The Secret of Mars

“In addition to your regular duties, you will both serve an extra term of latrine duty for the next five weeks,” the Commander screamed at the two guards. “Next time you let someone sneak into the hangar and take a ship, I’ll have you thrown out into space without spacesuits. Is that understood?”

“Yes, Sir,” the two guards replied, thankful such a punishment was not their sentence this time.

“And you two,” the Commander said, walking over to stand in front of Phameena and Latrill. “How could you let Monarch Earon go out there and get taken too? And you, Mr. Latrill. I thought you were one of those protectors that make sure their monarch stays alive, not killed.”

“Are we under arrest?” Phameena asked.

“For what? Stupidity?” the Commander yelled. “Heaven knows you are guilty of that.”

The sound of running footsteps interrupted the Commander’s speech, something he was thankful for. He did not know what to do or how to handle these Oonocks. Everyone turned to see a young human soldier racing toward them, waving what looked like a piece of paper in his hand. “Commander, Commander, you’re not going to believe this,” the young soldier shouted as he drew near. “They’re back.”

“Who’s back?” the Commander asked.

“Mr. Waters and his niece, Amber,” the soldier yelled, out of breath as he handed his commander the message. “The speeder is on its way to the hangar as we speak. Estimated arrival is in fifteen minutes.”

Without even waiting to be released, Phameena ran toward the hangar, while Latrill ran to tell the others. Soon, everyone was in the hangar waiting for Earon and Amber’s return, excited, yet wondering how this could be. And why Mary wasn’t with them?

The group remained behind the glass protection while the hangar door opened and the speeder slide inside. The pilot sat it down on the floor, then turned off the engines. Once the hatch opened, two suited beings emerged. Once the doors resealed, Amber and Earon removed their helmets so everyone could see it was them.

Gart dashed from behind the glass panel and rushed to her, taking her in his arms and lovingly kissing her. “I thought I lost you forever.”

“You cannot get rid of me that easily,” Amber said. She heard her uncle clear his voice and immediately removed her arms from around her friend. “Sorry, Uncle. I forgot in the heat of the moment.”

“As your Great Grandfather would say, after what you just went through such a display of affection is understandable,” Earon smiled. “Just hold the rest to a more private time.”

“We will, Your Majesty,” Gart assured the monarch, reaching out and holding Amber’s hand, determined to never let her out of his sight again.

“Your Majesty, we are so happy to see you,” Latrill said, raising his hand to his forehead and bowing.

“As it is to see you,” Earon replied, returning the greeting with a slight bow. He looked over and saw Phameena crying. “Tears, Phameena?”

“I thought we had lost you too,” she replied, slowly walking forward and hugging him.

“I told you not to worry or become frightened.”

“That you did. Mary did not return with you?”

“She had to fix, ah, something before she returned,” Earon said, looking at the Commander.

“You lied to me, Mr. Waters,” the Commander said, walking toward the monarch. “You said if I released you from jail you would not try to leave the planet.”

“Did I leave?” Earon asked, a big smile on his face. “I never left Mars. I was here all the time. You just could not see me.”

“Exactly where on Mars were you?” the Commander asked, determined to discover the truth of what had just transpired. “I need to know if that thing out there poses a threat to this station.”

“I assure you, Commander, as long as you leave it alone, it poses no threat,” Earon replied. “As for where I was, all I can say is I was transported somewhere inside Mars and allowed to return with my niece. My other niece will be returning at a later time.”

“That is an unacceptable answer,” the Commander shouted. “I need to know exactly where you were, how you got there, what you did to open that obelisk and how you were able to return with your niece.”

“Should I report to the brig now or later?” Earon asked.

“Excuse me?” A confused Commander inquired.

“I have told you all that I can,” Earon replied. “So either sentence me to the brig or I will be on my way. I have much to do, a lost crew to find and news that I need to report to my king and queen.”

“I should throw the whole lot of you Oonocks in jail, along with Gart, Tong, and Glock,” an angry commander yelled as he walked away.

