Seventy-one and a half hours later, Kate emerged from the BSP and touched down on Ahmadeus soil.
A feeling of complete dread hung over her, covering her like a cold cloak of death. Looking around her, an ominous sensation gripped her; overpowering, almost choking. Something had happened, something had changed.
Of course, it has, sweetheart. You, who possibly holds the balance of life and death of the human race.
But there was something else. Maybe this was the last journey she would make, as she was certain she was going to die.
But are you going to lie down and take it?
Since her experience on the alien ship, she had felt, different. Was it something they had done to her, to her mind? Something that the Divisions’ home base could not detect?
She despised the fact that she did not feel in control–at either end of the scale.
Pilcher seemed to consider her journey as an insane one-way suicide mission; her mind reading skill had come into play at that inopportune moment.
She had been briefed that they would give her three hours before homebase opened up the door for her to report back with whatever outcome. Divisions would take whatever necessary action. She had protested–three hours was wishful thinking. He stated that after twenty-four hours, if she did not return or they had not heard back, the protocol of last resort, known as the Scorched United Earth Policy, would instigate. The entire base would be obliterated and the BSP would be buried in an underground locked lead vault. At least this would slow the invasion of the planet. No specialized technology was going to be left for any enemy.
As she stepped through to her fate, S.U.E.P. was holding an emergency meeting to plan their approach in revealing their organization to the world leaders and warn about the impending danger. If the nations shut up, listened, did not panic, and pulled together, they may stand a chance.
The pressure she was under almost made her legs buckle, and now, on Ahmadeus, she had more added weight pressing down on her shoulders.
Congratulations Kate, you have won first prize in “Fight for Humanity.” To collect it, you must travel millions of light years away and choose to either be killed or be stuck in an alien world. With no Greyhound bus to take you home!
Kate took some deep breaths and focused on what she would tell Talokta—she had no clue and his men would be here any moment. A few minutes later and surprisingly, Sataal’s right hand man, Manutaai and two other Cantal warriors appeared.
After a brief greeting, Manutaai explained he too was allowed to leave the alien ship to pass the ultimatum to the Cantal city elders to surrender or death would be a surety.
He continued, “I have some bad news. During the discussions, the sound of distant explosions rocked the land. Reports came in that the Mountain base and the outer security posts were being attacked from above. It lasted for a period of thirty minutes. After the enemy had ceased fire and the noise abated, the land was scarcely recognizable. Luckily, the city escaped most of the attack, and many civilian’s lives were spared. Unfortunately, the Tulean Mountain base and all of the outposts have been completely destroyed.” His eyes went dark, “there were two thousand on the base, a lot were my friends. And there is no sign of the Trimadians.”
Kate was shocked. No wonder she had sensed something had changed. “I don’t understand. Why would they do this?” She looked at the Cantal’s grieving faces. “So much for keeping their word. Dishonorable fuckin’ scum!”
Manutaai calmly stated, “We’re not completely sure it was the Trimadians that attacked. According to the primary scan reports, we discovered the leftover shrapnel from the weaponry used had traces of Crytaalic. You are probably aware that the Trimadians cannot go near this crystal because of the danger to the Cathexistome. Possibly the Trimadians cloaked themselves from the Locum, they certainly did when they took us prisoner. Equally, they must have been well aware of the Locum closing in on Ahmadeus. You must have been told our base had been monitoring the Locum and Trimadian’s regular skirmishes. Unfortunately, this Lord Talokta’s fleet snuck into our orbit, and we were none the wiser.”
“Yes, I have been briefed. Hold on, if it were the Locum, wouldn’t they be overrunning the place soaking up what they can find? They would want Ahmadeus’ supply of Crytaalic for their energy requirements.”
“Yes, they would, and that may well have been their intention. Quite likely, the Trimadians took the opportunity of destroying our technology before the Locum could reach the surface. The Door of Endless Light would be compromised. I know all this is pure conjecture, but you have to realize how each enemy would strategically react, though the physical evidence of the Crytaalic bombs still makes us suspect the Locum. One thing is for sure. Whoever instigated the attack, concentrated full force on the Mountain Base. As you know it was completely surrounded and protected by Sataal’s force field, but somehow they found a way to detect and get through to the stronghold. This means they were well aware of the location of the base.”
He ran his fingers through his dark hair. Kate’s heart went out to him and his men.
His eyes looked so intense.
Hey Katey, he’s just witnessed the majority of his rebel force and friends get their asses blown to kingdom come, woman, duh!
“We’re next,” she whispered.
“I hope not, but this has been a serious setback for the rebellion.”
Kate nodded bleakly. She remembered the last time she was here and the violent vision. “Shit, just a thought but, quite possibly your operatives on the Trimadian ships may have been compromised. I know the Trimadians have a new device to detect any Cantal that has not been implanted.”
He stared at her. “If you knew this, why didn’t you tell us?”
“I tried, but let’s just say I got cut off from telling anyone. I collapsed, remember? They did keep us all separated on the ship. Don’t ask me why, but it’s all making sense.”
