Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe

by Robert S Kleinstone

  «I don’t believe my eyes» said Tadiero in wonder.

  The Kentauros disappeared behind the trees and the girl ran back to the group, taking Alannah's hand unexpectedly.

  Patrik smiled at her.

  «She will come with us» he said, to the others.

  «Will she come with us?» asked Kalberham doubtfully.

  «So I was told. I have no idea who she is, but someone entrusted me with her. The responsibility of this little stranger is mine and I am not going to fail in that task. Also because I assure you that she has a propensity to get into trouble».

  Kalberham smiled.

  It was not necessary to ask for anything else.

  «This is a matter for Poligon Dhaal. And so it will be good to get ready because it’s to him that we are headed» he said, moving towards the imperial spacecraft.

  Everyone followed.

  Kaira, without detaching herself from Alannah, took Patrik's hand in her other and began to jump, supported by both of them.

  Alannah laughed and looked at Patrik with the surprised expression of someone witnessing something truly unusual.

  «Who is she?» she asked in a low voice to avoid being heard by the child as they walked.

  «I don’t know» Patrik replied, still in a low voice, smiling.

  «Are you okay?» asked the princess, changing her tone.

  «Yup. I think so» he replied. She was even more beautiful than he remembered.

  They all found themselves on the bridge and Patrik began to tell King Karmora, and all the others, about the days spent in the Kentaura forest, about how the child was delivered, the Kentauros and his battles to survive.

  Meanwhile Kaira was playing with Camilla, chasing her far and wide.

  They were all amused by the unusual presence and, from time to time, they looked around with curiosity.

  «Be careful, little Terrestrial, I don’t want you getting hurt» said King Karmora thoughtfully.

  Kaira climbed on the star chart table and said «I'm not Terrestrial».

  Then she smiled, concentrated for a moment and something very strange happened. The features of her face changed to be more feline, the ears became pointy and a tail appeared from behind her dress. «And I'm not even solaryan» she said, still laughing, as if she were making fun of everyone.

  The transformation did not last long, her appearance returned to terrestrial and she began to run after Camilla as if nothing had happened.

  «What kind of devilry is this?» asked the king, turning to Patrik and Kalberham.

  Nobody said anything.

  A halo of mystery surrounded that little girl.

  Patrik, for his part, had said all that he knew and was the first to want to have more answers about her presence.

  It was good that, even if bizarre, Kaira didn’t seem dangerous. She didn’t talk about anyone from before. Her past seemed to have never existed. She behaved exactly as if she had always belonged to that time, as if all the most important people in her life were in that room.

  Then the girl stopped.

  «He wants to kiss her» she said, pointing to the young Andal and Princess Myah.

  «What are you talking about, little girl?» Myah said, turning red in the face.

  Marco, as expected, laughed.

  Then the girl ran and took Alannah's hands. «You want to kiss Patrik Jones» and she squeezed her tightly.

  A sharedfeeling of embarrassment crossed the bridge.

  Nobody knew what to say.

  «Smart girl, though, eh?» Marco said, turning to Tadiero, who said nothing.

  «I believe, miss, you should hold your tongue a little and try not to play too much with your imagination» said King Karmora, who didn’t much like the idea of the second couple.

  «But I didn’t imagine it. I know it» Kaira answered going to him. «Pick me up, King Karmora».

  The king didn’t know what to do.

  He looked around for a moment.

  «Please. I want to give you a present» the girl said again.

  Karmora decided to pick her up.

  Kaira put her little hand on his cheek.

  A feeling of warmth that he had not felt for so long crossed his whole body.

  «She is still inside the Flower. Always with you, don’t be afraid. She needs to know that you will not be afraid».

  That said, the girl hugged solyar's ruler, who had shining eyes and was still looking into space, as if he had seen a ghost.

  Patrik looked at Alannah for a moment and then at Marco. The latter immediately understood the situation and took the child from the arms of the king.