He heard Glock grunt. “Yeah, what did we do?” Tong asked.

“You’re friends with these people,” the Commander said. “At this point, you’re guilty by association.”

As soon as he turned the corner and was out of sight, Earon took Phameena’s hand and placed the tiny tantar in her palm. Like Earon had, she stared in astonishment. “TJ’s toy tantar. The one I gave him the day he left. How?”

“I have much to tell you, Phameena,” Earon said. “Great news.”

“You know where Jeanip and the others are?” she quickly asked, hope for the first time in her heart.

“No. I am sorry, Phameena. I do not have that information. But I do believe it is only a matter of time before we discover where they are. If TJ can find his way across space to bring you that than Jeanip can find his way home too.”

“Read that last part again,” Kiijon said, as he moved his newborn son into a clean birthing pouch. Ever since his hatching two days before, newborn Teelons’ stomach had been upset. Every time the newborn ate he soiled his birthing pouch, making it necessary to clean both him and the pouch about every two hours.

“I am sorry, Your Majesty,” Gardawyn apologized. “I thought for sure that jillip weed would have done the trick. Let’s see if we can get Little Teelons to chew on some baybark root. That always seems to calm newborn’s stomachs.”

“You tried that yesterday, and he would not take it,” Europa said, reaching inside the birthing pouch and rubbing her son’s stomach.

“That’s correct,” Gardawyn said. “But I spread some sweet dubrig butter on the baybark root in hopes that would entice our new prince to chew on the bark.”

“By all means, try it, Gardawyn,” a weary Kiijon sighed. “I don’t know how many more pouches of diarrhea I can clean out.” The three adults intently watched the newborn Oonock as Gardawyn placed a piece of baybark root beside his mouth. As before, Young Teelons turned away. But Gardawyn was not willing to give up that easy this time. Gently holding the newborn’s face, the medical assistant placed the tip of the root inside Teelons’ mouth, allowing some of the sweet butter to brush off on his tongue and lips. Instantly, the newborn ran his tongue over his lips, enjoying the new taste. He reached out and grabbed the baybark root and pulled it into his mouth, hungrily gnawing at the stick.

“I think we have a winner,” Kiijon smiled, relieved that his son was, at last, taking something to calm his stomach. “But what happens when all the dubrig butter is gone?”

“Hopefully, he will have acquired a taste for the bark and will continue to chomp away at it, thus bringing the needed medicine to his stomach,” Gardawyn replied. “But, in case he is as stubborn as your other children, I brought an extra-large container of butter so you can re-dip the bark as much as needed.”

“Thank you, Gardawyn,” Europa said. “Let me see, where was I in reading the report? Oh yes.”

“Weenow showed me some Tentons that he was able to save when JeffRa destroyed Mars. They are identical to the Tentons Hygone has in her home. Weenow thought perhaps Queen Europa would like these for her house. They cannot go through the opening but must cross over through the ship’s window, if Weenow and Mary can get it to open again.

“Mary sends her love. She is going to wave to you as she passes by. She is hoping you will wave back to her from Hygone’s window at 0-nine hundred on the fourteenth.”

“Signed, Earon.”

Europa turned over the page hoping there was more to the message, but there was no more. “Well, he certainly could have been a little clearer. I have never heard of Tentons, and I am sure Hygone never mentioned them. Why would I want some? Do you think they are like the little seenums Mother collected?”

“I believe we need to go pay Hygone a visit, My Love,” Kiijon said, moving Teelons’ mouth over to the feeding tube in hopes the bark would help him digest his food. “Apparently, whatever Earon discovered is too valuable or too important to take a chance that someone else might learn about it. He had to keep his message as cryptic as possible. By mentioning Hygone’s name, he knew we would seek her out and hopefully learn the truth.”

A look of hope crossed Europa’s face. “Do you think we will be able to see Mary through the window in two days?” Europa asked.

