Enzo knew Vincenzo was right about not taking Sandy through the gate. She was unstable which wasn’t a big surprise after what she had gone through. She was angry and acting irrationally. In his youth he had acted foolishly many times out of anger and his perceived need for vengeance. His father had told him to be patient. “A foolish man behaves like the jackal and gets eaten by the lion. A shrewd man lies patiently in the grass like the snake and strikes when the prey comes to him.” his father had said. He would protect Sandy and teach her patience. Her anger would never abate until she took personal vengeance, and he would use her anger to his advantage when the time was right.
He knocked on her door and entered the room where she was sleeping. She was sleeping heavily due to the drugs she had been given. Enzo woke her up and sat on the edge of her bed. “Sandy, what you’ve done cannot be ignored. You will not be going with Vincenzo and the rest of the crew through the gate. You will be staying with me for the immediate future. I will protect you from the authorities. In time you will overcome the loss of your family and you will find meaning in your life again. For now stay with me, trust me, and follow my guidance.” he said.
“I understand why Vincent won’t take me with him. Taking an irrational psycho with you when you’re meeting aliens for the first time would not be a smart thing to do. Thank you for your offer Enzo but I don’t want to be a burden. I’ve already caused enough trouble. It would probably be best for everyone if I’m left on my own. I’ll get by just fine. I always have.” Sandy said. “Don’t talk nonsense. You’re staying with me. At least for the next month or so. After that you can do what you want. For now we will talk daily and you can learn what I do. I’ve been fighting the government my entire life, so we have something in common.
Randy will want to ask you questions about the alien ship too. Vincenzo told me you were studying the ship and are the most familiar with it. Randy will really want to know about those weapons. It sounds like you saved the crew when you destroyed the Navy vessel. That was good work.” he said. “Thank you Enzo. I’ll stay for now and try to get through this. Let me know what I can do to help out around here. I’d be happy to discuss the ship with Randy. Maybe I can help you and your organization in your work against the government.” she said. “A day may come when you’re ready to help in our effort. Your first priority is to try and process what has happened and to take care of yourself. For now, get some more rest. When you wake up, we’ll have lunch and talk some more.” Enzo said.
Dalton decided to stay one last night on the ship. Vincent wanted to spend a few more minutes with his friend before he left in the morning. He poured each of them another drink. “Dalton, I feel guilty about running off to the gate and leaving you behind. You know it’s going to take some time for you to get back to Mars and be able to conduct your work safely. How do you plan on getting back to Mars?” Vincent asked. “Don’t feel guilty it’s the opportunity of a lifetime and what I want to do. I don’t have a solid plan yet for getting back to Mars. I’ll work with Enzo and Randy. I’m sure we’ll come up with something. I know it will take some time, but I will make it back.” Dalton replied.
Vincent handed Dalton Maria’s journal. “I want you to have this. There might be some information which will be useful. She wrote down all of her research and most of what she had discovered in the journal. There might be clues to other locations we still don’t know about. The journal won’t help me where I’m going, but it might help you. I hope you can find out what’s in those two sealed chambers in the pyramid. I’m real curious as to why those two chambers were sealed so well.” Vincent said. “Thank you, I’ll put it to good use. The sealed chambers will be on the top of my list of priorities.
Are you sure you know what you’re doing? You don’t know what’s going to happen when you get through the gate. The aliens might view us as bugs. We know there is an alien species which tried to invade Earth. You could be killed on sight if you emerge from the gate in the wrong place.” Dalton said. “I believe the alien species which protected us secured our solar system before they left. It’s my guess they are waiting on the other side with the rest of the intelligent species of the Milky Way. After all we’ve learned about them I’m confident we’ll be alright. The aliens could have wiped our species out at anytime and have chosen not to. The species we are dealing with appears to have a decent sense of morals. I will find out soon enough.” Vincent said. “Good luck Vincent, I’ll miss you. Make sure to come back. We’ll have lots to discuss I’m sure. Tell the aliens hello from me, and bring me back a souvenir.” Dalton said. “I plan on making it back. Take care my strange friend, I’ll miss you too.” Vincent said as he hugged Dalton.
