Poligon Dhaal considered the boy's words. After all, the Earth was out of all the conflict, and it was not possible to claim any kind of belonging to the cause.
Not yet.
«Well young man, your life will never be the same, ever again. As for the corpses, know that they will increase, perhaps you will not even be able to count them any more, but the lives that you save will make the path less bitter. Despite this, everything is not always so bad. There will be victories that will give you new strength».
That said, Poligon Dhaal softened his face and opened the door of one of the buildings located just near the main entrance.
«Billooo!» shouted Patrik, hugging his dog.
He could not believe it. Billo was alive. «Oh my God, what happened to him?»
The labrador had a sort of metal harness that surrounded the lower part of his four legs and formed on the back, creating a kind of armor. Even the right eye was surrounded by an electronic gadget, which ended just behind the ear.
«It was very weak at the time of the transfer. We intervened so that it could continue living. Maybe it's less beautiful, but it's stronger. And above all ... it’s still alive».
«What happened to Selidar?» the boy asked, looking at old Poligon.
«He's stable. It was harder for him. Staying all time inside your dog proved to be very risky, but we are optimistic. The prince of Velado does not surrender easily».
«I hope he will recover soon. King Karmora countson him a lot» Patrik said as he continued to caress the dog.
«Good boy. Now this poor old man will sit here and you have to tell me everything. I need to know what happens from your lips. Since you arrived on Kentaura onwards. And the girl. I want to know more about the little girl».
Patrik began to tell him everything.
After all, he was the first to want answers, and he felt that Poligon Dhaal was the right person to ask. He told him about the village of Kentaura and how he understood that big animal before it could kill Alannah. He told about the Spindorf, about the promise made to the elder before killing him and how they had crossed the forest. Evanah, who had handed him Kaira, and all the oddities of that child. And finally he spoke of the temporal emptiness.
«I told Kalberham and the others that Kaira got in the way. She said something, and those beings went away. They have not seen anything, but I don’t think I dreamed it».
«And what would she say?» Poligon asked.
«I don’t remember. And she doesn’t want to tell me. Maybe she doesn’t even remember it, or maybe I really dreamed it».
«You still have the bandaged forearm».
«Yes, sir. I told you, the siel was so strong that I couldn’t stop it. It burned me. Evidently it felt they wanted to take it».
«Let me take a look» said the master.
He took off the bandage.
Poligon Dhaal paled.
«When did you do this tattoo?»
Patrik smiled. «I don’t have a tattoo ... oh, my God!»
For the first time, he realized that he had tattooed on the inside of his forearm a figure, a strange triangular mark with the symbols of three of the twenty-one planets of the Flower: Arkass, Falaia and Solyar.
«Elisaar» the old Guardian said in a low voice.
«Elisaar! Here's what the girl said, Elisaar. Now I remember. At the sound of that name they were gone».
Poligon Dhaal felt a chill cross his back, while Patrik was intent to look in disbelief at the tattoo on his skin.
«And now how do I explain it to my mother? Not that it's the worst thing that happened to me, but why do I have this thing on my arm? And who the hell is Elisaar?!»
«Elisaar is not a person. Elisaar is a place».
That said, Poligon Dhaal pulled up his tunic and showed the boy a tattoo identical to his. Contrary to what he had imagined at the beginning of that conversation, Patrik was even more confused than before. The old master noticed and decided to back pedal.
«Let's start again, Patrik. This is a story that few know».
He paused, as if he wanted to understand which way to start.
«As you well know, about a couple of hundred years ago, some falaian Guardians forced the Code, believing that they favored a superior race and ousted the lesser planets like Melidia, Kayleia, Vortix, and the Earth from the Flower. We believed we were doing the right thing. Although initially some primitive generations suffered, the knowledge of the Falaian lineage would have colonized these worlds, creating a stronger galaxy».
«We believed?!» asked Patrik in wonder.
«I was one of them, my dear. A red wag warrior from the lineage of Falaia» Poligon answered, lowering his eyes.
«I immediately realized it was madness. The Flower didn’t behave as expected. The Arkassians paid the highest price. A war began. To make up for the damage I had done, I was forced to betray my companions. I contacted Akelio of the alliance of Solyar and the young Darkonar, the gohtarma, of the Arkass alliance. We met on Melidia, in neutral territory, and there we made a pact in the mountains of Elisaar. The same pact that, I don’t know why, you too have tattooed on your skin».
Patrik looked at his arm again. The burn was healing, but the tattoo seemed permanent.
«Akelio is the person the old Kentauro said is coming back. Why are you so afraid of it?» he asked.
«Afraid?! Afraid is not the right word. Not even fear can describe what Akelio can do. It’s something that resembles billions of voices calling for help, an ocean of lifeless bodies ...».
Poligon Dhaal said those things with his eyes fixed on emptiness, with the expression of someone who has something terrifying before his eyes.
Patrik didn’t know what to say, but a very cold discharge went through his bones.
