The Aurora (Aurora Saga, Book 1) (24 page)

The fleet was now just ten hours from Dagnamk.

James entered the communal area where he was going to meet Londuo. He noticed her over the balcony just above him, so he called out to her, but she appeared to be staring into space.

Strange, she seems distracted. I hope there’s nothing wrong.

James walked up the stairs and around the balcony.

‘Londuo, are you all right?’ he asked affectionately.

She looked around.

‘James, I didn’t see you come in!’

‘You look like you’re on another planet,’ James said.

‘We’ve just had the briefing,’ she said, turning towards him. ‘I know I guessed about the attack on Dagnamk, so it was not a surprise to me, but the silence of people during the briefing was overwhelming. The room was filled with fear.’

She paused.

‘I just can’t stop thinking about it.’

Londuo stared into space once more.

‘It could be the end of everything.’

‘Or a new beginning,’ James said.

‘I hope you’re right, but I keep having this dream.’

‘What’s worrying you, Londuo?’

Londuo shook her head slowly.

‘I need to go for a walk, James.’

‘Do you want to be alone?’

‘No,’ she replied quietly. ‘No; please, I need to be with you.’

They started to walk along the central corridor of the ship towards the rear.

She’s very quiet. I wonder what’s concerning her. She seems very depressed about this dream. Maybe I should try to cheer her up a bit, or should I see if she wants to talk about it?

They walked in silence right to the stern of the ship.

‘This is as far as we can go,’ James said, pointing ahead. ‘Section sixty-three. There’s a bulkhead.’

Londuo looked at the sign.

‘I didn’t realise we’d walked so far.’

‘Is there anything this end of the ship?’ James asked, looking back along the corridor. ‘Or do you have to carry me all the way back?’

Londuo smiled.

‘That’s better,’ James said. ‘I thought that sad expression was glued on forever.’

‘I’m sorry, James. I just needed to do some thinking,’ she said, looking up at the location sign. ‘There is something in this area.’

Londuo looked back at James.

‘I think it’s time you saw what we’re fighting and now’s as good a time as any.’

Londuo took James’ hand. She led him back along the corridor, up a flight of stairs and into a guarded section of the ship. They entered a small rectangular room, which had no furniture, just a large black window with a small control panel alongside it.

‘Unfortunately it’s dead,’ Londuo said. She pressed two symbols on the panel. ‘We’ve never been able to take one alive. They somehow kill themselves before we have a chance to capture them.’

The lights in the adjoining room slowly brightened and the window cleared.

Stretched out on a stone slab in front of them was the body of a Treitan.

James felt his stomach turn.

‘It’s not what I expected,’ he said.

‘No, the first time I saw one, I almost threw up,’ Londuo said.

James looked at the Treitan, which was at least three metres tall, with wet looking yellow and grey skin. Its bloated body was covered in many thick tentacles, which in turn were covered in smaller ones. Some of them were hanging over the edge of the slab, from which mustard liquid occasionally dripped. Ripples moved across the surface of a large pool of serum beneath the slab.

How ugly. Not sure I feel too good. I hope we can leave now,
James thought to himself.

Londuo drew James’ attention to the end of the body without tentacles. ‘That’s its head.’

There were two large compound eyes on stalks, and its grotesque mouth was open.

‘They don’t wear clothes like us.’

‘I’m not surprised with all those tentacles,’ James replied, turning towards the door.

As they exited the room James said,

‘I’m glad to get out of there. I don’t think I’d want to meet one of them.’

‘I have,’ Londuo said.

James was intrigued.

‘Where?’

‘I was stationed on the
Horopila
at that time. We intercepted and disabled one of their destroyers, hiding in the Pilmon asteroid belt. It was helpless, drifting in space. We boarded it.’

She paused.

‘It was a rare opportunity to try and take some of them alive and look at their technology. We fought them along every corridor and through every room of their ship. They can handle multiple hand weapons and their strength is incredible.’

Londuo stopped for a moment.

‘I still have nightmares sometimes because of the things I saw that day.’

James felt Londuo tighten her grip on his hand.

‘I saw commandos thrown against the walls, while others were crushed by those tentacles; arms, legs torn off.’

She stopped once more.

‘They didn’t surrender. We killed every one of them.’

‘Did you managed to capture the ship,’ James said.

‘When we reached the bridge we discovered they’d activated the self-destruct. I thought we’d had it. That was the quickest I’ve ever moved, I tell you. The
Horopila
barely made it away.’

James listened intrigued, as they entered another room where fragments of a Treitan ship were laid out.

Londuo pointed to a large section of plasma tube.

‘We’re fighting our own technology. That’s almost identical to our plasma tubes. We recovered it from the wreck of one of their cruisers.’

‘Interesting. So basically all their technology is stolen from other races,’ James commented.

‘They even converted their event horizon drive units to be almost identical to ours, and they’re using advanced Telecan lasers. That makes it very difficult for us to fight them—’

Executive Captain Isistia’s voice came over the ship’s address system:

‘Jomi task force will depart in five minutes.’

James looked at Londuo.

‘Isn’t there an observation platform near here?’

