Phoenix

by S. F. Said

  The President reached over to the window and drew the blinds fully shut, so that the only light in the room came from her desk lamp. Then she went behind her desk, and consulted some documents.

  ‘Major Dashwood was commanding a government science ship when he was captured,’ she said. ‘He was investigating rumours that the Aliens were developing a new secret weapon; something we would very much like to have for ourselves. He has vitally important knowledge that could help us win this war.’ She looked up. ‘He matters to us, Lucky, just as he matters to you.’

  ‘So where is he?’

  ‘We understand he’s being held in the Alien army’s secret base,’ said the President. ‘As you can imagine, we’ve searched and searched for it – but its location is the most closely guarded secret in the galaxy, and we just can’t find it. We need a new strategy. And that’s where you come in.’

  She reached into her desk, and pulled out his father’s astrolabe. ‘We don’t like these devices, as you know,’ she said. ‘We even made them illegal, because they encourage the Aliens in their star-worshipping superstitions. However, we’ll make an exception in your case. I’ll admit, I was hoping you’d find your father with it. But I see from your brainscan that it hasn’t worked.’

  ‘No,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why. I’ve tried and tried . . .’

  ‘Keep trying,’ said the President. She handed it back to him with a conspiratorial smile. ‘But even if it never works, there is an alternative. A boy travelling with Aliens, with their trust: you can go places we never could. They can help you to find the secret base, even without the astrolabe.’

  ‘I don’t think so,’ said Lucky. ‘The Axxa I’m travelling with aren’t in the army. They don’t know any more than I do.’

  ‘Perhaps not. But if you agree to my plan, I will give you a piece of information that will change everything. I will tell you the Alien name for the planet where this base is located. It’s not a name that means anything to Humans, but it does to them, and with their help, I know you can find it.’ She paused, and pushed the plate of brownies closer to him. ‘There’s something you must do first, though. This information is highly sensitive. If it was ever found out that I told it to a child . . . Well, I have to be sure you will use it wisely. So I am making one small condition.’

  ‘What’s that?’ he asked, biting into another brownie. ‘You must never tell anyone where you learned it.

  You mustn’t tell your Alien friends that we met, or any of the things we’ve discussed. If they knew I had personally intervened in this matter, they would be suspicious. They certainly wouldn’t want to help you find your father, if they thought it could help us win the War. So you must tell them you discovered the information all by yourself. Tell them you overheard Shadow Guards talking about it, or you saw it in a secret document. Tell them anything you like, but please trust me on this: you must not on any account tell them the truth.’

  Lucky peered up at the President, trying to take it in. ‘If I agree – you’ll set them free?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘And the phoenix? They took Professor Byzantine’s phoenix.’

  The President smiled and nodded down at him, as if indulging a small child. ‘Well, if it means so much to you, then yes, I’m sure you can have the bird back.’

  He frowned at her patronizing tone. ‘Why were we treated so badly out there? The old lady, Mystica – she’s ill, and they forced her off the ship—’

  ‘This is a time of war,’ said the President. ‘Many people have suffered and died because of the Aliens. It’s unfortunate if innocents get caught up in it. But we cannot allow Human lives to be endangered because we didn’t do everything in our power to protect them – can we?’

  ‘I – I guess not. It’s just . . . I’ve seen people treat the Axxa like dirt . . . and this Spacewall, it’s horrible! It’s so wrong—’

  ‘On the contrary, the Wall is all that keeps us safe. It’s not a perfect system, we admit that. But we do our best. Never forget what we’re up against. These are people who worship the stars, rather than accepting that stars are just burning balls of gas, natural resources for all to use. I’ll never understand why they cling to their superstitions, or why they hate us as they do. But I know you understand we’re only doing what we must. Why would a man like Major Dashwood or a woman like your mother work for us, if we weren’t completely in the right?’

  The scent of chocolate fudge brownies was rich in the room, like velvet across Lucky’s senses. He wanted to believe the President. He wanted the government to be good, as he’d grown up believing, and for the President to be on his side after all.

  She’s got a point, he thought. The Axxa wouldn’t like it if they knew I was talking to her. But . . . I don’t want to keep secrets from them.

