«We are lucky. They are rare. We can make more money with him than all these peasants put together» he replied, looking at Patrik better.
At the sound of those words, Patrik's siel began to take shape, pure energy awaiting its master's order.
«I'll tell you again. Lower your weapons and I will not kill you».
«Did you hear guys? The Terrestrial kills us with a laser whip. Ahahahah ... don’t kill him. He’ll be worthless dead».
«Mom. He's Patrik Jones» said one of the bound little boys, raising his head.
The Arkassians looked at him without understanding.
His face, battered by the beatings he had received, had practically lit up at the sight of Patrik, and Patrik’s stomach had tightened for the same reason.
«Shut up, you stupid idiot» and a shot came from the arm of one of the kidnappers, injuring the boy in the leg.
«What did you do? What diiiiiiid you do!?!» Patrik shrieked with all his anger.
Point of no return.
A blade of light detached the arms of the alien who had fired, leaving him on the ground contorting with pain. The other two began to fire a series of laser blows crashing on the siel, which in a moment became a shield of energy.
Another blade of light left the siel, causing the two to fall down, wounded. In a flash Patrik hurled himself over one of them, dividing his weapon and stabbing it over his chest, on either side of his arms.
Then he whirled around. Stakar had disappeared.
He came out and saw that the Arkassian was holding a dagger to the throat of the mother of the children and was dragging her along.
At that moment another ship landed and Poligon Dhaal, Kalberham, Marco and Tadiero with his weapon in hand, came out.
«Let me go or I’ll kill her» Stakar shrieked at the sight of all the people.
Patrik walked towards him without stopping, his face full of anger.
«So you didn’t understand? Either stop or kill her» and the Arkassian pressed the blade in the woman's neck, letting out a trickle of blood.
Patrik stopped and began to look at him intently as the siel went crazy around his forearm. Stakar's hand began to smoke, loosening the grip of the dagger, which fell to the ground. In a moment even the rest of the body smoked and was seized by convulsions.
She stepped away from him as the alien's screams of pain ran through the air around the farm.
«Patrik, stop it. That's enough» Kalberham said to calm the boy, but the Arkassian's body still smoked. That worm had to die, that was all Patrik cared about.
Nothing more.
«Patrik!» Kalberham said again. «Patrik, now he cannot hurt anyone anymore. Stop please».
This time the words of the Solaryan, said with more calm, were able to really reach him. The siel stopped and Patrik closed his eyes for a moment, trying to catch his breath.
Alannah came out of the woods with Kaira, who broke away from her and went to hug Marco's legs.
«Are you okay?» the princess asked Patrik, shaking his hand.
«They shot the child. I couldn’t stop them, Alannah. They shot him, do you understand?» he said with tears in his eyes.
«Patrik, look at Tadiero. He brought everyone out. They are wounded, but saved. You saved them. You've been very brave».
She said those things to reassure him and gently laid her hand on his cheek to wipe away the tears.
At that point Patrik dropped all the inhibitory brakes and hugged her as hard as he could, as if that embrace was the only place he could escape into, the only oasis of calm in all that hate.
Caught unawares she remained motionless for a moment, but then returned his embrace, because in the whole galaxy his embrace was where she felt safest.
*
The Carinean overseers took away the three wounded Arkassians.
Poligon Dhaal asked how it was possible that a ship had arrived there without anyone noticing it.
«They are slave traders» the overseer replied. «They always update their instrumental invisibility devices to enter. We often confuse them with meteors or clouds of vapor».
A medical team had rescued the whole family and, fortunately, the child was fine despite the bad wound. Patrik remained sitting beside him.
«Thanks, Patrik Jones. When I saw you I immediately understood that you would help us» the little boy told him, while the doctor passed a strange machine over his leg.
Patrik smiled.
«But how did you recognize me?»
«You’re joking? You are a myth in my school. You have the Armintala siel. Everyone wants to be you and now I know you. I will make them die of envy. Can we make a recording? Otherwise they won’t believe me».
«Why not?» he answered. «What's your name?».
«Alek».
The child pulled a small tube from his pocket and activated it .
«Good. I'm Patrik Jones and tonight Alek's house was attacked. Thanks to his courage we managed to disarm the bandits and I'm very proud to be his friend».
With that, Patrik raised his thumb, «okay», and Alek did the same, even though he had no idea what it meant.
Alannah and the child's parents approached them.
«I would say that now the little hero can let his idol return to his home» his father told him smiling.
Instead, the mother took Patrik's hands and pressed them to hers.
«You saved my family tonight. I will never find the right words to thank you enough. You are a blessing of the Flower and I will always pray for you» she told him. «You must be very proud of your boyfriend» she said, turning to Alannah.
«What?! No, he is not really...».
«Thank you!» and she hugged him without hearing the princess's answer.
Patrik felt good, and finally a bit at peace.
The old Guardian told him. The counterpart to all that hatred and that violence was that, in an overall view, the lives of many innocent people were at stake. The Code, which in its mystery regulates the flow of the galaxy, had dragged him, unaware even of the existence of all this, between the main gears of a complex game, one without well-defined rules.
