Martin King and the Space Angels (Martin King Series) (11 page)

They stood around the grey box in the Silver Castle, the box which contained the Isis Crystal. Outside, they heard the incessant crash of meteors.

‘Why did you bring us here?’ said Tommy.

‘I am going to take the Isis Crystal,’ said Martin.

‘But you can’t!’ said Darcy. ‘You saw what it did to the handkerchief!’

‘Maybe you haven’t realised this,’ said Martin, ‘but I’m not a handkerchief.’

‘This isn’t the time for jokes,’ said Darcy. ‘If you touch the box you’ll die.’

Martin shook his head. ‘No I won’t.’

‘Please, Martin,’ said Darcy, ‘don’t touch it.’

‘I have to,’ said Martin. ‘We need the crystal.’

‘No!’ Darcy shouted.

But before she could stop him, Martin had reached out and grabbed hold of the grey box. He didn’t turn to dust. Instead, Martin opened the box and took out a shimmering crystal. Then he dropped the box back onto the platform, laughing.

‘Don’t ever do that to me again!’ Darcy shouted, punching Martin on the arm. ‘I nearly had a heart attack!’

As soon as she had calmed down, Darcy peered at the crystal. It was a perfect cuboid, and it shone with dozens of different colours.

‘So that’s the Isis Crystal,’ said Levanté. ‘So much fuss over something so small. But how did you know the box wouldn’t kill you?’

‘I didn’t know for sure. I just had a hunch. Remember what Laser Wolf said, about the key being made around fourteen years ago? Well, it wasn’t
around
fourteen years ago. The key was forged fourteen years ago exactly.’

‘How do you know?’ said Tommy.

‘Because I’m the key.’ Martin paused. ‘Laser Wolf said that the key might be multifunctional. Well, remember what happened when I touched Harvey Longfellow’s telescope. My touch unlocked it. I guessed that the same thing would happen when I touched the grey box.’

Darcy smiled. ‘You’re a genius, do you know that?’

‘A genius indeed,’ said a female voice.

The hairs on Martin’s neck bristled. They all turned. But it was a friendly face.

‘Kara?’ said Martin. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I have come to help,’ said Kara. ‘Michael Slater told me you had gone into the city. I wanted to come to offer my assistance.’

‘Well, thanks,’ said Tommy.

Kara’s eyes landed on the Isis Crystal.

‘So that is what all the trouble has been about. It is very beautiful.’ She reached out a hand towards the crystal. ‘May I?’

But at that moment Laser Wolf strode into the Silver Castle. He was breathless; he had obviously been running.

‘You… you retrieved it!’ he said, delighted. ‘I realised where you must be going and I came to stop you. But you did it!’

He looked at Kara, and his eyes darkened. He stepped in front of Martin and the others, stretching out his arms to protect them.

‘What are you doing?’ said Martin. ‘It’s OK. This is a friend. Her name is Kara. She’s here to help us.’

Laser Wolf did not move.

‘Do you remember that I said someone working for Moonstone was inside the city?’

‘Slater,’ said Martin. ‘I said it must be Slater.’

Laser Wolf shook his head.

‘No. Forgive me, Martin, but I was wrong. Nobody in the city is working for Moonstone.’ He pointed at Kara. ‘This
is
Moonstone.’

‘Tell me it’s not true,’ said Martin, looking at her.

‘Oh, but it is true,’ said the woman, her purple eyes gleaming. ‘It was a good act though, don’t you agree? Ditsy old Kara, such a harmless little Axis Lady.’ She grinned. ‘My name is Moonstone. Give me the crystal.’

‘No,’ said Martin. ‘We found the crystal first.’

Moonstone laughed. ‘Do you really imagine that you could have found the crystal without me? Who do you think hid the Monographs on Earth in the first place? Who do you think gave Harvey Longfellow the Truthful Eye?

‘I have known all along that you are the key, Martin, and I have been helping you right from the start, working discreetly to ensure that you would successfully retrieve the crystal.’

‘If that’s true,’ said Darcy, ‘why did you try to kill us inside the VDS machine?’

Moonstone smiled again. ‘I wasn’t
actually
going to kill you. I just wanted to make you panic. I was bored of waiting, you see. Nothing speeds people up like a bit of panic.’

