by David Roman
“Why?”
“Nothing,” Na’ar said, straightening himself. “It’s of no importance now. We’re about to land, so let’s get ready.”
*
Zeth stood on the harbor, impatiently awaiting the mighty ship to open its gate. He hadn’t slept all day, only thinking about his failure to detain his old opponent, running around, and shifting his anger on any poor soul that’d dare cross his path. And now this thing with the Order… He needed Damien and his army for his plans, thus he was willing to do whatever was necessary to quell the Urtan situation. That seemed to be okay, for now. As for his blood-sworn rival…
Oryon’s alive, he thought. His mind went back to the battle on Zazaban. How come he didn’t die? No one must know what happened in that tunnel…
The hinges hissed, and the ramp began to lower before Zeth’s feet. Na’ar descended, taking off his gloves. His apprentice, Marz, was walking beside.
“Sage Na’ar,” Zeth began. “What were those reports from your shuttle? Where’s Duell?”
Na’ar stopped and glanced over at that morbid helmet.
Marz simply looked down, not daring to answer in his master’s place.
“You’ve lost the prisoner, haven’t you?” Zeth raised his voice. “That’s unacceptable!”
“Oryon’s students,” Na’ar muttered. “They managed to sneak onto the Nomad.”
“How’s that possible?” Zeth growled.
“They have now matured into grown men.” Na’ar clutched his gloves in his fist. “As of now, Oryon’s group is more dangerous than ever.”
“But Damien reported them on Corsair, parsecs away!”
“It was them for sure,” Marz added. “The big guy and the blonde—”
“I don’t remember talking to you, whelp!” Zeth shouted at the young man.
Marz bit his lip but then realized his place and kept quiet.
Zeth turned to Na’ar. “Tex! That’s incompetent of you!”
“I’m not the one who let Oryon escape!” Na’ar retorted.
There was a long moment as the two generals stared at each other in silence.
“The swords?” Zeth then asked.
“Gone.”
Zeth growled once more and then asked the question that was on his mind the entire time, “Was Oryon with them?”
“No, but Senator Gaia was.”
“What? First she meddles in the affairs of Urtan, and now she’s actually aiding them? I still can’t understand her actions. This doesn’t make sense!”
“I tried to discover her true identity,” Na’ar said as they began to walk down the airbase, “and discover it, I did. Gaia Ferra was in fact born ‘Gaia Pestechinno.’”
“But of course! Jamon’s daughter! Vermont, you naïve fool.” Zeth clenched his fists, somewhat mad at the fact he were not the one to solve this puzzle.
“That makes me wonder, Sage Zeth, how many conspirators are currently serving on this… Council?”
“Vermont,” Zeth fussed. “They have blinded him! Every day I have to worry about the policies he makes with his politicians, half of whom are supporters of the Revolution.” Zeth veered back into his thoughts, to the times before the “peace,” before the measly politics. Ah, yes, those were the times… There was no one to contradict me—no one to stand in my way, no wasting time, no Vermont, no Na’ar, nor Oryon… “What of the escapees?” he asked, awaking from his nostalgia. “What was their destination?”
“Urtan,” Na’ar replied.
“Urtan? But it’s about to be demolished!”
“That is what the homing device aboard their ship indicated.”
“What are they trying to do?” Zeth muttered. “Those fools. Why, Cosmos himself is headed for that planet! The Sons of Liberty shall be no more.”
“Zeth, there was another man with them.”
“The Dirsalian?”
“No, a man unlike anyone I’ve ever seen—a hominid resembling us more than any other race.”
“What? Maybe there’s another world that Oryon hid from us?”
“Perhaps,” Na’ar replied. “But—”
“Where is Oryon? That’s what I want to know!”
Na’ar’s lips formed a thin line. He didn’t like to be interrupted. Thus he said, “I thought you could answer me that question.”
Zeth grumbled something but then turned around and began walking away.
“I forgot to mention the strange thing, Zeth,” Na’ar called to his back.
