by Lyra Shanti
Disturbing his dream came a loud thud, followed by screams and hollers. Goral darted up, wondering what was happening. He threw on his captain’s jacket, then ran up the stairs to the bridge.
“What was that noise?!” he shouted. Before he could be answered, however, he saw Navigator Eloy’s mouth agog as he looked upwards toward the sky. Following Eloy’s gaze, Goral saw the creature for himself and was amazed.
It was hideous with glossy eyes all over its giant, black body and jagged teeth on its tentacles, which were flailing everywhere. Goral stared, shocked, as the creature thrashed the ship’s mast.
“Activate the plasma-shield!” ordered Goral with a panicked voice.
“I tried already, Captain!” shouted Eloy. “The shield isn’t reacting!”
The creature then grabbed two of the crew and squashed them in its toothy tentacles.
“Do something!” Goral screamed.
Not knowing what else to do, Eloy switched the red lever on his panel, which fired the ship’s plasma-cannon directly at the enormous creature. The explosion was intense, and the aftershock pushed their ship backwards about twenty yards.
When the shock wave was over, Goral picked himself up from the floor and saw that Eloy had been knocked out cold. “Fine! I’ll steer the ship myself!” Goral yelled. He didn’t have any experience with navigation, nor steering, but he was so filled with fear that he attempted to take command anyway.
Pushing buttons and levers randomly, nothing seemed to make a difference; the ship didn’t move. Goral looked ahead and saw no sign of the hideous creature. Assuming it had perished from the cannon’s blast, Goral smirked and began fantasizing about how heroic he will seem to Vax, and the entire Family. He imagined returning to the palace at Lesnia with Lod Zin awarding him a medal of honor. Land, title, and glory was all Goral had ever wanted in life. He could only hope he’d attain all three again, and perhaps even give his ex-wife another chance. Last he heard, Bolgara was working at Luceon’s bar as a hostess. Serves that slut right, he thought, grimacing and bearing his jagged teeth.
Breaking Goral’s train of thought was Eloy’s moaning. He’s still alive? Goral silently asked. Perhaps he can find a way to make the ship move again, he thought as he went to Eloy and knelt by him.
“Don’t worry,” said Goral, feigning genuine care, “I’ve got you.” Slowly, he picked up the young navigator and helped him to sit up. “Are you injured?”
“I think I hit my head,” said Eloy.
Noticing the young man’s head was bleeding, Goral inspected the wound. “Yes, you need bandaging. Let me get you one from the first aid box. Hold on.”
As Goral got up to search for bandages, he heard a strange noise coming from the deck of the ship; it was almost like a howl. I hope that’s not coming from other injured crew mates, he thought as he grabbed the first aid box. He didn’t want to have to act as the ship’s doctor, but the actual medic was nowhere in sight.
Again, he heard howling, though it seemed even closer. There was something unnatural in its timbre, and it gave Goral a shiver in his spine. Just then, he heard Eloy’s voice say, “No… no! Stay away!”
Goral turned around with bandages in his hands and saw a dark, dripping wet figure slowly walking toward Eloy. “Get away from him!” commanded Goral, but the shadowy figure did not stop walking. Again, Goral shouted, “Stay back, whoever you are, or I’ll shoot!”
The figure slowly looked up, exposing its deathly face. Goral recognized the person immediately; it was Medic Purn, except it wasn’t. The figure had Purn’s face, but it was overtly pale with sunken eyes. Goral didn’t like the look on Purn’s lifeless face. “Get away from him!” ordered Goral, dropping the bandages while taking out his plasma-gun, preparing to shoot.
Purn looked back down at Eloy and reached for his arm. Goral didn’t think twice and shot at Purn’s head, which covered the medic in plasma-light. Purn shook and convulsed, then fell to the floor, landing next to Eloy.
“Hurry,” said Goral. “Can you get to your feet? Let’s get out of here!”
“Was that Medic Purn?” asked Eloy, shocked.
“I think so...“ replied Goral as he helped Eloy to his feet.
