Cathy was intrigued. It was clear by the way she walked through the door without any sign of hesitation that Anya had been there many times.
Suddenly she found herself in a huge structure similar to that in which she'd encountered Atuk, but she instinctively knew the place was different. Whoever made himself—or herself—at home in this Spartan structure was definitely not Antediluvian.
Another person dressed in a purple cape entered from the opposite side, and she was immediately struck by the person's demeanour. It had the same catlike quality she'd seen in Hasan and Eqin so many years ago.
Anya bowed deeply as he approached. “Sage, I brought you a'Atuk, the Chosen One."
The person stopped, and motioned to Cathy to come closer. Anya retreated and before Cathy could stop her, she'd left the room.
Reluctantly, she walked over to the Sage. This was clearly intended to be a private meeting and she wondered why. The person reminded her too much of Hasan, and a flood of feelings were threatening to choke her. She suddenly had an irrepressible urge to scream and run away as fast as she could, but instead she continued moving towards ... him—it was a man, she realised.
“So, you are a'Atuk,” he said in a raspy voice, which sounded too much like Hasan's for comfort.
She felt herself grow cold, and with a throat that was suddenly restricted, she answered him. “No ... yes ... I guess."
“You don't seem sure about that."
“I'm not,” she answered honestly. Although she couldn't see his face, she could feel his gaze on her. Had she met him before?
“You are honest. Good. Sit down."
She looked around for a chair to sit on, but there was none. Evidently, she was expected to sit on the cold, hard floor. Well, that should be interesting, she thought, and sat down, crossing her legs.
The Sage had sat down too. “Tell me about yourself."
Unsure about his intentions, she tried to reach into his thoughts, but she seemed to reach into emptiness. It was an odd sensation, and she frowned. She'd become used to being able to read the thoughts of others whenever she wanted, although she'd been doing it much less than in the beginning. She shifted uncomfortably. It wasn't just that she couldn't read the Sage's thoughts; she could sense absolutely nothing from him—no impatience, no anger, and no warmth. In fact, it was like reading a blank slate. If she hadn't known better she would've thought that he didn't really exist. She tried to explain about herself.
“There's nothing to tell. I'm human. I come from Earth, and I feel like a fool sitting here,” she said, surprising herself with her frankness.
“Why are you here?"
“That's a really good question. I would like to know the answer to that one myself."
For a few moments, he said nothing, and she wondered what he was thinking. Then he said, “You are very self-satisfied for such a young person."
His comment cut through her. She would have described herself as many things, but ‘self-satisfied’ wasn't one of them. She looked at him closely, analysing the man sitting in front of her on the floor of the large, empty hall. Even though she couldn't sense his thoughts, she intuitively knew he was up to something, but wasn't quite sure what it was.
“You're testing me,” she said.
“Why would you say that?” he answered unperturbed.
Without warning, she felt her irritation level rise and struggled to maintain an even tone. Somehow, this person was influencing her thoughts and feelings. She wasn't sure how or why, but she knew she wasn't in control. It was as if he was using her feelings against her.
“Why are you answering every question with yet another question?” she asked confrontationally, struggling to regain control over her emotions.
“Were you asking a question?"
She narrowed her eyes. “I don't know what's going on here, but I don't like it. I've had enough of this. I'm leaving."
He seemed undisturbed. “Already?"
“Yes.” She got up and started walking towards the exit, but a force unlike anything she had felt before started pulling her back to the centre of the room. Unable to fight it, she turned towards the Sage. He'd lifted his hand, and visibly a subtle flow of energy was coming from it, preventing her from leaving.
Suddenly she felt incredibly threatened and an overwhelming fear took hold of her. Instinctively she lifted her hand in self-defence as she had done before, shooting out an energy beam directly at him. It was supposed to stop him in his tracks, but instead of the energy flinging him across the hall, it reflected straight back at her and instead threw her across the hall.
She uttered a cry as she landed sideways on the hard stone floor. Unable to get up in time, she felt herself being dragged once again to the middle of the hall. Clawing with her fingernails at the rough stones, she tried to prevent herself from moving, but only managed to rip her fingertips open. It was as if she was trying to fight an unyielding force.
Turning on her back, she targeted another energy beam at him—this time more powerful and targeted than before. But again, it bounced off him and hit her instead, sending her soaring across the floor.
With a dull thud, she slammed against the wall and cringed. This wasn't funny anymore. She pursed her lips together determined not to show pain, but her eyes shot full of tears anyway. She was convinced one of her ribs was cracked. It certainly felt like it.
When the force field pulled her towards the centre of the hall again, she didn't resist. There was no way she was going to try and break free. Not again. She wasn't that stupid. When she reached the Sage, she felt the force field releasing her, and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
“That was no good,” he stated calmly.
Her hands were still burning were the stones had grazed the skin, and she looked at him, frowning. “What was no good?"
“You resisting the force field."
“What was I supposed to do? I tried to break free, but it didn't work."
He was quiet for a moment. “You will learn."
“Right,” she said, and flinched when she tried to sit up. Yup, she had definitely broken something.
