The Secret of Mars
Chapter 31: Lord Hoffman

“Speeder X-13 requesting permission to enter hangar 4-A,” came a voice over the intercom.

The soldier on duty quickly looked down at his security screen and saw an alien speeder hovering outside the hangar door. He zoomed in on the pilot and thought for a moment it resembled the missing Oonock, Soojay. But that wasn’t possible. He had disappeared with that alien starship.

“Say again,” the soldier commanded, throwing a book at his sleeping comrade, jolting him awake. “Get over here, Harry.”

“I said Speeder X-13 is requesting permission to enter hangar bay 4-A,” the voice repeated.

“Who is this?” Harry asked. “And where did you get that speeder?”

“It’s me, Harry,” Soojay said, his face suddenly appearing on the security screen. “Let us in, and we’ll tell you all about it.”

“Naw, this is a trick or hoax,” Sam, the other soldier stated. “Soojay’s on the other side of the universe.”

Sam and Harry could hear arguing over the intercom. Finally, Jeanip’s face appeared on the screen. “This is ridiculous. Let us inside.”

“I’m sorry, ah, Commander?” Harry replied. “We need further instructions. Wait right there.”

“Wait right here?” Jeanip said, talking to the other’s in the speeder, turning away from the camera. “Where does he think we’re going to go?”

Sub-Commander Teal came running into the room, wearing only his boxer shorts and a t-shirt. He looked at the image of Jeanip on the screen. It sure looked like their missing alien. “I need a security code.”

“Oh for heaven sakes,” Jeanip grumbled. “Here, Soojay, you deal with these idiot humans.” Jeanip moved away from the screen while Soojay sat back down.

“Security code Europa dash 65 dash Mary,” Soojay replied. Sub-Commander Teal quickly pulled out the code book and checked the code’s accuracy. It was correct. “Oh, come on Gary, you know it’s me. Or do I need to tell everyone about those twin Trillian females we entertained the night before I disappeared? By the way, what happened to them after I left?”

“I’ll be damned, it is him,” the Sub-Commander laughed. “Open the bay doors. Alert the Commander our lost Oonocks have returned.”

PiePie was awakened by the sound of loud pounding on the bedroom door. PiePie grabbed her weapon and walked toward the entrance, staying to the side in case someone fired a weapon through the door.

“Who’s there?” she shouted, wondering why someone would come knocking at 0-four hundred.

“PiePie, it’s me, Colvin,” came a familiar voice. “Wake Mistress Phameena up. Jeanip and the others have returned.”

“What did he say?” Phameena shouted, jumping out of bed, her weapon also in her hand.

“The password?” PiePie shouted, excitement coursing through her body.

“Jeanip loves Phameena,” Colvin shouted. “Now open the damn door.” PiePie opened the door to see a smiling Colvin standing there. He was breathing hard, having run the entire way across the settlement to Phameena’s room.

“Where?” she asked.

“They just landed their speeder in the hangar,” Colvin said, barely able to finish his sentence before Phameena took off running.

“Commander Abrams, Commander Abrams,” came a voice through the new Commander’s foggy mind. He could feel someone shaking him lightly and calling out his name. “Commander Abrams, you’re needed in the Command Room immediately.”

“This better be good,” the Commander replied, his mind, at last, waking up. “I was in the best dream.”

“Jeanip and the others are back,” the soldier stated. “They’re outside the hangar door asking for permission to enter the station.”

“Outside the hangar?” the Commander shouted, jumping out of bed. He dashed to the closet and grabbed a shirt and pair of pants. Hopping around the room while trying to push his feet through his pant legs, his shirt held securely in his mouth, he grabbed a pair of socks and his shoes. He stepped out into the hallway and handed the soldier his shoes and socks. “Hold these.” Pulling his shirt on, he looked both ways down the corridor, trying to make his mind remember which way to go.

“To your right, Sir,” the soldier said.

“I don’t want to go to the Command Room,” the Commander replied. “I need to get to the hangar bay.”

“That’s to the right too, Sir,” the soldier said. “Second corridor turn left.”

The Commander took off running, turning down the appropriate hall. The young soldier followed, the commander’s shoes and socks still in his grip. As they rounded the last corridor, they stepped out on to the hangar, the security doors resealed and an oxygen-rich atmosphere re-established. Standing there beside their speeder were Jeanip, Swaybuk, Anew and Soojay.”

