by S. F. Said
The only thing that helped at such times was thinking of Bixa – Bixa, of all people! Lucky didn’t know what to make of this fact. But it seemed to work, so he did his best to keep doing it, to keep practising and building his control over the power, though it felt like it was growing stronger every time he used it, and harder to contain.
He dreaded the test that lay ahead at the Spacewall. He was so unprepared for it. He wondered if he’d ever be ready to face Shadow Guards. Despite the Professor’s teaching, he felt nothing but overwhelming terror every time he thought of them.
And the ordeal was coming up all too fast. The Sunfire soared through the systems: out of Leo, through Virgo, and on towards Libra, the turning point of the galaxy. The place where the Human worlds ended, and Axxa space began; where the Startalkers hoped to find the Twelve Astraeus, and where Lucky longed to find his father.
And all the while, the Spacewall came closer and closer, growing bigger and bigger on the vidscreens, until the wall of green fire filled their view completely, blotting out everything else, even the stars.
As they came in close to it, Captain Nox called a meeting in the main cabin, to prepare for the challenge ahead. Through the vidscreens’ crackling static, they saw a gigantic space station at the centre of the Wall. It was sharp-edged and solid, like some impossibly massive door in space, so vast that Lucky’s mind reeled before the scale of it.
‘That is what they call the Spacegate,’ announced the Captain, jabbing a finger at the flickering image on the screen. ‘It’s the only way through the Wall.’
Patrolling alongside this Spacegate were government craft: shadowships and battleships, guarding the frontiers of Human space. Lucky could also see fragments of debris hanging in orbit around the Wall: fractured wings, broken hulls, floating powerless and adrift.
‘What are those?’ he asked.
‘If you try to cross the Wall without clearance,’ said the Captain, ‘they destroy you. Many have tried, and none survived. Those bits of wreckage . . . they leave them there to discourage others.’
They looked at the ruins in silence. Even Bixa had nothing to say.
‘So . . . how are we going to get through it?’ said Lucky at last.
The Captain turned to Mystica and the Professor, his horns held proudly high. ‘I’ve been thinking about what you said,’ he told them. ‘And perhaps I owe you an apology. Perhaps I have grown too cautious. So I have taken the liberty of devising a plan to get us through the Wall. Leave the talking to me. If it works, we shouldn’t even have to leave the ship.’
Mystica’s eyes glowed. ‘My dear,’ she said, ‘I knew we could count on you.’
The Captain turned back to Lucky. ‘There’s one problem. The government aren’t letting Human civilians cross the Spacewall any more; it’s totally off-limits to you. Only Axxa who are returning to their home worlds are allowed over. So your disguise is more important than ever now. If you make one mistake – if they even suspect for a moment that you might be Human – they’ll never let you through. And if they catch us helping a Human impersonate an Axxa . . .’
‘Yeah,’ gulped Lucky. ‘I can imagine.’
‘I don’t think you can,’ said Nox. ‘However scared you were of the Shadow Guards before – that was nothing. We are going into the place where they are strongest. We will do everything we can to protect you, but if they do catch you – well, we’re just one small starship, and they’re the biggest force in the galaxy. So I must ask you: are you absolutely certain you want to come with us?’
Lucky stared at the livid green sky. ‘My father’s out there,’ he said. ‘A prisoner.’ He nodded, more to convince himself than anything. ‘Of course I want to come.’
‘Then by the powers vested in me as ship’s captain, I am giving you an ident to go with your disguise. It shows that you’re part of our crew: an apprentice navigator. Keep it with you at all times. And, boy? Don’t mess this up.’
He spoke gruffly, but as he handed the ident over, Lucky felt overwhelmed with gratitude. He’d never had an ident of his own before, and the Captain was taking a huge risk giving it to him. ‘Thank you, Captain,’ he said.
Nox stood up awkwardly. He went in silence to the cockpit, taking Frollix with him.
‘Now that’s the Ozymandias Nox I knew!’ whispered Professor Byzantine.
‘You see?’ said Mystica. ‘I told you he still had it in him.’
Lucky watched the flickering vidscreens as they approached the Spacewall. The green fire rippled with awesome power. And then –
FLASHHH!!!
