by Lyra Shanti
“I suppose my granddaughter sent you to me,” said the old man.
Axis nodded, still in a daze from the majestic diamond.
“So… you wish to know where you are?” asked the white-haired man with a smirk on his lips. “How rare it is that a Sarax does not know where he is. You must be lost… but why? You have a strong aura, and I sense that you know your own soul’s unique sound… and yet, something is missing. What could it be?”
“I… I’m missing my father.”
“Your father?” repeated the old man. Raising his arched brow, the elder sage lifted his hood and exposed his face. His features were Sirini-like, and he had many lines and wrinkles, though he was still exceedingly handsome, despite his age. “So… you came looking for me.”
Something about the sage’s eyes were all too familiar to Axis. “Ayn?” he whispered, dumbfounded.
A wide smile crept across the old man’s face. “Not exactly, but I am his soul… in another body and time. I remember him well, though. He was my past life… when I was young and frightened of my abilities. If I recall, you were the heart of me, my dear Axis. You balanced my mind and gave me the strength I didn’t know I had. We needed each other to reach our true power. Now, when all seems lost, you’ve come looking for the bond you believe was broken during the severing of the holy trident. You are wrong, however, for we never needed such magical objects to bond our souls. We are father and son, life after life. That will never change, no matter the time or place.”
Stunned, Axis felt like weeping at the old man’s feet. Tears began flowing from the corners of his eyes as he reached out his hand to touch the sage’s arm. “Ayn? Father? Is it really you?
“Yes, my son, though my name this life is Ryal. However, you may still call me Father, if you like.”
“Father!” Yelped Axis as he grabbed onto Ryal’s arms and tightly embraced him.
“Hush, my son, it will be alright. I’m here.”
Bawling out his soul’s anguish, Axis could barely take a breath. It had felt empty inside without Ayn and Srah, and he didn’t understand why he couldn’t seem to find them.
“Where am I, Father?” said Axis while pulling away so he could look into Ryal’s deep blue eyes. “Why can’t I find you in my own time? Where are we now? What planet is this?”
“Slow down, Son,” said Ryal as he wiped the tears from Axis’ face. “I will tell you all that I can, but… you may not like what I say.”
Taking a breath, Axis gulped down his fears and said, “Why? What is it? Am I in another dimension or something?”
“No, not quite,” the sage replied, sitting down on a red pillow located near the incense. He pat the pillow next to him, beckoning Axis who then sat without a word. “You are on the planet Avoraleen in the Dru-Ahm galaxy.”
“Dru-Ahm?!” sputtered Axis in disbelief.
Ryal put his hands on Axis’ shoulders in a firm, but calming way. “Yes, and it is a year far beyond your time. Unfortunately, I haven’t lived as Ayn for ages, though I do remember your soul. You are living here in my time too, reborn as my flesh-and-blood son, though you are traveling at the moment, which has probably allowed you to visit without creating a paradox. You’re getting better at time travel, my boy.”
Axis sat still, confused and unable to really take in the compliment.
“The good news,” Ryal continued, “is that the Sarax are flourishing, and have been for many eons, and life goes on as if nothing terrible had ever happened to Deius.”
Just then, Ryal stiffened, realizing he had said something he shouldn’t have.
“Deius is in trouble? What happened to it?” Axis questioned in a panic.
“Now, remember,” said Ryal as he uncomfortably shifted on his pillow, “time and space is always in flux, and there is always room for change.”
“Tell me what happened, Father!” Axis demanded, folding his arms.
Ryal gave a long sigh and rubbed his wrinkled forehead. “For this, we might need some tea. Let me make you my favorite white tea for relaxation.”
“No,” said Axis firmly. “I want to know what will happen to Deius in my time.”
Ryal looked at Axis with serious, sympathetic eyes. “Again, I must stress that time is never fixed, but… sometimes trajectories can be made from the pathways that seem irreversible when all surrounding elements point to a singular position.”
“Huh?” said Axis.
