MILDRATAWA

by Nigel Clayton

  A voice emanated from within. The moss had powers to heal and powers to counteract an opposite force, a force of gravitation. He travelled even deeper now, he saw himself investigating a mass exodus. He was in Quadrant two. And then it was gone.

  Earth. A planet so dead but then, so alive. From above the landmass known as Brazil he could see himself and the miners taking the resources that they desired. His views swept over this and out towards the ocean, over an island, and then more land.

  It was Australia that he saw; although he’d never been there he knew it by sight. There below the cloud he saw two figures that represented the past.

  Who was it?

  Pasnadinko and Vetty.

  PLANET EARTH.

  SPACE.

  Vetty awoke from his deep sleep and rubbed his eyes with a light yawn escaping his lips. The small room he was in stood at a comfortable temperature. He remained fully clothed upon the bed platform that jutted out from the sidewall.

  He waved his hand over a small panel and the bed slid out of view. He turned now to another panel, decorated with numbered buttons of varying colour. The tight compact of the cabin was large enough to endure long journeys through space but somewhat claustrophobic: a living luxury compared to his ellat.

  He studied the panel for a brief second between half closed eyes, trying hard to remember which buttons he’d pressed before going to sleep. He nodded confirmation to himself as he pressed number four. A basin swivelled around from its hidden position. He splashed some water onto his face and rolled a scanner over the pores of his skin, instantly removing the bristles from his heavily worn face.

  He peered down momentarily at the noise that vibrated through the walls of his stomach. The food that he had taken in the day before had taken little time to digest.

  He was soon adding the finishing touches to his morning routine when a knock on the door was heard. “Lord Vetty; are you up sir?”

  “Yes.”

  “Very good, my lord. Pasnadinko awaits you company.”

  “Inform your— inform Emperor Pasnadinko that I’ll not be long.”

  “Very good, my lord.” The footsteps of the Nicaraguan could be heard as they faded out down the hall. ‘Pasnadinko will be pleased with my addressing him as Emperor. The messenger is sure to divulge that much to his ears. This Emperor is but a pawn for me to use as best I can; until such a time that I have restabilised my Legion Millennium.’ Vetty secured his mind scan in his holster by clipping the fine leather strap over the weapons handgrip before stepping through the door.

  The short walk ended in the bridge and the back of Pasnadinko’s head could be seen as it faced the screen to his front. Pasnadinko was seeing to the final stages of loading the much-needed resources of the planet Earth. Along with the radioactive substances from the moon of Negabba he had himself the cocktail of death; the ingredients in which to produce the most lethal of weapons ever constructed.

  Pasnadinko sensed Vetty’s presence and swivelled around in his chair. “Ah, Vetty—” He coughed lightly with his hand held over his mouth. “Muriphure. I take it that you found your sleep pleasing?”

  “Very much so.”

  “Good; good, good.” He remained seated. “I’m just seeing to the final stages of my visit here. Please, come and sit down beside me.” Pasnadinko turned to one of his men before facing the screen again. “Get some refreshments in here for Lord Vetty.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “So; Muriphure; did you dream?”

  “No. I did not.”

  “No matter. As you can see, Muriphure, it won’t be long now before we’re on our way out of this hellhole. My lungs can only put up with the atmosphere for a certain period of time without a mask to cleanse it. I’m surprised you lasted so long without one. Lucky we arrived when we did.”

  “I’m used to the heat. My home planet of Verton has weather that changes more often than women change their mind. The Tullana is a pulsating star; I take it that you know this.”

  “Of course I do. An eating, pulsating star.”

  “Eating. What do you mean?”

  “The Mildratawa has sentenced your planet to death.” Vetty’s jaw dropped slightly. “In another day or so your planet will commence its run towards Tullana and extinction.”

  “I don’t believe this.”

  “I’m afraid it’s true, Vetty. Not much we can do I’m afraid.” He stood abruptly. “But; we can avenge this atrocity. I’m sure that you’re unaware as to what we’re doing here, but I assure you, we’re not basking in the sun. I have put together a weapon which would make even a squad of ten men the most powerful force in the galaxy.”

