. "I'll call my brother to see if he can help, and after our maintenance specialists Tack and Endil bring back a status report, we will know best how to get you on your way. Meanwhile, it is getting late and you all must get some rest. After a light dinner, you should get to bed, and we shall see to your ship in the morning,"

"I have to admit we are pretty worn out. Thank you for your hospitality," Captain Mitchell responded.

The next morning Laurie awoke, early as usual, and anxious to explore the vast underground passageways that made up the hidden village. She passed her hand along the symbols carved into the walls as she walked slowly down the halls. After quite a few minutes, she came upon a pair of open wooden doors.

Laurie peeked in and saw walls lined with maps and charts: maps of the planet, star charts, and charts illustrating other subjects. In the center of the room there were swivel chairs mostly facing a free-standing chalkboard. She was reminded of a classroom.

"Come in," Droselphine beckoned and Laurie's MTD repeated the phrase to her in Earth Standard from its clip on her belt.

It works even when closed! Laurie smiled to herself.

Laurie edged her way in, looking around her.

"So you are an explorer?" Droselphine turned from studying one of the maps.

"Yes ma'am; I love to discover and learn about new things. But how did you know I was in the hall?"

"I did not know that it was you, exactly, but I did hear the footsteps in the hall stop at the door. My people are not early risers, unless there something on our mind. I thought that to be the case with the owner of the footsteps," she smiled. "I thought the early-morning prowler might like to chat."

Laurie smiled glancing at the smooth stone floor, then back at the matron.

"Well, actually I am an early riser, nothing specific is really bothering me. I just felt curious, that's all."

"Curiosity can be a good trait, if we are careful with it. Now I am curious. I expected the crew of the Star Traveler to be a bit apprehensive toward us. I know our forces attacked Earthlings on Exandra. At first the rest of your team was, until they heard our story. Given their suspicions, I was surprised that you were not alarmed. Atet mentioned that it was you that encouraged them to follow her. You seemed ‒ merely curious," Droselphine said.

"I am an ECOP; I have been trained to detect if someone is trustworthy or not. My instincts did put me on my guard at first. Especially, when your small emissary was seen standing at the end of our ship's ramp. But my senses told me that she was trying to help us. That's when caution changed to curiosity," Laurie answered.

"I see. I've heard stories about the ECOPs from my brother."

"Your brother has been to Exandra?" Laurie asked.

"Yes. He was stationed in the medical facilities on their base there. He had been there for about a year when the Guild mounted their attack. He told that, before the attack, some hostage spies were brought in. He secretly did what he could for their wounds. He saw first-hand the bravery of the hostages, and the justice of the ECOPs. The tales of the Guild, of course, painted these ambassadors of peace as crazy vicious creatures; he was convinced otherwise.

"He was transferred back to our home planet when the base was deserted."

Laurie nodded. "We were all hoping we wouldn't have to fight them, but it seemed like the only way to protect our homes and families."

"Yes. My brother was glad that the inhabitants of Exandra and Lask joined together to attack." Droselphine added. "Speaking of which, I talked to my brother late last night. Elnhide told me that he did some 'snooping' and found out that there was a Platonian spy sent to Exandra to put a virus in your ship's star charts so you could not find your way or detect that the ship was on a different course than you intended. This Platonian was also instructed to use a formula developed by the Guild to put the crew to sleep so that you could not correct the course your ship was taking. My brother told me that whatever your mission was, he's guessing it would somehow have interfered with the Guild's long-term plans and they wanted to buy some time without causing too much suspicion.

"I told my brother last night that you were headed to the neighboring Small Magellanic Cloud galaxy, in response to a distress call in one of its planetary systems, Nemir. Elnhide told me that a Platonian warship also reported damages that will delay their return to home base. They were in orbit around the planet you call Fendol."

"A Platonian warship in the same area that our EC ship was last heard from," Laurie murmured.

"Mmhm," Droselphine responded with a nod. "My brother said that they were initially sent to intercept and capture some ship --and the distress call you received--"

"--was received the same day as the Platonian war ship's report."

"Your EC ship could be in serious trouble."

"Or blown to pieces. I need to go find Captain Mitchell; we need to leave as soon as possible!" Laurie exclaimed, her eyes wide with urgency.

The matron nodded.

"I'll call Tack and Endil; you will need help finding your ship in its disguise."

"Thank you," Laurie replied, running back the way she had come.