“There is nothing left for him here,” she replies, calmer than I expected, and I see the compassion in her eyes as she gazes past me at Noah. “I will take care of him. He’ll be okay.”
“Why does he mean so much to you?” I want her to tell me herself, about her son.
“That has nothing to do with you,” she mutters angrily, and immediately her aloof disdain is back. She brushes past me and takes her seat next to Noah, dismissing me.
“It’s not right,” I murmur as Dex appears at my side.
“The line between right and wrong was crossed when this began,” he entwines his fingers with mine but I pull my hand free and turn to face him.
“Your father would have killed Voka’s own son. Do you really expect me to believe that Noah will be safe on Venon? That Zonax will allow him to live happily ever after with Voka?”
“My father has given his word,” he murmurs, but his green eyes are fraught with concern. “We need him,” he sounds apologetic and I moan in frustration. Dex’s strategy includes Voka, obviously, and the easiest way to get to Voka is through Noah. He is her human weakness.
“You’re using him,” I chide. A part of me is disgusted that he would use the boy, but another part of me knows that it is a good plan. Zonax is dangerous – we will need all the help we can get and then some.
Eager for a distraction, I glance around the room, taking everything in. The floor is black, made of what looks like rubber. There are silver tables along both sides beside the windows, surrounded by the low black sofas. In the center, towards the back where we entered, is a circular counter, covered in computer screens and LED display panels. I watch all the blinking lights, fascinated.
“It’s our control center, this is where we contact our other ships and co-ordinate our attacks.”
The advanced technology suddenly loses its appeal and I turn away from it.
“Where is your father now?” I ask.
“He’s in his private quarters near the front of the ship. He can co-ordinate our take-off from there.” I get the feeling that Zonax is still not accepting of our presence and is avoiding this area, but that suits me perfectly. There must be hundreds of Venite soldiers on this ship but I haven’t seen a single one.
“Why did they not just kill us?” I ask. “Your father’s soldiers? They could have killed Jason and Darren, or even me by using their abilities, but they didn’t.”
“I told you, Rachel. Our people follow orders, they don’t act independently. Free will is not tolerated. They would not do anything without permission.”
“Humph, well it would seem to me that that philosophy didn’t work out too well for your father. They could have saved him and this all could have ended very differently. Maybe he’ll think twice about treating people like robots from now on.”
“I wouldn’t bank on it.”
At the front section of the room, directly opposite the control center, are eight rows of black chairs, all facing an enormous projection screen.
“Cinema?” I grin and Dex starts to relax, leading me forward.
‘Not quite,” he picks up a silver remote and presses a button. The screen lights up and I am treated to the sight of what looks like a National Geographic show. The vivid colors are in stark contrast to the black and silver that dominates most of the ship. Dex changes the channel and I watch as a step-by-step guide of a military tank building flashes across my face. The next channel is almost an exact replica of our History Channel. “Research,” he admits solemnly and it confirms my suspicions. They have tapped into our satellites and can watch everything they need to research our planet. Dex taps another button and I blink. “Oh,” my hand flies to my mouth and then I take a step forward. Jason’s face dominates the screen – the bulletin that we issued warning people to stay indoors.
“That was you?” he asks quietly and I nod, taking another step forward and lifting my hand to touch the giant screen.
“Hey, Rhodes, keep your hands to yourself, will ya?” I spin on the spot to find the real Jason standing at the same entrance we just came through. He has a familiar backpack slung over his shoulder. I stare at him, dumbfounded, and I hear Dex chuckle beside me.
“What are you doing here, Jason?” I ask as he saunters towards us, giving Voka a smoldering glance as he passes their table.
“I’m coming with you,” he replies, as though that should be obvious. “You didn’t really think I was going to let you go and win that Pulitzer all on your own, did you?”
“Jason,” I am absolutely serious, “you know this ship is never coming back?” That's not entirely true, but I cannot reveal Dex’s plan to anyone.
“So they say,” he shrugs, “but I haven’t got anything to stay for Rhodes, and if we do ever make it back, think of the stories we’ll have to tell.” I shake my head, the sides of my mouth twitching in an effort not to smile. He is insane. But I'm not alone and that is too wonderful to deny.
“In the meantime,” Jason lowers his voice conspiratorially, “I have a pretty good idea of how to pass the time,” he saunters over and takes a seat beside Voka oblivious to her darkening scowl.
“How on Earth did you get permission for him to come with us?” I whisper.
“I didn’t,” Dex explains, “Amarox did.”
“Amarox? Why? He doesn’t even like Jason.”
“Can’t stand him,” Dex acknowledges, “but we were each granted permission to bring one human with us. I have a feeling that my brother only did this for you.” Something glints in his eyes but it's gone before I can place it. As delighted as I am to have Jason here, I can’t help but wonder why on earth Amarox would do this for me.
“We better take a seat,” Dex indicates one of the tables on the opposite side of the room, but I shake my head, sitting down in front of the projector screen instead and tapping the seat beside me.
“Any preference?” he gestures at the screen where Jason’s broadcast is still playing.
“The nature channel,” I smile. Understanding dawns on his face and he nods, kissing the top of my head before taking the seat beside me and flicking the switch. I barely notice the sudden pressure force beneath us as the space-ship prepares for lift off, the movement is so graceful and so sleek. I ignore the knot in my stomach and focus on the beauty and the majestic footage in front of me, images of the place I have called home for twenty-four years.
Images of Earth.
Images of a place I may never see again.
About The Author
Melissa Delport graduated from the University of South Africa with a degree in English Literature and now lives with her husband and three children in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal.
For more information visit www.melissadelport.com
More books by this author:
The Legacy
The Legion
Rainfall
The story continues…
The gripping sequel to
The Traveler
COMING SOON
For more information visit
www.melissadelport.com
The Traveler Page 27