  Vetty was still shocked by the abrupt news that was to devastate his planet. He was dumbfounded. “Don’t worry, Vetty, we’ll combine our forces and strangle the very life from the Mildratawa.” He stepped around and towards Brab. “Brab. How long?”

  “Just a few minutes more, sir.”

  “As soon as it’s all aboard, take off. I hate this place.”

  The frigate streaked through the folds of space towards Earth. Only a short time of travel was now to be endured; the flashing of a red bulb gave truth to this.

  Niras was standing beside Gennilamis when the red light blinked on and off. He looked to El Pasadora. “We’ll be there soon, my lord. Only a few more minutes remaining.”

  “Good. I’m sure that Pasnadinko will be here.”

  “What if he’s not?”

  “He’s never disobeyed an order before. He’ll be here.”

  “Excuse my ignorance, my lord.” Niras fidgeted slightly. “But ‘if’ he is not; how long do you propose to wait?”

  “You’re anxious to get home to your planet, aren’t you Niras?”

  “Very anxious. It’s been a long time between glasses of yantus milk.”

  “If Pasnadinko doesn’t show within one day, or if our presence is picked up by the Mildratawa, then we’ll depart.”

  “You suspect an intervention then?”

  “They would be careless to leave a planet unmonitored with so many Verton forces let loose; not to forget those from Nicaragua, pirates of Earth, and the mighty Ziggurat.”

  “The cloaked ship.”

  “The only one of its kind, Niras. Just because we don’t get any life form readings will not necessarily mean that there is none nearby. We’ll give the Ziggurat time to monitor us. I take that the frequency wave I gave you has been loaded ready for transmission?”

  “It has, my lord.”

  “Good.”

  Gennilamis played with some controls and peered up at the screen that slowly came to clarity, revealing the earth as the frigate came out of parsec. “No readings of alien aircraft along the space boundary of Earth.”

  “What of the planet?” Niras asked.

  “It will take a little time, scanning is already in progress. Three minutes.”

  “Plenty of time, Niras.” El Pasadora pointed out. “If anything approaches too fast for our liking—”

  “Destroy it.” Gennilamis smiled at the thought, but looking up to El Pasadora soon put a stop to this.

  “Your insubordinate behaviour will be tolerated; just this once.”

  Gennilamis swallowed. “Yes, my lord.”

  El Pasadora moved over to a nearby seat, his back turned towards Niras who gave Gennilamis a light pat on the back for encouragement.

  The message was passed over the frequencies plotted and scanning of the planet’s surface was continued.

  Gennilamis cupped his ears on hearing something, deciphering incorrectly. “I think I have an ellat.”

  Niras, as the others, grew excited in hearing this news. El Pasadora had time only to half turn his head, and as he faced the screen again he jumped from his seat in surprise. Right there to his front appeared the Ziggurat.

  Pasnadinko’s voice came over the speaker. “I’m ready to fire on your craft. Don’t make any false moves.”

  El Pasadora held up his hand to the crew of f
our Vertons, holding them steady from any stupidity. “Pasnadinko; it’s me, El Pasadora.”

  A few seconds elapsed. Pasnadinko, unseen by his Emperor, sank to his seat in disbelief. He half cursed himself, and half not. What was he to do now? Shooting him from the stars may just bring devastation upon himself. He could certainly use a bit of luck, information, and collaboration. “Unbelievable. Emperor El Pasadora, this is great news.”

  El Pasadora peered down at his feet and then back to the screen. The Ziggurat was a sight for saw eyes. He could somehow feel Pasnadinko’s hidden dislike in regards to his discovery; he didn’t sound pleased at all. “I thought I’d find you here, Pasha. What happened?”

  “Bad luck, my lord. It’s a long story.” He looked over to his guest. “I have Vetty with me.”

  The crew of the frigate nearly jumped at the news; El Pasadora seemed discontent, not that they had noticed this. They drowned themselves in overwhelming thoughts of pleasure and relief. “That’s good news, Pasha. How is he?”