  «Come to Uncle Marco. Do you want me to teach you a game?» he said.

  «Yes, alright» she replied very naturally, as if nothing strange had just happened.

  The sovereign of Solyar sat on the throne, stunned.

  Alannah leaned toward him and took his hands.

  «Dad ... are you all right? What's up with you? What did she tell you?»

  The king stroked his daughter's face with tears in his eyes. Now he felt the same sensation as someone who wakes up from a wonderful dream and finds himself catapulted into the harsh reality he had left before closing his eyes.

  «Everything is alright. You look more like your mother. You're as beautiful as she was» he said, and they hugged.

  Alannah turned to her friends more confused than ever.

  «Gentlemen, I don’t know what's going on here» Kalberham said suddenly, «but we all need Poligon Dhaal. So it will be good to sail away immediately. Direction Eta Carinae».

  The ship left the planet with one more crew member than when it had arrived.

  23

  The king's vessel rejoined the mother ship.

  The young Andal's docking maneuver had been perfect and the Solyar ruler had to congratulate the boy, albeit in a very cold way. For a moment Princess Myah had twisted her mouth and crossed her arms in annoyance.

  Kalberham and the others regained possession of the Olympia and finally Patrik managed to change his clothes, discarding the filthy ones he’d worn for two days of trekking through the forest and deadly fights. The PSA wave cabin was not as regenerating as a shower, but it was the only personal hygiene solution on board. However it served its purpose.

  The fact that Kalberham had taken the trouble to transport his entire bedroom on board was a fantastic idea, Patrik thought.

  The solaryan guardian tunic was still resting on his bed. Now he was a Guardian too, but he still didn’t feel like wearing it. Whatever his mission or destiny had been, the first thing to do now was to save his father and find out what had happened to his mother, and he wanted to put on his normal, Earth clothes.

  He put on some cologne, a gift from his mother, and left the room.

  «Oh, finally!» Marco said as soon as he saw him.

  «I see you've cleaned yourself up. Thank God. You were beginning to smell».

  «You're very nice. I wanted to see you to the middle of Borneo for two days in a row».

  «But you are the chosen one of the galactic universe» his friend mocked him.

  «Idiot».

  «Come on, show me this marvelous weapon that everyone is talking about».

  Patrik took the siel out of the back pocket of his jeans. It came to life as usual, dancing a little around its master's forearm.

  «Wow! But how do you get it started?»

  «I don’t know. It just happens. Here, take it too».

  «Really can I ?! Coool. It doesn’t weigh much. It's the one that belonged to the founder of this madhouse, right?».

  «Armintala. Yes, it was his» he replied smiling.

  «And what are all these incisions on both sides?»

  «I have no idea. I counted twenty-one different ones, which are then repeated. Perhaps they are the planets of the Flower».

  «So one of these corresponds to the Earth. Who knows which it could be? Well, I don’t care. The important thing is that the strange cylinder saved
your life. Here, put it away. Maybe it will save your skin at other times. You never know».

  «I hope there will not be any need».

  «And give me the pleasure Jones ...» Marco continued «don’t keep that super atom tube inside the pocket of your Levi’s. I think it's disrespectful».

  «And where should I put it on, let's hear it?! Nooo! Don’t say anything».

  Marco only smiled.

  After what they had been through, Marco considered it a kind of miracle to have his friend safe and sound there with him, and this made him happy.

  The two walked towards the command room.

  Everyone was there.

  Camilla jumped into Patrik's arms to play. The little monkey was happy to see him again. Even Tadiero approached him and suddenly lifted him off the ground with a happy expression.

  «I'm glad to have you back here. I knew you could do it. Now I have a valid ally to save my family».

  «Thank you, Tadiero» said Patrik, a little embarrassed at being picked up by that muscular colossus.

  «Yes sure. Just don’t kiss, though, eh? » commented Marco, amused by the scene.

  The big portiryan laid young Jones on the ground and sat down in his place.

