‘It’s no good, James,’ Londuo said. ‘He’ll never be the Antaio I once knew.’
The Treitan spoke to Antaio once more, before handing him the telementor. Antaio fastened it on his wrist.
‘I’m sorry I didn’t kill you. Now the Treitans want to convert you.’ Antaio said and walked out from the room.
‘James, I’m not afraid anymore now that you’re here with me,’ Londuo said.
‘We’re not captive, yet. There’s still hope.’
He half smiled at Londuo and thought, what the hell do I do now?
James rose to his feet and placed the sleeve he had ripped from his uniform, in his pocket. Within his pocket he felt a glass vial.
What’s that? Wait, I have the astoflorinic gas Milonri gave me! He told me it attacks the Treitans’ nervous system. I don’t have much, but maybe I could use it as a weapon.
He helped Londuo to her feet.
‘Can you run?’ James whispered to her, before thinking, it’s got to work!
‘Er… Yes I think so,’ Londuo said. ‘Why?’
‘You’ll see.’
The Treitans moved closer.
James pulled the vial of astoflorinic gas from his pocket.
‘I bet you don’t know what this is,’ he said to the Treitans, before throwing it onto the floor in front of them.
‘Now, Londuo!’ James said.
He moved quickly to the side but hit one of the chairs in the room. He fell to the floor.
There was a deafening squeal from the Treitans. Londuo grabbed James’ arm and pulled him away from their flailing tentacles.
‘What about Kira?’ Londuo said suddenly.
‘I’ll get her. Go!’
James quickly picked up Kira in his arms. He entered the corridor, just behind Londuo.
‘That way,’ James said, indicating the stairwell.
Londuo looked around. A Treitan appeared at the door, with laser rifle raised.
‘Get down!’ Londuo shouted and then pushed James to the floor.
Kira fell from his arms.
The rifle fired for a few seconds, spraying the wall. Hot ashes showered them. Then, there was silence, followed by a loud thud.
Londuo looked back.
‘I think it’s dead,’ she said.
James was patting off the hot burning ashes from his trousers.
‘I’m not going to hang around to see; we must get back to the Aurora.’
He picked up Kira.
By the time they descended the staircase, Antaio had already disappeared into the pojin lift of the Aurora.
‘He’ll get control of Kalrea,’ Londuo said.
‘No he won’t… Come on.’
The lift had arrived again. They rushed into it.
‘Londuo, whatever happens, keep close to me,’ James said.
The door opened into the bridge.
‘Kalrea!’ he shouted.
‘INTRUDER ALERT,’ echoed around the room.
Suddenly Antaio appeared from behind the seatra.
‘I don’t know how you got away from my friends, but there’s nowhere to run now, James.’
Londuo grabbed the top of James’ arm and looked back at the open lift door.
‘Close the door, Kalrea,’ Antaio said, before calmly walking over.
The door closed slowly.
‘There’s a carrier and four of our cruisers waiting for me. This ship—’
Antaio stopped. He listened for a moment.
‘Ship secured. Disengage from the Rellopila,’ Antaio said.
With a loud bang the Aurora moved slowly away.
The red eye in the ceiling of the bridge started to glow.
‘Now it’s time to die,’ Antaio said.
James smiled.
‘You’re right, but it’s not our time.’
Antaio’s eyes opened wide, just as a bolt of light leaped from the red eye, striking him. He glowed red before dulling to orange and fading away. The telementor fell to the ground.
‘You had me worried for a moment there, Kalrea,’ James said.
‘Once back on the Aurora, you were safe, James, but I was concerned you wouldn’t make it back.’
James rushed over to the seatra,
‘Don’t worry about me, I’m more concerned about Kira! Kalrea, how is she? I’ll place her in the seatra.’
‘James! Kira’s dead. There’s nothing I can do,’ Kalrea said.
‘No, I’ll place her in the seatra. You can put her in suspended animation, until we can get help.’
