‘I don’t think so. I believe Lady Sathodee was worried that if she carried on trying to sell them, then I would have easily intercepted her, so she asked her son, Lord Saylmon, to keep them. I’m sure she’s on her way to Linud now. We’ll arrive about five hours before her, so that gives us plenty of time to save them.’
‘What do you know of this Lady Sathodee?’ Zoren asked. ‘She makes me feel so inferior.’
‘Well she’s six hundred and twenty-eight years old, has had sixty-two husbands and mothered forty-five children over the years. All except one of those have passed on due to old age.’
‘So none of her family is immortal.’
‘That’s right, but for some reason she seems to have suddenly decided that she wants her latest son to become immortal.’
‘I would have thought she would have made him immortal first, before Hifmo,’ Zoren said.
‘He’s seventeen in three days time, the age of adulthood for a Xangol. Most of the immortals are that age. I believe the attack on the Polnozoo was with that in mind.’
Chapter Thirty-Three
Zoren should have been feeling excited at the prospect of seeing his homeworld, Linud, for the very first time, but instead the thought of not being able to share the moment with Sabri made him feel indifferent.
On entering the bridge of the Aurora, he could see that Gulco was sitting at one of the consoles, expectantly waiting for Linud to appear on his monitor, with Kalrea sitting alongside him. They were both chatting and Gulco was pointing to a small white dot on the monitor.
‘…So that’s the planet where we came from,’ Gulco said. Upon noticing that Zoren had entered the room, he added, ‘Look, Zoren, that’s Linud.’
‘Oh,’ Zoren replied, ambling apathetically over to them.
As Linud rapidly filled the monitor, the noise from the Aurora’s event horizon drives lessened.
Gulco continued, ‘The planet looks so different from the Linud we could see from the space station on the Polnozoo. It’s far more beautiful. The clouds are so bright, not grey at all,’ and then pointing to the monitor added, ‘Look at the lush blue land and those yellow oceans.’
‘It is one of the most beautiful planets I’ve seen,’ Kalrea remarked. ‘I’m sorry you’re not returning to live there.’
‘Me too, Kalrea. Me too,’ Gulco replied. ‘What do you think, Zoren?’
‘It’s just another world,’ he said feebly.
‘But you always wanted to set foot on Linud,’ Kalrea said, turning to him with a disappointed look on her face.
‘It doesn’t have the same meaning to me anymore,’ Zoren said. ‘Sabri’s not here. Anyway, it’s a grave yard. Remember, it was stolen from us. The Xangols killed all our people for their own gain-’
Kalrea interrupted. ‘We’re being hailed,’ and then a man’s voice came through the communications system,
‘…This is the Linud 6 tracking station. You have no clearance to be in this sector. Identify yourself or you will be fired upon.’
‘Friendly welcome,’ Kalrea said cheerfully and then in a serious voice added, ‘We’re here to see Lord Saylmon.’
‘Discontinue your current course and turn away from the planet,’ the man replied with authority.
‘What’s your name?’ Kalrea asked him.
There was no reply.
‘All right, have it your way,’ Kalrea said to him.
The noise from the event horizon drives increased and the Aurora accelerated towards the planet.
‘This is the Linud 6 tracking station. Do not continue on your approach to Linud.’ The man now sounded agitated.
‘I asked you what your name is,’ Kalrea said. ‘I take it you do have a name?’
‘The planetary defence system has locked onto your ship. This is your last warning. Turn away from the planet, or you will be destroyed.’
‘Kalrea, I think they’re firing on us,’ Gulco said, as he observed flashes of light coming from satellites in orbit around the planet.
‘That’s a lot of missiles,’ Zoren commented.
The Aurora continued to accelerate.
Zoren could hear deafening bangs, followed by a dull thud as the missiles exploded against the hull. Missiles impacted on all sides of the ship.
‘Don’t look so concerned, Gulco,’ Kalrea said. ‘The Aurora has had worse than this thrown at it.’
Zoren felt a jolt, which almost knocked him off his feet. He looked, with concern, at the monitor, and was relieved to see that the Aurora had punched through the planet’s atmosphere and was now descending rapidly through the clouds. The Aurora levelled out over the blue countryside.