“But he looked dead,” Eloy said in disgust. “How is that possible?”
“I don’t know, and I don’t care,” replied Goral. “Let’s get to a lifeboat and get off this ship!”
Eloy nodded and stumbled away from the bridge with Goral’s help. They headed to the main deck and searched for a lifeboat.
“There!” said Goral, pointing to the side of the ship. “Untie the other side, and we’ll get out of here!”
Eloy nodded, though he wasn’t moving too fast. Still bleeding from the wound on the back of his head, he felt dizzy and weak. Trying his best to focus, he managed to untie the boat from its fastening rope.
“Good boy,” said Goral as the lifeboat fell down to the sea. “Now climb down! Hurry!”
Eloy nodded and began to climb down the ladder on the side of the ship. As Goral watched Eloy, he had a terrible feeling that he himself was being watched.
Again, he heard the howling. Whipping around, Goral shot his gun before even seeing what was coming at him. As the plasma cleared, he couldn’t believe what he saw. It was Purn once again.
No, he’s dead, Goral told himself. He has to be dead!
“Captain Seith?” shouted Eloy. “I’ve made it to the lifeboat. Are you coming?”
Goral was just about to respond when he saw Purn get up yet again. “Impossible,” mumbled Goral. About to shoot at the resistant medic once more, he heard another howling sound, but this time, from his rear. He turned around and saw more of his crew, yet they were all pale and dripping with water.
Slowly, they came toward him. He shot his plasma-gun, but nothing worked. Again and again, they got back up and walked closer and closer to where he stood. Reaching out with their shriveled, wet hands, they grabbed at Goral as he shrieked in terror.
Then, everything went silent as Eloy was left to wonder. Deducing that Goral was not joining him, he activated the motor of the lifeboat, and then headed anywhere but the sea.
Chapter 13: The Key
Axis couldn’t believe his eyes. He was standing by the Hana-Lo mountains, near the Holy River, yet he saw there were Whinley trees by the dozen, despite being near extinction in his own time. He was in awe about the abundant green, but even more so, he was stunned to see the two Sarax walking toward him.
“Father,” said the pale female Sarax, “I found him by the river. Can you believe it? Xam has finally returned to us!”
“No, Irix,” said the imposing red and gold Sarax, “this is not my nephew.”
“What?” she replied, shocked by his response. “Of course it is.”
“No, this is not him. He is… different.”
Irix crossed her arms and threw back her white-gold hair. “Don’t you think I would recognize my own husband?”
He sighed and said, “No, Daughter, you mistake my meaning. This is not Xam, though it is indeed his soul, or at least a very similar one. What is your name, young Sarax?”
A little stunned and wobbly, Axis replied, “I… uh… I’m…”
“Do you not know your name?” the red and gold Sarax teased with a grin.
“Yes, but I…” Axis said, stuttering.
“Hmm, you’re obviously time-sick. I can tell you’re from a different time than we are - that much is obvious - but are you from the past or the future?”
“I think I’m from your future,” Axis replied softly.
“Ah, of course. Irix, let’s bring him home. He will be able to tell us more when he has recovered.”
Irix nodded, then turned to Axis and gently said, “It will be alright, Xam… or whoever you are now.”
“My name is Axis,” he replied.
“What?!” snapped Irix’s father. “Did you just say your name is Axis?”
Axis gulped and looked at him with sheepish eyes. �
��Yes,” he quietly responded.
“This isn’t good,” grumbled the imposing male Sarax. “Come with me, both of you.”
Confused, Axis followed behind while Irix held his arm for assurance. “I am certain my father will make sense of everything,” she said as they walked. “He usually does.”
Axis wasn’t sure at first, but as they walked, he became certain the red and gold Sarax in front of him was indeed Raxas. He was surprised by how young and virile Raxas seemed in comparison to the angry old man he met in his own time. Also surprising was the Sirini form Raxas was currently presenting himself. In Axis’ time, it seemed beneath Raxas to appear Sirini, but here he was, walking around on legs like an average person.