Londuo touched him on the shoulder.
‘James, it’s too late.’
‘No it can’t be.’
‘I’ve scanned Kira’s body; she died three minutes ago,’ Kalrea said. ‘I’m sorry, James.’
James slumped to the floor, his back against the seatra. He placed Kira gently down next to him.
She never hurt anyone, she was so gentle. Why?
He remembered back to the time when she was running around outdoors on Brinoli. He fought hard to hold back the tears.
I must be strong.
Londuo sat down on the floor alongside him.
‘James, we both loved Kira.’
She paused, staring ahead for a moment.
‘We’ve lost everyone. All my friends are dead too, James.’
James nodded slowly and then took a deep breath.
‘I know, Londuo, I know.’
He felt Londuo’s arm around him.
‘I can’t stop thinking back to the Treitan attack on Brinoli,’ Londuo said. ‘We didn’t stand a chance. They were suicidal; their cruisers came straight at us. We had a recall order, but it was too late. There was a blinding flash when their cruisers exploded.’
James looked at her.
‘The blast disabled my drive. The fighters that survived were picked off by the Treitans, one by one.’
She paused to take a deep breath.
‘It was like they were using us for target practice. I saw my whole squadron destroyed.’
James could see tears forming in her eyes.
‘James, I had to watch my friends die. Do you know what that’s like?’
James shook his head slowly. He took Londuo’s hand in his.
Londuo continued,
‘It was so horrible, James; they couldn’t do anything. I saw Gulino’s fighter cut to pieces. Frasin was ejected, but that made no difference; they still killed her. I’ve never felt so helpless. I wanted so badly to do something to stop it.’
James eyes glazed over.
‘Londuo, I... I don’t know what to say.’
They embraced each other.
‘I expected to be next. I had to be next! But they flew straight past me. The Lonori didn’t stand a chance, James. The last thing I remember was looking back. The Lonori was falling apart; it was unrecognisable.’
She paused.
‘Then something hit my fighter. That’s all I can remember; I must have blacked out.’
‘It’s all my fault. Everyone dies around me, Londuo. Everyone! I nearly lost you. If I hadn’t believed Carol and come back to Qintaino, none of this would have happened.’
‘James, don’t be so hard on yourself. If you hadn’t come back, Earth would have been attacked by now. You’d be dead and we would have never met.’
‘That’s better than what’s happened here.’
‘No, it’s not, James. For me it’s more important that you’re here. I want to be with you!’
Londuo wiped the tears from her face. She looked at her dirty and blood-smeared hand.
‘I must look a right mess,’ she said, trying to smile.
‘Just like the first time we met on Qintaino and just as beautiful,’ James said, trying to be more cheerful.
He wiped his eyes.
‘I’m going to make them pay for this.’
James felt a deep anger inside. He stood up and walked over to where the telementor lay. He picked it up.
‘Kalrea, interc
ept all transmissions intended for Antaio,’ James said. ‘Pretend you’re still under his control and do whatever they want you to do.’
Londuo went straight over to the monitor.
‘We’re heading for their carrier,’ she said, looking over at James.
‘What’s happening, Kalrea?’
‘They’re about to take us onboard the carrier,’ Kalrea replied.
James heard the harsh clank of metal clamps gripping the Aurora’s hull roughly. Then, like a helpless fly caught in a spider’s web, it was deliberately dragged into the internal bay of the carrier. The bay doors closed slowly behind them.
‘There are five Treitan cruisers out there. Two have their weapons systems activated,’ Kalrea said. ‘Wait; it looks like one of the cruisers is turning. It’s heading back to the Rellopila. James, once it docks with the Rellopila they’ll realise you’ve both escaped.’
‘I know what you’re about to say, Kalrea,’ James said. ‘There are too many to fight.’
He looked over at Londuo.
‘You’re right of course, but I have a plan to even up the odds.’
‘James, I have to remind you that we have no rear defences,’ Kalrea said.
