quote, A thing of beauty is a joy forever. I was just about to lean over and take a closer look when I heard rustling in the long grass to the right of me, then a voice saying, “It’s all right, Guardian John, I’m Solaran, just here to cover you during your meeting with the Kaytons in case they try anything untoward.”
“Oh! You made me jump,” I replied, surveying this camouflaged soldier lying in the long grass with his high-powered sniper rifle at the ready. “Thanks for your concern,” I continued, “I will leave you to it, then.”
I sheepishly retreated and made my entrance to the forest proper. Just a few yards in, I could see a group of butterflies coming my way. I came to a complete stop, remaining motionless and not wanting to divert them so that I could observe and appreciate them fully. They passed me by only a matter of inches, one actually landing on my shoulder, but only for a few brief moments before taking flight again so as not to get too far behind his compatriots. I thought it was a privilege that I was allowed to witness such sights in a far off distant place, but now it was back to the job in hand as I made my way back to the Solaran ship.
As I approached, I could see Kronos laughing and joking with members of the crew. He certainly knew how to interact with a crowd, unlike my inexperienced attempts earlier, back on Sontral. He really took an interest in each individual, listening to their concerns, making that all-important connection with each of them.
Once he had noticed me he came over. “Come on, John,” he said I will introduce you to the crew. They really want to meet you.”
“Do I have to?” I replied. “I don’t know if I can cope with people’s expectations of me any more.”
Sighing, he said, “Please, for me, make the effort. Some of these men have been parted from their loved ones for months. Give them something to write home about; it’s not every day they get to meet two Guardians on a far off world.”
With those words of encouragement to buoy me up, I straightened my arched back as if to attention, put a smile on my face and strode over to the assembled members of the crew. I shook hands with every one of them, asking each one of them in turn where they were from and did they have family waiting for them back home? Very few were from Sontral itself, most being from what they called the outer territories of the Commonwealth. One guy told me there were three Suns in his planetary system, reminding me of that old TV advert that no one can eat three shredded wheat. After those exhausting though rewarding moments it was back to work for the crew while Kronos and I retired to the Captain’s quarters on board ship for a well-earned short break. I felt so tired.
After about an hour and a half, the Captain notified us that a Kayton Battle Cruiser was about to arrive. Kronos and I were just emerging from the Solaran ship as it was about to land. What a big flying saucer, I thought, as it came to a stop, hovering momentarily a few yards above the ground as its four landing legs extended from the superstructure. The ship then descended the final few yards to land on terra firma, firing its engines down and everything returning to its pre-arrival calm.
I said, “How come it has taken them so long to get here if we are that close to the front lines?”
“They have come direct from Tyros,” Kronos replied, “with some very important people on board. The head of their scientific corps, as well as the head of their security and intelligence services and, most importantly of all, three members of the Supreme Kayton Council will be present. Normally, Council members wouldn’t even leave the Citadel, never mind Tyros, especially to visit an area so close to the front lines. That’s how important your Guardianship is to them; you have no idea of the lengths they would go to in order to acquire Kultarn technology.”
“Well, it’s always nice to be wanted,” I said. “I hope they will be satisfied with what they see.”
At that moment a moveable ramp extended from the Kayton ship until it came to rest gently on the ground. When the ship’s door opened, the first to appear were two columns of Drone soldiers. They came marching out, as if from Noah’s ark, two by two and then forming up into two separate ranks, one either side of the ramp. It was just like Kronos had told me; they were mind-controlled, enslaved people with no emotions or feelings, just obeying the Kaytons’ every order without question. I could not help but admire their smart black uniforms that could have been ironed and pressed especially for this occasion. All were armed with what I could only describe as laser rifles, which looked to be a very deadly piece of kit. The headgear reminded me of what the skiers had worn at the recent Winter Olympics, especially those with visors that came down just below their eyes and tinted so you could not see them.
Next to make to make their way down the ramp was a high ranking group of Kaytons. Actually, in appearance they looked no different to the Solaran people I had encountered over the last couple of days.
