NAAN (The Rabanians Book 1) Read online

  The mushroom didn't remind me at all of the fruits I’d eaten while on the terraces. That was only a vague memory now. Still it filled my mouth and made me feel good. I picked a few more and ate them as well. I looked for more and noticed some red dots in an open area nearby. I walked towards them and found clusters of small red granules hanging from thin green stalks. The images of the researches returned to flicker through my mind. I picked a small cluster. It was soft. I squeezed it in my black fingers and drops of red-black juice dripped from my hand. I sucked the moisture from between my fingers and the taste of sweet soot filled my mouth.

  I picked few more clusters and some mushrooms then sat on a rock and ate. My mood had changed. I wasn't thinking “the hell with everything” anymore. Now I considered how ironic it would be to survive all I’d been through only to poison myself trying to find a meal.

  From time to time a cool wind blew down from the mountain, caressing my burns and relieving the pain. These moments of relief were brief. When the wind died the burning pain returned as if coals were scattered over my skin. I collected a few mushrooms and clusters of red granules for which I had no name. I collected them into my torn and sooty shirt and started walking towards the mountain. A narrow trail soon appeared and I followed it.

  As I climbed, the view around me became grayer and the green vegetation of the forest disappeared. From time to time the trail turned towards the forest and I could see smoke rising to the sky. Ledges hung over the trail from time to time and I stopped underneath them to rest. I assumed the trail was leading to the peak of the mountain. I was eager to get there to look at the town.

  I remembered the man I’d left in the inferno. Was he alive when I left him or was it only a reflex when he moved his leg? The memory of his glazed eyes jumped into my mind and suddenly I saw the fire catching him. I saw his face blackening into a skull and the skull turning to ashes. I closed my eyes and shook my head. I looked at the rock under which I was resting, at the curves on it, at the trail. I looked all around me searching for something to distract me from thinking of him. I remembered the badge I’d pulled from his shirt. The only thing of him I could save. I reached my pants pocket and took it out. I ran it over my pants to clean away the dark stains. The letters glowed. I examined their odd shape. I gazed at the badge for a few more seconds before returning it to my pocket.

  I stood up and continued to walk. My thoughts went to Daio. I was terrified that he’d suffered a similar fate. What about Dug? Daio said he was injured, but that someone was taking care of him. Who was taking care of him now? Suddenly I thought of Seragon, of our home there. It felt like an old memory, as if years have passed since that time. As time passes old memories are pushed away to make room for new ones. But intense events can have the same effect over short time periods.

  A strange early darkness began to fall. I looked up at the Aion. A black spot was slowly spreading across it.

  “Crazy planet,” I mumbled.

  As I watched the spot changed. It resolved into small dots. Soon after I realized it was a fleet of hovercrafts charging towards the planet. As they approached the whistling of their engines increased. When they reached the surface I crouched beneath one of the ledges and waited until they were gone.

  Even at this distance I could feel the shockwaves trembling through the ground. I climbed to the peak of the mountain and looked down on the town beyond the smoking forest.

  Dozens of hovercrafts glided over the town firing red and green rays. Flames rose from several places within its borders and more sprung up around it. The time-delayed shockwaves sounded like far off thunder. I sat on a rock watched the drama below with heavy heart. It all looked hopeless.

  When the attack finally ceased I stood and walked to the other side of the mountain peak. The trail I’d followed to the summit continued down the far side. From where I stood it disappeared and reappeared several times, winding its way between the mountains all the way to the horizon. The valleys between the mountains were green and lush. With very little hesitation I started to walk.

  A hovercraft landed nearby and a few moments later two soldiers appeared next to Daio. One of them shouted something at him but he didn't even wait for Daio to respond before running towards him and knocking him down. They both fell and the soldier was the first to his feet. He stood over Daio and shouted loudly. Although shocked, Daio noticed two things. One was that the soldier’s dialect was different from that he had heard so far. The second was that the soldier was as tall as him.

  He rose and the solider yanked him out of the bushes. The two soldiers talked as they pushed him between the trees, limping towards the opening. When they were out of the tree line the soldier pushed Daio again, hard, and his swollen leg gave out. He tumbled over.

  The soldier shouted a string of words at him, but he spoke so fast that the words sounded all jumbled together to Daio. He rose again and the soldier pushed him towards the hovercraft. There was a buzz from the forest and the Flyeyes started to return and swarm into a small door on the side of the hovercraft. A few of them missed the door, and smashed against the fuselage. The soldier behind Daio said something in an angry tone. When he was close to one of the twitching Flyeyes he kicked it hard. The Flyeye bounced off the side of the hovercraft with a high-pitched metallic sound and rolled onto the ground motionless.

  The buzzing noise coming from the side door of the hovercraft gradually grew until it stopped abruptly.

  The flight was short and the hovercraft landed in front of a building in the center of the town. Daio was already familiar with it. The front was completely destroyed, as was one of the corners of the upper floor where the chamber of the President of Naan was. The rebels had surgically removed it just before the army of Mampas took over the planet. Wreckage was scattered all over the street. A work team was busy clearing it away to restore access to the building.