‘I’m aware of that, but we still have the element of surprise. I need you to calculate how long it will take you to get the Aurora out of this ship. We have to do it as quickly as possible and before the Treitans realise what’s happening.’ James said.
‘I’m on it already.’
‘How long do you think we have before they discover we’ve not onboard the Rellopila, Kalrea?’
‘About eight to ten minutes at the most.’
‘Then we must act quickly,’ Londuo said.
James looked down at Kira’s body.
‘Kalrea, I want to bury Kira later, so I need to put her somewhere safe, please.’
A small door in the wall of the bridge opened.
‘You can place Kira in her kennel. She always liked that.’
James picked her up and walked slowly over to the kennel. He gently placed Kira inside.
‘It will take 15.43 seconds to clear the carrier. I’ll need to use all the event horizon drives to break free from the clamps holding us and then a single plasma torpedo to destroy the bay doors.’ Kalrea said. ‘James, as Londuo has already said, I suggest we act as soon as possible. The Treitan ships will enter light speed in about two minutes. We’re in the centre of the group of ships.’
‘Come on, James; we need to get into the seatra,’ Londuo said.
‘I know; one moment, please.’
He took a last look at Kira while the door to the kennel closed, before walking over to the seatra. Londuo had just got inside.
‘Kalrea, did you say we are at the centre of the group of Treitan ships?’
‘Yes, just behind the lead ship.’
‘Am I right in thinking that the lead ship ahead of us is controlling light speed synchronisation?’
‘Yes, James.’
‘Good, I want to wait until we’re travelling at light speed before we make our move.’
James entered the seatra. He looked over at Londuo while the lid closed.
‘I love you, Londuo.’
‘Love you, too,’ she replied.
The Aurora sat motionless inside the Treitan carrier.
Are you all right Londuo? James thought.
Londuo started to become accustomed to the seatra.
Yes, I think so, she replied. It feels a bit strange.
The Treitan ships have just entered light speed, Kalrea informed James.
‘WEAPONS SYSTEMS ACTIVATED.’
Work out the optimum course to hit the event horizon drives of the lead cruiser, which is controlling light speed synchronisation, James thought to Kalrea.
Done! Kalrea replied.
Okay, Kalrea; it’s all yours.
‘PLASMA TORPEDOES GENERATED.’
James looked out from the rear of the ship. Just to the left was a control room. Through a large rectangular window he could see five Treitans slithering around the room.
James saw the Aurora jerk sideways, when all the drives started.
They’re asking Antaio what he’s doing, Kalrea said.
They’re about to find out, James replied.
A single plasma torpedo left the front of the ship and ripped the bay doors apart. James heard the sound of straining metal and then watched as a jet of flame from the drives struck the rear wall of the bay.
The blast shattered the control room window, instantly incinerating everything behind the ship. The noise from the drives increased, until suddenly there were three loud bangs that echoed from outside. James watched as the clamps snapped and tore and the Aurora moved rapidly away. It effortlessly pushed aside the remains of the bay doors and turned in the direction of the travelling ships. The drives pulsed for a second, allowing the Aurora to reposition itself behind the lead Treitan ship.
This is from Gulino and Frasin, James thought. The Aurora fired its remaining five plasma torpedoes into the rear of the Treitan cruiser, instantly destroying all its drives. The cruiser veered to the left, slamming against another ship, before exploding. Debris smashed against the front of the Aurora. Then, suddenly there was an explosion just off the starboard side. James watched on as two more Treitan cruisers exploded.
Dropping from light speed, Kalrea said.
The carrier was now the only surviving Treitan ship. Its port side was heavily damaged by the debris and was slowly rotating out of control.
The Treitan carrier has just activated its defence systems, Kalrea said.
‘INCOMING!’
Only a single plasma missile was fired from the front of the Treitan carrier, which flew harmlessly by. The Aurora flipped over to face the carrier.
They’re launching fighters, Kalrea said.
