«Remarkable!» said the black Guardian, admiring so much power, as he watched his old smoking tattoo.
Mendicar, Greymar, and the other warriors of Arkass, fearing that Patrik might hurt him, began to run toward their master, but something happened. A barrier, like a dome of energy, materialized leaving them isolated from the rest of the room.
Two red Falaian Guardians appeared from nowhere pointing straight at the gohtarma, who was thrown onto the floor.
Patrik reached one of them, blocking the deadly blow that was destined for the arkassian lord and with a flash of light he wounded the other man next to him. The two retreated, looked at each other and then disappeared. Evidently the surprise effect had failed.
Patrik looked around again before putting away the siel.
«Help me get up, boy» the gohtarma told him, holding out his hand. Then he touched his shoulder and saw that the little green being that fed him was no longer there.
He turned, and saw that the little girl caressed it with a smile. Then the baby stared at him for a moment.
«Darkonar, the only good thing Arkassians have are the Zaddak's diamonds».
«Akelio...» the black Guardian whispered, feeling an old fear.
The force field disappeared at that moment.
*
The blood from Patrik's hands didn’t come off easily and he kept rubbing them hard. The Arkassians had left them all together in a room and evidently now they were reunited, discussing what to do.
They were all there around him, without knowing what to say.
«I wanted to apologize» Alannah told him, looking down.
«Sorry? And why?» said Patrik.
«I let Kaira run away and put her in danger. You're right, she must stay with you».
«Yeah, I should hit you for this».
The princess looked at him suddenly with bright eyes.
«But I don’t think it was up to you. In fact, I think this thing saved my life tonight» and so saying he smiled at her and winked, pulling her back out of the hell of her guilt.
«That girl is here for a reason, but I'm not sure which one. I'm not sure about anything» he said, then threw the umpteenth piece of red-stained fabric to the ground.
Kaira didn’t seem to be listening, as she drew with her finger on the glass of moisture that faced outward.
«You've been smart before» Kalberham told him. «Very brave. You are a respectable Guardian. It reminds me of another insane Terrestrial. What do you think, Tadiero?»
«Ahahahah ... you are clearly his son. Knowing David, in a situation like this he would have taken a laser rifle from a soldier's hands, sowing panic».
«Really?!» Marco said, laughing.
«Are you kidding?!» Tadiero went on. «He saved my life the night he smashed a bottle of gurla on the head of that gorilla on the planet Markan. He threw it on the table, on his ass and then we cut and ran. If he had taken us, now we would be manure for his smuggled lizards».
Patrik smiled looking at Kalberham. In his wisdom as Guardian of the Code, the Solaryan had told him about his father, reminding him not to lose sight of the goal, that the result of what you get is the sum of the courage that you demonstrate every step of the way.
Patrik understood with a glance what he meant by that; his father was a prisoner in one of the most dangerous places in the galaxy and had ended up there to help someone. He would not stop at anything if it were up to him to save his son.
After about ten minutes Lokkar entered the room.
«They are ready to receive you».
The room was the same, but the black Guardians were standing next to the gohtarma, waiting for the arrival of the Terrestrial boy.
When they were near the throne, the others stopped. Patrik continued to walk alone.
«The child» said the lord of Arkass, pointing to her.
Patrik nodded a "yes" and Alannah let her climb down out of her arms, so that Kaira could reach him.
She ran and took the hand of her hero.
«Who is she?» asked the gohtarma.
The green creature got down again from him to be stroked, something very unusual.
«I don’t know. When the Kentauros took me with them, I met a woman named Evanah who entrusted her to me. She said that the girl was going to take me on this trip. Sometimes she says things that I don’t understand and does things that I can’t explain, but I think it’s useless. Even Poligon Dhaal sometimes gropes in the dark. I limit myself to loving her»
Kaira smiled at him.
The gohtarma sighed thoughtfully. He thought of Poligon Dhaal. He had underestimated him when he had decided to send the boy to him. Now he was sure of it. He knew that his old friend of Prisma had foreseen something like this. However, the girl troubled him, he felt something unusual in her presence.
«Sir, I think it's risky to let the boy go. The obvious advantage of his siel could mean a lot to us» said Mendicar as a counselor.
«Patrik has not made any decisions yet» interrupted Kalberham, who was far from the group.
«Solaryan, you're not part of the discussion!» Greymar said contemptuously.
«In conclusion! At least listen to what he has to say!» Alannah snapped suddenly, very nervous about the situation.
«The solaryan scullery maid must not open her mouth» said one of the Guardians present, originally from the planet Dikali.
Patrik extended Armintala's siel, indicating him.
«It happens that the scullery maid in question is the princess of the planet Solyar, daughter of my friend King Karmora. You would do well not to lack respect if you don’t want to become fertilizer for Markan's lizards».
Alannah looked at him in amazement with a slight smile.
Kalberham continued to speak.
«The Terrestrial boy doesn’t wear any tunic because he is not arrayed. Which means that he still doesn’t know whether he will force the Code or not. One thing is certain, however, the attack you just witnessed tells us that we need him. All of us. Those who are returning feed on the hatred that has been with us for too long».