– the Wall pulsed with a burst of light so painfully bright, Lucky not only saw it; he felt it searing his retina with scorching heat.
Mystica screamed. Her face crumpled and she fell to the floor, hugging herself as if wounded. So did Professor Byzantine. They both writhed in agony as Lucky stood there, helplessly shielding his eyes, until the light faded.
‘Was that the Spacewall?’ gasped Mystica, as Bixa rushed to her side.
The Professor’s face was filled with shock. ‘It cannot be! The Spacewall should be a solid wall of energy. Something must be happening on the other side!’ He crawled up from the floor and, with Bixa’s assistance, helped Mystica to stand again. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I am certain: it comes from the other side. Can you feel it? Can you hear it?’
Mystica swayed on her hooves, unsteady, her golden eyes cloudy with confusion. ‘Is this the work of the Wolf?’ she whispered.
‘Come, Mystica,’ said the Professor gently. ‘Let me take you to your quarters. You need rest.’
The two Startalkers hobbled away, sticks clacking on the ground, as Bazooka the phoenix flapped anxiously above their heads. The cabin felt empty and quiet without them. Lucky looked over at Bixa. She’d been unusually quiet for a while, he realized.
‘Are you OK?’ he asked her.
‘Me? I’m fine. Course I am. Why shouldn’t I be?’
‘Well . . . Mystica and the Professor . . . I mean, they both felt something, and they’re both Startalkers. Didn’t you feel it too?’
‘I’m not a Startalker,’ she muttered.
‘I don’t think I am either,’ he mused. ‘I didn’t feel anything, or hear anything.’
‘Good for you. Only an idiot would want to be a Startalker.’
Lucky peered at Bixa. ‘The way they talk about it, it sounds amazing—’
‘Yeah?’ Her needles flashed dangerous colours. ‘Well, your weirdo power sounds amazing to me. Having the power to torch anyone you like? I’d give anything for that. But I don’t see you getting so excited about it.’
‘That’s different!’ protested Lucky. ‘That’s something that could destroy me—’
‘And being a Startalker could destroy me! I couldn’t fight anyone if I was a Startalker, could I? I could never defend myself, because I’d always have to see things from all sides. I’d be like Mystica, and look what it’s like for her! I don’t want that – I’ve never wanted it!’
They flew on towards the Spacegate. No more pulses of light came from the Wall. It was a solid barrier of green fire again: a barrier powerful enough to destroy any ship, smash any shields. The two of them looked out in silence as it overwhelmed the Sunfire’s vidscreens, engulfing them on all sides.
‘Well, there’s something that might destroy us both,’ Lucky said quietly.
‘Yup,’ said Bixa, needles blanching pale as snow, shrinking back into her hair.
‘What’s it really like, going through that thing?’ he gulped, hoping she’d make a joke, and make everything OK again.
Bixa scowled at the Spacewall. Her needles were almost totally hidden now. ‘I don’t remember,’ she said. ‘I was very young when we came through.’
‘How do they power it, anyway?’ asked Lucky. ‘Where does the energy come from?’
‘How should I know?’ she snapped. ‘Where do all your stupid questions come from? It’s probably the same place!’
He stopped askin
g questions. Her words told him only one thing, and it was something he wished he didn’t know.
Bixa was as scared as he was. She might have outwitted a Shadow Guard on Leo Five, but these were still the people responsible for the death of her parents. The prospect of facing them again filled her with just as much fear as it filled him.
And though their terror was the same, neither of them could do a thing to comfort the other in the face of it.
No reassurance there, then. And already, Lucky could feel the ship decelerating. The easy, fluid motion of the Sunfire as she sailed through open space was gone.
Ahead of them, the Spacegate loomed enormous. And now Lucky saw that its surface was hatched with numerous portals, through which countless spacecraft were coming and going.
The comm crackled into life. ‘Axxa craft Sunfire requesting clearance to dock at the Spacegate,’ came Captain Nox’s voice.
‘Clearance assigned,’ came the reply. ‘You will land in docking bay Z.’
‘Z,’ grunted Bixa. ‘Zero priority. We’re going to be stuck in this place a while.’
