So This Is Life? PT1
by Captain Hisano Xelax Madnelsoc
Feedback: slymana_hisano@hotmail.com
Chapter 1
Aeryn walked through the market of Dageoda. She glanced at the stalls as she passed them by. The streets were crowded with aliens from every galaxy imaginable. As she passed a small stall she heard a shout.
‘Aeryn! Wait! Aeryn!’ came the voice.
Aeryn knew the voice. It was Crichton, her shipmate. She knew he was there but he was not in visual range through the mass of people. As she stood waiting for Crichton, she stood near the stall she had just passed. As she looked into the crowd, she heard the conversation the two people on the stall were having. Aeryn, even with her training, couldn’t identify what species these people were.
‘It wasn’t my fault. If you had deactivated the alarms properly we wouldn’t be in this position.’ The short one said. The tall blonde one looked at her in disbelief.
‘Yeah, of course it wasn’t your fault. You were supposed to send me a transmission saying when to deactivate the system. If you had sent it maybe I would have shut down the alarm system.’ the blonde stared at the short brown-haired life form.
‘Well, Xaklia, there’s no need to lie. I know I sent the transmission and I know you received it because you replied!’ the little person was now stressed. ‘Do you know what I could do to you for that? You’re a trator, all of your species are. You Thraxians think you own the universe don’t you? Well I’ll tell you something….’ The words trailed off as the thraxian put her finger to her lip. The thraxian’s companion turned to see Aeryn.
During the conversation Aeryn had turned round to look at the two life forms without knowing it. She relised now and knew that the, what looked meer teenagers, had saw her and stopped the conversation. She had to think fast.
‘I was wondering if you could help me chose one of your items. I am unsure which is best.’ Aeryn covered up. It seemed to work.
For the first time she looked at the items on the stall. She didn’t reconise them. They were new to her. The thraxian smiled slightly knowing the truth.
‘Do you know what they are?’ she asked the sebacian
Again Aeryn didn’t know how to reply. As she looked at them, they seemed to be part of a mechanism for a ship.
‘Yes. I need one for my ship. My old one has broken.’ Aeryn looked hopeful that what she said was right. The thraxian was laughing. Even the other species smiled slightly.
‘It’s a Kilrichica’ the thraxian managed to say through her laughter. Then she signalled for her friend to take over. The smaller girl moved forward to the edge of the stall.
‘You are new around here?’ she asked.
‘ Yes. What is a Kilrichica?’ Aeryn said trying to look as superior as possible.
The girl picked up one of the objects. Aeryn looked at the object closely. It was black with small patches of grey. There was a screen in the middle. Around the screen there were a series of buttons in red, blue and yellow. Then the girl turned the Kilrichica over. On the back there was a large covering in black. As a little grey button was pressed the back opened showing some kind of mechanism.
‘This is for magical people to gain, transfer and lose power. It also directs power to someone or something.’ Xaklias friend explained, still in an obvious mood.
Next the girl touched a small panel. A bright blue light flashed over her. Aeryn had to turn away. As she looked back she saw that the teenager was covered with a blue aura. Aeryn protected her eyes slightly while watching.
The girl closed her eyes while softly chanting. The chanting grew louder so Aeryn could hear it. It didn’t sound like one voice but millions of them combined. Two black tendrils came out of the machine and wrapped themselves round the girl’s arm. Slowly she started to rise till about mectre from the floor.
Aeryn was curious how this worked. As she looked at the Kilrichica something flew over the top of her. The floating girl was back on the floor and smiling. She looked as if she had just picked up the Kilrichica. Aeryn turned to see what had flown over the top of her.
On the floor was Xaklia. She looked like she had just been chucked from behind the stall to the road behind Aeryn. Xaklia got up and brushed herself off. She saw her friend holding the Kilrichica and her expression changed from confused to angry.
‘HISANO! WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR? I TOLD YOU I DIDN’T GET THE FRELLING TRANSMITTION AND I DON’T HAVE A FRELLING CLUE TO HOW YOU GOT A REPLY!’ she shouted at the girl. Hisano just looked at her calmly, not moving a muscle. Aeryn looked back at Hisano.
‘HISANO! ANSWER ME! WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR?’ Xaklia shouted again.
‘ I needed to show our dear customer how it worked.’ Hisano smiled slightly as the look on her companions face turn to total hate.
‘FINE. YOU CAN JUST WORK ALONE CAN’T YOU? THERE WAS MANY OTHER THINGS AND PEOPLE TO TEST IT ON! YOU JUST WANTED TO GET ME INTO A FRELLING MESS DIDN’T YOU? WELL IT’S NOT GOING TO WORK. YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN! DON’T COME RUNNING BACK TO ME WHEN YOU RELISE THAT I DIDN’T GET THAT TRANSMITTION, BECAUSE I’M NOT GOING TO BE THERE!’ Xaklia said turning many shades of red and deep purple. Hisano just smiled.
