The Secret of Mars

“Aunt Phameena, what a surprise,” Prince EJ said upon seeing Jeanip’s mate walk through Europa’s portal, accompanied by Latrill and Colvin. “My parents did not mention you were coming for a visit.”

“That is because I did not notify them,” Phameena replied, raising her hand to her forehead and bowing. “I knew your father would try to talk me out of coming.” Phameena turned and saw the large twelve-armed octopus floating nearby. She bowed her head but did not raise her hand. “Hygone, it has been several years since we have seen each other.”

“As always, it is good to see you, Mistress Phameena,” Hygone greeted. “I just wish it was under happier circumstances.” The Ancient bowed deeply, showing the real leader of the Oonock VeeRay the respect she deserved.

“Your Majesty,” Latrill and Colvin both greeted, raising their hands to their foreheads and bowing.

“It never ceases to astonish me how mature you are, Your Majesty,” Latrill smiled. “My oldest son is your age, yet he is still an infant.”

“Compliments of the Orbs,” EJ replied. “Their way of keeping me and the others safe from the humans’ curiosity of why we never aged. Remember, here on Earth babies grow rapidly and are little adults by age twelve. We Oonocks are still infants until we are one hundred and do not reach pre-adulthood until approximately six hundred years old.”

“So true,” Latrill chuckled.

“Hygone, may I present two former Earth Oonocks, Latrill, and Colvin.”

Both Oonocks bowed, as did Hygone. “It is an honor to meet you, Hygone, at last,” Colvin greeted.

“So, you were born on Earth,” Hygone stated, noting the age of the two males. She estimated Latrill to be around three thousand, Colvin closer to five. “How long have you been gone from Earth?”

“I returned for a very brief moment about twenty years ago,” Colvin announced. “Latrill has not been back since the day we all left Earth and crossed through the portal to Europa.”

“You did not like Earth?” Hygone asked, curious as to why the younger male had never returned to his birth land.

“On the contrary,” Latrill responded. “I love Earth dearly. It will always be my home. Although Europa is my homeland, Earth is where I was born. Therefore, I have a particular fondness for her. Shortly after our arrival on Europa, I united with a beautiful female from the Trader Clan named Subree. We had two sons in a short number of years, so I was unable to return to Earth for a visit. Then, Lord Jun offered me a position as his Head Commander of Communications, so again I was unable to return. But now, with the disappearance of Monarch Jeanip, Princess Mary, and the others, my duty dictates that I return to help find them.”

“Has there been any news at all?” Colvin asked, addressing the young prince.

EJ could see Phameena tense, waiting to hear his response. “Unfortunately, not. Staybo has been unable to determine where they went or might be. I am sorry, Phameena.”

Controlling her emotions, the female turned to Hygone again. “Hygone, you haven’t been able to discover anything either? If this obelisk is from FarCore, shouldn’t there be some record of it somewhere?”

“I’m sorry, Mistress Phameena, but you were misinformed,” Hygone replied. “We have no evidence to show that the obelisk is from FarCore. From the little we do know of Mary’s disappearance, we do believe Mary is inside Mars’ FarCore with my lost brother. But we cannot state that she was brought there by this obelisk. We believe it may be a Stryguard Obelisk built by the Librarians, but we cannot confirm that either. Many travelers have passed through this solar system since its formation over four billion years ago.”

“My information is in error then,” was all Phameena said on the subject. “Your Majesty, how is your mate, Miss Medaron, holding up? She must be devastated at the disappearance of your daughter and now of the others.”

“As well as can be expected,” EJ replied. “She is confident that we will find a way to bring Mary back. As for the others, well, she holds out hope. As we all do.”

“And your parents? I know Jeanip is like Queen Europa’s second father.” EJ noticed that, at the mention of her mate’s name, Phameena stepped into her former role of protector and soldier. She refused to give in to the emotions raging through her.

“Mattwa puts up a good front for the sake of our people,” EJ replied. “You, more than anyone, realize how much your mate means to her. The thought of losing him and her granddaughter has shaken her. She has survived many tragedies over the years, and I have no doubt that she will survive this too. However, there is some concern over my unborn brother. Dattwa is apprehensive about her.”