Ryal sighed, then said, “There was a woman, no, a creature… and her name was Osha. In your time, she was one of the oldest remaining Sarax on your planet. When all of my ancestors chose to leave Un-Ahm, she stayed behind, believing in the strength and wisdom of her beloved Ohrians. As years passed, her chosen people became technologically advanced, but they also led the way in the plasma poisoning of your galaxy. They even kidnapped and tortured Osha’s own children, and she slowly went mad with grief. She finally lost all hope during The Battle of Tirlen… and she...”
Axis waited a few moments, then interjected, “Go on. What happened?”
“She killed them all,” Ryal somberly replied.
“What?!” blurted Axis. “She’s going to destroy Ohr?!”
“No,” said Ryal with solemn eyes, “she’s going to destroy your entire galaxy.”
Axis gulped hard, then stood up. He knew what he had to do, even if it was nearly impossible. “I can’t let that happen. I have to go back to my time and stop her… with or without Ayn.”
Ryal stood up and firmly held Axis’ hand. “I believe in you, my son. I always have, and I always will.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Turning to leave, Axis looked back once more at the aged, reincarnated version of Ayn and said, “Even if I fail, it’s good to know that we’ll still be together in the future… in this galaxy, at least.”
“Always, my boy,” said Ryal as he gestured with his hand in a fist against his heart.
Axis didn’t want to leave, but he knew he had no choice. His whole galaxy was in peril, and only he could save it.
Chapter 20: The Battle of Tirlen Beach
“Sterek?” whispered Zin nervously. “Are you there?”
“Affirmative,” Zin heard in his ear-buds. “Have you made it into the palace yet?”
Looking ahead at the armored guards by the private entrance of the palace, Zin quietly spoke into his wireless headset, “No, not yet. Raven has a plan though, and I think it’s working... maybe a little too well."
The guard wasn’t prepared for the buxom Sirini beauty in front of him. She smiled with her dazzling red lips and said, “Excuse me, I’m here to see Lady Miara. I’m an old friend, you see, and we have much to discuss.”
The guard, looking flustered, pressed the speaking-button on his helmet.
“Oh, no, you don’t have to authorize our meeting. It’s a secret meeting and not on the schedule. If you would be a doll and just contact Miara directly for me, I’m sure she’ll give you permission to let me in.”
“Uh…” he replied, “wait here one moment.” He then turned to speak to one of his superiors who then went to talk to Raven. She explained herself again, and the supervising guard made a call.
Zin was betting that Miara would be too curious about Raven’s visit to turn her away. She had known that Zin and Raven were secret lovers, though she never spoke of it to anyone. It was part of what made Zin want to trust Miara, even considering who her father was. He was hoping she’d want this visit to be confidential as well.
He was right. Miara came to the entrance herself, even reaching for Raven’s hand. Smiling wide, she exclaimed, “Raven, my dear friend! How good it is to see you. Please, come in!”
Raven smiled and followed Miara inside.
“We’re in,” said Zin behind the bushes. “Well, technically, only Raven is. But I’m sure she’ll get me in soon.”
Sterek snickered from the console inside the cloaked Tirleni ship nearby.
“I heard that,” said Zin.
“K
eep focused on your mission,” said Sterek.
“I am! I just… I really hope Miara takes pity on us and doesn’t use this chance to throw Raven in jail.”
“You like women fighting over you, Lod Zin,” said Sterek.
“No, I do not,” Zin protested as he tried to make out where the two women went inside the palace.
“Here,” said Fola as she handed Zin a pair of magnifying goggles. She had been assigned the job of helping Zin get inside the radio control tower, which was located on the roof of the palace. The plan was to sneak inside and take down the controls over the giant drone creatures before Vax released them on the Tirleni, or anyone else ever again. However, getting in wouldn’t be easy, and Fola was there to insure Zin made it through, even if the guards found them out.
Putting on the goggles, Zin couldn’t see a thing, except redness.
“Why is everything red?” he asked Fola.
“It’s heat-vision. Don’t worry, the goggles will alert you when it detects someone you’re looking for. Raven’s information is stored already, so as soon as you see her, it will know… even if she’s behind a wall.”
