The Secret of Mars
Chapter 30: Marauders

“Commanders, three more ships are moving in from the east and two more from the south,” Quigbee said, bursting into the room. He paused when he saw the child-like individual standing before him. “Where did he come from?”

“I have come from here,” Leenaw said, waving his hand around the room. “Who are you? And who, or what, is coming toward my ship?”

“I am Jeanip, a member of the royal family from Europa,” Jeanip said, bowing slightly. “This is Commander Swaybuk and Officer Quigbee. The female is Anew, a . . . “

“A newborn Ancient,” Leenaw said, smiling. “I never thought I’d see the day a new Ancient was brought forth. It is a pleasure to meet you all.”

“We do not know who is approaching us,” Jeanip said. “There were five starships. You heard Quigbee say five more are also on an interception course.”

“I must get to the bridge,” Leenaw said, as he hurried from the room rushing to the bridge. “I need to determine where we are and what defenses are operational.” He burst onto the bridge, startling Soojay. He looked out the window at the stars. “How in the heck did you guys get out here?”

“We’re not sure,” Jeanip said. “It’s made getting back to our home somewhat difficult.”

“You can tell me later after I figure out what kind of predicament you have gotten my ship into,” Leenaw said. Taking the Captain’s chair, he quickly punched in some commands. On the screen appeared three of the new ships. “Bandoos. Scavengers of the universe.” He pushed in a few more codes, and a picture of the first five ships reappeared, but this time much closer and clearer. “Betels, even worse than the Bandoos. They have claimed all of this section of space as theirs. Don’t they know no one can own space?”

“What about the other two?” Soojay asked. “It appears they will arrive here first.”

Leenaw brought up the picture of the last two ships. “I do not recognize this design. It could be a new player in this system, one that arrived while I was asleep. I, therefore, have no knowledge if they are friend or foe.”

“If they are trying to reach us first, chances are they are scavengers too and not friendly,” Jeanip stated. “Can you get us out of here?”

Leenaw did not answer. He stood and walked over to the back wall. “Adreena, status report.”

Their minds filled with a feminine voice.” Leenow, it is so good to see you awake. I have missed you.”

“I have missed you too,” Leenaw replied. “How are you feeling? What is the status of your engines?” A large schematic display appeared on the back screens. The workings of the ship.

“I seem to be in good health,” the ship replied. “I have completely recovered from our last encounter. However, it appears my engines are down forty tillums. Someone engaged the engines and drained some of the circuits’ powers.” She paused for a moment. “Leenaw, eight enemy ships are heading our way.”

“Thank you for the warming, Adreena,” Leenaw replied. “How long until you can engage your engines?”

“Twelve cantims.”

“How long is that?” Jeanip asked, watching the beeps on the navigational screen growing closer.

“About as long as it will take those Bandoos to reach us,” Leenaw answered. “Probably the other two races too.”

“Does this ship have any defense capabilities?” Swaybuk asked.

“We are not a violent race,” the Librarian stated. “We travel the universe in peace. We do not believe in war or aggression. We always try to avoid conflict. But, that is not always possible. We do believe in defending ourselves. Otherwise, we would have died out long ago.”

“That’s good to hear,” Jeanip replied. “We refer to your expertise. I was not looking forward to guessing at how to steer this ship.”

“If you had you would have gone to meet your maker, whoever he or she is,” Leenaw replied, bringing up some new schematics. He pointed to a square box. “See this? It is a self-destruct mechanism. If someone tried to take the ship or dismantle it, it was programmed to blow up. Goodbye scavengers. You are very fortunate you didn’t try to do anything with the engines. If you had, Adreena would have terminated hers and your lives.”

Soojay and Quigbee looked at Jeanip and Swaybuk. They were just getting ready to take their best guess on how to start the engines and put more distance between them and the approaching ships. Both shuttered at the thought of how close they had come to death.

“If that is true, why didn’t the ship blow when we accidentally set the ship in motion?” Jeanip asked.

“I believe Adreena mistook this young Ancient for a Librarian,” Leenaw stated. “Or, perhaps she recognized you as one, Commander. You do wear the amulet of the Orbs.”