Work out the optimum course to take out all targets, James thought.
Already done, Kalrea replied.
Do it!
The Aurora accelerated and passed rapidly over the top of the stricken Treitan carrier, destroying any fighters that emerged. Explosions lit its path.
I can destroy the carrier on the next pass, Kalrea said.
‘PLASMA TORPEDOES GENERATED.’
This is from Kira.
The Aurora turned and accelerated toward the carrier again.
Finish this! James ordered Kalrea.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The Aurora sat motionless in space. From within the seatra, James watched the scattered remains of the Treitan carrier as it tumbled past and disappeared into the distance. He felt immensely relieved that they had managed to defeat the five Treitan ships without sustaining any damage but, also, a deep sadness, because almost everything and everyone he had come to know in the last six weeks had been erased by the Treitans. The lid of the seatra rose up and James got out. He walked over to one of the console seats and slumped into it. He stared directly at the wall in front of him.
Londuo got out of the seatra and sat in the other seat.
Out of the corner of his eye, James noticed Londuo was moving her head slowly from side to side, so he turned to see what she was doing. Londuo was feeling a large bump on her left cheek-bone with her fingers, whilst observing the reflection of her bruised face in the monitor.
‘Oww! That really hurts,’ Londuo said suddenly. ‘Why did Antaio have to hit me so hard?’
‘Do you want something to clean your face?’ James asked.
‘No, it’s okay. I have some hiaki cloths in my pocket.’
‘I can’t believe everyone’s dead,’ James said. ‘Kalrea, you scanned all the wreckage of our ships at Brinoli and Satirel. Did any of our ships escape?’
Kalrea replied over the ship’s address system.
‘One is unaccounted for; it’s the assault ship Polfin. It would have been full of people.’
‘Where would they go?’ James asked.
‘I’m sorry James, but I’ve no idea. There was no
secondary rendezvous,’ Kalrea replied.
‘Can we find them?’
‘We have as much chance of finding them as the Treitans,’ Kalrea said. ‘By now they could be tens of light years away, but we may get lucky.’
Londuo pulled out a hiaki cloth from her pocket. Her diary dropped out with it and fell onto the floor in front of them.
The diary! James stared at it for a moment before saying,
‘With everything that’s been happening, I’d forgotten about the diary. Londuo, Kalrea needs the encryption keys from it.’
Londuo picked it up.
‘Kalrea, do you really need this diary?’
‘Yes, Londuo. If I’m right, then it will unlock the impossible.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘It will tell us the future,’ Kalrea said.
‘You both seem very sure that the diary James showed me is the same diary as this, but from the future.’
‘We are, Londuo,’ Kalrea replied. ‘Let me take the encryption keys from your diary and we’ll know for sure.’
Londuo held her diary ready to insert it in the memory slot of the console.
‘Okay. However, I think you’re both going to be very disappointed. It’s all yours, Kalrea, but no personal bits, is that clear?’ she said, moving it slightly away.
‘Yes, Londuo; very clear.’
James started to worry.
What if it’s all too late? We were supposed to read it weeks ago.
Eventually, Londuo inserted her diary into the console, and a few moments later Kalrea said,
‘James, Londuo, I now have access to all the data from the burnt out diary. Londuo, the diary from the future, it’s yours.’
Londuo looked shocked.
‘It can’t be, unless… you’re both right. But… that means I must have travelled in time!’
‘Yes, Londuo.’
‘Why would I want to travel in time? And how is it possible?’
James felt anxious.
‘What does it tell us?’ he asked.
‘Everything that’s happened since you left Earth is mentioned by Londuo, in an entry she made six weeks ago when you were still on Earth.’
‘This means I… I mean the other Londuo, was also back on Earth then,’ Londuo said. ‘I don’t believe this. The other me must still be on Earth now!’
‘It mentions the attack on Dagnamk and the fact Londuo would be seriously hurt,’ Kalrea said.
The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) Page 33
