Visitor
Lokosha Occupied Earth
511 LI (Lokoshan Imperium), 520 Years from Now
I don’t want to start
Any blasphemous rumors
But I think that God’s
Got a sick sense of humor
And when I die
I expect to find Him laughing
-Blasphemous Rumors, Depeche Mode
Visitor
Major Elbetto shifted into a defensive stance. What else would any sane Lokoshan male do? For five years he had been the only Lokoshan on this shell-forsaken dung heap of a world. True, there were females, but they were for his pleasure only. He could not have a proper conversation with those idiots.
Major Elbetto was the manager of the Lokosha Food Farm No. 003. Although the farm was largely automated, the major was responsible for supplying the Lokoshan home world and all of its colonies with a fresh supply of live humans. The major was efficient and performed his duties very well.
Thousands of years earlier Lokoshan males and females were very similar. They were long, thin, dim-witted snake like creatures living within a quarter-mile of the shoreline their home world of Tompt’s only ocean. A large meteor crashed into the planet, initiating the Greenhouse effect and causing many changes. In order to survive, the Lokoshans underwent a rapid evolution.
The males became amphibious and bipedal. They grew a thick, protective yellow shell. Their strength and intelligence increased dramatically. Lokoshans had always fed by sucking the juices out of living beings through a snout on the front of their head. Now the males fed exclusively on brain matter. The more intelligent the being, the tastier it was.
Although the amphibious Lokosha could only live in the coastal regions, they quickly came to dominate their home world. Within a few thousand years the Lokosha developed a star drive. Initially they were surprised to learn that alien cultures were repelled by the source of the Lokosha food supply. In order to assimilate, the Lokosha kept this secret and attributed their private eating habits to religious doctrine
The Lokosha were fortunate to be discovered by the Logsettamsojofivpalosderma Confederated Influence Sphere (LCIS) soon after they went off world. They made be the most of their opportunity in joining the LCIS. The Lokosha did what they were told and became the most feared fighters in the Confederation. They bided their time and gained an exceptional knowledge of the technology and peoples of the LCIS. They also never ate in front of any non-Lokosha.
The governing race of the LCIS, the Logsettamsojofivpalosderma (Logs) increasingly relied on the Lokosha as their strength and influence grew. The Logs were a materialistic society of large, sea-dwelling eel like creatures whose culture was the very antithesis of the paternalistic Lokosha.
Societal differences aside, the Logs found the Lokosha to be a very useful tool. The Lokosha did not like being use by the Logs, and bid their time. When conditions were right the Lokosha attacked the Logs and their allies, easily defeating them.
The LCIS was replaced by the Lokoshan Empire, and the Lokoshans no longer hid their eating habits. All of the surviving races were terrified of their new masters. Most became vassals to do their bidding. Forty-three races became food sources and their entire home worlds were turned into farms. Among the favorites, and tastiest, were the Logs and the newly discovered humans.
Major Elbetto was giving General Asado a tour of the farm. The general had just disembarked from a large Golden cart pulled by the human beasts of burden. These creatures had been genetically modified. They were all at least ten feet tall and very strong. Each was compliant and took their master’s orders without hesitation.
Five of these creatures pulled the cart, three males and two females. Because they were dumb beasts, clothing was not a consideration. These creatures could not even conceive of wearing clothes. They simply marched along in their ignorant nudity, doing as their masters bid. Major Elbetto looked at the beasts and thought, for all of their usefulness, these ones are too bland to eat, because they are so stupid.
As if reading the major’s thoughts, General Asado, who was a trusted advisor to Emperor Wasanta, stopped, looked at the beasts, and said. “I hope you have something tastier than that. The Emperor has a partiality for the flavor of a human brain, but he desires something exotic. Eating those animals would be like sucking on a piece of wood.”
The tour continued and Major Elbetto replied. “I’m sure we can find something that the Emperor will like. Experimentation has increased two hundred percent in the past six months. Our regular deliveries have remained unchanged and the high-end product has increased thirty percent.”