“Alright,” said Manutaai. “Do you have any idea what this device looks like and how our men will know if they are being monitored?”
“I don’t know specifically what it looks like. The vision was so quick, violent, and garbled. However, I could take a guess. If it was me, I would look for something small and discreet. From what I have gathered from Pete Reynolds, their Cathexistomes emit low range radio waves, ironically like Crytaalic does, but on different wave lengths. I guess it is the chemical makeup that kills the Cathexistome. I would dearly love to one-day talk more about this with Sataal. I didn’t make a nice first impression, zapping his poor hand did I?”
Manutaai raised his eyebrows in impatience.
“Sorry, yeah, I guess in order to ensnare your enemy, it would have to be discreet, small hmmm and be in reasonable close proximity. You would not want your subject to know he was being checked out. No radio waves spells no Cathexistome implantation, and for Mr. Spy that would mean up the good old shit creek without a paddle. Mind you, just a theory.”
Manutaai feigned a confused look at her slightly vulgar remark, but was impressed by her accuracy. The small ring device on his master’s finger had many purposes, including a scanner that had been recently modified to seek the very description Kate had just given. A discreet momentary scan that made a tiny crystal change color depending on the energy signal it received, with the subject being none the wiser. The same device that holds countless star addresses and an inbuilt laser that opens up the Door of Endless Light. He had the same ring himself, hidden away that he used for communicating.
He had this little device, as he was one of Lord Talokta’s most highly trained covert operators and had been in the position of Sataal’s number two for the past couple of years.
He had no qualms about being a Judas.
He remembered the soaring speech from Lord Talokta three and a half years ago. “This mission is the most important you will ever undertake in your career. You, the Supreme Ruler, and I are the only ones who have knowledge about this mission you will carry out. We must k
eep abreast of our enemy, so you must stay close and protect Sataal at all costs.”
Manutaai did wonder why the Trimadians did not just wipe out the rebels and be done with it. Talokta simply said it was all to do with the coming of their prophecy, but did not elaborate. Though, he did state that if his mission was a success, Manutaai would return to Heliostronus as a hero, and be granted the prestigious position as a member of the notorious Verone Elite, Kalvich’s personal guards.
It took time, to rise up slowly through the ranks of Sataal’s rebel forces. During this time, he had indeed watched Sataal’s back and unhesitatingly killed any Trimadian soldiers during the odd skirmish. Manutaai took great pride and pleasure covertly reporting the information on the Cantal posts and mountain base and equally knowing when the Trimadian’s would be around. Being close to Sataal who trusted him implicitly made him privy to most of the rebels’ plans and secrets. They were like lumair (lambs) to the slaughter.
Using their new Crytaalic rockets was sheer genius, as when the Cantals examined the bombsites it would look like the Locum were responsible. As long as the Trimadians had the crystal enclosed in protective sheaths, it was relatively safe and a formidable weapon for their arsenal.
To date, he had spent a total of three years amongst the Cantal rebels, earning their trust and respect. Though it was top priority, Manutaai acknowledged this mission could very well go on for several years. But now, things were changing. It was so nice to see end results from the fruits of his labor. His heart was electric again.
When Sataal fled to Ahmadeus to start the rebel movement. His ex-master, Lord Marone was not going to let him go easily and of course, placed a large bounty on his head to bring him back alive. He was too valuable to the Trimadians for his biological research and scientific skills. He realized the scientists’ discoveries and data warranted continued and further experimentation, that Marone was all too eager to exploit.
Just when Marone’s search for Sataal was closing in, he received instructions from Talokta to abandon Sataal. Instead, a covert agent would be planted to observe and report on the growing rebel force’s activities for all of the Trimadian nation’s benefit. Talokta had assured his Trimadian colleague he would get his scientist back eventually and to have patience, that these instructions were from the Supreme Ruler himself.
Marone, silently infuriated, knew he would never see Sataal again.
And the rebel movement grew.
Four weeks prior to the devastating attack on Ahmadeus, Manutaai received unusual instructions from Talokta to keep an eye on a human woman who will be accompanying the Graffite explorers. “The prophecy is upon us, my friend. You must protect her.” This aroused his curiosity, and like the true soldier he was, he carried out his new orders. Pete Reynolds had told Sataal of a new trainee who hopefully would be joining them soon. His ears pricked up when he heard they possessed mind talents. Manutaai suspected this was the female Talokta mentioned. Indeed, Talokta’s “prediction” came true three weeks later when the regular contingency of human visitors had appeared through the Door of Endless Light, with this woman. She was the first human woman he had seen in the flesh. He noted the remarkable similarities between Graffite and Cantal women.
A quick signal and they were all the Sotoid fleet’s prisoners.
Now he studied the female in front of him. Yes, Talokta was right; something about her, was special. When she collapsed after touching Sataal’s hand, he did not know quite what to do. He thought she was going to die and all he could think about was what he would tell his superiors, and how they would react.