“I believe that part of his message was pretty straightforward,” Kiijon replied. “Weenow and Mary are repairing their side of the window and will have enough done that we will be able to see and possibly communicate with them.” Kiijon looked into his pouch and saw his son was finally sleeping peacefully. It appeared the baybark root had worked. “Teelons’ stomach seems to be doing better, so I don’t want to do anything that might upset it. You’ll need to go and see Hygone without me. Jazee, contact the estate and advice EJ and Medi that we have word on Mary and they need to meet your mother inside FarCore in fifteen minutes. Ask EJ to contact Hygone also.”

“Right away, Sire,” Jazee replied, leaving the room to send the message.

“I wish you could go with me,” Europa said, softly kissing her mate.

“If the bark continues to work, then I’ll be able to go with you in two days to see our missing granddaughter,” Kiijon said, kissing her back. “Teelons and I will anxiously be awaiting your return.”

Europa kissed him goodbye one more time, then hurried from the room down to the Communications Room to get Jazee. As she ran down the hallway, she passed Doogon, who was taking two fresh boxes of tubree worms down to King Kiijon for consumption. Even though she enjoyed their taste, she was glad her days of eating the squiggly worms was over – at least until the next time she had an egg growing inside her.

When Europa and Jazee arrived in FarCore, they saw EJ and his mate were already there, nervously waiting in front of the Orbs’ table.

“Is it true, Mattwa?” Medi asked. “Is there word on Mary?”

Europa was delighted to see hope in her daughter-in-law’s eyes, replacing the look of despair and loss that overshadowed her face for months. “Yes, Medi. Earon not only spoke with her, he saw her.”

“Really?” an excited EJ asked, reaching out and taking Medi’s hand. “He saw her? How is she?”

“Quite well,” Europa said. “As we suspected, she is with Weenow. Earon did not say much in his communique in fear someone might intercept the message. He did mention, however, that Weenow has some Tentons I might want for my house. He said Hygone had some.”

“What are Tentons?” Medi asked, turning to EJ for clarification.

“I have no idea,” EJ replied. “What are they, Mattwa?”

“I do not know either,” Europa said. “That is why we requested Hygone to join us. Will she be here?”

“I contacted her,” EJ said. “We just have to wait and see if she appears.”

“While we wait, I have more news,” a very excited Europa said. “Evidently, Weenow and Mary are fixing the window on their side. At 0-nine hundred in two days we will be able to see Mary through the Window of Universes.”

Medi could not say a word as tears of joy streamed down her face. She didn’t even think she had any tears left in her body, but there they were. But at least this time they were tears of happiness.

“Did I hear you mention my brother’s name?” came Hygone’s voice from above as she appeared floated down from the upper chamber. She bowed her head slightly. “Good day, Your Majesties. How can I be of service?”

“Good day, Hygone,” the three responded, also bowing their head slightly.

“We need to know what Tentons are,” EJ stated.

“Tentons?” a confused Hygone repeated. “Where did you hear that word?”

“My brother, Earon, sent us a communique from Mars,” Europa explained. “Somehow he was able to go inside FarCore and see Mary and Weenow. The report said Weenow had some Tentons that I might want for my home. He told me you had some in your home.”

The twelve-armed octopus remained suspended in the lilac water, thinking, trying to ascertain why Weenow would have Tentons or why the queen would want them.

“Do you know what they are?” Jazee asked.

“Yes, but I would not want them in my house,” Hygone laughed. “Nor would you, Your Majesty. Tentons are a kaatop.” Hygone thought for a moment. “You don’t have kaatops in your world. What would be similar to them? Something you would understand? A creature that invades your house?”

“A bug?” Medi suggested.

“A bug. Yes. Kaatops are an insect that lived on our homeworld. Horrible little things. They were always biting you and chewing things up. Every time you thought they were gone, they’d reappear.”

“Then why would Weenow say I would want them?” a confused Europa asked.

“That I do not know,” Hygone replied. “Was there more to the message? Perhaps if I knew it all, I could make sense out of this part.”

