Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe

by Robert S Kleinstone

  «Yes my Lord». Darnar bowed his head in respect.

  «Let's continue like this. A nice, clear and flawless course for Kentaura. I always like to watch the fights of the chosen ones. They bring back memories of my youth».

  So saying, the arkassian general folded his arms and smiled. He knew, it was practically certain, that the time of his glory would come soon.

  *

  Poligon Dhaal arrived in the monitor room in the company of Magellan, who supported him with his arm. The ranks of the twelve Guardians of the Solaryan coalition, coming from the various planets of the galaxy, turned to watch the eldest of them enter.

  «Master!» said young Noliah in greeting.

  He had just returned from Kentaura and everyone else was celebrating his arrival.

  «Oooh ... here you are, young Noliah!»

  The two shook hands.

  «I followed your fight very carefully, I was sure of your success. I particularly appreciated your frontal attack and the unexpected use of the siel».

  «Thank you, master» replied the young Solaryan, proud of the attention. «It was a bloody awful thing when he threw me to the ground, but I kept your advice in mind: get yourself guided by the siel. When it changed into a whip, I understood what to do».

  Poligon Dhaal smiled, pleased.

  Milostali of planet Markan, one of the most experienced Guardians, came up to join the conversation.

  «Our Noliah will be a valid ally. His help will be precious as soon as the truce ends. Unfortunately, even one of them has passed and I fear that the conflict will be inevitable ».

  «You're hasty, Milostali. If I am not mistaken, one is still missing».

  «Come on master ...» Noliah intervened, «will not you believe that the Terran man can pass the test?!»

  «You must learn to respect the Code if you want to understand it, never take its indications lightly. He is here for a reason. This is something that even those who we call enemies today know. The Code always knows where to go!»

  «Terrans find it more difficult to survive on Kentaura, you know that too, dear Poligon» Milostali cut him short.

  «Yes, but those who pass are very powerful».

  «We are talking about a live Terrestrial every two or three hundred years. Very rare».

  «Very rare, but not impossible. We are at the end of the fifth cycle and it could be time for one».

  Milostali looked into the old master's eyes quizzically. «You do not really believe that Markan's Wall is talking about an Earthman?!»

  «What I believe doesn’t matter, my dear. I limit myself to observing and accepting the Code».

  «What does "very powerful" mean, master?» asked Noliah confused.

  «The Terrans are different from all of us. Emotions are very strong in them and this almost always affects their actions. This is their weakness, but also their greatest strength».

  «Are they all like that?» the young man asked again.

  «Yes, my dear! It must be because of rock music».

  Noliah looked at Milostali with a lost expression.

  Poligon Dhaal smiled.

  Then he turned his gaze to the large central viewer. «News from Kalberham?»

  «No sir, not yet» answered one of the guards on the monitors.

  «We lost track after the flexion. He certainly escaped to Greymar. Is there anything to worry about?» Milostali asked, looking in the direction of the big screen.

  Poligon Dhaal lowered his head, absorbed in his thoughts. «I don’t know...» he answered, looking at the floor. He took his siel and sat down to wait. He was grateful to fate for being alive while all of this was happening.

  There was an air of change.

  He felt it.

  *

  Patrik rinsed his face to try to clear his head. Until a few hours ago he had felt safe and peaceful. Now it was very far from home to face a clash that could mean dying. He felt a force growing in him, his perception of things was more acute, but killing another living being was very different. The strength he had acquired had nothing to do with it.

  He had to be or not be ready to do it.

  He sat down for a moment on the bed.

  He thought of his mother. He thought of his father.

  He asked God for help.

  Strange! It was something he had never done. At this point he was not even sure what the true God was. The one he had learned during the tedious lessons of religion? The one for which people still died on his planet because of those who thought they were the only masters of the fate of the universe? Evidently that God had another name or was decidedly more complex.

  Now the Earth seemed like a small anthill of idiots.

  He smiled at that thought as he ran a hand through his hair.

  He did not care at all. All in all, even over there the story was always the same; those who want to kill to dominate and those who defend themselves so as not to succumb.

  But this time it was up to him to fight.

  The funny thing was that, lost somewhere in the galaxy, maybe no one in his planet would ever know.

  He still thought of his mother.

  He was afraid.

  He took off his clothes to put on the strange kimono, very similar to that of Kalberham. It was part of the ritual to wear sacred clothing.

  He returned to the bridge followed by Camilla, who had not broken away from him for even a moment.

  Once the door opened, they were all there waiting for him.

  The seriousness of the situation was underlined by Marco's total absence of sarcastic comments about this new clothing. His friend was walking up and down a lot, looking worried.

  «Sit there» Kalberham told him.

  He took the metal cylinder from his belt, looked at it, and it melted and began to run over his forearm like a mad snake, only to return to the solid state in his master's hand.

  «This is a siel!» the solaryan Guardian began to explain.

  «It’s a weapon that belongs to one person because it connects directly with his soul. The Flower of Eta Carinae produces them and the Kentauros are solely responsible for their custody and assignment.

