Chapter 19
It had been five days according to my calculated method of time measurement in the LOMMETRUS since Miles had left us to search for the NOBI named DRUCKER. I was beginning to worry that something had happened to Miles. My health had improved considerably and I was now prepared for a return to Earth. Sonya and I had taken greater care in explaining our planet’s language, culture, history and people to KATRAVIN. Of course, this could only be described from a perspective only known in our region of the planet but it gave her a confidence that she hadn’t felt only a few days prior.
KATRAVIN was becoming the intellectual equal to her brother in comprehension of life on Earth with each passing day. Sonya had taught KATRAVIN Spanish; or at least enough that these two were now able to carry on conversations. It was a language that I had absolutely no aptitude for and that went for all other languages that weren’t English. It occurred to me that I actually knew more of the alien words than the Spanish language that was native to my planet. Now; by the fifth day, I was beginning to feel like the alien from another planet---as the two would carry on regular conversations in this tongue. And it didn’t go unnoticed when both of them would look at me and say something in their special language.
Great---I thought with an annoyance attached. I remembered Miles being fluent in many languages and didn’t look forward to this ingredient of the trip back to Earth. Maybe I’ll be placed in the back of the transporter with the food and all the other unintelligent items coming back to Earth.
A knock on the door interrupted this thought. I looked at Sonya and then to KATRAVIN; who then gave an answer in her native tongue. KATRAVIN stood up and opened the door. It was Miles and two other individuals; one I presumed to be DRUCKER. The other one was an ALVERON guard or this is what I concluded from the uniform he was wearing. The sight of this ALVERON guard made me feel uneasy because the last one I had encountered sent a surge of excruciating pain through my arm with a blast from his firearm. Miles introduced DRUCKER but my eyes were still fixed on the ALVERON guard. This only lasted for seconds as DRUCKER walked closer to me with a look that could only be described as astonished. He then stared at Sonya. This made her appear uneasy as the individual introduced as DRUCKER said nothing but continued his gaze.
KATRAVIN materialized from behind the door and spoke something to DRUCKER who finally broke away his stare toward Sonya. The exchange of the alien language continued among KATRAVIN, DRUCKER, Miles and the ALVERON guard. A feeling of satisfaction came over me when I realized that my inability to understand the conversation was matched by Sonya. It was an insignificant sensation of relief but then my curiosity began to shift in intensity when this conversation went on for a great length of time without any explanation. I was feeling like an outsider again.
I broke the alien conversation with words of my own; “Excuse me---Miles. What is going on?”
“The doorway or actually a portal was developed by the ALVERONS for travel to other galaxies on from this planet. It is located at the CHERKOT facility and according to DRUCKER---fully functional for use to Earth.”
Miles explained that this portal technology was discovered by DRUCKER in a conversation he accidentally overheard among officials. The ALVERONS were unaware he stood by; listening while explicit design details and operation sequences were being discussed. DRUCKER was an engineer in knowledge through years of labor at CHERKOT but not recognized by the ALVERONS as one. This understanding of the portal came only from the practical experience of working in various roles at the facility. He was not unique in this ability as the ALVERONS underestimated a great deal about his people. And according to DRUCKER, it was going to be important that they acted quickly as the portal would one day be tested for travel to planets outside the LOMMETRUS by the ALVERON council.
This testing stage of the portal technology made me feel nervous about traveling this way. I thought of being sent to the wrong planet or worse---pieces of my molecular structure sent to numerous places in space. The only comfort I took was that CHANAH must have known it would work or he would not have sent us to see DRUCKER. I was prepared to put my faith in CHANAH from the moment he rescued Miles and me that night in the AVERWOODS. I wondered how Sonya was handling this new development though.
“How do we get to this portal,” I said.
“The testing base is near the CHERKOT plant and reasonably guarded by day but our best chance for entry will be when everyone is sent back to the village for break. We should be able to access the main tunnel without being discovered but the room where the portal is located could produce our greatest risk.”