‘You’ll be running back to me. Don’t expect it any other way.’ said Hisano calmly.
Xaklia looked astonished at the thought. She turned to walk away then turned back. The Thraxian walked over to the stall and took half of the Kilrichicas from there before storming into the crowed. Hisano remained calm and looked at Aeryn.
‘Aeryn, there you are. I couldn’t see you in this crowd. This is like Sydney on a bad day.’ A voice came from the crowd before Crichton emerged from the huddle of people. He saw Hisano and looked at Aeryn questioningly.
‘How much?’ she asked Hisano.
‘2500 creptons each.’ The Lathren replied. She looked at Aeryn just as questioningly as Crichton.
‘Oh’ Aeryn realised that the two creatures didn’t know each other ‘Hisano this is John Crichton, John this is Hisano….’
‘ Hisano Xelax Madnelsoc’ the Lathren helped Aeryn out ‘and your name is?’
‘Officer Aeryn Sun’ the sebacian ex-peace keeper replied. Hisano nodded in acknolagement.
‘Come on baby, the others are waiting for us in the transport pod.’ Crichton said taking his girlfriends arm. Aeryn looked at the Kilrichica then at Hisano. Hisano held it out to Aeryn.
‘Take it. If you ever need me just think of me using that and I’ll be there.’ the Lathren said smiling ‘I’ll do the same for you.’
Aeryn first looked at the object, then Hisano and then the Kilrichica again. Finally she stretched out her arm and took the curious object. She smiled before Crichton led her through the crowd in the direction he had come.
Hisano sat down and looked into the crowd. She thought of Xaklia. It wasn’t long before another possible customer came along. She pushed the thoughts out of her head and got on with her work.
---*---
Back aboard Moya, Aeryn walked to her quarters and locked the door. She pulled out the Kilrichica. The buttons on the front were curious looking. The Sebacian pressed on one the buttons, a red one. Nothing seemed to happen but on the screen it flashed up a message: Time Paused. She pressed it again. Now on the screen it flashed: Time Restarted.
As Aeryn experimented with all the buttons on the front, she found that she could move time forward one arn, move it back one arn, pause it, cause it to go faster, cause it to go slower and things like that.
Just as Aeryn was about to turn it over she found herself in another place. It was a small hut made from yellow stone. In the room there was a table, two chairs, a large amount of gadgets and machines, and Hisano.
Hisano saw Aeryn with the Kilrichica and smiled.
‘ I was hoping u were holding it. I didn’t particularly want to come to you.’ She said while pouring out a brown liquid into two cups.
‘Er…. How did I get here?’ Aeryn looked at the Kilrichica.
‘You are not here…just your spirit. You could have come without it but that is too much bother. To physically do something you have to do what I did in the market. But since you were holding it…all I had to do was wish your spirit here…so here it is.’ Hisano explained. Aeryn was still a little confused but she put the feeling aside.
‘ Have you been able to control the Kilrichica then?’ Hisano asked the sebacian.
‘Yes, of course. Why? Shouldn’t I be able to?’ Aeryn asked the Lathren
‘Only magickal people can work it. Are you totally sebacian?’ Hisano asked.
‘Yes’ was the reply.
‘ Then you have some natural powers. Use them. They are strong. But beware, they can do damage too. Remember…Ever mind the rule of 3, what ye send out comes back to thee.’ Hisano said looking mysterious. She shook of the look and carried on normally. ‘ Drink?’
Aeryn was a little dazed by it all now, how could a spirit drink? Surely it wasn’t scientifically possible! As Aeryn looked blankly at a wall she thought she heard Crichtons voice. It was distant, like they were apart. The voice was soft. It was speaking her name!
---*---
‘Aeryn? Aeryn, are you okay? Honey? Aeryn, wake up will ya?’ Crichton said looking at the body of Aeryn standing in the middle of the floor. She was holding the Kilrichica. He ignored it. Aeryn’s eyes were open but there seemed to be no fire in them…like something had happened. But what? Surely she would respond to him if she could hear. Why didn’t she answer him when he asked to come in? It was lucky he did. He was just gonna walk away but decided against it. Pilot had unlocked the door for him. Pilot was worried too.
‘JOOL! HURRY!’ Crichton screamed down the comms.
‘What is it John?’ Jools voice came through.
‘It’s Aeryn. She won’t respond. She’s… stuck in time?’ Crichton said thinking over the possibility.
It would have been impossible, or thought it, on Earth. Out here he couldn’t reject the possibility. What would he do if it were true? Would Aeryn be stuck like this forever? He couldn’t go through that again. Last time it was unbearable. No… it wasn’t possible. Not in this time… not with him still here.
