THE

ADVENTURES
OF THE

TM

Sarillion’s Struggle for Freedom

By Jorian Clarke
 The Adventures of the Idea Seekers:
Sarillion’s Struggle for Freedom

Chapter 6
The Idea Seeker Council Meeting on Rithu

Grandfather Lahzar stopped to take a look around Rithu before going into the

Council meeting. Even after years of familiarity from coming here for both work and rest,

he was still amazed at the abundance of life on the planet. He loved this place for its

innocence and beauty. Everywhere your eye went there was some brightly colored plant

or flower. There were also amazingly sweet and strong fragrances that came from the

different flowers. The wonderful smells made you feel better just to breathe them in. The

planet simply burst with lushness in the variety of plant life that thrived on it and it was a

great source of Plant Babies for aiding and strengthening the Idea Seekers. He was

going to harvest some additional gifts for Spec and Tra. It was here that he had gathered

the seed pods that he had stowed inside the hovercraft when he sent the two of them off

to Sarillion. He knew the twins would find his Plant Baby gifts when they needed them

most.

He had foreseen that this adventure was going to challenge all of the strengths

and weaknesses they had. While he didn’t know Kimma well, he had read her profile

record and observed her on Sarillion for a few days prior to agreeing to send the twins.

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He was sure that Kimma would need some reminders of the Essence as well, as she

found herself in unexpected situations. She had not yet received training in the way of

the Idea Seekers, but the Idea Seeker Council had all agreed to take the risk to rescue

her when her parents’ request came. In his written report following his trip to observe the

planet he had said, “Kimma appears to have the natural talents to be a skillful Idea

Seeker Reminder. Sarillion has always been a planet dedicated to the Essence. We

must not let it fall to the Darkness now. A naturally gentle people, the Pleethars look to

make the Universe a better place by their presence. They are not motivated by

consumption, so they do not seek to dominate other species for their resources. They

are self-sufficient and they have on their own looked to conserve their natural resources,

replacing fossil fuel usage with solar, hydro and wind power. They recycle, do not eat

more than they need and so do not produce excessive waste to pollute their solar

system. They respect other species that share their planet and moons and they have not

had a species extinction or a war between different people in over 4,000 years. They do

not appear to need any additional help from us other than to train a leader to rally their

people against Angry Cloud.”

Based on his planetary observations and his respect for the Pleethars, he had

chosen his beloved twins to go in harm’s way to bring Kimma to safety on Vonta. There

she would be trained in the ways of the Essence as an Idea Seeker Reminder.

To help them he had put some Plant Babies in the spaceship for them. Toosah,

his friend from the Planet Rithu and a Master Idea Seeker, had chosen them especially

for this trip. For Tra he had a Patience Plant Baby and while he wasn’t sure she would

need this because she was so strong-minded, he also gave her a Persistence Plant

Baby. The first one was to strengthen her weakness. Tra always found it hard to wait to

get things done. The Persistence Plant Baby was to help her focus on one of her

strengths. Tra never gave up, but she needed to do a better job of making sure she was

pursuing the most important thing at the right time. Otherwise the right thing done at the

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wrong time wouldn’t work. For the Patience Plant Baby he had chosen one already

mature and fully powered up just traveling in his seed pod. He knew she would need this

one soon.

For Spec Grandfather Lahzar provided a Confidence Plant Baby. Most people

who looked at Spec would never think that he needed a Confidence Plant Baby, but

Grandfather Lahzar knew how to look deep within people and determine what assistance

would be helpful to them. Others just saw the obvious leadership skills that Spec quite

naturally showed each day. Lahzar also knew the inner-struggle which took place to be a

great leader in both good times and bad, so he also gave Spec a Humility Plant Baby.

Lastly, he packed in the spaceship a Humor PB since he knew how trying Tra

could be for Spec at times. Spec still reacted with frustration when Tra would just dive

right into things because of her lack of patience. Grandfather knew that a little humor

was more effective than a pointed lecture when dealing with Tra.

“May this adventure benefit you both and these Plant Babies help you when you

need it as you go to do good for the people of Sarillion,” Grandfather Lahzar had

recorded as a message on the spaceship Viewscreen as he loaded these surprise gifts in

the spaceship.

For Kimma he chose one of the most beautiful and gentle of all Plant Babies,

Compassion. While helping others was a natural strength of Kimma’s, he knew how the

Darkness worked to hide our strongest qualities or even turn them against us. He

foresaw that Kimma would need Compassion to keep her focused on helping others. To

get something more you have to be willing to give without expectations. Compassion

was one quality that allowed you to see beyond your own needs or desires. He also

provided a Hope Plant Baby. He was sure the Darkness would try to use Angry Cloud to

try to cloud Kimma’s thinking and discourage her.

