“I’ll be alright then;” Ruth looked sideways at him, a little glint in her eyes. “You don’t need to worry!”
Kevin stifled a laugh as he caught her meaning, but decided not to comment as he kept them company.
“Still, this will help.” Richard grinned back as he led her down through the underground passages to the Warrnam, intending to cross to Citadel from there as he had arranged. As they walked through the silent passageways, he began checking out his wife’s ruminations on the status of Ruth and her marriage. Kirrina, I think she needs your special touch, although her focus on Isaac does seem stronger now. The ground battle must have been horrifying. So many back on Earth must feel like she does.
I’m ready. Karen’s message came back clearly. I’ll give her what I can. Then I must get back there to the ground-based defenders so I can soothe their troubled memories; and you must come with me, my love, to keep me energised!
Yes, of course! Richard almost blushed at the warmth conveyed in this soundless communication. I think we can leave the scientist here to figure out how to reverse the Mecuba, to bring the planet back from the brink of an ice age, and while he is doing that, we must do what we can to take care of our wonderful people back on Earth, too!
Walt and Brad toured the battleground together with every one time or current military Forces defender they could find and anyone that could be spared from Patrol Craft production. It had barely snowed since after the battle had ended, making the work that they now had to do very obvious. The area close around the hangar was so littered with bodies that the snow banks were almost completely hidden. The bodies of the defenders that had not responded to the Medic had already been taken away and laid out in a few vacant houses. Tracy was planning a memorial service with the assistance of several ground battle survivors.
“I’m going to bring PC Eight down the runway and over to that field there.” Brad summarised their plan. “I’ll cut a section out of the ground with the hoist. Seagull and Stork can go underneath the part I raise and do the finer excavations for each body.”
“Paranak didn’t seem to be interested in this rather macabre problem, so I’d like to get them all buried before he comes back from the Moon; I don’t think he wants any ceremony for the fallen warriors.” Walt nodded his concurrence, knowing that the day was going to be a long one and even more grateful than usual for the Medic’s life-boosting effects. “At least with our microsatellites freed to operate without security concerns and broadcasting our proposal for assistance to any groups with working radios, we can look forward to hearing from other survivors, all around Earth.”
“Let’s hope we get some responses – then we’ll get help to them.” Brad thought about how busy this might make them. “If this shows what I’ve been hoping – that we fought this battle in time to save many others across the world…”
“Yeah, the forty-four we lost down here and the eighteen scattered across the cosmos can be remembered and honoured; we can console ourselves with that fact that they did not die in vain.”
***
As Citadel neared Earth’s atmosphere, Richard and Kirrina were heartened to hear that an enclave of survivors centred on Swindon, England had already responded to the new satellite broadcasts. The explanation for the location for this encouraging news was thought to be a combination of the ameliorating influence of the Atlantic Ocean, making the Mecuba effect less intense, and the availability of nuclear power-supplied electricity still being distributed in parts of that country.
“Kirrina to New Leeds.” Mrs. Fletcher brought the hybrid craft down fast, determined to start her anti-nightmare treatments before too many of the battle-weary veterans – military and amateur – were tired enough to sink into unconsciousness and suffer such a traumatic sleep state. “Richard and I will be home in a few minutes. He and I want to see each and every defender… to talk to you all. You are our heroes!”
Richard nodded, turning to look at her profile as she spoke, understanding what was implied by this mental mega-task, knowing that they would both be exhausted by the time they had completed this mammoth mission of mercy… and glad to have something beautiful to focus on, rather than having to view the rapidly expanding planet on the forward viewscreen. She’s the best antidote to vertigo ever conceived!
“This looks like a navigation record file.” Latt stood – there were no chairs, of course, only recliners – looking at a secondary computer screen on the old Warrnam flight deck.
This flight deck does look old. Judy stayed close, but her attention flitted from the screens to her fiancé and back. Others like Latt probably kept this going for the Controllers, but then they were dumped before the big battle. Maybe we’ll be able to find some of them.
“I’ll send this file to the pilot’s controls.” Abner Sharif had volunteered to be a specialist helper to Latt as a self-medicated remedy – or at least distraction – to the distress he had felt after his return from Los Angeles… without having discovered any sign of his oldest boy, Khalid. Somehow the idea that Latt’s relatives and all the other humans on Rhaal would die unless the victors of the battle for Earth were able to navigate through Grey Space to that distant world and get through any local defences to rescue them, made the disappointed parent restless, whereas his own – still uncertain, he reassured himself – father-son separation had made him intensely gloomy. “Then we should be able to program in a trip to your world and find out how long it will take, though this vessel is not going anywhere, anytime soon.”
“Thanks.” Jusstinalss’ smile was faint, but it was there. “Let’s see if I can bring up a star map on these old displays. Anything available here should be more accurate than the old records we’ve had access to in Citadel.”
