Zein: The Homecoming (26 page)

‘Thanks,’ replied Amelia, not picking up the slight undertone in Gemma’s voice.

Her friend studied her. Amelia was a classic beauty, an understated model, a girl who when she walked down the street all male eyes, of whatever age, would follow.
I suppose in Greek times, the phrase, “Her beauty launched a thousand ships,” would apply
, Gemma supressed the irritation she was feeling, linking her friend to the mythological Greek figure Helen of Troy.

Over the years in school, Gemma always played second fiddle to Amelia for boys’ attention. On Valentine’s day, all the way back to when they were ten years old, Amelia would have five or six cards or chocolates left on her desk, Gemma nothing. Before the Proms, in secondary school, the boys would be nearly fighting over whom was taking her; no one asked Gemma. To protect herself from the upset of losing the attention of boys she liked to the unwitting Amelia and always pushed to the side lines, she had altered her dress sense, had tattoos, piercings, and dyed her hair.

I am the alter ego of Amelia,
Gemma said to herself, half-smiling, half grimacing, and now Amelia had Tyson, hook, line and sinker, the one boy who had chased Gemma all these years and she had ignored his easy to see attempts to woo her. I suppose
I always thought I could have him anytime
, thought Gemma, as Amelia turned to Jaida to ask questions about Reinan.

Gemma knew that even with this resentment swirling round her head, she loved Amelia; you could not but love Amelia. Gemma fought against her jealousy and when looking across at Tyson, who wore a cheerful smile as he stood up and clasped the arm of her brother, she quelled her feelings for him. She was very fond off Kabel and he treated her right,
time to move on girl
, reaffirming her earlier conviction. With that definitive thought she broke into her own smile and joined the conversation of the two other girls, who were discussing how the city village had fallen those many years ago.

‘So do you have any memories of what happened here?’ asked Amelia, taking in her surroundings, noticing the debris slowly being removed, revealing some of the previous hidden grandeur of the city.

Jaida pulled an orange from her pocket. She had taken an instant liking to this unusual fruit which had been frozen during the journey and now introduced to the Zeinonians. She peeled the orange and rather than remove any segments, simply bit into the whole orange causing juice to run down her chin which she absently wiped away.

‘I was only a child, so my memory of events is a little murky,’ said Jaida, after swallowing her first bite of the juicy fruit. ‘I was in the Blackstone Royal Palace asleep when I was woken by my father.’ Jaida’s voice trailed off just as Gemma joined the conversation. Still today, the emotion of that day when her father was severely wounded, a wound that he never really recovered from, was never far from the surface.

‘Go on,’ coaxed Amelia, recognising the raw emotion on the tall woman’s face.

‘You see it wasn’t a major surprise and I guess others have told you their stories?’ They all agreed it was a
common topic amongst the Expeditionary Force. ‘Well, as you know we had been under attack for a number of days and had retreated within the city, evacuating the outer reaches,’ said Jaida, pausing as she took another bite of the orange. The others waited patiently as she chewed and then swallowed the sweet fruit.

‘The Elders had already started evacuating and had used the transportation portal to send waves of inhabitants to the Aeria Cavern for safety.’ Jaida appeared to drift off, letting the memory wash over her and then as if realising that she had an audience, resumed, ‘The sheer numbers teleported through the portal drained the meagre amounts of zinithium and when the Pod surprised the city’s defences, we were overrun. The Pod burst into our home cutting us off from our own escape tunnel and we fled, like everybody else, to the Royal Council where my father opened up the main emergency passage way leading directly to the Aeria Cavern. It was madness so many people to evacuate, scared, crying, locked in the last safe haven. Anybody outside lost to the slaughter. My father led the last stand in the Royal Council with the remaining Blackstone troops and threw back the Pod time after time.’ Gemma found she was holding her breath, captivated by this beautiful young Zeinonian’s story.

‘Just Blackstone Troops?’ asked Gemma. In answer, Jaida’s pretty face twisted with hate.

‘Some of the other clans yes but no Malacca soldiers – the cowards ran away to safety.’ Jaida spat out. Gemma began to understand why there was so much friction between the two principal clans.

Jaida continued her story. ‘We thought the last of the rear guard would escape, and then the Pod burst through the floor, tunnelling into the library. My father
scooped me up and managed to make it into the passage away and I still remember the screams of the troops left behind as the Pod tore them apart.’ There were tears glistening around her eyes as the memories proved too much.

Gemma placed an arm round Jaida’s shoulders to comfort her.

‘What’s the matter?’ It was Kabel, who had stood his guard down to obtain a little more freedom of movement. Not that it worked, his guard moved just another few paces away…no one was coming near their Lord Chancellor.

‘Nothing,’ said Gemma. Jaida wiped away the tears and angry at letting the humans see her upset, brushed aside Gemma’s arm and stormed off.

‘If that is nothing, hate to see what “something” is,’ said an amused Kabel. Gemma proceeded to tell him the story and Kabel was unsurprised.

‘There has always been resentment between our two clans. Tate explained that on that night it was the main Malacca regiment holding the line away from the city and they were surprised, surrounded and majority were killed. He was lucky to escape, thanks to his quick thinking father,’ Kabel explained. ‘It is time our two clans moved closer and maybe just maybe we can prevent these mistakes occurring again.’