  ‘I’m not sure, President Thorntree,’ he said.

  The President took a deep breath. Her eyes filled with concern. She got up from behind her desk, and came to stand beside him, leaning over to speak quietly in his ear. ‘Perhaps you don’t appreciate the severity of your situation. Unless you do something extraordinary, regulations would require you to be held here indefinitely. You won’t see your friends again, because you’ll each be held in solitary confinement. And as for that bird . . . well, unless someone intervenes on its behalf, I fear it will be destroyed under quarantine regulations.’

  Lucky’s stomach turned over as she spoke. But then the President smiled her painted smile.

  ‘None of that needs to happen,’ she said, her tone all silky smooth again. ‘Just promise me you’ll keep this conversation secret. Why is that so difficult? Don’t you want to find your father? Don’t you want to work undercover, like your mother? You would be fulfilling her legacy, you know. She would be so proud of you.’

  Confusion and suspicion simmered inside him. The more he thought about it, the less he liked the idea of lying to his friends. But he had no doubt that the President meant every word. If he didn’t do what she wanted, he’d never see his friends again, never fly through the stars on the Sunfire with them – never, ever again – let alone have a hope of finding his father. And those thoughts were just too much to bear.

  ‘All right,’ he said. He picked up the last brownie from the plate, and wiped it clean. ‘I’ll do it. I swear to you: I won’t tell anyone.’

  The President beamed. ‘That’s my boy!’ she said, ruffling his hair. ‘I knew I could trust you. So: the Alien army’s secret base is on a planet they call Charon. We believe it’s somewhere in the region of Aquarius, but they’re the only ones who know for sure.’ She took a deep breath. ‘I wish we could come with you, and protect you. However, the slightest suspicion would ruin your chances. So you are on your own from here on in. But whatever happens after you leave this office, don’t ever give up. You are the only person in the galaxy who can find your father. I am counting on you. And so is he.’

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  President Thorntree opened the door to her office. It looked heavy, but glided back on well-oiled hinges. She led Lucky out, and he followed her into a very grand hall.

  High above, from a domed ceiling, hung the flags of every Human world in the galaxy. The walls were made of gleaming marble; the floor smelled of polish. It was so huge, Lucky could almost have believed he was on a real world and not a space station, were it not for the artificial-tasting air.

  There was a Shadow Guard waiting for him in the hall. For a moment, Lucky felt a horrible flash of doubt. He tensed up, clutching the astrolabe in his hands. He feared the President was about to turn on him, betray him, order the Shadow Guard to get him – but it didn’t happen. She just smiled again.

  ‘I so wish I could come with you, my boy,’ she said softly. ‘But you go with the Shadow Guard now. He’ll take care of everything.’

  She shook Lucky’s hand, and then they parted. The President went back into her office, and the Shadow Guard led Lucky away. His head was still spinning with her words; his mouth w
as still full of the taste of brownies.

  The Shadow Guard led him to an elevator with no buttons on it, no markings at all. The doors closed, and they plunged down, down, down.

  The doors opened to a very different view. A dim grey vault lined with cell doors, watched over by sentries. The Shadow Guard led Lucky out into the vault. The sentries saluted at once.

  ‘Where is the crew of the Alien ship Sunfire?’ the Shadow Guard asked them.

  ‘In there, sir,’ said a sentry, pointing at one of the cells.

  The Shadow Guard nodded, and the sentry opened the door right away.

  It was dark and cold inside the cell. Squinting into the gloom, Lucky could see Frollix and Bixa huddled in one corner; Mystica, the Captain and the Professor in another.

  They looked up and saw Lucky standing in the doorway.

  ‘Hey – is that him?’ said Bixa, blinking in the sudden light.

  ‘Is that you, Lucky?’ croaked Mystica, peering out of the cell.

  ‘It’s me,’ he said.

  Frollix and Bixa jumped up. Professor Byzantine and Captain Nox helped Mystica to rise. She stood with difficulty – she looked exhausted and pale – but she was beaming at Lucky, her golden eyes filling with an emotion so strong and pure, it gave him goosebumps.

  ‘We thought you were lost for ever,’ said the old lady. ‘But you made it, you made it, you made it! Come here, you lovely boy!’