She waved an arm; the crystal soared out of Martin’s grasp and into her hand.

‘Thank you for the crystal. Now you can all die.’

But before she could kill them, a man appeared behind her and gave her a hard push. She tumbled over, and before she could get up the man pointed a gun to her head.

‘Give Martin the crystal back,’ said Mr Slater. ‘Now.’

But before anyone could stop her, Moonstone vanished.

‘Damn!’ said Slater. He sighed. ‘I discovered Kara’s real identity after looking her up in my ship’s memory bank. When I found this out I knew you were in terrible danger, and I knew I had to come after you. I managed to find some extra fuel in the storage bay of my ship, and I flew straight here.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Martin.

‘For what?’

‘I really thought that
you
were our enemy.’

Slater smiled. ‘You do not need to be sorry. But we do need to find Moonstone, and quickly.’

Chapter 12:
The Moon Base

‘Moonstone is no longer in the city,’ said Slater. Martin and the others were standing behind his chair in the control room of
Valiant Star
. ‘The scan confirms it.’

‘But how could she escape?’ said Tommy. ‘I thought it was impossible.’

‘It seems that Moonstone has somehow managed to disable the city’s shield. This is good news for us, because it means that we can escape as well.’

Slater pressed a button, and something appeared on the monitor.

‘What’s that?’ said Darcy.

‘Moonstone left an energy trace when she teleported out of the city; I have managed to decipher the signal and discover where she went.’

The coordinates on the screen read:

23° 56' 21" SOUTH / 16° 10' 18" WEST

‘That makes no sense,’ said Levanté. ‘Those coordinates point to somewhere in the South Atlantic Ocean. That position is miles away from any land.’

‘Maybe Moonstone’s base is underwater,’ said Tommy.

Slater smiled. ‘No, you are both wrong. They are
selenographic
coordinates.’

‘Seleno-what?’ said Darcy.

‘Selenographic. Coordinates of the Moon.’

‘We need to follow her,’ said Martin. ‘Can you take us there in
Valiant Star
?’

Mr Slater shook his head. ‘There is not enough fuel.’

‘Then I can teleport us,’ said Levanté, as another lightning flash ripped through the sky outside the ship. ‘All link arms.’

Tommy hesitated.

‘What’s the matter?’ said Martin.

Tommy shrugged. The truth was, he didn’t want to leave Fire Opal. There was something about her… she was so beautiful, and… no, he had to focus.

‘Sorry,’ said Tommy.

He joined the circle. Levanté shook his head at Slater as he tried to join.

‘I’m sorry, uncle, not you. You’re the only family I have left. Martin, Darcy and Tommy are the ones mentioned in the prophecy. You stay here.’

Slater sighed. ‘Very well. I am sure you know best.’

‘Wait a minute,’ said Tommy. ‘If we’re going to the Moon, don’t we need spacesuits?’

Levanté shook his head. ‘Axis Lords require the same kind of environment as humans to survive. Moonstone’s base should have normal gravity and oxygen levels.’

Martin, Darcy, Tommy and Levanté closed their eyes.

‘Here we go,’ said Levanté.

Martin had the strange feeling of being squeezed through a narrow tube. He couldn’t breathe, and darkness surrounded him…

Finally, the pressure ceased. It took a few seconds for his eyes to adjust to the light.

‘Are you all OK?’ said Levanté, clicking his neck back into place.

‘I’m fine,’ said Darcy.

‘We’re all fine,’ said Martin.

They were standing in a metal corridor; the floors and walls were an identical grey. Martin walked over to a wide porthole. Beyond the glass lay the cratered surface of the Moon. The Earth shone, suspended, as the golden storm covered its surface. It looked like a burning marble floating in space.

Darcy stepped forward to look out of the ship.

‘I know we’re probably going to die here,’ she said, ‘and that the world is probably going to end very soon, but this view is still really awesome.’

‘Moonstone is here,’ said Levanté. ‘I can feel her presence.’

Martin’s hand brushed the metal wall, and he suddenly saw the vision again—
a gun in his hands, pointed at Moonstone. He pulled the trigger. This time there was a bang, a white explosion…

‘Are you OK?’ said Tommy.

