Chapter 21
Miles woke slowly, first his ears began to pick up the sizzling sound of food being cooked, and then his eyes opened slowly. The crust around his eyes forming a resistant shield to his efforts, he gave in for another few minutes but then woke fully. He wiped the dried drool from his face and looked around the room, Garth was still asleep against the wall, and Lalia’s bed was empty. Miles got up slowly, his head hurt slightly; he held his palm against it. In the next room stood Braes cooking what smelled to Miles like bacon:
“Good morning. I hope you feel rested up, you slept halfway into the afternoon.” Braes smiled.
“I did, thank you.” Miles smiled back. “What are you cooking?”
“Well, it doesn’t sound appealing to you, I’m sure. But, it is actually meat from the rear end of a farmed animal.” Braes chuckled, expecting Miles to be repulsed.
“Actually, it smells,” He leaned in to look at the skillet, “It looks good. Not to different from something I would eat at home.”
Braes used some tongs to pry the meat from the greasy skillet and offered it to Miles who gingerly picked the meat between his thumb and forefinger, eating it with happy grunts.
“This is so good. I didn’t realize how hungry I was!” Miles laughed loudly.
“Be quiet. It is too early.” Garth moaned, rolling over and pushing his face into his pillow.
“Get up! It is lunch time already!” Miles shouted, Garth just moaned and lay still.
Miles sat at the wooden table, facing Braes.
“So where did Lalia go?” He asked.
“She already ate. She left to do some errands; she wanted to be sure you all were stocked up on supplies, before the merchants are told that you are fugitives. Right now was the best time to go, it is still early and a lot of the merchants will have severe headaches from their party last night.” Braes explained, returning to her skillet.
The day was already warm; Miles felt uncomfortable and realized how dirty his suit had become, both inside and out. He unfastened the attached gloves from his suit and held his sleeve up in a vain attempt to air out the suit.
“You’re dirty and reek, don’t you? Go down and the third door leads to the washroom.” Braes nodded her head towards the hall. Miles nodded in appreciation and followed her directions to the washroom; the hallway was cooler, the stone walls were dark and bare. The washroom was dark until he stepped in, bright bulbs lit red, several bulbs rose vertically in the middle of the walls, and the door behind Miles sealed shut. Miles started to panic; he began to pound on the door.
The door hissed open, Braes stood in the doorway.
“I am so sorry to have scared you. I assumed you understood what I meant by ‘washroom’, I didn’t mean to scare you. Let me explain how it works.” Braes apologized.
“The washroom can sanitize your survey suit and clean you up. The lights will light up and you will hear a loud hissing for about a minute, keep your eyes closed until it stops. You might feel a tickle or a scratch, maybe, but you will be cleaned.” Braes assured him.
“Ok. Thank you.” Miles exhaled in relief, “I think I can do this.”
“If you will be alright.” Braes offered.
The door hissed close again, the bright red lights lit up. Miles closed his eyes as a high pitched hiss whistled through the room; air whipped through his oily hair and water jets blasted his body. The hissing continued, the jets of water worked their way down from Miles head, spinning around him quickly. The air jets quickly followed, fragrance laced air blasted and dried him.
The hissing stopped. Miles opened his eyes, feeling clean for the first time in several days. He stooped to pick up his suit, sliding it back on, enjoying the clean feeling it provided. The door hissed back open and Miles quickly covered himself.
Lalia stood in the doorway:
“Miles. I bought you some clothes that might better fit; they are practical and can help us blend in.”
The clothes she offered were loose pants, brown and made of heavy fabric. The long sleeve shirt was beige and had padding on the elbows. Miles tried it on, it fit well, and the shirt was snug but was warm. The clothes also seemed less foreign to him, resembling something someone on Earth might actually own.
“Aurrus seems a lot more like Earth than the Convoy.” Miles thought out loud.
“You might be surprised; Ailios is a lot like how the Callos used to live. Before we were a Convoy.” Lalia explained.
“Really? Why don’t you have a home planet?” Miles asked.
“A millennia ago our people abandoned a planet falling victim to earthquakes and tidal waves. It was an ancient planet, doomed to fall. When we became a space-faring species, we all abandoned Ciavllos. Ever since our ships and people have expanded and prospered.” Lalia explained.
“Interesting.” Miles agreed.
“I can’t explain it, but I feel like somehow our species are connected. It may offer an explanation for how I am able to understand you.” Lalia mused.
“I can read Callos, and understand your language. Maybe.” Miles agreed.