“This floor’s a little cold to be walking around in bare feet,” Jeanip teased, seeing the Commander’s toes.

“Hmm? OH,” the Commander said, grabbing his shoes and socks from the young soldier. He walked over to a nearby crate and sat down, putting his shoes on the floor until he had his socks on. Then he placed his shoes on his feet also. “Where in the hell did you come from? And how did you get here without us detecting you?”

“It’s a long story,” Jeanip said. “One I’d gladly tell you over a big cup of coffee. I haven’t had a decent cup in weeks.” The sounds of running feet drew his attention to the hallway. Jeanip could not believe his eyes when he saw Phameena suddenly appear. Amber, PiePie, Tong, Glock and Colvin were right behind her. “Phameena, what are you doing here?”

“Trying to replace you,” she shouted, as she ran into his arms, kissing him passionately. “I feared I had lost you forever.”

“You could never lose me,” Jeanip said, hungrily kissing her back, relishing the feel of her in his arms. He too feared this day would never come again. But, thanks to a small alien he was with the one he loved once again. “Oh second thought, Commander, I’ll pass on the coffee. Swaybuk there will fill you in on everything you need to know. I am going to go spend some quality time with my Most Beloved.”

“Oh, it’s so beautiful today,” Medi said, sitting on the porch of the Estate’s cabin. With Swaybuk and Kiijon’s help, EJ had built it with his two oldest daughters when the old cabin was destroyed by the human, Shiel Abdul. “I love this time of year.” She reached over and ran her hand over the side rail where Amber and Mary had carved their initials beside their father’s twenty some years earlier. Below the three royals was Swaybuk’s.

EJ saw the saddened look overshadow his mate’s face. He reached over and took her hand. “Next year we will all be here together. You, me, Mary, Amber, Swaybuk and Anew, My Love. Maybe even Kumiko and Cho Gin can come with their families and Robert too.”

“Do you believe that, Enok?” Medi asked.

“I never stopped,” EJ replied.

The stillness of the day was broken by the sound of approaching horse huffs. “Hurry, Your Highnesses, inside,” Ospree stated, drawing his weapon, preparing to protect the royals.

Before EJ and Medi could get inside and close the door, they saw Neil riding toward the cabin. He was wildly waving his hands in the air, shouting something.

“What’s he saying?” Medi asked.

“I’m not sure,” Ospree replied. “Sounds like ’They’re back, they’re back’.”

Nearing the cabin, Neil reigned in his horse, leaping from the saddle, dropping the reigns to the ground. “They’re back,” he yelled, running toward the cabin. “Jeanip and the others, they’re back.”

“Are you sure?” EJ yelled.

“Yes, Sire,” Neil smiled, breathing heavily. “We just got the word at the Estate. Kliinew went to inform your parents.”

EJ, Medi, Kiijon and Europa chattered amongst themselves as they stood beside the now-repaired Window of Universes. Ospree, KaaZee, and Jazee stood nearby.

With the window restored, Weenow was able to awaken the male Nuuk Clan leader from his deep sleep. Under Medi’s protest, Mary had returned to Mars through the windows to help facilitate his awakening. Graybin also traversed across the void to give the awakening Oonock leader a familiar face to see and, hopefully, reduce his trepidation. Both females were staying inside FarCore until the Oonocks returned home.

“There they are,” Europa said, seeing the images of four beings walking toward the window. As they drew closer, she saw one was an unknown Oonock. She assumed he was the awakened clan leader, Lord Hoffman. All four beings stepped in front of the window.

“Grandmother, Grandfather, Dattwa, Mattwa and Hygone, I would like you to meet Lord Hoffman,” Mary announced, waving her hand at the stranger. “He is the ruler of the Nuuk Clan.”

“Your Majesties,” Lord Hoffman said, raising his hand awkwardly to his forehead and bowing, reaching out to grab Graybin’s shoulder so as not to stumble. “It is such an honor to meet you. Please forgive my unsteadiness. My muscles are still trying to adjust to being awake, as is my mind.” He looked all around. “I remember the tales of FarCore, but never did I ever imagine that I would personally be privileged to see it firsthand.”

