*****
Epilogue
It only took one; although it could have been a few, and that caused enough panic to send an entire village; including ALVERON guards, inside---inside dwellings, the ominous FLASCHIN plant and some of the transporters parked in the area. Only a few but those few would turn into thousands soon. The light brown body with tiny orange dots peppered throughout was not the first indicator to NOBIANS that a swarm of VOUPSI neared the village. And it wasn’t the threatening stingers on each front and back side of the sand insects that initially stirred the multitude of NOBIANS and ALVERONS that day; although these stingers were the ultimate fear of everyone in the area. The real alarm began when the VOUPSI scouts made their presence known---producing their buzzing noise, a sound only produced by the VOUPSI insect and unmistakable to the NOBI inhabitants of the region. The hum of these few tiny creatures wouldn’t seem threatening initially but as the swarm neared; a deafening resonance of buzz din would overcome any conversation that afternoon.
A fly-by could last for days. The story of a fly-by that had once lasted three days grew to five and then eight days by the time DRUCKER had children of his own to warn. In truth; like so much that happened on NOBI, these things were unpredictable. Between the various sandstorms and then sudden rainstorms that were caused by the council’s weather machine, the NOBI people had developed a strong sense of steady alertness. Perhaps it was this awareness to the dangerous exposure of the planet’s surface that prevented more deaths at the base of the MOMENTRUS Mountain Range; where rock slides were common.
It had been the day that followed William and KATRAVIN’S send off and Miles was safe in the dwelling with a recovering Sonya, DRUCKER and DRUCKER’S three children. The eldest of the three; CADIAN, was in her sixteenth year and the spitting image of her late mother as DRUCKER often said. She had been favored by the TARCK; which was a govern ship position assigned to each village, and in MEDOAN’S case---it was a female ALVERON that held the title. The TARCK grew to love CADIAN as the daughter she had always wanted but she was a career officer who then turned diplomat in the ALVERON council and she never could start a family of her own. CADIAN also reminded the TARCK of her sister whom she’d lost to the outbreak of the DRICKONSION illness. This allowed CADIAN to avoid hard labor in the FLASCHIN plant and instead, she became the TARCK’S personal assistant. This became advantageous to DRUCKER for intelligence on the ALVERON’S schemes but he was also careful not to make it obvious that his daughter was leaking information to him. He knew his daughter’s life had been made easier than other daughters forced to work in the FLASHCIN plant and he appreciated the TARCK for that.
The younger daughter was in her seventh year. She was DRUCKER’S little inquisitive shadow; although, she did take an interest in Miles rather quickly. Last evening, when Miles returned with DRUCKER from the FLASHCIN plant, the young NOBI tugged on Miles’ sleeve and asked in her NOBI tongue; “Are you the space man?”
Miles replied; “I am the space man. My name is KEETCHA or you can call me by my space name; Miles.”
The young NOBI replied with astonishment in her eyes; “You have a space ship; yes?”
“Yes, I have a spaceship that is hidden just outside the village.”
“Could I see it?”
DRUCKER sort of grinned and placed his hand on the top of his young daughters head; “Now AMIELLE; Miles can’t show you his spaceship as he and the alien are hiding from the ALVERONS.”
Miles kneeled in front of AMIELLE; although he was still in the shrunken state and had yet to consume a reverse serum. “I promise you; when this is over and if it is alright with your dad, I will show you my spaceship.”
Then a grin flashed across AMIELLE’S face that lit up the room and she nodded when Miles sealed his promise with a wink. The high spirited moment faded as the hackneyed cough of another entered the room. It was DRUCKER’S only son; TRAVEN, who already had two years of labor in the CHERKOT facility. He was in his fourteenth year.
“You’re going to need some CALHOKE oil for that cough son,” DRUCKER said.
“I know dad,” TRAVEN said.
“Well if you know---then why haven’t you taken it,” DRUCKER insisted?
TRAVEN nodded his head. He moved past Miles and AMIELLE toward the room Sonya was in. The oil was situated next to the bed; half of the jar emptied from Sonya’s emergency.
“That boy will not make it to his first VECILDOME if he doesn’t take care of himself at fourteen,” DRUCKER said.
“Hopefully there won’t be a VECILDOME when he’s in his fiftieth year,” Miles replied.
DRUCKER shook his head. “There will always be ALVERON rule---that much, I am certain.” DRUCKER then made a motion for CADIAN to take AMIELLE into the other room.
AMIELLE was rubbing her eyes and then moved toward DRUCKER and Miles who were now seated at the table. She placed her hands on top of Miles’ head first and then on her father’s. Then CADIAN took AMIELLE into the other room where TRAVEN was already drifting into a sound sleep.
“If you feel that way; then why do you risk everything to lead the rebels,” Miles asked?
“I am torn between the promises of the past and my family’s future. I don’t believe we will ever be totally free from ALVERON rule but maybe we could win back some of our freedoms,” DRUCKER said.
