Chapter 4: Homeward Bound

< Michael, I have an obligation to return to Tuull to report to the Planetary Council, > T’Kleesual - Jubal - announced one morning while Michael and his ladies were breakfasting. <The colony is founded and the experiment started. And they need to know. It is my job.>

<Of course, > Michael responded. <Is there a reason we are discussing this privately? You’ve trusted my family before.>

<It is sensitive, and I anticipate tasking T’Krandit and Helva for transportation, > Jubal explained, <and that involves her ‘brawn’ and perhaps more humans. I want your thoughts before I raise expectations.>

<I see, > mused Michael. <The Tuull have never directly seen or experienced humans. Am I correct?>

<Assuredly, friend Michael.> replied the AI <You are correct. I like the word ‘serendipity.’ Serendipity has occurred, and I wish to make the most of it.>

Jubal explained, <First, we have a young AI that has never experienced the Tuull or the Tuull home world. Second, that young AI has bonded with a human in an unanticipated way - one paralleling that of friends T’Kleeoran and T’Kuudshpp but so much younger in her awareness. Even T’Krandit taking the gender designation will be strange to my masters. T’Krandit needs direct exposure to living Tuull and Tuull culture.>

Continuing, Jubal expounded, <You are aware that the Tuull are a race of poets and artists, but perhaps we’ve never told you that, in all our history, we have never created music. Rhythm yes, tonal variations no. That is why it is so amazing that both Lolli and Helva make tonal music. I believe that your colony can achieve much status and acceptance if Helva’s brawn and her touring company visit Tuullat and perform a series of live concerts.>

To describe Michael as ‘floored’ could never do it justice. He responded, <But humans have never been allowed to know the location of any member races’ planets - or even their spheres of influence. How is that going to work?>

<Carefully, > quipped Jubal, who had acquired some human speech idiosyncrasies. <Trust will be required in both directions. Helva will navigate without any human aboard capable of using astrogation to ascertain where they are or where they have been. No pilots! The possible exception is Inkie, who is well along, but I’m willing to take the risk. As T’Krandit’s brawn, the bonding and trust is very strong. On the other hand, my masters might not view that risk in the same way. There is a slight, but real, risk that they would not let her leave Tuullat.>

A select group of musicians was aboard Helva when she departed the Rukbat System for Tuullat. There were no Marines; no politicians; no scientists; and no engineers, for this was strictly a cultural exchange. On the other hand, Inkie was becoming quite the polymath, and politics was one on her developing talents.

The plan was to offer a series of live concerts, each featuring a sample of musical types and genres. The selected musicians could perform in more than one style, and a given performance might use artists from different groups. Inkie would perform in each concert, even if she were not featured. The final concert would feature Inkie playing acoustic guitar, singing her own compositions. The marathon of concerts would only be possible because of the stamina of the nanite-enhanced bodies of the performers.

Considerable time and effort were spent selecting the several programs, rehearsing, and ensuring that both Jubal and Helva were fully aware of the meanings of the lyrics and all the allusions and references therein. Throughout the concerts, members of the audience would be able to link with one or both for clarification.

Politicians around the universe share many common traits. Among them is the avoidance of commitment until obtaining significant assurance of not looking ignorant. In other words, the thirteen members of the Tuull Planetary Council avoided meeting the humans until they could determine which way the wind was going to blow.

The Council let it be known to all Tuull that artists of the recently discovered species would be displaying their art to be judged. For the Tuull, judgment could only be accomplished through live performances, so a number of concerts were scheduled. Interest was exceptionally high, and the right to attend was determined by a planet-wide lottery. Those not in attendance would be ‘forced’ to ‘suffer’ the indignity of attending electronically.

Nothing could have prepared the humans for the impact of first appearing on stage before thousands of human-sized raccoons! Right down to the dark band across the eyes and a ringed tail, the Tuull resembled raccoons. It was a damned good thing Davy Crockett coonskin hats were not in style.

The first concert, on the advice of Helva, consisted of a variety of rhythm-based music - from Maurice Ravel’s Bolero to selections of rap, hip hop, and Lindsey Sterling-styled performance violin. At the end, the silence was deafening!

Tuull audiences showed their appreciation with absolute silence, signaling their receptivity to yet another piece from the performer.

Concert followed concert, music genre changing to another. All met with prolonged silence. Thousands of raccoons staring - and not a peep, clap, or even a poot.

The next-to-last concert, performed by the entire musical cadre, consisted entirely of songs considered humorous by sections of humanity. There was a wide variety of types - from nonsense songs (Mairzy Doats), to suggestive (My Ding-A-Ling), to bawdy (My Grandfather’s Cock). Sections of the audience were, as usual, still and silent. Others, though silent, shivered - some with tears running. The Tuull liked funny, punny, and bawdy, and those who had learned English could scarcely contain themselves.

And then came the final concert. Inkie entered the stage with Armand and Dinky and introduced them to the audience as her adopted family. They sat on the stage and sang several children’s songs, with Inkie explaining that the music both taught and entertained younglings.

After the children skipped off stage, Inkie introduced T’Krandit. Though the audience already knew, she explained that Helva was a youngling, her friend, and was considered to be a member of her family. Then they sang together one of Inkie’s compositions written especially for their duet.

Finally, Inkie was alone on stage with her guitar. For nearly two hours, she sang her own compositions exclusively, pausing to sip from a water bottle or to briefly explain something about a song.

When Inkie’s solo performance was done, including her planned encores, the prolonged and complete silence was the equivalent of an American standing, foot-stomping, ovation punctuated by blasts from an air horn. That she had both composed and performed an entire program of such quality merited their highest acclaim. No individual stirred to leave.