The two then reentered the room where they had slept; Garth was awake talking to Braes. Garth was eating meat and drinking a green liquid.
“We are not going to return to the Convoy.” Lalia announced to all of them.
“What?” Garth asked.
“I said that we will not be returning to the Convoy. Instead we will stay here in Ailios. Once the Convoy leaves this next week, they will reach Phlasia they will then make the jump through the Phlasian Portal. Once they have done that, then the convict status on us will expire.” Lalia explained.
“But that means I can never go back home…” Garth’s voice trailed off.
“No, we can’t go home. But there are plenty of Callos in Ailios, and many Aurrus are the nicest,” Lalia offered, Garth interrupted:
“I had friends on CLERGY 1.” Garth objected.
“This decision wasn’t hard for me either. But, we can stay here and live better lives than we would have in the Convoy. We have freedom here, and opportunity is as big as Ailios. We just need to stay hidden until the festival ends, or at least not be arrested until they make the jump through the portal.” Lalia promised.
“Ailios seems like a nice enough place. I can live here; it is more like home than the Convoy was.” Miles offered. “I would want to stay, Garth, you still could return to the Convoy, maybe.”
“No. I couldn’t, I helped stage a prison break.” Garth said sadly, slumping over his plate.
“In the mean time. Garth, I need you to come with me, I bought something I will need help carrying. Miles will need to stay here.” Lalia directed.
Garth finished his meal, and quickly entered the washroom, in a few minutes he and Lalia left the house. Braes sat next to Miles;
“You and I need to talk about your rather unique abilities. Lalia has already told me what you helped her do in the prison. I am impressed, I have never heard of anything like it. But, I am convinced I can do something to help you better master them. Would you like to try?” She asked.
“Yes. It won’t hurt will it? What do you have in mind?” Miles responded cautiously.
“I know some old Aurrus tricks, I can show you. Let’s go for a walk.” Braes fumbled with a small device; she pressed her fingers against the screen.
“Hello?” Lalia’s voice came from the device, a miniature hologram of her face appeared from the screen.
“Lalia, Miles has agreed to go with me. We will be back in two days. Notify me if plans change.” Braes explained.
“I understand, be safe. Miles,” Her hologram faced him, “Do your best, but try to not be overwhelmed. We will see you in a few days.”
The hologram flickered off, and Braes grabbed her cloak off of the peg. She then fastened a small bag to her shoulder and beckoned him to follow.
“What was that about?” Miles asked, struggling to keep pace with Brae’s.
“We will be heading to my
work. I need to impart additional wisdom on you.” She said, almost with spite in her voice.
“Your work? Aren’t you a priestess?” Miles asked, turning back towards where they came.
“Yes. Lalia and I both agree that perhaps my superstition is archaic, but neither of us can deny the powerful techniques used by the clergy on Aurrus.” Braes explained.
“Aurrus has clergy? Like the Convoy’s ships?” Miles inquired.
Braes stopped.
“Yes, in fact we had a similar clergy. The Callos and Aurrus were sister species, both did the same thing. But their species lost faith in their deities, after their planet was consumed by chaos. They turned to science; they named their vessels of escape in mock of ours and their own superstition. Their council of spiritual elders had failed us where their ingenuity hadn’t.” Braes told him.
“I see. It makes a lot of sense actually.” Miles answered, “Why don’t they teach that to the Callos? I always assumed the names were without significance.”
“It is because years of travel have made them migrant, when once they had a destination, they were taught that there was no end, only the journey. They lost their culture on the way.” Braes answered.
“I have a feeling that we aren’t planning on staying on Aurrus.” Miles surmised.
“No. I don’t believe Lalia will. When the opportunity arises, she will be leaving for the Convoy. She will stand against the Admiral and his cronies if she must. But his tyranny over the Convoy will end. He is suppressing more than their will, but also their birthright to the truth.” Braes pronounced.
“He is suppressing their ancestral memory, somehow.” Miles rubbed his head.
“Yes. You know what I am saying is true. As I tell you the truth your hardened heart breaks, light seeps into darkness. Ignorance flees from knowledge.” Braes spoke louder, more empowered.
“What is your plan?” Miles asked.
“I will take you to the temple courts, and then I will impart on you the combined wisdom of the Aurrus and Callos. From there, I expect you will be able to provide a solution.” Braes answered.
The two of them continued down the alley, one Aurrus vendor in grey took note of Brae’s glittering tattoos; he snapped at the child viewing his booth. The Aurrus with a grey cape slammed the doors around the cart closed, he locked the doors and entered the same alley way.