Aurora Saga 2 Immortality for Life

by Adrian Fulcher

  Supora stirred from her sleep. She yawned and then rubbed her eyes.

  Ah, she’s finally waking up.

  ‘How long was I asleep?’ Supora asked.

  ‘Just over three day, five hours.’

  ‘Three days! Tell me you haven’t been sitting there for three days?’

  Kalrea smiled, and then said, ‘I’ve nothing better to do. Anyway, we’re still five days from Trafth. That’s where the Aurora’s heading.’

  Kalrea helped Supora up into a sitting position next to her.

  ‘What is this place?’ Supora asked, gazing up at the lattice frame that supported the domed front window.

  ‘We’re on a small ship, known as an Antrolo transport. It’s one of my ships.’

  Supora peered out of the window. ‘We’re travelling very fast by the look of those passing stars.’

  ‘Yes, we are.’

  ‘It’s so beautiful,’ Supora said. ‘Asnica and Doine would love to be here. You’re very young Kalrea, so do you have any children yet?’

  She doesn’t know what I really am.

  ‘I can’t have children.’

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry to hear that.’

  ‘Supora, there are a lot of things you don’t know about me, things that will surprise you-’

  Supora interrupted. ‘We all have surprises hidden away. I tend not to listen to all that gossip. I’m sure the others will bombard me with their stories about you.’

  ‘But you don’t understand.’

  Supora felt her chest. ‘How hurt was I?’

  ‘You were dying slowly. I’m afraid you’ve lost your left lung and heart.’

  Supora looked shaken. ‘Oh, that’s… that’s serious.’

  ‘But the doctor on Onliv said you would still be able to live a normal life,’ Kalrea said trying to be more positive.

  ‘So you took me to a hospital. Why?’

  ‘Asnica asked me to help you. How could I say no to a sweet little girl?’ Kalrea said.

  ‘She does that with me and Valon too,’ Supora said managing a hint of a smile, but the mention of Valon’s name brought back her sadness.

  ‘Thank you for saving my life, Kalrea. I will be forever in your debt.’

  ‘You owe me nothing. I did what I thought was right.’

  ‘But you risked your life for me.’

  ‘Supora, as I’ve been trying to tell you, I’m not what you think I am. What you see is me, but not the whole of me.’

  Supora seemed puzzled.

  Kalrea continued, ‘I’m really on my ship, the Aurora. In fact, I am the Aurora. This body is only a drone.’

  ‘I’m not sure I really understand you.’

  ‘I’m an artificial intelligence,’ Kalrea said, feeling nervous of the reaction she was about to receive.

  ‘A machine!’ Supora said. ‘I find that hard to believe.’

  ‘Well I am. I’m sorry if that upsets you.’

  Kalrea was now waiting for a barrage of questions.

  ‘Who said, it upsets me? Not me! A few days ago I thought my race was all that existed in the universe. It was what I believed. I now know we’re not the only ones, so why should I be upset by what you are? I actually think that you must have a soul. Simple machines without a soul would not be sensitive to what a little girl says. You are talking to me… You saved my life! I will not treat you differently from any other person I know.’

  I wasn’t expecting that.

  ‘Now I really feel hungry. Do you have anything to eat onboard this ship?’ Supora asked.

  ‘I’ll get some food for you,’ Kalrea replied.

  ‘No, Kalrea. I’d… I’d like to get up, please.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes, I want to move around a bit. I feel all stiff and… Ow! Yes… in a little bit of pain.’

  Kalrea helped Supora carefully out of the seatra.

  Supora glanced around the bridge. ‘Interesting ship! It looks to me as if people lie on the floor to fly this thing.’

  ‘Yes, they do, on these pads,’ Kalrea said, pointed at a mat on the floor. ‘That’s why the window is above us.’

  ‘But there’s no one here, so who’s flying it now?’

  ‘Me!’ Kalrea replied.

  ‘Oh,’ Supora said. ‘I see you have a number of interesting talents.’

  Kalrea smiled, before answering, ‘Yes, some of which can make people a bit scared of me.’

  ‘That I can believe. So where do I find food on this ship then?’

  ‘They have a small galley just off the main corridor,’ Kalrea replied, gesturing towards the exit of the bridge. ‘It’s over there.’