«And you boy, what do you have to say?» asked the gohtarma, questioning him as a judge who, wanting to hear both parties, demands to understand the version of the accused.
«I don’t know, sir. I have no idea why the Code chose me and I'm trying to figure out what the right thing to do is. However my mind is not clear, because of my father being a prisoner on Vortix. For this reason I humbly ask you to grant me Armintala's armor. I'm willing to do anything to get it».
«There are conditions» answered the gohtarma, leaving his acolytes speechless.
«What?» he answered quickly.
«Sir, please consider well that...» but a gesture from the Lord of Arkass dumbfounded Mendicar and his objection.
«Greymar and Lokkar will come with you, I need you to come back in one piece. The child and your Earthly friend will remain here as a guarantee. Maliki will take care of them».
Lokkar's sister nodded. Marco didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
«On your return you will stay here with the child and you will do what I ask of you, or you will die. You will both die».
Patrik turned to his friends.
Marco raised his thumb to give him the OK and Kalberham just sighed. After all they didn’t have much choice. Alannah was terrified at the thought of the lonely girl on Arkass.
«What are you saying, baby? Do you wait for me here?» he asked as she continued playing with her new green boyfriend.
«All right. I know you'll come and get me back». Kaira winked at him, she had discovered that she liked it.
«I need your solemn promise that both Marco and Kaira will not be harmed in my absence».
«And so it shall be. You will leave immediately».
«Another thing» Patrik said quickly.
The gohtarma frowned, staring into the boy's eyes.
«General Greymar is with us, but it’s my life, my risk and my mission. T
he decisions are up to me».
«The general has only the task of bringing you back here. Alive. Anything that goes beyond this is fine for me. You can dispose of his ship and its crew as you see fit».
Greymar wanted to scream all his hatred, but just lowered his head. To contradict meant to die. His time would come soon.
*
Everything was ready at the dock of the general's ship.
Tadiero hugged Marco.
«Take a look at the Olympia in my absence and prepare it for immediate takeoff, you never know».
«Roger, captain. I won’t let you down» he replied with a military salute.
The Portiryan understood that sign and answered, David had taught him. He got on the ship followed by Kalberham. Even the latter had greeted him promising to come and get him back. He still had to pay dearly for calling him"Hello Kitty".
Patrik came up.
«So, will you resist the clutches of the sexiest woman in the galaxy?»
«Well, I'll try» Marco answered, laughing.
«Don’t do something stupid, eh?! How do I explain to your mother that you’re marrying an alien?»
«Exactly how I will explain it to yours?».
The two laughed out loud.
Then Marco turned round. «Anyway, I don’t think I'm taking any risks. Look at her, she looks at me like a cockroach in her underwear drawer».
«My friend. I don’t think the girl is wearing underwear!» replied Patrik.
«Jones! What are you saying?!». Marco had opened a world of opportunities to think about.
«So what are you talking about?» Alannah said suddenly, from behind with Kaira in her arms.
«No, nothing» the two answered in chorus.
Patrik took the baby in his arms and kissed her and handed her to his friend. Then, in the company of the princess, he headed for the arkassian ship.
«Look, I realized you were talking about Maliki, you two» she said mischievously.
«I think Marco doesn’t mind staying with her after all». Patrik pretended he knew nothing.
«Of course she is very beautiful, maybe it would have pleased you too».
«Yes, why not...» Patrik replied, leaving her in stone.
Alannah fell into a grave silence.
«On second thoughts, even if she's very beautiful, there's something about that girl that I really don’t like» he added, playing with her like a cat with a mouse.
«What?!».
Alannah had her heart in her throat. He needed to hold on to the stupid Earthman's next answer like a beached shipwreck.
«Well, she doesn’t have your eyes!»
Her tail went around her waist and her breath stopped. Her mouth was dry and she didn’t know what to say. Then she did the first thing that came to mind: she took out two of her daggers and looked at him menacingly.
«Patrik Jones! Don’t dare…».
«Don’t you dare, what?» he stopped her, tightening his grip her wrists. «For what absurd reason is it always so difficult to talk with you?!»
Now he was really looking at her and this disturbed her.
«Quiet princess, I will not steal your bandelai».
With the bitter smile of those who admit defeat, he left her and disappeared towards the bridge.
She remained alone and felt stupid.
But how had it occurred to her to pull out the daggers? Patrik had told her something very sweet and as usual, she had frightened him.
She looked at her arm and saw the bandelai.
If only she could, she would use the knives to tattoo it on Patrik Jones's arm.
33
Kalberham and Patrik managed to communicate with Poligon Dhaal and the Guardians of the solaryan alliance. Many of them were surprised at how things had evolved.
Being accompanied by the black general himself was something no one could have imagined.
Old Poligon was not enthusiastic about the agreement, but now it was done. He would have thought of it in due course. They had to save David now. He called Magellan in a hurry and set out to get to Liliah. Without saying anything, he would arrive on Arkass with the help of the governor. He felt he had to be there, since the fate of the galaxy would soon have its turn.