One of the portals opened before them. The Sunfire edged through it into a vast steel hangar. The portal slid smoothly shut behind them as they touched down.
Space was gone. The stars were gone.
They’d landed.
Chapter Twenty
On the flickering vidscreens, Lucky could see the steel hangar outside, with harsh white striplights on the ceiling. It looked so cold and clinical out there. Shadow Guards were already stalking around the hull of the ship in their stealth armour. The comm buzzed again.
‘Alien craft Sunfire,’ came their voices. ‘Stand by for on-board inspection.’
Captain Nox came down from the cockpit, followed by Frollix. Everyone put on their mirrorshades.
Lucky prepared himself to face the Shadow Guards. He tried to stay calm in spite of the sickening fear that was rising inside him. He couldn’t let it overwhelm him.
The Sunfire’s hatch opened. A hiss of cold air entered the warm cabin, and a Shadow Guard came on board, blotting out the air around him.
Calm. Calm. Calm.
‘Welcome to the Sunfire. I’m Ozymandias Nox,’ said the Captain, extending a hand in welcome. The Shadow Guard ignored his greeting, and started to survey the cabin.
Bixa’s needles had retracted all the way back into her hair, so they weren’t even visible any more. She stood behind the Captain, staring at the ground in silence. Beside her, Frollix was beginning to shiver and shake, as he had on Leo Five.
‘What is the nature of your business at the Spacewall?’ said the Shadow Guard at last.
‘We’re civilians,’ said Captain Nox. ‘We’ve lived peacefully in the Human worlds for many years. Now we’re returning to Axxa space.’
‘Returning?’ said the Shadow Guard. ‘Unusual. What’s in your hold? Smuggling weapons to Theobroma’s army?’
‘Of course not. Just provisions for ourselves.’
The Shadow Guard shook his head. ‘This is highly irregular. You must all leave this ship, and go to Border Controls for further inspection.’
‘That’s impossible,’ said Nox. ‘One of our crew is extremely unwell, and never leaves the ship. We keep the gravity low in her quarters, because she’s too weak for full gravity.’ The Captain was far taller than the Shadow Guard, and he spoke in his most authoritative voice. ‘According to government regulations, this means we’re entitled to an on-board inspection.’
‘That applies to people,’ said the Shadow Guard. ‘It does not apply to you.’
‘What does that mean?’ said the Captain. ‘Axxa aren’t people?’
‘The regulations are for Human Beings.’
Lucky’s insides twisted as the argument built up. He didn’t like the way it was going.
‘The regulations,’ protested Captain Nox, ‘clearly state that—’
‘For hostile Aliens in a time of war, there are no regulations.’
‘But we’re not hostile!’ said the Captain, struggling to keep his composure. ‘We’ve got nothing to do with the War! We’ve been living under Human rule for years now, and we have rights!’
‘You have no rights. You will go through inspection, and then you will be held indefinitely while we process your case.’
‘Indefinitely?’ said the Captain, fiery eyes flashing as his calm front finally cracked. He slammed a fist down. ‘By all the Twelve Astraeus – that’s not fair!’
The Shadow Guard raised his cannon, pulled back the safety catch – and inside Lucky, a spark of power began to rise. He could taste something like sulphur at the back of his throat. He could see the tips of his fingers beginning to shine—
‘Welcome, welcome!’ came Mystica’s voice. ‘Welcome to our ship, Mr Shadow Guard! What is all this shouting?’
Everyone turned to look as the old lady hobbled into the cabin, leaning heavily on her stick, yet still somehow looking grand. Professor Byzantine was behind her, with Bazooka perched on his shoulder, feathers ruffled with tension.
But Lucky was looking at Bixa, only Bixa, and he was wrestling with his panic, struggling with his power. He couldn’t lose control now!
He made a massive effort to calm his mind, and hold the power down. With every fibre of his being he fought to rein it in –
– and gradually, he brought it under control. It was still there, burning inside him – but his fingertips weren’t shining any more. The power wasn’t flaring up or spilling over. He was controlling it.
For now.