Jool entered Aeryns quarters. She saw Aeryn standing in the middle of the room. Jool rushed over to where Crichton and Aeryn were standing.
‘Aeryn? Aeryn, can you hear me?’ Jool tried to make contact with her shipmate. No answer came. ‘We need to get her to the bed.’
Jool passed the saw the Kilrichica and took it from Aeryns firm grip and passed it to Crichton. Aeryn swayed slightly for a few seconds before falling to the floor… unconscious.
---*---
Aeryn and Hisano were chatting for a long time before Hisano got to the point. Finally she brought up the subject of her reason to call Aeryn.
‘Aeryn, I need your help.’ Hisano said looking as if it was the hardest thing to say Aeryn just looked at her blankly. Hisano tried to explain.
‘Xaklia and I come as a pair. She knows it as well as I do. Both of us are too stubborn to admit it though,’ Hisano paused ‘I don’t know what to do without her.’
Aeryn thought for a few microts thinking through the information she had just been given. She spoke softly as if she understood what being parted from someone close is like.
‘You know things change. Flames of friendship die. People drift apart to find new things that they never knew before. Also it is painful emotionally. Always wondering if again it is possible to rejoin them. It is unknown through life until the end. Unsure of the world around you. Feeling insecure. A whole new life begins, learning only of what you have been told. Not knowing what is happening to them, if they are safe or dead. Not knowing what emotion you should feel.’
Hisano looked at Aeryn puzzled. She understood perfectly but didn’t know where Aeryn was getting her emotion and experience from. She didn’t want to pry.
As suddenly as she had appeared Aeryn vanished. Hisano said 5 words; ‘Someone took away the Kilrichica.’
---*---
In the infirmary Aeryn stirred. Jool turned to look at her and moved towards the bed carrying a small bottle of a sweet smelling liquid.
Aeryn had her eyes closed still. Her eyes started to become damp with tears. As her head tossed she called out in a voice weakened in emotion.
‘Hisano, don’t leave me. I’ve been left before. Don’t leave me. Please!’
Jool dipped some of the liquid into Aeryns mouth. Slowly Aeryn opened her eyes staring straight at the Interon. Her vision was clouded with the memories of her past life and the tears that they brought. The Sebacian sat upright startling Jool. She swung round so she was sitting on the side of the bed.
‘Aeryn, rest. What happened?’ Jool questioned.
‘Leave me. I need to go to my quarters. I don’t want to be disturbed,’ Aeryn walked quickly out of the infirmary. Crichton was in the corridor. He blocked Aeryns path leaving her no choice but to talk to him.
‘Aeryn. I was worried about you. What happened there?’ He looked into her eyes.
‘John, leave me alone. Please. I am all right.’ Aeryn didn’t quite meet his eyes.
John somehow realised that Aeryn was holding something back. He didn’t want to push her too far in case she broke. John understood. He thought back to his home and wandered off in a trance once more. This time he headed towards the infirmary.
Aeryn was left alone in the corridor. That was how she felt. So alone. This wasn’t her life. Her life was with the peacekeepers. Slowly she wandered towards her quarters. As she reached there she stopped in front of the door. A DRD quickly passed in front of her. Cautiously she stepped through the door.
The room seemed bearer than normal. Aeryn’s eyes surveyed the area. Everything was normal. From behind her came shallow breathing. As she spun round she saw Hisano. For a few microts her mind couldn’t focus. Then she pulled herself back together.
‘You came at last. I was worried.’ Hisano pointed out to her.
The ex-peace keeper had never had someone she could fully relate to until now. Even through their short acquaintance something was there. Aeryn pondered on this for a while.
‘I know,’ Hisano said ‘I had the same thing with Xaklia. We were instantly alike. These things happen, even between different species.’
Aeryn opened her mouth to speak. She found that she had so much to say she didn’t know where to start. She closed her mouth and tried to think things through. What was she doing talking to a nearly total stranger? She wasn’t taught that. No. She wanted her life back. Now.
Hisano’s mind was also working through what to say. Nothing had gone as planned. She didn’t mean to get involved really. It was all down to Xaklia. If Xaklia hadn’t stormed off…
‘Aeryn’ Jools voice came over the comms ‘ Crichton has walked into the infirmary. I could use your help.’
Aeryn was looking away from Hisano at the time Jool said that. She looked up to talk to the Lathren. Hisano was gone. For a couple of microts Aeryn pondered the brief conversation. She dismissed it as the thought of Crichton came into her mind.
---*---
‘I need to go down to the planet,’ Chiana insisted ‘It’s important.
D’argo looked at her as if she were insane. Chiana was a thief, why would she want to go back to the planet? This meant she hadn’t stole anything. Maybe that was what she wanted.
