Peripheral Vision
A FanFic inspired by "Trouble on Arlia", in which Vegeta and Nappa pay a visit to an alien world
My name is Attla, and I am a Freak of Nature. No, it isn't an extra head or anything; my deformation is virtually invisible. No one can ever tell. You see, I once read somewhere that all life forms on Arlia have basically the same type of eye: millions of miniscule light-receivers compacted into a sphere. Each sphere has a "pupil-point", or centre of vision, where sight is clear. All other areas perceive only vague blurs. Every seeing creature, from king to kallassa, has the same eye.
This is where I'm different from everyone else, different from all Arlian life: I have 20/20 peripheral vision. As a young adult, I was tested with two eye charts on either side of my head, which I read simultaneously. For a few weeks after, I was Attla the Magnificent, amazing all with my feats of perception. I did tricks with cards and balls: amusing the minor royalty, entertaining my peers, and astonishing the innocent larvae.
Eventually, of course, it got tedious. The spotlight just isn't for me. I gradually relinquished the applause to the real entertainers, and returned to the fields for which I was born. Every worker from my creche harvests silla. Hundreds of fields of beautiful, luscious silla, requiring no tending, no weeding, and no planting- only harvest.
I stood in the soft loam, wearing only a pair of green overalls. The hot suns beat down on my pointed shell, boiling my innards. I didn't notice, though. I was caught up in my labour- when you get going, the mind stops but the body keeps working. Open the husk, pull out the fruit, stuff it in the basket. Open the husk, pull out the fruit, stuff it in the basket. Suns, earth, silla, life.
I got interrupted from my rhythm by Tiik, who handed me a dipper of water. An impious grin split his broad face as I gulped it greedily and asked for more.
"Don't work so hard, Attla." he scolded, "You make the rest of us look bad."
"Shut up," I suggested helpfully, "and try to get this batch back to the farmhouse before it goes stale."
"You're just jealous," Tiik said, "because you don't hold the esteemed honour of reporting back to His Royal Highness."
We both laughed.
The supervisor for our farm was Allena, a stuck-up, pretentious little prince, with an ego the size of a small Dolkorr. Ever since Tiik caught him draped in a curtain, pretending to be king in front of the mirror, we haven't stopped laughing at him.
"Well," sighed Tiik, "I suppose I'd better hurry, if I want to get back before nightfall." He turned and began pacing back slowly, carefully placing each foot in front of the other. I chuckled and tossed a husk at the back of his head.
"Get going, Tiik!" I yelled, "We don't want to make our future ruler angry!"
I got back into my rhythm: Open the husk, pull out the fruit, stuff it in the basket. Open the husk, pull out the fruit, stuff it in the basket. I worked until meal time, then hoisted the packs onto my shell and started trudging back. I was met at the door by Allena, whose arms were folded, and whose feathery antennae were erect and quivering with tension. It was all I could do to suppress a snicker.
"Attla," he said, "You're late."
"I'm sorry sir." I replied, "I lost track of time."
"Well, Attla, that's too bad. You see, for the past two days, we've been behind quota. We aren't up too regulation quantity, and we need to do something about that."
Oh, boy, I thought, forced overtime. The punishment inflicted on the industrious by the greedy. Why can't you just pick the difference yourself?
Of course, I didn't say that. I just nodded, and went back out. Allena went with me, apparently to help by criticizing. He told me how to pop the husks. He cautioned me not to bruise the skins. He blabbed on and on, giving me directions and advice like he actually knew anything about silla harvesting. It was getting very hard to restrain myself from giving him a swift kick in the crimson carapace.
Just as I was bending over to get a silla pod that was resting on the ground, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was gone by the time I got up and looked. Anyone else would have missed it, but I had seen it quite clearly: "A spaceship…"
"What?" sputtered Attla, angry at being interrupted, "What are you babbling about?"
"A space ship" I said, pointing, "I saw it…" A dull roar, like thunder, mumbled in the distance.
"Nonsense." Allena replied, "I didn't see anything." I didn't hear him. I was already running.
"Come back! Attla, you mal-hatched idiot, come back! You can't get out of overtime that easily! Come back here!"
I was hurdling rows of silla plants, rushing to meet the visitor. Imagine, me, Attla, the first representative of Arlia to the alien civilization! The fence came into view, and I clambered over it, into the woods beyond. The underbrush was dense and clingy, so I had to go from running to walking. Every move engendered a thousand noises, and the trees smelled like boiled drake-leaf.
I walked for a long time, and just when I thought I was lost, I found the crater. Right in the centre of a lighted clearing was a deep, hemispherical hole. Dirt was thrown up onto the grass, and a few smoldering fires added grey ghostlike wisps of smoke to the scene. It was not the hole that held my attention, however.
Hovering casually in the air was the creature. His skin was a pale pink-orange, and it looked repulsively soft. Black hair sprung up from his head like a bush, and the armour he wore looked like nothing from this world. All in all, the aura of his great power was only matched by the hideousness of his grub-like countenance.