‘They want you to leave the ship, Mystica,’ said Captain Nox, his great forehead furrowed. ‘And I would sooner die than let—’
‘No one is dying here today,’ said the old lady, as she turned the lights off behind her. ‘I will happily come.’ She smiled at the Shadow Guard, fixing him with all her charm until he lowered his cannon. ‘You do what you have to, sir. We understand – truly, we do.’
The Shadow Guard didn’t respond. He just gestured at the hatch, emotionless.
Mystica led the way off the ship, brooking no further debate. With Frollix and Bixa both helping, she climbed out of the ship’s hatch. It was awkward, and it took a while, but eventually she stood on the ground. Captain Nox and Professor Byzantine followed her, and then Lucky went out last, still concentrating on keeping his power in check.
Cold air slapped his face as he left the ship. It tasted artificial. On a space station this size, it had probably been through a million lungs already. Everything here would be minutely controlled and calibrated.
A huge sign above them pointed the way to the Border Controls. They followed it out into a long steel tunnel, which twisted sharply round a corner ahead. They couldn’t see what lay at the end of it. The sheer scale of this place was intimidating, as if it was designed to make them feel daunted.
Mystica walked slowly, with great concentration, like someone for whom walking wasn’t entirely natural; who had to plan every step, tell each muscle what to do. Captain Nox lent her his arm, but even with his assistance she was struggling.
‘You don’t have to do this, Mystica,’ the Captain said quietly. ‘You shouldn’t be off the ship; you know you shouldn’t. That Shadow Guard had no right—’
‘Ozymandias,’ she said, ‘you were very brave back there, and very gallant. But there was only one possible outcome, and no one could have done a thing about it.’ She grimaced and paused, panting in the cold steel tunnel. She was sweating despite the chill, but seemed determined not to show her pain. ‘Anyway. It’s not so bad,’ she said. ‘It’s not so bad.’ She started walking forwards again, her stick echoing on the metal floor. But she was wheezing hard and bent over almost double as she walked.
‘So what is our plan of action now?’ asked Professor Byzantine. ‘I confess myself at a loss . . .’
‘We’re in their hands,’ replied Nox. ‘Just pray to all the Twelve Astraeus that they let us through.’
They moved on down the tunnel
. Mystica and Captain Nox led the way, Frollix and Bixa flanked Lucky to the left and right, while Professor Byzantine and Bazooka brought up the rear. Without Lucky noticing, the Sunfire crew had taken up positions around him – almost as if they were protecting him. Shielding him with their own bodies.
On the way down the tunnel, he glimpsed a corridor full of Axxa who were travelling in the opposite direction. Some of them clearly had the Living Death: he could see the million-mile stare in their eyes, like black holes in the sky. The adults were carrying over-stuffed bags, with pots and pans strapped to their backs; the ragged-looking children were clutching toys. They were a pitiful sight.
‘Who are those people?’ he asked.
‘Refugees,’ said the Professor. ‘They are fleeing the War, hoping to find safety in the Human worlds. I do not think they have much chance.’
Lucky gulped. All those Axxa were hoping to cross the Wall so they could leave the War Zone. No one else was entering it. No one except him, and his friends.
At last, they came to the end of the tunnel. Shadow Guards awaited them, faces obscured as always by their armour. Above them was a huge sign that said BORDER CONTROLS. There were no other Axxa here. They were alone with the Shadow Guards.
Lucky’s stomach tightened. Beside him, he could feel Bixa’s fear, and Frollix’s.
‘Step forward,’ commanded one of the Shadow Guards, who sat impassively behind a thick shield of cannonproof glass. ‘Show your idents.’
They all passed them over. Lucky surrendered his with a queasy feeling. He’d only just got it, and he hated to let it go. Would it stand up to inspection? He felt so conscious of his horns and hooves, his mirrorshades and contact lenses.
The Shadow Guard ran a scanner over Lucky’s ident. Rows of vidcams swivelled towards him, making insect-like machine whirrs. This place was like nothing he’d ever seen: Human power at its most faceless. All the surfaces looked like surgical steel, and it smelled of disinfectant, as if it had been swabbed down repeatedly, killing not only germs, but anything that lived. Behind the Shadow Guards, at the end of the tunnel, he could see only a pair of sealed double doors, with a conveyor belt beside them.