‘This is the Linud 6 tracking station. Er…’ the man then lowered his voice to talk to someone else out of view. ‘What do I do?’
‘I don’t know!’ a quiet voice replied. ‘It should have been destroyed. This hasn’t happened before.’
Kalrea had a smug look on her face as she listened to them.
‘What’s your name?’ Kalrea asked him again.
‘Er... Coryion. Why?’
‘I think it’s good to know who you’re talking to, that’s all. Where do I need to go, Coryion?’
‘Eh?’
‘I said, tell me where I need to land to see Lord Saylmon, please?’
Then the man began a conversation with a colleague to check what to do. He said to him, ‘…We can’t let the ship land.’
‘How are we going to stop it then?’ the voice replied.
‘I have no idea. Look! Get onto Lord Saylmon’s people and tell them he has a visitor, a very persistence visitor.’
‘Who do we say wants to see him?’
‘I don’t know!’ His voice became clear and addressing Kalrea asked, ‘Can you tell me your name?’
‘My name’s Kalrea. Lord Saylmon will know that name. Tell him, Zoren and I are here to talk with him, and I mean him no harm.’
‘Right!’ he replied confused. ‘Please wait.’
‘Do you think he will meet us?’ Zoren asked Kalrea.
‘Well he knows if he doesn’t, then I’m likely to come anyway. Of course he will.’
While they waited for a reply, Zoren and Gulco had their eyes fixed on the monitor as the blue countryside moved past. Tall blue-leaved trees dominated the landscape, which was interwoven with winding yellow rivers and lakes.
‘Look Zoren, there!’ Gulco said and pointed to a group of stone buildings set amongst the trees.
‘They appear to be homes of some sort, like the pictures I’ve seen in the history books,’ Zoren commented.
‘But only some have roofs,’ Gulco replied.
‘Your people built those,’ Kalrea added. ‘They’re just ruins now, I’m afraid. They must be at least seven hundred years old. Would you like me to fly over one of your old cities?’
Gulco nodded.
The Aurora banked to the left and started to decelerate. Ahead was a towering mass of stone structures.
‘This was the city of Lynut,’ Kalrea said.
‘I’ve seen pictures of Lynut,’ Zoren said. ‘It looks so different now. From what I remember of the books I’ve read, over ten thousand people once lived there.’
‘But not anymore,’ Gulco remarked.
The Aurora slowed as it passed over the ruined city. Stone towers over eight hundred metres high stood, in majestic silence, as a testimony to the Agonian skills of engineering. Each tower was linked by massive stone walkways, but only the empty shells remained.
‘All this was lost because of another race,’ Gulco said, and then shook his head. ‘We were invaded and our people enslaved to become donors of life... of immortality. It makes me sick at the thought of it.’
Zoren took a deep breath and thought, Oh Sabri, I hope you can see this from the other side. This is our home. I wish so much you were here. Zoren’s thought was interrupted.
‘This is the Linud 6 tracking station. You are cleared to proceed to grid reference 3422F, 6767G. Please set
down on pad 3.’
‘Thank you for your assistance, Coryion,’ Kalrea replied.
‘Kalrea, I’m sure you do that just for fun,’ Gulco said, shaking his head.
Kalrea laughed. ‘I was being polite.’
‘Yes, right!’
The Aurora turned away from Lynut city.
A large mountain directly ahead appeared to be covered by a cap of snow, but as they approached Zoren realised that it was in fact many brilliant white coloured buildings perched on top of the mountain.
‘Is that the city we’re heading for?’ Zoren asked Kalrea.
‘City! No that’s the palace of Satho and yes that’s where we’re heading,’ she replied.
‘That’s a palace? It’s huge!’ Zoren replied.
‘Lady Sathodee must be very wealthy,’ Gulco added.
‘She owns this whole continent,’ Kalrea said.
The palace was a miniature town. Each building looked like it had been individually designed and none was the same. They were all surrounded by neat avenues of blue trees and bushes, interspersed with colourful flowers.
The Aurora over-flew the palace, before turning to the east and descending towards a landing zone on top of a large plateau.