Vincent entered his quarters feeling pretty good. He wasn’t completely drunk. After recent events he had decided to take it easy. He had just laid down when he heard a knock on his door. “Come in.” he said. It was Monique. From what Vincent could tell she was wearing a bathrobe and not much else. “I thought I’d come see if there was anything else I should know before we leave in the morning. What did the four of you discuss tonight?” she asked. “We didn’t discuss much of anything. We played cards and had a few drinks. Just guys being guys.” Vincent said. “I always thought you were a guy.” She said as leaned over and kissed him. “Trust me, I am.” Vincent said as he turned off the light. “We’ll see about that.” Monique replied as she climbed into his bed.
Enzo and Randy had just finished breakfast and were heading toward the ship when they saw Vincent and Dalton walking up the hill. “You’re looking chipper this morning.” Enzo said. “It’s a beautiful morning. It’s almost sunrise, and I had a little work to do before we left.” The sun was just rising among a few scattered clouds on the horizon. “Dawn is so beautiful.” Randy said. “Every dawn is beautiful. It means we get to live and reach for our goals at least another day. What do you think of my work?” Vincent asked as he pointed to the ship. Enzo and Randy looked toward the ship. Fresh white paint glistened in the morning light. The paint spelled out “Santa Maria”. “Every ship needs a name right?” Vincent asked. “It’s perfect. You have honored her memory and our family name. She would be so proud of you. Let us go wish your crew a safe and happy voyage.” Enzo said.
The four men entered the Santa Maria and Enzo, Randy, and Dalton bid farewell to the crew. Enzo hugged his son told him he loved him and kissed him on the cheek. “Make smart decisions and do what Vincenzo tells you to do my son. Remember not to make any rash decisions.” Dalton took the small gold chain out he had recovered from the dead Martian in the transportation tube and approached Isabella. “This is for you. Keep it to remember what we spoke about. Always do what is right and don’t worry about what other people think. You have a good heart and will do well. Have a safe voyage my friend.” he said as he gave her a hug. Enzo embraced Vincent. “Take good care of these people. They are family now. Good luck in the New World Vincenzo.”
Enzo, Randy, and Dalton left the ship. “Is everyone ready?” Vincent asked. There were nods all around. “What’s the status of our passenger in the medical center Julia?” he asked. “He appears to be stable, his status is unchanged.” Julia said. “Alright Sarah take us out.”
Enzo and Randy watched as the Santa Maria took to the early morning sky. The ship looked beautiful and intimidating as it headed toward the horizon. “I hope they all make it back. They truly are part of our family now.” Enzo said.
The Santa Maria left the orbit of Earth and was free to navigate in the emptiness of space. “Sarah, Set a course for the gate. Let’s see what’s out there.” Vincent said.
“What do you think we’ll find when we pass through the gate?” Monique asked Vincent. “I expect to find surprises, the unexpected, and new worlds. I hope we can make some new friends, and maybe even find some old ones too.”
Epilogue – Vandi
Maxis took a break from his work and glanced up at the two suns which were providing way too much heat. He was tired, sweaty, his ha
nds were bloody, and he was getting old. He would give anything for some rain. The crack of a whip and the bark of his guard immediately set him back to work. He gave Tissa a brief smile to let her know he wasn't injured. She had been his companion for twelve cycles now and worried about him too much. He grabbed the next pazzard and quickly cut the head off the animal. He still had another nine hours of work ahead. The cart of dead animals would start to smell soon in the intense midday heat.
As he processed the animal he looked across the courtyard at the temple. The All Seeing Eye on the temple had been removed by the Bylek after the Great War. The image could still be seen due to the discoloration it had left on the surface. The temple was no longer in use and the image no longer held any meaning. The Alliance was out of reach behind the gate at the edge of the solar system. No Alliance ships had passed through the gate since the end of the Great War. In ages past his people used to meet with off world species inside the temple. His people had been enslaved now for eighty nine cycles. The Great War had been lost, and his people were slowly losing the knowledge which had been passed down from generation to generation.
His great grandfather had been Chief Administrator for the entire planet of Vandi. As leader of Vandi he had often met with the off world species. He would take to the stars in one of the Vandi ships to visit the off world Alliance. After the war the entire planet had been cut off from the Alliance and the people enslaved. His guard was looking at him again. Maxis picked up the pace to avoid more punishment.