“So, instead of being blown to smithereens on Mars, we’ve come six hundred and fifty light years to be blown up by some hostile aliens,” commented Swaybuk, watching the blimps on the screen growing closer.

“Can you unprogram that cube and get us the hell out of here?” Jeanip asked.

“I should hope so,” the small Librarian laughed. “I was the one that installed it. You, ah, Waybuk.” He pointed to Swaybuk.

“Swaybuk.”

“See this symbol here? I want you to press it when I tell you too. But not before. Understood?”

“Understood.”

“I don’t know your name,” Leenaw said, directing his attention at Soojay.”

“Soojay, Sir.”

“Sir? I believe you and I are going to get along nicely,” Leenaw smiled. “I want you to sit here in the co-captain’s chair. When, ah, Swaybuk presses his symbol, I need you to push this lever forward.” As the alien spoke, a gear appeared on the arm of the chair to the right of the Captain’s.

“Anew, let us hope I was right and Adreena recognizes you as a Gruel, for it takes two hands to complete this process,” Leenaw stated. “I need you to place your hand here when I tell you to.” He showed the young Ancient where on the back screen to place her hand. He then walked over to the opposite side and pressed some unseen emblems on the extended side rail while mumbling some words. The front viewing screen changed from a picture of the approaching ships to a diagram of a red dot inside five circles, each spaced about two inches apart and each a different color. Outside the circles, coming in three directions, were the oncoming ships. “Commander, I need you to watch and tell me when a ship crosses each circle and the color. I only need to know when the first one crosses. I don’t care about the rest. Do you understand?”

“Yes,” Jeanip replied.

Leenaw entered his code, then instructed Anew to place her hand on the screen. On the back screen, they could see the cube starting to lose consistency, going in and out of view, trying to disconnect from the circuitry.

“The first ship just crossed the first ring,” Swaybuk said.

“Color. I need the color,” Leenaw shouted.

“Blue.”

“They’re faster than I thought. Adreena, get ready to repel those ships.”

“In eight pars,” Adreena answered.

“Crossing the green ring,” Swaybuk shouted.

“This is going to be close,” Leenaw mumbled to himself. He then began to give the screen verbal commands.

“Yellow,” Jeanip yelled, as a humming sound was heard on the bridge. He quickly turned and saw that the golden cube on the screen was pulsating. “Three ships just crossed the yellow ring.”

Leenaw chattered away, his words unknown to the Oonocks and Ancient. “You, who’s not doing anything but standing there, I need you to come here.” Quigbee rushed to the Gruel. “See that red ‘O’ on the extended panel. I need you to press it and loudly say ’Ennay Onk Gink.′ Then let go.” Quigbee did as instructed.

“Five ships just passed the fourth circle, the purple one,” Jeanip called out, trying to be heard over the humming noise which was growing louder. He wondered if the golden box had increased its pulsation also, but he dared not look away from the screen. “They’re ready to cross the last ring, the white one.”

Leenaw reached inside the screen and pulled out the pulsating cube. “Now, Swaybuk.” Swaybuk pressed his emblem. Seeing what his commander had down, Soojay pushed the lever forward.

“Repelling enemy ships,” Adreena announced. Instantly, the ship spun around in a circle, so fast that the crew was knocked to the floor. Their bodies were flattened as the centrifugal force weighed down their bodies. After ninety seconds it stopped.

“Is everyone alright?” Jeanip asked, holding on to the wall as he rose. He could see the rest of his crew doing their best to stand also. Not sure what had just happened, he quickly looked at the front view screen hoping it might show him the stars of home. But it did not. The diagram with the circles was still on the screen, except now the eleven spots were floating aimlessly outside the inner white circle.

“Attack has been averted,” Adreena stated. “Might I have my cube back now?”

“That was a close one,” Leenaw stated, poking his head out from beneath the Captain’s chair, the golden cube in his hand. Apparently, the spinning had not caused him any bother. “All I have to do is replace this little thing back under my seat, and we should be ready to go.”

“What about the other starships?” Swaybuk asked, helping Anew to her feet.

