Eric Olafson, Neo Viking Vol. 02

Elena appeared, taking off her cold mask and her thick gloves and yelled. "Eric."

After exchanging family and local gossip I told her the story. Exa had silently appeared next to me and stared at Elena. My sister got an angry face and said. "Those bastards. You send that girl on her way. I'll talk to the Ancient and father right away to get that invitation. I will call you back as soon asI know more."

Exa said. "That lady looked like a princess. Who was she?"

"That was Elena, my sister." I turned and stopped talking. Exa had transformed from a filthy underground kid to a beautiful little girl.

The Auto dresser had changed her dusty gray mob of short hair in a shiny brown bob cut. Her skin was of the finest complexion. She wore a nice green dress with white lace around the collar and sleeves. The skirt reached to her knees and she wore white tights and black shoes. She blushed." I always wanted a dress. I never had one. You don't like it, right?"

"You look very nice and like a girl should, you are also clean and that is a major improvement."

She smiled. "I smell good too. I used perfumed lotions."

I motioned her to sit down and said. "Exa I do not want you to know that I don't want you to do anything you don't like.

The door is not locked and you can go anytime and whenever you like, but I would like to send you to my home world Nilfeheim.

There are people who will take care of you, never touch you if you don't want them to and there is always plenty to eat. You can wear dresses all day long and when School starts in a few months you can go to Union school with many other girls and go home after wards every day.

Granted Nilfeheim is not the most hospitable planet and it is going to be cold for a long time, with lots of snow. But we got warm burgs and lots of warm things to eat and wear. It is only a suggestion of course. I am not sending you there if you do not want, okay?"

She listened and said." I don't have to be a Bottom there?"

"No Exa, we don't even know what a Bottom is, if you say you are a Bottom they think you want to be a pair of pants or something."

She giggled for the first time like a girl." That sounds funny. Can I think about it for a little?"

"Sure. Why don't you eat something while you think? I am sure you can order food here."

Exa had eaten and fallen asleep a little while later on the sofa.

The GalNet unit blinked and the Olafson wolf logo appeared. I accepted right away. It was Uncle Hogun, Aunt Freydis, Elena and the Ancient, all together at the family table at Hogun's Inn. The ancient spoke first.

"Eric you did the right thing to call us. I informed Egill and he will transmit to you an official invitation of the government of Nilfeheim to little Exa. Your father said immediately yes, but your Uncle Hogun and his wife really would love to invite the girl to them, where is she?"

Exa stepped into the capture field of the visual sensor and she said shyly, "I am right here." Aunt Freydis clapped her hands together. "Oh you are adorable. Exa, I am Freydis and this is my husband Hogun.

Don't be afraid of his beard, he is very nice, we are relatives of Eric and we would love to welcome you in our home if you want to come."

Exa wiped a tear from her face." Yes please if you really allow me to come. I promise I won't steal anything and eat very little. I can also help and work."

Now it was Aunt Freydis who wiped tears away and Uncle Hogun turned away. My aunt said. "You sent that little lady to us right away, Eric, you hear?"

Uncle Hogun blew his nose in a huge kerchief and faced the visual sensor again. "You can eat all you want and you don't need to steal anything. All you have to do is ask and it will be yours." The Ancient smiled warmly. "Eric, make sure she travels safely."

--""--

After a good nights sleep and an opulent breakfast I handed Exa a data Chip. "This is your official Nilfeheim Invitation. It allows you to travel there. It also holds a few credits, so you don't travel without means. You won't need much money on Nilfeheim that I can assure you. I hired you a charter that takes you straight there, so there are no stops. The suit cases with your extra dresses we bought are already loaded.

My lawyer said not to worry about Mother Moore's either. Am I forgetting anything?"

She said. "Yes Eric. Can you kneel for me?"

I did and she flung her arms around my neck. "Thank you Eric."

I hugged her too." Don't be afraid when you see Uncle Hogun. He is very big but I assure you he is the gentlest person you will ever meet and try not to steal too much. Neo Vikings don't have a lot of patience for that, but you got 20,000 credits on that chip. You should be able to buy whatever you want."

