by Darby Cupid
“What do you think, Crystal?” I squeeze her knee. She’s been really quiet throughout the whole discussion and I’m worried.
“Sorry,” she says, her eyes distant. “I lost track of what you were saying.”
I smile and rest my hand on her shoulder. “We were just saying we don’t think you should come to the meeting.”
“What?” She shrugs my hand from her shoulder, her eyes blazing. “Why shouldn’t I go?”
I try and fail to find the words to explain. Because I want to keep you safe? Because I don’t want to lose you? They all seem selfish and lacking in substance. I close my mouth.
“Because we don’t know this guy,” Jordan jumps in. “It’s not safe. If he’s connected to the guy who tried to kill Oakstone –”
“Then they were after your pod, and that means after you,” I finish, giving Jordan a grateful smile.
“That is the biggest pile of glambak I’ve ever heard!” Crystal fumes. Standing up, she fixes everyone with a furious stare. “Going down the alley looking for Green Eyes, or Jake, whatever his name is, was dangerous. Bringing Dr. Oakstone here was dangerous. Just being around me is dangerous! Things have been dangerous since you found me and that’s not going to change until we find out what’s going on.”
I stand and take hold of her hands, which are balled up into tight fists. “I know, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to keep you safe.” I lower my voice and lean closer. “I want to keep you safe.”
She sighs and her hands relax a little. “I understand why you’re concerned. You’re forgetting something though.” She reaches inside her shirt and pulls out her amulet, the morning sunlight reflects off it, dazzling me. “I’m dangerous too.”
“Morning, Doc!” Jordan calls.
I turn to see Oakstone standing in the doorway to the kitchen, his hair dishevelled and his expression bewildered.
He lifts a hand in response. “What time is it? I feel like I’ve been asleep for weeks.”
“You were working on your computer for most of yesterday.” Crystal steps towards him. “Did you find anything?”
Oakstone adjusts his glasses and frowns for a moment, as though trying to remember. Then his eyes light up as if someone flicked a switch. “I was mapping the data from when your pod entered Earth’s atmosphere and comparing it to all the other data I could find from the last couple of decades.”
“Ooh!” Jordan exclaims. “To see if any other ships have visited Earth before!”
“Yes!” Oakstone grins.
My heart is racing. “And?”
“And, I might have found something.” He pauses, looking behind him at the kitchen. “Can I get a cup of coffee or something? I’m running on empty here.”
Everyone stands in a chorus of scraping chairs and we traipse back into the kitchen.
“Did it rain in here?” Oakstone asks, looking around at the wet surfaces.
“Long story,” I smile at Crystal who turns pink.
Everything moves in painful slow motion as Oakstone fills a cup from the coffee maker and sips it. I’m itching to push for more information and suspense hangs in the air like static.
“So,” he begins at long last. “According to my findings, it would appear that another similar entrance was made seven years ago.”
“Another pod?” I ask.
Oakstone takes a deep swig of his coffee and nods. “It might not have been a ‘pod’ as such, but a craft of some description. Yes, I believe so.”
Crystal’s hand tightens around mine. “Could it have come from my planet?”
“There’s really no way to tell.” Oakstone smiles apologetically.
I watch as Crystal frowns and chews her lip. “I just don’t understand it,” she says. “Why would anyone come to Earth?”
“Thanks a lot!” Sera snorts, flicking her long hair over her shoulder.
Crystal’s eyes widen in mortification. “No, no! That’s not what I meant!”
I cough to hide the laughter bubbling in my throat. “What did you mean?”
“I mean, we were aware of primitive life in this solar system, but we would never have visited for fear of interfering in your evolution. It goes against intergalactic code.”
I cringe, secretly enjoying Crystal’s attempt to dig herself out of the hole. “Primitive, huh?”
“Intergalactic code?” Oakstone asks. “What do you mean?”