“Heat vision? How… archaic. Why not use plasma-tech?”
“Because these goggles are from the Tirleni ship,” replied Fola, annoyed, “and the Tirleni don’t use plasma-manipulated devices. With all due respect, Your Majesty, stop complaining and just look for her.”
“Alright,” he said as he did his best to find Raven somewhere in the palace. “Wait, I see her… and Miara. They look like they’re talking. I really hope they’re not fighting.” Taking off the goggles, he squinted his eyes and said, “Here, you wear them. They’re killing my eyes.”
Fola took the goggles and put them on. Zin thought she looked funny, but he didn’t want to offend her; she seemed like a woman easily angered.
“Zin?!” said Raven through his ear-com. “I’m with Lady Miara, and we’re in the downstairs passageway that leads to the back gardens. Can you sneak past the guards and meet us? Miara is willing to help us inside, if you can get here.”
“I can get there, Raven… with Fola’s help anyway. Stay where you are. I’m coming!”
He looked at Fola who nodded back at him. “Sterek,” said Fola, “did you copy that?”
“Loud and clear, Sis,” said Sterek in their ear-coms. “I’m going to see if I can unlock the backdoor garden entrance. Just distract the guards.”
“How many are there?” asked Fola as she got her plasma-gun ready.
“There are about ten,” said Sterek. “Alright, the door is unlocked now. That was easy. You really ought to have your security system looked at, Lod Zin.”
“Ha!” Zin laughed. “When this is over, Sterek, and I have my kingdom back, you can be in charge of security.”
“No thanks, Your Majesty. I like working for The Shiva.”
Zin quietly snickered as Fola stood up with her gun at the ready. “Stay here,” she ordered him. “When I say it’s safe, meet me at the back entrance in the gardens.”
Zin nodded, though he felt odd about taking orders from a Tah general other than Pei. Obeying her, nonetheless, he watched Fola run off through the long, tall trees and blue Ko flower bushes that surrounded the palace. Looking down, he noticed she had left him the goggles. They hurt his night-sensitive eyes, but he put them on anyway. He wanted to be able to see what was happening.
Zin couldn’t make out where Fola had gone exactly, but he heard her heavy breathing, then the grunts that came from the guards that she’d undoubtedly knocked out before they could warn anyone of her trespassing.
“I’m in,” she announced on the com-link. “It’s safe for you now, Your Majesty.”
At that, Zin got up and ran toward the garden entrance. When he arrived, he saw the guards in their silver-colored armor, all lying on the ground in disjointed positions. Zin grimaced and said, “General Fola, you are most impressive indeed.”
“Thanks,” she said as she aimed her gun and walked forward in front of Zin, leading the way through the crystalline door.
In the long hallway, they saw Miara and Raven who were both looking around nervously. Miara was in a long, light-blue dress with her hair up in diamond-encrusted jewels. Zin could tell she had been busy with guests or getting ready to go out somewhere fancy. He just hoped she wouldn’t mind dropping her plans to help them.
“I’m so glad you’re safe!” said Miara as she grabbed Zin’s left arm, pulling him to her. Shifting her weight, Raven pursed her lips and looked away.
After giving him a tight hug, Miara looked into his eyes with her own welled-up with tears. “I really thought you might have been killed. My father just doesn’t understand the men working for him and how dangerous they are.”
“Oh, Miara…” sighed Zin. “I’ve tried to convince you before about your father. He knows full well about the men working for him because he’s the one in charge of it all. I saw it… The Dome. They took me in the middle of the night and brought me to where my mother and Raven were already held against their will. I swear to you, Miara, I wouldn’t lie about this. Your father is the mastermind behind my father’s death and all this madness!”
Miara bit her lip and nodded.
“We don’t have time for this, Your Majesty,” said Fola, looking around nervously. “I didn’t kill those guards. King Ayn doesn’t approve killing without necessity, so they’ll wake up soon. We need to get to the radio tower.”
“It’s on the roof,” said Miara. “I’ll lead you to it.”
