Atlantis - Return of the Nation

by Steven Cook

  He stepped in between Gilling and the prone seaman and rested his hand on the First Officers chest.

  ‘Leave him,’ he threatened.

  Sophia’s mother cut through the shouting with her calm voice.

  ‘We can’t be sure that the ship is even still afloat. Have you noticed the sky? It’s all one colour and there aren’t any clouds.’

  The rest stopped bickering and looked upwards.

  ‘Arian, may I have the telescope?’ asked Captain Briggs.

  He absently took the telescope and opened it without taking his eyes from the sky where something moving had caught his eye. Slowly he raised it and studied the strange sight above.

  As he focused the device he slowly realised what he was looking at. The telescope drifted down. The crew looked at him expectantly. The Captain looked at the telescope in his hands, checking the lens before raising it to his eye again.

  Boy picked himself up and looked around. He noticed that an unnatural silence had fallen.

  ‘Something odd is happening,’ he stated.

  ‘You’re right,’ said Captain Briggs, ‘we are in a massive bubble. The movement I saw is a pod of whales swimming past in the sky.’

  ‘No, it’s something else.’ He looked around at the trees as he heard a crashing sound.

  The rest turned quickly as they too heard the noise. A pair of creatures burst out of the dense undergrowth. The first tripped and was helped to its feet by the second.

  The stunned crew stood numbly as they stared at the pair of bull headed Minoans.

  ‘More Humans. They are like fleas on Zeus’ balls,’ cursed one. It began stumbling over the loose gravel towards them, drawing back its axe as it did.

  Gilling reacted instantly, reaching down to the embers of the fire to pull out one of the smouldering branches. Arian Martens and Volkert also grabbed branches and positioned themselves in front of the Captain and his family. The rest of the crew drew their short knives and stood nervously as the Minoan charged them.

  It paused ten feet from them and bellowed, spraying spittle and foam towards them. Without hesitating Mr Gilling stepped forwards, jabbing the smoking end of the branch at the creature.

  Carelessly the Minoan released one hand from the axe, grabbed hold of the branch and ripped it from Gilling’s hands. The first officer stumbled back as the branch was dropped to the ground.

  The Minoan swept up the axe one handed and caught Andrew Gilling a massive blow across his abdomen and chest, throwing him backwards into the remains of the fire in a shower of sparks.

  The crew started retreating as the Minoan chuckled to itself. It took the axe in both hands again and leapt forwards towards Arian. With a single swing he almost cut the unfortunate seaman in half. His body was thrown back with a scream.

  The Minoan then spotted Sarah and Sophia cowering behind Captain Briggs.

  ‘Tender meat,’ it mused.

  The rest of the crew charged forward to be pushed over by the Minoan as it moved towards the two females. It raised its axe to strike at the Captain.

  ‘Hold!’ A voice bellowed.

  A small group of three men armed with spears and swords burst out of the undergrowth thirty metres from the group.

  ‘Drop your axes and you can return to your tribes.’ The leader, a tall man with a calm, attractive face, spoke clearly and directly at the Minoan.

  The creature moved quickly. Its hand snapped out, dragging Captain Briggs away from his family and threw him towards the warriors. It then reached down and grabbed Sophia by the arm and lifted her in front of it.

  Sarah charged at the Minoan, lashing out with her nails. She caught it a couple of blows, tearing away strips of skin and drawing blood. It shoved her roughly away with the haft of the axe, causing her to fall backward. The air exploded from her lungs.

  The Minoan raised the axe and pointed it directly at the warriors.

  ‘I am leaving, with my axe and the calf. You will stay exactly where you are and I will release it when I feel safe.’

  Captain Briggs spat sand from his mouth and looked at the sandaled feet of the warrior before rolling over to look at the creature holding his daughter. He made as if to rise and attack the Minoan but a quiet word from the warrior stilled him.

  ‘Your child will be safe. Put your trust in me.’

  The second Minoan heard and considered the actions of its companion. It examined the warriors, then without saying a word it thrust the butt of its axe into the gravel and started jogging away down the beach.

  ‘Put the child and axe down and leave. This is your last opportunity,’ the warrior stated simply.

  ‘No,’ the Minoan replied evenly.

  The warrior stared evenly at the creature.

  ‘Eraz,’ he said simply.

  The warrior who had been standing behind the lead warrior stepped from behind him. He held a javelin ready at his shoulder and cast it in a smooth motion of his arm.

  The missile flew true and whipped within inches of Sophia’s head to bury into the Minoans throat. A splash of blood cascaded over Sophia as the thick blood vessels in the neck were severed.

  The lead warrior dropped his sword and jumped forward to lift Sophia from the stricken Minoan’s arm. He wiped the blood from the side of her face and smiled into her tearful face.

  ‘There you are little one. You are safe now.’

  She smiled back at him, sobbing gently.

  The warrior turned and passed the trembling girl to her mother.

  ‘I am Saraph of the Fifth Border Phalanx. We will bury your dead and take you to Atlantis.’

  *

  Atlantis 23rd May

  Danny looked over to where Saraph was in conversation with Fisher.

