Chapter 2: Green Eden

Green Eden appeared to be a beautiful green, white, and blue sphere. From space, it looked as inviting as any garden world. The transport descended through moderate clouds and approached a heavily forested landmass.

We landed on a simple dirt field that had been cleared in the jungle. At the edge of the dirt field, I saw a collection of primitive-looking buildings made of wood.

There were no machines, no robots, no ships or vehicles, and no one waiting for us. Someone from the flight deck addressed us via the com system: “Welcome to Camp Idyllic. Grab your gear and debark through the rear airlock. Hurry up, I have a schedule to keep and two more transports to make. Wait here, and someone will be with you shortly.”

Everyone debarked, and just as the last cadet stepped off the ramp, the airlock closed, and the transport ship climbed back into space.

It was very humid and hot. The air was pungent with the stench of rotten plants. Strange sounds came from the surrounding jungle. Small insects buzzed all around us. The exposed dirt on the landing field was reddish in color and very moist. It stuck to the soles of my boots.

I counted one hundred and fifty cadets, and everyone was standing there waiting for something to happen, but even after almost two hours, no one showed up to tell us what to do.

The crowd of cadets became a little restless.

Limbur scratched his polished scalp. “Now what? Are we supposed to do something? Isn’t anyone coming?”

His green-skinned friend, whose name I had learned was Wintsun, appeared to like the environment judging by the smile on his face, but the smile vanished as he replied to his friend. “I don’t sense or hear any sentient being in the vicinity. While I am not a full telepath, I am usually able to detect sentient minds. I feel nothing, and I begin to wonder myself.”

The Narth who was standing next to me agreed: “One cannot sense any sentient or coherent thoughts, but there are life forms out there considering this group as an aviable source of sustenance right now.”

The group became quite worried after he said that, and the word spread. At least three more hours passed, and still no one showed up. The mood of the group had deteriorated even more. Some complained about the heat, the moisture, the insects, and no place to sit down.

I picked up the Fleet issue garment bag that held my spare uniforms and personal gear, shouldered it, and started walking towards the buildings at the other end of the landing field. The Narth did the same and followed me.

“Where do you think you’re going?” asked Limbur.

“I decided to inspect those buildings and then wait there. It seems to be a better place to wait than here in the open. I expect the sun to set soon.”

Narth didn’t turn: “The Neo Viking’s plan of action is logical. One shall follow his lead.”

Wintsun took his bag and said: “Can I come along?”

I shrugged. “Sure you can. I am not in charge here.”

“Actually, according to regulations, someone has to be in charge, and since you are doing something and you are a Cadet Lieutenant, you are in charge.”

Limbur followed us too.

A cadet with bluish skin and coppery, almost metallic, shimmering red hair objected: “You can’t leave. We were ordered to remain here and wait.”

“Wonderful. Why don’t you wait and let me do my thing?” I said and kept on walking. He yelled after us, but I simply ignored him.

About two clicks away from the point where we landed, at the long end of the crude landing field, we reached the three buildings I had seen from the air. The jungle’s edge was about 200 meters further away, and the cleared area was packed with pebbles and rocks. I did not see any recent tracks, neither of machines, humans, or animals for that matter. Anyone or anything not flying would have to make tracks on that surface.

“What is so interesting about that dirt?” Limbur wanted to know as I squatted down and touched the ground to gauge its moisture.

“Tracks. I am looking for tracks. If you look behind you, you can see the ones we made. Around here, there are no recent tracks, and the ones I see are very old and almost disappeared. I think those triangular ones are made by an animal.”

Narth also knelt down. “Interesting. By evaluating the surface marks left behind by others, you can actually deduct surface movement. It is quite logical. How do you come to the conclusion that these surface marks you do see are old?”

“Look at our tracks in the dirt. They are crisp and well defined; I can see the sole imprints of our boots and probably deduct shoe size, gait distance, and weight of the person making the tracks. Limbur is the biggest of us, and his tracks are deeper than the others; his steps are further apart. Now, over here, we have a few vehicle marks, made by something on tracks, I think, but the edges are round and washed in by rain and wind. Now, I don’t know the rain and wind patterns of this world, but they have to be at least several days old since I see no footprints. I think these tracks are weeks or months old, and the lighter foot traffic is already obliterated.”

