by Zac Harrison
“No talking, please,” said Aristil sharply. “Quickly now, board the ship and get away from Kerallin. Please make sure that you activate the cloaking device immediately.”
John walked across the grass to the pyramid feeling deeply uneasy. Kaal was right; if something dangerous was happening because the class hadn’t turned on the ship’s cloak, then all the students were to blame. Running to safety while the elderly scholars dealt with whatever mess the students had caused made him feel like a coward.
“Are you sure we can’t stay and help?” he asked Aristil, as most of his classmates took their MorphSeats in the centre of the pyramid. Emmie, Kaal, and Raytanna ran to the far wall, where John had found the cloaking device instruction earlier.
Aristil shook her head. “It was you who first understood how to pilot the pyramid, was it not, John Riley?” she said.
“Uh, yes. Yes, I guess so.”
“Then you can help by flying the ship and getting your fellow students away from here as fast as possible.”
“But—”
“Go!” she ordered.
With no choice but to obey, John followed the rest of the class inside the pyramid.
“Cloak activated,” said the ship’s computer.
From the inside, nothing looked different – through the shimmering purple-tinged walls, he could still see the landscape of Kerallin. From the little he knew of light-bending cloaking technology, he guessed that the ship had become invisible to anyone looking at it from the outside.
Taking his place opposite Lishtig, John waited while Raytanna fastened her safety harness.
“OK,” he said quietly as Emmie and Kaal took their positions. “Let’s get out of here.”
He was about to duck down and launch the pyramid upward, when Mordant screamed and pointed outside.
John whirled round. A spaceship was falling from the sky like a meteor. Red, and covered with cruel-looking spikes, its landing jets blasted the ground. In the distance, trees bent. Outside the pyramid, Aristil and Socrat huddled inside the hoverbus, their robes whipping wildly in the rush of hot winds. Another hoverbus came speeding across the meadow. Scholars spilled out onto the ground, pointing in panic as the red ship landed, crushing plants and flowers beneath.
A hatch opened. A ramp emerged. Marching two abreast, thirty soldier droids stamped down the ramp and spread out on the grass. Red metal armour, studded with spikes, glinted in the sunshine. Featureless metal faces turned towards the scholars, levelling powerful-looking laser rifles at their shocked faces.
Thushlar collapsed, clutching his chest. Deem, the old Derrilian scholar, caught him before he hit the ground.
John backed across the floor towards his classmates, unable to take his eyes off the scene outside the pyramid. The attack had happened so quickly, it felt like his brain was still trying to catch up.
“What are you waiting for, John, you idiot. Get us out of here!” shrieked Mordant.
The words acted like a kick-start. “No!” John yelled as he turned back, pointing wildly at the scholars of Kerallin. “We can’t just leave them.”
Mordant stood, his face red with rage, tentacles thrashing at the air. “Not this time!” he shrieked. “You’re not going to try and be the hero this time. The scholars ordered us to get away. We have to go. NOW!”
“They need help!” John shouted back. “We have to stay.”
“Mordant is right,” yelled Werril. “We can’t fight armed soldier droids, and the scholars told us to go.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” said Lishtig. The purple-haired boy crossed the floor to stand at John’s side. “On my world, we don’t leave friends in trouble.”
“And on my world, we don’t get caught up in trouble that’s none of our business!” shouted Mordant, enraged. “Especially when no one wants us to get involved.”
Suddenly, everyone was shouting at once.
“Maybe we should get help!” yelled Bareon.
“It will take too long. The scholars need our help now!” replied Queelin urgently.
“We can’t fight soldier droids,” insisted Mordant.
“I can,” said Gobi-san-Art, crossing huge arms that looked like they’d been carved from granite.
“STOP IT! STOP SHOUTING!” Kaal bellowed.
Silence descended, as every student turned to the Derrilian. “Whatever we do, we need to make a decision fast,” he said. “Fighting among ourselves isn’t going to help them.” He pointed. Outside, the droids were advancing on the scholars, herding them into a group.