While he was still deep in thought he heard the gentle rustle of skirts behind him

and heard Toosah’s voice,

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“Welcome my brother in unity. We have great joy in feeling your presence with

us again. Do you smell the happiness that all living things have felt with your coming?

Did you hear the trees of the field clap their hands at your arrival?”

Lahzar turned to face her and smiled, “Toosah, how can anyone feel fear of the

future after they spend but one minute on your home planet? I am ready to sit and talk

with the others. Walk with me to the Council room.”

Toosah wrapped one of her plant-like tendril arms affectionately around Lahzar’s

arm and together they went into the Council meeting.

The Council members represented a variety of species from around the

Universe. There were the non-materials from Vonta and Mingo, a form of existence

represented purely in light with no substantial form. The Blaycors, Turlans, Machooians,

Hydroxians, and the Council members from three other planets who were humanoid in

appearance; the Upper and Bottom People of Rithu, who were humanoid with some

plant-like characteristics; the Whydinfeys from Zador, who were tiny people with chubby

middles and antennae on their heads, who even the tallest of them would have only

come up to an Earth child’s kneecap; and the Council members from Harmon that looked

sort of like birds. There were other species as well that looked like talking animals, but

they could shape shift to look like other species, or even rocks, so you never knew what

form they were going to be in when you saw them next. And then there were Council

members from water planets and gas planets that are hard to describe if you have never

been to that kind of planet before.

From the outside all the buildings on Rithu looked like giant wood burls, the

knobby part of tree limbs that you sometimes see on big trees on Earth. But on Rithu

these were at least a thousand times bigger. Toosah’s people lived and worked in these

kind of buildings because they were the Upper People of Rithu. They lived in the tree

tops and had never thought of living anywhere different. There were also the Bottom

People of Rithu and they put their homes and work spaces on, or even under, the

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ground. The Upper People had the benefit of almost constant light and warmth no matter

the season because of the rotation of the two suns of Rithu. And with their system to

catch and recycle rainwater, and the abundance of fruits, berries, flower pods and seeds

to harvest all at tree top height, they really had no need to go down to ground level or

anywhere else for that matter. The giant Angura trees created leaf pads the size of an

Earth city block and the vines that weaved between the trees created excellent pathways

to go from Angura pad to Angura pad neighborhood. It wasn’t that the Rithu Bottom

Dwelling People didn’t have a good life too and every once in a while there would be a

marriage between the two tribes. But there was such beauty and contentment at the

forest tree tops on Rithu the Upper People had no interest to go live anywhere else. All

of the interplanetary meetings of the Council of the Essence on Rithu were held at the

forest tree top since it was much easier for hovercraft, spaceships and transformers to

materialize on top of the dense vegetation rather than at ground level.

As they walked into the grand meeting room they could hear Bular’s voice

booming across the room,

“We must not ignore this latest threat from the Darkness. It is not just the threat

of the planet Sarillion falling, but the greater risk of the entire solar system falling. If

Sarillion and its solar system go dark, the entire southwest quadrant of the Arend Galaxy

will now be vulnerable to the Darkness.”

A murmur went through the Council as agreement and disagreement were

voiced.

“But Bular,” protested Radoo from Blaycor. “We are already stretched thin

across the Universe as all Master Idea Seekers are spread to the different planets

combating the Clouds. How can we abandon the work on any of these planets to divert

forces to Sarillion?”

“Yes my lord, that is true,” peeped in Jether, a very small Whydinfey Council

member from Zador. “We can not rely on the adult Master Idea Seekers alone in combat

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with the Darkness. We must ignite the spirit within the youth of all planets to make sure

they understand their part to watch and protect. If the youth of all planets just listened to

the Essence, no Clouds could have an effect anywhere.”

“I agree the planet Sarillion is important because it is an entry way into the

southwest part of the Arend Galaxy, but we can not forget the attack on Earth. It too

holds a vital location for the Milky Way Galaxy. If the people of Earth can be woken up,

they can help to make a difference with Sarillion in that quadrant,” Maneor, a bottom

dweller from Rithu, reminded the group. This created a louder rumble of debate, which

swelled through the group.

“Do you think if the people of Earth are saved they would help on Sarillion? They

have not shown themselves to have great concern for others,” said one voice. “The

dominant species on their planet are called Humans. They are cruel to others and cause

destruction sometimes just for the fun of doing it. Their planet is beautiful, yet the

Humans do little to care for it. The North American Humans are too focused on

consuming. Many of them buy things they don’t need and eat so much that they are fat

and lazy. They take most of the resources of the planet from the other Humans and

Earth species leaving animals and Humans in what they call the Third World countries to

live in starvation and poverty. They spend lots of their resources on creating things like

clothes or cars and then they throw them away when they are still good, just because

they want the latest style or brand.”