Zeth whirled and brusquely asked, “What?”
“That man was blessed. He has powers—powers like us.”
CHAPTER X
Arrival at Urtan
Vincent opened his eyes to see the walls of the uncomfortable compartment. He awoke suddenly, as if someone flicked a switch in his head. His headache was gone, and he had no recollection of any horrible dreams.
Before he knew it, the small door opened.
Vincent pushed himself out and collapsed on the couch. “Another day,” he mumbled, wondering just what this new day would bring.
The deck was vacant, for the rest of the group had already gathered in the cockpit. He got up, yawned, stretched, and proceeded up the ramp.
Spaide was at the helm, Exander beside, with Duell, Gaia and the big guy behind.
“Feeling better?” Duell asked.
“Yes,” Vincent replied, strangely looking at the crew that sat staring at the void.
“We’re ’bout to exit hyperspace,” Spaide clarified. “So you might want to hold on. Damocles, help him out.”
Damocles opened his mouth to fuss but then realized he was the only one unrestrained. He curled his lip, got up, and escorted Vincent to the wall next to the robot. “Stand straight,” he said.
Vincent complied, and the big guy extended a belt, suspending him in place.
“Almost there,” Spaide cautioned.
Damocles jumped back in his seat and dug his nails into the chair’s arms.
“Duell,” Vincent called out.
The Xenian turned. “Yes?”
“I was just wondering, if there’s technology that’s capable of bending space and traveling through wormholes, wouldn’t time travel be possible as well?”
Duell and Gaia exchanged startled looks—the human was far more advanced than they’d assumed. Maybe not a caveman after all.
“That’s what we thought at first too,” Duell answered. “When we’re in hyperspace, as we are at this precise moment, time almost freezes in the outside world. So it takes us few hours to conquer the distance that’d take years if traveling at regular light-speed.”
“So we’re just going from one point to another through an artificial black hole?”
“I wouldn’t classify it as a ‘black hole,’ per se, but yes. We cannot yet travel in time, but we can certainly manipulate it to journey from one place to another.”
Vincent nodded and stared away.
Duell squinted. “Why do you ask?”
“I don’t know, really. Curiosity, I guess.” Maybe Duell was right about his mind expanding, for he certainly had a sudden zeal to learn, to know, to question.
“Everyone hold on,” Spaide said as the ship began to halt.
There was a sudden jerk, the entire sky froze, and the multi-colored vortex began taking shape of stars and planets.
As the turbulence stopped, Vincent took off the strap and approached the back row. He leaned over the seats and stared at the scene.
Far in the east, two suns—the smaller orbiting the larger—illuminated the world before them. The planet was cloudless, the size of Earth, covered in oceans and having a few dominantly-green continents. Two moons, each half the size of ours, floated alongside the planet.
“So much water,” Vincent commented.
“Nearly ninety percent of the surface,” Gaia explained. “Urtans are not like us. They’re a reptilian race that prefers a wet environment.” She threw Spaide a sharp glance and added, “But they’re people,
just like you and me.” She shifted back to the planet. “People with feelings.”
“What’s the population?” Vincent asked, noticing the insignificant landmass.
“A little over a billion…” she said and then added glumly, “But now, perhaps far less.”
As they got closer to the surface, Vincent noticed hundreds of vessels departing and blasting off in different directions. “Everyone seems to be leaving, yet we’re headed straight for it.”
“The cowardly rich who opposed the resistance and cowered before the Order. They’re taking the advantage of the moment and escaping while millions of their people remain to be slaughtered.”
“If everything went well, Galadan must already be back,” Duell asserted, not a bit of tension in his voice.
Gaia nodded in agreement and remained quiet.
Silence absorbed them. The sight of all the fleeing ships didn’t make it easier. The twins and Spaide wanted to turn away from this godforsaken place that was ready to meet its doom, but Gaia’s persistence and Duell’s command forbade them from making any comments. Vincent, on the other hand, gave up caring where they were going to take him, finally coping with the fact that he was lost.
