Zein: The Homecoming (18 page)

‘What is more pressing is that the attack in Reinan yesterday was an escalation of Pod activity. Our scouts have said that movement in the Pod breeding grounds is unprecedented and we must prepare for an imminent attack.’

‘We need the Expeditionary Force to protect us,’ said Eben, licking his lips nervously at the prospect of another overwhelming attack. He had nothing left, the fight extinguished from his slight frame, burned out by the constant battles and family loss.

‘I agree we need their assistance but we need to decide how that can be provided effectively,’ said Tate, looking across at Corder, Kabel and Belina.

General Corder cleared his throat and spoke first. ‘We of course would like to help. Has this Inner Council considered an offensive action rather than just defending your position?’

Tate replied. ‘A unit is on its way to neutralise the Pod as we speak.’

‘What do you mean, neutralise?’ Kabel spoke for the first time. Tate explained the quest. Some of the Inner Council looked uncomfortable as the plan was outlined. Even in the light of the aggression the Pod had shown it seemed a harsh decision, females and their children to be slaughtered as well as the males. Outside there was an excited buzz which filtered through to the room at this latest news.

Zebulon stood up and there were audible gasps around the chamber. When Heathlon had spoken at the previous meeting that had been a first but now to have a Changeling stranger address the Inner Council was unique. Everyone’s eyes were on Heathlon; was not she the spokeswoman of the Changelings? Heathlon didn’t move and made no attempt to prevent the impressive Zebulon from speaking. The expectant silence hung heavy in the council chamber.

‘I have to warn you that I cannot let your attempt to eradicate the Pod continue.’ The buzz outside turned into heckles as the general population expressed their displeasure.

‘What! How dare you tell us what to do?’ shouted Eben, echoed by other clan members, with Safah incandescent with rage. Kabel gasped with amazement at Zebulon’s statement. It was only Tate who remained calm, Belina noticing how still he was. She could see he was rocked
by the latest statement but she also could see that he was computing the why and what behind the comment.

‘What is your authority to make such a statement to the Inner Council and people of Zein?’ said Tate carefully, not forgetting the public broadcast. Shouts of approval for the challenging question came from all directions, including outside. Belina smiled, impressed, he was still the one they followed.

Zebulon didn’t answer the question immediately. He was considering whether to hold back or not. He looked around the room at the expectant faces and then his eyes rested on his mother’s. She gave him a barely perceptible nod.

Zebulon, where is this going?
asked Kabel

A long, long way from when you met me at the Federation Fair, my friend
.

Zebulon drew himself up and stripped away the years of camouflage he had layered on his physical appearance. Everyone in the room for the first time saw the true majesty of the person in front of them. He radiated the essence of power, not to hurt or cripple but to care for, improve and develop the very environment they all lived in. Those in the room did not fear him but felt comfort and awe in his presence.

‘I am Zebulon the Great, Son of Riolon and Heathlon, Keeper of the Zein Star and King of all life on Zein,’ said Zebulon, providing his full title to the astonished Inner Council members and those listening outside. Before anyone could interrupt him, ‘My father gave you the power over the magics many, many years ago and I have the power to take those magics away for future generations.’ The last statement caused uproar to all who heard, Kabel was bewildered, and Tate struggled to bring order. Cries from Safah and Eben amongst others demanded Zebulon to be arrested and placed in the community prison.

Through all this commotion, Zebulon stood motionless. Safah shouted an instruction to her two supporting soldiers to arrest him. The soldiers flanked and closed in on him, whipping out some of the manacles that Kabel and Belina recognised from their previous confinement on Earth. Just as they were in touching distance of him, Zebulon raised his hand and a violet force-field surrounded his body, pulsing with such intensity that everyone had to avert their eyes. Tentacles of energy came from his fingers and wrapped the two soldiers in bindings that slammed their arms against the sides so that they couldn’t move. The intense shield spread to cover all the Changelings in his group.

The doors of the Inner Council were flung open, the Changelings had overpowered the guards outside and Bailey and the remaining companions were penned back away from the door. Zebulon stepped into the centre of the chamber, the force-field effortlessly following him.

