The Rise to Godhood
Chapter 16: The Reunion

Podixa Sairan studied the defences she had set up at the main square in front of the Pustinja Palace. She was nervous about the occasion. Although they had weapons, none of her settlers had battle experience. There was no need as the outpost had a limited population, and there were no other species outside of the perimeter.

Podixa looked towards the horizon, where an approaching sandstorm covered the orange sun. It looked like a massive storm, and she hoped that the nanotechnology barrier would keep the sand out and the atmosphere in. Unfortunately, this wasn’t always the case when a large storm hit.

“Prefect Sairan, a group of outsiders are approaching.” A flying sentry drone reported and beamed towards a rift in spacetime in the town square.

“Ready yourself!” Podixa exclaimed as Areela, Kailow, Zelinko and the enforcers came crashing through the portal. Podixa looked at the new arrivals, who had all collapsed. What was going on?

“Medics, approach them with medical scanners to look for life signs. We cover you from here.” Podixa commanded.

The medics complied, and they approached the unconscious arrivals with health scanners while wearing hazmat suits.

“No foreign pathogens detected. All the foreigners suffer from severe dehydration.” The medic stated.

“Send them to our medical wards at once. Put them on a silver saline drip and guard the corridors until we have determined their intentions.” Podixa commanded.

More medics arrived with stretchers, and they wheeled off the new arrivals to the medical ward.

***

Areela Kheeran watched the sparks that fizzed as the sandstorm clashed with the nanotechnology forcefield that protected the Pustinja Outpost from the elements. It was a terrible spectacle to behold. Although there were some deserts on Zetani, she could never have imagined that anyone would be living like this.

‘I better drink some water,’ Areela thought, and she was thankful for being alive. She remembered the burning thirst she had felt as soon as she arrived through the portal. It was as if one week of dehydration struck her at once!

As Areela put the glass to her mouth, the water almost burned against her tinder-dry throat. ‘Slow and steady.’ She thought as she drank the water, which caused her pain and renewed energy.

Podixa entered the hospital room, smiled at Areela, and spoke, “Areela Kheeran. I thought I would never see you again. At least not like this.”

“I am glad that you saved me. Is everyone in my group okay?”

“I am sorry, but two members in your group were too far gone when they got here. We couldn’t save them.” Podixa revealed.

Hearing this, Areela was close to having a panic attack. She couldn’t bear knowing that two of her companions had perished, and the worst part was that she didn’t know who the survivors would be.

“Take me to the morgue. I need to see them so I can get closure.” Areela said.

“I am sorry, but you still need to rest from your arduous voyage. You were close to dying from dehydration.” Podixa replied.

“How am I going to rest fearing that those that I love could perish? Podixa, I need to know.” Areela urged. Podixa nodded and replied, “Okay. Please come with me.”

Areela nodded and followed Podixa to the morgue while walking down the most anxiety-ridden steps of her life.

***

“Bless the True Maker!” Areela exclaimed as she entered the morgue at the Pustinja Outpost.

“What is wrong with you? Why are you happy about deaths among your entourage?” Podixa said. “Those two men were among the enforcers that pursued us. They didn’t swap sides until Zelinko defeated Jasper. I rather see my enemies among the fallen than my child or brother.” Areela replied.

“I understand. I am sorry if I made you worry for nothing. I didn’t know who was in your entourage,” Podixa replied.

“That’s okay. So, can I see my child and my brother now?” Areela asked.

“Yes, please have dinner with my husband and me tomorrow night. I am sure that he is keen to know our unexpected guests.” Podixa replied.

***

Later the same night, Areela entered the private dining room in the Pustinja Palace. The table had an assortment of dishes that Areela hadn’t seen before, but they had one thing in common. They didn’t seem at all appetizing.

Kailow arrived while holding Thorax in his arms. He approached his sister, handed her the mutant baby, and spoke. “So, sister, it must feel good to be safe with your baby?”

“Yes, how do you feel about all this?” Areela asked.

“Well, it’s a bit ironic. If I had done nothing, I would be cryogenically frozen and arrive here in 50 years. So, it seems like my actions did not affect my outcome.” Kailow said with an afterthought.

“Don’t say that. We still have a few Zeto-charged sapphires. We can get supplies and vehicles to travel to the other six prime planets in the Milky Way Galaxy. Together, we can replace the planet where the humans live.” Areela replied.

“Only if we can convince your friend Podixa to help us,” Kailow replied.

“What can I do to help you?”

Kailow and Areela stared at Podixa, who appeared in the room while wearing a tight, low-cut yellow dress that emphasized the beauty of her slender body. When seeing the beauty of Podixa’s complexion, Areela understood how her ex-slave friend had seduced the successful scientist Arish Kisherom and had born his son. This act of seduction had taken her to the top of society, albeit she was at the top level on a much less beautiful planet.

“So, as I said a week ago, we found a way to travel through Dihawara Densi, to reach any place in the Milky Way Galaxy within weeks,” Areela replied.

“Yet, your method of travel seems dangerous. Two of you perished, and the rest of you would have faced the same outcome if you hadn’t received urgent medical attention.” Podixa remarked.

“We had to leave without supplies for the trip. Dehydration almost killed us, not the trip itself.” Areela replied.

“I see. I’ll need to discuss this with my husband. If anyone could develop a suitable engineering solution, it would be him. But for now, please help yourself to the food.” Podixa said and pointed towards the food platters.

Kailow and Areela looked at each other in hesitation. Who would be brave enough to try the food first?

Kailow filled a plate with grilled worm larvae, off-green and slimy algae, and black rotten fungi. As he ate the unappetising food, he struggled to swallow.

Podixa gave him a cold stare and said, “When the master caste decided to use this planet as a prison colony, they provided us with almost inedible food to make our punishment worse. Since the trip from Zetani is a one-way trip, and there is no ecosystem on this planet, or anywhere else in this star system, this is what we have for sustenance.”

After her statement, Podixa left the room, while Kailow and Areela realised they would have to sustain themselves on food like this.