Zein: The Homecoming Page 11

General Corder had tried to block Amelia and Gemma’s involvement and neither Kabel nor Tyson could change the man’s viewpoint. Help had come from an unexpected source in the shape of Walter Moore. He had taken the general to one side and explained that Amelia was the one who could calm Tyson down if matters became out of hand and that Gemma had shown tremendous fighting qualities in the destruction of the mast in the Eastern Quadrant. General Corder had eventually relented and the two women now sat next to their respective boyfriends suited in the figure hugging blue armour of the Blackstone clan. They still smarted from the indignity of having to prove their ability to handle themselves in a fight again.

  As the expedition entered the outskirts of Reinan, they peered through the slits in the APC. They passed rows and rows of white painted houses that were in complete disarray. They took in the personal possessions left lying around in the rubble and now covered by layers of dust; part of a settee teetered over the edge of a collapsed wall ready to plunge to the street below; a child’s stuffed toy sat forlornly on a dusty kitchen table, waiting patiently for its previous exuberant owner to come skipping past and to pick it up…years had passed, yet the toy waited expectantly.

  ‘Whatever happened here, the population left in a hurry some time ago,’ said Kabel, to no one in particular. Tyson turned briefly to look at him and marvelled at how much the responsibility of his position had aged him, maybe not so much in looks but in weariness and worry. He shrugged his shoulders, he had his own problems, and his brother would just need to deal with his issues.

  There was little noise. Outside the rumble of the vehicles and the hiss of the levitation tanks an eerie silence was loud in its pervading voice. The expedition continued on its steady but slow journey into the centre of the city.

  Tyson reached out with his mind. He could not hear any thoughts outside the increasing concerns of his companions leading him to supportively squeeze Amelia’s hand, when he detected rising fear within her. She appreciated the support. The APC rocked back and forward as it chicaned between the rubble and debris strewn mosaic roads.

  The roads were made of crisscross brightly coloured bricks which in their heyday would have provided a startling, inviting pathway for the citizens of the city. They could see that this had once been a tremendous city village, with plenty of colour and life which made it so sad to see it in this state.

  ‘Because they didn’t collapse the top half of the buildings the damage you see is probably from the winter and reflection periods. Over time this would have made all these houses uninhabitable,’ said Kabel.

  ‘But I thought you always collapsed the top half of the buildings before winter sets in?’ said Gemma.

  ‘Didn’t have time,’ said a grim looking Kabel, ‘they didn’t know what hit them.’

  Eventually they turned into the central circle of the city. It was similar in size, if not shape, to China’s vast Tiananmen Square, with the central circle stretching out far and wide. Overturned carts, vehicles and stalls littered the impressive space. You could see the imposing Grand Zein Central Transportation hub and the equally impressive Royal Council standing side by side.

  None of the buildings stood over two storeys high; they were, though, wide and each covered a significant acreage. They, like the surrounding residential buildings were damaged. Whatever happened meant that the buildings had also not been formally collapsed and the considerable damage displayed was wrought by the winter and reflection seasons. Parts of the roofs were ripped off, as were doors, and window shutters hung loosely, partially ripped off their hinges.

  The expedition moved closer to the two principal buildings and then formed a circle, in a good old fashioned Wild West wagon defence. The soldiers in the levitation tanks and the ASVs stayed on guard; all the personnel, outside of the three soldiers driving and manning the communications in the APCs, clambered out.

  It was a sizable force; a mixture of civilians, US Marines and Fathom, Malacca or Blackstone troops. They created four parties. In Kabel’s APC Group One, in addition to the usual suspects, Walter Moore and three Blackstone troopers joined them, making twelve in total. Joining them was Group Two, which contained environmental and senior scientists in a range of fields plus a further four Blackstone troops and two US Marines. They had thought to split up and enter both the buildings individually; however, Kabel decided strength in numbers made more sense.