“Energy beam,” Leenaw said. “Knocked out ever component in their ships. Hopefully, each contains enough air or whatever they breathe because it will be a good two hours before their systems come back online. By that time, we will be back in your quadrant.” He snapped the cube in place and crawled out from beneath the chair.

“Thank you, Leenaw,” an almost cheerful voice announced. “That feels much better. My engines are at ninety-five tilliums. I will reach maximum power in eight cantims.”

“You and your crew did an excellent job, Commander. I am grateful,” Leenaw said. “Adreena, star map 456-2b.” Within seconds, the room was filled with a star map. Leenaw reached his hand inside, lightly touching a dot, and said, “Garook Tibow Shalee.” The map disappeared. The front view screen engaged, displaying tiny dots of light, the glowing of distant stars, slowly passing the window. They were moving. “It will take her about a fillip, ah, an hour, for her to totally recharge enough for the journey back to the planet you were on. Until then, we’ll put a little distance between those marauders and us.”

“Sir, are you saying that in an hour we can go back to Mars?” Quigbee asked.

“Yes, Europan, that is what I am saying,” Leenaw said, a big smile on his face.

“How do you know we are from Europa?” Jeanip asked. “We never mentioned what planet or moon we were from.”

“Commander, I have traveled this universe from one end to the other and back over billions of years,” the little alien replied. “I have encountered millions of lifeforms, several which resemble the Oonock race. But none that are exactly like you. Even though you are transformed, I can see your three pairs of glowing wings, your feathered tail, your pearls-of-light hair and your lilac eyes. You come from the moon we call ‘Oonee’. In my language, it means ’Waters of Lilac Peace’. And yes, in case you were wondering, that is how your race got the name ‘Oonock’ because you were born of Oonee.”

“So you really are a Librarian?” Jeanip said, bending down on one knee to be on his level.

“Yes.”

“And you are responsible for FarCore and the Orbs and even the Ancients?” Jeanip asked.

“Yes. For many quidnuws we had the universe to ourselves. Using wormholes, we were able to travel across its vastness discovering new worlds and lifeforms. But then various lifeforms evolved and decided they too wanted to explore space. But not all were friendly. Some were hostile and tried to steal our technology. We limited access to the wormholes and developed another form of transportation for our use only – the obelisks. They not only gave us almost instant access to any planet; they acted as sentries, protecting worlds from those that would do them harm. But, the universe is endless. We knew it could be hundreds of millions of years before we would return to an area again, in which time some worlds and many lifeforms would perish naturally. Not wanting to miss one life form, we created the Orbs to records histories for us we could watch later. The Orbs absorbed so much knowledge over billions of years that they became lifeforms of their own. And even developed powers. Then, one day in our distant past, a wondrous race of beings stumbled across our travel tube and Orbs and adapted them for their own use.”

“The Ancients,” Anew softly said.

“Yes, Sweet Child, your race. The Ancients,” Leenaw confirmed. “They were so much like us that it has often been speculated that they are our lost offspring. They used the traveling tube with its windows and the Orbs for good, drawing power from the Orbs to accomplish great deeds. Their presence in this part of the universe allowed us to concentrate our efforts on the other, further side.”

“Then how did you end up buried on Mars?” Soojay asked.

“As I mentioned earlier, some predatory races tried to use our technology for their gain, so it became necessary to remove the obelisks,” Leenaw continued. “However, the one in your solar system was accidentally overlooked. When we discovered the mistake, we decided to leave it on the planet hidden from sight. For, you see, the predatory races had not invaded your solar system, and we deemed the obelisk to be safe. And so it remained for half a billion years. But utopia does not last forever. A bloodthirsty race known as the Hamuuck entered your solar system. The Hamuuck are miners. When they are done stripping a planet of all its ores and minerals, it no longer exists. Somehow, they discovered your precious soobree beneath Oonee’s ice shield and were on their way to harvest it. Realizing their intentions, the obelisk awoke and successfully repelled the invaders. Its existence now visible, it became imperative that it be retrieved and removed. Since I had been the one who forgot the obelisk, I was sent to retrieve it. But when I emerged from the obelisk, my ship was struck before I could even defend myself. I crashed, bringing down half of the mountain on top of me. A force more terrifying than the Hamuuk was attacking the planet.”

