Jet Dixon

Dawn Revere

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Chapter 19 –What Makes The World Go Round

As the Wingwomen carried the explorers inside of the mountain city of Archaeopolis, Dr. Harkov noted an immense tower, much higher than any of the other towers, projecting from the metropolis' skyline. He seemed to note a faint beam being projected from the top of that tower.

He got the attention of his carrier and pointed towards the tower. "Is that what generated the magnetronic ray that captured our rocketship?"

The Wingwoman laughed. "Foolish landcrawler. That is the most important device on all of Atla. It was what makes High King Kallos tread very lightly with our Queen Jara. That is the Shield Generator which projects the protective field of energy around the planet, giving us light, heat, and atmosphere. Without it, lifelessness would reign on Atla."

"A startling achievement," Dr. Harkov noted. So this was the secret behind the electromagnetic field surrounding the planet. "Yours must be a highly advanced scientific race to have created such an impressive device."

The Wingwomen carrying Jet and Dawn joined in their comrade's laughter. "No one but the Starfather could have created such a device. The people of Archaeopolis are only the caretakers of the Shield Generator. It was the Starfather who created the device in order to make a home for all of the peoples that he gathered here."

"Sounds like the Strange One that the Centaurians talked about," Jet commented.

"Those blueskinned marsupials know nothing," the Wingwoman Captain barked. "No more talking by you prisoners."

The rest of the flight was conducted in silence. The Wingwomen escorted the trio through the large metal doors at the base of the city. The similarly clad guards at the doorway stepped aside and allowed them access to the city. At this point, the Wingwomen dropped the explorers to the hard metallic floor and made them walk.

"Hmmph," Dawn shrugged. "They could have been a little more careful in dropping us."

"Just be glad they didn't drop us outside," Jet joked. "It was long way down to the foot of the mountain."

The Wingwomen prodded Jet and company forward with their weapons as they ascended flight after flight of stairs. Jet lost count after the twentieth flight.

"You'd think a bunch of winged people would have a better way of getting up that climbing stairs," he sighed.

"Quiet, landcrawler," a Wingwoman rebuked. "You are not worthy to enter through the Queen's doors at the top of the city. Now conduct yourself with the respect that an inferior being should."

"Inferior being? Well, I'll show you." Jet put up his fists but the Wingwomen's drawn weapons quickly discouraged him. He turned and continued to march up the stairs.

"Well, I've been treated badly before but never as an inferior," Jet said. "Guess that's a new feeling for all of us."

"Not all of us," Dr. Harkov replied softly.

"What do you mean Dr. Harkov?" Dawn asked.

"People probably mocked him because he was so smart as a kid," Jet suggested.

"No," Dr. Harkov responded. "They put them down because I was black."

"Black?" Jet exclaimed in astonishment. "You're kidding me, right?"

"No," Dr. Harkov nodded as they continued to climb. "My skin is rather light, but I am black. If you took a look at my son Anson, you'd see the truth in my words."

"Well, we're all in the same boat here, strangers in a strange land," Jet declared. "Let's just hope we can sweet-talk the Queen here. I don't want to end up in the energy plants, whatever they are, or in the Kallusians' hands."

They had come upon a pair of large oak doors. There were regal symbols intricately carved all over the doorway. The Wingwomen instructed them to enter. Once inside, they could see an elaborate throne room. There were a large number of rather puny-looking male Archaeopolitan functioning as servants. The palace guards were female, wearing more impressive uniforms than their escorts. The Captain approached the golden throne, where the Queen sat. Jara was draped in royal purple robes and her regal bearing showed that she was accustomed to the role as monarch. Despite her avian features, the three explorers were all taken by her beauty.

The Captain explained to the Queen the capture of those who had violated their airspace. The Queen nodded, and with a wave, indicated for the Captain to step aside.

"I am Queen Jara the Fifth," the monarch announced. "This is my city of Archaeopolis."

"We thank you for your hospitality," Dr. Harkov replied.

"Your gratitude may be premature," Jara replied. "We have consulted with the Kallusians. We have learned that you are the strangers who have come from outside of the sky to Atla. High King Kallos has demanded that we turn you over to his custody."

"But we've done nothing wrong!" Dawn objected.

"Silence!" Jara demanded angrily. "We suffer no outbursts from landcrawlers. For a woman you appear quite weak. Now the male." She looked at Jet. "His form in pleasing to our eyes."

Jet looked around and then realized that the Queen was talking about him. "Er, thanks."

"Our Wingwomen tell us that the pudgy male has a curious scientific mind," Jara announced.

Dr. Harkov nodded.

"We can use that expertise here in Archaeopolis. If we can make our city impregnable, we can rule Atla instead of abiding by our uneasy truce with Atla." She looked to the Wingwomen. "Take the pudgy one to our labs."

"But my friends!" Dr. Harkov objected. "You can't send them to the Kallusians."

"Our actions will not be dictated to us," Jara shot back. "However, we have decided to keep all of you strangers here. The pleasing male shall remain in our court, to tell us more of where you came from."

"What about Dawn?" Jet asked loudly. He was afraid he knew what the answer would be.

"The weak-limbed female shall be sent to work to the energy plants," Jara declared. "Perhaps she shall prove herself worthy for other tasks before the radiation kills her. We have made our decision." She clapped her hands and guards came to take Dawn and Dr. Harkov away.

Dawn struggled. Even though she was one of the toughest women on Earth, she was no match for a group of Archaeopolitan Wingwomen. "Jet," she cried.

"Don't lose hope," Jet said encouragingly. Already he was scheming of how to escape from this sky city. He would entertain Jara for now. He hoped that Dr. Harkov could learn more about the Shield Generator. The field that surrounded Alta still was a threat to Earth. "That's why we're here, after all," he thought.

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SPACE SQUADROOM

Bob Gansler
07-Sep-00