Narth touched his own footprint. “This is fascinating.”

Limbur agreed. “I didn’t even really notice the tracks until you pointed them out to us. I never knew you could read so much out of them.”

Wintsun shrugged. “Of course, everything leaves tracks. Did you never go hunting?”

Limbur smacked Wintsun in a friendly manner. “Of course not, you know where I am from. Nothing ever leaves tracks in a big city on Duro-Crete and slideways.”

Wintsun rubbed his side. “Yes, I know your world. Three times the regular gravitation.”

I shrugged. “I guess if you look close enough, you might even find tracks on Duro-Crete.”

Narth said to me. “Will you tell me more about how you interpret tracks?”

“Yes, gladly, but maybe we should check out the buildings first and establish a base of operations, stabilize our situation.”

“One agrees with your assessment of our situation and will look forward to when you further one’s education in the interpretation of tracks.”

A weathered sign above the entrance read, “Camp Idyllic.”

I went walking around the buildings first, and they kept following me. Two of the buildings looked like storage sheds, and the middle building was a two-story deal made of manufactured wood.

There was a roofed porch surrounding the main structure. It had rectangular windows and a solid-looking entrance door. “Anyone here?” I yelled as loud as I could. “Hello?”

Narth shook his hooded head. “One senses no thoughts or brain activity.”

“Well, I learned there are life forms immune to Psionics or able to shield their presence. Maybe there are machines or some form of acoustic relay.”

Narth nodded.“Again, you speak quite logically. One is learning much today.”

“You keep saying that, and I start to believe I actually can do that, speaking logically that is.”

Everything looked solid, somewhat weathered but in overall good condition. I slowly went up the front porch stairs and checked the door. It was a simple hinged door with a mechanical lock and knob, but it wasn’t locked, so I went in. I stepped into a foyer with four doors to each side. A flight of stairs leading up and one leading down, the door opposite the entrance was obviously the back door leading back outside. There was no furniture, no machinery. The air was less humid than outside and felt a few degrees cooler. Wintsun behind me said, “I wonder what purpose these buildings serve. They are certainly not big enough to house all cadets.”

I shrugged. “Maybe these are meant just for the instructors, and we have to build our own or sleep in tents or so.” To Narth said, “Do you sense anything now?”

He shook his shrouded head. “No conscious thoughts here, but back on the landing field, the situation among the remaining individuals appears to be deteriorating. There is confusion, and there are indications that soon lead to violence. The situation is quite unstable.”

“It’s not our problem. Let that Admiral Kid deal with it.” Wintsun snorted at that and then looked at me. “What do you want us to do?”

“Let’s check out the rest of this house and then look at the other two buildings.”

The entire building was empty. There were four large empty rooms on the second floor and a tiled bath with working plumbing and fresh water coming out of the faucets. The lights worked as well. In the basement, we found a water recycler attached to a well and an Industrial Power Cube with a charge that would last at least a hundred years. Two sets of laundry machines and a storage room full of blankets, padded jackets, and stacks of soap and hygiene articles. Back up on the ground floor, we discovered three more empty rooms, and as we opened the last door of the ground floor, Narth asked, “What matter of place is this?”

“It’s a kitchen.” I responded happily. “A kitchen with a wood stove, sink, and freezer unit.”

“How do you know this?”

“Many families on Nilfleheim prefer this old-fashioned, traditional way of preparing meals over Serv-Matics.”

“Fossil heat, raw fish, and meat; the images you transmit are exceptionally primitive,” Narth said, slowly shaking his head.

“I truly appreciate your abilities, and I think you are a very nice person. I just wish not every third person I run into can sense what I am thinking.”

“Narth, do not communicate verbally at all. We do not use acoustic voices, and one is not accustomed to be among humans. One is very sorry one offended you.”

His usually emotionless voice had a note of sadness, and I felt sorry for snapping at him. So I put my hand on his shoulder. “Narth, I think we are going to be stuck here for a while. I won’t be offended or bothered if you know my thoughts. I am sorry I barked at you.” I held out my hand. “Friends?”