“JeffRa,” Jeanip stated.

“One of your people,” Leenaw stated. “With a heart as black as the universe itself. Never had I felt so much hate. Anyways, with my ship damaged I could do nothing to help the innocents that were dying outside. That’s when I felt him, the Ancient that was living inside this planet’s FarCore for some reason. I knew his great love of life could help me save at least some of those in danger. So, through him, I summoned the power of the Orbs and brought the people, the animals and all forms of life into FarCore and placed them in a deep sleep until the time would occur when they could be awakened and live again.”

“The obelisk fired its cannons at the attacking ships,” Leenaw continued. “It destroyed one. But it only injured the other two, for aboard each were those that were connected to the Orbs. The obelisk recognized them as beings from Oonee and spared their lives. They withdrew, leaving behind a worthless shell of a once living planet. Grief stricken, I sent out a distress call, but no one answered. I knew that eventually one of our ships would replace me, but I was so far out that it could be millions of years. So I used the last of my ship’s energy to rebury the obelisk the best I could. I spread myself out into the walls of the ship, where its circuitry, wires, and energy would keep me alive. And I waited. How long I do not know.”

“Approximately six thousand one hundred and two years,” Jeanip said. “JeffRa destroyed Mars that long ago. So that is how long you have been waiting.”

“And you never woke up during all this time?” Soojay asked.

“I did once, not long ago,” Leenaw said. “I sensed a presence on the planet, another from Oonee. But almost as soon as I felt it, it vanished.”

“That must have been when Princess Misso was there several years ago,” Swaybuk stated. “She was looking for the lost colony. But the Mars settlement was small then and she was only able to search for two weeks before she had to leave.”

“Then, just recently, I detected another presence, this one even stronger than the first one, one truly one with the Orbs,” Leenaw said. “I thought it was perhaps a member of my race coming to get me at last, or maybe an Ancient had stumbled onto the planet. But then I realized it had glowing wings, the wings of Oonee, and I knew what she was. And that through her, I, the Ancient and the Oonees asleep inside FarCore could awaken and go home.” A tear slid down his face. “But you five were a great surprise.” He wiped away his tear. “Come, I need nourishment. Not eating for sixty-one hundred years does make one crave food. Let us adjourn to the kitchen, and you can tell me of your adventures. Adreena will tell me when she is recharged.”

The couple stood there, the female securely held in his arms, looking out the giant observation window at the Martian sunset. Hues of red, orange and gold lit the sky, once more reminding them of some artist having thrown splotches of paint on a canvas. A large glowing half-circle could be seen slowly descending behind the mountain range. It was beautiful, yet the magnificence of the panorama before them did little to brighten their spirits.

“Are you sure you can’t come back to Helix Six with me?” a forlorn Gart asked. “Even for a short stay?”

“I wish I could, Gart, but I really must return to Earth and visit my parents and grandparents,” Amber sighed. “They have been in emotional distress for months because of Mary and all that has happened. They need to see me in person to know I am truly alright. There is no way you can postpone going home and come to Earth with me? It would give you an opportunity to meet Mary, once she arrives home.”

“I’ve already been gone far longer than I should have,” Gart softly said. “I missed the hatching of my newest children. And so much more time has passed that they are now old enough to leave the nursery. I must return and place my hand on each child’s head, giving them their names and my blessing before they can go and live with their surrogate families. Plus, a decision must be made about my people’s future. I received word that a frillbat, a nasty little creature similar to Earth’s rats, got into the nursery and destroyed a significant portion of the eggs that would have hatched over the next ten to twenty years. The nursery must be refilled. Either I must select a new mate and replenish the nursery or step down and turn the role of Supreme Leader over to a new male and his mate to replenish the lost eggs.” He felt Amber’s body stiffen slightly. “This is the way of my race, Amber. This is the way we have existed for thousands of your Earth years. I am their Poodin, their leader and father. I have an obligation to them and our future. You and I are not species-compatible, so no matter how much we care for each other we cannot produce offspring. Would you have me step down?”