  Daio was taken inside, limping in pain along corridors. From afar he could see the Doctor walking toward him with his quick little steps, and a big smile on his large face. The little man started to talk enthusiastically as soon he was close enough to be heard, adjusting the device that was still on his waist.

  “Sorry,” Daio heard him say, “I forgot to change it over. I am so happy to see you safe.”

  A few soldiers stood next to the Doctor. They were all taller than him by at least a head. One of them spoke to him angrily and the Doctor’s smile vanished. He lifted his gaze and responded reproachfully. Three policemen in black uniforms who stood a short distance away stepped forward and stood next to the Doctor. The argument became more and more heated until someone called out from the end of the corridor.

  The man was tall. His uniform was covered in insignias of rank and shining badges. He strode forward, tall and proud, with an air of command. The soldiers came to attention along the corridor as he passed. He stopped in front of the Doctor and stared at him with contempt before shifting his gaze to Daio. He scanned him from bottom to top. Daio’s face was sooty and covered with cuts and dried blood. His hands and the legs that peeked from his burned clothes were no better. The officer wrinkled his nose at Daio’s sooty smell and his face transitioned from contempt to rejection.

  He looked back at the Doctor and spoke quickly. The Doctor interrupted him several times. The little man with the big head spoke back to him decisively. The officer looked at one of the soldiers, growled a few words and started to walk away.

  The soldier shoved Daio in the direction of the officer, but the Doctor stood in front of them and blocked the way. The officer turned back and smiled. He spoke again and the Doctor stepped aside, satisfied.

  They walked along the corridor, the Doctor hurrying along next to Daio.

  “They want to interrogate you,” he said. “I am trying to explain to them that you don't understand Mampasian, but they don't believe me.”

  “Who are they?” asked Daio.

  The Doctor looked at him with surprise. “Mampas!” he answered quickly. “You
did it. They arrived at the last minute.”

  Daio gazed at him surprised.

  “It’s not a dream, this is real,” said the Doctor looking at his doubtful face. “They eliminated the rebels.”

  “So what is the argument all about?”

  “This officer wants to take you to back to Mampas with him.”

  “Why?”

  “For interrogation. Don't you understand? You don't look local. I suppose they think you are Desertian.”

  "Desertian?"

  "From the desert of Mampas. The rebels are from there."

  Daio shook his head. He didn't really cared about the details. “Where is Sosi?” he asked.

  “I don't know. I told them about him. I told them he was the one that made contact with them and that they must find him. They sent hovercrafts into the forest to look for him. I hope they find him soon.'

  “The forest was burned to the ground,” said Daio, “If they find him…” he shook his head.

  “Don't despair.”

  “What about Dug, where is he?”

  “He is being taken care of. He’ll be okay.”

  They entered a room and the soldier ordered him to sit down. Daio limped to the chair, held on to its back, and settled slowly into it, sighing. He shook his head again. He was worried that something had happened to Sosi. The Doctor brought another chair over and sat next to him.

  “If they find out we are from Seragon we are doomed,” he said, but the words came out of his mouth almost indifferently. The pain, the weariness, and the thoughts about Sosi made him think that maybe it didn’t matter anymore.

  “I think you are exaggerating. You didn't kill anyone there right?”

  Daio nodded. He didn't have the strength to explain.

  “We owe you our lives,” said the Doctor but immediately corrected himself, “Naan owes you its life.”

  Daio looked at his big face and suddenly remembered that he had been with them in the forest. He wondered how he had escaped the hell it had become. There wasn’t a scratch on him.

  The officer entered the room and walked towards him, distracting him from his thoughts. He looked at the Doctor and spoke rapidly.

  “Clearly he doesn't speak Naanite," said the Doctor while the officer was still talking." He wants the device to translate.” The officer looked at the Doctor. His brows clearly indicating his displeasure the Doctor interrupted him and said something in a language he didn’t understand. He started to speak harshly to the Doctor. The little man held his ground and fired words back at him until the officer’s face turned red.

  “I told him you are merchants that recently arrived from the other side of the galaxy. I said that you speak ancient Naanite and that the device doesn't know how to translate your words into Mampasian.”

  The officer looked at them, impatient. The fact he needed the small man with a large head to run this interrogation made him mad. Daio, on the other hand, didn't understand why merchants arriving from the other side of the galaxy would speak ancient Naanite.

  “My name is Colonel Lucas. I am the commander of the fifth division of Mampas army. Now, I am the temporary governor of Naan.” The officer said, the Doctor translated into Naanite, and the device on his hip translated into Seragonian.

  “The Doctor says you are innocent, but all signs point to you being part of this takeover attempt. I suggest you cooperate because, one way or the other, I will extract the truth from you.”

  After translating, the Doctor said something to the officer in Mampasian and the officer’s response started another loud argument. The officer looked away, stood, and left the room.

  “He’s not asking questions, he’s only throwing accusations, and I will not allow it.”