  ‘Come on then, give me a hand,’ Supora said in a determined voice. ‘Let’s see what there is on this… what was the name?’

  ‘It’s an Antrolo transport,’ Kalrea replied.

  The kitchen was a very small room with hardly enough space for two people to enter. Located within individual recesses in two of the walls were transparent triangular-pyramid-shaped boxes, each containing four equal shaped compartments with colourful dried foods in them. A short tube protruded out from each point of the pyramid.

  ‘Call this a galley,’ Supora said cheerfully. ‘It’s more like a cupboard!’

  ‘Well, it is only a transport. It wasn’t meant for large banquettes.’

  ‘Erm... Well let’s see what there is.’

  Kalrea pulled one of the pyramids from its recess. Handing it to Supora, she said,

  ‘I’m afraid it’s all Antrolian, so I’m not sure what you’ll make of it.’

  Supora briefly studied it and then sucked some powdered food from one of the tubes. ‘Very dry, isn’t it?’ she commented. ‘And is bitter!’ Supora pulled a face. ‘How old is this stuff?’

  ‘Is about five hundred and sixty years old, but don’t worry it’s perfectly safe. Antrolian dry foods can be stored for over one thousand years.’

  ‘And there was me hoping that I’d got one that had gone off. Aren’t you going to have any?’

  ‘Fortunately, I don’t need to eat,’ Kalrea said, with a large grin on her face.

  ‘I’ve no idea what I’m eating,’ Supora said, and glancing to Kalrea added. ‘And even if you told me, I suspect it wouldn’t help.’

  Kalrea felt very relaxed being around Supora and was experiencing a sense of joy, like that feeling you get when you meet someone for the first time and instantly click, as if you were two old friends. She knew this could be the beginning of a special relationship between them.

  ‘I hope the Antrolians drink,’ Supora remarked. ‘This stuff’s very dry and I need something to get rid of this awful taste. I hope some of the other food in this box is better than the one I just tried.’

  ‘Oh, yes. I should have got you a drink.’

  Kalrea quickly got a long green cylinder, about twice the length of a beer can, from a compartment stacked full of them. She prised off a tag from one of the ends and handed it to Supora.

  ‘That’s a drink,’ Supora said with surprise, and then squeezed some into her mouth.

  ‘To an Antrolian, yes,’ Kalrea replied.

  ‘It’s not too bad, but I didn’t think you needed to chew on a drink. Is there anywhere to sit down?’ she asked, walking slowly back onto the bridge.

  ‘They don’t have chairs,’ Kalrea said. ‘I suggest I put a few of those pads against the wall, so we can sit on them.’

  Kalrea arranged the pads, and they sat down together. She noticed Supora looking sad, while she ate.

  ‘Is the food all right?’ Kalrea asked.

  ‘Is not that good really, but it seems to be all we have.’ And she went on eating in silence, but Kalrea could see that she was deep in thought, troubled thought.

  After a few minutes Supora said, ‘I can’t get the image of Valon, lying dead on that bed, out of my head. Where is his body?’

  ‘There wasn’t time to recover the bodies. I’m sorry, but I had no choice but to leave him. We had to get out of th
ere,’ Kalrea said.

  ‘I understand, Kalrea. I wasn’t blaming you. I just wish it had been someone else on that table. I know it’s a cruel thing to say, but Asnica and Doine have lost their father.’

  ‘Would you like to see and speak to them?’ Kalrea said.

  Supora perked up and said, ‘We can do that from here?’

  ‘Absolutely, I’ll open an audio-visual link. I’ll speak with Zoren and ask him to bring Asnica and Doine to the bridge of the Aurora.’

  Supora started to look at her reflection in the wall of the bridge. ‘Do I look all right?’ she asked, seemingly excited.

  ‘You look fine. I’m sure they’ll be really happy to see you. We’ll need to lie down on the floor under one of the terminals.’

  Kalrea helped Supora over to a mat on the floor. They both laid down and the terminal, which was above them, descended to within arm’s length.

  Kalrea glanced over to Supora, who was feeling her chest where her wound was.

  ‘Are you sure you’re all right?’ she asked.

  Supora nodded back. ‘It only hurts occasionally.’