“We’ll vote,” Emmie cut in. “Everyone for staying.” Her own hand was in the air instantly. John, Kaal, Lishtig, Gobi, Raytanna, and Queelin voted to stay. After a few moments, Bareon put his hand in the air.
“Everyone for leaving,” said Emmie. Mordant Talliver and seven others raised hands, tentacles, and claws.
“Eight versus eight,” said Emmie. “Who hasn’t voted?”
Kritta Askin-Tarsos clicked her insect-like mouthparts nervously, turning her huge compound eyes from Emmie to Mordant.
“It’s all down to you then, Kritta,” said Emmie. “You have to make a decision.”
“What would the headmaster want you to do?” John added.
Silence.
Then, in a timid voice, Kritta said, “We stay.”
Chapter 9
“Keep down. Stay out of sight,” John whispered over his shoulder. Ahead, the pyramid’s wall rippled. The circular door opened silently. Pressing himself against the wall to one side and holding his breath, John peered round. Now, he could hear as well as see what was happening outside.
The soldier droids were twenty-five metres away, facing the scholars. Red armour gleamed in the bright sunlight.
“Line up. No sudden movements. Any attempts to escape will be met with extreme force,” droned one in a flat, electronic voice.
Many of the elderly scholars looked frightened and bewildered as they formed a line. Nevertheless, John noted a few who seemed more angry than scared. From their faces, John guessed that Deem and metal-faced Silva would have preferred to fight.
Good. Maybe we’ll have some help.
“This is madness. You’re going to get us all killed.”
“Shut up, Mordant,” hissed Emmie. “The cloaking device is on so they don’t know we’re here. Let’s keep it that way for now.”
Keeping low, John turned back to his classmates. “Anyone know where these droids came from or what they want?” he asked.
“There are always a few rogue warlords and space pirates at the edge of every galaxy,” Bareon whispered, his huge black eyes blinking. “Maybe one of them sent the droids.”
“But why? Why attack a retirement planet for old geniuses?”
“Kerallin is more than that—” Raytanna began.
“Does it matter where they come from or what they want?” hissed Emmie. “Let’s just stop them.”
John nodded. Emmie was right. He peered around the door again. On clanking metal legs, the droids were now walking up and down the line of scholars. The droids looked fearsome. A thought popped into John’s head: if anyone knew how to beat these robots, it would be Kaal. His room-mate was a genius with technology. “Kaal,” he whispered, “any idea how we can beat these things?”
“I don’t know this model,” the Derrilian answered quietly. “But they have two legs, so we should be able to knock them off balance. Get them on the ground and they’ll be easier to fight.” He paused for a second, deep in thought as he gazed at the droids. “Their armour is designed to withstand weapon fire, not close combat. There will be weak points at the joints. The simple way to take them down is to grab any wires you see and rip them out. But do it quick.”
“What about the laser rifles?”
“Long range,” Kaal said with a shrug. “Awkward in hand-to
-hand combat but still deadly. Don’t let them get off a shot.”
“Right,” said John. “We’ll go in three, two—”
“I AM OGUN. THIS PLANET NOW BELONGS TO ME.”
Every head snapped round. Through the transparent walls, John saw a being at the top of the spaceship’s ramp. The creature that called itself Ogun was two metres tall and covered in the same red, spiked armour as the droids. But instead of a smooth metal face, Ogun had a head that made him look like a hideous cross between a boar and a dragon. Tusks curled from either side of his mouth. Blood-red, overlapping scales covered his face. Smoke curled from a blunt, aggressive snout. On either side of his forehead were twisted horns, tipped with wicked-looking blades. Between them a golden crest ran down the centre of his scaled head. In one taloned hand, he held a hooked sword of black metal. The other was held in a victorious fist above his head.
“OBEY AND I WILL ALLOW YOU TO LIVE,” Ogun roared. “DEFY ME AND YOU WILL SUFFER IN WAYS YOU CANNOT IMAGINE.”
“John, even you must see we can’t stay and fight now,” Mordant hissed in a terrified whisper. “Let’s... let’s get out of here while we still can.”