Maxis and Tissa walked silently back toward their village with the rest of the work crew. The pyramid was growing larger as he approached. It stood in the center of the village. The entrances had been sealed by the Bylek after they had invaded and taken control of the planet. His father had told him ships used to come and go from the pyramid during the days of the Alliance. The guards would escort the work crew until they passed through the boundary and into the village. Once through the boundary their location bracelets would be activated. If anyone tried to pass through the boundary from the other side the bracelet would unleash a lethal dose of electricity. Maxis had known of three people who had been killed trying to cross the boundary.
Once back at the village he would rest before meeting with his friends at mealtime. His son Zanther met him with a bright smile when he arrived home. "Dad will you tell more of your stories tonight?" he asked. Maxis knew it was one of the last times he would see such a smile from his son. The innocence of childhood would be taken away the next day. Zanther was scheduled to join the work crew. He had reached his fifth cycle. "We shall see my son. Let me rest for a short time and perhaps I will tell you some stories tonight."
Tissa gently woke Maxis after he had rested from his long day of work. "Come, let us eat and enjoy some time with our friends." she said. Maxis walked out to the fire and saw his friends sitting and eating silently. The lights in the Bylek cities could be seen beyond the boundary. The Bylek were eating well because of his hard work and the hard work of his people. All of his friends were tired and wanted nothing more then to eat and rest before their next shift. He didn't see his friend Lazin. "Where’s Lazin?" he asked. "The Bylek killed him. There was something wrong with his water. It made him sick and he was unable to work. Two others were killed as well. The guards were angry and said those who didn't meet their quota needed to be made an example of." Maxis couldn't believe it, he had been friends with Lazin since he was young. Tissa brought him a plate of food. "I'm so sorry. I know he was a good friend. You need to eat and be strong for tomorrow." she said. Maxis sat silently with his friends. He was angry with the Bylek. He could feel his anger growing and knew he could do nothing to harm his enslavers. He would only harm his family if he tried to take any action. There was nothing he could do except stay alive and work. He had to try and be a good companion and father. If he was killed he wouldn’t be able to teach his son what he needed to know.
Returning home, Zanther was eagerly waiting for him. "Can you tell me stories now?" Zanther asked. "I'm not feeling like telling any stories tonight. You are coming of age, and it’s time for me to show you something. Wait here for a moment." he replied.
Maxis went to his quarters and removed the device which he kept hidden behind a false wall. It had belonged to his great grandfather. He brought it to his son. "What is it?" Zanther asked. "This contains all the knowledge our ancestors ever learned." Maxis activated the device and a display lit up. "Is it magic?" Zanther asked. "No, it's like the lights you see coming from the Bylek cities. It is something our people used all the time before the Great War. Let me show you what it can do." Maxis replied as he entered some information into it. The image changed and he showed it to his son. "These are instructions on how to construct a flying machine. Our people once made flying machines similar to the ones the Bylek use. This device contains information on anything you are curious about." Maxis said. "Why can't we make a flying machine and leave this place?" Zanther asked. "We don't have the material we need, and we don't have electricity. The Bylek keep those things from us so we can't leave or fight them." he said.
Maxis changed the settings and took an image of his son. He showed Zanther the image. "It's me. This device is amazing." Zanther said. "It is very old. We must take care of it. It must be placed in sunlight on occasion to keep the electricity working inside. Someday it will be your responsibility to keep it safe." Maxis said.
"There is one more thing I will show you before I must put it away for safekeeping." Maxis said as he led his son outside. Maxis entered the required information into the control pad and placed it on his workbench. The device swiveled and an image appeared on the screen. Zanther looked at the image. "It's the top of the pyramid and part of one of the moons. I see these things all the time father." he said. "Do you see the dim star in the center of the image?" Maxis asked. "Yes, I see the star. It's not very bright." Zanther replied. "The star you are looking at is part of an ancient myth. It has been said our people came from that star in our ancient past. According to the story our species came from the fourth planet circling the star." Maxis said. "Why did we leave?" Zanther asked. "We left because of a war. The war made the planet inhospitable for our species. According to the myth most of our people were killed. The Alliance managed to get some of our people off the planet. The ones who made it were relocated here." Maxis said. "Father, we had a war here. Will the Alliance come and get us?" Zanther said. "I hope so my son. It's my wish for you to have a life better then the one I've had. I love you, let's go get some rest. We must work for the Bylek at sunrise."
Lost Sols 1: Ancient Treasure Page 25
