“Hello, Weraynian." I heard Sophie say from my vantage point in the cupboard.
“I see you’re still under the impression you can gain some upper hand against me.” The Weraynian replied coolly. “It won’t work. I am so close to success, and you are merely a grundle-wry buzzing around my head.”
“What?” I heard Sophie ask in confusion. She wasn’t familiar with any Staarus native species of insects (obviously).
“It’s an annoying flying insect.” The Weraynian elaborated, sounding thoroughly irked to have to explain himself. “And not much use for anything.”
“Well, that’s mean!” I could hear the false bravado Sophie was putting on. I briefly wondered where this petty argument was expected to go, when I was meant to step in for an attack. I placed my hand on the door and concentrated. From the image in my mind I saw that the cupboard’s vantage point put me in between Sophie and the Weraynian. I’d have to wait until he moved forward to successfully take him by surprise. I took in Sophie’s tensed body, the Weraynians eyes which flickered to the communications unit subtly as he took a small step forward. He seemed perturbed by everything that was going on; probably because it hadn’t gone as planned. Because of Sophie and I, he had resistance against him, something he hadn’t anticipated. I guess that was because it wasn’t every day you meet two teenagers who between them had the capacity to beat a Weraynian, including programming skill and special powers, as well as intelligence enough to know how to use their abilities. ‘Unexpected variables’, he’d called us. I wondered if that was the only reason we had the upper hand. This all took me a second to survey, and then Sophie’s tone hardened. “But it only takes one grundle-wry to ruin an entire day.”
The Weraynian rolled his eyes darkly, jaw clenched, and then he reached a heavily muscled arm over to flick a switch on the communications unit. Sophie instantly brought her hand up to bat him away from it, expression set. Obviously her strength was no match for his enhanced power, but the action made him stop and stare at her, chest heaving, nostrils flaring. He was angry, that much was obvious and why wouldn’t he be? From his point of view (his augmented, genetically enhanced, very much twisted-mind-set point of view), we were the bad guys, and we were impeding on his pride and his plan. He’d been given into his hands the future of the entire Weraynian species, and if we stopped him now he’d never be able to be part of his people again, even if he did escape judgement here. As I’d already mulled over many times, everything depended on this one event, and everyone knew it. It seemed that poor Sophie was going to be on the receiving end of the Weraynian’s wrath.
“Get. Out. Of. My. Way.” He snarled, looming imposingly over her.
Sophie crossed her arms defiantly, standing resolutely in his way, but her eyes screamed panic.
“Why?” she snapped back, voice barely wavering. “It’s over already, there’s no chance of you winning. Give up, Weraynian. You’re finished.”
As his eyes flashed dangerously, I flicked mine down to the cobbled weapon in my arms. As slowly and silently as possible, I started to turn the dial on the battery, allowing a small amount of current to begin coursing through the cable. Small, quiet sparks flared from the frayed wire. I bit my lip worriedly, then turned my attention back once more to the scene outside the cupboard.
“We will be victorious!” he spat at her, fury and fear somehow mingling in his expression and tone. Suddenly, strangely, I was hit with a pang of sympathy for this guy. I mean, the Weraynians weren’t bloodthirsty murderers who wanted nothing but to rule the universe, they honestly believed that they needed to be the best, and that if they weren’t on top they weren’t good enough. It was so saddening to think of an entire race thinking that they weren’t good enough to the point of genetically enhancing themselves until they became these ruthless creatures. They didn’t choose this life, on the contrary it was the only life they had ever known. And now this Weraynian was faced with failure at the hands of children. In a way, I felt so sorry for him. It made it even worse that soon I would be attacking him.
Waiting, silently waiting for the right moment, was the worst part of it. If my timing wasn’t exactly right, mine and Sophie’s hastily devised plan would fail and the Weraynian would continue to be a threat. I couldn’t let that happen so I stood still, frantically hoping that Criken would return with reinforcements soon.