Amber so wanted to say yes, for Gart to stop being the Supreme Leader and return to Earth with her. But she couldn’t, no more than she could cease to be a Princess. She understood the responsibilities of royalty and realized that sometimes great sacrifices had to be made. “No,” Amber whispered. “You must be the Caberan you were meant to be and fulfill those duties required of a Supreme Leader. You must ensure your people have a future.”

Gart held her even closer. “Thank you for understanding. I will never stop loving you, Amber Waters.”

“As I will love you.”

Together, they watched the last remnants of the sunset fade into darkness. “I have ten hours before my flight leaves for Helix Six,” Gart said. “We can either stay here in each other’s arms or go celebrate with our friends the friendships we have made. Should our last night together be one of sorrow or joy?”

“Of joy,” Amber replied, kissing him tenderly.

“Engines fully charged,” Adreena announced.

“It appears she is ready to take you home,” Leenaw stated, bringing up the star maps. “You had best strap yourselves in.” He waved his hand across the arm of the Captain’s chair. Immediately, three additional chairs appeared against the back wall. “It’s a bit intense. You might lose consciousness and collapse.”

“I remember that part too well,” Soojay laughed, rubbing his head. Jeanip and Swaybuk took the seats on each side of the Captain’s chair, while Soojay, Quigbee, and Anew sat in the back. All quickly pulled the harnessing around themselves and prepared for flight.

Leenaw scrolled through the various maps until the one of the Oonock’s stars appeared. Shrinking the map down to a more manageable size, he took his seat and connected his harness. Moving his hand across the Captain’s chair, Leenaw ran his finger across the black triangle of the Librarian symbol. “Adreena, Ennay Klat,” he said as he reached into the star map and touched a bright spot, apparently either Mars or its sun. Instantly, the Oonocks and Ancient could feel themselves and the ship being pulled forward, as the lights on the front view screen turned into streams of light. Then, after thirty-four minutes, the forward motion stopped, and the light streams turned back into tiny dots of light. Leenaw unhooked his harness and rose, closing down the star map.

“Destination reached,” Adreena stated.

“Did something go wrong?” Jeanip asked, looking at his time piece. “Is the ship still not working correctly?”

“Nothing is wrong,” Leenaw said, shutting down various programs.

“Then why aren’t we traveling?” Jeanip inquired.

“Because, as Adreena announced, we have completed our journey,” Leenaw said, chuckling to himself. He was having fun with this species. It had been too long since he got to get one over on another individual.

“No way,” shouted Swaybuk. “There is no way we could have traveled six hundred and fifty miles in that short of time.”

“Oh yee of little faith,” Leenaw laughed, as he waved his hand over the chair console to change the view screen. In astonishment, the passengers stared at an obelisk in front of them. Further, in the background, all could see the lights of a settlement. Mars’ settlement.

“Is that what I think it is?” Jeanip shouted, racing to the front view screen. “Is that the settlement?” They were back. Back on Mars. And soon he would be back home with his mate and sons. “How?”

“The obelisk is a portal not only into FarCore but to other worlds,” Leenaw replied. “Once you enter her portal, you can transport yourself to almost any place in this entire vast universe, if you know how to operate the star maps. That is why I will be completing my mission and taking the obelisk with me when I leave. It is too tempting, even for good races like those that live in this part of the universe, to try to reach places they should not go to or be at. And for those, like the ones that sought to attack our ship, to come here. I will put this obelisk where it was meant to be long ago, hidden away with the others, someplace it can do no harm.”

“But doesn’t that mean you can’t travel to this part of the universe anymore?” Swaybuk asked.

A curious smile spread across Leenow’s face. “We have our ways,” was all he said.

“What is those aliens come back?” Soojay asked. “What did you call them? Those, ah, those Hamuuck? What if they come back to mine Europa’s soobree?”

“The beings in this galaxy have reached the level where they no longer need the protection of the obelisk,” Leenaw replied. “You and your allies are capable of repelling any enemy invades. As for Oonee, as long as her ice shield remains in tack, she will be protected. Plus, do not forget, you have an Ancient and FarCore there to keep you safe.”

“Are you leaving right away?” Anew asked.