‘Let’s see what Lady Sathodee’s son, Lord Saylmon, has to say for himself, shall we?’ Kalrea said.
‘What do we do with him?’ Gulco asked, pointing to Hifmo.
‘We’ll bring him with us. He could be useful to show Saylmon what’s happened to him. That way he may not be so arrogant.’
Gulco went over to him. ‘Come on, it’s time to go.’ He tried to offer his hand, but Hifmo folded his arms and turned his head away from him, like a child who did not want to do what he was asked.
‘Kalrea, maybe you’ll have more success,’ Gulco said. ‘He doesn’t seem interested in moving.’
‘It’s no good me going over there. I’m the last person he’ll want help from.’
Zoren wandered over and knelt down alongside him. ‘Hello, Hifmo,’ Zoren said. ‘We’re going to go for a walk.’
Hifmo glanced at Zoren a few times, trying not to look too interested, but it was obvious to Zoren he was.
‘Would you like to come with us?’ Zoren added with more enthusiasm.
Hifmo now focused his eyes on Zoren and nodded quickly, but on seeing that Kalrea was staring at him, shied away.
‘Don’t worry! I’ll make sure she won’t hurt you. I’ll look after you,’ Zoren said.
Hifmo looked back to Zoren.
‘He doesn’t say much,’ Gulco commented.
Zoren held out his hand and Hifmo took hold of it nervously. Zoren pulled him to his feet and then walked over to the lift, but Hifmo stayed where he was.
‘It’s ok. I promise I’ll look after you.’ Zoren smiled at him to try and show he was relaxed. Hifmo took a step forward, then another. ‘Good. We need to get in the lift.’
They all entered the lift, but Hifmo made sure Zoren was standing between himself and Kalrea. He also had his eyes fixed on her, as if he was waiting for her to suddenly surprise him.
There was a slight jolt indicating that the Aurora had landed.
‘Kalrea, what about the jamming device Lady Sathodee had on Trafth? What if they have more of those? They will disable your defences and weapon, and render the telementor useless.’
‘I know they have another, but don’t worry, Zoren, I’m prepared for that now. I’ll locate it and then deal with it.’
‘Good luck, you two,’ Gulco said. ‘Be careful! I want to see you both back here with the rest of my people.’
The Pojin lift closed and they descended to the surface of Linud where a young man, in a green uniform, was there to meet them.
‘Ma’am. Sirs. Please have a seat in the hover-pod. I’ll take you to the main hall.’
He must be a servant, Zoren thought, as he stepped onboard after Kalrea.
Not thinking, he sat furthest away from her leaving a seat in between for Hifmo, who stared at him in disappointment and remained rooted to the spot. Zoren wondered why, and then realised that meant Hifmo would have to sit next to Kalrea, which was not something he was even going to do, so he moved next to Kalrea freeing up the seat furthest from her.
After a bit of encouragement, by smiling at Hifmo and patting the seat with his hand, Hifmo nervously edged past Kalrea and took his seat.
The servant got onboard at the front and pushed a large control column forward. The hover-pod moved forward towards a circular entrance in the large stone wall of the palace. It glided over the rim and turned right, following the large perimeter wall, which was decorated with ornate carving of people in their finest clothing.
I wonder who they are, Zoren thought, gazing up at them as they past. They’re all young, so I assume they must be images of the immortal Xangols.
Zoren could smell the scent of flowers wafting through the air, as the hover-pod entered an avenue of immaculately pruned trees in perfect lines that stretched ahead into the distance, while there were others leading away, between the various shaped buildings, at intervals to the left and right.
They were now passing a building which seemed to defy gravity. A small entrance lift, no bigger than the Pojin lift onboard the Aurora, supported a massive bowl shaped building over one hundred metre in diameter. Zoren peered up at the windows set into its floor, to see a few people gazing down at them as they passed by. On the other side of the avenue was a pyramid shaped building standing at least sixty metres high with a glass disc sitting on its peak. Directly ahead was a cathedral-like building that towered above the others with at least six small spaceships neatly parked on its side.
‘Kalrea, what is that place?’ Zoren whispered to her.