“As am I,” Phameena said, remembering back to the almost tragic emergence of his and his sister’s eggs.

“Hygone, if you will excuse us, I need to take Phameena, Latrill, and Colvin to the estate to see Medi,” EJ announced. “I will come back tomorrow.”

“As much as I would love to see your mate, I must decline,” Phameena stated. “We are scheduled to be on a flight to Mars tomorrow morning and must go see your parents before we depart.”

“Mars?” a surprised EJ asked. “You three are going to Mars?”

“I cannot wait patiently on Europa in hopes My Jeanip will reappear,” Phameena announced. “And since your parents cannot make the journey to Mars because of your mother’s implantation, I must go. Latrill and Colvin are going to escort me and, hopefully, discover something Staybo has not.”

“After all, Latrill and I are the ones that taught Staybo everything he knows,” Colvin laughed. “There may have been a few secrets we accidentally forgot to mention.”

“Besides, we two are the ones that wrote the book on communications and tracking,” Latrill added. “Staybo is good, but we’re better.”

“I hope you are right,” a serious EJ replied.

“Your Majesty, the meal is ready,” Doogon informed Kiijon. “Should I inform Queen Europa?”

“No, I will,” Kiijon stated, looking at the closed door. Europa had been behind the closed door with Phameena for several hours. He had no doubt the two females were trying to console the other one for the sorrow in their hearts. Even though both females were strong women, they allowed themselves to grieve and worry behind closed doors. “Latrill, Colvin, you go with Doogon and start eating.” He saw the look of astonishment in their eyes. They could not possibly eat before their monarchs. “It’s okay. I give you permission to start without us. With all that has happened, the last thing we need to worry about is proper Oonock etiquette and who eats before whom. Besides, I’ve seen both of you eyeing the kitchen, anticipating Doogon’s cooking.”

“You are correct, Your Majesty.” Latrill blushed with embarrassment. “I still remember her cooking. I even dream about it occasionally.”

“No one can beat Doogon,” Colvin added. “Although Sinwee is close.”

“So very true,” Kiijon replied, rising into the water. “Hopefully, I will join you shortly with our two ladies.” As the two males followed Doogon into the kitchen, Kiijon floated over to his bedroom door and softly knocked. After several seconds, he opened it. There, as he expected, were his mate and Phameena sitting on the stone couch, each holding the other’s hand. He could tell both had been crying. “Excuse me, My Love, Phameena. Doogon has the meal ready. I imagine Phameena should eat something before she leaves for Mars.”

“Yes, the rule of a soldier dictates he or she keep their strength up and eat,” Phameena said, releasing Europa’s hand and rising. “As it is for an expectant mother. Latrill and Colvin are looking forward to seeing you. They missed you when you and King Kiijon visited a few months ago.”

“It will be great to see them, especially Latrill,” Europa said, standing and slipping her arm inside her mate’s.

Kiijon escorted the two females to the dining room. As he helped Europa into her seat, he quickly turned and silently mouthed the words “Thank you” to Phameena. Whatever she had done or said, he could already see a difference in his mate. The twinkle was returning to her eyes.

Even though there was much to talk about, the meal was kept light and cordial. Europa eagerly listened to Latrill’s stories about his mate, Subree, and his two sons. He also explained some of the work he was doing for King Jun, leaving out any classified details. Even though Kiijon and Europa were technically his king and queen, he still owed allegiance to King Jun and, therefore, kept certain things a secret. Colvin told about a trip he and his family had taken to the Valley of Colors to see the beautiful kallis. They went during the mating season when they changed colors, thus making them visible in the colorful bushes. Colvin reported the boys had a very good time.

After the meal, Doogon brought out squint to drink and a dessert made of tumble berries, dingleberries, and sea peas. The group adjourned to an outside patio overlooking the small complex. For the next two hours, Kiijon and Jazee told what they knew about the incident, and everything Earon and Staybo were doing to try to discover where they went. Kiijon saw both Europa and Phameena’s bodies slightly stiffen when Jazee stated it was unknown if they had not been taken into FarCore as Mary had.