For a moment, I was speechless, but then the sense of urgency struck me.
"Hey! Down here!" I shouted, waving my arms, "Greetings! Do you come in peace, O noble stranger?" The alien noticed me, and descended nonchalantly to the earth at my feet. I was surprised to note that he was shorter than me by at least a third. He looked up at my face, and the strange device on his left temple flashed, briefly.
I felt humbled in my torn and dirty dungarees, but I plowed on regardless.
"I greet you in the name of all Arlia, most honoured guest. Do you come in peace?" All I got was a blank stare.
Finally, the creature spoke. "I am on a fact-finding mission for my world, and I only need a little information before I go. You could help me immensely by supplying a little Arlian trivia." The creature's voice was hard and emphatic, with no discernable buzz.
"I'm only a humble Draal worker", I stammered, "I was never educated."
The creature shrugged. "It doesn't matter."
"Well," I started, "Arlia has one moon and two suns. There are two large oceans of water, five major continents, and a mountain ridge or two. Virtually the entire globe is covered with life. We Arlians," I indicated myself, "are the dominant species. We group into cities, which have one King and one Queen. From them, all the inhabitants of the city are born into different types. Draals like myself work the fields and factories, the Kattas defend us from enemies or the elements, and Signas and Signettes grow up into new Kings and Queens."
The little spaceman simply nodded. Suddenly, I realized what I had just done.
"Alright," I said, hopefully, "I've given you a lot of important information. I have more where that came from. Since this data could be used against us, I would appreciate something in trade. Not that I don't trust you" I added hurriedly, "but you can understand my position."
The alien shrugged and popped the little white device off his head. He flipped it to me, and I only just reacted in time to catch it. It was cold in my hands.
"That" he informed me, "is a scouter. It's cheap as dirt back on Planet Vegeta, but it contains some pretty advanced technology for a backwoods globe like this. We're even. Keep talking."
I gulped, and complied. I told him where all the largest cities are. I told him about growing from egg to larva to adult. I told him about silla. I told him about riding a Dolkorr. I told him about reading and writing. I probably would have told him what I had for breakfast, if he hadn't stopped me.
"That's more than enough information" he said, lifting back into the air. "You just saved me a load of work, buddy. Thanks a lot." With a farewell flourish, he dropped into the crater. I ran forward in time to see him climb into his spherical vessel.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Allena blunder into the clearing with two huge beast-like Kattas, but I didn't bother turning my head. I slipped the scouter into my pocket.
Allena stopped in his tracks as the kickball-shaped spacecraft shot off into the azure firmament. I calmly turned, and walked up to him. His neck was still craned upwards. Even his antennae were wilted.
"Do you think you could request an audience with the King and Queen?" I asked, "It's rather important."
Three hours later I was in front of the royal assembly.
I had gotten a scrapedown, for appearances' sake, and was wearing my best brown suit. The queen, red as a sunset, lay quivering before me. Attendants constantly milled around her hind end, retrieving the eggs as fast as she could lay them. Scattered around her in a semi-circle were all the members of the royal court- Signas and Signettes class one and two; purple lords and pink ladies. The King sat beside his wife on a tall stool, and held her hand lovingly, reaching over and clicking their wedding bands together. Allena was beside me, quaking like a mauve leaf. His hands clenched and relaxed, clenched and relaxed. The queen looked me in the eye, and inclined her head, indicating that I was to begin.
"King Lemliss, Queen Dallia, members of the royal assembly" I began, nervously stumbling for the correct terminology, "My name is Attla, and I have the distinguished honour of harvesting silla for the common good of this beautiful city. While I was doing overtime this afternoon, I managed to see a spaceship with my peripheral vision."
The Queen interrupted with a sweet yet hoarse laugh. "That's where I recognize you from! Attla the Magnificent! If anyone would have seen the craft, it would be you."
I was stunned- the queen knew me! For a few seconds I stammered, unable to continue. Allena, still nervous, cleared his throat. I started my story again.
"Immediately, I left what I was doing, and ran to meet it. I knew the importance of a first contact situation."
Several members of the royalty murmured appreciatively.
"I ran through the forest and found the impact crater: hovering above it was the alien. His skin was pink, and all connected. He had a shock of black hair on the top of his head. His armour and accessories were very futuristic-looking. He told me he was on a fact-finding mission for his government, so I started telling him about our planet. In return, he gave me an example of alien technology."
I retrieved the scouter from my vest pocket, and handed it directly to the King. Allena was flabbergasted.
"You never told me you had an alien device!"
I shrugged, arrogantly. "I figured it was for the royal assembly's eyes only." I turned back to the court. "After I had told him all I knew about Arlia, he simply got back into his spacecraft and disappeared. He said I had made his job a lot easier."
The royals buzzed amongst themselves, and handed the scouter around. The King and Queen talked privately. Allena and I stood there, waiting for a reply. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Queen spoke.