She pressed her cheek against mine and whispered. "I will not steal I promise. If I can have a place where I belong, I don't need anything else."

I walked with her to the Enroe SwiftStar I had hired and she climbed in. The Klack pilot tipped one of his hands to his head and said. "One Passenger to Nilfeheim, all aboard young human we going to be there in no time."

Moments later, the small ship climbed, slipped through the rain shield membrane and disappeared in the clouds.

With nothing to do and still wanting to see a little more about the place I decided to check out the amusement park and do a little sight-seeing before I would board the bus to Blue Moon and from there to Arsenal. I didn't expect any more troubles. Besides what could go wrong in an amusement park?

INTERLUDE 4: Mao Mao Vouza

-GalNet Entry: Guayas, planet

>>> Guayas is the 3rd planet in the Dom Seis System. Dom Seis is one of the six F Spectral type Stars in the Hyades Cluster 152 Light years from Terra. The Hyades Cluster and the Pleiades region was the region of the former Xunx expanse. After the United Earth / Xunx war only a few useable garden worlds were found in the Hyades Cluster. One of the few untouched garden worlds was Guayas. Opened for colonization in 2177 and colonized by seventeen groups of indigenous people of South America, Australia, Africa and the South Pacific (Earth regions). These tribes bemoaned the loss of lands and their traditional ways to the influence of European settlers and claimed that the influx of Alien technology would further deteriorate their way of living.

Planet Guayas a rich Type 1A garden world with 4 continents, sprawling rain forests, and a very mild overall tropical climate was first surveyed by Captain Eduardo Sezcan of the USS Palermo, he being a native of a region of former nation state Ecuador brought many images home and convinced first his own and then others tribes to colonize this world.

This occurred before the formation of the United Stars of the Galaxy and the colonists of indigenous Earth insisted insisted on strict isolation and did not want to belong to the Association of Earth Colonies (Pre Union Organization of Earth Colonies, now defunct and re organized as the Office of Colonist Affairs). The seventeen tribes thrived and most of them shed all trappings of modern society and returned to almost pre civilization conditions, with surprisingly great success."

During the 1st Inter Galactic War, between Union and the Kermac. Thrall species, penetrated deep into Union space. The Nogoll first and foremost spread fear and terror over several colonized worlds, of which only the Neo Vikings of Nilfeheim successfully resisted.

The Nogoll invaded Guayas to use the planet as resupply depot for a direct attack on Sol and Earth. A regiment of Space Marines orbital jumped onto Guayas, fought almost to the last man to prevent a Nogoll massacre on the Native population, today known as the Battle of Guayas and still remembered in the seventh strophe of the Marine Hymn.

After the war, the chiefs and elders of the seventeen tribes agreed to have a Union Post with a clinic, Post office, GalNet station and a Union School.

Mostly to prevent such an event from ever happening again, Guayas became a Union world in 3200 and is a full Member ever since.

Mao Tsuta is the current Pluribus Representative. The seventeen tribes maintain a Type 100 P Culture without prohibiting their tribal members to obtain technology. There is no formal government and the tribes keep their own independent chiefs. They do come together once a year for a big celebration during which planet matters are discussed, such as the election of a new representative if necessary. Only about five percent of the population is registered as Union citizens and travel abroad, but young men are honored and considered especially brave if they choose a career as marines to repay the planets debt to that branch of the military. Tribal wars are fairly common and also the practice of head hunting. Tribal wars are highly ritualistic in nature and the biggest death toll is perhaps five or six men. Their semiannual sporting events are much more dangerous and claim more lives. While the individual cultures maintained their own distinctive ways, over the long time some of the practices and traditions are an amalgam of all cultures. While 95 percent of the population claims to belong to the Old Catholic Church of Earth, they have strongly altered that religion and developed a very unique brand of this faith, with a heavy focus on shamanism, demon and spirit worship.

The rich indigenous flora and fauna has many consumable species and some species are dangerous to man but the locals have learned to live with these dangers.