Now the opportunity to talk to her was before him, and she had already made quite an impression on him. She was highly intelligent, an analytical thinker and he was curious to see how she would react when she would be confronted by Talokta and how much he would reveal to her. Though Manutaai knew about the prophecy, as was taught to him as a child, now that he had met this supposed Chosen One, she seemed to be not the all mighty power as legend deemed, and not dangerous. He observed she had no idea of her importance. Very interesting.
Turning Kate towards a little sympathy for the Trimadians was nothing short of ingenious in his master’s plans. The timing of having the Locum heading toward Ahmadeus was risky with Kate around. The Trimadians knew the risk to themselves of being overcome, but now it was a risk worth taking.
Inside Kate’s mind, the cogs were churning, but she was unaware of Mautaai’s thoughts. “Okay, let’s look at our situation now. There are no Trimadian guards who were due to meet us here. We have shown up and kept our end of the bargain.” She looked thoughtful. “Perhaps you are right, maybe the Locum have invaded, found the base, perhaps thought the technology was not worth absorbing, and therefore destroyed it. Maybe they have spies amongst the Trimadians and knew their plans. The Locum can change their form, and without being detected or scanned, they would find out that the Trimadians would try to destroy their supply of Crytaalic. Then again, I guess that information is universally known. What if the Locum would deal to the Trimadians to stop them destroying the mines of Crytaalic and engage them in battle? Perhaps the Trimadians retreated or even were destroyed.”
Not while there is breath in your body. Oh no. Talokta will not be far away.
Hmm, he thought, no reaction, good, but is she for real?
Kate was still mulling over things, going back, and forward trying to ascertain what had caused the devastation.
He kept watching her, somewhat amused as she tortured herself.
In the end, with an air of defeat she concluded, “I don’t have a damn clue!”
“I guess it is not worth over thinking the situation,” he understated.
Kate smiled, embarrassed. “Sorry, you’re right. I did speculate a little over the top that was, I guess, pointless. I’m just worried about my colleagues and my home.”
He saw tears forming in her eyes.
He put his hand on her shoulder. “What do you want to do, Kate?”
“Firstly, blow my nose.” She pulled out a large paper tissue and blew loudly. He grinned and she laughed, blushing.
She looked at her watch. “Right now, I have to report back to Graffa as Pilcher, my boss, is planning on destroying the BSP and the home base, rather than become vulnerable to any enemy.”
Kate waited for the agreed time Pilcher would open the BSP and sent a radio report to hold fire as the situation on Ahmadeus was static. She would need more time to find out what was happening and report back a more detailed assessment. She wanted to see over the next few hours what the situation may bring.
Pilcher confirmed and told her he would open the door in twelve hours. His biggest concern was that the Cantals’ monitoring system, which the humans had relied upon, was now destroyed.
Kate signed off and turned to Manutaai and his companions. “Well, I guess I’d better pitch a tent.”
“You are most welcome to stay in our camp just two klicks from here.”
She grinned at the human terminology. “Good, thanks.” She looked at Manutaai for a second and reached into her pocket. “Look, just as a safety precaution for now, can I give you one of these stones? They–I hope you don’t think I am crazy. They, er, help me concentrate on things.” Manutaai nodded.
“I feel more, confident shall we say, with them near me.” She felt her cheeks blush at the absurdity of what she was telling the poor man. Must think I am such a nut case. Oh, woman, tell him the truth, he deserves it.
“I think they help me focus certain mental energies I have recently encountered. They may even be a form of weapon I could use against the Trimadians. But I need to hide them, and if the Trimadians do come back, if they are split up, well, at least both the stones won’t disappear at the same time.”
“Where we stand, we can use all the help we can get,” he stated gravely.
“Oh, I don’t think you should touch it. Ever since I have made contact with the stones, they have been pulsing l
ike crazy, as you can see.”
Manutaai looked at the small stone she had wrapped in cloth. He could not believe his luck. His heart beat so fast he could hardly breathe.
She did bring them with her!
Talokta had assured him that the art of subliminal persuasion written in the form of an undetectable multifarious matrix code implanted in her brain would work. The stones were what Talokta would do anything to possess. “More precious than life itself,” Talokta stated. “The bloodstones are the fabric of life and we need both of them.”
The last batch of elixir that Manutaai had received from Talokta to mask his Cathexistome would be running out in the next few days, plenty of time for the Trimadians to come back for them. But he knew he still had to be cautious around Kate. “She may be confused but she is unpredictable and has many unanswered questions. Her time is now, and we must be cautious. She must be with us. Guard her with your life,” Talokta re-emphasized.
The elixir also had two other uses, but only one was ever revealed to Manutaai. Firstly, it would block any telepathic connection between Kate and Manutaai, mainly to stop Kate (and the free Cantals) realizing who he really was. Plus, this last particular batch of elixir left a microbe quantity of crytaalic in the user’s blood that would build up into a pernicious virus and would eventually sever any loose threads.
Nothing was left to chance.
Chapter 14—Quest for Leah