  She pulled him to her, embracing him, holding him close and warm. The others crowded round too, and in their happy faces there was such comfort, such relief. Bixa was calling him every name under the sun, but he didn’t mind it one bit.

  ‘We thought we’d never see you again, buddy!’ said Frollix, giving him a huge bear hug. ‘We were so worried about you—’

  ‘I was worried about you!’ protested Lucky. ‘I thought I’d got you into such trouble!’

  Captain Nox’s face darkened as he noticed the Shadow Guard, standing behind Lucky in the doorway. He pulled himself up to his full height. ‘What are you doing with the boy?’ he demanded, his huge horns bristling. ‘This time, I will not stand by and—’

  ‘It’s not what you think,’ said Lucky, holding the Captain back. ‘It’s OK.’

  The Shadow Guard raised a hand – and waved them out of their cell, to freedom. ‘Their case has been processed,’ he told the sentry. ‘They are cleared to go.’

  ‘Sir?’ said the sentry. ‘But they—’

  ‘They are cleared to cross the Spacewall.’ His voice was so firm that the sentry just stood aside, saluting. ‘Your possessions have been returned to your ship,’ the Shadow Guard told the Sunfire crew. ‘Now follow me.’

  They hesitated on the threshold of their cell.

  ‘It’s OK,’ Lucky reassured them. ‘I swear, everything’s OK. Let’s go!’

  ‘How in heaven’s name . . .?’ Nox asked, as he led his crew out into the light.

  Lucky couldn’t answer. Not yet. He couldn’t spoil this moment with a lie.

  The Shadow Guard led them in silence back through the Spacegate, past the inspection chamber and Border Controls, down long steel tunnels. Everywhere they went, doors opened for them. Shadow Guards stood back; saluted. No one challenged them.

  It was surreal. But it was satisfying. Lucky felt so glad he’d made the deal with the President, at that moment. It was worth it, just for this.

  They walked out of the tunnel and into the docking bay. Cold air hit his face. He shivered. It was freezing out here, in this echoing space with its harsh white striplights.

  But before them now stood the Sunfire: a beautiful crescent of beaten silver, shining with silent promise under the lights.

  And in its shadow stood a little phoenix of crimson gold.

  ‘Baa-zookaaaa?’ she chirped, her feathers glowing with warmth.

  ‘Bazooka!’ cried Professor Byzantine, rushing forward.

  She soared up onto his shoulder and perched there proudly, preening, as if she’d fought off the Shadow Guards all on her own.

  ‘Baaa-zoookie!’ she chirruped happily.

  Professor Byzantine looked even happier. He turned to the Shadow Guard, and then to Lucky, his eyes full of tears. ‘However this came to pass,’ he said, ‘I am most grateful!’

  Lucky smiled, but he didn’t say a word. The Shadow Guard just turned and left the docking bay, his footsteps echoing on the cold metal floor.

  ‘Let’s get outta here,’ said Frollix, shivering. ‘This place gives me the creeps!’

  He ran towards the Sunfire, and Lucky followed. This ship had crossed half the galaxy to get him here, and returning to it now felt like coming home, after everything that had happened. He could still hardly believe he’d made it through the Spacegate. Not just made it; he’d emerged with the help and protection of the President herself. It barely felt real.

  But this much was real, he had no doubt: the Sunfire, the Axxa, his friends.

  Beneath the ship, he found a pile of his possessions: his space traveller’s coat, his cloven-hoof boots, his purple contact lenses. One by one, he put them on again. Beside him, Frollix popped open the hatch, and then shimmied up to perch on the edge of a crescent wing, grinning from ear to ear.

  ‘Aaah, home!’ he whooped, relief audible in his voice. ‘Look, Lucky: did you ever see anything so beautiful?’

  ‘I never did,’ said Lucky.

  ‘Come sit with me while the others get on!’ said Frollix.

  ‘Uh – I don’t want to break anything . . .’

  ‘You won’t!’ said Frollix. ‘C’mon! It’s the best seat in the house.’