A ripple of horror went through the Council to think that perfectly good things

would be thrown away just for a whim of fashion.

The voice continued, “And they don’t use their planet’s resources well. For

example, it has been my observation that a family that lives five blocks away from a store

will drive their car there rather than walk. Then the adults go to a place they call a gym

and take time away from their children so they can exercise. They want food, but then

they let what they call “leftovers”, or perfectly good food, rot in their refrigerator. They

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order something in a restaurant, but they get more than they can eat at one sitting and it

is often just left behind to be thrown away when there are homeless people outside who

are going hungry. The food that could support the less privileged rarely makes it to them.

And worst of all what looks like kindness is often just greed in disguise. Frequently their

governments look to give to others, but it is not to be of help, but to manipulate them into

giving up something that they want.”

One of the Council members from Mingo spoke up, “But that is just the North

American Humans; what about the other ones? Is there no reflection of the harmony of

the Essence in them?”

“The Asian Humans have forgotten the sacredness of all life as they are

overwhelmed with their own population and take drastic measures like damming a river to

try to feed their own at the cost of many species around them. The European Humans

still have not learned to get along with their neighbors. Sometimes this is even people in

their own neighborhood who have a different religion or skin color. The African Humans

fight among themselves and some of the fighting forces in their countries take children

from their families and then force these innocent children to become soldiers and kill

others or die in battle. The humans in countries all around the planet do unspeakably

cruel things to other humans, animals and plants. And the Humans have affected some

of the animal species. They are as aggressive as the Humans, killing for sport and

neglecting their young. I sometimes can not even bear to look in on this planet,”

mourned Council member Newah from Vonta.

“All those things you have mentioned Newah, are true enough,” spoke up

Grandfather Lahzar. “But this is one planet that if the Humans can be trained to listen for

ideas, then the rest of the species will be free to be more of who they are and will follow

in becoming free from clouded thoughts and actions. I have been watching them and I

see signs of hope. Their history has small and large examples of kindness to each other,

animals and their planet. They have risked their lives to help others less fortunate. And

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especially among the children of the North American Humans, they are starting to

practice recycling to conserve resources. All Humans have shown signs of charity in

situations of known need and their recent discovery of inexpensive global communication

called the Internet has been helping them respect and understand more about what is on

their own planet. If they can just be taught the principles of the Idea Seekers, they will

start to find the roles they can play to make a difference and to feel happy. They have

famous leaders who have been a strong force for the Essence throughout their human

history…Moses, Christ, Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Abraham Lincoln, Florence

Nightingale, Gandhi, Mary Baker Eddy, Mother Theresa, and others. And many ordinary

people live quiet lives of goodness showing they have listened to and can reflect the

Essence. Why right now don’t forget two of our Master Idea Seekers are from Earth.”

At this point the buzz of discussion between the 22 different species of Council

members rose to a loud noise until Bular called everyone back to order.

“We do not have time for debate on the future of Earth,” he said bringing focus

back to the group. “But we do have agreement that we must divert resources to help the

fight on Sarillion until we can get Princess Kimma trained to fill her destiny as an Idea

Seeker Reminder and keep the planet safe. Spec and Tra, Third Level Idea Seekers

from Machoo, have been sent to rescue Princess Kimma. She will be taken to Blaycor to

learn about the Essence and then proceed to Vonta to begin her more advanced training.

We must provide our best teachers for she only has a short time before she must try to

fulfill her destiny and rescue her planet. Even now her parents are under palace arrest

as those clouded take the hurtful actions directed by the Darkness. True, they have had

some small successes in turning the minds of the clouded so far, but the Darkness is

moving in to fully focus on the Pleethars. If he sends more Clouds to aid Angry Cloud, the

task may be too much for her parents to bare without reinforcement. In the remaining

time for our meeting, we must decide who will be chosen as Master Teachers for

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Princess Kimma and then we must finalize our strategy for the struggle for freedom of

Sarillion.”

Grandfather Lahzar looked across at the Blaycors. He smiled to see that they

had already cataloged, printed out and separated their papers for the meeting and he

could tell that young Minzar was in charge of meeting notes as he typed furiously to

prepare a follow up document to be shared with those members not present. As Lazar

looked around at the familiar faces, he was concerned about those not present. Of the

forty-seven species that represented their galaxies on the Idea Seeker Council only 22

were present at the meeting. While this was a special Council meeting called with only

three days notice, he hoped that the missing seats were a sign of confidence in those

present to make a decision. He didn’t want to hear that their absence was instead a sign

of Cloud sickness contagion growing among the 47 galaxies who were united in the fight

against the Darkness.

The next two hours were consumed in the making of plans and the assigning of

communication updates for those on the Council who were missing.