‘I’m impressed,’ Londuo replied.

‘I’ve been studying a map of the ship,’ James said cheerfully.

‘We’re only six decks below,’ Londuo said.

‘If we’re quick, we can see them leave,’ James said. ‘Come on, I’ll race you,’ he said, and then jogged to the entrance.

They both ran from the room, stopping only to walk past the guards.

Londuo arrived at the viewing area first. Just as James entered the room, he noticed her looking back at him. She had a large grin on her face.

‘That’s… That’s a long way up,’ James said, taking two deep breaths.

A crowd had already gathered, and a few looked around at them.

‘You need more exercise,’ Londuo said, breathing less heavily. ‘Let’s have a look.’

‘You… go over. I’ll… be there in a minute,’ James said, still recovering.

Londuo moved over to the large window.

How can she do that… and not be out of breath
, he thought.

When James joined Londuo the fleet had decreased its speed to Q1. Two destroyers were slowly moving to the rear of the fleet where two frigates were already waiting. The
Lonori
overtook the
Yemolopila
and Telecan
Vinzot
slowly. The fronts of the destroyers and frigates sparkled like fireworks from the space debris striking them. The two frigates then slowly moved to flank the
Yemolopila
so that they could be secured to its hull. The whole process took a few minutes. Large docking clamps swung outwards from the
Yemolopila
to allow the frigates to be attached, and then they were slowly manoeuvred neatly against the
Yemolopila’s
sides.

Suddenly and without warning they disappeared, surprising James.

‘What…?’

Londuo chuckled.

‘They decelerated to change course.’

‘Oh, I must have blinked at the wrong time,’ he said jokingly.

The viewing area emptied, leaving them all alone.

‘Well, there’s no going back now, James,’ Londuo said.

He felt her grip his hand, then she looked at him.

‘I’m afraid, James… I’m afraid that we won’t come back.’

‘Tell me what’s worrying you, Londuo?’

‘The last few nights, I dreamt that I was going to die on Dagnamk. It’s like I’ve been there before. It’s hard to explain… It all seems so real, yet, it’s been different each night. I always seem to end up at the controls of my fighter, which is surrounded by flames, and then all I can see is blackness. All the stars disappear.’

She seems really frightened by this dream.
James hugged Londuo in his arms.

She raised her head slightly and, looking in his eyes, said,

‘Ever since my parents were killed, I’ve wanted revenge. But now I’ve got my chance to really hurt the Treitans, I’m—’

‘I’m scared too, Londuo,’ James replied. ‘Before I came here I’d never killed anybody. I didn’t want to but I know now that is the only way. We have to stop the Treitans from killing more people.’

James looked at each of her eyes in turn.
I think she’s waiting for me to kiss her. Stop thinking, just do it!
And while he was plucking up the courage to kiss her, he heard some crew members enter the room.
No. Not again! I don’t believe this.

Suddenly someone placed a hand on Londuo’s shoulder.

‘Lieutenant Besic, we need you to come with us.’

James and Londuo turned and saw two security guards standing behind them and another one in the doorway with his laser pistol drawn.

‘What’s going on?’ James asked.

‘Lieutenant Besic is to be detained pending a mind-scan,’ one of the guards said.

‘Why? I don’t understand.’ James said.

‘Sorry sir, that’s all we can tell you. Lieutenant, please come with us, now!’

Londuo was quickly escorted from the room.

‘It’s all right, James!’ she called back, as they led her away down the corridor.

James tried to follow but was blocked by the security guard at the door.

‘Londuo!’ James shouted, feeling concerned for her.

Kalrea, why have they taken Londuo for a mind-scan,
he thought.

According the security systems, she was recorded as having visited the laser turret that exploded. Also, a number of people have reported her behaving differently since you arrived,
Kalrea said.

James was worried.
Will she be ok?

I’m not sure, James. They think she could be the Dreh agent that they have been searching for and will perform a deep mind-scan.

Oh,
James replied.
But—

James, if she’s the agent, then you would be at risk.

But she isn’t. I know she isn’t.

We’ve both only known Londuo for a very short time.

That is true, but I just know deep inside she’s not an agent.

James, I think you need to know, a deep scan is far more dangerous than the normal scans.

What do you mean, Kalrea?

They probe very deep. There is a chance of damage to the brain.

What!
James suddenly felt frustrated and helpless.
I can’t let them do that.

James, it’s out of your hands.

He started to pace around the viewing area, frantically trying to think what to do.
But what if she’s permanently hurt? She could be affected for life. You know what this would mean, Kalrea. She cannot shut herself down to protect her brain, like you did at Normia.

Yes, James, I understand.

We have to do something. Can you stop the scan?

I can, but—

Do it.

James, they will know I terminated it. They will disconnect the system and perform it remotely, like they did with you. I cannot stop that.

Then there’s no way.

James, I can monitor Londuo undetected. If I feel she is in severe danger, then I will interrupt the process. But, if I do it too early, then they may notice.

Kalrea, please don’t let them harm her.

I’ll do my best.

Please promise me you won’t let them harm her, Kalrea.

Okay James, I promise.