"Overseer Allena, you have done well in bringing this to our attention. We applaud your efforts, and hereby name you a Signa class three." Allena stopped shaking, and visibly swelled with pride. The Queen turned to me. I felt like an egg in her sight.
"Attla, your quick thinking, desire to do the right thing, and fortuitous inborn ability have granted us peace with our interstellar neighbors, and a boon to our science. It is, quite possibly, the greatest service to Arlia an Arlian has ever performed. In recognition of this, we hereby pronounce you an honorary Signa. Congratulations!"
The entire assembly burst into enthusiastic applause. Signas and Signettes swarmed around me, placing a medal over my neck and decorative garlands over my stubby antennae. Each one expressed congratulation, and the king himself shook my elbows.
A swarm concentrated around me, and the royal assembly gradually moved into the regal dining hall, where a feast had been hastily prepared in my honour. I felt as though I would burst with joy. We all stuffed ourselves on rich delicacies- many of which I had never even heard of- and talked excitedly of space exploration, philosophical implications, new industries, and my rare promotion.
The next few hours all blurred together- there were speeches and commemorations, there were public addresses and medals, there was talk and music and light and food- hundreds of plates of food. I could hardly stand up by the time a servant showed me to my new room. He just said "These are your new quarters: enjoy!" and left. I was alone, standing in a strange, empty room, with all my energy gone, but feeling sedately joyful. Slowly, I found a bed, lay down, and surrendered to night.
The next day, I hurt all over. The bed was too soft, and I had slept with my belt on. I felt very isolated, waking up without the comforting buzz of my creche-mates. Determined to show these aristocrats that I was worthy of my new place, I slipped on one of the robes that was provided, and set out for a tour of the facilities. The pale yellow fabric felt cool along my chest, and I tucked it under my shell, as I had seen some doing last night. I kept my fake extended Signa antennae and one of the medals, leaving everything else on the desk. Why did I need a desk?
I made sure to memorize the way back to my room. I found three emergency exits, two swimming pools, one stage, two janitors' closets, a kitchen, an arena, and two libraries. Every step of the way, light music drifted along the bright halls. I had no idea where it was coming from, and it was driving me crazy.
No one seemed to be around. The whole palace was empty. I freaked out for some reason, and just started running around, looking for someone, anyone to explain what to do. Eventually, I came across the entrance to the Queen's room, and there I found some Draals I could talk to, running eggs to the hatcheries. An old nurse took time out to explain things to me.
"The royals all sleep until noon. The only ones awake in the palace at this hour are the nurses. The Queen never stops laying, regular as clockwork!"
"So what do I do until noon?"
"Well you don't work, I can tell you that. You're the new favourite, considered a true Signa, second only to the royal couple themselves!" I nearly swooned.
A clock over the nurse's head told me I had four hours to wait, so I decided to go for a walk. By the door, two Kattas smelled me all over. I have no idea why; it's probably a safety thing. They were the largest guards I had ever seen- I barely came up to their knees.
The streets around the castle, in a stark contrast to the vacant halls, were quite crowded. Entire carts full of food were being wheeled into service entrances. I spotted one cart completely filled with silla. Seeing it made me realize that I would never have to harvest silla again. Never again would I boil in the suns. Never again would I work for fourteen hours straight. Never again would I feel the great thirst of constant labour. Never again…
I don't know why, but I started running, running home. The crowds split before me as I dashed through the cobblestone streets. My new slippers tore and hurled themselves away from my feet. I ran and ran, and stooped, panting, outside the dried clay walls of Second Blue Kanis Draal Creche. I could hear the sounds of breakfast being cleared away. I swallowed, caught my breath, and entered.
The large, open room was almost empty, only two Draals were at the back, I walked to the centre of the dirt floor, and one of them heard me. Tiik turned around, and spread his arms in greeting.
"Attla! Isse Trittnis, you're looking fancy! Who would have guessed this would ever happen, eh?" He grabbed my elbows and clapped me on the back. "I waved to you at the public announcement, but I guess you didn't see me. Hey- think you can sneak me into those infamous hot springs now? Eh? How about some free sumba soufflé?"
I gradually felt something was wrong. Sensing it too, Tiik turned and saw Master Zoran, looking very somber. His arms were crossed, and his eyes were red like fire. I've never seen him so angry. Tiik got very quiet. Zoran looked me right in the eye.
"Attla," he said, "You are an honorary Signa Class One now, and that means you are equal to royalty. Your presence here in this creche is a dishonour to yourself and a dishonour to this city. I must ask you to leave."
"Master Zoran", I stammered, "I'm sorry. I was never told the rules. I missed my creche-mates. That's all."
There was a tense silence. Zoran's eyes phased back to grey, and his mouth-guards grew pale again.
"I missed you too, my child. But you must leave. You have a new life now. There is no place for you here." I nodded, and clasped his arms in farewell. It was a long walk back to my new home.
Click here for Part Two