He was interrupted by a US Marine, ‘Lord Chancellor, you and Tyson are requested to attend an urgent meeting in the
Elanda
,’ said the soldier, catching his breath.
Whatever it was something major was happening
, thought Kabel. He turned away from Gemma and headed off to the
Elanda
as the soldier headed off to search for Tyson. Gemma watched him go, before deciding to go and look for Jaida to see if she could do anything for her.

As Kabel strolled up the ramp leading up into the belly of the
Elanda
, relatively relaxed and if the cares of the world had been removed, he didn’t know that events would move fast, events that would be hard to predict and lead the companions into danger that surpassed any they had previously encountered.

Tyson was shown into the briefing room off to the side of the Command and Control Centre. He was met by a cross section of individuals who were the principal members of the new force.
Crikey, someone means business
, was the only thought it could muster. Facing him, along with Kabel, the Zeinonians were represented by the injured Safah and Quinlan, both now rested after the battle, the human contingent by General Corder, Admiral Koshkov and Walter, the Pod by Dominion and his son Wernion, and the silent figure of Zebulon stood to one side with a curious looking being. He was amused by the dazed looks on both Safah and Quinlan’s faces who were stunned that they were in the spaceship that formed the basis of almost their religion. Quinlan’s injury was the worst of both, a nasty cut on his forehead, now safely bandaged up. But if their expressions made him smile the looks on the Pod representatives trumped it. They were terrified and desperately trying not to show it. From their simple subterranean life in the depths of the planet they found themselves, on the orders of the High Priestess, on a dazzling spaceship, which was, until recently, part of their nightmares.

‘Glad you could join us Mr Mountford,’ said General Corder, laced with heavy sarcasm. He was still recovering
from his injuries from the battle but that didn’t deter him from baiting the troublesome boy wonder. His broken arm was in a cast that was folded across his chest and supported by a sling.

‘No need for that tone, General,’ said Kabel, witnessing Tyson bristle with the challenge; they still didn’t see eye to eye after their disagreement on the
Elanda
. Kabel didn’t see Admiral Koshkov stroke his goatee beard thoughtfully during the interplay; the Russian still had a suspicion that the American was not aligned with the objectives of the expedition.

‘So what is the panic stations for?’ Tyson felt belligerent, his previous calm mood, set by the presence of his friend and the influence of Eva’s sparkling personality, evaporated into the abyss of life events.

‘Please take a seat, Tyson,’ said Kabel, the others in the room wary of triggering the volcanic nature of Tyson’s rage.

‘I’ll stand,’ was the blunt reply and Kabel didn’t want to push it further. He indicated to Walter to take over the briefing and Tyson’s eyes switched like a trident missile from one person to the next, his magics flaring up as he read the undercurrents and scattered thoughts in the room.

How will he react?

Why is everyone so scared of him?

Will he act first or listen?

‘What is this all about?’ he demanded and then the other thoughts hit him and he knew.

‘My Mum, what about my Mum?’ Tyson began to pulsate with his magics, those in the room stepped back. Wernion stepped forward wanting to help his new friend but his father grabbed his arm and held him back, shaking his head to deter him.

‘Continue Walter?’ said Kabel, as he indicated Zebulon to move closer to Tyson. Tyson saw the move and turned to Zebulon. His new protector sent messages to him telepathically to manage his breathing, retract his anger. By this time Tyson’s body was nearly shaking with power and Safah and Quinlan needed to turn their heads away to shield their eyes. Then the soothing words worked and Tyson began to stabilise, until the force-field resided in just his hands. Zebulon noiselessly congratulated him on his control. All in the room breathed a sigh of relief.

Walter cleared his throat and flicked on the overhead screen, which was deployed.

‘During the battle for the Aeria Cavern, Lieutenant Lavelle, picked up a signal transmitted from Skegus to Zein,’ he started, nervously as usual. ‘The message was sent in code so we recorded it and after the battle had ended, no little thank you to you, of course,’ said Walter, pointing to Tyson proudly, who in turn ignored the compliment, gripped by the unfolding reason for the briefing.

‘My mother, Walter!’ said Tyson, through gritted teeth.

‘With the help of Tian, from Skegus,’ Walter, quickly continued, pointing to the tall golden skinned figure, who bowed. Tyson bowed back briefly, still fixing his stare on Walter, who gulped nervously. He clicked the remote he was holding in his hand.

The voice filled the room. Tyson shook as he heard his mother’s voice, the desperation behind the message, and the horror of what she was witnessing. Others in the room diverted their eyes as they felt the full range of emotions play across Tyson. He didn’t hear the door open or see Amelia slip in. Kabel had sent for her as soon as he had heard the tape. He knew that Tyson needed the emotional support of the one he loved. The message finished and
there was an uncomfortable silence, no one wishing to say the first words.

‘I want a ship.’ The statement was said with no room for negotiation but General Corder took the bait.

Not a good move
, thought Kabel.