  Vetty conveyed the information himself. “I could not be better. It’s been a long time, El Pasadora, since our treaty was— prevented from being bound by the words which we shared so long ago.”

  “I’ve been somewhat delayed. I’m sure you understand.”

  “Indeed.”

  “I don’t like to rush things along, Vetty, but we aren’t all that safe here you know. I’d like to get some type of order organised as I’m sure you do.”

  “By all means.”

  Pasnadinko’s voice came over the speakers. “I’ve found all of the necessities, my lord. I think it’ll be best if I store them on board the ziggurat due to her cloaking capabilities.”

  “I think that we should split the resources into two; a more beneficial means of securing our task ahead.”

  Pasnadinko gave into his directions, wandering when it would be more beneficial to destroy him, and whether or not he should, to kill this half man that he worked under. “A wise decision, my lord.” ‘And this will prove my loyalty.’ “I shall organise the transport at once, and I shall send Vetty over so that you may discuss your plans for battle.” ‘Should I destroy them both, whilst I have the opportunity?’

  “Very good, Pasha. I look forward to it. I’ll open the bays in acceptance of the resources straight away.” The broadcast was brought to an end and the transfer was commenced immediately.

  The two vessels drew alongside each other. Container after container was shipped between the two ships via a portable platform that was used for such ferrying. The task was expected to take several hours, after which orders would be given.

  Vetty and El Pasadora had little trust within each other and Vetty’s predicament was brought into plain view when his planet’s destiny was divulged to El Pasadora and the crew of four. It was quite evident that they needed each other at present.

  Vetty needed to be careful, for the new weapon of destruction was now in the hands of two mad men, one of which was capable of cloaking his presence. El Pasadora on the other hand, knew not of the actual size of the force that Vetty was capable of mustering over the coming weeks. He needed control of these forces for himself.

  As the transfer of resources met its end, and Vetty stepped into the bay of El Pasadora’s cargo hold, all doors to the bay were secured. All that was left now was for a meeting to be organised. Pasnadinko was the one to break off communications with El Pasadora and Vetty, this done so as to prepare himself for transport to the frigate. As he did so, the bridge to the Ziggurat came under the immediate stress of a red alert.

  A ship had opened fire on the Ziggurat, deeming it incapable of cloaking or firing. Pasnadinko’s first thought was that the frigate had opened fire on him; that was also his last thought. The stem fired three more shots and flew through the dissipating structure of the ship as it exploded – cannon-fire which was normally employed for the disintegration of space junk and other debris, a bold move on Tuai’s part.

  El Pasadora was shocked to the core as he viewed the Ziggurat being blown to pieces, the ship being unprotected when uncloaked. He couldn’t grasp any concept of the devastation. Was the Ziggurat just fired upon, or was it the ingredients to the new weapon – were they unstable? He calmed himself quickly, composure taking control of his mind and actions. Orders were passed around between the Vertons in stricken panic and the source to the firing was searched for.

  The Stem shot past the screen of the frigate and Zaei quickly targeted the elongated science vessel, the intruder of unknown origin. He fired a torpedo that just skimmed the far end of the Stem, sending it spiralling down towards the earth’s atmosphere.

  “We have it!” El Pasadora shouted. “Get after that ship! Quickly!”

  Niras shot a glance at Zaei, overriding El Pasadora’s command. He no longer had Vetty or Pasnadinko to side with. The voice from Zaei’s mouth was now of a Verton dialect and went undeciphered by El Pasadora. “No! Incoming ships; Equatians; hit the damn parsec! Do not computerise! NOW!”

  Without second thought the frigate shot off into the folds of space, El Pasadora trying to comprehend what was said, and as the frigate disappeared from the space boundary of the earth three ships from Equatia came to rest where the Ziggurat had once sat.

  The Equatians, a small unseeable force sitting out in space monitoring for what they knew must come; trouble – an exploration team if you will.