Scared and troubled eyes followed him now, with their previous angry protests silenced. There were only four people in the room who kept their cool, Tate and Kron, Kabel and Belina. The latter due to their past relationship and how Zebulon had saved their lives many times, the former simply demonstrating the strength of character that they had shown defending the Aeria Cavern over all the years.

‘I didn’t want to resort to this yet you force my hand; you need to understand your own history.’ His voice was quiet but every word could be heard clearly and distinctly.

Crowds outside had seen the Changelings, who had stood silently, suddenly move into action. They secured the approach and entrance to the Royal Council and the Zeinonians had at first backed off and now were crowding against the protective wall which the Changelings’ bodies had created around the building. The crowds felt intimidated by
the chain of events and nervously studied the Changelings and what was unfolding before their very eyes.

‘My father, Riolon the All Powerful, granted you the magics that you enjoy today. Our people wanted a new life and had taken that decision to throw off the remnants of the old way we used to live.’ Outside, his voice echoed powerfully across the cavern; no one stirred, all entranced. ‘We embraced the magics within Zein’s core and shared them with you. You need to understand what can be given can be taken away.’

Shocks of surprise and fear ripped through the crowds. Safah shrank back from the majesty in front of her eyes. Zebulon slowly turned his gaze onto her.

‘The Blackstones convinced us that if we shared the magics then we would walk as one, and we did for a time. However, the royal clans always wanted more and I saw on Earth what that could lead to.’

‘But we are not all like Zylar, he is a monster,’ said Belina, unable to hold back her resentment at the broad comparison of all Zeinonians to her previous guardian. She had good cause and history: Zylar had lied to her, played the part of a benevolent uncle whilst at the same time killing and following his own twisted path.

‘I know, but now I have a choice to make. In this choice I want you to understand one thing: I can’t let you destroy the Pod.’ Outside the Zeinonians, who had only just been informed of the quest, muttered angrily, deeply resentful of the loved ones they had lost to the vicious Pod. They had lived in this dark, dank place for many years and wanted it to all to end. Reason had gone, to be replaced by an all-encompassing hatred for the creatures that made their life a misery.

‘Why, they attack us with only one aim, to destroy us?’ said Eben, overcoming his fear of the sudden turn of events.

‘They attack you to get to us,’ said Zebulon sadly. Puzzled looks swept across the Inner Council and outside, where they could only hear Zebulon’s voice. But that was sufficient for them to realise the enormity of what was happening to everything they had held true.

‘All those years ago we devised the annihilation of our own race. My brother forced my father’s hand. Myolon and others took the magic to new unacceptable limits and my family had to follow him to save our lives. Once free we found that we had the power of the magics but nowhere to live. My father devised a pact to share the magics with you in return for sanctuary.’ He let that sink in and all in the room could see the distress his memories brought. ‘Yes, we are the Pod and the Pod are us.’

Stunned silence met this statement and then shouting, pushing outside took over.

‘Silence!’ Zebulon’s voice became more forceful and the tone of his demand hurt people’s ears, so much they had to grab their heads before they could recover.

‘I will lead a team to prevent my brother instigating the same mistake we made all those years ago. I will seek peace with the Pod and find a way to restore a way of life for everyone on Zein.’

‘Is this the Prophecy?’ whispered Belina to Kabel. He didn’t answer, enthralled by the events in front of him. ‘Is Zebulon the Prophecy, and not Tyson,’ she asked again, amazed. Zebulon turned to her. She remembered the Prophecy that Zylar had taught her that ‘One will come from another world to lead all races. Zein will be free once more.’ Zebulon had come from another world and now he wanted to bring the Pod, Changelings and Zeinonians together!

‘I wish I was, my child, the Prophecy was created by my father at the first Royal Inner Council all those years
ago. It is and has always been a destiny that I am a part of the Prophecy but not the instigator, although, I did not realise it fully until I was back on Zein.’ With that he swept out of the chamber into the street. His soldiers created a guard of honour back to their enclave. The Inner Council members watched him go, still surrounded by his pulsating force-field.

