Lightning Force | Mangal Patel
The lightning storm raged endlessly across the dark grey sky. Shooting randomly, in all directions, each jagged bolt illuminated the sharp contours of the terrain, briefly highlighting the reds and purples of the Earthmen’s dwellings. There was no rain, just zigzag spasms of blinding white light followed by thunderous rumbles that vibrated through the vast, gnarled trunks of overgrown, ancient trees.
Old Inorat gazed out from the cherry shaped tower of the domed encasement that was now home to his tribe. His wizened body leant against the wobbly walls. His mind weary with the unrelenting burden of failure to protect his people barely supported his ambition of curtailing the activities of the Earthmen. Fleeing from a war ravaged, dying planet they had sought sanctuary in his bountiful land. At first, they only wanted shelter and his tribe had welcomed them, even built them the protective sustaining domes that supplied them with carefully controlled air and water.
Soon, the Earthmen had discovered the precious liquids that flowed in underground streams and had begun trading this with other hungry planets. Their numbers multiplied rapidly as news of prosperity reached Earth. They came in droves, eager for fresh conquests.
With the growth came strange machines with minds of steely logic. His land was quickly ravaged, the landscape became harsh, the horizon now a lifeless murky grey. The depletion of the precious liquids weakened the gravity and altered the atmosphere such that it was now his tribe who depended on the domes originally built for the new arrivals. His roaming tribe had been slow to realize the dwindling of free areas they could wander over. Now they were trapped in their own creations.
As he stood in silent desperation a soft hand gently slipped into his. “The storm is more fierce this day yet there is still no rain,” Neeara, his only surviving daughter observed.
Inorat looked into Neeara’s bright blue eyes. “Yes and there are many more lightning bolts without accompanying thunder. Did you notice that there is a mass of luminous green mist arising from the point where these bolts land?”
“Yes and it has been rapidly growing. Is this more of the Earthmen’s tampering with nature? They have already caused so much damage. Our tribe numbers are diminishing with so many of our people dying before their time.” Neeara cast her eyes towards the distant sky, remembering the gentle hues of pinks and oranges that had once peeped out through fluffy silver clouds. The two oval Moons, which had once showered their land in rainbows, competed no longer for mastery over the waves. They had long forsaken this planet, released from their orbit by the weakening gravity. Their Sun now loomed closer, imprisoning them in increasing heat. Shielded from view by blankets of heavy grey, it was hardly ever seen, its disappearance marked by the absence of shadows.
Neeara, roused by these bittersweet memories found renewed resolve. “We must try again to contain the Earthmen.”
“But all our warriors are weak and no longer able to venture outside the Dome for more than a few hours.” Inorat knew the ‘She Warrior’ standing beside him had strength underneath that slender frame and a loyal following of fierce young warriors but their small band would be no match for the multitudes of Earthmen with their devastating robots.
“Maybe it is not numbers or strength that is needed. The Earthmen are strong but greedy for wealth and power. We need to exploit this blind spot of theirs but first I must investigate this strange green mist gathering on the horizon.”
*
Somehow the storm seemed more severe from the Earthmen’s dwellings. Here the wind, deafening in its ferocity, beat furiously over the lake whipping up cauldrons of sparkly white froth. How The President longed to be back within the safety of the domes the Tribe had built for them. “Why have our scientists not found a way to control these storms? Why does a primitive tribe have the secrets to building sustaining structures?”
The Generals surrounding him dared not breathe. Only a young man, with tousled fair hair and thoughtful eyes answered. “Father, the Tribe has a deep understanding of nature. Their knowledge comes from ancient wisdom passed unspoken from one generation to the next.”
“Yes, Yes Alex. I know. But why have our best scientists with their brains programmed in highest logic failed to reveal these secrets? This storm has been raging for days now and the gathering of that luminous green light is menacing. That was not planned.”
“Oh yes Sir, that is no Sir, that was not planned.” HS101 the highly strung robot whirled round and round, twisting and wringing his bony metal fingers. LB666, his laid back companion, merely sighed continuing to rock gently back and forth. HS and LB were the latest super intelligent models with a new feature of built in personalities. Unfortunately, the computerised manufacturing machine had hiccupped during the personality forging process resulting in production of aptly named, Highly Strung 101 and Laid Back 666.
“Stop! Stop! Alex, take these idiots to the source of that green mist and deal with it.”
*
Silence reigned underneath the sprawling green mist. As each lightning bolt penetrated through the mist, thousands of bright photons emerged from its midst, each one carrying the genetic material of a Light Soldier. Ambassador Peatro’s heart was heavy as he watched the army of Light Soldiers grow into solid forms. “It is a shame these Earthmen have ruined this planet as well as their own. They have misused their intelligence to control nature for their benefit without regard to the consequences on the universe. They will have to agree to our terms or else they will be eliminated.”
