“Perhaps it’s been rebuilt,” John offered.
“Possibly,” Padraig said looking at the device again, “though there’s no sign of any mechanism to operate it or any energy readings whatsoever.”
Kate had been looking around and felt drawn to another pyramid not far away. She walked over to it and stood before it. It too had what looked like a window in it, but its window was oblong. A blue light was shining in it.
“Over here,” Kate called out. “I think I’ve found something.” The others walked over to her. “Look there’s a blue light.”
“It’s pulsating,” John said, looking closely at it. ”Just like the light on the hand shaped depression, on the Menhir in Cornwall.”
“The carving on the Pyramid in Egypt, which opened the way into it, glowed with a similar blue light,” Joshua told them.
“So, do we put our hands through the window, or what?” John asked.
“Hold on a moment,” Padraig instructed, “I’d like to check it first.” He quickly scanned the pyramid with his device. “Okay, it appears to be a planetary surface, teleportation relay station, but obviously we don’t know for certain where it’s connected to.”
“I try it,” Kate said, and stretched her hand out into the oblong shaped window, before anyone could stop her. She immediately vanished.
“We’d better follow her,” Morann said turning to Padraig, but before he could answer her. John had put his hand into the oblong shaped window and vanished too.
“Yes, looks like we have no choice”, Padraig answered and quickly, he, Morann and Joshua put their hands into the blue light and also vanished. Before Aithne or Fergus could do so however, the light vanished.
“The light’s gone! What do we do now?” Aithne said turning to Fergus.
“Nothing we can do, we’ll just have to wait and see if they come back from wherever it is, they’ve gone to,” Fergus replied, trying to keep the concern he felt, out of his voice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morrigan’s Depository
As soon as Kate had put her hand through the oblong window in the pyramid, into the intense blue light, she had instantaneously been transported into a large chamber with shiny metallic walls. A moment later John was standing beside her and then moments after him, they were joined by Padraig, Morann and Joshua. The chamber was dimly lit and looking around it Kate saw that apart from them it was empty, with no obvious signs of a door leading out of it.
“Aithne and Fergus haven’t joined us,” John said, for several seconds had passed without any sign of them.
“Well, they were going to follow us, “ Padraig answered. “So, I don’t know why they haven’t. “
“Perhaps only five people at a time can be transported,” Kate suggested.
“That’s possible,” Padraig agreed, “It would take an enormous amount of energy to transport us to wherever it is we are.”
“Perhaps they’ll join us when the system recharges, if that’s the case,” Morann added. “Depending of course, how long it takes to do that.”
“There doesn’t seem to be a door anywhere,” Kate pointed out.
“Well, we’d better see if we can find one,” Padraig announced, stepping forward and then coming to an abrupt halt , as a beam of orange light passed over him and then moved on to pass over each of them in turn. “Nothing to worry about,” Padraig reassured them. “We’re just being scanned.”
“Council of Nine member Padraig, recognized,” a robotic-like voice intoned. “Badhbh in Waiting, recognized, Pendron of the Varns, recognized, Council of Nine member, Morann, recognized,“ the voice continued to intone. “Joshua, Nemhain’s Consort, recognized. All present have clearance to pass to level two. Proceed when ready.”
“What’s going on?” Kate asked anxiously.
“It’s an automatic security system which is verifying that we have the proper authorization to be here,” Padraig explained. “It probably explains why Aithne and Fergus haven’t joined us. They’re not members of the Triumvirate, the Pendron of the Varns, or Council of Nine members.”
“It said you and Morann were Council of Nine members,” Kate said turning to Padraig. “What’s the Council of Nine?”