«Shortly after the pact, Akelio realized that forcing the Flower meant it favored Solyar above all. His planet and its people lived in a never-before-seen prosperity, and this was enough to convince them to pursue the idea of the superior race desired by the Falaians».
«Went to the red Guardians?» asked Patrik.
«Took command! The Elected of Falaia. Of the madmen, who would have swept away the population of at least a dozen of the twenty-one planets of the Flower. Their destructive power was immense. A fleet of more than five hundred star cruisers and armies of millions of men. The clashes continued for years. Soldiers of the coalitions of Arkass and Solyar against the falaian red army.
«There was a final battle, within what is now remembered as the Valley of Crying of Portirya. We got the better of them, but at what price ... A river of the dead. Akelio and the surviving red Guardians were forced to surrender. Imprisoned in a starship, they were thrown into the Black Well, a huge black hole located in the center of the galaxy. A journey without return, at least so we believed».
«Well, you thought wrong» Patrik replied. «The Kentauro was very clear inside the Spindorf. Akelio is about to return. And what happened coming here is more proof than ever».
«The temporal emptiness only shows that Akelio is alive. If she was here, she would have attacked you in person, believe me».
«She?!?» asked Patrik in amazement.
«Yup. Akelio is a woman».
«A woman? But I've only seen men so far. At least I think so». Being aliens, Patrik expected everything now.
«I know, boy. You have seen well» answered Poligon Dhaal, reassuring him. «Sometimes the Code selects women as candidates, but they are very rare and almost never survive Kentaura. However, those who become Guardians have a power outside the norm, much greater than that of men».
«Do you think she wants to go back to end what she started?»
«I don’t know, but the Falaians still have many silent followers in the galaxy. Even among the Guardians. Both ours and theirs. Furthermore, this war with the Arkassians has greatly weakened us and it would be disastrous if she came back too. An unprecedented galactic civil war».
Billo put the snout on its master's leg
and he stroked the dog. Although some of its parts were mechanical, Patrik recognized his faithful friend and thanked the sky that it was still alive. He listened to this whole story with a little fear and an incessant weight in his stomach. The presence of Billo, however beautiful, made him feel even more lost and far from home.
«Master, there's something I don’t understand» he then asked, looking at his interlocutor intently. «The Arkassians want to force the Code. The Falaians want to force the Code. All this in spite of the Solaryan, who want to let the Flower reach balance by itself. But in all this, what should I do?»
«See Patrik, when there will be Salman's Moons alignment and the Flower will be more vulnerable, the black Guardians will try to force the Code while we try to stop it. We were in even numbers before you killed Alicon, and now they are ahead. The strength of their siel will be superior. You, at this point, are the needle on the scales. You have been entrusted with the siel of Armintala, a very powerful weapon and full of his soul. When the time comes, I think you'll know what to do».
«I hope» he replied, «I have no idea what it means to force the Code».
«In the morning I will take you inside the mountain. The energy that controls life in the galaxy. You will know the Flower of Souls, Patrik. Whatever you decide, always defend it with all your strength because it represents life that regenerates life, the worlds that we leave and those we find, until the last moment of light».
28
Patrik turned over in bed,unable to sleep.
Every time he tried to close his eyes he saw Alicon's broken body on the ground.
Billo slept beside him. Strange lights illuminated the mechanical part of the animal and he wondered if he would ever get used to seeing his dog like that.
He stood up, his head full of thoughts, and leaned out of his bedroom window. From there he could see the mountain that enclosed the Flower of Eta Carinae. The next day he would see it for real. The entity that had chosen him among billions of people in the galaxy would present itself before him. He hoped in his heart he could figure out what was the right thing to do and, above all, be able to find the right words to convince the Arkassians to deliver the armor, once they arrived on Arkass.
Billo suddenly got up and began to growl at the front door.
Two seconds later he heard a knock.
«Who is it?» he asked in a trembling voice after picking up the siel, which immediately came alive on contact with his hand.
«Patrik it’s me, open the door».
Alannah stood there with a mischievous smile and her tail coiled around her body.
Patrik’s face lit up as he saw her.
«Don’t make strange faces, Terrestrial, I'm not here for you. I have only a problem with Kaira and you are the only one who can help me».
«What’s up? Is she sick?» he asked a little troubled.
«No. I mean…I don’t know. She’s in the garden crying and I can’t stop it. Since "inexplicably" you like her so much, it may be that she will listen to you».
Patrik smiled.
«Ok, good-for-nothing princess. And then, seeing that "inexplicably" she likes me so much, I’ll put on my shoes».
Alannah wanted to answer him in kind, but she really needed his help and so she decided to keep quiet.
Patrik was constantly looking at her arm in the elevator.
«It's not nice to stare at the bandelai of a solaryan girl, Patrik Jones» she said, smiling and a little surprised.
He blushed.
«No. I was not staring at it. I thought of Kalberham wearing a similar one. I didn’t know he had a family» he replied, to make things immediately clear.
«Yes, he has two wonderful children. His wife is very beautiful, just like Leminah. The problem is that they have not been seen lately».
«Who is Leminah?» he asked.