Narth didn’t make a sound or move for quite some moments, then he slowly took my hand into his gloved one. It felt cold even through the leather-like fabric.“Yes Eric, one shall be your friend.”

“So you’re welcome to read my thoughts anytime. I just need to get used to all those Psionics.”

“This can be corrected, you know. Narth can change you so that no one can ever read you again.”

“Now that is something I will consider, but for now, let’s check out this kitchen and see what is there.”

The freezer unit was stuffed with labeled packages, and the pantry held Vac-packs of vegetables, meat, fish, and rice and other packs with food items I could not identify right away. There was enough to feed an army of many different species over an extended period of time. The pantry was stacked to the ceiling with boxes of conserves, flowers, raw food ingredients, spices, and condiments.

In a drawer, I found all sorts of kitchen utensils, including knives. I armed myself with the largest mono-filament knife. It had a convenient butchers sheath as well that easily attached to my belt.

“Why the knife?” Wintsun asked, looking over my shoulder into the drawer.

“I feel better with some sort of weapon, especially after Narth told us that there might be life forms that consider us prey. Besides, a knife is a tool and could come in handy.”

Wintsun followed my example right away and took a knife as well.“How about you, Spooky?”

Narth turned on the spot as if he stood on a mechanical turntable. Wintsun took several steps back, startled by the sudden and strange move. “One assumes that you addressed me?” He then snapped his gloved finger.“One just comprehended the application of your word choice. I understand you exercised the human habit of addressing me with an epithet, a moniker, or nickname.”

“Uh, yes, exactly. That is what I did.”

“One shall research that more. As for your initial question: No one does not need a weapon.”

I padded him on the shoulder. “It’s what humans do. In a potential hostile environment, you are better off with a weapon than without one.”

One of the knifes floated all by itself out of the drawer, and Narth took it and put it under his long sleeve. He then moved his hooded head to look at us both. “Simple Telekinetics.”

“Maybe Psionics are quite useful.” I managed to say.“And don’t cut yourself.”

“Your concern for one’s wellbeing is duly noted. One shall not cut oneself. Even though it might be an interesting experiment.”

“I sure don’t know anything about your society, my new friend, but cutting yourself with a Mono blade is anything but interesting.”

Limbur grinned. “It is quite messy.”

“I yield to your expertise. Narth do not use knives on Narth Prime.”

“How do you cut your food, then?” Limbur wanted to know.

“Narth do not consume food that needs to be cut.”

“Quite a time saver, I imagine.” Wintsun shrugged and handed Limbur a big meat cleaver.“That thing has Limbur written all over it.”

Narth leaned forward.“One does not see the word Limbur on this tool at all. The words read: NSF – stainless. Your name is NFS stainless too?”

While Wintsun tried to explain to Narth what he meant, he also tried to teach him to use I and me.

I left the kitchen and went out to the back and checked on the other two buildings placed next to each other behind the main structure.

There were storage huts and both structures were locked with simple padlocks; the monofilament knife cut through the wood frame like butter.

“Do you think it is wise to break in?” asked Limbur, who had followed me and looked over my shoulder while I was cutting around the lock plate.

“Well, nobody said we can’t. This is a Fleet installation, and in lieu of any higher authority, we represent the Fleet and should be authorized.”

This storage building held pallets stacked with self-erecting tents, emergency food rations, construction tools, and several power cubes.

The other building was stacked with even more food rations, spare uniforms, water containers, and stacks of boxes and crates with other stuff.

A bright yellow and red-painted dura steel locker with an ID lock caught my eye.

On it, a sign in bold letters read: “Armory. Authorized Personnel Only”.

Narth approached me: “A fight broke out at the landing field. Someone got hurt.”

“Let them fight. We got all the food we need.” Limbur made an old but still popular and vulgar hand gesture into the direction of the landing field. “It’s not our problem.”

“Does it not strike you odd that no one showed up to instruct us? Maybe the camp personnel were attacked and killed by something in the jungle.” Speculated Wintsun with a worried look on his face and gazing towards the dark green wall of vegetation. “I come from a Jungle World, and we have colonized it for a long time, and still, we discover new and often dangerous life forms.”