It was at this point that Miles addressed the ALVERON guard. The two exchanged a brief communication and Miles continued informing me of the situation.
“This is a start. ARCHINE just told me he can get access to the personnel data we need for the testing room. He’ll need a day though. We’ll meet back here after the sun reaches its highest over the MOMENTRUS peaks.”
Miles looked at DRUCKER and spoke. He then reached into his pocket and pulled out the metal device that was taken at the facility on ALVERON and handed it over to DRUCKER. For the second time since entering the room, DRUCKER looked astonished. DRUCKER said something in his language but it didn’t seem to be directed toward anyone as his attention was locked onto the metal device. I perceived a glimpse of approval on KATRAVIN’S face that was directed at Miles.
After the guard and DRUCKER left, Miles spent the rest of the evening relaying details of the previous days spent away from KATRAVIN, Sonya and me.
“I was in the marketplace trying to find some initial connection that might lead me to DRUCKER. It was unexpected when I found ARCHINE there. We were in the academy together. Initially, I didn’t reveal my task of finding the NOBIAN DRUCKER but rather used the opportunity to reconnect with old friends. Along with ARCHINE; three of my brothers from the academy were stationed on NOBI. We came together for the first time since graduating from the academy one evening.”
“Was YEPINE among them,” KATRAVIN asked?
“No, he was stationed at the mines of EPHIA after the academy and ARCHINE hasn’t heard from him since.”
KATRAVIN looked disappointed.
Miles continued; “It was the mention of GARGIANS and the council’s attempt to use them as soldiers that revealed to me whether ARCHINE could be trusted.”
“So the GARGIANS are soldiers,” Sonya said.
“Yes soldiers. And how did you know about the GARGIANS,” Miles asked?
Sonya shared her discovery on the planet of VECILOI. This significantly intrigued Miles who shared that more of these GARGIANS were being used to replace ALVERONS and STONIANS from the academy for assignments on the other planets.
“It would be only a matter of time before the GARGIANS replaced ARCHINE and the other academy guards on this planet;” Miles said.
KATRAVIN spoke; “So there is unhappiness among the ALVERON academy guards?”
“It’s more than unhappiness. The council stopped support for the academy while I was on Earth and as a result; an end to the academy. The training for ALVERONS and STONIANS ended. The allocation of weapons and combat supplies ceased meaning---they are being phased out and some are reordered as labor for the FLASCHIN facilities on the outer rim.”
“So their sense is that these GARGIANS will take over and handle the police and soldiering for the LOMMETRUS,” Sonya said?
“ARCHINE and the others weren’t aware of the GARGIAN reproduction on VECILOI. This would only prove their suspicions to be true. Perhaps this information will allow ARCHINE to recruit more guards for our cause,” Miles said.
“Can you finally tell me what the metal device was---the one that you handed DRUCKER,” I asked?
It was KATRAVIN who answered.
“That metal device is freedom for these people---or at least partially. It’s the only access detonator for the OCKTORON poison in the NOBIANS. It also doesn’t hurt that Miles destroyed
the facilities main control switch with the explosion.”
“I imagine DRUCKER already scheming to gain control of his planet with this new development. What’s left is control of the portal. The rebels would be no match if an army of GARGIANS arrived through that portal though,” Miles said.
I was beginning to suspect that the portal was not protected by the ALVERON guards but creatures similar to the monster Miles and I encountered in the AVERWOODS. I was really hoping not to see any more GARGIANS for the remainder of my time in the LOMMETRUS.
“What if there are GARGIANS already on NOBI,” I said?
I caught a glimpse of the fear from that night in the AVERWOODS on Miles face. After all; he’d been the one mostly terrorized by the creature and now there was the threat of more than one GARGIAN.
“We…we will have weapons this time---as will the rebels. Let’s just hope the GARGIAN army isn’t too powerful in strength to defeat the combined strength of the LOMMETRUS planets,” Miles said.
The LOMMETRUS Chronicles: Book One: The Abduction of William Baxter Page 20