“At least it’s a beautiful place to die in,” he said.
“Ha!” The big guy smiled. “He’s even beginning to think like one of us!”
“Shut up.” Exander turned to his brother with a frown. He still seemed to have hostility towards Vincent, especially when he was regarded to as “one of us.”
“Okay, we’re enterin’ the atmosphere,” Spaide said, switching levers. “Dagoneth, air check.”
“Air check?” Gaia raised her voice before the droid could respond. “Don’t worry—it’s much cleaner than that of Dirasali.”
“What? You’ve never even—” Spaide opened his mouth in contention, but a quick glance from Duell made him change his mind. “Hold on,” he grunted, turning back to the controls.
“Wait!” Vincent managed to shout out as he fell on the floor behind the seats.
Spaide cackled. “Now you’ll learn not to unfasten your belt till you have the captain’s permission!”
*
They were over the planet. Landscapes of spectacular beauty appeared before their eyes: pastures dotted with grazing animals stretching for miles and disappearing into the horizon composed of snowy mountains; rivers conjoined with hundreds of brooks, streaming through the verdant ravines and turning into high waterfalls before tumbling into crystal-clear lakes, their vapor crafting rainbows; and small hamlets scattered throughout, their buildings made of white limestone glistening like diamonds in the grass. Long highway systems connected the towns and stretched in the direction of the huge city in the distance.
“The Royal City of Urtar-Ban,” Gaia announced, pointing at the metropolis.
“Amazing…” Vincent awed.
Spaide gradually lowered the Serpent, heading for the city. The housings became denser and green-skinned humanoids were visible in the cobblestoned streets.
Most of the buildings were less than ten stories high, but each was uniquely designed: some were round domes with sculpted frieze boards, entablatures, and skillfully designed series of colonnade; others were squared housings, some with flat rooftops and others with a hipped roof, topped with decorated gables. There were also towers with lancet windows, angled buttresses and turret-like pinnacles, their tall spires extending far above the rest of the city.
Gardens covered most the roofs and the balconies, their branches hanging over the streets and arching from one building to another, providing shade in the alleys from the bright suns.
“It doesn’t look like a planet in chaos,” Spaide commented.
“Because the Order didn’t have time to spill their poison on this world,” Gaia replied. “The Urtans rose up just in time before it was too late.”
Small jets loosely patrolled the sky, directing the escaping majority. As the Serpent reached closer, one of the jets headed in their direction.
“Unidentified vessel,” the pilot announced, “what is your clearance code?”
“Hominids approaching,” Spaide sputtered.
“Spaide!” Gaia reached over and hit the Dirsalian in the shoulder. “59454-DBS,” she said into the transmitter.
There was a second of silence.
“Permission to land is granted,” the pilot said. “Welcome back to Urtan, Senator.”
“Thank you,” she said and then to Spaide, “Do you have to be an idiot all the time?”
Spaide smiled. “Helps to pass the time.”
The Dirsalian landed the ship in a prairie amidst the woods on the outskirts of the city.
Gaia quickly unsnapped her belt and headed for the ramp.
“Remember”—Duell stopped Exander—“no witty remarks. Let me do all the talking.” He then turned to the Dirsalian. “Spaide, that goes for you too.”
As Vincent set his foot outside, the cleanest air he’d ever respired filled his lungs. He took a deep breath, enjoying the untainted atmosphere. After the poisonous air of Heradonn, this was that of paradise.
A party of humanoid creatures awaited them. They were slender and very tall, most towering over Damocles. Their skin was green of various shades and scaly in certain parts. They had strong chins, sunken cheeks with prominent cheekbones, flat noses, slightly protruding brows, holes instead of ears, and deep-set green eyes. Their bodies were garbed in robes of effervescent colors, encircled at the waist by a thick belt.
The aliens bowed down.
The Urtan man in front of the group was clad in golden armor consisting of a cuirass that also covered his neck and the length of his arms, long chausses made of riveted links, and a coif on his head. In his hands, he carried a staff topped with a large gem.