Martin shook himself out of his trance, and nodded. ‘Let’s just find Moonstone, get the crystal back, and get out of here.’

Tommy gazed out of the porthole. ‘My parents are back there. Back on Earth. I didn’t even say bye. I just left. And now I might never see them again.’

Martin put a hand on his shoulder. ‘You will, Tommy, you will.’

He wished he could feel as confident as he pretended to be. How could they possibly defeat Moonstone? But there was one thing—the vision he had seen twice, the vision of the gun, aimed at Moonstone.

Maybe that’s it. Maybe that’s the only way to win. Maybe I have to kill Moonstone.

Could I do it? Could I commit murder to save the Earth?

Perhaps.

To save Darcy?

I would do anything to save Darcy.

Even if it makes me into a monster?

Yes, even if it makes me into a monster.

Suddenly, the whole base shook, as if from a small earthquake. Martin looked out of the porthole again. Outside, on the Moon’s surface, a crack had appeared. It was small at first, but it began to grow, spreading like an evil tumour.

‘Reality is splitting apart,’ said Levanté.

Martin put his finger to his lips. ‘Listen.’

There was a humming sound; it was like the sound of an engine.

‘Let’s follow the sound,’ said Martin.

They moved along the corridor, slowly, expecting to walk into a guard or Moonstone herself at any second.

‘I really wish I had my gun with me right now,’ said Levanté.

The humming sound increased as they neared the source. The base seemed to be deserted. Every door opened for them as they reached it. It was almost as if Moonstone
wanted
them to find her.

Finally, they reached a door that did not open for them. Martin placed a hand to the door. The door was vibrating faintly. He turned to his friends.

‘I have to go on alone from here. I can’t let you come with me. It’s too dangerous.’

‘It’s a good thing you don’t have a choice, then,’ said Darcy. ‘We’re coming—and there’s nothing you can say that will stop us.’

Martin sighed, but he was secretly relieved. A red light switched on above the door. Martin stared at the red beacon, and asked himself the question that he had been avoiding since he had arrived at the base.

Am I going to die?

The red light glared at him.

Am I going to die?

Behind, the corridor seemed to stretch on forever.

Am I going to die? Is Moonstone going to kill me? Is she going to kill all of us?

Martin looked at Darcy; the beacon had given her pale face a tinge of red.

I love you, Darcy. I love you so much. And if we get through this, I will tell you.

Suddenly, the door slid open. An invisible force seized them and dragged them through the air. They were dropped at the feet of a woman.

‘Hello, Martin.’

Martin looked up into the face of Moonstone. She was very attractive; she had a symmetrical face and full lips, but her cold sneer subtracted from her beauty.

Martin saw the vision again—
his hand was clamped over the gun; he pulled the trigger…

‘Activate the Force Cage,’ said Moonstone. A bubble of blue light appeared, sealing them inside. ‘Well, isn’t it nice for us all to be back together like this?’

Martin glanced around. They were in some sort of enormous control room. The place was cavernous; a large machine lay right in the centre, humming, which seemed to be wired up to everything else. Another quake rocked the base.

‘Did you feel that?’ said Moonstone. ‘XO5 is taking over.’ She pointed to the huge machine. ‘This is an Extraction Matrix. I built it according to XO5’s exact specifications. It will allow XO5 to extract the power of the Isis Crystal.’

Martin could see the Isis Crystal in the centre of the machine, glowing within a mesh of cables.

‘But why does he
want
to destroy everything?’ said Darcy. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘XO5 is not a male,’ said Moonstone. ‘Such designations only apply to mortal beings. And, in answer to your question, XO5 is not going to destroy everything. XO5 simply wants to change a few things about the universe.’

‘What’s wrong with the universe as it is?’ said Tommy.

‘Listen,’ said Martin. ‘We saw a vision painted by Iddo in the City of Serenity. We saw the kind of world XO5 will create—a never-ending wasteland. Just think about all of the planets that XO5 has already destroyed!’

Moonstone laughed. ‘Do you really think you will make me change my mind?’