“We need to take the secret royal passageways,” said Zin. “Do you know where they are?”
“Yes, I do,” said Miara as they began briskly walking through the hall, “I’ve been using them as of late to spy on my father. I have heard him on calls… and even though I don’t want to believe you, Zin, I do accept that you wouldn’t lie. He’s clearly behind a lot of the terrible things happening. I heard him talking to someone about The Tirleni and how he wants them all destroyed. I fear he’s going to use the Drones on them, possibly this very moment.”
“I hope we’re not too late!” said Zin as they ran through the sliding door to the royal passageways, using Miara’s personal code to get in. Running up the giant, circular staircase made of crystal, they came to Zin’s old room. He listened at the door and nodded. He then slowly pushed open the door. “It’s safe, I think,” he said as he motioned for everyone to follow him inside.
Fola looked around the room with its satin bed and ornately designed walls, and said, “You have it pretty good, Lod Zin.”
“Yeah…” said Zin, “when I’m not being kidnapped or hunted.”
“Is there a way to the roof from here?” asked Miara. “I’ve only ever taken the elevator, but I’m sure it’s being watched. The Ohrian mob has taken over the army. It’s a nightmare. They’re even inside the palace now.”
“Great,” said Zin. Opening up the large double windows to his room, he added, “I guess we’ll just have to climb.
“What?!” Miara gasped. Looking out the window, she shook her head. “I think I’ll stay here and make sure no one comes.”
Zin smirked and said, “I used to climb up this way to get to the tower up on the roof… when I was a kid and always running away from my father.”
Feeling a little self-conscious after talking about his wayward youth, he rolled up the sleeves of his silky green shirt and pushed open the window. He then looked up and said, “Alright, Sterek, can you hear me? I’m heading up to the tower.”
“Yeah, I hear you,” replied Sterek through the com-link. “I have you on visual as well. Don’t fall, Your Majesty.”
“Very funny,” said Zin as he reached for the top of the window.
“Please, be careful,” said Raven as she quickly gave Zin a kiss on the cheek.
He smiled at her with a wink, then jumped through the window and onto the window’s ledge.
Fola was impressed with how agile the young Ohrian king was as she watched him c
limb upwards toward the roof.
Using only his hands and feet, Zin pulled himself along the edges of the crystalline building. It was like playing an old instrument for him, and it brought back memories, mostly involving his parents scolding him. He had always been angry with his overly stern father, and blamed him for all the times Zin felt like a fish out of water in his own home. However, while climbing and feeling the ocean’s wind on his face, he began to feel sentimental about his upbringing, and his father. I should have forgiven him before he died, thought Zin as he climbed. I miss him, even his lectures.
Caught in the memories of his childhood, Zin forgot about the jagged part at the top where he was supposed to dismount onto the roof. In a slight miscalculation of where his right hand should go, he slipped a little and dangled. Miara, unable to hold in her fear, screamed at the sight.
“Shh!” said Fola. “The guards probably heard that.”
“But he’s going to fall!” Miara loudly whispered.
“No, I’ve got him,” said Fola as she leapt out the window. She didn’t particularly like heights, but she wasn’t going to let the king of Ohr plummet to his death - not when they were so near to victory.
Using her Tah’s utility belt, she shot her rope-gun at the jagged corner of the crystalline roof. She pushed a button on the gun and it pulled her up with lightning speed. Jumping to the top in feline precision, she then pulled Zin up to the top. Falling a little into her bosom, he laughed and smirked. She shook her head and said, “Keep dreaming, kid.”
“Are you both alright?” asked Sterek in their ear-buds.
“Yes, we’re fine,” said Fola.
“Wow…” said Zin as he looked at the tall, shining tower on top the roof. It had crystal spires all along its sides and glowed in the sun. “They’ve really built it up since I was a kid.”
Walking toward the tower, he sensed there was a strong plasmic vibration surrounding the entrance. “Wait,” said Zin. “This is new.” The sound of the vibration was pounding his ears, and the feel of it was hurting his teeth. “Ugh. Vax must have had this installed recently. I can’t get through this.”