“It’s called the Alayna Treaty. It was agreed by twenty planets with advanced life scattered in and around several adjacent solar systems. There are many rules covering a lot of things, but the Alayna treaty was created because of one particular incident.”
A hush settles over us. I have to resist the urge to pinch myself. I mean, I always believed there was life out there. You’d have to be arrogant not to, but to have it confirmed? To discover there are dozens of planets with treaties and spaceships? My brain aches at the concept.
“You see,” Crystal continues. “Life originated on just two planets – the home planets – but eventually people looked to explore, to colonise new planets. Usually it was because they were fleeing war, persecution or sometimes just for adventure. Finding an uninhabited planet capable of sustaining life is incredibly rare. Starlatten was one such planet.”
“Elaini and Jetzia!” Linda exclaims.
“Exactly,” Crystal smiles. “As people were searching for new planets to colonise, a group of exiles from one of the home planets travelled into a different solar system. They came across a planet inhabited by a primitive species. They were living in colonies, with language and trade, but were nowhere near intergalactic or even interplanetary travel. The people called themselves the Alayna. The exiles decided to try and integrate with the Alayna, who welcomed them with open arms.
“Unfortunately, the exiles transmitted some sort of virus to the Alayna, who didn’t have the ability to treat it. When the first person died, they blamed the exiles and killed them before they could find a cure. Over 85% of their planet’s population was wiped out over its next orbit.”
“Whoa,” I breathe. “That’s insane.”
Crystal nods solemnly. “It was because of that, a treaty was signed by all advanced planets. No contact would be made with a primitive species. We’d leave them to evolve and develop until they could reach out to us.”
“I can’t even begin to process all this!” Oakstone leans his elbows on the counter and runs both his hands through his mop of hair. “It’s incredible.”
“What happened to the Alayna?” Jordan asks. “What happened to the ones who survived?”
“The near extinction set them back thousands of orbits. They were monitored from a distance for a while, but once it was clear they weren’t extinct, they were left alone.” Crystal looks around the table. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to offend by calling you primitive.”
“Don’t worry,” I say, pulling her close. “Compared to what you know, I guess we are kind of primitive.”
“So, you’re saying no one would come to Earth because of this treaty?” Oakstone asks, pouring himself another coffee.
Crystal nods.
“So, why would someone defy the treaty?” he mulls.
“Perhaps they wanted to hide?” I suggest.
Crystal turns to look at me, her eyes curious. “What do you mean?”
I pause, the thought still developing in my mind. “I mean, if I wanted to hide, I’d go somewhere I wasn’t allowed to go. No one would bother looking here, would they?”
“Why would someone want to hide?” Eddie asks. “Can you think of anything important or out of the ordinary that happened seven years ago, Crystal?”
“That’s if the pod came from your planet,” Oakstone clarifies. “It could be from any of these advanced planets you mentioned.”
“I’m not entirely sure what seven Earth orbits would be on Starlatten,” Crystal explains, “but there hasn’t been any unrest for millennia. Starlatten is well known for being peaceful.”
<
br /> “Didn’t you say someone attacked your ship?” Oakstone asks, his eyebrows raised. “Why would they do that if you’re such a peaceful planet?”
Crystal tenses beside me. I know this guy doesn’t really know us and he’s being all scientific, but a little sensitivity wouldn’t go amiss. Her fists have clenched again, and her breathing is shallow. Gently, I unfold her fingers, circling my thumb in her palm.
“It’s okay,” I say. “Breathe.”
“Zarbilian,” Crystal says the word as if it leaves a bad taste in her mouth. “They are the most recent planet to be colonised and they’re the ones who murdered my family.”
Realisation dawns on Oakstone’s face. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I got a little swept up in everything. It doesn’t quite feel real. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Crystal gives a small smile. “Thank you.”
“You never did tell us, Crystal,” Jordan says, flicking back through his notebook. “Do you have any idea why they might have attacked your ship?”