  The Royal Council was an especially impressive building, the centre piece of the community. Even in its dilapidated state it spoke of past greatness with its gold leaf intricate façade still glistening in the afternoon rays. Stone statues, of what must have been past historic figures of Zein, were situated at the corners of the imposing property, moulded into the fabric of the building. The spectacularly arched windows across both the floors held the remnants of exotic stained glass and the carved window shutters hung listlessly half off their hinges.

  Kabel gulped nervously, overwhelmed by the history in front of him and his place in that story. Here was where his forefathers had agreed new laws and provided guidance to the populace across not just Reinan, but the planet. For the first time he felt the intimidating pressure of his office and the expectation of his role in the future of Zein. His nervousness subsided fast; pushing the negative thoughts to the back of his consciousness, now was not the time to have a crisis of confidence. As he issued orders, he saw Tyson watching him solemnly.

  You heard every thought I just had, didn’t you? Kabel asked, silently.

  It wasn’t hard brother; just remember none of us would have come this far without your leadership. Stop doubting yourself. Kabel welcomed the calming words. Protecting his thoughts this time, there was another first; he felt a growing closeness to his hybrid brother…maybe, just maybe there was a future in their relationship. He shook himself out of his personal thoughts and addressed the planning of the expedition conscious that the soldiers were waiting for their orders.

  They would enter the Royal Council first and then the Grand Zein Central Transportation hub. The other three groups would strike out to other areas off the circle to scan and analyse the buildings for any sign of life.

  Kabel sent the Blackstone troopers ahead with the two US Marines. They had their photon automatic rifles armed and aimed as they leapfrogged each other’s position seeking to establish a perimeter, with the rest of the two groups following. The troopers and marines entered the Royal Council to establish a secure forward position once the safety recon was complete; the rest of the group was called forward.

  Kabel stepped through the large, thick, mahogany doors that carried significant decay, into the Royal Council and found his breath taken away. In front of him was a large room divided into different sections. At the far end was the usual council seat configuration with numerous seats facing a raised platform with a throne-like ornate chair standing tall as if it was in command of the more junior seats. The seat was adorned with beautiful carvings of Zein historical figures and wildlife.

  To his left was a large office-like environment with many desks arranged in circles around a master desk. The desks still had the computerised equipment built in with piles of loose paper scattered about. To the right was what must have been a communal area where people must have eaten and conversed as they relaxed at break times or in the evening; the soft furnishings, now broken and tarnished, spread into the corners of the large building.

  He saw the curved stairs to the second level and motioned for the troops to proceed up the stairs to increase the safety perimeter. He saw Walter Moore and a couple of his colleagues talk excitedly, looking at the murals on the walls and the other decorations on the ceilings.

  ‘Wow, look at that,’ said Gemma, her head tilted back. He followed her gaze. On the ceiling was an intricate painted ceiling that would have challenged the Sistine Chapel for its elegance. The mural depicted the history of Zein, from the first settlements, to the Xonian Wars and latterly the conflicts with the Pod. It was breath-taking. Walter had one of his colle
agues take numerous pictures of the historic developments.

  They moved deeper into the building. Tyson, with Hechkle and Bronstorm made their way up one of the curved stairs. Kabel remained on the first floor. He saw great holes in the floor everywhere as if someone had ripped back the floor to get in.

  Walter saw Kabel’s look, ‘Something was attempting to get in by the look of how the floor is jagged upwards. If it had been the other way around of course, then those jagged edges would be below the floor,’ said Walter, peering into one of the holes, saying what Kabel was thinking. ‘Interestingly, if you look at the steel shutters and the additional iron bars across the door,’ he pointed to the now ripped away shutters and the broken iron bars near the door, ‘here is where they were making a stand, probably the last stand, looking at the dry and dusty bloodstains,’ Walter surmised. Kabel took in the many blotches of dried blood scattered across the floor.