“Ah,” Padraig said, looking a little sheepish. “We should have explained to you both long before now, what the Council of Nine was, but I can only use the excuse that events have moved far quicker than Morann and I anticipated. The Council of Nine is an advisory body to the Aos Si Triumvirate and composes of nine members. Morann and I are members, as is your father, John, acting in the absence of your grandfather Fionn Mac Cumhaill, whose whereabouts as you know are at present unknown. There are also six vacancies on the Council of Nine, which urgently need to be filled, but of course that cannot be done until the new Morrigan and Badhbh are invested and then along with the Nemhain, as a Triumvirate they can decide who the new members should be.”
“So why am I allowed here?” Joshua questioned.
“It recognized you as the Nemhain’s consort,” Padraig explained, then looking thoughtful he said, “but there must be another reason that you have been allowed here, Joshua, as normally the Nemhain’s Consort, unless they were also a Council of Nine member wouldn’t have been allowed entry. Now however, we need to proceed to level two.”
“Look! Over there!” John cried out, pointing to where a door had suddenly appeared and was slowly opening.
“Well, off we go then,” Padraig urged, shepherding everyone towards the door.
They found themselves in another chamber, similar to the previous one, but this time a beam of green light passed over each of them in turn.
“Proceed to level three,” the same robotic voice intoned, after each of them had been scanned.
A door again opened, and they moved into another chamber, this time however there were two occupants, lying side by side on the floor. Two women, with a long silver tube that led from one of the women’s sternum to the sternum of the other woman, connecting them both together. Joshua cried out and stumbled forward towards them.
“That’s my mother!” he cried out in anguish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Beagalltach
Around the same time
Conn was closely studying the video footage of the man wearing a Duster coat and a black Stetson hat, when Oisin went to find him, to inform him of what had been decided regarding Shona’s fate.
“We’ve decided that Shona in her persona of Mona McBeolain will continue in her role as the US President and President of the Aossi Corporation, but she will be closely monitored by Gayle and Conal, who will now take on the role of her new security advisor.”
Conal was a member of the Fianna, a veteran of the Aos Si civil war and the war against the Fomoire, who was well respected.
“Yes, Oisin, that should keep her in line,” Conn agreed and then returned his attention to the video footage again.
“Conn, you seem very distracted. What is it that you’re doing?” Oisin questioned him.
“Oisin, this video footage is of a man that the Aos SI Confederation were very interested in, back in the 1970s, Earth time. Theoretically the man does not exist, as I cannot find any records of him on any data bases, either on Earth, or in the Aos Si Confederation. Nor can I even determine why he came under observation, as there are no records anywhere, of a ‘locate and observe’ order being issued in respect of him.”
“Where did you come across this video footage? And where is the footage taken?” Oisin asked, looking at man in question.
“ I found the footage in the Confederation Intelligence Service archives for the 1970s, whilst I was searching for any surveillance footage of Sneem. It was taken at Staigue Fort, an ancient Ring Fort in County Kerry, Eire, which isn’t too far from Sneem. It is dated as the Earth year 1974.” Conn answered Oisin.
“That’s the year Siobhan disappeared. Is there any further footage of this man?”
“Well, I trawled through the video footage from 1974
up until today and came across nothing, until this,” Conn pointed to video footage which now came up onto the screen, “which was taken a few minutes ago.”
“He’s not aged at all and is wearing the same outfit as in the 1974 video footage,” Oisin said, as the camera zoomed in on the man, who obligingly turned to face it. The man touched his nose, pointed at the camera and then shook his head. Then he quickly turned and walked away from the camera down the street, turning around a street corner as soon as he reached one. ”He knew he was being watched. Were you able to follow him?”
“As soon as he walked around the corner and went out of view, I called up one of our spy satellites. As you know, Oisin, it only takes them seconds to pick up a target, but in that time, he’d completely disappeared and there was nowhere he could possibly have hidden.”
“Then he either teleported, or became invisible.”
“Our instruments found no traces of either activity, but yes, Oisin, that can be the only conclusion.”
“Then he’s an alien.” Oisin stated. Conn nodded. Then with foreboding Oisin asked. “Where was this taken?”