*
Neeara and Alex arrived at the green mist from different paths. Each party blinded by the luminosity, stumbled into each other without any warning. HS101 shrieked and fell onto his knees, LB666 looked on unflinchingly. Their weapons ready for attack, Alex and Neeara whirled round and quickly dropped their arms.
“What are you doing here?” both exclaimed. Alex was the first to recover. “Neeara, this place isn’t safe. You should get back to your Dome.”
“You go back to where you came from. This is our land.”
“You know that’s impossible, besides, I’d miss you.”
“I guess I’d miss you too but for the sake of our planet you must leave.”
“My father would never agree.”
A shaft of light broke through the green mist and with a mesmerising fluidity came close to the two opposing parties.
“What are you?” Neeara and Alex gasped in unison.
“I am Ambassador Peatro sent by the joint forces of the Inter Galactic Federation to restore balance to this part of the Universe. Your gravity has weakened too rapidly due to the depletion of the core liquid. This is creating instability in neighbouring planets which cannot be tolerated. I am sorry but the Earthmen will have to be returned to their planet.”
“You have no authority here. My father is President and he will never agree.”
“And mine is King here and he will be delighted to assist.”
Alex and Neeara instinctively drew closer, their fingers almost touching as they realised this would also mean their separation. Secret friends since childhood, they had developed a deep love for each other despite their warring parents.
“The Earthmen must be removed, with or without their consent and the damage reversed.” Ambassador Peatro waved for the Light Soldiers to capture and bind Alex and Neeara.
“You two robots, let the leaders know they must come to this place straightaway otherwise their offspring will be vaporised.”
HS101 and LB666 slunk quickly and silently into the surrounding darkness, happy for once to be robots and so of no interest to this forbidding force.
“Well this is a fine to do. The President will have us scrapped if we go back with this message and the King will have us smelted slowly when he finds his daughter is captured. Neither will come willingly,” whimpered HS101.
“But they will if each one believes this new force has immense powers and wealth and that the other one is already on his way to the Ambassador to agree a Treaty. Neither will want to be outdone and the President is especially susceptible to making history,” rocked LB666.
“Why that would be lying, but it is so cunning! I didn’t think we were programmed to think in such ways. That manufacturing hiccup has had more interesting side effects than our makers have realised. Oh dear! Oh dear!”
*
The President and Inorat stood in silent astonishment in front of the Ambassador. Captivated and overawed by the endless rows of Light Soldiers reaching back into the horizon, their anger at being deceived gave way to fear of what was to come.
The Ambassador was puzzled by the surprised looks the two leaders had first presented. Out of the corner of his eyes he noticed HS101 fidgeting nervously and LB666 just rocking to and fro and understood these two robots to be more than they seemed.
“By order of The Inter Galactic Federation we have come to remove the Earthmen from this planet and restore the Planet’s proper orbit,” the Ambassador proclaimed.
Watching the Light Soldiers increase in numbers, wave upon wave, the President quickly grasped the futility of resisting the Federation. “I see you have innovated decomposition of beings into basic DNA and its encapsulation within photons of light for mass transportation via lightning. This is how you’ve sneaked in before our very eyes and I suppose there are many more millions to come if needed. But you must know that our people cannot return to what will be a certain death. That planet can no longer support life. There must be another way.”
The Ambassador was resolute, he had his orders. The Light Soldiers began to stir, moving as armies of ants, the earth pounding to the beat of their march. Overhead, the clouds became inky black and the thunder roared.
Inorat hated what had been done to his land but he knew the Earthlings could not survive back on their planet. His heart melted to think so many would perish but he was powerless to help. Glancing round he saw the desperate faces of Neeara and Alex and understood instantly their deepening heartbreak.
With a deep guttural “Hurrum”, LB666 interrupted, “Perhaps if the atmosphere can be altered back to suit the Tribe as it once did, and the Earthmen move back into the Dome, they could all continue living on this planet. As for the gravity, HS101 and I could change the properties of the green mist to help restore that.”
“Well that would be a better option,” The President, anxious for the continuance of his race, reluctantly agreed. Inorat wanting nothing more than to roam free once again, agreed. Alex and Neeara stole hopeful looks at each other.
One by one the Light Soldiers shrank back into tiny specks of light forming bolts of lightning on an upward trajectory. No thunder accompanied their departure. The green mist remained, its properties altered to replenish and nourish the core liquid. HS101 and LB666 being the latest model of robot scientists, albeit with malfunctioning personalities, were granted independence from the Earthlings. Their role was now to work with the green mist to restore and maintain the planet’s orbit, which they did with only occasional lapses into mischievous misadventure. The rest settled into the mostly, harmonious union of ‘in-laws’.
