History of Xenon

  - 4000 B.C.

  While exploring the nearby stars, the Xenonites chance upon the Vorians, discovering that they are not alone in the galaxy.

  - 2000 B.C.

  The Great War between the Vorians and the Xenonites is at its height.

  - 1994 B.C.

  The esteemed Ciri Alexander convinces the Vorian scientists to defect to the Xenonites. All 284 space-time ships are taken by the Xenonites. Vorian attacks on inner-arm systems are ended.

  - 180 A.D.

  Alexander is unable to prevent the Vorians from conquering the remote world Lexon and disappears. The mad scientists also disappear from Xenon, taking the secrets of space-time travel with them. The Xenonites are left with only one space-time ship, later lost while searching for Alexander.

  - 476 A.D.

  Daved Breggs departs Xenon, heading towards Vorian Space and the End of the Galaxy.

  - 684 A.D.

  The planet Xenon is large. Its inhabitants the Xenonites are large, and so are their dreams and projects. By far, the most ambitious of these was that great task they set before themselves to fashion Xado, their central continent, into the shape of a Xa, the first letter of their alphabet and the signet of their kind. The crossing of the galaxy in the earliest of days, the terrible wars against various races, and even the ongoing synchronization of thousands of Ciri throughout the galaxy were simple compared to the labor they undertook moving billions of tons of rock back and forth between the depths of the seas and the peaks of the mountains. The project had taken over two hundred years, but at last, on the seventieth day of 684 A.D. (to use Earth years), the endeavor was complete. Cairn, the Supreme Coordinator of the Xenonite Forces, was giving a speech.

  “Fellow Xenonites! This day will be remembered throughout history!”

  The spectators cheered, their mixed voices resounding like the booms of a Leviafin sounding in the deep.

  “Today we mark the grand completion of the Continental Xa!”

  The Supreme Coordinator ignored the applause, his old ears weary from a million lectures, gatherings, and speeches.

  The Continental Xa was hailed a landmark of his career, a glorious culmination of everything he and the Xenonite Forces stood for. It bothered him that the galaxy was under attack from a mysterious force greater than Xenon had ever known, yet they busied themselves with landscape projects. But the Xenonites wanted to believe that they were safe, happy, and able to live life as if nothing was the matter, as if there wasn’t a new planet lost from Xenonite control each year. So on he went:

  “The continent of Xado has been transformed from a shapeless, boring mass of dirt into a Xa of equal proportions, and unequal grandeur,” he continued, reading the prepared speech. “The Xa, the first and most revered letter of our alphabet, is truly worthy of such a gift. When I cut this ribbon, our workers in Islauda will scoop the last shovelful of dirt from the Waters of Gati, marking the completion of this grand project. Millions of Xenonites have worked to make this dream a reality, both filling in the Four Waters and digging out endless tracts of Xado. We have moved homes and businesses, sacrificing much to see this dream come true. Xenonites – arise! For now, the Continental Xa is finished. Our world holds the beauty of the Xa in its palm, declaring the power and wealth of Xenon to all the Milky Way!

  “You have seen the images of our work, and marveled over the progress of this project. We have circled Xenia twenty times since work began. Now, with the cut of this ribbon, we will complete our work and can take pride in our accomplishment. The gates to your left will open, and you will be the first to see the new garden we have prepared, here in the center of Xado City. It will give you a taste of what our new world looks like, even if it has already become far too familiar. Friends, years of digging are over. Let us celebrate an end to one labor…” His demeanor grew more rigid. “But let us not forget that our labors are not over.”

  He shook his large head, letting a grim frown show, and here he agreed with the content of the speech, for he had added it himself.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “Our planet is not alone in the universe. Even as you tour the new garden, do not forget that there are countless worlds like ours in this galaxy… each containing their own history and sense of pride. We must ever be ready – we formed this Xa so that they may see our works and believe in our mission. But there are some who will see it as nothing more than an eyesore. Let us never grow too proud.”

  The audience was tense and quiet, knowing the truth of his words. The Xa had been built partly for their benefit, but also so that visiting traders and diplomats from other planets would be amazed at their works and ever continue in the pursuit of peace with the Xenonites. Nonetheless, there was no dearth of enemies, and a few of these were very, very powerful.

  With a flourish of the scissors, the Coordinator severed the ribbon, while on an overhead screen a laborer cast the final shovelful of dirt away from the Waters of Gati. Wonder filled the room as massive gates opened beside the audience. As the lights dimmed, the congregation spilled outside to a new park built to memorialize the occasion.