“Sneem,” Conn answered. ”Near to the Pyramid Garden.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Morrigan’s Depository
Joshua knelt down by his mother, Morann joining him.
“She’s dead, isn’t she?” he tearfully said, as Morann checked Siobhan’s pulse.
“No, she isn’t,” Morann replied, looking over to Padraig, “there’s a faint pulse, but it’s steady. Etain has maintained Siobhan’s life by inducing a coma and then linking their two bodies together, so she could act as a life support system for her. We need an urgent medevac, Padraig.”
“I’m trying to contact the Beagalltach, but there’s obviously a force field in operation which is stopping communication, “ Padraig replied, trying another frequency. “John, see if you can get through on your communicator.”
John took out his communicator and opened a channel to the Deltoid.
“John Trevaskis to Beagalltach, an urgent medevac required.” John had to repeat his message and then the robotic voice intoned.
“John Trevaskis, Varn Pendron, voice recognized, communication allowed.”
“Beagalltach to John Trevaskis,” a moment later the Beagalltach replied, “getting a fix on your position. How many to teleport?”
“Attempt is being made to allow teleportation to unknown star ship. Authorization is required,” the robotic voice interrupted.
“Authorization, John Trevaskis, Varn Pendron, “John looked across to where Siobhan and Etain lay. “Three, no, make that four to teleport, Beagalltach,” John said, having received a signal from Morann that she would be accompanying Joshua, Siobhan and Etain.
“Teleportation allowed, on your authorization, John Trevaskis, Varn Pendron.” The robotic voice confirmed.
“Did you get that, Beagalltach?” John asked.
“Yes, John,” came Bobdall’s voice. “People to be teleported will need tagging.”
“I’ll do that,” Morann said, quickly carrying out the task.
“Whereabouts exactly are we, Bobdall?” Padraig wanted to know, leaning forward to speak into John’s communicator.
“Did you hear that, Bobdall?” John asked her.
“Yes, John and the answer is very interesting. You’re apparently on an island in the Scilly Isles, which isn’t on any maps and wasn’t known to exist until now,” Bobdall answered.
“People tagged for teleportation,” Morann shouted.
“Heard that Morann,” Bobdall replied. “Initiating teleportation now.” A moment later, Siobhan, Etain, Morann and Joshua had vanished.
“Why is this Island not known?” Kate asked looking worried, turning to Padraig.
“Well, I’m guessing that this is the Morrigan’s Depository, Padraig replied. “If it is then it was no doubt well camouflaged, with a larger version of the camouflage force field that we’ve been using.”
“Like the one used to hide King’s car?” Kate asked. Padraig nodded.
“Location confirmed as the gateway to the Morrigan’s Depository,” the robotic voice confirmed.
“Okay, so you and Kate will now need to see if you can gain access to the Inner Sanctum of the Morrigan’s Depository, as I’m guessing that this is the last of the antechambers,” Padraig informed them. “I won’t be able to come any further with you, as only the Badhbh and the Varn Pendron have the authority to enter the inner sanctum.”
“So how will we know what we are looking for?” Kate asked.
“Obviously at this moment in time the Inauguration stone is required, so I’d suggest you look for that,” Padraig answered.
“We don’t know what it looks like,” John pointed out.
“Oh, I think you’ll know it, when you find it, John. Ah, the gateway to the inner sanctum appears to be over there,” Padraig said pointing to the other side of the chamber, where a door with two hand-shaped depressions on it had now appeared.
Kate and John walked over to the door.
“What do I do?” Kate asked, turning to John.
“Put your hand on one of the hand-shape depressions,” he answered.
They each put a hand on one of the depressions, instinctively knowing which hand and which hand-shaped depression to place it on. The door slowly opened, and Kate and John walked through.
Chapter 31
The Inner Sanctum, Morrigan’s Depository
Kate and John found themselves in a tunnel which seemed to be made of some kind of metal. There was enough room for Kate and John to stand side by side and with plenty of headroom, that even someone a lot taller than John wouldn’t have to bend to walk along it. At the end of the tunnel, which John estimated was about fifty yards away was a bright light.