  ‘If that was twenty odd years ago how come they don’t look any older? They must be in his mid forties at least.’

  Sophia laughed.

  ‘Eraz is, but Saraph is older than that. I had a soft spot for him for quite a long time before I realised he was older than my father.’

  Danny looked at her in shock then looked again at Saraph.

  ‘What happened after you were all saved?’

  ‘We were taken to Atlantis and became guests of Ilissus. We originally lived here in their house, but my father and the remainder of the crew soon demonstrated their sea skills and we were able to get our own dwellings. We continued to be close friends with Saraph, Eraz and Coran. They were always together.

  ‘I was allowed to go to school where I was taught to read, write, and do mathematics. I learnt the laws of Atlantis and became a young member of society. I became quite athletic…’

  ‘I can see that,’ Danny cut in with a grin.

  Sophia blushed.

  ‘Overall I fitted in more than my parents did. It was probably because I had few memories of anything that had happened before we came to the island. They remembered their old life and could not come to terms with my brother being left behind.

  ‘In Atlantis children are indulged, often moving from one home to another. They would always be fed and their parents would always be aware of their location. My parents did not like that and attempted to keep me at home as much as possible. I did sneak out every now and then, but it was only to a few special places, like here or the crew’s homes.

  ‘I never spent the night away from home, and in general I think my parents were happy with my behaviour. Things became much more interesting when I became a teenager…’

  *

  Atlantis Academy June 1956

  Sophia stood in the second line of teenage girls and boys. There were three more lines behind her, and twenty-five in each line. In the past twelve years she had grown into a wilful young woman. Her body had developed slight curves but she maintained a slim athletic build.

  It was obvious that the children were from
many parts of Arcanadian society. The boy beside her was nearly eighteen inches taller than Sophia and broad across his chest. His hands and arms were massively developed from working the land.

  In absolute contrast the boy on her other side was shorter than her and less toned. He caught her looking at him and grinned.

  ‘What do you think you have to smile about?’ a loud voice bellowed from the front.

  The boy looked around startled and cringed as the face associated with the voice stared directly at him.

  ‘Well. I have not got all day,’ the voice bellowed.

  ‘I am smiling at meeting new friends,’ offered the boy weakly.

  The stocky instructor continued to stare at him, making him squirm. Several of the other children began giggling.

  ‘You have every right to smile. The people beside you will become your colleagues. You will be able to trust them with your life. You are no longer children. You are not, however, men or women until I say you are.

  ‘I am Nicocreon. I am to be your chief instructor. For the next six months you will be undertaking your essential military training that will allow you to call yourselves Citizens of Arcanadia. We will determine how best you can serve Arcanadia should the need arise. Some of you may show such an aptitude for military matters that you will be offered full time military positions.

  ‘You will be drilled in basic infantry manoeuvres, how to move as a unit, how to protect your colleagues and how to use the myriad weapons of the Atlantian Army. Those of you who show promise will be selected for additional training and could possibly gain officer status.’

  He paused and looked over them.

  ‘We will begin by testing your fitness. You will all run twice around the training stockade, in formation. Go.’ He pointed to his left.

  The teenagers all stood for a moment before taking a quarter turn to the right and breaking into a run. Sophia easily got into the rhythm and had no difficulty maintaining the pace. Behind her she could hear the thudding of the farm boy stomping along.

  In front of her the slim boy made the first circuit then started to struggle. Without thinking Sophia broke formation and moved alongside. He was breathing hard, his chest heaving with the strain of keeping him going. She slipped her hand around his upper arm as he stumbled.

  The boy almost tripped, but was hauled upright as the farm boy moved up on his other side and clamped his hand into his armpit.

  The majority of the teenagers continued their run, but several fell out and finished the circuits at a lower speed. After a few minutes they all regained their ranks and stood facing the instructor.

  The instructor let his gaze pass over them. The look was unmistakable in its disappointment. Finally he pointed at Sophia and her two companions.

  ‘You three step forward.’

  The rest of the teenagers looked around as they stepped through the first rank to stand before him.

  ‘Names,’ he ordered.

  ‘Sophia Briggs,’ said Sophia clearly. The instructor raised an eyebrow at the unusual name.

  ‘Aeimnestus,’ said the farm boy.

  ‘Jarak,’ said the slim boy, still dragging in huge drafts of air.

  ‘What is the matter with you?’

  ‘I have had the spring illness,’ wheezed Jarak.

  The instructor grunted.

  ‘You will get better, and if you father is anything to go by, you will become an accomplished warrior.’

  Jarak stood a bit straighter at the praise.

  The instructor addressed the rest of the ranks.

  ‘What did these three do?’

  ‘They broke formation?’ one boy offered.

  ‘Yes. But what else?’

  ‘They helped each other?’ suggested another.

  The instructor nodded.

  ‘They helped each other. It meant that one of their number did not fall by the wayside. You are colleagues. You have to rely on each other. If you fail each other today you will fail each other in the future. Everybody who made the circuit in formation must now make another circuit for failing to help their colleagues. Go.’ He turned away.

