NEBULAR Collection 6 - The Great Tremor: Episodes 27 - 30 Read online

  This is strange …, she wondered.

  Tranos calmly shouldered his shield and put away his sword.

  Both Progonauts where surrounded by spindle-like robots with long tentacles. Seconds later, the robots softly grabbed them and picked them up by means of an antigravity field. They wanted to bring the two inside one of the stingers. The robots didn’t display any aggression, the embraces where firm but not painful.

  Strangely, Vasina knew that the robots didn’t want to hurt but support them.

  Vasina seemed as if in trance.

  Why didn’t we defend ourselves, flee or make demands for us and our team? she thought.

  Tranos appeared passive. He didn’t fight or offer any resistance to the robots. On the contrary, he attentively looked at the wide open gate.

  A barely noticeable headache had befallen Vasina and Tranos, not uncomfortable, but still present. The influence took away their fear and worries; it almost put them to sleep.

  We’re being manipulated, she thought, but didn’t make an attempt to counter the influential force. I’m tired …

  While entering the stinger through the gate, Vasina had the impression of a Déjà-vu experience. The interior seemed familiar to her. The interior walls seemed rough and gray, as if a first year stone mason apprentice had tried his skills on the walls with hammer and chisel.

  Alien ornaments, chiseled out of the rock-like walls resembled 3D-hieroglyphs, throwing deep shadows on the walls.

  Inscriptions or symbols of an alien civilization, Vasina thought. I wonder what they could tell us?

  Rough edged, red-brown aggregates where arranged along the walls which where glowing from the inside out, creating an eerie ambience, while deeper inside the stinger, modern-looking three-dimensional displays covered the walls with pointy generator protrusions from which archaic, small cultural artifacts where hanging.

  Long pendants and necklaces made of worz-teeth and shamal-bones! Vasina recognized, just to correct herself as this could never be Progonaut trophies, so much adored on Atlantika during her reign.

  The scenery appeared somewhat surreal with old oil or gas lamps, standing in wall niches, partially surrounding virtual consoles with keyboard-like interfaces, not made for Progonaut hands.

  Hmm … smells exotic here, not bad at all! Vasina assessed surprised. My decon-chip must be disabled as well as my defense shield – there’s an oxygen atmosphere inside the stinger!

  Vasina was carried through these rooms without fully understanding what was going on around her. She didn’t even notice the robots anymore. She felt like a bystander who was permitted to glance at a totally different world.

  What a strange environment, she pondered, suddenly feeling weightless. I’ve been at a place like this before!

  She was carried down a spiral stair case and opened her arms as if she wanted to fly like a bird through the stinger’s interior.

  My mind is free!

  Her journey ended at the lowest level of the temple, far below the planet’s surface.

  The robots placed her on soft, circular bedding.

  She stretched out and felt like having a moment of rest and relaxation. She looked at the spiral stair again, which became thinner and thinner toward the top. The levels above her seemed to have transparent rooms with glass walls – she was able to see what was in these rooms.

  Where’s Tranos? What am I doing here? she asked herself.

  You’re here to free your mind, she suddenly heard a warm voice in her head.

  I’m alone in this room. Nobody is with me … who are you … where are you? Why do you fill my mind with your thoughts?

  Just beside her bedding, the air began to scintillate and a strange being entered the room from a tear inside the three dimensional reality.

  She was holding her breath …

  She saw a fleshy, mushy body which was slightly pulsating, balancing itself on long, arm-thick tentacles. The unknown being looked at her with its large eye. The being’s torso, shaped like a roughly sculptured cube, reminded Vasina of the skulls on the planet’s surface. To her, it wasn’t a pretty sight. The mushy body was littered with grooves, scars and chickenpox-like pustules. Thousands of ant-like animals were crawling busily over the body, disappearing and re-appearing from countless openings. The skin shimmered pink and was bare of hair. The body openings closed and opened rhythmically. Vasina could not make out what functions these organs had.

  He’s got many mouths and ears, she pondered disgusted.

