"Apparently the Crows are after you for some reason," Cleonia added.
"I don't understand why. They already killed my father. He was the hero."
"So they really weren't after your parents. They were after you all along," Carlen stated matter-of-factly.
"That's strange." Aunt Cleonia added, "Why you?"
"I don't understand it myself," Jonas answered.
"Well, at least with all these Enforcers, I don't have to take out the waste retainers. They do it for me." She laughed again.
***
A few days had passed and Jonas was leaning up against Aunt Cleonia's craft taking aim with Carlen's air gun at the scaly bird which rested in the trees beyond the dwelling. He followed its slow movements through the gun's sights. Jonas gripped the handle a bit and squeezed on the trigger. Blue paint splattered all over the bird's leathery skin.
Jonas figured he could get one more good shot off before losing the animal all together. He tracked it as it flew off into the sky. The teen pumped out another pellet, which just missed the bird. "Damn it!"
"Your problem is that you're aiming directly for the bird," a strange voice from behind called.
Jonas turned to see an Enforcer puffing on a rolled leaf stick. "What am I supposed to aim for?" Jonas replied sarcastically.
"No need to get snippy." The Enforcer moved next to Jonas and put his hand out for the air gun. "May I?"
"I guess." Jonas passed the gun to the officer.
"Watch and try to figure out the secret." The Enforcer leaned up against Cleonia's craft and caught another winged creature in his sights. He applied swift pressure on the trigger. A splotchy blue bird flipped out of the branches and danced wildly to regain control. Once the animal oriented itself, it took to the clouds. The officer aimed the toy weapon into the air but not directly at the creature. He pumped it once again. The bird fell like a rock that smacked against a wall.
"Awesome." Jonas held out his hand, anxious to get his gun back. "Let me try."
The Enforcer went to relinquish the gun but pulled it away. "What did I do?"
Jonas's mouth swung open. "What?"
"What did I do to get that bird?" The Enforcer handed the gun to the teen.
Jonas grabbed it before the officer pulled away. "You aimed ahead. Ahead of the bird's flight pattern."
"Correct." The officer began to demonstrate with his hands. "You see, if you aim at the bird, by the time the pellet reaches it, it will have already flown away. If you aim slightly ahead of the bird, the pellet and the bird will arrive at the same point at the same time."
"Thanks." Jonas leaned back up against the vehicle and aimed towards the trees.
The Enforcer walked away with his eye trained on Jonas. Jonas did not even realize the officer was still watching.
Jonas pretended to pop a pellet into the branches. He imagined a bird flopping out and fluttering its scaly wings. He waited behind the sight as if the animal was regaining control. Then he tracked it up into the sky. "Bamm. Gotcha." Jonas noticed Cordova was captured in his eyepiece. He stared at it intensely. He kept thinking about Darden in the detention center.
He laid the gun down along the front of the craft. Jonas reached into his pocket hoping to withdraw the stone his father had given him, but it was gone. He glanced toward the gray moon that hung in the late afternoon sky. He started thinking about the stories his father had shared. All the missions he heard about engraved such fine details of Cordova in his head that he could probably create an accurate map with his eyes closed.
Crazy thoughts went through his mind. If only he could get there. Then he remembered about Liotta.
***
That night the three moons lit the sky. The center one, Cordova, was full, and the other two, Jenco and Lunas, looked like book ends as they were each waning. Luna was the only moon not inhabited by either Crows or Sapiens.
Jonas sat up in bed looking out the window. All he could see were silhouettes of the Enforcers guarding the dwelling.
"Hey, Jonas?" Carlen called out from a dark corner of the room. "I am glad you're okay. I was worried."
Jonas leaned over. "Really?"
"Yeah... you're the closest thing I have to a brother ya know."
"Thanks, Carlen. Same here." Jonas slid to the edge of the bed. "Carlen?"
"Yeah."
"Can I trust you with something?" Jonas looked over at him. "I mean, you really need to keep quiet about it."
"Yeah, sure."
"Is that a 'yeah sure' just to hear what I have to say, or is it for real?"