There is virtually no export, except for some tribal made craft items. The sale of shrunken heads is now officially prohibited to curb any increased demand. Also there is virtually no import except for knives, chemical powered shot guns and other very basic items.

Papua Town is considered the Capital and the only town of the planet. A small hotel, several shops and a Class G Space port (leveled dirt field) is frequented every two month by space bus and Post ship. Fliers are rare, only the Clinic and the Hotel operate a small fleet of them. One Company provides public transport to all continents and Island groups via a fleet of wood fired steam ships. Tourism is not unknown and not prohibited but not encouraged or promoted either.<<<

Mao Mao Vouza was the son of the Papuan tribal Chief Mao Pappy Vouza. His great grandfather claimed to have known an elder who had witnessed the Union marines fight for them and perhaps it was this story that first instilled a longing for the outer worlds and stars in his grandson.

The Papuans were of Austronesian descent and usually bigger than the members of the Native American or African tribes. The Papuans had settled a group of large islands in the South East Sea of the planet and for most of the year had no or very little contact with others, Mao always loved to listen to his grandfathers stories of the valiant soldiers dropping out of the heavens, fighting the black pelted monster goats that also had come from a world beyond the clouds.

His pappy allowed him to attend Union School.

His father hoping Mao he would join the United Stars Marine corps. Not knowing that his son had other plans. Mao was even for Neo Papuan a big young man. At the age of fifteen he was already considered to be one of the strongest and a regular winning participant at the wrestling and strength contests during the Sports games. He already had much of his family history tattooed on his left shoulder and arm and all in all was known to be as good natured as he was strong and honor full.

Summer break was almost there and school would be out in five weeks. By next year he hoped to be accepted at the United Stars Academy. While a career as marine was nothing bad. He had seen a school Virtu of a Battle ship opening fire and ever since he wanted to become the one sitting behind the bridge station officially called tactical but he knew the fleet slang for it. Weapon System Officers who held the tactical position on a battle ship sat behind the 'piano of doom', as the tactical station aboard a battle ship was nicknamed. Because like a musician of a piano a Tactical officer could press many buttons and contacts and releasing an apocalyptic storm of destruction.

Behind his family's hut he had built himself a replica of a piano of doom, when he was a kid. It was made of wood, sticks and mud and colorful shells and rocks for buttons, but in his imagination it was him who saved the day when he destroyed Dai Than fleets, Kermac battle ships and Y' All Armadas.

His teacher Mr. Roundtree was actually a Native American of Earth and despite the fact that he was an Off-worlder very highly regarded by everyone, stopped him as he wanted to leave class."Mr. Mao Mao what are your plans for this your last summer break?"

Mao said."I don't have many plans. I will participate in the sports games for the last time, study the books on weapon systems you organized for me and wait till October to travel to the Academy."

"The Union Education Board has a Student exchange Program and they looking for exceptional students to spend their last month of school and the three month of summer break with another culture. Since you are my best student I thought I would offer you the opportunity. It is all paid, of course but they are also looking for an exceptional brave student who would accept the invitation of a new Union Member species called the Archas. Because their form frightens many humans they want to show that it is only the form and that they are not as they appear."

"I am deeply honored that you thought of me. If my father agrees, I will go."

"You don't ask me how they look like, who they are or where they are?"

"If I would ask those questions you would not have picked me, Mr. Roundtree. They are Union members and they are sentient. If I would base my decision on how they look I would neither be brave nor a good citizen."

Roundtree put his hand on Mao's shoulder." Indeed Mr. Mao Mao, this is why I have chosen you. I asked your father first and he has permitted it, pending your decision."

"I think it is a great opportunity. So I can experience the Up world before I go to the Academy and reveal to everyone that I come from a stone-age civilization."

"Well the space bus will be here in 2 days. I will go in town and make a GalNet call to arrange everything."

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Chapter 5: Defenders of Gore

The Swing Tram was something else. Passenger cabins suspended on a long cable released from a docking port swung across the Canyon and clinked into a similar port on the other side. For a short moment I felt weightless then at the base of the swing several gee pressed down on me while the rock wall came rushing towards the capsule. The docking station was cleverly disguised behind a holo image of rock. People were screaming as loud speakers transmitted crashing sounds and even though I would never tell anyone, I think I screamed too at the first time.