  Yes … I’m very different from you, my two-legged teeth bearer without tentacles, but I noticed you immediately as my temple broke through the surface. Every Cysan sensed you and all the other visitors, who shouldn’t be here. Your bodies are too sensitive and weak for our world. Did you come via the Genorantan portal or did you arrive with the ship that is parked not far from here?

  Vasina turned her head to the side as the Cysan emitted a very unpleasant, strong stench.

  »I … we came through the portal,« she said out loud enough for him to understand. »We didn’t know where we were and …,« she swallowed hard and pulled herself together, »… I have been robbed! The one who came with the ship is our enemy! He stole something very valuable.«

  »I know,« the Cysan replied from several mouths at the same time. »We were anticipating this day for hundreds of years, meditating, praying and hoping that this time line would manifest itself!«

  »You did what?« she asked not believing her ears, looking at the Cysan, still trying to suppress her disgust.

  Praying and meditating, the Cysan repeated in her mind. We can sense the Jamal-Combs and are very happy that they’ve arrived here on Cysan.

  »You know about the keys and Morgotradon?« she inquired cautiously. She wasn’t sure yet if the being was friend or foe.

  We received the call for help from the Kokradians by amalgamating the minds of all of my people, the Cysan revealed, it was the outcry of an entire galaxy! We created a mental beacon, which led the Librarian to our world. He then told us details of our potential future … even if the Kokradian hadn’t come here, we cannot withdraw ourselves from the incredible attraction these Jamal-Combs have on us, even though, your enemy possesses them.

  Vasina held her breath as he continued, The Jamal-Combs are special, something extra-ordinary, Vasina of Atlantika! They were created by wise and prophetic beings who once lived in our galaxy. The combs or keys possess mental signatures and tell their story to everyone who wants to listen. It is the story of the galaxy – its past and future!

  »They tell a story? You can hear the message?« Vasina asked astounded. »What’s the message and who composed it? Who was it, the Genorantans or the creators of the Techno-Clerics?«

  Every intelligent being can understand the words, they just have to listen correctly, the Cysan explained obscurely.

  Vasina was breathing faster.

  »Help me! Please!« she begged. »Morgotradon cannot be allowed to escape with the combs. He’ll employ the keys to cause chaos and hardship to the entire galaxy!«

  The Jamal-Combs cannot be misused! the Cysan replied calmly. They cannot be destroyed or used for other purposes than they were intended for. They can only be used for the benefit of all!

  »What is it? What makes the combs so important, so untouchable … so … so … indestructible? Please, tell me.«

  The Jamal-Combs were created by beings who are masters of time. They taught their knowledge to the Genorantans and gave them the portals. You want to know what protects the Jamal-Combs from being misused?

  Vasina nodded.

  »Please … tell me?«

  The Cysan waited a minute, pulsating, then he said through his mouths with an important sounding voice, »It is their destiny! The Jamal-Combs, although scattered over the galaxy in the distant past, have come together again, on this world, as predicted! They will not act against the inhabitants of this galaxy. It is our mission, the Mission of the Cysans, to complete them!«

&nb
sp; Vasina’s pulse was racing.

  »You know where the last key is hidden?«

  We don’t know, but we can help finding it, the Cysan responded.

  He released her from his mental grip, knowing that she no longer considered him as her foe.

  Vasina’s mind was free again; she drew a sigh of relief.

  »We can detect the comb’s signature over many lightyears and show you the way. By means of the four other keys, we will be able to find the last one,« he said convincingly.

  »Morgotradon! He also knows that!« she remarked. »That’s why he lured us here! He wants you to disclose the location of the last key!«

  The Cysan was keeping his distance to her; he knew that she still felt uncomfortable.

  »The dark agent was able once to enslave my people, but this is over! I will now give you back your memories!«

  Vasina’s eyes widened and stared at the Cysan. Suddenly, unknown barriers fell in her mind – she wept. She was hauled back by a million years, a time where no Human being had lived on Earth.

