Torian Reclamation 2: Flash Move (32 page)

When they were finished, they boarded the small cabin at the front of the shuttle and launched into the night sky. After they had established orbit over Amulen, the cargo bay doors opened and the satellite was deployed.

Hol4 and the two other technicians then put on space suits, connected tethers, and were deployed through the same cargo bay doors to work on the satellite from the outside for another two hours. This was a new experience for Hol4. He didn’t particularly enjoy the feeling of zero-gravity and wondered if he made a mistake in pursuing the space station career. Hopefully, his assignment would keep him on the inside there.

When the work was complete, and the scientists on board finished testing their remote controls to their satisfaction, the shuttle moved a short distance to another nearby satellite. This was a smaller, round unit that had been placed in orbit from one of the rockets launched earlier. The procedure repeated. It was quicker work here, but there were additional newly-deployed satellites that needed fine-tuning afterwards. Lots of them. Hol4 and the technicians spent the next seven hours hopping from satellite to satellite performing their task.

When they were finally finished with the last one, Hol4 was as tired as he had ever felt and wanted nothing more than to get back to the barracks and sleep for a day. He was pleased with himself, though, for remembering so much of his training, and having been able to put it into action when called upon. Also, he had gotten used to space walking and no longer considered it uncomfortable. If that would be part of his new job requirements at Cardinal-4, he could live with it.

Mission control no sooner gave clearance for their shuttle to return when the High General’s voice came on the speaker system. It was frantic-sounding, which couldn’t be good. He asked if the new satellite network was operational from ground control yet.

“It should be, General,” one of the scientists replied. “Mostly, anyway. We can make the final adjustments when we arrive.”

“But you can fully control it from the shuttle now?”

“Affirmative, General. It’s all been tested and should work, assuming the theory is valid.”

“Stay up there!” the High General said. “I repeat, stay where you are and stand by to engage the system!”

Something in the general’s voice unsettled Hol4. But what Hol4 saw next, through the cockpit forward window, sent him into a near-panic.

A circle of fiery light appeared in the distance in front of the shuttle. It then vanished, but left three dark objects inside of where it had been. One was a larger than the others, with dim lights. The two on the outside of it were smaller, and broke away from larger one.

Then another circle of light appeared, a short ways off, and the scene repeated. Then another, a ways off from that. And another.

“Engage the system!” the High General’s voice screamed. “Repeat, engage the system!”

The scientist in the copilot’s seat fumbled with the small instruments in his hand. He finally managed to get his lightpad linked to a cockpit video screen. A series of waves showed on a schematic grid. Hol4 instantly recognized the wave patterns. They represented readings from the technology he had just helped to install.

The numerous oblong objects that were now in orbit over Banor began firing long segments of red light upon the planet surface.

A laser then shot across the space directly above the shuttle. Hol4 could barely make out the dark ship it was coming from.

They were being attacked. Hol4 realized he was about to die in space. The laser above them missed, but adjusted and fired again much closer. This time it stayed on and moved towards the shuttle. In a few seconds it would connect.

“Engaged, General,” the scientist in the copilot seat said. The wave patterns on the cockpit screen turned red and squeezed together into tight loops. The shuttle vibrated, as if being shook by an outside force.

But the enemy ship’s laser went out, after veering off course slightly. And the weapons being fired from the enemy satellites all stopped as well.

“Great job, boys,” the High General’s voice said. “It’s working! Talk about coming through in the nick of time. Now get back here and finish your job on the ground!”

“Why’d we have to park so far away?” Kayla asked as she felt Alan’s forehead. “And why did we have to spend the night in the shuttle?”

“Do you know what you’re feeling for?” Brandon asked Kayla.

“No,” she admitted and withdrew her hand. “I saw you do it, so assumed it must be helpful.”

“It’s only helpful if you know what to look for. Does his head feel hot to your touch?”

“Yes, a little.”

“A little is okay. If it felt extremely hot, that would be bad.”

“But his skin is white again,” Kayla said. “He’s not talking. He seems worse.”

The early morning light shone through the open cabin door of Brandon’s shuttle on to Alan’s pale face and half-closed eyelids. Out of the three of them, Alan was the only one who got much sleep—but, as Kayla pointed out, he didn’t look so good.

Brandon was glad they were here, but just as disappointed as Kayla that they ended up having to wait for daybreak.

“Come on,” Brandon said. “It should be safe enough to travel now. Take a fully-charged hand laser with you.”

“What for?” Kayla asked.

“Serpents. Keep an eye out for them on the ground. I’ll watch the air.”

Kayla instantly withdrew all her limbs, formed a ball with her body, and scooted herself farther into the interior of the shuttle.

“Come on, Kayla. I need you.” Brandon lifted Alan out of the shuttle and stood him on his feet. Alan responded and took several steps, then stopped—but said nothing. Kayla stayed in place in the cabin and remained silent as well.

“I don’t blame you for being afraid of snakes,” Brandon said. “I am, too. But let’s look at this logically. You weren’t afraid of those drones attacking us. You’re good, Kayla—real good. Best shots I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been around a little. The sun’s coming up so we can see clearly, and the ground is mostly barren here. We’re actually very close to Landen, so it’s not likely we’ll encounter any. But if we do, they don’t stand much of a chance against us. I’m a decent shot myself.”

“Can …can I stay here and guard the shuttle?” was all Kayla said.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

Brandon looked up to the plateau where the village was, and then saw movement along the ridge behind them, coming from Landen. It appeared to be a small caravan.

“Looks like our problem may be solved, anyway. I think a ride is coming.”

Brandon was right. The locals shortly arrived, but Kayla stayed inside the shuttle cabin. It was a small caravan—three Landen Sheen, but they came on five yuquin. It looked like someone would still have to walk, unless Kayla was willing to squeeze in with Alan and ride double.