Sophie continued to speak distractedly to him, hoping just the same as I, and he continued to rise in fury at her casual tone and defiant stance. I could feel the anger rolling off of him in waves and bit my lip in fear. His gaze kept moving to the communications unit, and I could tell he wanted nothing but to complete his plan and destroy the console, and dash our hopes of ever setting things right.
Of course, this plan wouldn’t work, but it was right of Sophie to try and throw him off in this way.
Finally, ears pricked so as to hear any noise that might signal the arrival of backup, I picked up vibrations below, and relief flooded through me as I realised that Criken was right on time.
The Weraynian didn’t realise they were coming until they reached our current level, when I saw his body tense up and his ears twitch minutely as they received the sound waves from the quick pace of the small team of fighters that was coming.
Throwing the door open, Criken burst into the room with an armed squad behind him.
“I’m sorry, Weraynian.” He said triumphantly. “But you have been beaten.”
“Oh really?” the Weraynian asked, turning and moving closer with a smug smile on his face. He was clearly thinking of the human forces that were coming and believing we would be hard pressed to stop them. Oh boy was he wrong. I was coiled up, ready to spring. “Well, the truth actually is that you-”
In one swift move I wrenched the cabinet door open and, with the cable electrified, I leapt towards the Weraynian and caught him square in the back with an electrical pulse that would kill an average human, yet would merely tranquilise him.
“are beaten.” He finished weakly and then fell to the floor with a resounding thud.
I stood over him, weapon smoking, heart pounding, and then I glanced up at Criken and the soldiers behind him who were staring at me in awe. I managed a weak grin and then sighed.
“It’s over.” I threw my head back and closed my eyes in relief. “It’s done.”
I leant on Sophie as we exited the spacecraft, Criken and his team – who were carrying the Weraynian bound tightly among them – not far behind us. Heather, Peg, Lee and all the others joined us, and we left almost victorious, except for how tired everyone was and nobody more so than me. I was drained of energy, had gone a day and a half without sleep, a day without food, and with my broken ankle on top of that I was not feeling well at all.
Sophie held me up though and for what felt like the billionth time I felt so grateful for her friendship.
“We did it, buddy.” She whispered to me as we descended down the ramp into the wild crowd that awaited us.
“Yeah.” I replied, feeling so very tired.
I watched as Criken strode over to the captain of the ship and suggested that he go send out a message calling off the troops that were coming to fight us. The captain nodded and hurried off to do so.
My gaze shifted and I only just caught a glimpse of my mother and father hurrying towards Sophie and I before I lost consciousness and fell into blackness.
When my eyes finally opened once more, the world was a blur. I could sense that I was inside a building, and feel the soft sheets of the bed where I was now lying and the cold cloth on my forehead, but aside from that all was hazy. Oh, how my head hurt.
I blinked a couple of times to clear my vision and then screwed my eyes shut, as pain throbbed through my mind.
“Ow.” I groaned.
I heard movement around me as people noticed that I was awake. Next moment I felt someone squeeze my right hand and a different person place their hand on my forehead, withdrawing the cloth.
“How are you feeling?” It took me barely a second to recognise the voice as my mother’s.
“My head hurts.” I replied croakily, eyes still shut tight in resistance to the pain. “Why- why does it hurt so much?”
“Well, for one thing, you fell,” My eyes snapped open as I heard Sophie speak, and I took in my mother leaning over me, and Sophie by my side. Her expression was rather more sombre than usual, but she seemed glad that I was conscious once more. “and for another, you still had a lot of that Weraynian gas in your system when one of the medical people examined you. It seems that using your powers bypassed the limitation just for a while, but now the confounding ability of the smoke is hitting you full force. Or at least that’s what they said.”
“Huh.” I said, and with a bit of a struggle managed to sit up in my bed. I quenched the cry of complaint that my aching head gave, and oriented myself with my upper body fully upright. “So… what happened then? Is everything okay?”