  The Equatians were quick to respond and five pods were launched from Tiny Ballow’s cargo bay. They sped off down towards the Stem which had already skipped once on the atmosphere of Earth before slowing and finally coming to a standstill under the efforts of the crew within.

  All cannons remained trained on the Stem, a vessel that had been immediately recognised as a friendly ship. But it wasn’t supposed to be here. Who was on board the Stem?

  A message was broadcast to the occupants on all known bands to which it operated. “To all occupants of the Stem. We have you targeted. Prepare for our boarding and do not attempt to retaliate or jump into parsec. Your weapons are being monitored.”

  The four Verton occupants of the stem were soon restricted, their hands tied behind their backs prior to being taken to Mimbar, the speaker for Queen Asti. At this same moment another reading came over the scanners. Two dozen Mildratawa craft were heading their way from the far side of the planet. They made for a hasty withdrawal, leaving the Mildratawa to ponder the happenings that had taken place over the past few minutes.

  QUADRANT THREE.

  Tuai, Rimai, Kaur, and Marrth, all seemed well after their ordeal. They sat in the common room on board one of the Equatian spaceships awaiting Mimbar to make his presence known.

  Tiny was making them feel as comfortable as possible whilst Doug and the political leader to Equatia spoke. “I tell you Doug, they’re nothing but Verton scum. Just because they shot at and destroyed the Ziggurat, this gives them no right to live a life unburdened by punishment. They are probably guiltier to the innocent deaths of people than Vetty himself.”

  Doug peered through the small porthole to the common room and questioned himself as to Mimbar’s accusations. “I’m sure that they did kill. Hasn’t all of mankind, regardless of planet heritage. I myself have been responsible for the death of many Vertons, almost eleven years ago now.”

  “Yes; a long time ago. But now you’re different. There is something about you now. You wouldn’t kill any more.”

  “Does that mean that these Vertons can’t come of change like I? I’m more than convinced of their integrity. If they say they tried to stop the frigate from performing certain atrocity then I believe them. I think we should think ourselves lucky that they missed, and hit the Ziggurat instead of the frigate.”

  “But the reasons they gave. They kill for a life of leisure, so that they can lead a life unopposed by violence, to live happily on the surface of Negabba.”

  “Why would they wish that, life on Negabba; not much of a life is it? And what you said; don’t you think that we also de
serve to be punished? Don’t we bring about the death of intelligent life to maintain our goals of united peace and a worry free existence?”

  “You always have an answer to my pleas, Doug.” He peered through the small window and watched Tiny laughing along with the four Vertons. “What do you think we should do with them?”

  “After long thought I think it should be left to them. Ask them. Go.”

  After quiet deliberation a path was decided. The four Vertons wanted free reign and a life with no barriers, to be able to go anywhere they so desired. They were certainly sorry for their wrongdoing. They all finally agreed that Negabba was a terrible planet to spend the remainder of their lives, although they did enjoy the task of looking after the cactus.

  As for all good citizens, one must work for freedom, and it was Queen Asti’s idea that they should be given the chance to earn a relaxing life – with a pension and land – on reaching an age of retirement. On retirement they were to care for the cactus that they maintained as a hobby over the years to come. They were drafted into the Queen’s military force as a separate entity to the Protectors of the Scrolls. They were the Bounty Hunters of Equatia, free to travel the known galaxy and rid it of all Vertons; that’s if the hunted didn’t give in to surrender. But a sinister device was implanted in their heads, a detonation device. If they so much as looked like committing a crime towards the races of the galaxy; without reason; they would die of a terrible haemorrhage to the brain.

  QUADRANT THREE.

  PLANET SURFACE.

  Equatia stood upon a thriving field of technological advancement in regards to science, its pharmacology fell heavily upon the natural resources of the jungle depths of, not only Equatia, but all four planets to Quadrant Three, and a clear understanding on how to achieve peace was very much present and felt by many. Most therapies were derived from ancestral methods of healing and improved through the realms of technology, which gave Queen Asti a steadfast quest to pursue her medical breakthroughs; this also gave her government a more powerful edge towards absolute rule over other quadrants of the Mildratawa, and beyond.