‘If XO5 is so powerful,’ said Levanté, ‘why does it even
need
the Crystal?’

‘Since the beginning of time, XO5 has been opposed by another being, a being of equal and opposite power to itself, a being called the Wheelmaster. The Isis Crystal will finally give XO5 the upper hand—and the final victory.’

‘Please, just think about what you’re doing,’ said Martin.

‘I will not change my allegiance,’ said Moonstone. ‘XO5 has promised me great kindness.’

‘Kindness?’ said Darcy.

Moonstone sighed. ‘I am dying. I suppose that you would call it a cancer. I am in my third life. If I die now, I die forever. But XO5 has promised me everlasting life in return for my help.’

‘So that’s your motive?’ said Martin. ‘You would see the whole universe destroyed just so you can live?’

‘You cannot possibly understand my situation,’ said Moonstone. ‘You are human. Your lives are already so fleeting. But I am an Axis Lady. Without the tumour I would still have many thousands of years left to live. I am not ready to die. That’s why I was sent to the City of Serenity.
I was found guilty of murder.’

‘Murder?’ said Tommy. ‘Who did you murder?’

‘Nobody important,’ said Moonstone. ‘As soon as I found out I was dying I realised that I could extend my life a little by absorbing the life force of a fellow Axis Lord or Lady. That is why I have been sending out my Pendulum Officers to track down members of my race. Each death gives me a little more life.’

She suddenly bent forwards, as if in great pain. The base began to shake again.

‘It’s starting,’ said Moonstone.

Suddenly, a man appeared in a flash of light. It was Slater, wearing a grey robe. He was no longer disguised as a human; his eyes were purple and his hair was white. Slater pointed his gun at Moonstone, and glanced at Levanté.

‘I appreciate your concern for my welfare, nephew, but it seems like you needed me after all. Did you really think you were the only Axis Lord who could teleport?’

Mr Slater activated a switch and the Force Cage vanished.

‘Martin,’ said Slater. ‘Take the crystal out of Moonstone’s machine.’

Martin walked towards the machine, but Moonstone suddenly waved an arm and Slater’s gun flew into her hand.

‘Stay where you are,’ she said, pointing the gun at Martin. ‘You will not stop me.’

‘We
will
stop you,’ said Martin. He walked towards Moonstone, filled with boldness. ‘Don’t you know about the prophecy? It was foretold that I, Darcy and Tommy will defeat XO5.’

Moonstone laughed. ‘Do you actually believe that a
machine
could predict the future? The Foretellers were created by XO5; I created that false prophecy to trick you into retrieving the crystal for me.’

Martin felt his face reddening. How could he have been so stupid? Falcon had told them that they were special, but it wasn’t true.

Moonstone laughed again. ‘The only thing unique about you, Martin, is the fact that you were converted into an Axis Key when you were born. But you were chosen at random out of 6 billion humans. The only reason I had to make up the prophecy is so I could
use
you—just like I would use a key in a lock.’

‘Don’t listen to her,’ said Tommy.

The Axis Lady clapped her hands; a ring of fire appeared around Martin and the others.

‘You have served your purpose, humans, and now there is no need for you to live.’

The fire ring began to shrink.

‘Do not panic,’ said Slater.

‘I’m trying not to,’ said Tommy, sweating as the fire came steadily closer.

Darcy nudged Martin. ‘How do you fight fire?’ she whispered.

Martin frowned. Then he realised what she meant. He smiled.

‘With fire,’ said Darcy. ‘Sorry. Bit cheesy, I know.’

She lifted her arms and a stream of fire shot from each of her hands. The fire diverted Moonstone’s flames, creating a channel for the others to escape.

Then Darcy pointed her hands towards the floor, and two more jets of fire shot out of her hands, propelling her into the air and out of the ring of fire. Moonstone cried out and pointed the gun at Darcy.

But Martin was too quick for her; he flew over to her and grabbed the gun from her grasp. He held it tightly with both hands. Moonstone raised her hands in surrender.

‘Don’t try anything,’ said Martin.

Suddenly, he remembered the vision. Now it was happening for real. The gun, cold to the touch, pointed at Moonstone. Was this the only way? Was killing Moonstone the only way to save the Earth?