As Abner worked, he reminded himself how lucky he was to have his wife and three other children all safe with him in New Leeds. Holly, his sixteen year old daughter, participating in the last defensive line, had been injured as she crouched inside the hangar, laser in hand, during the final flood-rush of the Narlav ground force. Keri, his Californian wife, fighting right next to her, had held her in her arms as she began to fade away – but then the Aircar Magic Wagon had coasted up to the hangar wall wherever laser damage was visible, restoring whatever – or whoever – was on the other side within a few feet of that barrier, without even knowing who. That Medic is such a Gift from God…
“Ah!” Latt finally grinned as the New Rhaal system appeared before them. “Silly, isn’t it? I never even knew how many planets were in our system until Kirrina showed me the rather ancient star maps in Citadel.”
Sharif moved across and looked over Latt’s shoulder as he leaned down on the incliner to get a better look at the display. “That is impressive.” Abner counted the planets, finding a total of thirteen, with Rhaal, previously known as Foruna, being the second closest to the star at the centre.
“Just as I expected. There’s no indication that there’ll be any defensive guard screen as we head down into the atmosphere.”
“I suppose an invasion would be inconceivable to them.” Abner recalled his experiences with Paranak, remembering how supremely confident he always was of his own abilities.
“Exactly. We have all we need to know.” Latt transferred the file to the Narlav computer system in what he thought of as the Macral command centre. “Come on! Let’s get this rescue mission into Grey Space!” At this he turned to Judy and pulled her close; the tension which had faded a little after the battle had been won was returning – the physical contact with his fiancée seemed to temper this… or perhaps it merely distracted him!
***
“Amber!” Kirrina beckoned her closer. “How do you like my Arshonnan scene?” The Fletchers had decided to do their ‘therapy sessions’ in the simulated place which never failed to move them – to calm them and to inspire them. The fact that it also constantly reminded them of what had been lost was something that at times they found depressing, while at other times they found it empowering,
imbuing them with the willpower and determination to prevent such a thing from ever happening again. Of course they had hoped that it would be a positive influence on the battle-weary defenders, and so far this had been the case. Richard had settled, leaning back against one of the smaller Traiskel[48] with his wife resting against him.
Amber Davis was still looking at the scenery and missed the interrogative part of Karen’s opening words.
“Come and sit here, with us.” The young Mrs. Fletcher invited her, simplifying her communication, aware that the scents and visual impact of the recreated hillside had started the ‘softening up’ of her clients quite well so far. About fifty of the defenders had been into the Moss Room for this process already and Kirrina was pleased about how well her stamina was lasting – though of course she had used the ‘Restorative’ features of this room several times since she had leaned back into Richard, and the inevitable borrowing of his energy had bolstered her endurance, too.
Miss Davis sat down, looking a little apprehensive.
Karen and Richard just smiled faintly, saying nothing.
After a couple of minutes of silence, with Richard focusing on the far hills and the fluffy white clouds scurrying across the greenish-blue sky and Karen watching Amber’s hands sinking into the spiky green fuuth, Amber cleared her throat.
Still, Kirrina said nothing.
“I’m okay, really I am,” Amber finally ventured. “And in any case, there’s nothing you can do. All I have now is Smoke. You can’t change that.”
Kirrina’s eyes went subtly wan, the colour fading just a little, not enough for Amber to be sure that anything had really happened at all. In fact she had ‘called’ her Nical from the lounge-like room she and Richard shared with the now full-grown creature. He’ll be here in a moment.
He already likes her. Richard commented in return.
“This is Colomol Island,” Karen continued, apparently ignoring the dismissive comment and concentrating on what might seem to some to be mere trivia. “My parents lived here, before they came to Earth. I’ve only ever seen a small fragment of Arshonna in reality. I walked on it, found priceless knowledge in a dusty corridor. It is all gone now.”
Amber looked up from the fuuth, where her eyes seemed to have strayed. “I know. Everyone has lost someone. Some… thing. Some place. That’s what I mean. I know I must just get used to it.” She shrugged. “Can I go now?”
As she spoke, Sholly shimmered through the wall at the far end of the simulation and bounded over, curling up on Karen’s lap.
Amber’s eyes showed a hint of a smile, just a slight crinkling at the corners.
Go on, make friends with her, you’ve seen her before, Kirrina encouraged her silky animal friend. Sholly turned and blinked at Amber, opening his mouth wide, showing off his impressively long line of ‘molars’, and twisting his muzzle slightly as he sniffed and reconfirmed the scent of the girl. He jumped down and ran over to her, stopping at her feet and nibbling on her shoes.
“Take them off!” Richard suggested. “He likes toes.”
Amber finally broke into a grin and pulled off her shoes, wiggling her toes in front of the Nical and watching his close-set eyes as he sniffed her feet.
Richard waited. Any moment, and he’ll …
“Eeek!” Amber squealed as the nibbling began on the toes of her right foot. Sholly wrapped himself around her foot, his tail reaching out towards her other one, as she was sitting cross-legged. The pseudo-teeth in his tail touched her left ankle and she found that this tickled too.
“I need you to help me, Amber,” Kirrina ventured, seeing that the ice was truly broken. “I’m going to be away for some days and I can’t take Sholly with me. Would you look after him for me, for us?”