Weak-kneed, John lifted a hand to silence Mordant. He couldn’t take his eyes off Ogun.
“Kerallin,” he said in a voice only slightly less than a roar, “soon, I will be the greatest warlord the universe has ever known.” Metal boots slammed against the craft’s ramp, as Ogun descended, glittering green eyes fixed on the huddle of scholars as he crossed the grass. “The famous scholars...” he began and then stopped, gazing at Aristil, “...and you!” he finished. Throwing his head back, Ogun bellowed laughter at the sky.
Aristil stood calm while Ogun’s insane laughter went on and on. Finally, it ended abruptly. Gazing at the old scholar, Ogun said, “It is only fitting that Kerallin’s treasures should be delivered into my hands by you, headmistress.”
Her own eyes cold, Aristil looked back at him unflinching. “I thought I recognized you,” she said quietly. “It has been, what, three hundred years?”
“Three hundred and twelve, since you threw me out of Hyperspace High,” Ogun replied. He gave her a vicious grin. “As you can see, though, my rise to greatness was not stopped by a stupid old being with no vision to see glory in the making.”
“Glory in the making?” snapped Aristil. “Is that what you call it? I remember a boy whose barbaric tastes for causing pain ruined everything he could have achieved.”
“Yet see what I have achieved.” Ogun used his sword to point back towards the ship. John glanced back, seeing six deep grooves gouged into the spaceship’s hull. “You see the scars?” Ogun continued. “One for each planet I have conquered. My empire grows, and, with the knowledge that Kerallin provides me, it will grow more quickly still.”
He looked around. “And all because I remembered your humiliating inspections of Hyperspace High. For years I have been watching, waiting for a class that fails to activate the cloaking device. Tracking the pyramid back to Kerallin was easy. Conquering a planet of stuffy old fools will be easier still.”
“I knew it. It is my fault,” groaned Emmie behind John.
“Our fault, Emmie,” said Kaal. “I told you: none of us managed to translate the cloaking device instruction.”
John looked over his shoulder. A number of students were exchanging guilty looks. “That settles it once and for all,” he said. “We brought Ogun here. It’s up to us to get rid of him.”
“John, you fool, look at Ogun,” said Mordant, his long tentacles weaving in fear. “He’s a heavily armed galactic warlord. We’re students. We’ve got no weapons and—”
“Be quiet,” hissed Lishtig, “Look, something’s happening.”
The class turned back to the scholars outside. Socrat had stepped forward. His voice was faint. Students crowded around the door to hear him speak.
“There is nothing for you here, Ogun,” the old alien wheezed. “Kerallin is a quiet planet, far from the centre of the universe. We only hope to share our knowledge. What good are a few old academics to you?”
“Do you think me stupid?” sneered the warlord, thick smoke pouring from his nostrils.
“I meant only to say—”
“I know what you meant to say,” Ogun roared. “Trickery and lies. You know as well as I that there is treasure on Kerallin far beyond jewels.”
“I assure you we have nothing—”
Once again, Ogun cut him off. “You have your library,” he bellowed contemptuously. “A library where all the information of the universe is stored. With such a library in my hands, I will know every planet’s defence systems: everything I need to conquer whichever planet I chose. None will be able to withstand me. Anyone else who wishes to use my library will have to pay. I shall be powerful and rich beyond dreams.” He looked Socrat up and down. “And your age means little. You may be old, but Kerallin is home to the brightest minds in the universe. There will be no more ‘peaceful study’. From now on, the scholars of Kerallin will design weapons for me. Weapons more powerful than any in the universe.”
Fear and confusion turned to shock on the faces of the scholars. “Never!” shouted Socrat, his voice stronger now. “I will never lift a finger to help you.”
“THEN YOU WILL SUFFER!” Ogun bellowed into his face. “All of you will suffer until I have what I want.”
Aristil’s lined face twisted into fury. “You were my greatest failure, Ogun,” she snarled, “but the day I expelled you was the happiest day I ever spent as headmistress of Hyperspace High. You are no better than a beast.”