She beamed at me. “Yeah, it’s all good. We aced it, Abi.” She extended her arm, with her fist faced towards me. I responded with my own fist bumping it against hers. “The Weraynian’s been defeated, a recall signal was sent to those angry human forces, Werayne has been secured again, and a Halapatovian prison ship has just left with the Weraynian to lock him up for good. Now the humans have started work on repairing the Eridanus II,” she barely even twinged this time as she said it. “and relations have started between our people. I believe they’re thinking of signing a peace treaty.” She ended thoughtfully.
I nodded, impressed. “That all sounds wonderful.” I sighed then, and leaned back against my bedhead. “I’m just so glad this is over.”
“So am I.” my mother chimed in. I glanced at her, at the relieved expression on her face that had clearly replaced an incredible load of stress and worry, and then pulled her into a hug.
“I love you mum.” I told her, squeezing her tight.
I could hear the smile in her voice as she responded. “I love you too, darling.”
Then she stood up, dusted down the skirt she was wearing, and grabbed a glass of water from my desk where it had been resting. She produced a small vial with two tablets in them.
I stared down at the tablets, and then smiled. “Ooh, thank you.” I told her. She gave me a fond smile, evidently reflecting happily on the fact that I was alive and well, and then left my room, shutting the door behind her.
I glanced at Sophie, where she still sat on a chair next to my bed. Opening my mouth to say something, pain suddenly decided to flare in my frontal lobe once more, and I cringed horridly.
Sophie smirked mildly. “I suggest you take the pills.” She advised me, and after staring at her for a moment with an eyebrow raised and my jaw set, I did just that.
An hour and a bit later Sophie and I headed out to the field, promising my mother and father that we’d stay safe before we did so. Smiling happily as we strolled along through the forest, we chatted idly. It was nearing evening, and, as opposed to the intensity of the morning, the atmosphere was peaceful and relaxed. We emerged from the trees at the edge of the field, to be met with a lovely sight; Paladanians and humans working together. Some were carting supplies, others worked on the outer hull of the spaceship, and still others were crowded around a portable table, comparing maps and other data. Everyone seemed to be fully ease, and I guess now that the Weraynian threat was eliminated I was too.
I noticed a few people staring at us as Sophie and I continued on our way towards the Eridanus II, and with a few hasty exchanges suddenly everyone knew we were there.
From tuning in to their exclamations, I discovered that all seemed to know that I was the one who had delivered the final blow to the Weraynian, and also that Sophie was the one who had restored human control of the ship’s systems, and they were clearly all grateful for it. As if we were a procession, we crossed to the ship’s extended ramp where Lee stood directing the movement of some kind of computer processor. I saw Sophie examining the technology and knew she understood it all perfectly. I almost shook my head in amusement.
“Abigail, Sophie!” Lee greeted us briefly as we came near, before waving his hand in one final instruction to the people he’d been commanding. “Alright, just take it up to the A3 control room, right!” Then he turned his attention fully to us as they moved up. “Hello, miss hero of the hour. Nice to see you up and about. That was quite frightening before, you keeling over in front of everyone. All these people that you saved were in a panic, thinking it was some final counterattack by the Weraynians.”
I smiled weakly. “Well, lucky it was just bodily weakness, huh?”
Lee raised an eyebrow. “As long as you’re okay now.” He grinned at me.
“I’m fine.” I assured him. “What about you? You seem to have healed well, and the way you wrested control of the Eridanus’s systems was truly inspiring. Seriously, right before then I’d twisted my ankle and had no idea what to do next. I was scared, and worried, and just then you drained the power.”
“I’m glad to be of help.” he replied, looking proud. Then he lightly punched Sophie in the arm. “But Sophie here, she’s the one who made it all work from up top. That was really neat integration, actually. The coding functions were all entered expertly, and I really admire the way you scanned for viruses and overcame the Weraynian’s firewalls.”