In the star studded clear sky above, there was no more lightning, no more thunder, just twinkling spangles of light. The two epileptic moons balanced delicately, cast gentle shadows from their golden rays. Gentle rainbows danced with the healing green mist amidst the whispering waves.
Old Inorat gazed out from the cherry shaped tower of the domed encasement that was now home to his tribe. His wizened body leant against the wobbly walls. His mind weary with the unrelenting burden of failure to protect his people barely supported his ambition of curtailing the activities of the Earthmen. Fleeing from a war ravaged, dying planet they had sought sanctuary in his bountiful land. At first, they only wanted shelter and his tribe had welcomed them, even built them the protective sustaining domes that supplied them with carefully controlled air and water.
Soon, the Earthmen had discovered the precious liquids that flowed in underground streams and had begun trading this with other hungry planets. Their numbers multiplied rapidly as news of prosperity reached Earth. They came in droves, eager for fresh conquests.
With the growth came strange machines with minds of steely logic. His land was quickly ravaged, the landscape became harsh, the horizon now a lifeless murky grey. The depletion of the precious liquids weakened the gravity and altered the atmosphere such that it was now his tribe who depended on the domes originally built for the new arrivals. His roaming tribe had been slow to realize the dwindling of free areas they could wander over. Now they were trapped in their own creations.
As he stood in silent desperation a soft hand gently slipped into his. “The storm is more fierce this day yet there is still no rain,” Neeara, his only surviving daughter observed.
Inorat looked into Neeara’s bright blue eyes. “Yes and there are many more lightning bolts without accompanying thunder. Did you notice that there is a mass of luminous green mist arising from the point where these bolts land?”
“Yes and it has been rapidly growing. Is this more of the Earthmen’s tampering with nature? They have already caused so much damage. Our tribe numbers are diminishing with so many of our people dying before their time.” Neeara cast her eyes towards the distant sky, remembering the gentle hues of pinks and oranges that had once peeped out through fluffy silver clouds. The two oval Moons, which had once showered their land in rainbows, competed no longer for mastery over the waves. They had long forsaken this planet, released from their orbit by the weakening gravity. Their Sun now loomed closer, imprisoning them in increasing heat. Shielded from view by blankets of heavy grey, it was hardly ever seen, its disappearance marked by the absence of shadows.
Neeara, roused by these bittersweet memories found renewed resolve. “We must try again to contain the Earthmen.”
“But all our warriors are weak and no longer able to venture outside the Dome for more than a few hours.” Inorat knew the ‘She Warrior’ standing beside him had strength underneath that slender frame and a loyal following of fierce young warriors but their small band would be no match for the multitudes of Earthmen with their devastating robots.
“Maybe it is not numbers or strength that is needed. The Earthmen are strong but greedy for wealth and power. We need to exploit this blind spot of theirs but first I must investigate this strange green mist gathering on the horizon.”
*
Somehow the storm seemed more severe from the Earthmen’s dwellings. Here the wind, deafening in its ferocity, beat furiously over the lake whipping up cauldrons of sparkly white froth. How The President longed to be back within the safety of the domes the Tribe had built for them. “Why have our scientists not found a way to control these storms? Why does a primitive tribe have the secrets to building sustaining structures?”
The Generals surrounding him dared not breathe. Only a young man, with tousled fair hair and thoughtful eyes answered. “Father, the Tribe has a deep understanding of nature. Their knowledge comes from ancient wisdom passed unspoken from one generation to the next.”
“Yes, Yes Alex. I know. But why have our best scientists with their brains programmed in highest logic failed to reveal these secrets? This storm has been raging for days now and the gathering of that luminous green light is menacing. That was not planned.”
“Oh yes Sir, that is no Sir, that was not planned.” HS101 the highly strung robot whirled round and round, twisting and wringing his bony metal fingers. LB666, his laid back companion, merely sighed continuing to rock gently back and forth. HS and LB were the latest super intelligent models with a new feature of built in personalities. Unfortunately, the computerised manufacturing machine had hiccupped during the personality forging process resulting in production of aptly named, Highly Strung 101 and Laid Back 666.
“Stop! Stop! Alex, take these idiots to the source of that green mist and deal with it.”
*
Silence reigned underneath the sprawling green mist. As each lightning bolt penetrated through the mist, thousands of bright photons emerged from its midst, each one carrying the genetic material of a Light Soldier. Ambassador Peatro’s heart was heavy as he watched the army of Light Soldiers grow into solid forms. “It is a shame these Earthmen have ruined this planet as well as their own. They have misused their intelligence to control nature for their benefit without regard to the consequences on the universe. They will have to agree to our terms or else they will be eliminated.”
*
Neeara and Alex arrived at the green mist from different paths. Each party blinded by the luminosity, stumbled into each other without any warning. HS101 shrieked and fell onto his knees, LB666 looked on unflinchingly. Their weapons ready for attack, Alex and Neeara whirled round and quickly dropped their arms.