“Your Majesty, might Latrill and I get a copy of those reports from Staybo?” Colvin asked. “I’d like us to study them on our voyage to Mars. Perhaps we can discover something in them that Staybo did not see. Or think of another way to scan for their ship.”

“I don’t believe we need them anymore,” Kiijon replied, looking over at Jazee.

“No, Your Majesty,” Jazee replied. “There is nothing more they can tell us. But, hopefully, they can tell Latrill and Colvin something.”

Latrill lifted from the nearby table the picture of the emblem discovered on the starship and fliers. “No one has been able to identify this yet?”

“No. Everyone, including Hygone, is at a loss at to what it means or who it belongs to,” Jazee replied.

“Is it still believed that the missing starship was Terrian, disabled when JeffRa attacked Mars?” Phameena asked.

“Not anymore,” Jazee stated. “Our first analysis of the ship had shown it contained Andrium III and soobree. Thus our conclusion it was Terrian and built on Ganymede. However, after a more complete analysis, two metals were discovered that we could not identify. The chemical engineers on Mars said they had never seen anything close to its molecular makeup. All are in agreement that it could not have come from our solar system. Upon checking the database showing all the metals from all the other planets who have representatives in the Coalition, there was no match.”

“Not only do they believe it is not from our solar system, but it’s not even from our galaxy,” Kiijon added. “The engineers estimated it is at least nineteen million years old. From what we know, no civilization in this galaxy achieved flight that long ago.”

“So are they suggesting it came from another galaxy?” Colvin asked.

“Yes, that is their hypothesis,” Kiijon answered. “A ship from an advanced race that could fly across the universe before humans even existed, before Oonocks had a written language.”

“Nineteen million?” Phameena said, a look of sheer amazement on her face. “So that means it arrived on Mars nine million years before Weenow was sentenced to the planet? And it was there the entire time our Oonocks lived there?”

“Correct,” Jazee replied.

“Might I interrupt for a moment?” Europa interjected. “Latrill, you have not stopped staring at that picture since you picked it up. Do you recognize it?”

“I’m not sure, Your Majesty,” Latrill answered. “It somehow seems familiar, but not because I’ve seen it. More like heard of it, although I can’t imagine how that is possible. Except,” he paused for a moment. “Is there a way you can send a copy of this picture to Subree?”

“Of course,” Europa immediately replied, a small look of hope in her eyes, the first Kiijon had seen in days. “Might I ask why you think Subree might know what it is?”

“After our youngest was hatched, she took up the quest of cleaning up the old library,” Latrill began to explain. “If you remember, it was in quite a disarray.”

“I remember,” Europa laughed. “That is how Z was able to get ahold of the speeder blueprints.”

“She found in a back room crates of old tablets and craybin scrolls, some dating back before Neewa and Kyy placed the Lilac Orbs in the valley to keep the Horrturn out.”

“Neewa and Kyy lived over ten million years ago,” Europa stated. “And you said she found documents even before then?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Latrill replied. “She’s been compiling, shall we say, a more accurate history of our race. At night she would tell me about her latest finds or some new text she or one of the decoders were able to translate. I vaguely remember her talking about a dark vertical line with three dots.”

“You do not remember more?” Phameena asked, intrigued by this new bit of information also.

“No,” Latrill replied, his cheeks momentarily blushing. “I am embarrassed to say that sometimes I didn’t pay very good attention. Often I brought my work home with me and would pretend to listen while I ran some new problem through my thoughts, trying to find a solution. Now I wish I had listened better.”

“Jazee, get a copy of that insignia to King Jun right away,” Kiijon ordered. “Ask him to forward it to Subree and see if she can identify it.”

“Right away, Sire,” Jazee said, hurrying from the room.

Phameena looked at her timepiece. “We too must take our leave. Our flight leaves in six hours.”

“We will escort you to FarCore and the entrance into the Estate,” Europa stated. “Do you need us to contact Prince EJ so he can arrange your transportation to the ship?”