Irix was in Sirini form too, walking beside him, and Axis was glad. Her arm wrapped around his was comforting and familiar. Looking at her while they walked, a stray thought came into his mind: Could she be the past incarnation of Srah? I really hope she is.
As they walked up the winding path of the highest mountain, Axis thought about something else that seemed strange to him. Raxas called me Nephew instead of Grandson, I wonder why. He called me Grandson when we met in my own time. Why would he make such a noticeable error?
With many swirling questions in his mind, his thoughts veered the instant he saw Raxas’ house. It was a large, many tiered castle made of a golden-colored stone. Looking at all the plants and flowers that were extinct in his own time, Axis stood at the entrance, amazed at what he saw. There were also Zeewah animals in a stable nearby and a circular building that Axis thought might be a healing or prayer type of house. It was all so majestic, and not at all like what he had imagined Raxas to have once owned.
“Amazing!” Axis blurted out.
Raxas turned around and smiled. “Yes, I am sure to you it is,” he replied as he waved his red-clawed hand in front of a door. It then opened and they walked inside.
The inner design of the house was just as awe-striking to Axis as the outside. With Sarax-shaped drawings and paintings everywhere on the walls and furniture, the entire place had a feel that was ornate and ancient.
“How long has your family lived here?” asked Axis, overtaken by curiosity.
“For many generations,” replied Raxas. “This is the royal house of Xam the First, my great grandfather.”
Axis nodded, though he didn’t really understand their lineage. He hoped he would eventually come to know it well.
Offering him a chair, Raxas sat down and clapped his hands. Soon, a holographic image popped up in front of them.
“Yes, my Lord?” replied the image of a blonde-haired Sirni woman.
“Please fetch us water… and clarity herbs for our guest.”
“Yes, my Lord,” she said, then disappeared.
Axis shook his head, confused. Did Sirin even have holographic technology a thousand years ago? he asked himself. I can’t believe this!
“So…” said Raxas, “you are Axis, and you have traveled here from what time exactly?”
“Um,” replied Axis as he sat down on a red and gold chair, trying his best to remember the exact time he left Srah, “I don’t really remember the date, but my king and best friend is King Ayn. You will actually meet him later in your life, I believe, and then we’ll-”
“That’s enough,” said Raxas. “None of us should know too much about our futures, for they are not fixed in time, and could change by a mere thought, thus possibly creating a paradox.”
Irix sat down next to Axis and smiled sweetly at him. It was comforting, though he still felt strangely out of place.
Axis wanted to ask Raxas about paradoxes and how they worked, but he was interrupted by the servant girl with blonde hair, the real person this time. She brought them stone goblets of water, then gave Axis a packet of herbs to drink down with his water. She smiled at him, bowed to Raxas, then left the room, heading to the massively long hallway to their left.
“So… you have servants?” Axis inquired after drinking the mysterious herbs, which tasted minty and pleasant.
“Yes,” said Raxas, “does that surprise you?”
“A little, yes. Actually, it surprises me a lot.”
Raxas grinned and said, “I suppose I do not have servants in the future.”
“Nope,” replied Axis, not wanting to reveal too much.
“Father?” said Irix.
“Yes?”
“May I show Xam, um… I mean, Axis, to his room? He will be staying with us for a while, will he not? At least until he regains his equilibrium?”
“Yes, of course,” said Raxas, “if that is what Axis wishes.”
Axis nodded and said, “I’d love to stay for a while, though I do have to return to my time. I have a family and-”
“Yes, of course you do,” Raxas interrupted, seemingly on purpose. “Irix, please show our guest to his quarters. Perhaps, he’ll find them… familiar.”
“Come, let me show you,” she said, taking his hand with a smile.
Axis got up and followed her for a bit. He then turned around and said, “Raxas…”
“Yes?” the lord of the mansion replied as he stood.
“I have many questions, especially about how I got here, but I’m mostly just wondering one thing right now.”
“Yes?” said Raxas with a raised brow.
“Um… why did you call me your nephew? In the future, you called me your grandson. I don’t understand why you’d-”
“I told you not to talk to me about my future,” Raxas scolded with a stern face.