The warlord grabbed three of her arms, his talon digging into flesh until she yelped. “You will regret those words.” He smiled down at her – a sight that chilled John’s blood even more than the roaring and bellowing. With a flick of his wrist, he flung her against the side of a hoverbus. “Get in!” he commanded. “You will open the Library of Kerallin for me. It will be you who gives Ogun the keys to the universe’s knowledge.”
Aristil staggered upright, clutching her bruised side. “No, you can’t—”
Ogun barked an order. Instantly, the soldier droids raised their weapons, pointing laser rifles into the crowd of scholars. “Get into the hoverbus,” the warlord said. “Or your friends will pay the price.”
Tears streamed down Aristil’s face as she climbed into the hoverbus. “Help us,” she wept. “Oh, please help us.”
“There is no one here to help you,” Ogun sneered, as he climbed in beside her. “Now, take me to your library unless you wish to taste Ogun’s anger.” Turning back to the droids, he yelled, “Alpha platoon, come with me! Beta platoon, escort the scholars to the hall of assembly. Keep them there until we’re ready to leave.”
Fifteen soldier droids climbed into the hoverbus. With shaking hands, Aristil leaned forward and touched the controls. The craft turned and flashed across the meadow.
Inside the pyramid, John gazed at a sea of shocked, angry faces. “I’ve seen enough,” he said. “Let’s deal with the droids first, and then we’ll go after Ogun.”
Chapter 10
As the soldier droids began pushing scholars towards the remaining hoverbus, John saw Deem pull his fist back for a blow. Socrat clutched at his arm before the Derrilian could throw the punch. Even so, the closest droid smashed Deem in the chest with the butt of its laser rifle. “Resistance will be met with extreme force,” it droned.
“I’ll show you extreme force,” growled the Scholar, lunging forward.
“No, Deem, you’ll only make things worse,” Socrat panted, hanging onto the Derrilian’s arm. “Use your logic. There are too many of them. Get on the hoverbus.”
Metal legs clanked as the droids moved forward again, herding the terrified scholars like sheep.
John lifted his hand – the signal to advance. Without looking back, he sprinted through the open portal of Kera
llin’s pyramid ship. Sixteen students followed on the ground. Spreading his wings, Kaal took to the sky.
Keeping his eyes fixed on the fifteen soldier droids, John’s mind worked furiously. Don’t turn around. Please don’t turn around, he repeated to himself over and over, as his heart pumped pure adrenalin. Keeping low and silent, he pounded across the meadow.
John’s wishes were answered. None of the droids turned. None saw the attack coming. John screamed, “NOW!” Still yelling, he launched a flying kick. His foot smashed into a droid’s metal back in a roundhouse kick, hurling it forward to crash face-first into the grass. Instantly, it tried to rise. John threw himself onto the robot’s back, trying to keep it pinned to the ground.
Beneath him, metal shifted.
It began to rise.
Kaal’s instructions came back to him in a flash: “Grab any wires you see and rip them out.”
As the robot struggled to get up, John spotted a gap where its head was connected to its neck. Inside was a thick bundle of wires. Reaching down, he grabbed at them.
John pulled with all his strength. Sparks flew. With a fizzing noise, the robot thrashed, almost spearing John on its spiked armour. Then, its power spent, it collapsed.
“One down!” John shouted. Around him chaos had broken out. Several droids had been toppled in the first wave of the attack. As John watched, Raytanna reached out and disconnected a droid’s energy conduits with expert fingers. It slumped.
Kaal’s tactic was ruthlessly efficient. Wings powering him down from the sky, he took a droid by the head and swooped upward again, the struggling robot dangling beneath him. A hundred metres in the air, he let go. The robot’s arms beat at the air for a moment, as if it were trying to fly, then it smashed into the ground, its body wrecked beyond any repair.
By now, though, the droids had had time to organize against the sudden assault. As John watched, the remaining robots fell back into a defensive line. Tossing Queelin to one side like a rag, one more droid rose to its feet and joined the line.