“No, we gave him that information before we came down,” Phameena replied, walking alongside her queen down the short hallway to the entrance into FarCore. Upon entering, they walked over to the gateway into Earth.

“Take care of yourself and your unborn, Your Majesty,” Phameena said, giving Europa a huge hug. “Try not to worry too much. Jeanip would be upset if any harm comes to this child because of him.”

“That he would.” Europa kissed her aunt on the cheek. “Knowing you will be on Mars looking for him will help. Find him and bring him home to us.”

“I will do my best, My Queen,” Phameena said. After giving Kiijon a hug also, she and the others stepped through the portal and into EJ’s library. Their journey to Mars had begun.

Subree was intrigued when she received a communique from the palace. She quickly opened the envelope and was surprised to see a hastily written note from her mate, Latrill.

Dearest Subree;

I need for you to investigate this mark. I remember you saying you had seen a design similar to this. Make this your number one top priority. It may help us find Princess Mary and the others.

Love always,

Latrill

Subree looked at the photo. The design was familiar. She had encountered the mark months earlier while examining some ancient scrolls in the Library. At the time, she didn’t think they were significant and set them aside. Latrill said discovering what it was was important. She looked at the timepiece. It was almost time for night meal, but if she left right away, she might be able to reach the Library before the lights dimmed.

She rushed into the kitchen and threw some food in a bag, then swam through the house looking for her mother. Since Latrill would be gone for several months, she had decided it would be best to share her mother’s residence. “Mattwa, there you are. Can you watch the boys for me? I have to go to the library.”

“Now?” her mother asked, surprised and concerned over her daughter’s announcement. “It’s late. Almost meal time. Can’t you wait until tomorrow?”

“No, I have to go now,” Subree replied. “The boys are playing in the playroom. Don’t wait for me for night meal. And don’t worry, I am taking some food with me. I’ll probably be late, so don’t wait up either.” Having said that, she was gone.

“Make sure the guards escort you home,” Lady Zeetrill shouted after her.

Subree swam through the streets of Europa, which were relatively empty. As she rounded the last bend, she heard the bells announce the beginning of the evening. Several seconds later, the lights dimmed around the city. She hurried a little faster and was glad to see the two guards standing their posts outside. She greeted both cordially and advised them that she might be inside for some time. Reaching into her bag, she also brought out two tingjons, an Oonock dessert, and handed one to each guard, a thank you for watching over her.

Not wanting to advertise the fact that she was inside working, she did not turn on the lights. Instead, she retrieved a glow rod and swam down the dark corridors toward the back of the library, then down a decline to the basement. She was pretty sure it was down there that she had seen the scroll with that symbol on it. Upon reaching the lower level, she stopped and stared at the four large rooms that branched off from the hallway. Which one? All four rooms contained numerous crates of scrolls, old books, carvings and other antiquities. If she couldn’t remember in which room she had seen the symbol, she would have to search room by room. And that would take months, months her monarchs did not have.

“Think, Subree,” she told herself, looking into each doorway one by one. Nothing sparked a memory. “Okay, first of all, I need to calm down.” She stopped, closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. As she expelled the lilac water through her gill slits, she allowed her feelings of excitement and anxiety to flow out with it, calming her insides. “Waters of Life, please lead me to the room where the symbol is. Help me find our beloved monarchs.” Keeping her eyes closed, she spun around in a small circle, holding out her arm. Slowly, her spinning eased until she stopped. She opened her eyes to see which room her arm was pointing to because that was the room she would start in. She was encouraged when she saw the room selected was the second room on the left. That was the room she had spent the most time in. Surely, this was a good sign.

Grabbing an empty crate from the hallway, she swam into the room. She looked at the daunting job before her. There were at least a hundred boxes piled on top of each other inside. Some were full, and others were half empty. Having no idea which crates had been gone through already, she lifted the first crate down and began to go through its contents, placing each object after being inspected into the empty crate. Before long, the new crate was full, and the former crate was empty. She then began to do the same for the next crate, and so on. After four hours, exhausted, she rested her head on a pile of books for a quick rest.