  Lucky scrambled up the side of the ship, trusting that his hooves would not let him down – then shut his eyes and leaped across to the wing. Sure enough, they brought him safely over. He walked right up to the edge of the wing, and sat there beside Frollix, the two of them swinging their legs, carefree, as the others boarded the Sunfire.

  He looked back at the docking bay and saw the Shadow Guard, still watching him. He felt a flicker of doubt. This feels too easy, he thought – and yet, what can go wrong? The President herself authorized it.

  No: we’re going to get away. It’s really happening.

  ‘You two!’ called Bixa. ‘Stop daydreaming! We’ve got places to go. Get your asses in gear before I come over there and kick them!’

  Lucky grinned, climbed off the wing, and swung into the ship through the hatch. In the old days, he would’ve tripped straight over it. But his hooves knew what they were doing, and brought him in with a stylish flip.

  Inside the Sunfire, everything was exactly as they’d left it. It was like coming back to a sanctuary. The scent of Xoco was still rich in the air. Lucky filled his lungs with it. It was so good to smell it again, and to see the stove where Mystica made it. It was good to see the cathedral columns and vaulting arches of the cabin, the vidscreens glowing like stained glass with their images of the Twelve Astraeus. He thought it would even be good to see the ship’s toilet again.

  Captain Nox and Frollix were already up in the cockpit. Mystica and the Professor had gone to Mystica’s quarters. Bixa closed the hatch, and they strapped themselves into their silver seats.

  Here we go, thought Lucky. Goodbye to everything I know.

  And hello to the War Zone.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The docking bay doors opened, and the Sunfire sailed out on the other side of the Spacegate. The Wall was behind them now. Ahead, on the crackling vidscreen, was Lucky’s first sight of Axxa space.

  FLASHHH!!!

  A searing pulse of light scorched his eyes. It didn’t come from the Spacegate, or any of the shadowships guarding it. It came from somewhere else; somewhere deep in distant space. It was the same kind of pulse he’d seen through the Spacewall. But now, no longer filtered through the wall of green fire, he could see its true colour. It was blinding magnesium white, like a crack of lightning across the black.

  The Sunfire rocked as a shockwave knocked it sideways
. Lucky held onto his seat with white knuckles. If he hadn’t been strapped in tight, he would’ve been hurled out and smashed into the floor.

  ‘Hold on, everyone!’ the Captain’s voice crackled on the comm. ‘Frollix: all power to the Dark Matter drive!’

  With a great surge of energy, the Sunfire righted itself. It stabilized, picked up speed, and soared into space, back in its element once more.

  Lucky breathed out with relief. His skin tingled at the sensation of the Dark Matter drive kicking in. He looked over to Bixa – but she didn’t look happy at all.

  ‘Mystica?’ she called up at the comm. ‘Are you OK?’ No response. ‘Hold on, I’m coming!’ she shouted, leaping from her seat, racing out of the cabin.

  Lucky followed her down to Mystica’s cabin. Through the grand arched doorway, he could see the old lady huddled up in bed. She was shivering beneath her furs, teeth chattering. Professor Byzantine was beside her, Bazooka on his shoulder, tending to the candles that lit the cabin.

  There was something about Mystica that looked very strange, but Lucky couldn’t put his finger on what it was.

  Then he realized: her headscarf had come off. And without the scarf, he could clearly see that the old lady had hardly any hair left. Just a few thin white wisps, beneath which he could clearly see her pale skull.

  ‘I – I’m sorry,’ said Mystica, flustered. She quickly pulled a scarf on. ‘It’s so ugly. You shouldn’t have to see such things.’

  Lucky almost didn’t go into the cabin; he felt like he was intruding. But she waved him in with a weak smile.

  ‘Come in,’ she said. ‘It’s always good to see you . . . even if it’s not so good to see me . . .’

  Lucky felt embarrassed. All he wanted to do was make it better for her, somehow. ‘Mystica,’ he said as he went in, ‘there is no one I would rather see. I missed you so much at the Spacegate.’

  ‘I missed you too.’ She held out a hand, and he took it. Her skin was deathly cold, like ice. ‘Stay a while,’ she said. ‘I feel warmer when you are here. There are such terrible things going on in this galaxy. Did you see that flash of light as we came through the Wall?’ She looked down gravely. ‘That was a star, dying.’