  Sophia, Jarak and Aeimnestus noted the angry stares as the ranks turned to the left. The fittest moved off in formation, leaving the three and another six standing.

  ‘Come on,’ said Sophia, making a snap decision.

  She waved at the six to get them moving. She ran to the front of the formation and held her arms out to slow them.

  ‘Everybody fall in, we do this together.’

  The instructor watched another group of older teenagers practising and idly noticed his group moving around the perimeter. He was surprised at the slow pace and noticed that the formation wasn’t even, but bunched up at intervals.

  He easily spotted the blonde hair of Sophia and smiled to himself. They were already acting as a unit, and the girl was showing initiative and potential.

  He watched as the lines slowly started to sort themselves out as the girl grouped the fitter cadets with less able recruits. In the new formation the cadets picked up the pace and quickly completed the circuit.

  They stood smiling at each other as Nicocreon slowly walked back to them.

  ‘That was pathetic. Do it again, faster this time.’

  The smiles disappeared from their faces and then took another quarter turn and began jogging off. Nicocreon smiled. This could be one of the best troops he had ever had.

  *

  Atlantis Academy August 1957

  Jarak grinned at Sophia from under the rim of his helmet and over the edge of his shield. Both were attired in heavy training armour and were carrying blunted javelins and short swords. They faced each other as a pair, surrounded by the rest of the group, also paired off.

  ‘Spear. Begin.’ ordered Nicocreon.

  The two friends approached each other and began jabbing at each other with their spears. Soon sweat was running down their bodies as they attempted to mark each other body with the spot of dye at the end of the spear.

  Around them pairs were split as one or the other marked their opponent. The winner then moved to one side to wait for the next round of combat. The losers moved to the edge of the cordoned off area and sat on the sand. Many limped or favoured limbs due to the heavy blows that had landed on them.

  Sophia and Jarak were oblivious as they concentrated on each other. They feinted and moved, neither willing to risk leaving a gap in their defence.

  After a few minutes they were the only two still locked in combat.

  ‘Hurry up, finish it off you two,’ ordered Nicocreon.

  Jarak made an attack but was beaten back by Sophia. They began trading jabs, but neither could break the defence of the other.

  ‘You four, take them.’ Nicocreon waved forward a knot of victorious teenagers.

  ‘Together?’ Sophia suggested.

  Jarak nodded. In a single movement they went from facing each other to facing the oncoming four.

  ‘Swords,’ called Nicocreon.

  Their standing instructions were for the spears to be cast and all remaining combat to take place using the swords.

  ‘Now,’ said Jarak.

  He cast his spear at one of the approaching teenagers, causing him to lift his shield to protect his head. Sophia threw a split second later, catching the boy in his stomach and doubling him over.

  ‘Out,’ called Nicocreon.

  Sophia drew her sword and ducked her head as a spear swept past. She heard another spear clatter off Jarak’s shield before thudding into the ground behind them. She flicked her head up then jerked it to one side as the last spear flew towards her.

  Instinctively she raised her shield violently and caught the tip of the spear to flip it vertically into the air. She stepped back, pulling her shield to the side and engaged the blade of the first attacker. She held hi
m in place as the spear succumbed to gravity and jabbed into his back.

  The teenager stood upright and held his back in agony.

  ‘Out,’ Nicocreon stated again.

  The boy helped his colleague to his feet and the two stumbled out of the way.

  Sophia and Jarak faced the remaining two. They glanced quickly at each other and nodded slightly.

  In one mind they attacked. In perfect synchronisation Jarak parried the blade of his opponent, creating an opening for Sophia to drop to one knee and jab her blade in. The tip struck, knocking the air out of the first teenager.

  For a second Sophia was vulnerable, and the final attacker took the opportunity to strike down. Jarak intercepted the strike on his blade as Sophia released her shield to roll forwards. She came to her feet and pirouetted to slash the final attacker across the back.

  ‘Both out, next four.’ Nicocreon smiled.

  Another four of the teenagers spread out and moved forward to attack. Sophia and Jarak wiped sweat from their brows and stood together to face them.

  *

  East of Atlantis November 1959

  ‘Jarak is late. He should have been here by now,’ whispered Aeimnestus, raising his head to look around.

  Sophia looked at the man beside her. In the last six months he had broadened out even more. Even now he breathed in deeply, straining the tunic and light armour he was wearing.

  ‘Do not worry. He will be here.’ Sophia listened carefully. Her sensitive ears heard the sound of running feet.

  ‘Positions,’ she called lightly, her clear voice reaching the rest of the squad.

  She and another twenty cadets ducked down behind bushes that had been transplanted to provide a corridor down the centre of the small fold of ground that was concealing them. She took one last look and was satisfied.

  Two hundred metres away and out of sight of the waiting cadets, Jarak was easily running over the tough grass of the plain. In the distance behind him there was the sign of a camp. Two cadets accompanied him and together they were leading a dozen warriors away from the camp. The warriors were making every attempt to catch the three but Jarak was judging the pace precisely.

  Jarak risked a look behind him and noticed the leader of the following group raise his hand to slow the charge.