While they traveled to the product, General Asado’s thoughts turned dark. He watched the landscape roll by, and mumbled. “This is bleak. Nothing like the home world’s lush vegetation. The beautiful ocean comes right up to the land. The land, however, is awful. It’s desert, nothing but sand.”
The scientist in the general knew that this landscape, extending ten miles inland, was the optimum condition to raise the product. Still, it bothered him. Beyond ten miles the land was in its natural condition. At the parameter, Osam trees had been planted twenty feet apart. These deceptively desiccated looking trees contained no vegetation. They did however possess an aluminum nitrate sap circulating through its trunk.
Anything that drew too close to the tree would cause the sap to explode and destroy everything within a hundred feet, except the Osam tree’s root system. The tree would go back rapidly. The Lokosha could not allow any of the beasts to escape, or let the wild ones in. Supposedly the land beyond the farm was full of wild beasts. Asado would like to visit that area someday and go hunting. It was said that the beasts of this world could provide good sport…
General Asado’s reverie came to an end when the cart halted and Major Elbetto led him to a large half Dome structure that began at ground level of a flat plain. The structure was actually a very dense force field 5 miles in diameter. Major Elbetto tapped a device on his wrist and a large viewing screen on the side of the structure came to life. The major and the general stood back to watch.
A small human town existed inside the structure. This town consisted of several buildings, most of which were twenty foot cubes. There were however, two buildings that were twenty feet on a side and a hundred feet high. All of the buildings were made of a material that was creamy white in color and nearly indestructible. There were twenty-seven human residents present. These humans were all very intelligent and given vast amounts of information, excepting the reason for their confinement. The humans were aware that they were trapped in a small confined space, but despite their high intelligence had yet to find a way out.
General Asado read the status reports on these humans and then spoke. “This bunch are all very intelligent. They should be very tasty indeed. The Emperor will like that.”
Major Elbetto looked at the general and replied. “This is among our best stock. There has been minimal genetic alteration. All of the other humans had been given a high sexual drive and a quick gestation rate to provide more product. This group has achieved high intelligence on its own.”
“My compliments major.” The general said. “Shall we continue the tour?” The pair walked on
While the masters had been observing the dome, two of the human beasts could not wait any longer. They could not help themselves, it was part of their nature. Standing beside each other in their sweaty nakedness had driven them over the edge. One of the males was just completing coitus with a female. An amused Major Elbetto cracked his EM whip across the back of the large male and said. “Giddy up.” The pair of engrossed humans quickly broke apart and joined the others in pulling the cart.
As the cart gently pulled away, General Asado remarked. “I see that your adjustments to the sexual drive have been successful. How long until new product is ready?”
Major Elbetto, eager to score points with his boss, spoke quickly. “The female should give birth within one month. There is a 99, 99875 percent chance that a healthy product will be delivered. Because these creatures are so dim-witted, it will be fully mature within six months.”
The general looked at the major and said. “You have done well. I am impressed. These beasts may be better suited for heavy labor, but even with their bland taste, they will be sufficient to feed the army.
“Thank you sir.” The major responded. “Look. We are at our final site.” The cart came to a stop at another white dome on the right. Across the road were four pale blue domes.
“I trust that this is interesting, Major Elbetto.” The general stated.
“Very much so.” The major replied. They stepped off the cart to view the interior of the single white dome.
Specimen M04196J142-A, or To-Aye as he was known to his friends, was terrified. He had been in “The Room” longer than anyone else. To-Aye was always here, it was the only place he knew. And being honest, he really didn’t have any friends, these people were just acquaintances because nobody seemed to stay around. Everyone he ever met disappeared from “The Room” before too long.
A small piece of the impenetrable wall would detach itself and form a bubble. The bubble would suddenly approach a person, encase them, and then remove them from “The Room”. That was the only way out. Now, much to To-Aye’s horror, he had been removed.