  »In the name of the gods of Atlantika …,« she choked between the tears.

  Her memories came back and she knew again what had happened to her.

  A traitor

  Maya was unable to move. Morgotradon was restricting her movements by means of a force field. She was disgusted being so close to him inside the disguise field. His approach to capturing her had been simple, but effective. He had closed in on the group with his modified disguise field, making use of the teams’ defense field energy emissions, which overpowered his signature, then he paralyzed Arkroid and Herimos and snapped Maya.

  Morgotradon had deposited the Jamal-Combs at a safe place to prevent their emissions from betraying his position before he executed his plan.

  Helpless, Maya was tied to Morgotradon and transported away.

  »Let me go!« she hissed, struggling against the force field. The result was a deep satisfied grunting from Morgotradon as a reply.

  »You still don’t get it … wife! Nobody can escape fate, yours will come to fruition at my side!«

  Ivanova wasn’t afraid anymore as with her first capture. She was determined to fight him this time.

  »If you should succeed to remove me from this world, then you better never fall asleep, you murderer! I’ll kill you as soon as there’s an opportunity!« she promised.

  Morgotradon just laughed, which made her blood boil.

  »I snatched you away, right before their eyes. Don’t expect help from them. They’ll either burn or starve to death. The portal will be blocked for a long time, not even the Chiropter can activate it as long as the sun cycle is lasting. With pleasures, I’ll overpower your mind. I can hardly wait. Since your birth, it was your destiny to become my queen!«

  Morgotradon deactivated his disguise field and released Maya from her restriction field. She fell to the ground from a height of about one meter. Morgotradon grinned devilishly, holding the tennis ball-sized force field generator in his right hand.

  »Even though the ship of these Creators supplied you with all kinds of technological toys, it didn’t provide you with the weapons necessary to fulfill your mission. How do you say it on Earth again? You bet on the wrong horse, Maya!«

  She watched how he effortlessly moved aside a heavy slate under which he had hidden the Jamal-Combs. He picked them up.

  »I didn’t count on such strong reaction between the keys,« he admitted, watching the glowing keys. The aura emitted a warm light, contrasting the harsh, surrounding light conditions, caused by the rising sun. »The strong reaction is not caused alone by the combs, it’s an accumulative effect, rooted in the energy emission from the Thorns of the Cysans, which now spans over the entire planet after they had emerged from the deep. Unfortunately, this effect made my disguise field useless. There’re, however, simple means to eliminate this problem.«

  »I hate you!« Maya fizzed.

  »I love it when you talk like that, my queen,« he replied coldly. »At the moment when the galaxy is lying before your feet, you’ll understand and want to reign together with me.«

  »If she doesn’t want it, why don’t you take me instead, my Lord?« a distorted voice suddenly sounded.

  Morgotradon whirled around, raised his weapon and then lowered it as he saw the seriously wounded replication.

  »You followed me? I thought you were dead!« Morgotradon remarked with a hint of admiration in his voice.

  Hearing him talk like that gave Maya Goosebumps. He seemed impressed, that her certain death didn’t keep her from following him – her lord and master!

  »I can give you everything you’re longing for. I’m better than her,« she moaned. »Let her go. She’ll never be as devoted as me.«

  Maya’s sister struggled. Maya didn’t understand how her replication was still able to walk and talk, with these injuries.

  Maybe it’s because of the crystal substance inside of her, she pondered. Her DNA is altered, which probably lends her limited self-healing possibilities.

  Morgotradon pondered for a while. He was surprised by her self-esteem.

  »It looks as if I’ve created something special. You’re different than your dumb sisters. How were you able to follow me despite my disguise field? Tell me!« he insisted harshly.

  Maya was sitting on the ground and looked at her replication with sadness. Although her enemy, she still was a likeness. It hurt her to witness Morgotradon torture her.

  »I’m in contact with you! It has always been this way! Did you forget?« she pressed the words through her teeth, huffing, while pointing at her head. »I know what you think and I feel when you’re close. I can feel what you feel. I am connected to you forever. I’m partially one with you!