Toosah, always the gracious hostess, had managed to feed and buoy up the

spirits of everyone at the Council meeting. She had also had her staff collect and create

special seedpod packages of Plant Babies for everyone here and everyone missing.

When Lahzar saw his pod pouch, he knew he didn’t need to take time to get more gifts

for Spec, Tra, Kimma and his other friends on Machoo. A special pouch wrapped for

space travel had been placed next to his chair with their names clearly written on the

side.

“Lahzar,” whispered Toosah with a sound similar to the breeze that goes through

the leaves of trees. “You know that those who give always get their needs supplied,

though often through channels they have not expected. I have gotten great pleasure in

giving to you.”

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“My most generous Toosah,” he replied. “You have filled my heart and soul with

joy as well as my arms with gifts. You have chosen well to compliment what I had

planned to give to the three and then more. The time you have saved me in gathering for

this gift, I will put to good use in going to my contacts on Earth and supporting them in

their journey to the light. I will stop by Blaycor to give the young ones your gifts. I will

spend much of my travel time being grateful to the Essence for your presence in my life,

dear friend.”

The warmth that passes easily between two good friends was interrupted by a

messenger’s hurried and unexpected arrival in the great hall.

“Excuse my unplanned entrance, oh great Council members,” he said in a voice

breathless and strained from great physical effort like he had been running a long

distance. “I bring you news of great consequence. The Hovercraft spaceship from

Sarillion carrying Princess Kimma has been struck by the Darkness.”

Lahzar leaned forward with a great look of concern.

“It appears that everyone inside the ship survived the blast, but the craft has

been damaged and they will have to make an emergency landing on the nearest planet

that can support life. But I have no information on which planet this might be.” The

messenger stumbled forward and thrust a small round viewing disc into Bular’s hand. It

was the film record from the Hovercraft tracking device that allowed everyone to see what

was going on with the twins’ spaceship.

As if with one movement the entire Council turned to look at the giant Viewscreen

located on the wall to the left of Bular. He handed the technician in charge the disc from

the messenger and at once they watched the spaceship as if they were right there. It

appeared to be streaking through the ozone atmosphere of a pretty blue and green

planet that also sadly appeared to have a veil of Cloud darkness hovering over certain

land and water masses. They dialed into close view mode. They could see Spec,

slightly singed with the left side of his uniform burned black from some sort of blast. He

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was using all of his might to work the steering mechanism to counter correct the balance

of the craft. It was missing an entire wing array on the left side and the landing gear was

only functioning on the right side.

“He is an excellent pilot,” called out Jether from Zador who had personally

overseen the design and building of Spec and Tra’s Hovercraft spaceship. “He will be

able to land on one wheel base, I am sure.”

Spec, with the help of a Confidence Plant Baby who was also simultaneously

scanning maps and landmasses appeared to be heading for a field behind a cluster of

what looked to be some dwellings for some species. Inside the ship, it appeared that

another figure with blue skin was bent over a still female figure stretched out on the floor

of the ship. A soft gasp of concern came from Toosah, and Grandfather Lahzar quickly

stood up knocking over the chair he had been sitting in.

“That is Tra,” he said. “It appears that she has been hurt.”

At that point the audio stream of the scene they were seeing joined in with the

video feed and they could hear the snap and hissing of power lines as Spec maneuvered

the damaged ship between what looked like tightly stretched black wires at tree top

height above the empty field.

Someone was lightly moaning in the background and a female voice was saying,

“You must fight the desire to give in to the pain. Come out of the cloud, you have not

made any mistakes. You have done no wrong, do not punish yourself for your actions.

There is nothing to be upset about, do not listen to what Angry Cloud has said. We need

you here with us, not in the otherworld of clouded thinking.”

It looked like four little Plant Babies were also sitting next to and gently patting

Tra’s forehead and shoulders. Compassion, Persistence, Patience and Humor Plant

Babies were guiding Kimma’s words and Tra’s thoughts.

And with that the ship thudded heavily on the ground and careened and bounced

roughly three times before plowing a deep crater in the earth and skidding to a stop in

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front of what looked like three human children and a brown and white dog with a shirt on.

The smallest male was holding a hose spraying what appeared to be water, and without

any hesitation he turned it on to the small fire that had appeared on the underside of the

spaceship wing and put it out before it became larger.

As if in trance everyone heard Grandfather Lahzar say, “I know where the

Princess and my grandchildren are. They have landed on the planet Earth in front of the

very life forms I have been studying.”

And with a double flicker of light and a sharp metallic cracking sound, they heard

a small male voice say to the others. “See, I told you there were other people in outer

space.”

And the picture and sound erupted in a dazzle of brilliance and the Viewscreen in

the Council room went black and silent as the sensors on the Hovercraft gave out.

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