“Welcome back, Lord Hoffman,” Europa said, swimming forward. “Oh behalf of my mate, King Kiijon, and myself, we are thrilled to meet you and wait with open arms to bring you home.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lord Hoffman replied.

“Have anyone else been awakened?” Europa asked. “Has your mate, Lady Arianna, been revived also?

“No, Your Majesty,” Lord Hoffman said. “I was the only one FarCore revived. As for my mate, Lady Arianna, she died in JeffRa’s first attack on our city, along with two of my three younglings. It is my hope that Pippin still survives in one of those crystals.”

“I am sorry to hear of your loss, Lord Hoffman,” Kiijon stated.

“Is it true, Your Majesties?” Lord Hoffman asked, hope clearly visible on his face. “Europa still exists, JeffRa is gone, and we can return to our homeworld?”

“Yes, Your Lordship, Europa was not destroyed as you and my parents feared,” the queen answered. “The ice shield that keeps our lilac waters safe still surrounds our moon. And we have found a path from FarCore that leads directly to the cavern my mother, Queen Medaron, found. With the help of our friends, the Ancients, you and your clan will be brought through the window into this FarCore. Then through a portal to Europa. Lodging, food and necessities are already waiting for you.”

“And what of our lands?” Lord Hoffman asked. “Do they also wait for us or are they now the property of another clan?”

“As my Granddaughter has informed you, you brought your two starships to Mars over six thousand years ago,” Kiijon stated. “Since it was believed none of the departing starships would ever return, and no one from your clan remained behind to claim your lands, I am sorry to say the Lowlands of Pippin now belong to three other clans. However, the Highlands of Hoffman were kept intact and designated as protected land. We have been in touch with King Jun, and he has proclaimed that the Highlands be returned to you. He cannot say if any or all of the three clans will relinquish their right to the Lowlands and return them to you. But he is trying to secure you more land.”

“From what Weenow told me, there are less than two thousand of us left,” Lord Hoffman commented. “That sum may include those Oonocks from other clans that traveled with us. Therefore, we are not in need of much land. The Highlands of Hoffman will suffice, your Majesty.”

“I will inform King Jun and Queen Abrow of your decision,” Europa said. “On behalf of our new monarchs, they have asked me to convey their regrets for not being here to greet you. The dinblebees are swarming early this year and in colossal numbers, causing all kinds of problems in the agricultural lands. King Jun has his hands full trying to rectify the problem.”

“Tell him to go up into the Highlands of Hoffman,” the Lord stated. “There is a flower that blooms year around up there that will help him with the situation. Tell him to combine it with tantar dung and spread it wherever he wants the swarm to congregate. They will swarm to the mixture and complete their breeding. After five days the swarm will disperse to their respective areas.”

“I will tell him,” Queen Europa said. “Thank you. I am sure he will be very glad to hear your advice.”

A serious look overshadowed the leader’s face. “Princess Mary said that all life was destroyed on the surface of Mars and that some beings called humans are now trying to rebuild the planet?” Lord Hoffman asked.

“That is correct.”

“We went to Fenoll to build a new life for our clan,” Lord Hoffman proclaimed. “Do you think these humans would allow us to remain on Fenoll and help them reclaim the planet?”

“I am sure that is something that can be discussed,” Europa answered. “But do you not want to return home to Europa, Your Lordship?”

“We will return long enough to regroup and regain our strength and resources,” Lord Hoffman answered. “After which, I believe, my clansmen will want to go back to Fenoll.”

“It is not the fertile land you remember,” Prince EJ commented. “Mars is now a ball of rock, red sands and blowing winds. The land is barren, with no life.”

“So your daughter and Weenow have told me,” Lord Hoffman replied. “And while it is not the home we knew, it is still the planet we grew to love. And we would very much like to help restore her to her greatness. After all, it was an Oonock who destroyed her. Why shouldn’t an Oonock return her to her glory? Besides, we Nuuks are farmers and have numerous ways to coax lifeless soils to produce life.”

“As I said, it is a possibility,” Europa said. “I will pass on your request to the Assembly of Planets for their consideration. Although the Settlement is maintained and operated by humans, it is the Assembly that controls the operation.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Lord Hoffman replied.