"Forget it, Jonas. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
Jonas sprang out of his bed and walked over to Carlen. "I hate it when you do that. If I didn't tell you then you would go crazy. Don't act like you could care less."
Carlen sat up into the moons' light. "Really. I'm not playing around. Don't tell me." Carlen laid back down in the darkness.
Jonas threw up his hands in disgust and dove back into his bed. He lay down, burying his face in his pillow. He waited a few moments and pulled off the pillow. "Carlen?"
"I said... I don't want to know."
"It's not killing you to find out?"
"Nope."
Jonas started shaking in his bed. He sprang up in his bed. "Okay fine... I'll tell you anyway."
"Cool." Carlen chuckled.
"See, you always do that." Jonas got up and walked over to his cousin. "Always."
Carlen once again sat up into the moons' light. He stared at Jonas, bearing a victorious smirk.
Jonas leaned into Carlen. He glanced out the window, making sure the Enforcers were not within earshot. "I'm going to the Academy in about a week." Then Jonas grew a serious look. "But first I'm going to Cordova."
Carlen popped up from his comfortable position. He pinned Jonas's arms. "Are you crazy? That's not possible."
"I need to go. I need to talk to Darden." Jonas was not sure if he should tell his cousin about the stone that he also wanted. He thought his cousin might belittle him for risking his life over a tiny object like a rock. Jonas could not explain that the stone meant so much more to him. Besides, Darden knew something about Strom, and Jonas needed to get all the information he could.
"Forget it. That's worse than suicide. The Old Republic controls the entire rock. It's a military base. They'll kill you before you land." Carlen released Jonas's arms.
"But I need to talk--"
Carlen cut in. "He will turn you in. Forget it."
"So are you going with me?" Jonas changed the subject.
"Okay." Carlen sat back down abruptly. "My mother is going to kill me."
"Tomorrow we head off to the port. We will slip onto a craft headed towards Jenco."
"Jenco?"
"Yeah. Once we get out of the atmosphere, we can take control over the ship."
"What? You have really gone mad. I've changed my mind. I will be staying here."
"With your mommy?"
Carlen sat up again. "Back off, Jonas. I am not going to kill someone--especially one of our own. I'm staying here."
Jonas decided to try a new approach and not be so challenging. He needed Carlen's help. He suddenly realized he wouldn't get it if every word out of his mouth was a put-down.
"Okay, listen." Jonas paused a moment, thinking about how he would tell his cousin about Strom. "Just before my parents died, they mentioned a place called Strom. I don't know anything about it." Jonas noticed he had his cousin's attention. "You see...This guy Darden knows something about this place." Jonas looked deep into Carlen's eyes, trying to read his mind. "I need to speak to him before the Emperor terminates him."
Carlen sat up and played with the two hairs sprouting from his chin. "I still think you're out of your mind."
"Thanks, Carlen. Thanks for nothing." Jonas jumped back into his bed. "Tomorrow I'll go by Liotta's dwelling. She'll know how to do this." Jonas melted into his pillow and closed his eyes. "She's got connections."
&n
bsp; "You don't even know where she lives," Carlen barked.
"She gave me her address on a piece of paper. Besides, we'll get the bodyguards to take us."
"What is this 'we' stuff? I said forget it." Carlen rolled over and closed his eyes.
***
Morning came as the sun led a blazing charge. It was easily one of the hottest days of the season. The Enforcers guarding Aunt Cleonia's dwelling were changing shifts. Carlen had, as usual, been awake for hours.
Jonas put his pants on and shoved his feet into his shoes. He always kept the straps loose so he wouldn't have to constantly strap and unstrap them. He grabbed a shirt and threw it on quickly. He knew that if he sweet-talked Liotta, she would lead him in the direction of a craft.
Aunt Cleonia fixed a late morning meal. She made Jonas's favorite: cactus crumb bread, spunk links and power juice.
"Good sun to you, dear." Aunt Cleonia placed a dish down on the table. "Get some fuel into that growing body."