  A screen illuminated and Zoren appeared. He was standing in front of the monitor on the bridge of the Aurora. Meanwhile, Asnica and Doine, who had been informed by Zoren that their mother was waiting to speak to them, had arrived on the bridge. They were eagerly peering around the side of Zoren at the monitor.

  ‘Hi, Zoren,’ Kalrea said.

  ‘Kalrea, good to see you,’ he replied pleased.

  Kalrea moved her screen, so Asnica and Doine could see Supora. They quickly pushed in front of Zoren.

  ‘Mummy!’ Doine shouted out.

  Supora reached out towards the screen as if she could touch Doine.

  ‘Hello, sweetheart.’

  ‘Mummy, we’re on a big ship,’ Doine said quickly. ‘All the other children are here.’

  ‘Mum, dad’s had an accident,’ Asnica said. ‘The others say he won’t be coming back here.’

  Supora didn’t answer, so Kalrea glanced at her. Supora had tears in her eyes and turned her head away to hide them. Kalrea moved the screen, so that the children could not see her crying.

  ‘Your mum knows about your dad,’ Kalrea said. ‘Are you two both behaving yourselves?’

  Asnica nodded.

  ‘Kalrea, the baby Glonvis are running around now,’ Doine said excited. ‘And… And they are eating out of our hands.’

  ‘Can we pick them up?’ Asnica asked.

  ‘They’re not old enough yet,’ Kalrea replied. ‘Wait until Supora and I get back. If you’ve both been looking after them, then yes you can.’

  ‘Thanks, Kalrea,’ Asnica said.

  Kalrea noticed that Supora had composed herself, so repositioned the screen once more so Supora could see.

  ‘Mum, when will you be back?’ Asnica asked.

  ‘Oh, in about five days I think,’ Supora replied.

  ‘Can’t you get here any sooner?’ Asnica said.

  Supora smiled. ‘I wish I was there now. We’re going as fast as we can.’

  ‘Are you still hurt?’ Doine said abruptly.

  ‘No, a kind doctor made me better.’

  ‘Doctor Korye had an accident too,’ Asnica said, ‘just like dad.’

  ‘I know,’ Supora replied sadly.

  ‘Why couldn’t dad be made better like you?’ Asnica asked.

  ‘I’m afraid your father was more hurt than me,’ Supora said lying.

  Asnica looked glum as she nodded her head.

  ‘Children, we have to try to carry on without him.’ She felt her chest once more. It was obvious to Kalrea that she was in pain. ‘I’m going to have to get some rest now. Mummy still needs to get better, ok? I’ll see you both soon.’

  ‘Ok, mum,’ they both said together. ‘Bye, mum! Bye, Kalrea!’

  ‘I miss you!’ Supora waved at them, before Kalrea ended the transmission.

  Kalrea could sense Supora was happier now that she had seen her children, but she could also see that all that moving around had aggravated her wound. She helped her back into the seatra so she could get some sleep.

  As Supora laid back she said, ‘Thank you, for letting me talk to my girls. I can see they’re being well looked after, but will they be safe on your ship?’

  ‘Believe me, that’s the safest place for your people at the moment. I promise you, no one’s going to get onboard my ship.’

  ‘I believe you, but why are you doing all this for us?’

  ‘Call it fate or just good luck. I found Zoren on the Polnozoo and he was all alone and in need of help. I needed a pilot-’

  ‘Pilot!’ Supora repeated interrupting her.

  Kalrea now felt anxious and wished she had not mentioned the needed for a pilot because she did not want Supora to start thinking that she did not control her own destiny, so added, ‘What I really meant is, I made him my pilot to make him feel wanted and then agreed to help find all of you.’

  ‘I’m amazed Zoren managed to persuade you. He’s always been someone who wants to have fun and is happy for others to make decisions for him.’

  Kalrea nodded her head slowly. ‘Yes, that may have been the case a week ago, but he’s changed. I think he’s quite a lovable character.’

  ‘I know! But you may not think that if he plays a prank on you.’

  ‘Well actually, he has already,’ Kalrea said, thinking back to when Zoren was learning to fly the shuttle, ‘but I have to say it was me who played a trick on him first.’

  ‘You played a trick on Zoren! I would have liked to have seen that. Is Sabri with him?’