  “Aren't you afraid of him?”

  “No. We are useful to them. Naan is only a small backwater planet to them, but still they need to know when something is happening here. That is exactly what we have done, and I am not afraid to tell him this to his face.”

  “So why is he so angry?”

  “I assume they are surprised. The rebels were no simple outside invaders. They were not even from the outer planets of Dion system. They came from Mampas itself, from the desert, and they are having a hard time accepting the fact they didn't see it coming. They’ve been hounded by these rebels for hundreds of years and now they’re worried that their success here is an indication of something.”

  “Dion?”

  “The star of this planetary system.”

  Daio nodded. “Where did he go anyway?”

  “To consult with his superiors,” said the Doctor and gazed at him. “Don't worry; he is only a little clerk. My contacts in the Mampas government are at a much higher level and I think eventually they will believe me.”

  Daio nodded. “Just find Sosi,” he mumbled.

  “You need to see a doctor,” said the Doctor sounding as if he was ignoring Daio words.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “Of course, but the war just ended. The soldiers, the Flyeyes and the hovercrafts of Mampas are everywhere. Some of them are looking for him. I know this for a fact. If I send out a search team they might hurt them.”

  “What if he is wounded?” Daio said and shook his head. He hoped he was only wounded.

  “At this stage you'll have to settle for what we are doing,” said the Doctor. “They still suspect you are part of the takeover attempt, but maybe that is a good thing at this stage. If they think that, then it's in their best interest to find him as well.”

  “When can I see Dug?”

  “He is asleep,” said the Doctor.

  “Is he okay? Are you sure of that?” asked Daio.

  “'He is alive, said the Doctor, “They interrogated him.”

  Daio gazed at him. “When?”

  “Before I returned from the forest.”

  Daio nodded. “How? He doesn’t speak their language.”

  “I know. They have beaten him. They thought he was just refusing to talk, but he is okay.”

  “Beaten him? He was already injured when we left. How can anyone beat an injured man?”

  “It could have been worse,” said the Doctor.

  “What can be worse than beating a wounded man? You promised you would take care of him.”

  “I wasn't here when they interrogated him. My people were guarding his room, but the soldiers killed one of them and broke in.”

  “Take me to him! Now!” said Daio angrily.

  The Doctor sighed and looked at him. “I plan to stand behind my promise. I will protect you with my life.”

  “Sosi is gone and Dug is barely alive. I am beginning to doubt your capabilities.”

  The Doctor nodded. “Come, I'll take you to him.” He helped Daio stand and the two walked to the door.

  Two Mampasian soldiers and two Naanite policemen were standing in the corridor outside the door. The Doctor spoke to them and asked that they be taken to Dug's room. The policemen led the way to the end of the corridor and the two soldiers walked behind. The stairs took the little strength Daio had. When they reached the third floor he was completely exhausted.

  “Why are there no elevators?” he mumbled himself leaning on the railings at the third floor.

  He took two a deep breath and pushed himself away from the railing. They walked along the corridor until one of the policemen opened a door to their right. They went inside the room and Daio saw someone on a bed. His legs stuck out past its end. His upper body and head were bent. He limped quickly over to him and his eyes widened in shock.

  “What did they do to him?” he cried looking at Dug's the bruised and swollen face.

  “I am sorry,” said the Doctor.

  “Is he alive?” he asked bending over towards Dug's face.

  “They put him in a coma.”

  Daio dragged a chair to the bed, dropped himself on it with a grunt, and looked at Dug's face.

  “The worst is behind us,” said the Doctor as if to comfort him.

&n
bsp; Daio didn't take his eyes off Dug. He repeated the Doctor words, as if to test their truth.

  They didn't leave the room for a few weeks. The Doctor removed everything from the room and brought in another bed, a table, and a few chairs. Although Daio was almost recovered after a week, and was physically able to leave the room, the Mampas representatives insisted he stay in the room and left a soldier to guard the door.

  Through the bars over their window they could see, and hear, the town coming back to life. Old and noisy vehicles cleared away stones and soot blackened rubble. Others vehicles mounted with large brushes cleaned the streets so often that Daio could recognize them by their sound.

  The noises in the street always brought him back to the reality around them. It turned his thoughts to Sosi and of how things could have turned out so much better if only they’d landed on a more civilized planet. They could have hidden among millions of people, or in the worst case among the thousands of homeless, that nobody knew of or cared about.

  Days and weeks passed, but there was no sign to Sosi. Daio asked the Doctor for permission to leave the room and join the search but the Doctor only showed him a video of the searches they were conducting. It was clear that they were not holding back in their efforts.

  The Mampasian Flyeyes scanned the forest for days. Soon the percentage of Flyeyes that they were losing due to Naan’s thin air startled the officer in charge and he removed them from the search effort. The Doctor gathered up every able bodied resident of the town and they searched the forest in for Sosi and the missing policemen. The search led nowhere. Nothing organic had survived the fire. Even the hovercraft was reduced to shapeless globs of metal.