The one thing that kept bugging him was why his aunt was being so nice to him. She had always acted as if he were a second-class citizen. Lately though, she had treated him like a king. This is the kind of meal his mother used to prepare for him. Plus, suddenly Carlen was constantly being scolded. Jonas felt bad because he knew it was his fault. He should not have let Carlen take the blame for the craft being dented up. However, he got a kick out of seeing Carlen shrink in his skin. He was ranked third in his class at the Academy. He did everything by the rules.
Jonas chowed down his breakfast. With every chew, he kept watching Carlen who was sitting across the table. Carlen seemed extremely interested in his cousin's eating habits.
"You should slow down, Jonas. You eat too fast. Mom hasn't made a breakfast like this for about five seasons. Enjoy it," Carlen stated between chewing.
That confirmed it. His aunt was being exceptionally nice. Did she want some of the credits his father had left him? He thought about that as he gulped down his power juice. Carlen's father left them plenty of credits when he died.
"Is everything okay?" she asked.
"Great," Jonas blurted. "Mom used to make this all the time."
"My mother rarely fixes meals. This is a treat." Carlen went to scoop up another morsel when his mother ripped his plate from the table.
"Nonsense, Carlen. I always cook for you." She smiled at Jonas, looking for his acknowledgement.
"If you want to call sand crackers and grain strands cooking." Carlen laughed as he got up from the table.
"Stop it you, stupid fool," Aunt Cleonia defensively responded.
"Love you too, Mother." Carlen went into the other room. He popped his head back in through the doorway. "Jonas, I will be joining you today." Carlen waited for a reaction from his mother but there was none.
Jonas just continued eating his food. He was not affected by the conversation at all. In fact, he could care less.
Moments later, Carlen entered the room with one of the Enforcers. He was carrying a daypack. "Jonas, this is Kiyo. He is going to escort us to Liotta's dwelling."
The officer was over six feet tall. His hair was rough brown. He had deep pitted eyes that could blow holes into anything on which they focused. Then Jonas realized that Kiyo was the officer who'd helped him yesterday.
Jonas looked at Carlen like he was going to kill him.
"Well, isn't this great? Kiyo is going to take us over there in an official craft." Carlen smiled.
Jonas knew Carlen meant well. "Fantastic. When do we leave?"
"Now. If you're ready."
"Let's go." Jonas popped up from his chair. He tossed the last spunk link in his mouth and chugged the power juice. He wiped the excess dribble from his chin.
***
The boys sat in the rear of the craft. It was definitely official. It lacked all the comforts of a luxury vehicle. The seats were hard. The safety straps were made of tough material. The floorboards were worn.
Using the address she'd given Jonas, the Enforcer led the teens to Liotta's dwelling. Word was that Liotta's father was as popular as Captain Troupe. He'd retired years ago from active duty, and continued service to the Council by teaching the small crafts class.
"So you like Liotta?" Carlen asked Jonas.
"She's cool. A little rough though," Jonas answered.
The Enforcer grinned as he listened to the conversation. Then with a swift grip on the handle, he brought the craft to a quick right turn. The boys jerked against the backrest of the vehicle.
"What are you doing?" Carlen yelled.
"Taking a friendly little ride," the Enforcer barked as he threw the gears into full speed.
Jonas was getting nervous. He felt like he was about to fly out of the craft. He reached over and grabbed hold of the safety strap. As the speed picked up, gravity made it harder to bring the buckles together. Jonas shifted his body weight with one quick jump. He fastened on his strap. He looked over at Carlen who was sitting comfortably next to him. Carlen watched Jonas put his belt on with complete amusement.
He tapped his already fastened strap. "Way ahead of you, cousin."
Jonas acknowledged the fact that Carlen probably had it on before the ride started.
"Sit back guys... we'll be there in a few moments." The officer laughed as he watched the boys hold on to things for security.
"This is insane," Jonas yelled.
"It's nice to see you're scared of something," Carlen said. "Just think, there is someone who drives crazier than you."