“You're in pain."
“No kidding.” What a profound observation. What did he think would happen when he flung her all the way across the huge structure?
She could feel him reach inside her mind and body. Unable to fight it, she closed her eyes, allowing herself to drift away. Then, suddenly, she felt a sensation of intense energy surging through her, and then the pain was gone. She gasped in surprise, and opened her eyes.
“How did you do that?"
“Many years of practice. Now will you stay?"
“Do I have a choice?"
“You have much potential in you. I've seen that already, but you have a strong, stubborn mind,” he said. “You need to develop your skills if you intend helping Eqin."
His comment caught her off-guard. “You know about Eqin?"
“There's not much I don't know,” he said, and she instinctively knew he was speaking the truth.
He still sat in exactly the same position as before with his legs crossed and his palms resting on his knees. “Something disturbs you."
“Yes,” she admitted. “You remind me of the man who ruined my life."
She could sense that he was neither surprised nor offended.
He nodded. “Hasan, yes. You think that he ruined your life?"
“Yes, if it hadn't been for him I wouldn't have been here in the first place."
“And that is not good?"
“No, it's not. If it hadn't been for him I would have been able to live a normal life like everyone else,” she said resentfully.
“You don't think this is normal?"
“No, I don't think it's normal sitting here, pretending I'm some ‘Chosen One'."
“And that is why you don't want to stay?"
She shrugged her shoulders. “Perhaps ... I don't know."
“Perhaps you should stop thinking of Hasan having ruined you
r life, but rather as him having put you on your path of destiny."
She didn't immediately answer. It was a novel way of thinking of Hasan—not as an evil man, but as a man who unintentionally had put her on a different path than any she thought she would take. She wouldn't quite describe it as destiny, though. Perhaps coincidence ... She frowned. It still didn't make her feel any happier.
“Destiny. Yes. I've heard that quite a number of times. What does it actually mean? What is my destiny?"
“You sound much like Eqin,” the Sage responded. “When you let go of your fear and your hatred, your path and your destiny will become clear to you."
“I don't hate,” she said curtly. She could almost hear him smile, and felt her irritation rise. How did he know so much about her anyway?
“Yes, you do. And you fear. You fear many things."
“I don't,” she insisted. What game was he playing? He answered her questions with more questions, and said nothing that she could use. So what if she hated, feared, or loved? What was it of his business anyway? She wished she'd never come to Krinis. If she'd stayed on Earth, she could have returned to her old life. She felt as if she was being swept along in a riptide, and the chances were that she would drown along the way.
“Only when you confront your fears will you no longer carry the fear in you."
“I don't see why I should,” she responded sullenly.
“It is your destiny.” He spoke to her as if she were an ignorant child, and her frown deepened.
“My destiny?” Although she knew she was being stubborn about it, she also knew in her heart that he was right. She did fear many things. Hasan was only one of them, but she stubbornly refused to accept that confronting her fears would make any difference.
He got up abruptly. “You can go now. We will continue later."
Without as much as a look in her direction, he left. She was taken aback by his sudden dismissal, and she left the hall with some unease. What was that all about? He hadn't taught her a thing and wasn't that what he was supposed to do?
She found Anya sitting outside in the garden on a stone bench, and sat down next to her. In silence, they sat staring out over the garden.
After some time, Cathy broke the silence. “What was the point of all this?"
Anya moved her head slightly. “Of what?"
“Who is this Sage?"
Anya shrugged her shoulders. “No-one really knows. He's always been here. Some say he is one of the Antediluvians who stays around to guide the younger ones, but no-one is really sure."
“Who do you think he is?"
“He's what we want him to be."
“What do you mean?"
Anya glanced at her. “Everyone experiences him differently. To some he is an old man; to others he is a woman. Some have even seen a child,” she said, and then asked, “What did you see?"
“He reminded me of Hasan."
“Ah, yes. Your arch-enemy. That must be your strongest emotion, then."
Suddenly it made sense. It confirmed the feeling she had the moment she met the Sage. He simply reflected what she wanted or expected to see ... If she was right, then who was he really?
On the far end of the well-kept garden two Caretakers, dressed in grey robes approached them. As they passed, they bowed their heads towards Anya as if in deference, and then hurried along again. It was the same behaviour Cathy had noticed the day before and she was puzzled by it.
“Why are they doing that?"
“What?"
“They seem to be almost ... in awe ... of you,” she observed.
Anya was silent for a moment. “It is the robe."
“What about it?"
“It is blue."
Cathy looked at her exasperated. What type of answer was that? What was it with these people that they answered everything in riddles?
“Yes, but what does it mean?” she asked irritably.
“It shows that I'm a Peer of the Realm,” Anya said, and then continued, “I guess like your royalty on Earth."
Her answer intrigued Cathy. “So you are what ... a princess?” she quizzed.
“No, I'm a Peer of the Realm,” Anya said, and after a moment of hesitation, she explained, “My mother is a clairvoyant. In our society that is greatly valued. Atuk transferred the same status to me here at the Sanctuary.” She got up from the bench and started walking towards the small passageway.