  Their crystal structures are probably communicating with each other, Maya thought, understanding the connection.

  Morgotradon seemed uncertain. His eyes went from Maya to the replication repeatedly.

  While the eyes of the replication displayed complete devotion, Maya’s eyes displayed pure hate for Morgotradon. This fact seemed to irritate him.

  »Did I possibly err in judgment?« he grumbled aloud and looked at Maya, displaying his doubts. »Is it that you’re not supposed to be my wife, rather the mother of a new generation of replications who will serve me for eternity?«

  »He’s a monster!« Maya shouted at the replication. »If there’s still something of me inside of you, then help me!«

  Morgotradon was laughing viciously

  »Maya, you don’t understand … she’ll rather kill you.«

  »Master, I want to live by your side,« the replication begged. »Help me before it’s too late. You can repair me!«

  »Repair?« Morgotradon shouted astonished. »You want me to rejuvenate your body?«

  »It’s within your powers … please!« she pleaded.

  She just wants to live … an understandable wish! Maya thought.

  Moments later, Morgotradon replied, »I don’t want a defective replication, whose body is scarred. I would, however, give a chance to one of your new sisters! If she is as well adapted as you, then I might want to make her my partner. First, I want proof of your uniqueness!«

  The replication stumbled. Life was slowly leaving her body. His cruel words had destroyed something deep inside her. Her eyes became dull, her shoulders slumped.

  Morgotradon didn’t see her emotions, pulled out his sword and held it toward her.

  »I want to see if you can do more than just satisfy my longings. Kill your template!« he commanded.

  Maya cringed.

  He’s made his decision! she realized.

  »Yes, my Lord,« the replication murmured and staggered toward him.

  »If you do it, I’ll give you a quick and painless death! If you hesitate, then I leave you behind. I kill your template myself and establish my new empire!«

  Maya was still sitting on the ground and couldn’t do much since she was again tied by a force field. She was left to the mercy of
her clone-sister!

  An inferno raged over their head in the sky. The plasma was still running against the stingers’ defense net. It seemed that the scenario of shimmering, black rock and the plasma waves was taken from a nightmarish movie.

  With shaking hands, the replication took the sword and looked down on Maya. With all her power left in her, she raised the weapon, stopping for a second. »This is the moment I was waiting for … as all of my sisters!«

  »Don’t do it!« Maya begged her. »Show me that you’re someone special. Throw away the sword!«

  »I don’t have to prove anything to you,« the replication whispered, her eyelids trembling.

  »I embedded the wish into them to kill their template,« Morgotradon commented disdainfully. »I wanted to awake emotions, give them direction. Hate is a great motivator, that’s why she’s so autonomous. She hated the most! Can hate overcome the natural connection to a template? Can she kill you? I’m eager to see this!« Morgotradon was watching the scene like a voyeur, becoming more and more aroused. »If you kill her, then I created the most perfect being, a partner who’s like me and who deserves to rule over the galaxy with me.«

  »He’s gone completely mad,« Maya whispered.

  »I’m different than my predecessors,« the replication acknowledged, coughing and spitting blood. »It was not hate that formed my character and willpower. It was you! I’m grateful for it!«

  Maya closed her eyes, expecting a blow to her head.

  The replication had lowered the sword in the meantime and aimed anew. With a powerful semi-circular thrust, she barely missed Maya’s head, turned her right wrist and gave the blade an upward swing.

  The move was so fast, that Morgotradon didn’t see it coming. With wide eyes, he looked at the replication. His defense shield wasn’t able to prevent the blade from cutting through it. The sword didn’t find any resistance!

  Exhausted, the replication sank on her knees beside Maya Ivanova.

  It seemed for a moment as if Morgotradon wanted to say something, then, his head detached from his shoulders and fell to the rocky ground with an ugly, thumping noise. His torso stiffened then swayed and fell backward into the dust like a flour sack.