«Nothing. Anything. Leminah was her sister. Forget it» she answered immediately, dropping the conversation.
«It can’t to be easy to stay away from the people you love for so long. All to come and look for me. Kalberham is a good person, I’m still alive today and I owe also owe that to him».
Alannah understood well what Patrik meant. That war had divided many people who loved each other. All of them had someone to miss or return to. Her brother and mother missed her a lot and maybe wandering in the galaxy was a way for her not to think about it too much.
She decided to change the subject. She had to think about Kaira now and it was not the time to be sad.
«Anyway, if you ever woo a solaryan girl, know that watching her bandelai is not nice».
Patrik smiled and looked at her.
«Thank you Princess. If I ever care about one, I'll try to keep it in mind».
«I could introduce you to some of my friends once you get back to Solyar. I have some very nice ones» she answered, accepting the challenge.
«Well ... I do not know. I have tastes that are a bit difficult. I like girls with a calm and docile character».
«Boring Terrestrial» she said, looking at him hard with those cat pupils.
«Very boring» said Patrik with the most annoying smile that he could create.
The doors opened and Alannah came out first followed by her tail, leaving him alone with his jerk face. Kaira was still there, sitting in tears with her head turned towards the great door of the fortress.
Patrik approached her.
«So, baby. What's wrong now? Hey, are you shaking?» he looked at Alannah to try to understand something, but she spread her arms to make it clear she had no idea what was bothering her.
«Patrik. We have to go. They're hurting them» she said, not looking away from the big door.
«Kaira, honey. Where do you want to go? Who are they hurting?» he asked.
She took his hand and began to pull.
«Soon, there is not much time. They are hurting children».
«Wait a moment. Which children? Where?» he asked, leaning over and clutching her shoulders.
«We have to hurry up, Patrik Jones, or it will be too late».
The girl's little face was streaked with tears.
He understood and decided to do as she asked.
«Wait Patrik» Alannah wailed as she watched the two walk away. «It's night. Where do you want to go?».
«Look, I know Kaira enough to understand that if she says it’s true, then someone is in danger. I have to go».
At the entrance, four guards blocked them.
«I have to leave. Please stand aside».
«I'm sorry, but no one can enter or leave the fortress without the permission of the Council» the tallest replied.
«Look. I am a warrior wag, a Guardian of the Flower. I have to leave» and as he said this he showed the siel, which came to life around his forearm.
«Yes sir» the soldier answered immediately. «Open the door, now!»
«I suppose it's useless to tell you it would be best if you stayed here, and that it could be dangerous out there» Patrik said, turning to Alannah.
«You suppose well, Terrestrial» said the princess, pulling out two of her daggers.
Patrik sighed for a moment.
«All right then. Come on Kaira, show us the way».
The three walked to the dense forest of the sacred planet.
*
By now they had been running for almost half an hour.
Patrik had put the child on his shoulders to speed up the march and Alannah followed them.
It was not easy to struggle on the unstable ground and in the dark.
Kaira kept crying.
«Over there» she said suddenly, pointing to the lights in the distance.
What looked like a small farm was appearing as if out of nowhere. Cultivated fields surrounded it, and next to the central house there was a large space for machinery and tools. Opposite, parked on the square, there was a spaceship.
«That's an arkassian raider» Alannah said, looking at him.
A Carinean woman
came out of the store with a quick step with something in her hand. Someone followed her, pointing a weapon at her. Before entering the house the woman fell, what she had been carrying rolling on the ground. The man who followed kicked her in the side and shouted something. She got up as fast as she could and the two entered the house.
«Stay here with Kaira. I'm going to see what’s happening» said Patrik, leaving the child in Alannah's arms.
She squeezed his hand tightly. «Pay attention. The Arkassians are beasts».
He winked at her and went with silently to the house.
From the window the scene he saw was not promising anything good. Three boys were tied to chairs and the smallest had blood on his lips. A Carinean man, surely his father, was sitting on the ground with a wounded shoulder and a swollen face. The woman, who had entered shortly before, was intent on serving food to the three Arkassians sitting at the table.
«Bring us boulak, woman!» said the one sitting behind.
«We don’t drink alcohol» she replied with a trembling voice and a low look of fear.
The man stood up and with the butt of his shotgun gave her a blow that knocked her to the ground.
Patrik decided he had seen enough. He took the siel in his hand and with his shoulder opened the door of the house.
«Why don’t you pick on someone your own size, you bastard?!»
The three jumped up and raised their weapons.
«And who the hell are you? And above all, what kind of race are you?» asked the biggest, still aiming his weapon at Patrik's head.
«I'm a Terrestrial, and if you don’t let these people go, I'll kill you like the worms you are».
«Stay where you are, Terrestrial, or you're dead. You ...check if there are any others» ordered the leader to one of the others.
«It's useless for you to look. I’m alone. I'm enough».
«Chief, it seems there is nobody. I think the stupid one is really alone».
«Hey, Stakar. How much is a Terrestrial worth on the black market?» asked the Arkassian to the left, laughing, still with a mouthful of food.
Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe Page 23