‘I know it is your mother, Mr Mountford, but you will not be going off on some hair-brained rescue mission, as long as I am in control of this Expeditionary Force,’ said General Corder, squaring up to Tyson, across the table, still smarting at the trouble he had caused on the journey to Zein. Tyson didn’t reply but leapt over the table, too fast for the guards or anyone else in the room to react, to land in front of General Corder with his face an inch away from the soldier’s face.

‘I can rectify that,’ Tyson snarled.

It was Zebulon who intervened. Moving just a fraction slower than Tyson he was there beside them and he inserted his frame in front of Tyson, again sending calming messages to him, then Amelia was there, grabbing hold of his hand, soothing away the anger. General Corder, stepped back, pale, uncertain and a little afraid.

‘You are a liability to this task force, Mr Mountford, I will have you removed to the cells.’ His injuries weakened him and he cursed the fact Tyson had made him uneasy.

‘Try it,’ snarled back Tyson. No one was backing down.

‘Gentlemen, we need to sit down, take the heat out of this discussion and think calmly how we can free Skegus, defeat Zylar and the Xonians and free any prisoners,’ said Admiral Koshkov, calmly. ‘Mr Mountford, we will get your mother back but we need to decide how we can do that without jeopardising hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.’

Tyson, with one last hard glance at the general, reluctantly agreed and took a seat at the table. The others in the room did the same with General Corder sitting
well away from the instigator of the tension in the room. Amelia and Zebulon sat protectively next to Tyson, more to keep an eye on their friend, than to safeguard Tyson from others in the room.

Admiral Koshkov was all business, this was his strong point and he knew it. ‘Is what Mr Mountford’s mother is saying true about the plains, the frontal defences?’

It was the Oneerion who spoke, in a halting dreamy voice. ‘We never needed to have strong defences, relying on the support of Zein for protection,’ Tian said. If he was nervous no one could tell. ‘They have added to the fortifications, though they are still relatively weak.’

‘How many troops do they have?’ This was a question from General Corder, attempting to gain back respect from those in the room. He failed. The Oneerion was just going to reply, when Kabel stepped in. ‘Before you answer can you tell us how the Xonian manage the relationship between Oneerio and Skegus?’

Tian cocked his head to one side as if he were contemplating whether to answer or not, then he spoke. He spoke about the first day they came, the unnecessary killing, how they rounded up their women and children and began to execute them until all the secrets of the mining operation were provided, and then they continued anyway until even they grew tired of the screaming and stench of death. He told them how many of his friends were taken away to be experimented on, never to be seen again. There was no sound in the room as the horrors unfolded. The humans in the room feared for the six billion on Earth and what would happen to them if the Xonians defeated their armies.

Tian continued as he lay out the defences which faced them. The Xonians treated the Oneerions as slave workers in the mines of Oneerio and there were nearly
fifty thousand troops guarding them with two destroyers in orbit. On Skegus their numbers were nearer one hundred thousand and in orbit there was a space cruiser that held over eighty fixed wing spacecraft.

‘Can the ships in orbit of Oneerio reach Skegus in time?’ asked Admiral Koshkov.

‘It would take them a few days to reach an attack position on Skegus,’ Tian said, ‘The Xonians are an experienced warrior race and would not leave their mining operations undefended, irrespective of an attack on another outpost.’

‘If we go for a full frontal attack, will that not place the hostages in danger?’ said Tyson. ‘Couldn’t we teleport in following my mum’s DNA signal, like we did at the Southern Palace?’

Tian shook his head. ‘We have security protocols that prevent any teleporting outside official routes within the metro limits.’

Tyson jumped up and brought his fist down on the table. ‘We can’t just attack and hope they don’t use the hostages as shooting practice.’

It was Kabel who calmed matters down, saying, facing Tyson, ‘Tian says there is a way for us to enter the city but it is dangerous.’

‘What is it?’

It was Lieutenant Morrison who replied. ‘I discussed this earlier with Tian. If we climb up the mountain which overlooks the city and prevents any attack from the back, we can freefall using our specialist parachutes to land on the tallest building in the city.’

‘We are not all special forces you know,’ challenged Tyson. Morrison held his hand up in acknowledgment.

‘Yes, I am aware and that we can deal with. Tian here says there is a secret passage that goes through the mountain into the Oneerion Royal Palace.’

‘What about their Xonian space cruiser?’ asked Quinlan.

‘We attack the cruiser first with the
Elanda
, the
Manhattan
and the
Brooklyn
will support the initial landing on the ground with the
Elanda
joining them, after dealing with the cruiser, to off load the levitation tanks,’ said Admiral Koshkov, he looked across at Quinlan. ‘The Tyther clan, I believe are specialists in the technology arena?’

Quinlan’s chest puffed out with pride, ‘We are, although the Fathoms have always wanted our crown on that one.’

‘Good, we will need scaffolding and tools to help our troops breach the outer barricades of Quentine.’

‘On it.’ Quinlan stood up and left the room.

‘Then the only remaining business is to decide on the insertion team,’ said Kabel. That discussion took some while, until they decided on a team of thirty, their task to locate the main prisoners, escort them to the Quentine transportation portal and send them to the
Elanda
portal room, before or during the main attack if possible.