  A siel comes out of the Flower stem, one of them arrives and takes it with him, always.

  The reason why this happens, well, nobody has yet managed to understand it. They communicate in a mysterious language that only they understand. No one has ever been able to translate it and they do not care».

  Kalberham nodded to Tadiero, who turned to the console and switched on the central monitor.

  «Here, this is a Kentauro!» he said pointing at the screen.

  «He's about five and a half meters tall, sturdy, and very bad!»

  The creature that Patrik saw was not promising anything good.

  Tall with massive muscles over the whole body. Round flat feet similar to those of an elephant. Dark, scaly and rocky skin. The head was practically that of a T-rex and a large pair of dragon-like wings protruded from a back full of quills.

  “«Everyone will sit in a circle inside the combat arena; know that you will be alone and that it will be reopened only when one of the two of you is dead. You will deal with only one of them. The leader, the one sitting in the center, will indicate who you will face. The chosen one will approach you, give you the siel and wait about three minutes, sitting down and staring at you. In this time you will have to try to establish contact with your weapon. Remember: the more you get into symbiosis with your siel, the greater chance that you'll get out of there alive».

  Patrik had a thousand questions but he could not formulate any of them.

  «Once the wait is over, he will attack you, trying to stun you with his strength, and then finish you off. You'll have to be quick to understand his attacks, foresee his moves and use your instincts. However, you managed to stop that book without thinking.

  Observe and act, the trick is all there. The Code has chosen you. It's inside you...and it always knows where to go!»

  «But one
thing never to forget...» Selidar intervened suddenly, looking at the frightened young Terrestrial. «You'll have to kill him. You always have to attack only to kill. You must not hesitate. He will not».

  A shiver ran down Patrik's back.

  «Commander, I have traced Greymar's route» Tadiero said. «It seems they are headed into the neutral zone of Kentaura, without stopping».

  «What!? They’re not chasing us?!» Kalberham asked incredulously.

  «No, sir, they are no longer in our wake."

  «Curious…».

  The two looked at each other.

  «I don’t trust this!» Kalberham said, sitting down and manoeuvring into a new position. «Let's try to get out of the flexion. Draw our route to the same destination. Let's see what game they want to play. Be ready to reset a new route, however. I can say that we are far enough away to try».

  «Done sir» confirmed Tadiero after a moment.

  About thirty seconds of long waiting passed, but no trace of the Arkassians.

  «They have traced us too now. Good Greymar must have something else in mind. But what?».

  Kalberham paused for thought.

  «Well, I'd say it's all pretty clear at this point» he said, looking at Patrik. «They want you to fight. And then they will break the truce for sure!».

  «Good!» Marco said, spreading his arms. «So if you can survive, the best prospect that comes to us is that they will shoot at us. Not bad I would say».

  None of those present said anything.

  Unfortunately, it was very probable.

  «Establish contact with King Karmora and Poligon Dhaal».

  «Yes, sir. Do I keep the route?» Tadiero asked again.

  «Yes, go on like this. We'll be in Kentaura in less than an hour».

  Kalberham put a hand on Patrik's shoulder and spoke reassuringly to the boy. «It's normal for you to be afraid. You must try to stay focused. The person who believes most in you is the one who needs you most. Commander David Jones».

  Patrik breathed deeply, trying to get all his courage or what was left of it.

  «Now I will try to prepare you for the trial. Follow me, we do not have much time».

  The two left the control room.

  *

  Myah and Alannah entered the control room of the imperial ship while the crew was engaged in the navigation phases.

  King Karmora, seated on the central chair, loved to rule the ship himself without using officers. His family boasted a great tradition of stellar navigation.

  He saw them enter, but said nothing.

  He got up to check the route data. The young Andal, aware of the presence behind him, turned quickly.

  «About half an hour for Kentaura, sire. I cannot detect arkassian traces».

  «Good boy» answered the king, pleased.

  «May I ask permission to enter the bridge, sir» said Myah, turning to her father.

  «Permission granted. Come in».

  Alannah had her head low and an expression somewhere between offended and mortified.

  «How's your shoulder?» he asked.

  «Well father, thank you» she answered, blushing. She had not digested the slap she had received before, but had nevertheless it was a big deal. She was aware of this. Once the rage of the moment had gone, she had a great desire to embrace him. Unfortunately her pride prevented her from doing so and her father was not far behind.

  Having understood the moment of embarrassment, Myah immediately tried to change the subject. She looked toward the large window overlooking the universe and asked «news of Kalberham, father?»

  «No. Nothing yet. At this point I fear for him» he answered worriedly.

  «Sire, a call» Andal said suddenly, crossing for a moment the gaze of Princess Myah, and then turning away from her in embarrassment.

  She noticed and smiled.

  «Is it Kalberham?» asked the king, who had not noticed anything.

  «No sire. Eta Carinae, the Guardians fortress».

  «On the screen!» he ordered.

  He saw Poligon Dhaal and Milostali waiting while he resumed his seat.

  «King Karmora, good to see you» said Milostali. «We have not heard from Kalberham for a while, we were hoping for good news from you».