  Marco swirled his finger around his ear to make it clear to his friend Patrik that Tadiero was a little agitated.

  «What happened to Billo…or better, Prince Selidar?» asked Patrik, turning to Kalberham.

  «He reached Poligon Dhaal to try to regain possession of his body. Now we just have to wait and hope. Unfortunately, even to know the fate of your dog we’ll have to wait».

  «Listen, Kalberham. What did Tadiero mean by"save my family"?»

  «Ah, yes. You don’t know. His brother Ottolivi was also on a mission with David. He hopes to find them both alive, of course».

  Patrik was confused.

  Tadiero's brother had met the same fate as his father and he had only found out now. Strange, he thought.

  «Why didn’t you tell me before?» the boy asked.

  Kalberham looked in the direction of Tadiero and smiled.

  «He would never have done it. He knew you had to focus on the fight. To put more anxiety on your shoulders would have been counterproductive. He is a man of great honour. All his race is».

  Patrik looked with admiration at the Olympia’s navigator. Then he imagined his father chained somewhere and felt a sense of sadness.

  Camilla began to scream and moan as Marco enjoyed pulling her tail.

  «The same thing cannot be said about your little friend...» Kalberham continued, watching the scene.

  Patrik shook his head in embarrassment.

  «You have to believe me. Marco is a great guy but I think he lacks motivation. After all, he's only here because he tried to protect me».

  «And what do you expect me to do? How about a guardian's tunic too?» said Kalberham, not knowing where the boy wanted to go with this.

  «No. Of course not» replied Patrik, «but you are the captain of this ship, and ...»

  Kalberham understood. Perhaps the Terrestrial was not entirely wrong.

  He approached Marco and stared at him.

  «Listen, Catwoman, if you came to tell me off, forget it. We were just playing» Marco said, letting Camilla escape.

  «No. To tell you the truth, I need a favor from you. Soon we will all be engaged in dangerous and difficult situations. I don’t know how much I can help Tadiero to govern Olympia. I wondered if you wanted to stand next to him and learn star navigation».

  Tadiero turned abruptly to look at his commander, as if the latter had begun to sing and dance.

  Marco looked questioningly at Patrik.

  «Well, you cannot lie there doing nothing. And then think of the girls if you land this ship, piloted by you, on Earth ...» he said, managing to find Marco’s Achilles heel.

  Marco’s face lit up imagining the scene.

  «All right, my nice tallman» he said, putting himself next to Tadiero. «Teach me how to make this beauty run».

  Patrik nodded to Kalberham as a token of thanks.

  «What happened to Kaira?» he then asked, looking around.

  «Alannah took her with her. She's been back from the forest for two days and we agreed that she should clean herself up a bit. Now they are among women» answered Kalberham, without taking his eyes off the star charts.

  Patrik liked to imagine them together.

  «Captain, I set the course for Eta Carinae. Ready when you are» said Tadiero.

  «When are we leaving?» asked Patrik.

  «A half hour. Time to check the onboard systems» answered the solaryan, as if he had other things on his mind.

  He walked up and down the bridge checking the various instruments, which did not say anything to Patrik, but seemed to worry him more than they should.

  «Something wrong?».

  «Too calm. I don’t like it. Your return is expected by everyone and there is no one. Nobody’s calling. I don’t like it».

  Kalberham approached the control panel and tried to communicate with Poligon Dhaal.

  Nothing.

  «Tadiero, try calling Portirya».

  «Nothing sir. Communications are absent» he answered after twenty seconds with a lost look.

  «Try calling Arkass, hurry» Kalberham ordered again, followed by the astonished gaze of everyone on the bridge.

  «Sir ?! I don’t think it's a good...».

  «Tadiero, you heard the order. Arkass».

  «Yes, sir».

  Marco looked at Patrik to try to understand what was happening, but Patrik was also at a loss.

  «Nothing sir. Nothing at all» answered Tadiero.