“Do we walk towards it, do you think?” Kate turned and asked John.
“I guess so.”
They started walking towards the bright light, but before they had walked more than a few steps, the light grew brighter in intensity and they felt compelled to move quicker towards it , breaking into a run as they neared the source of the light, what looked like a pyramid-shaped stone, it split into two halves and a swirling, rapidly expanding rainbow coloured vortex rose up from out of it and quickly enveloped them. There was a blinding flash of light as they were sucked into the vortex and sent hurtling through time and space. Moments later they found themselves lying on the floor of a large, windowless chamber, which appeared to be made out of stone. John was the first to get up and helped Kate to her feet.
“Is this it? The Inner Sanctum?” Kate asked looking around. The chamber was bright lit, although the source of the light couldn’t be seen. Then suddenly, before they could get a good look around, the chamber started to go dark and then a robotic voice began to warn.
“Security breach! Security breach! Lock down commencing! Lock down commencing!” A robotic voice warned over and over again
“What’s happening?” Kate said in a panicked voice.
“I don’t know, but nothing good,” John answered looking around the chamber, which apart from him and Kate was totally empty.
“Identify yourselves, intruders,” another robotic voice challenged, whilst in the background, although not so loud now, the other robotic voice kept monotonously repeating its warning of lock down.
“John Trevaskis, Varn Pendron,” John quickly replied, followed by a nervous, “Kate Penrose, Badhbh-in-waiting,” from Kate.
“Identities not recognized, destruction sequence commencing,” the robotic voice which had issued the challenge coldly announced.
“No, no!” John shouted. “We are who we say!”
“Identities not recognized, destruction sequence commencing,” the robotic voice answered.
“Destruction countdown commencing, 100, 99, 98,” the original robotic voice began to intone.
There was a flash of green light just in front of where Kate and John were standing in shock. Then a man
wearing a black Stetson hat and a Duster coat appeared before them. Kate and John both recognized him as the man they’d seen in the video recording of events at Staigue Fort that Conn had shown them.
“Come on, no time to lose, you’d better grab my hand,” the man said, holding a hand out to both of them, “Dinnae fash yersel, I mean ye no harm!’
Kate made a quick decision and grabbed the man’s hand, followed a moment later by John.
“67, 66, 65,” the robotic voice.”
“Ready!” the man shouted and the next moment , all three of them had vanished from the chamber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Antechamber, The Morrigan’s Depository
An hour later
Padraig had waited for Kate and John to return from the Inner Sanctum of the Morrigan’s Depository and hadn’t realised how long they’d been in there, until he checked the old fashioned wristwatch that he wore and saw that well over an hour had passed by, since they had gone through the door into it. Surely it shouldn’t take that long to locate the Inauguration stone he thought. Something must have gone wrong. Padraig decided to contact the Beagalltach, but before he could do so, there was a tremendous explosion and the door that Kate and John had gone through blew off into the antechamber, narrowly missing where he was standing. This was followed by a powerful shockwave which knocked him off his feet and sent him flying backwards into the chamber’s wall.
For a moment or two Padraig lay stunned and then he quickly recovered and scrambled to his feet. Cautiously walking towards the now open doorway, he could see what appeared to be a metal walled tunnel. Getting nearer to it, he saw that the tunnel was unlit, but towards what he assumed was the end of it, a bright orange light glowed. Looking more closely he realised that it was rapidly coming towards him and seeing what now appeared to be flames, knew what it was. Running away from the doorway, Padraig opened his communicator.
“Beagalltach! Need urgent teleportation out of here, I’m in danger of being burnt alive!”
“Teleportation being initiated!” Bobdall’s voice answered.
The last thing Padraig saw before he was teleported out, was a wall of fire erupting into the antechamber.
The Sol 3 Agenda Page 34