The embrace of an unseen person represented a breath of fresh air for a boy of eighteen years on the outskirts of a small country on Earth, billions of miles away.
Believe.
Continue to walk.
The Code always knows where to go.
Inside the ship, Kalberham told the boys how the guards had informed them of their sudden exit, and Patrik filled in the rest of the story.
«Who warned you that they were in danger?» Poligon Dhaal asked.
«Kaira didn’t stop crying. She led us here» Alannah replied.
«Still you...» the old Guardian muttered suspiciously as he watched her sleep in Marco's arms, finally quiet.
*
Patrik woke up when the sun was already high.
He arrived in the room, full of emotions but also exhausted, and the sleep had been deep. Entering the room he saw Marco with Kaira eating together with Tadiero and Kalberham. He sat down for breakfast too and immediately his friend took a couple of pictures on his phone.
«Excuse me, what are you doing?» he asked.
«Patrik Jones is having breakfast. It’s part of the collection of stickers that I intend to publish with your image. You're an idol for the kids on the entire planet and we'll make a lot of money!»
«Stop being a fool».
«What are the stickers?» Tadiero asked, amused.
Before the two could reply, Poligon Dhaal entered the room with a firm step and a sheet in his hand. His face didn’t promise anything good.
«You know, Napoleon is also a dear friend of mine» he said, turning to the Terrestrial boys.
«Ok. So?» Marco asked, a little surprised.
«So I don’t look like your Bugs Bunny at all» and so he put the picture of the Warner Bros rabbit eating a carrot on the table.
Marco blushed visibly and Patrik didn’t know
what to say.
Kalberham, Tadiero and Kaira instead burst out laughing which didn’t improve the situation.
«Well, now that I look at it better I can see something of you, my friend» Kalberham said, still laughing.
«Please don’t, Kalberham. This matter is serious».
«I'm sorry, Mr. Poligon. I didn’t mean to offend you. It was just a joke among friends. And then you have such terrific hearing» Marco said, trying to justify himself.
«Yes, Poligon, don’t be angry. The first time we met, Marco called me "Hello Kitty". I dare not even think about what it might be» added Kalberham, turning to the old master.
«Ah yes?» he answered and headed for the central monitor. «Napoleon, are you still there?» he asked.
«Yes, sir» he replied from the speakers.
«I need the image of Hello Kitty. Earthly character».
«Immediately».
After about ten seconds the Japanese kitten's face with the pink bow appeared on the central monitor.
«How lovely!» Kaira exclaimed joyfully.
Kalberham was not of the same opinion and, gripping his siel, turned to Marco.
Too late. He had left the room knowing what would happen.
Patrik and Tadiero pretended nothing was going on and continued eating, but holding back laughter was really difficult.
«I believe, dear Poligon, that our mutual friend Marco needs a little lesson. What do you think?» Kalberham said, still looking at the central monitor.
«Totally agree. And, Patrik, you don’t have to worry. He enjoyed it, and now we're having a good time too» Poligon Dhaal replied, with a mocking smile crowned by his huge teeth.
The sliding door opened and a soldier suddenly entered, followed by a strange cyanotic individual.
«Sir, being CK31 is ready for delivery».
«Ah well. Leave it here, captain. Thanks» Poligon Dhaal answered. «Patrik, can you come here for a moment, please?»
The boy stood up looking curiously at the guy with his gaze fixed on him.
«Dear Patrik, as a wag warrior and Guardian of the Flower of Eta Carinae, you too have been assigned a General Synthetic Unit, to be synthetic with increasing intelligence inputs. You can give him any name you want, mine is called Magellano, David's idea».
Poligon Dhaal was somewhat amused by it, but Patrik didn’t understand much of what was going on.
Kalberham stood up and put a hand on his shoulder.
«Patrik, what you have in front of you is a machine. Its appearance is terrestrial because this was for you, but its body is bio-mechanical. He learns very quickly all that you teach him, what you deem necessary for your well-being. It will always accompany you and it will become what your life will allow it to become ».
«Are you joking?!» said Patrik, looking at the two Guardians in disbelief.
«CK31 in operation, to serve you sir. I await your instructions» said the droid, turning to Patrik.
«Really. This is science fiction movie stuff. You are kidding me».
Patrik looked at everyone in the room and it seemed rather serious.
«I know it seems absurd Patrik, but it's true. It’s a small benefit of the Portiryans, masters of everything related to the technological progress of our galaxy. For example, they have perfected the flexion. Having a Portiryan on board like Tadiero is a real fortune, believe me».
«I agree. Thanks, but now what should I do with him?»
Poligon Dhaal smiled as he looked at CK31. «He's like a child now. You will have to teach him what you know and what you are. If he becomes a good person, it will depend on you».
«Person?!» asked Patrik, amazed.
«Yup. Person. You will see that over time even the nuances of his character will change according to his experiences, just like each of us. So, please, keep it away from Marco!»
Everyone burst out laughing and he found himself dealing with the umpteenth wonder about the new life he had reserved for him.
«But we have to go now, Patrik» Poligon Dhaal told him. «You will be able to meet him later. It’s time for you to see the Flower of Souls».
