Chapter 7
Citrine at Last
Amassive explosion boomed around her and a great cloud rose into the sky. Buildings began to crumble and Saffyre could see people fl eeing in terror. Panic reigned! Vehicles crashed and trees erupted into balls of flame.
Onyx stopped the film. “This is a composite of events that happened on your planet 99 years ago,” she informed them. “It is not actual footage and I am only showing you a small part of it, as I believe that the death and destruction that follows will be too horrific for you to watch. Learn from it young ones! Don’t let your people repeat the mistakes of the past. Let harmony rule! Follow me now and you will be taken back to your starship.”
They followed her soberly outside. Onyx showed them how to use the Azurite aids and led them to a hovercraft.
“Zircon will pilot you back to your starship and I will now bid you farewell and good luck,” she told them. “Duplex, you may contact me at any time using this mobile communicator if you need help. Remember if we hear nothing at all from you in the next twelve hours, IPU will send in its team to rescue you. Goodbye.” She stepped back and watched them board.
Soon they were landing beside the Saffyre Starlight; Krys-tal was waiting outside to greet them. “How did it go?” She looked searchingly at Duplex.
“Extremely well,” he informed her. “Onyx has given us objects that are certain to help us on our mission. She has also offered to send extra help and has given us information that suggests Quartz is headed for a remote planet called Citrine. We believe that a small group will have more success landing there. How about you? Have you been able to contact the team back at Star Fire City and have they heard from the Professors?”
“Our squad at Star Fire City has not had any contact with the Amega Astrospeed at all,” said Krystal.
“Then I guess we will now depart for Citrine,” replied Duplex. He addressed the group: “Lazar you can co-pilot with me for a while and then Krystal can take over. Onyx has given me specific details about the planet. It’s now 1.30pm on Citrine and it will take us about two hours to reach her, making it around 3.30pm in the afternoon when we finally arrive there. The sun sets at about 5.30pm, so we will have around two hours of light to find where the Professors are being held, if indeed they are there. When we board the starship, please dress in your most protective spacesuits. Citrine has great extremes in temperature. It will be very hot when we arrive but the temperature drops away sharply at night. It goes without saying that you will still need your oxygen attachments. Krystal, I’ll brief you about everything, and then we’ll send a message to Inspector Jazelle to keep her updated.”
When they boarded the starship, Saffyre quickly removed the small oxygen attachment from her nose. It tended to feel uncomfortable after prolonged use. Krystal collected them from everyone, for replenishing. They all changed and took their seats. The Saffyre Starlight was soon airborne.
They made a smooth transition into space. Duplex suggested that Saffyre and Zavier have a short snack and rest. “We have a huge task ahead of us,” he told them. “Make the most of the time that you have now.”
Saffyre settled down on a comfortable sofa after eating. Her mind was still racing from the disturbing film that Onyx had shown them. She looked over at Zavier and was about to speak to him about when she heard soft snores coming from his direction. She couldn’t believe it. Her brother was sound asleep! It demonstrated one of the main differences between them, Zavier had an amazing ability to simply switch off and unwind, and Saffyre found she was totally unable to do it. After a while she got up and began to look out of the window. She watched as they passed a dazzling display of stars. It made her feel better to think that at last they were on their way to find her parents.
As they approached Citrine, Duplex switched on a giant plasma screen that showed the planet’s land mass. One side of the small planet was completely rocky and barren. Krys-tal checked the outdoor scanner and shook her head. “Only very primitive life forms are registering,” she told him. “Try flying around past that huge crevice, we may be able to see more.”
Sure enough once they flew past the crevice they could see the land becoming sandy like a desert. Spiky bushes with huge thistles dotted the landscape as far as the eye could see. Krystal checked the scanner again. “I’m picking up more significant life forms now,” she told Duplex. “Not only plants but small animal life too, keep flying in this direction. There’s no sign of the Amega Astrospeed at all.”
Now the land was becoming dense with bare and spiky trees that contrasted drastically with the lush green life on Azurite. Overhead, large, vulture-like birds were scouring the countryside for food. Duplex continued flying for several more minutes until they reached the coast.
“We’ll land here I think,” he said, pointing down to the beach. “We’ll have less chance of being detected than if we land in open desert. The woody area doesn’t have enough clearing for a safe landing. Please take your seats.”
Everybody took a seat, while Duplex flew the Saffyre Starlight down onto the sand. They were all wearing their protective suits and Krystal gave each of them the replenished, oxygen attachments. Duplex carried the Azurite aids.
“Now remember, it is important to keep together,” Duplex reminded them. “We do not want a repeat of what occurred on Azurite,” he looked meaningfully at Zavier who frowned. “We’ll take Kay4 with us and leave Excel to guard the starship. I’ll just activate the camouflage shield so that the Starlight will blend into her surroundings. Quartz may be watching out for us.”
