War of Mortal Gods

by Kipjo K Ewers

  “You two want to take a bath with Boba before Modufa gets me dirty again?”

  They answered him with generic baby talk.

  “Yes, let’s go do that.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Alvion Prime, Capital Planet of the Dominion Council,

  Sophia walked down the steps of the shuttle with Attea following her. A shiver ran up her spine; the second her foot touched the smooth ice blue metal of the landing pad. It would be the second alien world she would set foot on since leaving Earth.

  The entire planet of Alvion Prime, much like the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York and Geneva, was where the Dominion Council numbering over thirty plus thousand species, converged for the maintenance of universal peace and security.

  Amongst the ice blue and fire red foliage of the planet were communities whose structures reflected various homeworlds under the Council. Buildings and domiciles were created for world leaders, diplomats, and their families.

  All roads led to the main building, a diamond white and ocean blue dome five times the Sydney Opera house's size. Sophia’s keen eyesight allowed her to see more detail to the structure despite the sea of windows that sparkled blindingly from the light of the white dwarf star above.

  Her attention quickly turned to the transport and receiving party waiting for them before Attea’s shuttle entered the planet’s atmosphere.

  The party consisted of six guards of different alien species. Their outfits entailed a shimmering deep blue bodysuit, dull silver and gold form-fitting chest plate armor, white gauntlets, and shin-high boots. The matching drab silver and gold helmets and black rifles they held reminded Sophia of more advanced versions of the Lazer Tag toys she once got for Christmas.

  On the left side of each of the guard’s breastplate was a symbol of the Dominion Council, a star with two galaxies circling it similar to an X.

  Standing with them was a male Zerakian with a light bluish-green skin. His bald head had large sharp grey stone dorsal fins protruding from the top of his skull that got smaller as they ran down the spine of his back.

  He wore black flaring pants covering his feet and a form-fitting long-sleeve silver shirt with the back held together tightly by strings between the dorsal fins.

  Attached to the shoulders of the shirt was a thin platinum-colored chain. Hanging on it at the center of the Zerakian’s chest was the Dominion Council's symbol in silver alder metal and blue ember crystal. The blue ember, which created the star emitted a glow from the solar energy infused within it.

  The transport parked behind the receiving party was a long, rounded slate metallic grey vehicle with a large tinted window wrapped around the majority of the alien car. It floated several inches off the ground by an anti-gravity propulsion system. The symbol of the Dominion Council was etched into what appeared to be the front hood of the transport.

  Sophia turned to Attea, who moved into her peripheral view motioning for her to start walking. She did as commanded, advancing towards the waiting party with the Thracian High General flanking her left side, following one step behind her.

  As they got within a reasonable range, Attea issued another order.

  “Prisoner, halt.”

  Sophia came to a stop as her eyes moved about her head examining everything and everyone around her. They became focused again as the Zerakian spoke.

  “High General Attea, I see you finally brought the human.”

  “High Counsellor Mezcro.”

  “Has Sophia Dennison of Earth been instructed of the charges and her rights?”

  “Upon acquiring her from Anu, I informed her of the charges and her rights.”

  “Curious as to why this was not done on her homeworld.”

  Sophia’s eyes shifted between the two as a subtle smirk briefly formed on her face.

  Diplomatic bureaucracy was alive and well even amongst the stars.

  “There was some …complications …in the retrieval …”

  “Complications?”

  Sophia jumped into the conversation with a snapping tone.

  “What you did to my homeworld…friend…my daughter was a complication?”

  This time it was High Counsellor Mezcro whose eyes shifted between the newly created enemies. Sophia’s demeanor read that she wanted to burst from her bonds and restart the battle between her and Attea on Earth.

  Attea stood, welcoming her to try.

  “Officers, take Sophia Dennison of Earth into custody for processing.”

  Upon the High Counsellor’s command, two of the Dominion Council officers stepped forward and gestured to Sophia to come with them.

  Slicing Attea with a dirty look, Freedom did as commanded. High Counsellor Mezcro stepped into the Thracian High General’s line of sight locked on Sophia while the officers placed her in the transport.

  “Know that there will be a formal inquiry into the methodology regarding the apprehension process of the prisoner.”

  Attea seeing the High Counsellor’s words as a threat, took a step into his personal space.

  “You expected me to hunt down an assassin and mass murderer, beckoning politely for her to come into custody?”

  “Alleged assassin and mass murderer,” Mezcro sternly corrected her, “There are laws and protocols that protect and separate us from baseless beasts. Your actions have exposed the Council...”

  “Spare me with a lecture about politics, High Counsellor Mezcro,” Attea stiffly cut him off. “The day the Council finally elects a Zerakian to fulfill the task of a Thracian warrior is the day you can lecture me on my methods.”

  Attea spun on her heels heading back to her ship, not waiting for the High Counsellor’s possible retort.

  “I have fulfilled my charge and delivered the human to you. I now have other matters to attend to; good day to you, High Counsellor Mezcro.”

  Mezcro waited until Attea was a fair distance away, ascending her shuttle steps before muttering something under his breath.

  “Bloody Thracians.”