The crowd had heard his last statement in awe. Would Zebulon bring the Prophecy to its conclusion? It started slowly; the people nearest him dropped to one knee and placed their arms across their chest, others followed. As Zebulon made his way to the enclave more people dropped to one knee and gave the sign of fealty, like a light wind wafting across a field of grass and the grass bending in submission to the more powerful force.

Zebulon saw the reaction of the crowd and hid his surprise and pride. He had waited many years to fulfil his promise that his father had bestowed on him when he was a mere child. Even though he knew he was irreplaceably entwined in the Prophecy, like Kabel, he had not known that he would only be supporting someone else in delivering the fabled quest. As the Changeling enclave doors opened up in front of him, he knew that there was still an awful lot more to do.

Tate called the stunned Elders back to the Inner Council and they duly completed the agenda of making Kabel, Lord Chancellor. When Tate removed his collar of position and ceremonially placed it around Kabel’s neck, he felt the pressure he had been under for many years evaporate and when he strolled out of the chamber he felt free of the heavy burdens he had carried over the last few years. Next to him strode Belina and briefly their hands touched. For both, it was like being hit by a photon shot. The glance they gave each other sealed the Joining. Belina battled against
her feelings for Bailey but this was life changing and she knew in her heart that Tate was her mate for life. Bailey was confused when Belina half-heartedly greeted him when she came out and her face had an apologetic look.

‘What’s the matter?’ he asked her.

‘Nothing, but we need to talk,’ said Belina struggling to make eye contact with Bailey. She felt bad. He didn’t deserve this but when a Zeinonian fell for a mate it was difficult to ignore. Some sixth sense told Bailey he had lost her. He could see that she had eyes for only Tate and he didn’t feel anger, just rejection. He steeled himself as they trudged off to talk in private.

Kabel was not happy at the interplay, his lips thinned, anger flaring. The idea of his sister with a Malacca made him angry. There would be no Joining if he had his way; however, for the moment, more important matters needed his attention, including a genocide to stop. He fired off orders and directed the strategy that he thought was their only choice. Within an hour, a team was pulled together with Zebulon leading a small group of Changelings and Amelia. The rest of the companions would stay in the Aeria Cavern supporting the defence of the city. Bailey argued that he should go but Zebulon was adamant. This was a Changeling expedition to repay past wrongs and the reason for Amelia’s participation was if Tyson couldn’t control his magics. There was only one person who could calm him down.

General Corder left with a small squad to hasten the arrival of more troops before dusk and to bring a handful of levitation tanks down to guard each of the four entrances. Walter and his team began to study how they could boost the zinithium powered Inner Perimeter Barrier, fully knowing it would take a number of days to achieve full protection.

The Changelings were ordered by Zebulon not to support a defence of the Aeria Cavern if the Pod attacked, unless their families were threatened. They were one and the same as the Pod and the Zeinonians had to defend themselves and no Changeling would again, willingly, kill their own kind. Tate and Kabel had argued long and hard for Zebulon to change his mind, that his people could be slaughtered and that they should defend themselves by allying with them…but to no avail, he was adamant.

Amelia sat on the step of the Royal Council, flicking pebbles onto the road, distracted and distant from the bustle going on around her. Hechkle was overseeing a group of Southgates carrying a large iron fence panel to reinforce the front barricade. He saw Amelia with her head in her hands and peeled off after providing some further orders and sat down next to her, removing a bottle of water from his bag. He didn’t talk straight away but studied the hive of activity in front of them.

‘I have never met anyone like Tyson,’ said Hechkle. He bit his lip nervously, unused to talking to a girl, or a girl as pretty as this girl. Amelia turned her head to look at the hulking Fathom soldier, still resting her head on her palms. ‘Now don’t get me wrong, pretty sure most people have never seen a person with his magic, but I wasn’t referring to that.’ He had her attention now.

‘You can see he is wrestling with something that is contained within his body and he is frightened.’ Hechkle had dropped his voice, wonder in every syllable. ‘Yet in the Core and in the battles we have fought together, he always did the right thing, the brave action to protect us all.’ Hechkle for the first time turned his head to look at Amelia. She could see the respect reflected in the warrior’s eyes.