“What about Smoke?” Miss Davis was intrigued, but worried too. “He’s never met – I don’t know what would happen.”
“Let’s find out.” Karen had arranged for Smoke to be left outside with a helpful GAF team member and she called him, wondering how well this would work. He’s a very bright dog.
Smoke trotted into the scene and walked right up to Amber, not seeing Sholly initially, as he was coming from behind her.
Karen’s eyes greyed completely.
Sholly stopped nibbling toes and looked up at the much taller dog. Smoke sniffed once and then licked the smaller creature’s head, flattening the silky fur slightly.
“That answers that!” Amber grinned again as the Nical stood up on his long hind legs and rested his front paws against Smoke’s chest, nibbling at his jaw line and then his droopy ears.
“I have some information about Nicals for you.” Karen smiled at the scene she had orchestrated so carefully. “May I?”
Amber left the two creatures to their mutual grooming and scuttled over on the spiky surface so that she was next to Sholly’s mistress. In a moment, the touch of a masterful hand opened up the link that had been the goal of the exercise and knowledge was shared… along with the inevitable emotions and perspective-changing thoughts.
“Thanks, Amber.” Karen’s eyes flushed back to the blueness of their restful state. “You know as much as I do about Nicals now.”
Amber Davis nodded, her brown eyes now no longer wary. “I’m sorry I was so defensive. I get it now.”
“If you take a deep breath, you’ll smell the Fleshint.” Karen found the scent had wafted back, just as she had hoped it would.
The young animal lover sniffed, then laughed as she noticed the two creatures doing the same thing. “Can I get a recording of this for my room? Walt, Enid and Sophie… and Beckie… invited me to go with them to England.”
Richard and Karen nodded in sync, their thoughts intertwined. It is therapeutic. Arshonna lives on!
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Homecoming
“Now is the time to go to Rhaal; every moment makes it less likely for the remaining people there – my people – to be alive. We even have the updated coordinates from the Narlavs’ own ship.” Latt was speaking to an assembly of GAF personnel, local survivors, and the fragments of military now closely associated with what had previously been a purely defensive mission. He looked over the group, seeing the single Patrol Craft sitting in the bronzy chamber where once ten times as many vessels had resided and knowing that key members of their force were still on the Moon, so he could not expect their comments and support. “Time is critically important – other survivors will have been hanging on with almost no food, daily increasing fumes and the intermittent hazard of Narlavs hunting them. Everything we know from the ship we captured and the recollections of Commander Steele during his captivity would indicate that the Narlavs back at Rhaal – assuming any remain there at all – do not have so much as a single Warrnam to defend themselves with.”
“I have to agree with Latt. My first goal used to be to return to Fepnine.” Richard stood up, aware that these people would follow just about any directive he or Karen gave, but anxious to get understanding, so that the group would come to consensus. “But we don’t have enough ships to make that trip anymore; we wouldn’t make much of an impact on the balance of power there. So, instead of going there, we can make this trip, rescue the survivors, descendants of the original Forunians who have been in slavery for hundreds of years now, and be back here in a few days to continue with the rescue efforts here.”
“I don’t think the choice is between going to Fepnine or Rhaal. We have just four useful ships to rescue survivors in hundreds of frozen cities right here on Earth.” Walt found himself in disagreement with the very people he had always considered to be his philosophical leaders, a position that felt uncomfortable and disturbing. “The cold is still killing people all over our world; we haven’t even left North America to give help to anyone since we got hit by the Mecuba. Four ships, that’s all; we haven’t figured out how to mobilise PC Nine so we can get her down here to fix her.” He remained sitting, knowing that this situation had to be kept calm and believing that his natural desire to st
and as he spoke would create more tension, if not also contention. “Let’s figure that out, get the two more Patrol Craft behind us completed, start work on two more and then, when we have seven, we can safely send two ships to Rhaal.”
“But by then everyone left behind on Rhaal may be dead.” The bleakness in Jusstinalss’ eyes was clear to those who observed his comment.
An uneasy silence filled the vast chamber.
“I understand it is hard for many to imagine what life on Latt’s home planet is like. I’d like to help you with that; I want to give you all a personal experience of Rhaal.” Kirrina took hold of Richard’s hand; he had reached down from his position, standing beside her, as she determined to use her powers to stir the imaginations of the wonderful variety of people she had fought alongside to protect her first home – Earth. “You all know how I have been very careful to respect your own choices. I talked to Latt earlier, as I sensed there was a division developing in the previously united forces here in New Leeds. I can show you what he saw back there.”
Richard sat down hastily, finding that her capacity to drain his strength had jumped to a new high – so much so that he knew he might fall over if he did not get off his feet immediately.
“I’m going to ask you to look at the side of PC Sixteen and let your eyes go out of focus.” Mrs. Fletcher continued. “Then I’ll send to you the images I got from Latt’s mind… you’ll see them in the darkness there, if you relax.” Kirrina smiled as she saw the dubious expressions on several faces.
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