“But!”
Taking Axis off-guard, Raxas instantly changed into a more Sarax-looking face and grew taller. His teeth grew larger as well, and it scared Axis half to death. Reminded of when Axis first met Raxas on the mountain, he could see the madness that would eventually take hold inside Raxas’ eyes, even if it was just a glimpse in comparison.
“I’m sorry,” Axis murmured.
Raxas changed shape again, becoming smaller - back to his Sirini form. “No, I am sorry, my boy,” he replied with a sigh. “I am more worried for you and my daughter than for myself, yet… these are things I feel we should speak about in private. Later tonight, I will send for you… once you’ve rested. Then, we shall speak openly.”
Axis nodded, though still baffled by Raxas’ behavior.
Leaving the main sitting room, he and Irix walked through the stony hallway. He looked up and noticed the over-sized tapestries on the walls. Detailed and textured, they displayed multicolored Sarax beings with golden light coming from their mouths.
“Are these depictions of our ancestors?” he asked Irix.
She smiled and said, “Of course, they are. Don’t you remember them? All Sarax can remember our great ancestors.”
“I… um,” he replied, “I guess so, but more… in dreams.”
“You’ll remember more as time goes on, my love,” she said with a gentle smile.
She calls me ‘her love,’ he thought, slightly giddy, as she led him to a big, majestic room with a large, red and gold, canopied bed.
“This is amazing!” he blurted out as he ran to the bed. “Is it really mine to sleep in?”
“Yes, of course,” she replied, smiling as she entered the room behind him. “It was my husband’s room. It used to be mine as well, but… I haven’t slept here since he went missing.”
“Xam, right? What happened to him?”
Irix sighed and tugged a little on the end of her long and wavy, strawberry-colored hair. “It’s hard to explain, but… my father thinks Xam jumped too fast into time and space, and possibly destroyed his body. I personally refuse to believe he’s gone. I choose to believe he is just traveling so far we can’t sense him by our usual methods. I’m sure he’ll come back.”
Axis bit his bottom lip and said, “I… hope you’re right.”
She tilted her head and asked, “Do you feel his presence?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well… I sense his spirit in you. I thi
nk maybe you could be his reincarnation, which means he died before your time, but that doesn’t mean he’s dead in mine, and he is Sarax; time is rather bendable to those of us who can travel. If you are indeed his soul, reborn in a future incarnation, it’s possible you could feel his current location, though I know that might be difficult for you. You seem young. Yet, you have traveled so far, so you must be very powerful.”
Axis blushed and bashfully nudged the side of his head against the post at the foot of the bed. “Thanks,” he shyly replied. It was strange; he hadn’t ever felt this excited or romantically nervous. Even when he first met Srah, he was running on the pent up sexual energy of his youth, and it gave him confidence without having to think much about it. He had always known he could have Srah, as if it was written in the stars. With Irix, however, he felt like a little boy.
Wanting to kiss her, but feeling too embarrassed to try, he looked down at the floor. Irix then came up close to him and raised his chin with her gentle hand. He looked into her yellowy-green eyes and swallowed. She leaned into his ear and whispered, “Xam? Are you there, my love?”
Feeling his heart pound, Axis breathed hard and closed his golden eyes. She’s really getting to me, but is she really my wife? he asked himself. Is it wrong if I kiss her? Oh, Gods, forgive me, Srah!
Next thing Axis knew, he was holding Irix by her shoulders, kissing her with all his passion. Feeling the soft skin of her bare, pale shoulders, which were exposed through her lavender dress, Axis felt light-headed and happy. Yes, he thought, it feels like Srah’s lips… and her very soul coming through them. Relieved, Axis stopped kissing her for a moment so he could look into her eyes.
“It really is you,” he whispered with a smile.
Irix opened her eyes and smiled in return. “And it is you as well, my love,” she replied.
Unable to help themselves, they grabbed at each other’s backs. They desperately wanted to touch souls through lovemaking, and so they found themselves on top of the bed.