“Yes, it said that in two days at 0-nine hundred, we could wave to Weenow and Mary and they will wave back,” Europa answered. “That is all of the message.”

“Hmmm, that does not give us any more clarification,” Hygone said, swimming around the three. “What else have we thought gone only to discover it had returned?”

“JeffRa?” Medi said.

“Your brother?” EJ added.

“Oonocks,” Hygone said, as she stopped and stared at the Window of Universes, a huge smile filling her face.

“Oonocks?” EJ asked. “Although we have come close to being wiped out, we never disappeared and then returned.”

“Look at the window,” Hygone said, drawing closer to the newly repaired pane of glass, drawing the monarch’s eyes to the window also. There, inside a visible handprint, was the symbol for an Oonock. “That’s it. I remember now,” Hygone shouted. “When Weenow and I first arrived her and encountered the ancient Oonocks, he used to tease me and call them Tentons.” She turned to look at Europa. “This is confirmation that Weenow has your people inside FarCore with him.”

“So we were right,” EJ said. “FarCore took Mary not only to bring Weenow home but to bring the colonists back as well. Bring them back to Europa. FarCore has been waiting for six thousand years for some way to connect with the outside world and tell it its secret, the secret of Mars.”

“Never before in Oonock history has a set of twins been born, either male or female,” Europa said. “Mary and Amber were what FarCore and Weenow needed to tell us what they had. Separate, but one being.”

“And FarCore figured it out,” Hygone smiled. “We all assumed the princesses’ twin birth occurred because of Medi being their human mother. But we may have been mistaken. I think that FarCore purposely manipulated Medi’s egg into producing twins for this very purpose – to bring the missing Oonock colonists home.”

“How many colonists did you say?” a surprised Kiijon asked.

“Amber’s report says one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-two,” Jazee repeated.

“I expected several hundred,” Europa laughed in excitement. “Perhaps, eight hundred, if we were lucky. But almost two thousand. That is truly unbelievable.”

“I wonder if Biireena is still alive?” Kiijon asked.

“Biireena. Why do I know that name?” Europa asked.

“She was the female your father was supposed to join with,” Kiijon reminded her. “Don’t you remember the story Mytwindee told me? Father had pledged his love to Biireena, and their joining was taking place in a few weeks. But then King Enoquin made a deal with your grandfather and announced Father and Mother would be joined. Biireena ended up joining with a male from the Engineering Clan. They and a handful of others from that clan went with Lord Hoffman’s Nuuk clan and settled on Mars. She would have been around twenty-four hundred years old when she went to Mars. And may still be, if the rescued Oonocks have not aged inside FarCore. If she had children, they too may be alive.”

“I hope she is still alive,” Europa said, thinking of the possibilities. “And her children too. After all, she should have been my mother and her children my siblings.”

“Looks like Diiromay needs to come out of retirement and find housing for a few more Oonocks,” Kiijon commented.

“I do not think she will mind,” Europa replied. “Are you still planning on going with me to see Mary?”

“A hundred pooped pouches couldn’t keep me away,” Kiijon answered, carefully taking her in his arms.

“Is the baybark root working?” Europa asked.

“So far, so good,” Kiijon said. “He’s eaten twice and no diarrhea.”

Europa carefully opened the birthing pouch and looked inside, seeing her beautiful sleeping son. She leaned over and kissed Kiijon’s check. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For convincing me to have another child,” she said. “I forgot how wonderful it was to have a newborn.”

“Probably because you were so busy trying to save your people before,” Kiijon stated. “You never got a chance to enjoy Enok’s babyhood. And, although there wasn’t a major crisis going on, your royal duties did not allow you to enjoy Misso first years either. Then, both Enok and Misso grew up so fast. This time it will be different, My Love. This time you will have a hundred years to enjoy your son’s infancy.”

“A hundred years,” Europa repeated. “That sounds like such a long time for him to be little.”

“You will be surprised how fast it flies by.”