Krystal raised the hatch and they walked out in single file with Duplex leading the way. He surveyed the beach. The sand was hard to the touch and the waves rolling onto the beach were a dark brown. The sky overhead was almost tan in colour and looked dark and foreboding. On one side on the beach, tall, towering cliffs seemed to frown down at the trespassers below. To the left however, the hill looked more climbable and there appeared to be trees at the top. It looked far more inviting and yet Duplex seemed undecided about which route to take.
“For heaven’s sake!” cried Zavier. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go! It’s obvious that this is the better way.” He pointed to the hill on their left.
“I’m in charge!” Duplex snapped. “And frankly it bothers me, Quartz is clever, I wouldn’t put it past him to have set up some kind of trap. We haven’t seen the Astrospeed anywhere, and I don’t intend getting caught by Quartz. We haven’t even ascertained if the Professors are here.”
Krystal and Lazar agreed with Duplex, the way really did seem suspiciously easier. But Saffyre and Zavier both felt they were worrying too much.
“Let’s at least go to the top of the hill and look,” Saffyre suggested. “Just look at those cliffs, they’ll be an absolute nightmare to climb!”
“Don’t forget we have the rope ladder,” Duplex reminded her.
In the end Duplex told them to wait while he and Lazar went ahead and checked that it looked relatively safe. They didn’t need the bullitt rope ladder and were able to scale the hill easily. Soon Duplex was signaling for them all to come up. “It appears okay.” he called out to them.
After several minutes they were all standing at the top of the hill. In front of them was a glade of leafy trees which were bathed in the afternoon sunshine. Flowers of all colours dotted the lush, green grass, contrasting greatly with the rest of the rough landscape of Citrine.
“How is it that we couldn’t see this glade on the Starlight?” asked Saffyre amazed.
“Don’t go in there!” Krystal warned them. “I suggest that we go around it.”
“Nonsense!” Zavier said, and walked into the glade. Golden, dancing light shone down on him through the trees and a soft twittering of birds could be heard. Then a long gentle note of exquisite music floated across to them. Entranced, Saffyre stepped into the glade with him.
“I can see an easy path through,” she shouted excitedly.
Shrugging Duplex and Lazar joined them. Only Krystal remained outside the glade now. Zavier reached over and grabbed her arm so that they were all standing in the mysterious clearing.
Immediately the light changed. It became darker and strange shadows surrounded them. The trees were stripped bare and scavenger birds sat in their branches looking menacingly at them. The music stopped and a vicious wind whipped up.
“Let’s get out of here,” Krystal screamed.
Then it happened. Like someone had turned out a light, they were standing in deep, impenetrable darkness. Saffyre could hear groaning and skull-like images hovered close to her face. She seemed utterly alone. Clammy creatures with bulging eyes appeared at her feet and began to scale up the side of her leg. She touched one, it felt cold and squelchy, it nipped at her and she screamed. She shrieked and clutched at her leg. The clammy creatures were dividing and disappearing into her skin like leeches. She scratched at them and huge red welts appeared. The creatures vanished and a mass of spiders began to swarm towards her. She yelled out in terror.
Someone grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the darkness. She was sobbing with fear. Duplex pushed her ahead of him and she saw his arm disappear into the darkness, Krystal came out white-faced and crying. Lazar stood beside her, he appeared dazed.
“Horrible spiders,” gasped Krystal.
“I saw snakes everywhere,” Lazar shuddered.
“Where is Zavier?” someone was yelling. Later Saffyre realized it was she that had spoken.
Without waiting, she raced back into the darkness though she was dimly aware that someone called out for her to stop. This time a thick mist swirled around her and she shivered as it cloaked her body with its icy fingers. She struck out in terror as leech-like creatures swarmed up her leg. No not again, they’re just like the leeches in my nightmares, thought Saffyre. She closed her eyes and shouted, “It’s not real Zavier! Close your eyes and tell yourself that it’s not real. They’re only nightmares!”
She opened her eyes and the mist had cleared. Zavier was standing in front of her and the creatures had vanished. The glade was warm and green again.
Zavier’s hair was still standing up where he had unconsciously rubbed it with his hands. “Saffyre it was awful,” he gasped. “Animals just like rats were chewing at my skin and horrible skulls surrounded me.”
Duplex ran forward and grabbed his arm. “Thankfully you’re alright” he cried. “I called out for Saffyre to wait. I wanted to put the rope around each of us before anyone went back inside that….” he paused, “that thing.”
“It was our nightmares come to life,” said Saffyre.
“The glade of nightmares,” Krystal muttered.
“We’ll go back down to the beach,” Duplex said. “I don’t trust anything up here. We don’t know what’s real or imaginary. I’m afraid we’ll have to climb up the huge cliff after all.
With heavy hearts they followed Duplex back down to the beach.