One of them said, “Tulros, Brandon Foss.” They were dressed in traditional grey cloaks. The bright light from their skin was not so distinct in the morning sun.

Brandon didn’t recognize any of them. “Tulros,” he said, and bowed. “Thank you for coming out. There’s one more of us in the shuttle. Kayla, come out here!”

Brandon saw Kayla’s head pop out the cabin door. But when she saw the yuquin, it quickly retreated again.

“Please let me stay here and guard the ship, Brandon.” Her plea sounded pathetic. Brandon knew the best thing for her was to come out and face her fears. She needed to get over whatever this phobia was she had.

On the other hand, they were short one animal, Alan was sicker, and they could move faster without a pedestrian.

“All right Kayla,” Brandon said. “I’ll come back and check on you in a bit. There’s still some food and plenty of water on board—”

Before he finished speaking she closed the cabin door from the inside.

Alan finally spoke when Brandon urged him to mount the yuquin, but it was only to argue. He wanted to walk. His protest was feeble and hardly convincing. Brandon insisted he ride and helped him mount.

“You don’t remember me, do you?” the Sheen who had greeted Brandon said as they began riding up towards the ridge.

Brandon tried to look at him closer amidst the jostling of the yuquin and making sure Alan stayed mounted.

“No, but you seem familiar. Did Madkin3 send you?”

“Yes. My father asked us to meet you after receiving your messages. I understand your young friend has acquired an affliction after being submerged in a swamp. We will do what we can for him.”

Brandon smiled. “Madkin5. It’s been so long. You were much younger when I last saw you. Your father I have seen more recently. The passage of time is deceiving—a decade has escaped already. I look forward to sitting with him.”

Madkin5 shook his head. “Then you are going to be disappointed. He’s not here.”

Brandon cocked his head.

“He has moved to the elder colony,” Madkin5 explained. “He felt it was time. He’s over a hundred now.”

“I had no idea he was that old.”

“We Sheen age well,” Madkin5 said. “And we are capable of having children much later in life than the natives, as was my case. Especially in hot climates such as we have here. That, unfortunately, is changing for the worse as the atmospheric conditions of our world decline.”

“Disappointed is not a strong enough word,” Brandon said. “Vanquished is more appropriate. I greatly desire to visit the elder colony and see him.”

“Perhaps I can take you there on another occasion.” Madkin5 reached over to the mane on Alan’s yuquin’s neck and pulled it up and away from a small bush on the ground. “It will be an unorthodox visit, but I think we can pull it off, given your stature among my people.”

The small natural depression in the back of a yuquin was ideal for holding a single rider in place, but Alan still wavered some—so Brandon and Madkin5 rode next to him on both sides in case he fell. He didn’t, and they made it to the stables on the north side of Landen without any real trouble. There they dismounted and followed Madkin5 on foot.

Not surprisingly, he led them to the center of the village and had them sit before
the pillar of the law
; that magnificently tall, black quarner stone that displayed the primary Erob principles etched on its flat face. This is where Brandon had been healed of his snakebite wound so long ago.

Alan refused to sit and wanted to keep walking. Madkin5 found that to be noteworthy, and began asking him questions.

“Why do you wish to continue walking, Alan?”

“It feels good to walk,” Alan said.

“Good how? Can you describe how it’s good?”

Alan looked at the great black rock towering above him and his expression changed to one of wonder.

“What’s this?” he asked.

“This is the pillar of the law, our greatest artifact. Can you read what it says?”

“I recognize some of the writings from school.”

Madkin5 seemed impressed. “I’m happy to learn they still teach something of the ancient Amulen languages in the universities. Especially at an Amulen school.”

“It feels good because it makes the air stop floating away,” Alan said. He then appeared to notice Brandon and the three Sheen staring up at him curiously from the ground.

“Walking,” Alan continued. “It makes the air stop swirling and floating away. Everything stays in place when I walk. Otherwise, space is moving out, always moving, and it goes forever and I cannot find a place in it and wish to dissolve.”

Madkin5 nodded. “I understand. Alan, when you look at the rock, does the air stay in place?”

Alan was looking back at the rock before he even asked.

“Yes,” he said. “It’s something solid. It makes everything else stay still. I like the rock.”

“Do you know what’s causing his condition?” Brandon asked.

“I think so,” Madkin5 said. “I know the sensation he describes. He’s becoming detached from the foundation of his consciousness, and glimpsing our universe as it really is: expanding, ever-changing, vast, and inconceivable. Sentient beings such as ourselves are incapable of even beginning to grasp it. When we are accidentally shown flashes of it, we cannot handle it. It’s terribly disconcerting. We want to disintegrate and become nothing. This is our way of hiding from it. I experienced this myself once when I fell asleep too close to a fire. A piece of wood fell out and burned next to my head, raising my body temperature much too high. It took me several days to discover the cure and recover.”

“What was the cure?” Brandon asked. He was suddenly optimistic.

Madkin5 only motioned towards the pillar.

Brandon followed his eyes. “The rock?”

Madkin5 cocked his head ever-so-slightly. “Well, yes, if you wish to phrase it that way—the rock is the cure for everything. One must discover it for themselves, though. It seems your young friend has been leading himself to the remedy for his ailment. He intrinsically knows what he needs to do. We must enable him to do it.”

“The rock is good,” Alan said. “It stays in place, and makes everything else come to it.”

Brandon suddenly remembered how the rock saved him when he was so close to death. He found himself drawn to it now, same as Alan. Memories and emotions flooded his mind, especially thoughts of his old friend Madkin3. Brandon let too much time go by without seeing him, and now he was gone from this place. If Brandon didn’t do something proactive, he might never see him again.