Cathy followed her. She sensed a deep longing in Anya, and realised the woman didn't belong on Krinis any more than she did. “Anya..."
“Yes?"
“Do you miss your home?"
“Yes, I do, but I am here now and I have a destiny to fulfil."
There it was again—destiny. These people had an obsession about destiny. Perhaps if they took charge of their lives instead of leaving it all up to destiny, the planet wouldn't be in such a shambles, she thought, and decided not to ask any more. If and when Anya wanted to tell her about her home, she'd be there to listen.
They walked side by side through the garden. Although they were very different people, there was a silent companionship between them making her feel at ease.
Her thoughts wandered to Anya's scarred face. She had to ask. “Anya..."
“Yes?"
“How did you survive the Chamber of Flames?"
Anya paused a moment and then answered haltingly as if not wanting to be reminded of the past. “My people can withstand very high temperatures."
“Yes, but ... how did you get out?"
There was a long silence and it seemed as if Anya wasn't going to answer her question. Then she revealed, “There are those on Krinis who do not support the Algidan Council. It was through their help that I escaped."
Cathy wanted to know more, but she sensed that Anya had said all she was going to. They continued in silence.
From the other side of the garden, a Caretaker hurriedly walked over to them. He was evidently nervous about being in their presence, and avoided their eyes as he handed over a small communications crystal, addressing Anya directly.
“Your Grace, this came this morning."
Anya took the crystal from him. “Thank you,” she said, evidently waiting for him to leave, but he clearly had something else on his mind. “Was there something else?” she asked.
“Your Grace, is she the One?” There was a hopeful tone in his voice that was hard to miss.
Anya patiently answered his question. “Yes, she is the daughter of Atuk."
His face lit up and he grinned at the news, but he still avoided their eyes. “Thank you. We have been wondering if she was the One,” he said and then turned to Cathy, bowing deeply. “Daughter of Atuk, you are most welcome in our Sanctuary. May the Antediluvians be with you."
With that he retreated, still bowing, and then he hurried off again—to tell his fellow Caretakers the good news, Cathy suspected. She couldn't help but feel flattered by his reaction. For once, an alien group welcomed her. It was so unlike her experiences with the Algidans back on Earth.
“He seems happy,” she commented to Anya.
“Yes, he is,” Anya said, but her response was distracted. Her focus was on the communications crystal in her hand, which was displaying a tiny hologram. It spoke.
“Judgement Day has been set. Your presence is required,” the hologram said.
With a wave of her hand, Anya made the hologram disappear, and she placed the crystal in a pocket hidden in the folds of her cape. Cathy noticed that she seemed disturbed by the news.
“What's wrong?"
“Eqin's Judgement Day has been set,” Anya said with a hint of worry.
“When?"
“Soon. Much too soon. We are not ready yet."
Cathy looked at her confused. “Ready for what?"
“Ready to bring down the Algidan Council,” she said, briefly looking at Cathy.
Cathy frowned. The statement was concerning. “What about Eqin?"
Anya shook her head. “I do not know. We
will have to speak with Atuk. It is her decision,” she said and started walking in the direction of Atuk's hall.
Cathy followed her in silence. Perhaps it was better not to jump to conclusions and to wait and see what Atuk had to say.
Cathy and Anya entered the room together, but this time Anya went to the centre of the hall and Cathy lingered at the door. She watched quietly as Anya waited for Atuk to appear. It didn't take long.
Cathy noticed Atuk briefly glancing at her, and then, ignoring her, she listened to the communication crystal that Anya had taken out from under her cape. Even at that distance, Cathy could see that the old woman was not happy.
This is not good. We cannot go there now, Atuk said, and then remained silent. After a few moments, she glanced again in Cathy's direction. Then she said to Anya, You know what has to be done.
Although Eqin's name hadn't been mentioned, Cathy knew Atuk was referring to him. They were going to let him be judged, and she suddenly felt furious. There was no way she was going to allow that. He'd saved her life. She owed him. Cathy walked rapidly over to the pair.
What about Eqin? she demanded heatedly, not even thinking she was using telepathic communication.
Atuk faced her, seemingly disturbed at her impertinence. His task is completed. There is nothing we can do for him.
Cathy caught the message in Anya's face. The latter's eyes were big as if trying to tell her not to interfere, but she ignored it and pressed on.
But he will die.
The gaze from Atuk's dark eyes rested on her for a moment, and Cathy wondered what was going on in the old woman's mind.
Yes, he will, and that is unfortunate, but we have no choice.
Cathy pursed her lips. How could the woman be so heartless? He'd saved her life. Didn't that mean anything? Or was compassion a human trait?
Atuk looked at her sharply. You will follow my orders. You will not interfere.
Anya threw a nervous glance in their direction, motioning something to her with her hand. She seemed concerned, but Cathy couldn't let it be.
I will not let Eqin die, she said firmly.
The ancient woman's expression hardened. Clearly, she didn't like being crossed. Do you understand what is at stake?
Alien Genes 1: Daughter of Atuk Page 24