‘No.’ D’argo’s reply was firm.
‘But it’s for Aeryn.’ Chiana argued.
‘I said no.’ D’argo informed her as if she hadn’t heard first time.
D’argo though about this. Could Chiana be speaking the truth? Did Aeryn want something? Surely not. She would have gone down herself. Why would she rely on Chiana of all the crew?
‘Fine.’ Chiana glared at D’argo.
Chiana stayed fixed while D’argo brushed past her. As he vanished from sight Chiana headed for docking bay. She needed to get back to the planet. She needed to get Aeryn something or someone. Aeryn had trusted her with the job. She will complete it
As Chiana turned into docking bay, she saw the module and prowler. She walked up to the prowler. Silently she scrambled in and sat at the controls.
‘No problems now.’ She mumbled to herself.
As she pressed the ignition button, the engines zoomed into action. Slowly Chiana adjusted her position and got used to the dull roar of the engines. She took a deep breath thinking that this is what Aeryn wanted and she didn’t mind her taking the prowler.
The prowler manuvered roughly out of docking bay and into space. With a few bumps it headed back towards the planet. The amateur pilot caused the jolts. Slowly the PeaceKeeper module got closer to the atmosphere. Chiana held on tight.
‘3…2…1…’ Chiana counted down to hitting the atmosphere.
An almighty jerk flung Chiana and the prowler off course. The prowler spun out of control and dived towards the ground at high speed. Chiana closed her eyes tight after seeing the ground speed up towards her. Gripping the controls she muttered through clenched teeth.
‘Aeryn, you owe me one.’ She said while tensing her body.
The impact was enormous. Chiana didn’t have time to think or feel. She had been knocked unconscious.
The prowler looked a mess. Bits of sharp metal flew everywhere in the deserted back ally. The whole of the nose had either been smashed apart or squashed beyond recognition. The back was still in the air. The prowler was balancing on its nose. With a deafening creak, the prowler became unbalanced and tipped back and fell onto the floor with a crunch. Now the prowler was lying flat but up side down.
By now a small crowd of around twelve people had come out of their houses to see what the noise was. Among them was Xaklia. The street was in silence. No one moved. Then Xaklia took a couple of paces towards the former prowler. She knew it was PeaceKeeper and she knew that Hisano had been talking to one but she had to see who it was. As she opened the door to look inside, she saw the nebari wounded and out cold. The shock made her step back a pace. Almost instantly Xaklia gathered together her senses and
pulled the nebari from the wreck.
‘There’s nothing more to see everybody. Go home.’ She said looking at the crowed from a crouching position next to the crash victim.
As the people filtered in different directions, the Thraxian tried to lift the alien next to her. Somehow the teenager looking girl managed to lift Chiana with only a little difficulty. She made her way to the yellow hut she came from. Walking into the bedroom, she laid Chiana down gently. Then she busied herself by getting liquids of different colours and a towel. She put 5 drops of each of the five liquids into the towel. The colours stayed separate although they were on the same patch. Instead of combining, the swirled around eachother sparkling and shining, reflecting the small amount of light from the slit window.
Xaklia placed the towel totally over the nebari's head with the liquid patch over her mouth and nose. The liquid seeped to seep into nothing as the nebari breathed it in. Once the liquid had totally vanished, the Thraxian removed the towel.
Almost instantly Chiana's eyes flickered open and she saw her surroundings. She sat up.
‘Hey, where am I? Where’s Aeryns prowler?’ She asked the Thraxian. ‘And who are you?’ She added noticing that she had no idea who this person was.
‘I am Xaklia. Relax. Your prowler crashed outside in the alley. I brought you here. You’re in my home. Stay calm. It was quite some incident. You almost died.’ Xaklia informed her trying to be gentle.
Chiana looked round the room, searching for detail. Then she recognised the name from somewhere. Her memory was blurred but she knew the name from somewhere. Something to do with Aeryn. She scrambled round blurred visions of memories to find out what the connection was. Slowly she remembered the basics.
‘Aeryn wants you. I think it’s important.’ She said hoping she was right.
‘Who’s Aeryn?’ Xaklia said looking puzzled. She hadn’t heard of the name before. Or had she? Something clicked in her mind. She thought of Hisano. As she tried to keep her emotions inside, the boiling anger, she looked at the nebari.
‘I better go then. But if it’s about Hisano...’ She trailed off. Slowly she saw that the nebari was in no fit state to travel and decided to go by herself.
‘Your ship is orbiting this planet?’ She asked Chiana.
‘Yes, as far as I can remember.’ Chiana replied.
Without a work Xaklia packed a few things before walking out of the door signalling to Chiana to stay there. Inside the house there was silence apart from the shallow breathing of the crash victim.