A World Away

“A single settlement does not make a world.” The representative from Theta was emphatic, secure in the hundred settlements his world had. The young Scorpan looked up in mute appeal to the kind representative from Creola.

“The number of settlements does not really matter. It is about how economically viable they are” spoke the Creolite.

The Scorpan sighed. Economic viability on his cold little world was a rather touchy issue. He had a mining settlement, which mined for ore of tin- good enough to sustain the settlement, but just like the three hundred and sixty five other tin mining worlds in the system. Three hundred and sixty four and a half a settlement devoted to tin. It was his business to know exact numbers. It helped keep him in his place as his father before him and his father’s father before him had adviced.

“But there is the novelty factor” . The Creonian smiled. Her stern eyes softened as she peered at the Scorpan. “A world so distant, it could be in the orbit of another planet- indeed there are times when it is nearer Junis than Creon. Of course it is a far far world”.

“A cold, dead world” sneered the representative from Xeon. He seemed to be at the world conference solely for the purpose of sneering and scarfing down cups of Thetan coffee with Creonian biscuits.

“To be honest, we are a single settlement and our world is rather cold and very lonely, specially when it is furthest from Creon. And it is closer to Junis too- at those times- but it remains in Creon’s orbit. We are just a little satellite of Creon. We are not as populous as Xeon, nor as big- we could never be mistaken for a twin planet orbiting Talis. And we are not as rig as Creola is- but that is not our fault. We do the best with what we have. Single settlement, only tin ore to mine- but of the three hundred sixty five other settlements that mine tin ore, we are the most efficient. We use no “dirty energy” . We are self sustaining- how many of your entire worlds are? And we are persistent”.

“Again we are not responsible for the faults nature equips us with”

“Nature or Talis’ eccentric gravity?” coming from the Xeonian along with chocolate crumbs, this was not even funny- true as it was.

“ Scorpa is a nice little world. But it is too little. And had it not been for your grandfather, it would not have been a world at all. To settle so far from Creon- the home planet- not even on a moon close by- and to keep his family there- visiting home once in 38 years- when the moon is closest Creon- it must have been hard” The Creonian was warmer. Her position as seniormost representative allowed her that graciousness.

“After a few years it became home, he used to say” the Scorpan reminisced. “ My father never came down to Creon. He was born here though- while me, I was born on Scorpa and this is my first visit”( mentally adding and possibly the last)” It is part of our family lineage, one of my ancestors was among Tetra’s party from Earth- a few thousand years ago. Well all of us have descended from that party, my family just keeps the tradition alive”

“ Clinging to traditions that do not matter is rather anachronistic” Why was the Thetan being mean. The next sentence clarified it . “Well but you could ally with Theta- after all it was Theta, not Creon Tetra landed on”

“But Creon is the planet- every other world is a satellite”. Et tu Creonian.

The Xeonian slurped his third coffee in silence, while the Creolite looked bored.

“But our status is single world” quavered the Scorpan. This was a nightmare. He had no idea how this alliance talk had begun – it seemed like an off shoot of the snarky world remarks. He should have paid more attention to the hyprwave communications- but in Scorpa Creonian politics was way too far- and with a few Talilear energy cells and an eco-system to keep alive politics had been his last priority. But this “meeting of the worlds” had been a ploy to hand him over- even if symbolically to the highest bidder. And between Theta and Creon, he did not seem to have a chance.

“Under Creonian statute 324A a world must a. be productive- able to provide for one and a half moons, b. be larger than a single family. So you no longer qualify. You can choose, Creon or Theta to ally to. There is a war on- Junis can attack any time. We need to know where you are.” So that was the reason. A war. It all became very very clear. And suddenly everything fell into place. He knew what to do.

“ I will notify you of my decision through hyperwave, I need to consult with my fellow Scorpans .” He needed to buy as much time as he could. And get away as far as he could too.

The journey back to Scorpa was uneventful- though rather long- it was their fault for having convened the council while Scorpa was at its farthest from Creon. He ran to the energy banks from the hyperspace port.

There they were, the little energy cells, absorbing all manner of radiation from Talis and the reflections from Creon and Junis- as charged as they. The Tetris gleamed in an underground bunker- one of the advantages of being the only settlement in a world far away was the very few inspections from the home planet. They had devised this energy efficient ship to demonstrate in a Technology fest. But it was to be used for a nobler purpose.

And while Scorpa passed under Creonian dominon the silver Tetris streaked along to the far reaches of the Talis orbit. Away from Creon, away from Junis to a new world far away.