  ‘No, she was taken with thirty-two others to a planet called Trafth. The Aurora will arrive there tomorrow. Hopefully, we’ll find all of them safe.’

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  The following morning, Zoren and Gulco returned to the bridge of the Aurora. Kalrea had informed them that they were nearing their destination, the planet Trafth and the plan was to locate the De’fego.

  The view from the front of the Aurora was displayed on the monitor. A large planet predominantly covered by yellow water, which gave it the appearance of a ripe fruit ready to be picked, came into view. Looking like blue blemishes on its surface, the planet was dotted will millions of miniscule islands. In orbit around Trafth was a space station, which was a mixture of different styles of construction making it look like a piece of abstract art.

  While the Aurora approached the planet, Kalrea scanned the area.

  ‘The ship we’re looking for, the De’fego, is currently docked onto that space station, which you can see on the monitor,’ she informed them.

  Kalrea turned the Aurora towards the station. As it neared, a very sleek and new-looking white ship came into view, which stood instantly out from the chaos of the structure behind it. It was about the same size as the Aurora and had the name De’fego embossed in bright red letters on its side.

  ‘Scanners indicate no other ships in this area of space,’ Kalrea said.

  Zoren was feeling trepidation about what might happen next, so asked. ‘What are we going to do?’

  ‘Well, I’m going to dock the Aurora there. I need to access their computer system and I can’t do it from this distance.’

  ‘I thought you wanted to keep the Aurora out of sight?’ Zoren said.

  ‘I want to make them feel uneasy. After all, the Aurora is far more advanced than other ships in this galaxy and it’s a complete mystery to everyone, so I’m hoping that will make them sit up and take note,’ Kalrea said, before adding, ‘We’re being hailed.’

  ‘…to unidentified ship. Please respond,’ a woman said, over the Aurora’s communications system.

  ‘Ok, which one of you wants to be the captain of the Aurora?’ Kalrea said. ‘Zoren?’

  ‘What… No, not me! Gulco, he’ll do it. He’s used to this sort of thing.’

  Gulco glanced at Zoren and then asked Kalrea. ‘What... What do I say?’

  ‘Say who you are. Th
ey’re expecting us anyway, so we may as well make ourselves known. And see if you can get a docking port.’

  Kalrea opened an audio-visual link. The monitor showed a dark-skinned woman who had a number of piercing on her head.

  She looks like a Gullin or maybe even a Xangol, but what are those metal things in her eye balls? How disgusting! He frowned at the thought of them.

  ‘Welcome to Trafth, Satellite two. How can I assist you?’ the woman said in a strong manly voice.

  ‘Oh. Er… This is Captain Gulco. This is the Aurora requesting… requesting a docking port… Er, please.’

  ‘We should be coming into visual range, just about now!’ Kalrea said quietly in the background.

  Why is she telling us that? Zoren thought.

  ‘I know that ship!’ the woman said with surprise. ‘Captain, have you been here before?’

  ‘Er… No, I… I don’t think so,’ Gulco said. ‘How do you mute this?’ he added quietly.

  ‘It’s now on mute,’ Kalrea said.

  ‘Kalrea, have you been to Trafth before?’ Gulco asked.

  ‘No,’ Kalrea replied, ‘and Gulco, say mute when you don’t want them to hear you.’

  ‘Oh, ok.’

  ‘What did you say the name of your ship was, Captain?’ the woman said.

  ‘The Aurora,’ Gulco replied.

  ‘Commander, take a look at the ship on approach,’ the woman said to someone out of view to her left. ‘Have you seen that ship before?’

  ‘Yes, I’ve seen a ship exactly like that… now where was it. It was… Yes it was on the Polnozoo. That’s where I’ve seen that ship before. What’s it doing here?’

  ‘Captain, identify yourself,’ the woman ordered.

  ‘My name is Gulco. I am an Agonian.’

  The woman placed her microphone on mute. She talked to the person to her left.

  ‘Mute! What should I say now?’ Gulco said.

  ‘Don’t worry, Gulco, you’re doing fine,’ Kalrea said reassuringly.

  The woman turned back to Gulco, ‘You are cleared for docking port six.’

  The monitor went blank.