  * * * * * * * *

  Bimi and Augustus strolled along one of hundreds of paths in the park. The space was beautiful. The park consisted primarily of a huge lake that weaved in and out of a well-articulated shoreline and several islands. The space was so vast, swallowing the entire audience of the Grand Room into its midst, that the two kept finding themselves lost on random trails. Small streams trickled through, passing under footbridges to the main lake. Several city blocks had been added to the already huge park in the center of Xado City to make room for the new design.

  “I’m surprised there’s so much water. It’s hard to get from one end to the other if you don’t know where the bridges are,” Bimi noted.

  Augustus agreed. “Yeah. Back on Earth, most lakes were small and round. To get around them, you’d just follow the shore; it was always the shortest path. Here, though, there are so many bays and crooks! Of course, there weren’t many lakes in Egypt, were there?”

  “No, not so many.” Bimi smiled. “The Nile and the sea were all the water I ever saw. How about where you grew up?”

  “There were some beautiful lakes north of Rome. Nothing like what I’ve heard of the far north, though.”

  “Have you been that way?”

  “No, most of my work has been with the Greco-Romans. The Xenonites keep telling me to learn some of those barbaric languages so I can do missions up there, but seriously! Who wants to learn German?”

  Bimi smiled. “It’s not so bad. Portuguese was my favorite to learn, though. After hieroglyphics, of course!”

  “I can’t believe you used that. Didn’t it take forever to write?”

  Bimi shrugged. “Why waste a symbol on a letter when you can write an entire word? I still can write in hieroglyphics faster than I can with the Phoenician system.”

  “They’ve improved it, you know. The writing is evolving faster than our Ciri can keep up. Though things seem to be slowing lately.”

  “No doubt. Too bad about the fall of Rome and all that. Seriously, I think the Earth is in for some dark times.”

  “Yeah, it’s a shame. Sometimes I wish we could go down there and just tell them. You know… Listen guys, you’re ruining your planet, and your culture, and…”

  Bimi cut him short. “Watch yourself.” He smiled.

  Augustus laughed. “Yeah, I know. “I just wish there was something we could do, besides all this spying.”

  “They’d never listen. You’d be thrown out of town like a nut.” The two laughed heartily. Bimi continued. “It’s the whole free will thing… we could go down there and act, forcing them to do things our way. Or, we could stay back and simply protect, keeping them safe, but free to determine their destiny. It’s a concept deeply rooted in every culture, especially with the Xenonites. Probably more philosophical than scientific.”

  Augustus sighed. “I know, I know. You couldn’t be more right. If I was on Earth, there is no way in Asia I’d want to know about them Spheres, or the Vorians, or any of this trouble. Sittin’ beside a lake drinking cream soda – that’s what I’d do, every day.”

  “No kidding. If the Emperor of Rome thought the Goths were trouble… I can’t imagine he wants to know about the rest of the galaxy.”

  “Hey, look! What’s that?”

  The two had come along a fence beside the path, where a group had gathered, pointing at something in the distance. Taller than the Xenonites, the humans had no trouble seeing over the crowd. On a small hill just off the path was a miniature city. And suddenly, it all clicked.

  “Bimi! Do you hear what they’re saying?”

  “Yes, I do… that’s…”

  “Xado City?”

  “This whole thing… it’s…”

  “It’s a scale model of the entire planet!”

  Suddenly, the streams and hills and inlets made sense. Bimi and Augustus raced back down the path the way they’d come like children in a candy factory, naming rivers and mountain ranges. “Everything is right on!” exclaimed Bimi.

  “You’re right. Look, this part of the lake must be the Waters of Trent!”

  “And that first bridge we crossed… that leads to Karrod!”

  Augustus pointed into the pond with a grin. “Look… there’s your old house.”

  “Now, now!” scolded Bimi.

  They both knew that underneath the Waters of Trent, Bimi’s cottage lay in ruins thanks to the redesign of the continent, which called for an ocean right over the village he’d moved to early in his career. His house had been demolished while he was away on a mission to Earth. His former home had been a beautiful cottage along the ocean. Now, he was stuck in a depressing high-rise in Xado City. And to make matters worse, he’d been ordered to stay there, as a law was passed soon afterwards preventing all alien Ciri from dwelling outside that center of government.

  “Come on; let’s get something to eat… I’m hungry,” said Augustus, changing the subject.

  “Sounds great!”

  The humans walked quickly along the pond, bound for the restaurant district north of the park.

  As described in History of a Galaxy: Book II – Greenchair.