‘I’ll find out,’ she replied and after a few seconds said, ‘That’s where we’re heading, the main hall, and those ships you see are the personal shuttles of Lady Sathodee and her son, Lord Saylmon.’
The hover-pod came to rest in front of two tall decorative doors made of stone.
‘Please, follow me,’ the servant said, and then stepped off the hover-pod.
They followed him through the doors and into a huge entrance lobby. Zoren’s mouth opened as he gazed up to the ceiling, which was over one hundred and fifty metres above him. The walls were all carved crystal giving the appearance of a frozen waterfall all around him.
The servant now approached a far door. His knocks echoed around the lobby like thunder and then the door swung inwards.
‘Please, we can enter,’ the servant said.
The servant led them through the doorway.
Wow!
To Zoren’s surprise they entered an even larger room. The ceiling was so high that he thought a small microclimate could have existed. The glass roof was barely visible, making the room appear to be open to the sky. About fifty metres away in the centre of the room were a few lavish seats. The rest of the room was empty. A young man got up from one of the seats. He strolled from the centre, his footsteps sounding out his approach.
The young man recognised Hifmo. ‘What are you doing here?’
That must be Lord Saylmon, Zoren thought.
Hifmo did not respond, and Lord Saylmon seemed slightly irritated by his lack of acknowledgement. ‘Aren’t you supposed to be with my mother? Hifmo! I asked you a question,’ he said, and then moved towards him, but Hifmo shied away. Lord Saylmon looked bewildered. ‘What’s wrong? You look terrified of me.’
Addressing Zoren and Kalrea, Lord Saylmon said, ‘What have you done to him?’
‘Something I’m not very proud of, but unfortunately I had no choice. Believe me Saylmon, you would not like me when I’m angry.’
‘Then you must be Kalrea,’ Lord Saylmon said and grinned.
‘I suggest you have someone attend to Hifmo. He’s going to need looking after from now on,’ Kalrea said.
‘Take Hifmo to the doctor,’ Lord Saylmon said to the servant.
‘Yes, sir,’ the servant replied.
He took hold of Hifmo’s arm, but Hifmo quickly pulled it away and then turned to Zoren for some assurance.
‘Follow the nice man,’ Zoren said to him. ‘He’s a… he’s a friend. He will help you now.’
Zoren took hold of Hifmo’s hand and pasted him to the servant. Very reluctantly, Hifmo was led away.
‘Please join me,’ Lord Saylmon said, indicating towards the seats arranged in a circle around a stone plinth. As they sat, he asked Kalrea, ‘Can I offer you a drink?
‘Not for me, thank you,’ Kalrea replied.
‘Hope you don’t mind if I do.’ Lord Saylmon pressed a few buttons on the arm of his seat. The stone plinth descended and then returned with a slim glass of green coloured drink at its centre.
Zoren felt a bit upset at not being asked, but said nothing. It seemed that Lord Saylmon was not acknowledging his presence.
The sound of distant footsteps approaching from the side of the room, made Zoren look over his shoulder. A servant marched slowly up to the plinth, took the drink and then handed it to Lord Saylmon, before marching away.
Unbelievable! Zoren thought. Couldn’t he have just got it? He peered at Lord Saylmon as he sipped his drink. He seems a little nervous, but still looks very self-confident.
Lord Saylmon looked to Kalrea and said, ‘My mother told me she had killed you, yet you live. She thinks you’re some kind of machine. Is she right?’
‘This body is a machine, yes. Call it a drone, robot, whatever you want. Destroy it and I will activate another one. It’s a bit like your body when you become immortal. I’m able to repair myself, it just happens to be in a more radical way.’ Kalrea crossed her legs. ‘Of course you’re not immortal yet, are you Saylmon? I hope you don’t mind me calling you simply Saylmon, the Lord bit sounds a bit pompous to me.’
‘Yes, it does,’ he replied cheerfully. ‘I actually hate being called that. I have to say I had to laugh when my mother said you’d blown her up. My mother’s never been blown up before. She sounded very angry when I spoke to her.’
Come on! Get to the point, Kalrea, Zoren thought, feeling impatient. What about my people?
Aurora Saga 2 Immortality for Life Page 25