Sophie shrugged, beaming, and I fondly watched the two mechanics exchange their technobabble. “It was easy, really. The system was so good already; I hardly had to do a thing. You’re the one who maintains the software right, Lee?”
“Yeah, actually, I am.” Lee nodded, and then looked around at the work of the people surrounding us, hands thrust into his pockets and a contemplative look on his face. “I feel like I’m going to have my work cut out for a while now, getting us back into space and all.”
“I’m sure you’ll do fine.” I told him. He’d been a good comrade in this battle, and I was glad to have had his support. I knew that with people like him on this ship, they’d be up and about in no time.
“Yeah, and if you need any help, we’ll be happy to lend a hand.” Sophie teased him.
“Ha.” Lee replied, and at that moment my attention was drawn by the calling of the leaders behind me.
“Abigail!”
I glanced over, and then nudged Sophie. “Come on.” I told her, and she shook hands with Lee before following me over to the gathering of both human and Paladanian officials.
Criken, Ray and Reeina were there, among others, and they beamed at me as I approached. Everyone seemed proud of me today, and I suppose with good reason. Sophie and I did just kind of stop the Weraynians from escaping and beginning their waging of war against the galaxies.
“Here she is.” Criken clamped a hand on my shoulder as I arrived, and I felt warmth rush through me. These leaders, these monumental, wise, powerful leaders, actually thought of me so highly now. People I’d looked up to all my life were now acting as if we were equals.
“Hello, Abigail.” The captain of the Eridanus extended his hand and I shook it in greeting. “Thank you so much for everything you’ve done, for both our peoples.” He glanced at Sophie, who stood resolute beside me. “And to you too, of course, Sophie, but I’ve told you all this already. Us humans…. We really stuffed up this time and I can never express… how truly sorry I am that we almost caused such devastation.”
“We’ve discussed this already.” A Capitol leader interjected calmly. “You were only acting as you thought was right; in truth this was the Weraynians’ doing.”
The captain nodded, but he still clearly thought he was to blame. That was the thing about humans; sometimes they found it so hard to look past the meaning of events that they couldn’t grasp the facts.
“We were just laying the foundations of a peace treaty for our two peoples.” Ray explained to me briefly. “So that in future times we can stand united, instead of opposed as we did today.”
I nodded appreciatively. “That certainly sounds idyllic. What did you want me for, then?”
The leaders all exchanged meaningful looks which I easily interpreted but waited patiently nonetheless for them to speak.
“Tomorrow, there will be a ceremony to officially seal the bond between our two races. We believe that we should honour the good work of stopping the Weraynian plot on this day, and that we need two representatives from each race who were involved to symbolise the friendship of humans and Paladanians.” Criken told us, as Sophie and I listened attentively. “Evidently, you two are the obvious choice. You were the first human and Paladanian to ever meet, to become friends and to work together, and you had the added privilege of saving the Staarus System together. Are you two comfortable with being part of this?”
I glanced at Sophie’s neutral expression, but saw the twinkle prominent in her eyes. She smirked at me, and nodded, though it was needless. I turned back to the leaders.
“Of course.” Sophie and I replied in sync. They nodded.
“As expected.” The Capitol leader hardly seemed fazed and turned back to the plans that were laid out on the tabletop before her. “Now, we have other matters to attend to.”
Sophie and I took this as a cue to leave. “I should go talk to Lee about the Eridanus info.” She murmured to me.
“Yeah, sure.” I replied, but then as we moved off, Reeina stopped me.
“May we talk?” she asked me, and I conceded, waving Sophie on and then turning to face my elder.
“Abigail, I must tell you,” Reeina launched straight into her point. “the display of power I saw from you during this morning’s events was astounding, honestly. That level of control over your mind and its abilities is unparalleled, even in Halapatovian society. You are able to understand at a level almost beyond comprehension and the channelling of that psychic energy through your hands is an intriguing matter. What I am getting at here is that I believe you should be recognised for this, and training organised, so that you can hone your skill, learn to control it and understand it, so that it might be of use when the war finally comes upon us. I say this not to alarm you, of course, but to prepare you.”