“Miss Subree, Miss Subree,” came a voice as Subree felt someone gently tapping her shoulder. “It’s I, Carlbree.”

“Oh, Carlbree,” a surprised Subree sated. “I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?”

“Two bells,” Carlbree replied. “Would you like Kreenow or me to escort you home?”

“I’d like to say no, but my mother will be worried if she awakens to find me not at home,” Subree replied, stretching out her wings and flapping them for a moment in the water to work out the kinks.

When she reached home, she curled up on the living room couch and fell fast asleep. She knew she would not oversleep if she remained there. The movements of either her mother or the boys would awaken her, and then she would return to the library. She had decided on the way home that, to expedite matters, she would start staying and sleeping inside the library. There were cushions on the main floor she could haul downstairs to sleep on. Her mother could bring her meals and anything else she might need. She also thought of asking several former colleagues to help with the sorting. They had helped her a few months back and might be available to help again.

For the next four days, Subree sorted through the room, painstakingly sifting through every box. She stayed at the library around the clock, barely eating or sleeping. But still, the mysterious insignia eluded her. Five of her former colleagues came and sorted through the crates in the other three rooms, but they too had no luck. Plus, they were only able to devote four or five hours a day to the project.

“Oh, this is hopeless,” Subree shouted, grabbing and throwing a book across the room. It floated through the water and gently touched the wall on the opposite side.

“Is there anything I can help with?” Carlbree asked as he entered with the latest meal her mother had delivered.

“Not unless you can reach inside my mind and remember where I saw this symbol,” Subree replied, showing the soldier the picture her mate had sent her.

“When did you see it last?” Carlbree asked, sitting the container of food down on the nearby table.

“That’s just it. I’m not sure I have ever seen it,” Subree said. Carlbree gave her a strange look. “I mean, I think I saw it several months ago somewhere down here. But I don’t remember when, for sure, or in which room.”

“Is it important?”

“Extremely.”

“I am sure King Jun would authorize a small detail of soldiers to help look through all this stuff,” Carlbree suggested.

“Although a great suggestion, I hate to resort to that,” Subree replied. “Some of this material is millions of years old and very delicate. It takes experts to check and re-box them carefully.”

Carlbree laughed. “I suppose we soldiers are not known for our gentleness. Did you happen to check through that box of stuff you had me take up to your office a few months back?”

Subree didn’t have an office. She had appropriated an old storage room on the main floor as her work space. Inside were a desk, some shelves, and two chairs, plus some craybin paper and writing tools. Whenever she found anything of particular importance, she had one of the guards take it to her office for future examination.

“You did?” Subree asked. “Did I give you anything from this room?”

“Yes,” Carlbree. “Two books and three scrolls. And a purple ornament.”

The purple ornament! Now Subree remembered. She found it in a crate that contained ancient artifacts. It was tied around an ancient scroll. It was a large purple diamond on which were etched three dots beside a tall, skinny triangle. The scroll appeared so old that she had feared to open it and had Carlbree take it upstairs. Then something else must have gotten her attention because she is never went back to examine it. In fact, she had totally forgotten about it.

“I could kiss you,” Subree said, jumping up into the water. With the picture in hand, she dashed from the room, then returned. “I think I will.” She kissed a startled Carlbree, then swam from the room, up the incline to her office. She quickly started going through the various crates, but she could not find the elusive emblem. “Think, Subree.” Then she remembered. She had hidden the crate beneath her desk for safe keeping. Hurrying over, she bent down and peered beneath her desk. There, lying in a small box, tied around the scroll was a purple diamond with three circles and a tall, thin triangle. Gently, she reached under and pulled the crate toward her, then lifted it up onto her desk. Holding the picture beside the ornament, she compared the two.

“Are they a match?” a breathless Carlbree asked,

“Yes, they match perfectly,” Subree sighed.

“What does it mean?”

“I have no idea,” Subree replied, a huge smile on her face. “But I am going to find out. Swim and get Richdog and Cleevin. I’ll need their help to open the scroll so it doesn’t disintegrate. Tell them to bring the pressurized scroll box.”