Crow Scare: A Pleidian Novella

By A.L. Neff

While a stand alone epic of the mind an spirit, Crow Scare is a side branch of the Pleides Series set after Za'Varuk's Stone and before Pine Tree Wind.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Oct 8, 2002
• ISBN: 9781462092949

A.L. Neff

Adam currently lives in upstate New York with his wife and two children. He is a musician, the founder of Cheiron Karate, a poet, a surgical technologist, adventurer of the mind and spirit, & holds a Masters degree in Psychology.

Book preview

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

CASSIOPEIA

PART I: ATLAS

PART II: EARTH

PART III: MEROPE

CONCLUSIONS

About the Author

Notes

Glossary

This book is for all people who seek truth and knowledge; those individuals who are criticized for their unorthodox thinking and methods; they who are the revolutionaries of our race; for it is these few titans whose shoulders the rest of us stand upon.

They are never alone that are accompanied with noble thoughts.

—Sir Philip Sidney, Arcadia

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the authors who in reading over time have inspired me to become a writer as well. Style, presence, and the ability to draw emotion are the raw fires from which words may temper a young artist. With special thanks I would like to commend the talents and writings of Elaine Cunningham and R.A. Salvatore for the numerous hours of pleasure they have granted me over the years.

Introduction

Like all of the Pleidian Novels, this one takes place on many wonderful worlds. Mundane Earth, Magical Alcyone, Futuristic Atlas, and many planets in-between. There are strange races of Elves, Dwarves, Savoli, Shaithen, Crowe, and of course humans. Motives are sometimes not understood, and the Pleidian Council while in rule for millions of years, goes not forever unchallenged. And then who are the creators? The gods’ gods? This is what we wonder through tales of horror, fantasy, & science fiction? This is the Pleides.

CROW SCARE

A Pleidian Novella

CASSIOPEIA

What I propose is nothing short of loving and giving in every way. There is no malice or ulterior motive present in what I suggest our course of action to be. The middle-aged woman confessed profusely to the doubting crowd that huddled around an ellipse-shaped table with a dark marble top. She glanced down briefly at her reflection on its surface, seeing her wavy blonde hair hanging loosely over her shoulders and a few strands wildly out of place. She smoothed them back and looked back up at the expectant order that sat in judgment.

"We are not crusaders of science nor are we high-strung by inconceivable emotions, Valioren. We must make wise and logical decisions in a manner consistent with our data and adhere to it regardless of how we feel in accordance with sound scientific principles." The Roynaat, or Space Elf as they were commonly called, pronounced emphatically and leaned back in his plush chair defiantly. He crossed his bony elbows that somehow accented the angular curves of both his chin and pointed ears with practiced perfection.

I must agree with Lord Bathulaan, a square dwarf-chieftain proclaimed, this is not an ordinary request, and though I see where your motivations may be of a pure heart Durachinou, I’m not sure I can vote in favour of your proclamation set forth in the past few days.

But don’t you all see that this is the only honourable and true choice that we can really make? Our experiments thus far have proved useful in studying cures for various diseases that is certain, but now are we to simply leave these creatures half way between animal monkeys and something more; something like us? It just isn’t right I tell you. She brought her penetrating smoky-blue gaze across the table, taking each member in turn trying to portray some sensibility not only in what she said, but what she represented and stood for in her very soul and being. It would be cruel to leave these creatures in a semi-evolved state. In fact it is our duty to bring them that step further in consciousness.

Although I must agree with you on principle, the Savoli` Master commented. History at least in the last several thousand years has shown that our creative genetic manipulations of indigenous species to evolve to a degree somewhat like our own status has shown only aggravation and prolonged war throughout the galaxy.

His skin was dark and his eyes were cast with a dull luster that would make a simple observer assume that he was blind or handicapped to some extent; however his race lived in underground caves and used some form of psychic imaging to attune with their surroundings. While he looked at Durachinou in a half-cocked stare, she was quite aware that he was cognizant of her every facial expression and movement. In fact it was this knowledge that made her uncomfortable, but still she knew that Master Thoth was not malevolent in the least, and he spoke only from his profound wisdom. His blessing was assured whatever she chose to step forward with, but he only brought discourse and friction into existence to make everyone aware of the implications of their decisions.

A rasping snake-headed man spoke out next. Theressss….no need to continue with our plan as set forth, but there isssss at least a reason for keeping these lesser humansssss for no other reasssson than food. His forked tongue flickered rapidly in excitement at the thought of devouring these humanoid creatures. The Shaithen were known for their diabolical reasoning and power lust, not to mention their insatiable desire for fresh meat to feed on.

I think we all appreciate your interest Chancellor Hiyree, but we are perhaps suggesting a survival colony, not so much as a feeding tank if you will. This came from a raven-haired beauty of magnificent features. Her skin was a slate-gray and her forearms and neck showed the downy black feathers of the Crowe race. Madam Iuopa licked her luscious rosy lips in contemplation and then after a brief pause reached to her immediate right and placed her hand affectionately on Durachinou’s arm. It is clear that we must do what is right in this instance, but for the right reasons alone.

I agree, the High Kobold Captain decreed from across the table. Everyone mutely questioned his announcement with scorn. Their race was known for bloodshed and mutilations for nothing but the sake of killing and plundering. There was no way Captain Fequityr was really interested in the human race other than perhaps hoping that the future wars would benefit them in some capacity or another.

The ovoid space vessel had finally come to a stop some distance form the beautiful blue planet. The craft was a rather nondescript hunk of flying metal but should the need arise, the crew of 65 trained Marines consisting of multiple races could fend off any unwanted visitors. The other 134 occupants were either scientists or political affiliates from the various federation systems that had bound together in a research expedition using native monkey-like creatures for disease and cure rotations.

After a variety of genetic manipulations the scientists were able to approximate a hybrid life form similar to the make-up of all of the participating races. However now that the testing had come to a close, many had the feeling that the test subjects should simply be destroyed. Durachinou was a Humanne, the closest relative of the new human species and was reluctant to let the new race be destroyed. That and the total love and caring nature of her race dictated that she should allow them to live, hoping that the war-like tendencies prevalent in the other races would be drowned out by the goodness of her race’s capacity for love and social bonding. There simply was no other choice in the matter and she was determined to argue the proceedings through until the rest of the committee agreed with her decision for no other reason than out of pure boredom and hope in ending the endless debate. As it was they had been going at it for six days and the group was finally reaching the end of their patience and foundations for their arguments.

Let us vote at lassssst, these discussions are going nowhere, and I must get back to my family duties and continue building my wraith-slaves for the upcoming clan wars, the Shaithen decreed. It would be nothing ssssshort of tragic should my son have only a handful of zombies and skeletons to fight in the house honours.

Yes, let us vote, the dwarf boomed. While we prattle away about these monkeys, my brewery is going to the solar winds and my clients will be drinking bloody elven wine before the next cycle if we keep up this infernal jabbering.

The space elf gave him an angry glare.

Durachinou rapped a jeweled dagger on the marble tabletop three times in indication of the vote and subsequent fate of the human race. She breathed deeply, hoping that her tactic of stretching out the vote and hammering away at the consciences of the emotional creatures in the room in the end would get her what she hoped for.

As one, everyone raised their hands, including the elf, much to the group’s surprise. Durachinou’s heart leapt with joy. She had done it. She had secured the future of the humans, and though their future would be difficult, she was already formulating an education process and hopefully within a million years or so they would be exactly where she wanted them. She would transport them to all eight planets in the Pleides and designate a ruling council to oversea the system. Yes it would be grand. She was truly frightened as to