  Kalberham positioned himself in the middle of the room and placed his siel on the floor. Then he opened his arms, closed his eyes and it turned into a replica of a small spinning galaxy and then stopped.

  «Patrik. Try it yourself. Take your siel and try to free it» he said, turning to the boy.

  «How do I free it?» he asked.

  «It’s closely linked to you. Try to let it go just for a moment. We need to understand what’s happening. It has to go back for a moment in the universe».

  Patrik took the siel and opened his arms, but it returned around his arm and then rested solidly in his hand.

  «No. That's no good. Concentrate and try to free it. Talk to it and listen».

  Patrik put the holy weapon back on the floor and closed his eyes.

  He felt that something was leaving his body, as if someone was forcibly removing all the air in his lungs. The feeling of emptiness and loss that he experienced turned into cold and loneliness. A cold chill that came out of his eyes and fingertips. A whisper inside his head and the siel became a galaxy, only to stop.

  Kalberham jumped up and ran to open the Olympia door.

  Patrik woke up suddenly trying to figure out where he was.

  «Go now, go get the baby. We leave immediately. Something has created a temporal vacuum».

  *

  Alannah sat down to dress little Kaira, who could not stop talking.

  She told of strange creatures on Kentaura and of flowers she had collected to give them to Patrik Jones.

  Although the Princess of Solyar believed in the power of the Code, the presence of that child frightenedher a little. Perhaps because it was closely linked to the mystery surrounding Patrik.

  It almost seemed that since the Earthman had entered her life, her whole world was no longer the same. Mysterious things had happened, and this strange feeling that bound her to him made her more and more restless.

  Her sister had noticed.

  She risked losing him and had no idea how she could handle such a damned cruel and overwhelming thing.

  Kaira suddenly looked at Alannah and a tear began to run down her face.

  «Baby? What's wrong with you? Why are you crying?» she asked in amazement.

  The girl ran to hug her.

  «When you're sad, I feel it» the li
ttle girl answered, tightening her arms even more.

  «What's on your mind? I'm not sad» she replied.

  «Do you promise me?».

  «I promise you» Alannah told her as she wiped her face, stroking her hair to make her feel safe.

  «I hope to become as beautiful as you».

  «But you are a wonderful girl».

  Kaira bent her head and placed it gently on the palm of her right hand, as if to support her, assuming a dreamy expression.

  «He always thinks of you. Even now ... Yes, even now he's thinking of you».

  «I don’t know who you're talking about, but I think you have a vivid imagination, Miss» Alannah cut her short. «So it will be better to hurry up to get to your super friend Patrik Jones».

  «Here, yes, good! Just him» the girl answered immediately.

  Alannah rolled her eyes and decided to end the conversation by standing up, holding out her hand. She opened the door smiling, trying not to show herself. Those words, as if by magic, swept away all the sadness.

  They walked quickly to the control room, where her father and sister were waiting for them. She was convinced that her place was on the Olympia and nothing would dissuade her from entering.

  Both of them entered the bridge and, unexpectedly, the girl ran to the king who found her in his arms once more.

  He reacted with a smile, trying to conceal his pleasure.

  Kaira was special and he felt it. What they had shared together a few hours earlier was proof of this.

  Myah smiled, looking incredulously at her sister.

  Alannah broke the silence. It was the right time.

  «Father, I will embark on the Olympia. I'm not going to leave Kaira. She will follow Patrik Jones and I will follow her. They will all be busy fighting something very big and I will not leave her alone and defenseless. Poligon Dhaal would agree, and I owe it to Colonel David Jones. He would do it for me and I ...»

  «Enough!» interrupted her father.

  Kalberham, followed by Patrik, entered at that precise moment.

  «As usual, you don’t have the slightest idea of what and how to ask, miss!»

  «Dad, but I ...»

  «But what? Did you ask Commander Kalberham for his opinion on this?» he interrupted.