“Yes, I am afraid I must,” Leenaw said, taking the Ancient’s hand in his own. “Like the Oonees, we Gruel take lifelong mates. Mine has been patiently waiting for me to return home for some time now. I need to return home before she decides I am never coming back and takes another.” He raised Anew’s hand to his lips and softly kissed it. “It has been an unexpected pleasure to meet you, Anew. I look forward to seeing you again in the future.”

“Is that possible?” Anew asked.

“You Ancients are like we Gruel,” Leenaw replied. “We are the closest thing there is to immortality, although the Ancient’s do have a shorter lifespan. Many species and races will come and go, but we two will remain constant. We are the protectors of the vast universe. Besides, you are new and will still be in existence long after the other Ancients are gone. You will need a friend when you are alone.” He handed her a long, slender yellow crystal. “When you are ready to join us, break this crystal, and I will come for you. You will live the remainder of your days with my people.”

“Thank you, Leenaw,” Swaybuk said, walking up and putting his arm around Anew. “I have always feared what will happen to her when I am gone. And the thought of her being the only Ancient alive for hundreds of millennia has often haunted my dreams. Now, thanks to you, I know she will have a bright future, with friends and good company.”

“She is a rare and wonderful gift,” Leenaw stated. “Because of you, Swaybuk, she is the only Ancient who can actually love. Through her, you too will live to almost immortality.”

“Ok, everyone, let’s get suited up,” Jeanip announced. “I am sure Leenaw is as anxious as we are to get home. And it’s a long walk back to the Settlement if they don’t send out a transport for us.”

“Commander, I might be able to help with that also,” Leenow said, smiling. “There’s an old speeder in the back of the hangar. It’s pretty old and obsolete. An antique, by my standards. But it contains no technology that the Oonees are not aware of or will develop soon, so I see no danger in allowing you to have it. It is yours if you’d like. And don’t worry. This one has knobs, levers, and controls that operate it.”

Jeanip and Swaybuk looked at each other, the looks of a small boy in a toy store filling their faces. “Would we.”

“Jeanip, that might be a problem,” Quigbee stated. “Remember, I lost a boot somehow when we were whisked away?”

“I thought you found it,” Jeanip said.

“No, Sir, I only got an inner boot,” Quigbee replied. “My spacesuit is still short one boot.”

“Do not worry, Young Oonock, there are now two boots with your suit,” Leenaw said, waving his hand over his console again. “The ship has replaced your missing boot so you can go home too.”

Quigbee took a step toward the Librarian. “Truth be told, Sir, if Monarch Jeanip does not object, I would not mind going with you. I’d like to see what’s out there and see new worlds.”

“Chances are we would never be in this area again,” Leenaw stated.

“I have no mate or younglings,” Quigbee replied. “My parents and siblings were killed by the Terrians long ago. There is no one I will be leaving behind that would miss me.”

“That’s not true,’ Soojay immediately said.

“Well, maybe a few soldiers,” Quigbee quickly corrected.

“What say you, Commander?” Leenaw asked Jeanip.

“I say may the Waters of Life take you to new worlds that you never dreamt of,” Jeanip said, holding out his hand to shake the soldier’s. “I wish you the best of luck.”

Everyone took turns saying goodbye and wishing Quigbee well, then they hurried down to the hangar bay and stepped into their spacesuits. Quigbee stood behind a glass wall where he was secure, while Leenaw freely walked inside the hangar, unaffected by the lack of breathable air.

“Take good care of Quigbee,” Jeanip said as he climbed into their speeder. “He’s a good soldier.”

“I have the feeling he will be an even greater explorer,” Leenaw said. “May the Waters of Life grant you a long life of happiness.”

“May the Waters of Life return you safely to your family,” Jeanip replied.

Soojay closed the speeder’s hatch, and the four lifted off, drifting outside the alien starship. They had just cleared the hangar door when Jeanip remembered he did not ask Leenaw about Mary. He turned around and was shocked to see that both the obelisk and the starship were already gone.

“Dang, I forgot to ask him about Mary,” Jeanip stated.

“All is as it should be,” came Leenaw’s voice, as a streak of light flashed across the sky.