  Within the transport, Sophia sat quietly with her eyes slightly squinted. Employing her ultra-keen eyesight and talent for reading lips, she eavesdropped on the uncomfortable conversation between Attea and the High Counsellor.

  Sophia relaxed, becoming a blank slate as Mezcro, with the sour taste of conversing with the Thracian High General still plastered on his face, marched over to the transport, entering it from the front passenger side cabin taking a seat.

  As the vehicle began to move, Sophia played back the scene in her head while formulating how to use it to her advantage.

  ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜

  Moments later, Sophia exited the vehicle looking up at half a golf ball building with large windows inside its dimples.

  As she continued to observe her surroundings with fascination, the six-guard detail broke into two teams of three, each lining up in single file flanking her left and right.

  The two in the middle stayed closest to her while the rest covered her front and rear.

  The High Counsellor took his formal position in front of the procession. As he began to walk, the two in front followed. Sophia was on the move the second the two next to her gestured for her to start moving, while her ears picked up the boots of the final set of two bringing up the rear guard.

  Once again, her head and eyes slowly rotated and began scanning and processing her environment.

  Her heart began to slowly quicken as she beheld what only imagination transcribed to novels and the silver screen. Some resembled humanoid versions of mammals, birds, and reptiles from her homeworld, while others were beings her mind could never comprehend until now.

  What unnerved Sophia was the unnatural calmness in the atmosphere from everyone who paused and stared at her.

  The expressions she saw were all mixed, ranging from fear, curiosity, disgust and visible anger and hatred. However, despite their emotions from left and right, Sophia’s composure remained calm and
reserved.

  Though she kept her mettle, Sophia was quietly unnerved. She was familiar with walking through a hostile crowd calling her every name in the book. The faked politeness and civility threw her off as to what to expect from her current captors.

  Being pulled from her observation, Sophia found herself approaching an elevator. The High Counsellor moved to the side, waiting as all six guards, including the prisoner, entered and about-faced to the entrance.

  Mezcro entered last, retaking his position as primary lead. As the door slid close, he gave a verbal command.

  “Prison Ward.”

  She barely felt the lift ascend, going several flights up at tremendous speed. The only giveaway that they were moving was the glass display panel with extraterrestrial numbers that quickly changed the higher they went.

  Sophia felt the elevator slow down under her feet as the panel stopped at a final number. The second the doors open, Mezcro briskly stepped out, leading the procession again down a long white bare hallway.

  Sophia’s eyes locked onto someone waiting for them near the end of it.

  Before the procession was a tall, slender androgynist shape within a bodysuit similar to the guards minus the body armor. On both shoulders of the bodysuit was the symbol of the Dominion Council molded in silver metal. Like Mezcro, a thin silver chain attached to the emblems connected to a funky looking triangular shaped magnifying glass created from silver alder and glowing red ember crystal.

  What mystified her was the being’s hairless skin that was as black as space itself. The only thing on their near blank face was slanted purple eyes with green irises and three long gill slits on each cheek. They slowly expanded and retracted, showing a blood-red texture underneath.

  “Overseer Molctura, I turn the care of prisoner Sophia Dennison of Earth to you.”

  Molctura bowed and spoke with a soft female voice that sounded as if he was underwater.

  “Under my supervision, she will be protected and cared for.”

  High Counsellor Mezcro turned to Sophia.

  “Sophia Dennison of Earth, I take my leave of you. Overseer Molctura will process you. Please confirm if you understand.”

  “I understand,” Sophia nodded.

  Mezcro nodded and then bowed to Molctura before turning walking back down the hall whence they came from.

  Overseer Molctura then turned to Sophia to address her.

  “Sophia Dennison, of Earth, allow me to explain the processing phase to you. You will be scanned for our records; your clothing will then be removed and replaced with a standard issued prison attire. We shall then escort you to the Council room to meet with your Defender for the Inquiry.”

  “I get a defender?”

  “All accused are innocent until final judgment and are provided a Defender knowledgeable and proficient in Universal Law and defense,” recited Molctura. “Finally, you shall be taken to a designated holding cell until your inquiry. Please respond if you comprehend the processing phase.”

  “I do comprehend,” Sophia cautiously nodded.

  Although it sounded similar to Earth's process, she was sure there were some added twists to it.

  “Very good,” Overseer Molctura returned the nod. “We shall now begin the processing phase.”

  Sophia turned to the sound of the wall to her left, sliding open. Within it was a bare white room with a circular platform in the center of it, twice the size of a manhole cover surrounded by six vents and three rings of clear glass.

  She turned to Molctura, who gestured for her to enter.

  “Please enter and stand within the center of the platform, Sophia Dennison of Earth.”

  “Well, they haven’t tried to kill me yet,” she thought to herself.

  Freedom complied, walking into the center of the three circles within the platform. Instantly it came to life, emitting a bluish-green light from each of the three glass rings. Although she was sure nothing nefarious was about to happen, Sophia swallowed the lump in her throat while her muscles began to tense up.