Kaira approached him and took his hand.
Patrik bent over to talk to her.
«Listen, darling, I can’t take you where I go now, but I'll be back soon. You could stay with Alannah if only I could know where she is right now».
«I think she's in the garden» Tadiero answered. «You can leave her with me. We're going to find out where Uncle Marco went to hide. Would you like that, baby?»
The girl smiled and dived into the arms of the giant Poriryan.
*
«Busy night boy, eh?» Poligon Dhaal said, as they walked along the avenues in the fortress garden towards the exit.
The plants were very well kept. Now with the sun he could better admire the majesty of that place.
«Yes, sir» said Patrik. «Of those that don’t forget. How’s it hanging with the Guardians? They hate me?» he asked then, seeing them walking in the distance.
«You have deprived them of a friend and a great ally, but they know it was not your fault. You defended yourself. It’s part of the role that the Code gives us. Accepting to be chosen means to accept to die suddenly, and apparently without reason. But no death is in vain, in this Milostali was right. They will also digest this thing, you'll see. They need you, as you of them».
«Maybe. But the picture is quite obscure at the moment».
«Talking about dark pictures. The child. There is something unclear in her» said the old Guardian, as if waiting for the right moment to give this very speech.
«Kaira? Well, she's a mystery for me too, I said that. I thought you could, master, enlighten me on the matter, but I see that you know less than me. I limit myself to consider her as a gift from Kentaura».
«Gift?!» Poligon Dhaal stopped him, frowning. «Are you sure she's a gift?»
«What do you mean?» asked Patrik a little restlessly.
«Do you remember what she told me when she saw me the first time? Poligon Dhaal, you must not be so rash. It is something that Akelio always told me».
«Yes, but I don’t think that...»
«Patrik, I don’t know» the master continued to speak. «You told me that as soon as you took her with you, she escaped and a huge tiger attacked you. Yesterday she brought you in the middle of three Arkassians ready to kill you. She almost seems to push you where there is danger».
Patrik stiffened. The speech was not to his liking, but he tried to keep calm.
«Sir, I don’t think so. In short, the Kentauros led me to her. The same ones who gave me the sacred siel. During the temporal emptiness it is she who saved me and put her life in danger. I know, it's weird, but I promised to take care of her and I feel it's right».
«And I believe you» he hastened to make the old Prismian warrior clear. «I just want you to know that the opponent coming back is very powerful, and you can expect everything from her. She is capable of incredible things. Keep your eyes open, that's all».
«Yes master. I will do it» said Patrik, not completely convinced. He didn’t want to cause controversy, but to think of Kaira as an evil person was something he thought absurd. The thought alone made him furious.
He turned to the opposite side of the garden and saw the figure of Alannah walking behind a flower bed. He jumped at the chance to stay with her alone and to try to calm down.
«Master, if you can, I'll see you at the entrance in five minutes. I would like to tell the princess that I will be away for a while and that the child will remain alone».
After a brief nod of approval, Patrik started running towards her. He wanted to talk to her, even to hear what she thought of that absurd story. The embrace of the night before meant a lot to him, and he had got up that morning thinking of her.
He turned the green wall of the flower bed behind which he had glimpsed her a moment before, and realized that she was not alone. A solaryan Guardian with a tunic laughed and joked in
her company.
Noliah.
He told her a few things and she laughed out loud. They seemed very comfortable together.
Patrik didn’t believe his eyes when he touched one of her bandelai with his hand and she smiled sheepishly.
Just then, Billo came running from behind and knocked Patrik over. The two turned and saw him lying on the ground watching them.
«But look here. Patrik Jones spying on us. Did you want to tell us something or do you need the princess for another one of your suicide missions?» Noliah asked, amused by the scene.
«I was not spying» he replied, standing up, red in the face.
«Yes sure. Of course».
Patrik and Alannah looked at each other for a moment.
«Wait a minute ... maybe you have a crush on Miss Alannah?!» Noliah said, amused, noting that understanding of looks. «Ahahahahah, that’s good. A Terrestrial with the Princess of Solyar».
«Noliah, what are you talking about?» she asked, a little distressed.
«Well, I'm sure your father will approve. You will see».
The Solaryan was still holding her bandelai. Patrik decided he had enough of it and turned to leave, but he fell over his dog again.
«And get up, stupid!» he shouted and slapped him across the face.
Billo went back with a gasp of pain. Patrik immediately regretted his gesture, but now it was done. He just wanted to leave and not look back.
He hated them. Both.
But how had it occurred to him to get attached to an alien, with a tail too? She was fine with that idiot. He could marry her, he didn’t care. At least the dad would have been happy for the bloody princess.
Patrik thought of these things as he walked very nervously toward the exit, where he was awaited by Poligon Dhaal.
Then he remembered the ugly gesture he made. He turned for a moment and bent down, hugging his dog, which still followed him faithfully.
«Sorry Billo. I'm an idiot. Can you forgive me?».
The dog stuck out his tongue and took the hug with his semi-bionic body.
«Are you ok?» Poligon asked, as he arrived.
«Yes, sir. Here we go».
Patrik Jones and the Code of the Universe Page 24