Crystal shakes her head. “Zarbilian is one of our sister planets, colonised by people from Starlatten and under our rule. I’m not sure why, but they weren’t happy about it. It was one of the reasons we were on our way to the peace talks on Ankaria. The morning of the attack, my father received word that an unknown people had joined the colony on Zarbilian, so perhaps that has something to do with it?”
“More unanswered questions,” I mutter, more to myself than anyone.
“I’m sorry to press you,” Oakstone says, “but did anything happen with the Zarbilian a long time before the attack?”
Crystal closes her eyes in concentration for a moment before shaking her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t think of anything.”
“So, are we thinking it might be someone from Zarbilian, hiding on Earth?” Jordan asks, tapping the pen against his chin. “Could it be this Jake guy?”
“It couldn’t be,” Linda answers. “He’d have been a little kid seven years ago.”
Oakstone nods. “If you’re telling me he’s around your age, it does seem unlikely. Perhaps it’s the person that broke into my laboratory? That is, if it’s even someone from Zarbilian or Starlatten. From what you’ve told us, it could have been a lawbreaker from any one of several planets.”
My mind conjures images of alien fugitives hiding on Earth and the possible conspiracy theories. “I hate to say it,” I sigh, looking at Eddie and grimacing, “but we need to go to this meet up.”
“What time is it?” Linda gasps.
I glance at my watch. “Time to go. We’re late.”
Crystal reaches out and puts a hand on my arm. “I know you’ve already got a plan, but I think I might have another idea.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Jake
My neck cracks as I stand and stretch. I’ve been sitting on the rusted orange roundabout at the centre of the playground for almost an hour. I mean, it’s not like I have anywhere else to be, but waiting is starting to make my blood boil.
What I wouldn’t give for four walls and a roof right now. I suppose I’m lucky it’s summer otherwise sleeping rough would be very different. Glancing at my watch again through its cracked face, I see it’s almost 1pm. My stomach rumbles as if to punctuate the point. I’m at the point of contemplating rooting through the bins when I notice two men walking towards me.
Where’s Linda? Is this a set up? Of course, it is. Aliens. What a load of rubbish. I’m a complete idiot. Every muscle in my body tenses, ready to fight or run. I’m not sure which yet. Then I realise, I recognise the older man. I’ve seen his photo on the news. Oakstone. The man whose house I’ve been watching. I don’t recognise the other guy. As they walk closer, I see he’s around my age. What the heck is going on? I take a step back, ready to run.
“Jake?” the younger one calls. “We just want to talk. We’re friends of Linda’s.”
My eyes dart side to side, assessing the quickest way out of the playground. “Oh yeah?” I call back. “Where is she? She’s late.”
Oakstone raises his hands too. “We’re here to take you to her.”
I laugh. “That’s not what we agreed.”
“Yeah, well we didn’t agree to anything,” the younger one frowns. “We need to know you’re alone.”
“Can you see anyone?” I scoff, gesturing around me towards the surrounding empty fields.
“Just because we can’t see anyone, doesn’t mean they’re not there,” Oakstone replies.
I stare them down, my chin raised in defiance. “So, I’m supposed to just trust you and do whatever you say?”
The younger one shrugs. “If you want to find out more about your amulet, then yes.”
A dozen scenarios run through my mind, but in reality, it boils down to two: run away and face the wrath of my uncle when I return with nothing, or go with these two and face whatever danger lies ahead. The real question is, which is the more dangerous option? These guys or my uncle? It’s a no-brainer.
“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth. “I’ll come.”
Oakstone and blondie look at each other – with what? Relief? I take a few steps towards them and they reach to take my arms. I shrug them off. I’m coming but there’s a limit to my cooperation.
We walk out of the park and down the path towards the road. As we approach, a shiny black Lexus with tinted windows pulls up. Who are these guys?
Blondie opens the door and pushes me towards the back seat. As I climb in, Oakstone swaps places with the driver, who I realise with surprise is Linda’s brother. He opens the other back door and slides in beside me, his eyes filled with menace. Alarm bells scream inside my skull and my muscles tense in preparation to fight my way out of the car. The person in the passenger seat turns around to face me.
