Vines of Orton

The vines of Orton were beautiful in the fall of the Orthian year; indeed, so beautiful that they suckered many a species to try the fruit, thereafter the species wandered aimlessly through space seeking relief from a burning desire to become a Phoenix and thereby torch themselves over the roof of an ancient cathedral. Luckily, ancient cathedrals existed only in the annals of fiction, much like the vaulted Phoenix.

The dark side of Orton featured a playground for the galaxy. Every diversion known under Orton’s two suns existed hidden beneath the Orton moons. Great convoys of Melmans to Xyonians found their way to Orton, much like the great pilgrimages of the years following the final peace.

Chip Slater knew the Orthian pull. Teenage memories of daring another Vacan to try Orton fruit proved tragic. The Vacan youngster had ripped a bright fruit from an early vine growth, consumed the fruit, all the while extorting his fellow travelers to join in the fun, but pay up the wager of the dare. Moments later his eyes began to blaze and he ran through the vineyard until he found a pool of Kayma mud. He then proceeded to swallow fistfuls of the blue sludge until he fell to the ground absolutely dead.

While Orton was a great landmark, and indeed was key signpost for any intergalactic traveler, its gravitational pull was to be avoided. Slater maneuvered his ship past the gravity of the sensual planet and set his course for Lizit, a Christian island in the Quatrant Galaxy. He didn’t really like the trip, but once he arrived he always wished he could stay longer. There was a young Vacan lady living on Lizit. When he last visited she had offered to show him the planet.

“I wonder if the offer still holds”. He set the controls to automatic and stepped back into the galley of his ship. He had not eaten in four turns, and although his mother had urged him to build his strength before the voyage he shunned her offer and consumed a bottle of woco milk, and then grabbed a bag of cookies from the replicator. His purpose was to deliver some of his father’s noggels to the priest of Lizit.

Long ago he and his father had chosen the economy model for Slater’s travel. Hence, there was not a lot of food storage available on board. Slater tapped the portable replicator. “I hope dad reset this thing.” The device sprung to life. “Great. Feed me.”

Slater rested a hand on top of the small device. He loved giving obtuse orders, just to see what would result. Seconds later the replicator shook and dinged. Slater opened the door expecting a huge hurring burger, but instead only a small black gooey glob lay on the plate.

“Hey, stupid, I asked for food, something that will fill me, so I can continue on.” Slater fumed at the arrogance of the inanimate machine.

Again the machine shook. Slater ripped at the door. A cross lay on a black book all set upon a satin cloth. Along side was a basket of crackers and grape juice. “Oh, I get it, I programmed in Lizit, and now we are getting nothing but church stuff. Okay, how about some real food.” The replicator whirred and produced a basket full of grapes, some Xeon cheese, crackers, and a pitcher of iced tea.

“That’s better.” Slater sipped the tea and munched on the grapes. He picked up the small book and flipped through the pages. His ship veered to the right, a normal flight correction move, but Slater, standing and reading, was jostled. “Ah, Lizit, the next stop.”

Moments later Slater rested the ship in a municipal area, paid the toll, and pulled out the map his father had sketched on the back of the replicator instructions. He also retrieved the instructions dictated to him by the young Vacan lady. His father's directions seemed too obtuse so he returned them to the napsack.

With the help of a Gorian cop he found the home of his young female friend. An older male Vacan opened the door. “Oh, I was expecting Marilia.” The man standing before him was dressed priest’s clothing.

“I’m her father. Welcome. Do come in.”

Slater was used to hospitality, after all he was a Vacan too, and manners with others, even non Vacans, were a rule in his society. But, he wondered if this man could be the priest to whom his father was sending an offering.

“Oh, sir, I am on Litz to deliver noogles my father picked from his vines, just earlier this week. I am supposed to give them to a Vacan priest. Might you be the same person?”

The older man smiled and nodded. “I’m the only one on the planet.”

“The priest, uh you, are supposed to get these.” Slater patted his backpack. “I am Chip Slater, by the way.”

“Really? Slater, ah yes, your father told me you might be coming. Your father and I were friends during our days at the university, and just last week we had communed during the Lurian Men’s Conference. He remembered the noogles, how wonderful." The priest turned toward the house interior. "Marilia,” he called, “Chip Slater is here to see you.”

“Oh, I wondered what the connection was". Slater handed the knapsack over to the priest. And the two of them walked into the living room.

“Ah, there’s a book in here.” The priest opened the knapsack.

“Yes, the replicator created it when I approached the planet. I looked through it, looked interesting. You can have it.”

“My young friend, I have one or two. You don’t know about this book then?”

“No sir.”

“Would you like to learn?”

Mirilia peeked her head around the corner and smiled at Slater. When she caught his eye she nodded affirmatively.

Slater looked at the teary eyes of the priest. “Yes sir. Can we start with the story of the priest named Jesus from the old planet?”