Inkie had been briefed and experienced a level of this appreciation after the previous performances. The different form of recognition was unnerving, even to a self-assured performer such as Inkie. The stillness continued. Finally, she stood and bowed to her audience and spoke, “You honor me. Among my countrymen was an artist who I greatly admire. He died sometime ago, but he lives on through his artistry and in the hearts of performers such as me. His name was Leonard Cohen, and I offer to you one of his most beloved compositions.”

She strummed her guitar and began.

“Now, I’ve heard there was a secret chord,

That David played, and it pleased the Lord,

But you don’t really care for music, do you?”

She continued, and when the song was finished, Inkie bowed again and left the stage. After a while, the masked audience silently left the venue.

After a light dinner, Inkie moved to her bedroom with Dinky and Armand. The three were tired and cuddled together on the large bed. She was so very glad to have them, and to have them with her.

In the morning, Jubal’s avatar appeared with Helva’s while the family was eating breakfast. <You are requested to appear before the Tuull Planetary Council, > it stated without expression. <The reason was not made known to me. I don’t know if this is good or bad.>

Inkie entered the chamber and found thirteen raccoons - errrr Tuull - seated at an oval table, similar to what might be found in an Earthat corporation’s conference room. The holographic avatar of Helva, nee T’Krandit, accompanied her, to what purpose she did not know. As she entered, the thirteen rose, and one with silver in her furred tail left the table’s head and approached.

“Inez Nadenka Key, welcome.” The pronunciation of the hated name was perfect. I. N. Key had not used or even heard it for years.

“Inkie, my name is T’Bwinkel of the clan N’Trast,” She gave her unpronounceable names, “but T’Kleesual - Jubal - says that you would find ‘Rockie’ pronounceable and that name appropriate to your culture.” Speculating that Jubal had finally awakened, Inkie suppressed a giggle and made a mental note that he needed a smackdown. She made another that her kids needed an introduction to The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show.

“Inkie,” continued Rockie, “I would be honored if you would allow me to name you ‘friend.’”

“But of course,” responded the young human. “Would it be appropriate and allowed to name you ‘friend’ in return?”

“That would be appropriate and welcome, friend Inkie,” was the reply. “Let me also welcome your companion, T’Krandit - Helva - who is serving us and you well.”

She proceeded to move around the table to introduce the remaining twelve counselors, and then invited Inkie to sit. “Friend Inkie, since your arrival, we find you have achieved an astounding number of firsts.”

“Your artistry is such that a spontaneous, grass-roots plebiscite has awarded you full Tuull citizenship and the title S’Rndult or in English, ‘Principal Master of the Arts.’ Virtually the entirety of Tuull has learned or is learning your languages in order to better appreciate the new art form you brought us.”

The older Tuull continued. “We still don’t fully understand the nuances of sex and romance contained in your music, but we’ve gained a new understanding of human sexuality through T’Krandit’s recording of Governor Michael James’s porn movie night. Your visit has given new direction and life to our art. We thank you.”

“We’ve learned from T’Krandit that your four Tuull AI associates have each adopted a name appropriate to your culture and easier for you to pronounce than their own Tuull names. With your permission, we’d like to suggest a Tuull name for you. T’Blssut means harmony in English - more the peace and understanding part of the definition - but you have added the musical component into the Tuull language. We think the name particularly suited to you.”

“We are a race of poets and artists, and no member of any other race has been awarded citizenship, title, or name; much less all together. Our fear of you humans was, and probably is still, fully justified, but with the sheer volume and variety of this new art form and your own demonstrated artistry, you brought us hope. For this we are grateful, and again we thank you.”

Epilogue

I am very, very proud of my brawn. When the Tuull Planetary Council granted citizenship and the title of ‘Principal Master’ to Inkie, my choice of partner was validated. I have more data available than she has, but I am younger, and she is far wiser. Being with her makes me happy.

I think that it will be some time before Inkie grasps all the implications of Tuull citizenship. The most important for me is the fact that we need never be separated. Individual Tuull may not own an AI, but once she formally establishes her own Tuull clan, I will belong to that clan, and she will be the leader.

I did not inform the council of my awakening, because I wanted no chance decision of ‘slavery’ to prohibit my going with Inkie. Strange to fear a ruling that I as an AI may not be owned, when the whole Darjee relationship with humans is based on the ownership of living, intelligent beings. After we leave, I need to have a long, frank discussion with Inkie and Jubal.

*finis*

Cast

Story Characters:

T’Krandit - Tuull AI for K’treel Explorer AGX026 ‘Helva’

Inkie - Nubile, multi-talented pop idol extracted with her prepack from her concert near Chicago. Helva’s brawn.

Martha Grayson - Planetary governor of Azahar (See Swarm Cycle story The Librarian)

Mister Sees Patterns - Pat, real name is Harold Seldom. Can see relationships and pattern that others cannot.

Pat - ‘Mr. Sees Patterns’

Dinky - Inkie’s adopted daughter. Aged somewhere between toddler and kindergarten.

Armand - Dinky’s brother, also adopted by Inkie. Shy. One year older than Dinky.

T’Bwinkel of the clan N’Trast - ‘Rockie.’ Lead Councilor of the Tuull Planetary Council

Inez Nadenka Key - Inkie’s birth name.

T’Blssut - Tuull name given to Inkie. English translation - ‘Harmony.’

Jubal (T’Kleesual) - Tuull AI, plenipotentiary ambassador from the Tuull.