  Each of the lights projected from the ground into the ceiling above her. They connected with the circular patterns similar to the ones on the floor. The inner and outer lights began to rotate simultaneously in one direction, while the center light spun in the opposite direction.

  Sophia’s ears twitched as a female voice began to speak.

  “Commencing scan of the prisoner, legal name Sophia Dennison, universal classification Cosmivorse, species classification Human, the planet of origin Earth, approximate age fifteen thousand three hundred and thirty solar cycles.”

  Her eyebrows raised upon hearing her age. After doing the math, Sophia realized the calculation was based on the Earth's daily rotation around the sun.

  “Prisoner’s current attire scanned for reproduction records, proceeding with removal.”

  “Removal?”

  Sophia’s inquiring voice was elevated as the floor underneath her emitted a solid orange light that also shot to the roof. Sophia let out a surprised shriek, unprepared to be hit by an orange beam with no clue what it would do.

  Much to her shock and disbelief, her outfit and boots broke apart, falling from her body.

  An angered and embarrassed Sophia attempted to wrap her arms around her chest despite the Thracian manacles still restraining her while lifting a leg to cover her nether region.

  “Seriously?!” She screamed. Seriously?!”

  Powerful suction jets from vents pulled what was left of her demolished attire into the floor, as the alien A.I. gave Sophia instruction.

  “Please keep both feet planted on the platform.”

  A livid Dennison reluctantly placed her left foot back on the platform, as told.

  Her fit of embarrassment kept her from noticing the thick white milky liquid oozing out of the same vents that sucked up the remains of her destroyed outfit. She quickly looked down after feeling it touch her feet.

  “What the …?!”

  “Please remain in place for the synthetic weaving process.”

  Her teeth began to grind uneasily as the white ooze began to quickly crawl up her legs, coating her body as more of the thick substance pushed from out of the vents. Sophia found herself involuntarily twitching as it began to touch places on her body that were either uncomfortable or sensitive.

  Eventually, the white substance coated her entire body, stopping at each of her wrists and neck.

  “Attaching membrane nodes.”

  All six vents on the platform that the white ooze came from expanded and angled upwards. Sophia defensively jumped as six oval-shaped green glowing gems in silver casings shot out of the vents and attached themselves to her back, forearms, thighs, and chest.

  The light within each of the nodes began to flicker rhythmically as Sophia watched and felt in amazement as the slimy white liquid began to harden, becoming a form-fitting, intricately textured crisscross patterned material with the feel of soft leather against her skin.

  The ooze also formed attached footwear similar to Japanese tabi with a type of sole at the bottom. Sophia could not help but run her fingertips across her outfit's sleeve and the node on her left forearm with amazement.

  With curious concern, Sophia slowly lowered her head, touching the node on her chest, which was the same size as the one on her back and bigger than the ones on her arms and thighs.

  “Deactivating Thracian restraints,” the alien A.I. announced.

  The thin gold restraints disconnected from her wrists. Allowing them to fall to the ground, she watched as one of the vents angled back down and sucked it up.

  Overseer Molctura’s voice came over the audio system within the room, getting her attention.

  “Sophia Dennison, your current attire is a standard issued conditioning suit. The nodes attached to the suit can track, monitor vitals, and administer both disciplinary and lethal force. We shall now demonstrate the disciplinary force of your suit.”

  A surprised screech was squeezed out of Sophia as s
he was violently brought to her knees and forearms, shaking the platform.

  Her heart went into overdrive, beating out of her chest. Barely able to move, she felt a weighted pressure that, for some reason, not even her incalculable strength could overcome. She painfully turned her forearms with gripped fists to see the nodes that were now apart, her outfit emitting a red light that violently blinked.

  “What you are experiencing is a powerful gravitational field subjecting your body to the appropriate amount of pressure to keep you subdued,” Molctura calmly explained. “The reason why you are unable to overcome it is because the nodes implanted onto your attire are similar to the manacles you previously wore, which prevent your adrenal levels from elevating, the key component for accessing your reserve strength and energy-based capabilities. If you choose not to comply with instructions or resist for any given reason, this method will be implemented to subdue you; please comply with a simple ‘yes’ if you understand.”

  “Yes!”

  Sophia’s frustrated scream of acknowledgment ended the galaxy crushing pressure that kept her pinned. She remained where she knelt for a minute to stop the trembling of her body. Freedom took long inhales of alien air that she did not need but mentally aided in slowing down the pounding her heart was making before getting her way back to her feet.

  Although she kept her calm, Sophia could not hide the scowl plastered on her face from what occurred. It was gently removed as a holographic image of a generic female character the size of a one-sixth scale action figure wearing an outfit similar to hers floated before her.

  “Should you somehow overcome the disciplinary method used to restrain you, a lethal protocol will be initiated,” Overseer Molctura went on. “Each of the nodes implanted in your suit will inject you with an agent capable of destroying your body on a cellular level. Allow me to inform you that due to your heightened ability to repair and regenerate, the process of death is long and excruciatingly painful.”

  The nodes on the holographic image lit up, turning purple as there was a recreation of what Molctura explained to Sophia.

  “Please acknowledge if you understand what I have just said to you.”