A girl with brown curls and big brown eyes smiles apologetically as she reaches around her seat and touches my head. “Sorry…”
Darkness. Why is it dark? My eyelids have never felt so heavy. It takes all my strength to open them and I instantly regret it as bright light sears my retinas.
“Where am I?” I demand. I try to raise my arm to shield my eyes, but my hands are tied behind my back. “What the hell? Why am I tied up?”
“Precautions, mate. Can’t have a nutter like you running loose now, can we?”
“I’m not your ‘mate’,” I bite back. From the sneering tone, I assume it must be Linda’s brother.
“Will someone stop shining that bloody torch in his eyes?”
The light moves away from my face with a disappointed sigh. My eyeballs instantly relieved, I dare to open my eyes once more, but I’m not prepared for what I see.
I’m sat on an office chair in a small box-like room with what look like metal walls. Stacks of books, boxes and odd-looking equipment line the edges of the room. Eight people stand before me, their shadows giant on the walls behind them.
I recognise Oakstone, the tall blonde guy, Linda’s brother and… Linda. She meets my gaze with an apologetic shrug. I don’t recognise the others, although there’s something about the girl with the long curly hair…
“Hey!” I shout as the memory rushes back to me. “What did you do to me?”
The tall blonde-haired guy steps in front of her. “Look, we didn’t know if you could be trusted. We had to make sure you were alone and weren’t being followed.”
I snort. “So, what now? You’re going to torture me?”
“Jake?” Linda steps forward and crouches down. Her brother steps forward too but she flashes him a look which makes him retreat. “I know you want to know what’s going on just as much as we do. We need to trust each other.”
I chew my lip as I study her face. Her dark brown eyes search mine looking for, what? Agreement? Understanding? I want answers. Something seriously weird is going on and somehow this bizarre looking lot have some of the missing jigsaw pieces.
“Fine,” I sigh. “What do you want to know?”
“We want to know how you got this.�
� The girl with the curly hair steps forward, this time holding something shiny up to the light.
“Hey! Give that back!” It’s my necklace. “How dare you take my stuff!”
“Jake,” Oakstone soothes. “We only wanted to confirm what we think it might be. You can have it back once we’ve talked.”
“And what do you think it is?” I spit. “It’s just a necklace.”
“It’s not just a necklace, Jake.” The curly-haired girl slowly pulls a similar looking purple necklace from her top and holds it up for me to see.
“Oh!” I raise my eyebrows. “You’re the alien, huh?”
Everyone turns and glares at Linda, who picks at something on her jeans.
“Jake,” the alien girl steps closer, “can you tell us anything about your amulet?”
I watch in disbelief as one of the other guys takes out a notebook and pen, watching me expectantly.
“Sure, Veronica Mars,” I scoff. “I was given it by a magic fairy in the woods after I saved a gnome from a gingerbread dragon.”
Linda sighs from where she’s still crouched. “Please?” she pleads. “We’ll tell you everything if you’ll just tell us what you know.”
“Fine.”
“Can we untie him?” Linda asks. “He’s going to cooperate and it’s not like he can go anywhere.”
“Absolutely not!” Eddie barks. “Seriously, Linda? He’s not a stray puppy! If you can’t keep it together, you can go and wait outside.”
“So, Jake?” Curls interrupts. “You were going to tell us about the amulet.”
“Sure.” I smirk. “I found it in a box in my uncle’s kitchen. I liked it, so I stole it. The end.”
A flash of disappointment shows on her face, but she shakes it off. “Who is your uncle?”
How do I answer this? I decide there’s no harm telling them the truth. “He’s not a nice man. He wants you guys.”
“Why does he want us?” she asks.
“You tell me.”
Oakstone pulls up another chair. “Your uncle. Do you live with him?”