  ‘Hey, look at this.’ The shout came from Tyson who had followed the soldiers to the second level. Leaving the US Marines on guard near the door they all raced up the curved grand stairs. In front of them was a vast library, but not a library in the usual sense. There were row upon row of holograms of Zein figures, teachers, under different headings, including Animals of Zein, Reflection, Awakening, The One Way, The Pod and many more. The holograms stretched back far into the depths of the building. Excited, the group explored the different sections of the library.

  Walter Moore settled in front of the Reflection hologram and the Zeinonian was speaking but he could not hear. Frustrated, he looked for a button.

  ‘You have to press your palm on this,’ said Kabel, pointing to a panel that stuck out with a hand print throbbing in red. ‘Once you press this you will be the only one to hear the hologram talk as your DNA is recorded.’ He looked around and addressed a few of the other scientists. ‘And if you want to hear at the same time you can touch the device here as well.’

  ‘How can it still have power after all these years?’ asked Walter, as he observed his fellow scientists trying other holograms. He tried to ignore the hostile looks they gave Kabel as he helped them connect. Can’t they grow up, all he is doing is showing them how to use the damn machines.

  ‘The holograms will be connected to an underground cable that is built into the rock foundations below the museum,’ said Kabel, remembering a particular lesson given by Malkin, with his teaching hat on. ‘The cable is very sensitive and picks up the atmospheric power of even the slightest amount of zinithium. It would take hundreds of years to run out.’

  Walter reached out and spread his hand to cover the handprint. It immediately changed to blue and Walter could hear the hologram talk. He let out a delighted gasp and motioned for some of his fellow scientists to touch the handprint. They all did. Kabel left them engrossed in the story of Zein’s reflection period. He moved deeper into the library. He saw everyone participating with the hologram that stimulated their interest and saw Tyson was listening to The Changelings. Kabel was attracted to the Blackstones – Early Years, which was in a corridor with programmes on all the other clans. He placed his hand on the handprint, sat down and waited.

  The voice of the woman in front of him was soft and gentle, her blue eyes twinkled. She took him through the years when magics did not exist and it was a hard but simple life. They had originally come from a small insignificant planet where they were enslaved by the Xonians, who had ruled vast swathes of the Universe with an iron fist. It was a woman who had led the uprising of the technically advanced race, outwitting their masters, who had grown sloppy. They had stolen two ships, one the impressive Elanda, which they had helped to build for the Xonians for the purpose of future conquests. In an incredible and daring plan, the whole race had escaped and they had searched for a planet that could become their home. It was nearly three years in space when they discovered Zein and settled their population on the planet. The hell of winter and reflection had caused many deaths until they mastered the ability to collapse the buildings and seek shelter in the newly built underground city, the Aeria Cavern. They had even fought off the inevitable Xonian attack in the First Xonian War, albeit with a heavy cost in lives.

  The name of their leader was Cilan Blackstone, her name sent a shiver of excitement down Kabel’s spine; the name was not new to him, Cilan’s role in the development of Zein was taught to him by Malkin but he never took him through the deep history, preferring to focus on history that would impact Kabel on Earth. Now he was finding out about a whole period of history that he had no previous knowledge of. He listened closely to the light tones of the presenter.

  He was told that the Blackstone clan were strong, ambitious and keen to develop Zein. They had encountered the Changelings prior to the Second Xonian War and had struck up a partnership, in which for promises and land they would be taught how to harness the magics of Zein.

  At the Inner Council the other clans demanded the same treatment and the Changelings taught each clan different magics with understanding that the full extent of the magics was too powerful for any one Zeinonian. It was explained that the magics came with a warning. Misuse of the magics twisted an unsuspecting body in ways that are initially latent but then become a living nightmare with madness the result. The Changelings demanded that the Zeinonians agree to the limitations set. Keen to have abilities that they could use to defend against the violent and deadly Xonian hordes, they readily agreed.

  There was always a suspicion that the Blackstone clan were granted more of the magics for their support of the cleansing of the Pod from the planet, the Changelings’ main enemy. Kabel frowned, struggling to take in the warlike nature of the Changelings with his experience of Zebulon and he decided when he was back on the ship he would seek out the Changeling. The hologram figure pointed out that this was never proved, though rumours persisted through the years.