  «Nothing new, gentlemen. No news from their flexion just outside the Earth's solar system».

  «Traces of Greymar?» Poligon Dhaal asked.

  «Neither. We are however directed to Kentaura. If they ever reappear, it will inevitably be there».

  «Yes I agree. It will be good to establish contact with all our allies in the neutral zone. Anyway, I'm afraid for the truce» the old Guardian added worriedly.

  «I'm noticing something, sir» said the rookie officer.

  «Is it Olympia?» asked the king.

  «No. I would not say so sir».

  «Andal, analysis!» King Karmora thundered impatiently at the new scientific officer.

  The young Solaryan did it as soon as possible. «Arkassian track, sire. It's Greymar».

  The king stood up to approach him. «Destination?» he asked.

  «It seems they are headed to Kentaura, sire. The neutral zone».

  «This reassures me» Poligon Dhaal said abruptly.

  The king and Milostali looked at him questioningly and he, aware of it, tried to explain himself better.

  «If Greymar is headed for Kentaura he wants to see the last fight. The Terrestrial is still alive. Kalberham and his crew will certainly be with him».

  «Yup. It could be» Karmora said «but where...?» he added, looking at the star chart.

  «Oh, fear not majesty. If I know that solaryan cat, we'll see him coming up on the horizon soon».

  «Sire, I’ve noticed something» the helmsman interrupted again.

  «Here. Precisely». Poligon Dhaal smiled, putting his hands together, which disappeared into the long sleeves of his robe.

  «It's Kalberham» Andal added, visibly pleased to be able to give good news.

  «Where are they?».

  «They are also headed for Kentaura. About an hour from there».

  Andal turned to the monitor again. «Lord, they are calling us».

  «On the central monitor, quickly!»

  On the screen appeared Tadiero who, showing off his best smile, greeted everyone present. The royal family and Guardians connected by Eta Carinae.

  «Deputy commander Tadiero to report, gentlemen. We have the Terrestrial and we are en route to the planet Kentaura».

  «Damn Tadiero! We have been waiting for a signal for hours. We thought you were doomed» thundered King Karmora impatiently.

  «We have miraculously escaped a direct attack by the Arkassians, but it seems that at the moment they are not interested in us. We have tracked their route to Kentaura. I'm sorry Sire, but we could not communicate sooner».

  «Yes, we detected it too» a voice said, as the labrador appeared on the screen.

  «Selidar, my friend ... » he said to the prince of Velado, who had the appearance of that strange earthly animal.

  «He's glad to see you again too, sir» Tadiero said.

  Selidar could communicate telepathically, but only with those who were present.

  «Is he the terrestrial boy?» Milostali asked, looking at Marco.

  «No, he's a friend of Commander Jones's son. His name is Marco».

  «Why is he there with you?» asked King Karmora. And he added «his presence is totally inappropriate».

  Marco, already quite nervous, stood up and with a jerk reached the central screen. «Listen, King Arthur, I would have gladly stayed home if the cat and his friends here had not kidnapped us».

  Alannah and Myah laughed under their moustaches, but without being noticed by their father.

  Poligon Dhaal did the same.

  The ruler of Solyar cut him short. «Kalberham. I need to talk to him».

  «I'll connect you right away, sir» Tadiero answered.

  *

  Kalberham withdre
w his siel and placed it in his belt as soon as he activated the screen and saw his friends on the monitor.

  «Your majesty...» he immediately greeted the sight of his sovereign.

  Even Patrik nodded, though he did not understand who those beings were.

  «Kalberham, my friend, I feared for your fate and that of your crew, but I have finally found you» Karmora replied.

  «We had arkassian problems, but we're all fine luckily. I was preparing our Patrik for his date on Kentaura. Unlike the other candidates, as you can well imagine, he is not very conscious of his abilities».

  «I can only agree with you, Kalberham» Milostali said suddenly. «Without adequate education to control the Code, it will be very difficult for him to defeat his opponent».

  Kalberham would have gladly avoided Patrik having to hear that. Scaring him more than he already was really didn’t help.

  He decided to change the subject without creating controversy. That served even less.

  «Here he is, your young man, dear Poligon. You were impatient to meet him and I brought you here safe and sound» he patted Patrik’s shoulder.

  «I see him, Kalberham. The resemblance to his father is impressive. I sincerely hope he has his courage» answered the old Guardian.

  «Good evening» Patrik said shyly.

  He was confused.

  It seemed that everyone knew his father except him. They talked about him with great consideration and admiration.

  He liked this.

  «Having you here, young man, is a great honor. Deciding to risk your life to face a trial that nobody has prepared you for, fills us all with pride. Even David would be proud of you if he saw you, I'm sure...»

  «Thank you, sir» the boy answered. «I'm doing it especially for him. Apparently passing this test seems to be the only way to have a chance to free him ».

  «Are you afraid?» Poligon Dhaal asked.

  «I'm terrified» Patrik replied softly. «I don’t know if I'll be able to beat him and, on the off chance that I can, I don’t know if I'll be able to kill him. I've never killed anyone».