The roller coaster ride was bolted right to the rock wall and then rushed with great speed towards the water of the river. A fore field created a tunnel at the very last moment, I rode the thing three times.

I was kicked out of an attraction called the Haunted Space station, after I knocked out a Ghost that actually was a floating actor in a glowing costume. Even though I told them I never seen such an attraction before and I really thought the apparition was attacking the woman before me. The ghost actor did accept my apologies after I paid him two thousand credits for his pain he suffered from the broken jaw. They did not call the authorities either, but asked me never to come back.

The Spider Bot ride I tried next went up and down the sheer rock walls of the canyon, strapped to the back of a six legged robot spider was quite unnerving. I was told there were no accidents in the last 100 years of that attraction and the robots were designed to do that and had safety features like directional Arti-grav that prevented a fall.

It all was fun but it would have been more fun with someone to share the thrills and then talk about them. Doing them alone was just not the same. I so wished I could do this with Elena or perhaps Gunnar or Ygral. I wondered where those two were at the moment. I still had plenty of time before I had to report at Arsenal, maybe I should call Yngve and visit him.

With this idea in my head I left the Amusement park and went to the main shopping area of the City which was called Dusk. I could not believe the size of the buildings or put my mind around that they all were occupied. That all those flyers and Taxis carried passengers. Yet according to a tour guide drone I had rented, Dusk was not even the biggest city on Twilight and all cities combined a mere Flicker Fish hatching compared to a full size Tri-Eight Tyranno to the real big cities of major planets. Maybe I should visit Pluribus and see it for myself. I could visit Egill and maybe even talk a little to Sif. I agreed with myself that was a good idea. With no real care or hurry, I strolled along a wide boulevard, and while doing that I observed all the many different life forms and tried to remember my lessons in Xeno Class and cursed my decision to skip the neural uploads at school and watching Captain Iron Hand virtus in the small school library that had a Virtu show viewer. I could identify only the most common species such as Klack, massive Botnaars, and Spindlar. I was amazed at the strange but very fast gait of a Quadi Ped seemingly doing it for exercise. One Shop's advertisement sign caught my eye: "A. Vogt -- Weapon Merchant"

I did send Mördaren home and I was a Neo Viking, and since I was unable to stay out of trouble maybe it would be a good idea to get me another sword or something. So I stepped in. Inside were rows of transparent cases and projected displays of every weapon imaginable. Spears, axes, swords, guns, beamers, rocket launchers and everything in between. A lighted sign over the main counter displayed an odd version of the Union Flag. It had red and white stripes, and a rectanglar blue field with little white stars. An artful written line of words below it read." The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Next to it a sign promising that all weapons in that section of the store were genuine Terran. Why this was a selling argument eluded me, but it seemed to impress a fish faced Ult talking to a Klack while looking at the weapon's displayed. "Those monkey-boys from Earth sure know how to make fine weapons don't they?"

The Klack responded. "Everything they touch becomes a weapon. I am sure this was at least part of the Queens consideration when she had us join the Union. It was of course a good one."

The Ult laughed. "H'tkik you are a Terran. Weren't you born there?"

"Why do you think I am in a Weapon store, old friend. Klack on he outside, Terran to the core."

Whatever the Ult responded I didn't hear because a bald headed bright blue skinned humanoid approached me and said. "Welcome to Vogt's. Can I maybe help you to find something?"

"I am from Nilfeheim and we usually carry only swords. I am no expert on distance weapons."

He checked his PDD. "We do have many GalNet customers on your world. We send Harpoon guns, swords and knives. We also carry a few Friesenheim spear gun models in our catalogue." He kept on swiping the display of his PDD. "I just checked our data base. It shows Nilfeheim has no local restriction laws on any weapon class or type. I can fix you up with a Federal Class Three license in no time. Class three is the highest civilian class. Only a few civilians are permitted to own Mil Grade level IV or higher, like the Citizens from Green Hell for example. But mind you, there is a great selection for Class three."