  The party were all engrossed in the history of their choice and once they had finished with the hologram they were viewing, they swapped to another hologram. Time ticked on.

  Tyson was engulfed in the history of the mysterious Changelings and the facts didn’t stack up. Where did they come from? Why exterminate the Pod? The history lesson seemed one-sided and key facts were left out. He, like Kabel would seek out Zebulon when they returned to the Elanda.

  Kabel was enjoying a tutorial on the Pod, and he was at a particular part of their history which showed that in the early years on the planet they kept to themselves, mainly around their breeding grounds in the south, when his headset sparked into life; it was Sean Lambert, who had remained in the first APC, the strong Scottish accent unmistakable. He was checking in with the five groups worried that time was passing and no one wanted to be in the silent city when night fell. They knew that night came quickly on this planet. Each of the teams rattled off their call sign as did Kabel; the title “Hybrid” was their call sign, much to Tyson’s amusement. Kabel broke off from the hologram he was on and signalled to the others to wrap up and make their way to the front entrance.

  For Tyson, the most interesting discussion was on the Changelings, which had proved more complex then he thought. It was clear that no one knew where the Changelings came from but common thinking was that they had travelled with another race and had been stranded on Zein with the Pod. He pushed the thoughts to one side and speedily ran down the stairs.

  Soon they were out of the Royal Council and into the Reinan Circle, where a beautiful site met them. The suns were beginning to drop further in the sky, creating a kaleidoscope of colour, cascading over the landscape, reflecting an orangey glow to the rooftops of the desolate city. The team could not enjoy the picture for long, with the fear of the unknown beginning to grip them.

  Kabel hesitated, balancing the need to leave for the safety of the Elanda with exploring further. He made the call and decided he needed to see the Grand Zein Central Transportation hub before travelling back. He flagged the retreating personnel and troops to move with urgency to the buckled doors of the buildi
ng, which reluctantly they did. Cautiously they entered, with the US Marines flanking the team.

  As they moved into the murky building they could make out the extraordinary height of the transportation field with its massive four towers pointing at each other across the divide. They identified the scorch marks where photon shots had burned the steel walls. There were also many ruptures in the floor, indicating breeches into the room from below the ground. The team moved deeper into the room.

  Suddenly, Tyson saw a face across the transportation field. He made out the shock registering on the handsome face and the body encased in red armour. His mind flashed back to his fight with Manek Malacca in the Core. Malacca clan, he thought, taking in the colour of the armour and the swarthy nature of the skin. With him was an intimidating figure with half an arm and a group of four or five troopers all carrying what seemed to be old photon rifles retreating through a hole in the ground. They had also frozen in shock at the sight of Tyson and the soldiers around him.

  ‘Hey, you?’ he shouted. The strangers snapped out of their shock and without further delay disappeared down one of the main holes in the floor.

  Kabel, who had swivelled round at Tyson’s urgent call but only glimpsed the intruders as they disappeared down the hole, due to an obstruction in front of him, was just going to shout to go after them when his communication link sparked into life again. ‘Team Leader One this is Team Leader Four we are under attack,’ reported the calm voice of one of the US Marines leading Group Four. Photon shots could be heard across the Reinan Circle. ‘Team Leader One, this is Team Leader Five, they are everywhere.’ With that followed a scream and the line went dead.

  Kabel acted. ‘Quickly, to the vehicles.’ He glanced across the room and saw Tyson move towards the hole the men had disappeared into. ‘Tyson, leave it, we need to get back to the vehicles, now!’ he commanded. Tyson hesitated and in that moment Pod appeared from a number of other holes within the building, pouring out from the ripped and jagged holes, converging on Tyson and fellow members of the team. The soldiers laid down defensive fire and in that moment the scientists and companions retreated to the outside, straight into a horrific scene.