“Absolute freedom is the only freedom worth fighting for. I’ve been to another world where the closest example of this exists. The freedom is shared among people in a civil society. It existed once in the LOMMETRUS and it can exist again.”
DRUCKER shook his head. “Technology will always be the absolute ruler and whoever has it; has the power to rule over people.”
“It is meant to improve their personal fate; not rule other people my friend. Whoever has the edge in technology, in education; has self-government and it can be common among all those who share that way of thinking. People must strive for better; better for themselves and the generations that follow.”
DRUCKER poured GNOCKTA into Miles’ cup. The sound of the VOUPSI swarm was getting louder and both DRUCKER and Miles agreed to stay awake while the insects passed by the loosely pieced dwelling. There was always a risk of one or even a few VOUPSI getting into a place; especially in the village where the homes are put together in a slack fashion; albeit, they are close to other neighboring constructions of similar build which helped the overall strength.
The insect’s stingers didn’t carry poison or even disease. To be stung by one or two would feel unpleasant but nothing beyond that. However; a swarm could kill the unfortunate person in a horrific fashion that happened upon them without shelter nearby. This was why the open NOBI desert was dangerous to travel; at least without a transporter. It would be easy for Miles to stay awake tonight. Miles had seen this killing firsthand when he found a young boy’s ravaged corpse years ago. There were a few VOUPSI still buzzing around the body when Miles arrived and even still---a couple of them were stuck in the mutilated flesh. It was a horrific memory and Miles would forever cringe at the sight of just one VOUPSI.
“Father, I can’t sleep,” AMIELLE said. She stood in the threshold, between the two rooms, when Miles motioned for her to come over.
“Are the VOUPSI going to get us,” AMIELLE continued?
“They are not going to get us. Miles and I going to stay up and keep watch. They’ll eventually move on.”
AMIELLE gave a half-grin to her father and then to Miles. She then eased onto DRUCKER’S chest to which his hand moved to the top of her head. AMIELLE’S eyes moved to Miles---his eyes were scanning the walls and door. He couldn’t hide the uneasiness he felt about the swarm outside. DRUCKER sensed this and asked Miles to tell AMIELLE one of his exciting adventure stories.
“Surely in all the places you’ve travelled spaceman, you must have come upon an adventure or two,” DRUCKER said.
Miles was normally eager to entertain, as William found out in the BALLASTAH and KATRAVIN’S apartment. Between his magic an
d BACHTOS playing, he could have kept DRUCKER and AMIELLE entertained for some time. His normally good-natured outlook could be rattled by two things though. The first was a swarm of VOUPSI. His mind continued to flash the images of that young boy’s corpse. The other was from an experience in the AVERWOODS with William. Miles had not forgotten the GARGIAN and that torturous evening in his lair.
I guess it was the urging of a young girl that allowed Miles to remember one adventure. AMIELLE’S eyes lit up at the mention of her father’s request and now she too was adamant for a story.
“Alright---there is one adventure that comes to mind.”
Miles sat back and looked up into the densely thatched stalks that formed the roof over their head. He was considering where to begin the story---it had been a long time since he had told it. He reasoned that the academy would be the best place to begin as it was; in his mind, when the adventure initially started.
“I had been at the academy for two years and I was reasonably satisfied with the success of my training. With the exception of one other cadet, I was normally the top student in my class. The other cadet was an older boy; a VECILOI, whose dad was a legend at the academy. When I say legend; he had records in all the key areas for advancement as a cadet. His overall score was the highest and still is to this day. I think this is what gave OBER his drive.”
“Who is OBER,” AMIELLE asked?
“OBER is the son; the VECILOI cadet who gave me my drive. If it wasn’t for OBER; I’m not sure I would have ever pushed myself to the space exploration program that was beyond the academy and the guard training. This was a natural competitiveness and nothing personal; as it was relevant to me and OBER---in fact---I wanted to be friends with him. OBER was insecure though and he viewed me as a threat toward the approval he sought after from his father. What OBER never realized; at least not to my knowledge, he wasn’t competing against me but rather his father.”
Miles paused and thought for a moment about this last statement before continuing.
“It was only logical that they’d pair us for the most dangerous assignments in the LOMMETRUS during our space exploration training. The one that comes to mind is the conflicts on RIMEAUS.”
“You were involved in that,” DRUCKER asked? “Those were terrible events. How did you survive?”
“I won’t go into the gruesome details of those events because AMIELLE doesn’t need to hear those sorts of things---they’re just not appropriate to discuss. One good thing came from it though---OBER and I finally became friends through those trying times. We were in the southern hemisphere of the planet and stationed in the jungles of CHOBRIA. Those were better times on that planet; after we had survived our stints in BORITAH and MONCTU. OBER and I were received in a generous way by one small village in the jungle. This was only because we had lifted the curse of the VAIFFON in that region.”
“I’ve heard stories of those. They’re a wicked creature,” DRUCKER added.