To-Aye knew that there were always forty people in “The Room”, twenty men and twenty women. Most everyone was in their teens or twenties, so there was always sex. When the women became pregnant, which happened nearly all the time, the child was delivered one month later. The mother was usually back having sex within an hour. To-Aye did not feel any guilt about this wanton lifestyle, it was just the way of things.
Besides thought To-Aye, there is enough stress in my life so all that sex just helps me relax. We are constantly being examined by the unknown creatures outside of “The Room”. They are always giving us useful items and clues to escape, but then jerking them away from us at the last minute. Now To-Aye was about to meet those entities. He had emerged into a large area where he could feel wind on his face. The brightness began to resolve itself and he could see things.
There was a small metal cart sitting twenty feet away from him. Five giant naked people stood harnessed to the front of it. Standing on the cart itself were two large yellow lobster men. To-Aye was sure that they were speaking to each other, but he did not understand the squeals they were making. One of the lobster men stepped down and walked towards him. He watched the creature’s snout swinging back and forth in front of its face and he became dazed. The next thing he knew, To-Aye’s memories came flooding back. Then he felt a sharp pain. Then nothing.
One day later General Asado was preparing to leave Lokosha Food Farm No. 003, his tour complete. As he was being shuttled from the main production facility to his awaiting starship, Watchful Traveler, the general thought, I still have forty planet-farms to visit. This is not a job that I like. It has nothing to do with what I trained for. He also knew that he was doing a personal favor for the Emperor. If things went according to plan, he would someday be a powerful governor in charge of a large sector of the Empire.
Previously, General Asado had been a major and the chief science officer on then General, Wasanta’s starship, the Big Claw. This was back in the days when the Lokosha was still part of the LCIS. Asado did not get along with the future Emperor at all. They were always in conflict. He was unsure why the Emperor trusted him so.
Asado thought that might have something to do with the fact that they were both rescued from escape pods when their ships were destroyed. Major Asado barely escaped the Big Claw when it was annihilated in a sneak attack by the human, Admiral Albert Duck. General Wasanta managed to find his way to an escape pod when his recently captured Nebulii vessel, Big Claw II, imploded. Asado figured that the Emperor must have an empathetic connection with him, hence the potentially beneficial job.
General Asado shook himself out of his reverie. He had one more call to make, and thought back to yesterday. When the major stopped at the second dome he seemed distraught and said. “This facility is where the product is aged without interruption. However, the results are very similar to the first facility, were the product is allowed to become intelligent.”
General Asado appeared upset and replied. “Then you have nothing for me?” He noticed the blue domes across the road and asked. “What are those for?”
Major Elbetto said. “Those are where we experiment with emotion on the product. We use joy, sorrow, fear, and hope. The best results occur in the hope facility, the furthest one down. Let’s go there. I have something special for you.”
The general watched as the product was placed in front of the facility and stood there in a daze. He stepped off the cart and walked toward the product. General Asado did not expect anything special, but thought I’m hungry and at least I’ll have a meal. He closed the distance to the human and began feeding.
A day later the general could still taste the exquisite meal. He had savored every bit of it. That was the best food he had ever consumed. He sent a call to the major, whose image quickly appeared on the view screen.
“Major Elbetto.” The general began. “That product you gave me yesterday, from the emo-facility, was very good. I would like to take a sample back to the Emperor for his...”
“General.” The major interrupted. “I have taken the liberty of sending ten samples of this product to your ship, with instructions of how to treat them. They may not taste quite as good as the one you had, but they will be close.
General Asado looked at the major and said. “I am very impressed. If the Emperor likes this product, and I suspect he will, it will reflect very well on you. I have been looking for an assistant and I think it may be you.”
Before the major could respond the general continued. “Well, I’m at my ship. I must be going. You will be hearing from me soon, Major Elbetto.” General Asado boarded his ship and it soon departed.