“What are you doing here?” both exclaimed. Alex was the first to recover. “Neeara, this place isn’t safe. You should get back to your Dome.”
“You go back to where you came from. This is our land.”
“You know that’s impossible, besides, I’d miss you.”
“I guess I’d miss you too but for the sake of our planet you must leave.”
“My father would never agree.”
A shaft of light broke through the green mist and with a mesmerising fluidity came close to the two opposing parties.
“What are you?” Neeara and Alex gasped in unison.
“I am Ambassador Peatro sent by the joint forces of the Inter Galactic Federation to restore balance to this part of the Universe. Your gravity has weakened too rapidly due to the depletion of the core liquid. This is creating instability in neighbouring planets which cannot be tolerated. I am sorry but the Earthmen will have to be returned to their planet.”
“You have no authority here. My father is President and he will never agree.”
“And mine is King here and he will be delighted to assist.”
Alex and Neeara instinctively drew closer, their fingers almost touching as they realised this would also mean their separation. Secret friends since childhood, they had developed a deep love for each other despite their warring parents.
“The Earthmen must be removed, with or without their consent and the damage reversed.” Ambassador Peatro waved for the Light Soldiers to capture and bind Alex and Neeara.
“You two robots, let the leaders know they must come to this place straightaway otherwise their offspring will be vaporised.”
HS101 and LB666 slunk quickly and silently into the surrounding darkness, happy for once to be robots and so of no interest to this forbidding force.
“Well this is a fine to do. The President will have us scrapped if we go back with this message and the King will have us smelted slowly when he finds his daughter is captured. Neither will come willingly,” whimpered HS101.
“But they will if each one believes this new force has immense powers and wealth and that the other one is already on his way to the Ambassador to agree a Treaty. Neither will want to be outdone and the President is especially susceptible to making history,” rocked LB666.
“Why that would be lying, but it is so cunning! I didn’t think we were programmed to think in such ways. That manufacturing hiccup has had more interesting side effects than our makers have realised. Oh dear! Oh dear!”
*
The President and Inorat stood in silent astonishment in front of the Ambassador. Captivated and overawed by the endless rows of Light Soldiers reaching back into the horizon, their anger at being deceived gave way to fear of what was to come.
The Ambassador was puzzled by the surprised looks the two leaders had first presented. Out of the corner of his eyes he noticed HS101 fidgeting nervously and LB666 just rocking to and fro and understood these two robots to be more than they seemed.
“By order of The Inter Galactic Federation we have come to remove the Earthmen from this planet and restore the Planet’s proper orbit,” the Ambassador proclaimed.
Watching the Light Soldiers increase in numbers, wave upon wave, the President quickly grasped the futility of resisting the Federation. “I see you have innovated decomposition of beings into basic DNA and its encapsulation within photons of light for mass transportation via lightning. This is how you’ve sneaked in before our very eyes and I suppose there are many more millions to come if needed. But you must know that our people cannot return to what will be a certain death. That planet can no longer support life. There must be another way.”
The Ambassador was resolute, he had his orders. The Light Soldiers began to stir, moving as armies of ants, the earth pounding to the beat of their march. Overhead, the clouds became inky black and the thunder roared.
Inorat hated what had been done to his land but he knew the Earthlings could not survive back on their planet. His heart melted to think so many would perish but he was powerless to help. Glancing round he saw the desperate faces of Neeara and Alex and understood instantly their deepening heartbreak.
With a deep guttural “Hurrum”, LB666 interrupted, “Perhaps if the atmosphere can be altered back to suit the Tribe as it once did, and the Earthmen move back into the Dome, they could all continue living on this planet. As for the gravity, HS101 and I could change the properties of the green mist to help restore that.”
“Well that would be a better option,” The President, anxious for the continuance of his race, reluctantly agreed. Inorat wanting nothing more than to roam free once again, agreed. Alex and Neeara stole hopeful looks at each other.
One by one the Light Soldiers shrank back into tiny specks of light forming bolts of lightning on an upward trajectory. No thunder accompanied their departure. The green mist remained, its properties altered to replenish and nourish the core liquid. HS101 and LB666 being the latest model of robot scientists, albeit with malfunctioning personalities, were granted independence from the Earthlings. Their role was now to work with the green mist to restore and maintain the planet’s orbit, which they did with only occasional lapses into mischievous misadventure. The rest settled into the mostly, harmonious union of ‘in-laws’.
In the star studded clear sky above, there was no more lightning, no more thunder, just twinkling spangles of light. The two epileptic moons balanced delicately, cast gentle shadows from their golden rays. Gentle rainbows danced with the healing green mist amidst the whispering waves.