As they formed up at the bottom of the ramp, Kronos said. “You see the one on the left? That is Drakos, head of the Kaytons’ Security and Intelligence Service. The smaller, middle-aged guy next to him is Wesker, the head of the Kaytons’ Scientific Corps. He is the one who will be conducting the verification tests on your Guardianship.”
“You mean Kev,” I replied.
Kronos smiled. “I had forgotten you were back on good terms with him. Now John, be very careful what you say to him. Don’t let him trick you; he is as slippery as they come.”
“I will bear that in mind,” I replied.
“Wesker and Drakos are both Solaran traitors,” Kronos continued, “who went over to the Kaytons several years ago. If captured and returned to Sontral they would be tried for High Treason and hanged. Wesker worked in a senior position for Professor Zinnerman in the science directorate. As for Drakos, he was Commander Vadoran’s second-in-command in S.I.S.”
“Sound like a charming pair of characters,” I replied, “but what I can’t understand is why the Kaytons gave the pair of them such high ranking positions.”
“That’s very simple to explain. It was done to encourage more Solarans to go over to the Kaytons, especially with the vast amount of wealth they were offering every defector.”
“Did it have the desired effect?”
“Not really. You can count the number of defections to the Kaytons in the low hundreds.”
As we finished speaking I could hear a low humming sound coming from the top of the ramp. Next I noticed a round disc, hovering about five or six feet off the ground. A second, then a third disc appeared, all slowly making their way down the ramp. They must have been powered by some sort of anti-gravity device; certainly something beyond my comprehension.
Sitting on each disc in a depression in the middle was a very old man. Oh, they looked old and ugly. I think there is a lot to be said for living fast and dying young. I christened them the three stooges, Larry, Mo, and Curly.
As they came off the ramp a Kayton officer bellowed, “Present arms!”
The two extended lines of Drones duly obliged and all the assembled Kayton entourage simultaneously bowed their heads in obeisance.
The same officer then shouted, “Stand easy!”
The Drones duly lowered their weapons and, as dutiful as ever, the rest of the Kayton entourage raised their heads after acknowledging their masters.
“Those three are members of the Supreme Council, the ultimate decision-making body in the Kayton Empire,” Kronos said.
I nodded. “I had gathered that. No spring chickens are they? Certainly look as though they have seen better days.”
And there we all were, facing each other over no man’s land, the good, the bad and the very ugly.
Drakos then shouted over, “How’s tricks, Kronos? Long time no see.”
“Forever wouldn’t be long enough in your case,” Kronos replied. “I bet you would sell your own mother for the right price.”
“At least I’m on the winning side,” Drakos remarked in a very sarcastic tone.
“Let’s get on with it,” Kronos retorted.
I c
ould sense there was some very bad blood between the two of them, obviously from something that had happened in the past.
“Right, John,” Kronos said, “walk over towards the Kayton lines. Wesker will meet you in the middle. He will verify your Guardianship then you make your way back to me and we will then be free to Transport ourselves back to Sontral.”
“All right.” As I ever so slowly made my way across no man’s land, I felt like I was walking the plank, my feet becoming heavier with every step I took. Then, finally, I was in the middle, face to face with Wesker who had arrived there just before me, no doubt much keener than I was to proceed. He raised his hand to shake mine, which I refused.
“Guardian John,” he began, “it’s an honour to meet you. I am Wesker, head of the Kaytons Scientific Corps.”
“Whiskers…” I replied.
“No, Wesker,” he said.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you said Whiskers; that is what I feed my cat, Felix. I must be getting hard of hearing.”
“That’s quite all right, John,” Wesker said. “I’m afraid age catches up with us all eventually. I am just going to take some readings to confirm your Guardianship; it won’t take long.”
He then scanned Kev with his hand-held device, which was very similar to what Chris had used on me back on Sontral.
“Nice place this, isn’t it, John? Very peaceful. What’s your home