The craft suddenly decelerated. Their bodies were tossed forward. Jonas was thankful he had his strap on now. He would have ended up on his head, next to the Enforcer.
"We have arrived, gentlemen." The Enforcer swung the craft slowly around to the front of the dwelling.
Jonas could not believe his eyes. The dwelling was five times the size of anything he had ever seen. Liotta's place was surrounded by acres of land. The home was in a remote area and the dirt was covered with small green blades. The properties borders were lined with strange looking trees with wide, flat leaves.
"Look at this place, Carlen."
"I've never seen this kind of stuff before. I've read about it though," Carlen said.
"What is it?"
"Grass." The Enforcer answered before Carlen could.
"What is it?" Jonas asked again, due to the loud humming of the craft.
"It's grass. Probably imported from the other side."
Carlen leaned forward. "The other side of what?"
"The other side of the planet. It's loaded with grass and these exotic trees."
Jonas absorbed what the Enforcer just told them. The other side sounded like paradise. Once he graduated the Academy, he would go there. Maybe Liotta could tell him all about this grass stuff. It was truly beautiful.
The craft halted and slowly descended. Jonas hopped out without waiting for the craft to reach the ground and ran up to Liotta's front door. He couldn't wait to see her. Jonas knocked a couple of times. There was no answer.
"Didn't she know we were coming?" Carlen yelled from the craft.
"No. Why?"
"Because she's not answering. That's why."
"Maybe she went to work at the medi-center. I figured we could at least try." Jonas turned to knock again and discovered Liotta in the doorway.
Her face was lit up.
"You are home!"
"I don't have to work today." Liotta looked over at Carlen. "Hi."
"Greetings." Carlen straightened up in his seat as he saluted her.
Jonas felt a touch of jealousy coming over him. Carlen was off limits. Liotta was off limits. The two of them together? No way. There will be no more greetings going on here.
"So what brings you here? Miss me?" Liotta's eyes widened.
"No... I, uh... need a favor."
"Oh." Liotta's ego deflated. "What do you need?"
"Do you know of any port that offers trips to Jenco?"
"Excuse me?" Liotta blurted with a chuckl
e.
"A craft to Jenco?" Jonas smiled at her.
"What's going on, Jonas?" She noticed the Enforcer smoking a leaf stick in the craft. "Come inside." Liotta pulled Jonas in the house.
Jonas leaned up against the wall and gave Liotta a serious look. He trusted her enough to tell her everything, except about the stone. "I have to get to Cordova before I enter the Academy. I figured I would take a craft to Jenco. Once we were off I would claim it and head to Cordova."
Liotta slammed the door shut. "Are you going mad? The Old Republic would shoot you down before you even got into orbit. Claim it? You mean steal it."
"It's something I have to do, Liotta. There is something about my father I need to find out."
"Your father was a hero, Jonas." She rubbed her hands along the side of his head. "You will go to the Academy, too. And you will be a hero, too."
"Ya think so?"
"Remember the maintenance man from the medi-center?" Jonas was about to tell her and hoped she understood. "Well, my father told me about a place called Strom. He barely got the words out and he died. Okay... Then the Crow, Darden, told me about a place his family was searching for. It, too, was called Strom."
"So there is a place called Strom. So what?" Liotta was not comprehending what Jonas was talking about.
"So then Darden turned me in when he heard my father's name and I still don't know anything about Strom." Jonas was getting mildly heated.
"Okay. Come with me." Liotta grabbed Jonas by his fingertips and tugged him across the dwelling into the living space. The walls were covered with pictures of the homeland, and miniatures of small crafts were displayed randomly around the furniture.
"Your father loves the homeland, huh?"
"Never mind that. Actually he hates what the Council has become. He says the Sapiens were at one time a peaceful people." Liotta guided Jonas to a large dome. It was easy to see that it had been made out of bronze or some sort of brown metal. Jonas could tell it was clearly an antique.
Liotta pressed a button, which rested in the top of the dome. The semi-sphere illuminated, converting the bronze dome into a backlit globe.
Center Moon - The Stone Of Cordova Page 7