“Galadan!” Gaia screamed, lunging forward and wrapping her arms around the golden Urtan.
“My beloved, Gaia,” he replied, smiling. “I’m so glad to see you’re alive and well, thanks to our new friends.” His voice was deep and slow—not like the companions expected.
“Galadan Dox,” Gaia said, beginning the introduction, “Sage Duell Kammasiarra, Exander and Damocles Krynne, Spaide Caroon, and Vincent Saturn.”
“Sage Duell.” Galadan shook Duell’s hand in reverence. “It’s an honor to finally meet you.”
“The honor’s all on this side, your majesty,” Duell replied.
“Ah, the famed twins.” Galadan took turns greeting everyone. “The Dirsalian captain Spaide, your reputation precedes you as well.”
Spaide simply winked back at the Urtan and then became abashed, realizing that that was an improper way to greet a King.
“Saturn?” Galadan puzzled as he approached Vincent. “That’s an odd name. What system are you from?”
“Uhhh… Earth,” Vincent briefed.
“Earth?” Galadan pondered. “I’m sorry to say, but I’ve never heard of it…” He turned around, looking at the rest of the party. “But where’s our guest of honor? Where’s Oryon?”
Duell and the twins traded looks.
“Oh, no…” Galadan nearly fell over. “Impossible… I… I don’t believe it. Is that…”
“We don’t have much time,” Duell said. “We must discuss the problem at hand.”
“But without Oryon—”
Duell looked up at the Urtan. “With all due respect, your highness, Oryon was like a father to us all, and I will not let his death be in vain. We’ve no time for weeping; we must continue his mission.”
Galadan had completely forgotten the kind of people the Tel Kasar were. Presently, he straightened himself and said, “Right. Please, follow me.”
Duell, Gaia, Galadan and his guards took the lead, followed by the twins. Vincent and Spaide were at the back of the group, observing the fantastic beauties of this new world.
The narrow streets were carefully paved in the most alluring white and grey stepping-stones, with fountains, benches, and statues lining up the clean side
walks. But despite that spirited view, various parts of the city were decimated. As they traveled further down, some of the buildings were scorched, showing signs of recent warfare.
The Urtans were a quiet people and behaved in the most impeccable manner, making way for the group and generously bowing. Most of them were hard at work, cleaning up the mess and restoring the magnificence of their city.
“Look!” Spaide pointed upward. A gigantic bird-like creature soared high above their heads, mounted by an Urtan warrior. The creature’s body was similar to that of a feline, aside from the pair of wings spreading from its sides and its long feathery tail which was similar to that of a peacock. Its head, supported by a rather long neck, was like that of a bird as well, having a huge beak and covered in feathers.
“I wanna ride one of those,” Spaide said.
Vincent couldn’t believe his eyes. “What is it?”
“Hurry!” Exander shouted at them for lagging.
“The Uruzu,” Galadan gave an answer to their curiosity as they caught up with the rest of the party. “A loyal creature which lives, fights, and dies alongside its master—one of the few remaining wonders of our world.”
The streets began to widen, and they entered a massive courtyard. Thousands of Urtan soldiers formed ranks throughout its length, preparing for the onslaught that was headed for their homeworld. Tanks, catapults, and numerous odd military machines were parked in the middle of this once-tranquil plaza, their cannons pointed into the sky. Small jets and more of the Uruzu creatures circled above.
They passed the multiple tents and the machines, heading for the end of the courtyard to a flight of stairs that led up to the castle.
The castle was a neoclassical structure with a round central dome that rose up for many stories and two long wings with flying buttresses, gargoyles, and numerous towers extending to the sides.
A portico led to the entrance with rows upon rows of three-story-high columns, their plinths elaborately sculpted, each portraying a different myth. After several dozen rows of pillars, they reached the gate: a colossal door made of gold and thoroughly engraved with symbols. Two Urtan guards equipped with axes bowed and opened the gateway before the party.