»Seeing … feeling?« she repeated.
She turned away and gave the order return me to my cell. I didn’t resist. I’d wait for a better chance to explain myself later.
»Don’t try to escape, Hassan. Next time we won’t let you get away with it! I’ll talk to you later – after you’ve put some clothes on, will ya?«
The guards escorted me to the central airlock and left Nok was looking at the hole in the floor. She must have been beginning to understand that no cell would contain me if I didn’t let it.
Orders to return home
Anatoli Nemov looked suspiciously at the three Chiropters while Petrow briefed him about the situation. Nemov’s team remained on the landing field, equipped with Globuster fists.
»Before we landed on Sedna, our Hawk radios received orders from Triton Base. They want us to return immediately, no reason given. Radio silence has been lifted,« Nemov said.
Petrow nodded briefly.
»We’ll contact Commander Daralamai from the Blue Moon. The Blues have told us some things that worry me,« Petrow replied.
»This base …,« Nemov hesitated, » … makes me nervous! The entire complex is larger than Triton Base. I never dreamed that we had such an installation in our solar system,« Nemov groped for words. »There are some very strong subterranean power stations under this base, according to our scanners. We picked up the readings after you landed. Energy signatures way off the scale. The technology belt that stretches around Sedna’s equator is like a gigantic antenna array. Did the Chiropters tell you anything about it?«
Petrow shook his head.
»They call this installation a Dimensional Base. I’m pretty sure it’s somehow connected to the Globuster Matrix. I think it may be the main Matrix control center, but I can’t say for sure.«
Petrow jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the Conceptor.
»That’s the Conceptor of this base. You won’t believe it, but he’s alive in some sense.«
»What … who, the holo?« Nemov wondered. »Look, let’s follow Nok’s orders and get back to Triton. I have the feeling that something big has happened … she wouldn’t have lifted radio silence for nothing.«
»We need to leave Sedna,« Petrow told the Chiropters. »We need to return to our base near Neptune. I hope we can stay in contact and exchange information … deepen our understanding of each other.«
The Chiropters only kept working, paying him no heed.
»Return to your base and inform them in person,« the Conceptor answered for them. »We have sent the prearranged signal later than planned, but the Prophet is now informed. He’ll tell you more … he’s a Chiropter First Class.«
Petrow frowned.
»There’re more of you in the solar system?« he inquired.
»The Prophet arrived via the Tachyon Portal. He’s very disappointed with your failures!« the Conceptor replied.
Petrow shook his head.
»We need to know a lot more about you. Other teams will be here soon to exchange information,« Petrow told him.
»If you can still reach us, they’ll be welcomed. The Globusters will not leave Sedna soon, I warn you!«
Petrow took a deep breath and hoped that he could trust the Conceptor’s word.
»Nemov, is your Hawk ready? We’re done here,« Petrow stated flatly. »It’s going to be a bit tight on your ship … our Hawk was destroyed, but we’ll manage.«
A micro-portal
Speechless, Nok Daralamai stood before the Prophet of the Genorantans.
Finally she addressed the Prophet, slightly bowing her head.
»I welcome you and your companions to Triton Base and on Solar Union Territory.«
Ivanova and Pi had flown Kuster~Laap and his two companions to the base, where they were greeted in the Solar Hall.
The Chiropter First Class imitated Nok’s gesture and slightly bowed his head.
»I have a vital message for the Protectors. I wish to meet your tribal heads on your home-world. I am under the impression that you’re unaware of the critical situation we’re facing. The enemy has undermined all our galactic defense efforts with their counter plan. It is, however, not yet too late!«
Nok looked at Pi and Maya Ivanova, then at the two ZyClonians.
»You call us … Protectors. We don’t know what you mean, but I do know somebody who recently mentioned the counter plan. He’s a Human who has made contact with Globuster technology that gave him extra-ordinary abilities.«
The Chiropter quickly turned his head toward Maya, whom he seemed to have accepted as an authority.
»It could prove useful to let Nood and Naad interview this Human. First, I have to tell you that the Chiropters Fourth Class have sent their signal.«
Nok felt herself growing impatient.
»We don’t know what you’re talking about. Please, explain yourself in terms we can understand.«
Kuster~Laap’s voice became deeper.
»The Dimensional Base on Sedna, as you call that planetoid, has resumed operation. It is about to generate a defense shield that will envelope your entire solar system, protecting the Retreat. The Great Tremor won’t be able to reach you; you’ll be safe. It will, however, not deter the enemy because the Security Fleet does not exist to repel them. The Brotherhood’s plan has failed!«
»Hmm … this Security Fleet … we were supposed to have that?« Nok asked.
»You are the Protectors! It was your destiny to be our last line of defense after all else failed. The Dark Brotherhood’s counter plan has prevented this,« Kuster~Laap replied with sad eyes.
Nok Daralamai took a deep breath.
»I agree,« she admitted, »that we need to call a conference on Earth. I suspected that your message was going to be a bombshell.«
»We don’t have much time. There is still hope, though, because there is another Retreat!«
»Another Reserve?« Pi asked aloud. »There’s another solar system with a Matrix and people waiting for that special day?«
Kuster~Laap ignored Pi and signaled Naad and Nood. The ZyClonians formed a small cubical device with their nanopods and set it down at Nok’s feet.
»What’s that?« she asked reservedly.
»This is a micro Tachyon Portal emitter. It will transport us to Earth … but we need to hurry!«
Seconds later, the device began to glow, and a 2 by 2 meter bright curtain formed before Nok’s eyes.
Nood stepped forward and went through the curtain, disappearing from the scene, Naad followed him a moment later, and then Kuster~Laap. Maya Ivanova, Pi and Nok Daralamai waited – hesitating.
»I think we’re supposed to follow them,« suggested Maya with a loud sigh.
With a muted Russian curse, she stepped through the curtain, while Pi still held back, wary.
»Go on, Pi,« Nok urged. »That’s your chance to get to Earth like greased lightning. I’ll inform Arkroid and Vasina and have them meet you there.«
»What about you?« Pi asked her.
»Triton is my post, but I’ll bring the remaining council and all the other bases up to speed about the recent events,« she replied.
Pi looked with pounding heart at the energy curtain – and stepped through it!
»I hope there’ll be a happy ending to all of this … for all of us!« Nok muttered.
END
… and the adventure continues.
NEBULAR Collection 4 (Episodes 17 - 21)
»Second Reserve«
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About the author
Thomas Rabenstein, born on 15.03.1963 in Hof on the banks of the Saale, was excited by Science Fiction from his early years on.
Active in the Fantastic-Fandom, he’s inspired by classic movies, TV-series and novels. In the 80s, using the new medium known as the Internet, he published his first short stories.
Highly interested in Astronomy and Space Technology, he integrates this knowledge into his novels.
Since 2011 Thomas works as a self-employed author and self publisher. With the Science-Fiction series Nebular he enriches the genre, while also working on several other projects like the 2030 series or the vampire saga TOHIL. Apart from writing books, the author creates 3D illustrations and animations, loves music and cutting-edge technology.
NEBULAR Collection 3 - Morgotradon: Episodes 12 - 16 Page 35