*
The food was bad on board. Unfortunately, Patrik had left the machinery of Napoleon with Marco. After all he owed it to him.
Alannah took care of Billo and spent a lot of time with Jaco. She hoped to instruct him with the equation Alannah equals happiness for his master, but in a very hidden way. She felt arkassian eyes on her as she took the dog for a walk in the corridors of the ship, but orders were clear and nobody dared to say anything.
Both Tadiero and Patrik were waiting with trepidation for the forbidden planet to appear on the screens. They had so much hoped to be able to get on Vortix now that every minute seemed essential to save the two prisoners. They had first to understand if David and Ottolivi were still alive.
When Darnar called everyone on the bridge, the two looked at each other and snapped to attention without saying anything.
«We are at a distance of communication with the queen of the creepers. They live underground and you need to be close to the planet to talk to them. Get ready» said Greymar without getting up from the command chair.
On the monitor appeared a being with a metal mask that covered only half its face, leaving the lower part of the nose and mouth free. Thanks to three curved bars above the nape, the mask could be threaded like a helmet. Two braids of hair descended in the two spaces between the bars. The Vortian's eyes were sunken, with little pupils as white as icy snow. He wore a kind of tight jumpsuit with strange decorations, and sharp spikes on his shoulders. Only the hands were visible, callused and with stubby fingers.
«What does General Greymar want?» he asked immediately, without paying any attention to the pleasantries.
«There is a request».
The Arkassian stood up next to Patrik to give him the floor. He didn’t waste time and started talking.
«Greetings, sir. My name is Patrik Jones of the planet Earth, Guardian of the Code and...».
«I know who you are, boy. Keep talking».
He really hadn’t expected that. Evidently, what happened in Kentaura had really gone round the galactic circle. Now that he thought about it, he must have seen a guy dressed like him on one of Spindorf's platforms.
He tried not to get caught off guard and continued to have a firm tone. In the many films he had seen when it came to the exchange of a hostage, this was a fundamental thing.
«We know you have two prisoners with you. Colonel David Jones and a member of his crew, Ottolivi. We would like to propose an exchange to the queen».
«Everything that falls on Vortix remains on Vortix» the creeper said.
«What we offer is very precious. This is the armor of the first Guardian, Armintala».
There was a pause and then the communication closed.
«They cut us off, sir» said the soldier sitting on the bridge, turning to Darnar.
«What does it mean?! Why did they shut me off?»
Patrik was terrified of having said something wrong.
«Calm Terran. They do this. Now they are talking about it» Lokkar reassured him.
«The boy is right» Darnar said unexpectedly, laughing it up. «Why should they think about it so much? The armor is so precious that exchanging it for a Portiryan and a Terran pig is more than beneficial».
The soldiers on the bridge laughed, and Patrik went for him without thinking twice. That bastard would choke back on his words. Kalberham's hand blocked him by grabbing one of his wrists. A quarrel now inside the ship was the last thing they needed.
«What's up Earthman? Do you have anything to tell me?» the deputy Arkassian captain teased.
Patrik stared at him, so that the promise would be solemn.
«Darnar» he said, smiling and very calmly. «When I come back from the gohtarma he will have some things to ask of me.
If the Vortians today will not give me my father, know that your head will be on the negotiating table. I don’t think it will be difficult to get it, in my opinion the lord of Arkass doesn’t even know your name. So start praying, because your dirty arkassian life depends on the Terrestrial pig».
Darnar pulled the weapon from the holster of his uniform, but a blow from the siel of Lokkar disarmed him, wounding his hand.
«Good! It seems that our guest has a fierce supporter among us» said General Greymar, seated in his chair and somewhat amused by the show that was unfolding before him.
«I execute the gohtarma’s orders. Patrik Jones has to come back alive» said Lokkar, somewhat annoyed by the comment.
The general nodded his head, with the expression of one who didn’t buy the answer. «Darnar, go and medicate. You're dirtying the floor with blood» he said, turning to his subordinate.
Kalberham breathed a sigh of relief. It was fine after all. He knew that this forced cohabitation would have created something like this sooner or later.
The truce had lasted too long.
Then suddenly the communication opened and after a couple of seconds there appeared the queen of Vortix on the central monitor.
«Kalberham ... are you there too?!» asked her deep and persuasive voice as it spread across the bridge.
Patrik looked at his teacher in amazement.
The Solaryan looked down and smiled. «Hi Acalidi. You look good. I'm only here as a chaperone».
The queen slightly moved her long, straight, black hair that fell on her shoulders, pale as her tapered face. The round, white pupils lit up the black outline of her eyes, an irregular outline, as if the mascara had dripped down after crying. She was sitting with her legs side by side, like a siren, on a large bed with a huge crescent-shaped back.
Three little girls, with the same hair and dressed in baggy and veiled clothes just like her, stroked strange furry animals with dark eyes.
«You have a lot of courage to let me see you again after so many years. I cursed you for a long time».
«We have a mission of vital importance. The whole galaxy is in danger. If your informants are smart enough, you know that strong changes are under way».
Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe Page 31