I stared at her admiringly. Reeina had always been one of my favourite leaders, astonishing in her powers and wiser than many in the land. Our town, being in such an integral position, had a good assortment of leaders, and she was proof of that. While everyone else was thinking of the present, and ceremonies, and the relief from the Weraynian threat, Reeina was thinking ahead, planning and preparing for a time when we wouldn’t be so lucky, and the Weraynians would break free of their entrapment and proceed to try to conquer the universe. She knew that we needed to have plans in place for when our whole system would be under siege, and she wanted us to be ready. I hoped the leaders in higher positions would recognise her potential and place her in a worthy place of preparation for the war.
“You believe the war will be soon?” I asked, in a way hoping to test her.
She cocked an eyebrow, a smile curving its way up her lips. “I do. How far away would you hypothesise it to be?”
I thought for a minute. “Approximately six years.” I replied after some quick calculations.
Reeina nodded, impressed. “As I thought. We need to be totally prepared for when it comes, and I believe when it does you will be important. You know that I can see much beyond what is normally in view.”
“I know.” I said. “I think you’re right. My powers have been too important to things to not be setting me up for the war.”
“It’s agreed then.” Reeina answered, a grim smile on her features. “I’ll organise a training program for you. But for now, it’s getting dark, and you and Sophie should be returning home.”
I agreed, and waved as I headed back over to where Sophie was talking intently with Lee. She had her scanner out, and was typing details in as she listened to what he said, occasionally adding in a comment herself.
“So you are part of the A1 division of the Science Institution?” she was posing this question as I came into hearing range.
“Yes, you said you were A3, correct?” she nodded, and he continued, checking a hand-held device that he had clipped to his sleeve. “Our expedition was authorised a year after the A3 was launched, because of its success at the time. It wasn’t until later that it went missing and people got worried. By that time, though, we were doing well ourselves so they let us be. I can lend you some of our research files later, if you want them.”
“That would be great, thank you.” Sophie smiled, tipping her head curtly. She then turned to me with a grin on her face, pleased with the data she’d retrieved. “Hey, Abi, how’s it going?”
“It’s going fine, thanks.” I replied jovially. Then I put on a more sober expression. “So you’ve found some good info on the Eridanus expeditions?”
She nodded. “I guess this trip was less pointless than I thought.” I rolled my eyes and she grinned toothily at me, before draping her arm around my neck.
“Bye Lee.” I called as we walked off. Things were finally turning out okay, I thought.
The happy mood that we achieved while we headed home was suddenly shattered as a scared voice called out from amongst the throng that covered the field, and Sophie and I both turned to see Jon sprinting towards us, red faced.
“Abigail, oh my gosh.” He gushed as he stopped in front of us, catching his breath. I glanced at Sophie, who had tensed up and was regarding him coldly.
“What are you doing here?” she snapped, her voice laced with icy bitterness.
He held his hands up passively. “I- I was just coming to apologise.” He began.
“Apologise?” Sophie burst at him, lips curled in disgust. “You abandoned me in the middle of all this, because of your reputation! And then when the Weraynian turned up and your people needed your help as a mechanic you baulk and stay out here, cowering in the cushy safety. Yeah, you really deserve our forgiveness, don’t you?”
I stared sharply at Jon. “Is this true?” I asked him, and I could see in his face and Sophie’s that it was.
“Let me explain.” He begged, looking utterly ashamed.
“I’m sorry.” I told him, as calmly as I could despite the anger inside me. I’d trusted him and he’d bailed on us when we needed his help! How dare he? “Jon, if you want a second chance, you’re going to have to work to get it. But for now, all I can say is good luck, and goodbye.”
With that, Sophie and I set course once more for home.