“OBER and I happened upon the village’s VAIFFON. It was as long as ten WEGOAN freight transporters.”
AMIELLE’S eyes nearly popped out of her head when Miles said this.
“And the rattler was as long as one freight transporter,” Miles added.
AMIELLE held her father tighter.
“The VAIFFON had killed many from the village, including several of their young warriors but it was mostly their GLYSTIN miners that were slay. I nearly met the same fate as those killed one evening. OBER and I took shelter in a cavern when the rains became heavy and we built a fire on the cave’s edge. I was nearly asleep when I heard it. The sound was close and it stirred OBER and me to our feet.”
“What did you hear,” a wide eyed AMIELLE asked?
“Well let’s see. It was a noise that sounded like;” Miles sounded it out softly not to wake TRAVEN and CADIAN in the other room, “SCHEEAKKKK, SCHEEAKKKK, SCHEEAKKKK, SCHEEAKKKK!”
AMIELLE was eager to hear more as she leaned forward.
Miles was about to continue the story when he caught a glimpse of movement from the corner. It was a shadow that stirred him to his feet and he grabbed one of the stun blasters. He adjusted the setting to its lowest power; where only the faintest of shock beams would be released, and aimed for the darkest corner of the room.
“What is it---a VOUPSI,” DRUCKER asked?
Miles put one pointer to his lips and edged closer to the corner. He walked softly on the sandy surface of the dwelling until he stood as close to the thin wall as he could. He put his ear to the surface of the wall. It was difficult to hear anything over the buzzing of the VOUPSI swarm outside but Miles sensed something familiar on the other side of the wall and in the adjacent dwelling. Suddenly; Miles nostrils flared and his eyes bulged. He fell back but not before he adjusted the stun blaster’s setting to full power. It was with one powerful blast that pierced the thin divider and shocked the mysterious intruder on the other side.
A roar of anguish sounded and on the other side; Miles’ suspicions were confirmed through the charred blast hole. It was a GARGIAN. The GARGIAN had smoke from the powerful blast ascending from the thick coat of hair. It was still on its knees when DRUCKER turned to see what had made such a noise. Then the GARGIAN stood up but not before DRUCKER grabbed his blaster. Then Miles and DRUCKER took aim and fired two powerful blasts into the GARGIAN that sent the creature finally to the floor for good.
Miles took a blade and cut a larger hole to enter through. He stepped over the dead GARGIAN and then moved to the back room. When DRUCKER caught up with Miles in the back room; he was horror-struck. The neighboring family had been beaten and parts of their bodies had been stripped of flesh. There were gag cloths over each of their mouths. None of them were responsive to the sight of Miles and DRUCKER.
“They’re dead,” Miles said.
“What is happening back there;” as AMIELLE’S voice sounded close?
“Don’t come back here,” DRUCKER yelled out. “Go to your sister and brother.”
Miles rubbed his chin. “Judging from the bruises on the bodies; the GARGIAN hasn’t been here long.”
“How could they have known you and the alien were here---unless,” DRUCKER paused.
“Unless what,” Miles asked?
“Unless they have finally realized my identity as the rebel leader,” DRUCKER continued.
“Then none of us are safe here---at least; not after the VOUPSI swarm is lifted from the village,” Miles added.
It was then that both DRUCKER and Miles heard the voice coming from a communication device nearby. The device was unlike any communicator that Miles had seen but the volume slider was still similar to the one he had used at the academy. Miles grabbed it and turned the volume up to hear what the voice was saying.
“G5, G5, G5---what is your status? G5, G5---why haven’t you responded?”
Miles turned the volume back down. He set the communication device back where he discovered it but then paused and thought for a moment. He picked the device up and placed it in his pocket.
“Are there any supporters for the rebellion near?”
“Nearly the whole village but most are scared,” DRUCKER answered.
Miles nodded. “I understand. What if we make it seem like no one else is involved though---could we get help?”
“Without hesitation;” DRUCKER responded, “For me, for my family---the village will always help.”
“Is there a place we could go to hide---a place that’s not even known by the ALVERON’S?”
DRUCKER’S eyes widened. “The tunnel from ROPALLI’S dwelling would lead us to such a place.”
How far is ROPALLI’S dwelling from here,” Miles asked?
“We have five dwellings to cross before we’d reach his.”
Miles pointed toward the opposite dividing wall that faced the charred opening Miles had shot through.
“And hopefully ROPALLI’S is this way,” Miles added.
“Yes; how did you…;” DRUCKER then paused and turned to
the opening that divided the dwelling they and the dead GARGIAN were in. He looked through the hole at the table where they had been seated.
“They can’t check this place until the VOUPSI is decreased. It would give us a head start and Sonya should be ready for the trip in the morning,” Miles said.
Unable to hide his admiration, DRUCKER said; “You’re a cunning STONIAN; KEETCHA. I’m glad we’re on the same side.”
The two then worked together to execute Miles’ plan for escape.
*****
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends