The Secret of Mars

Earon stood before the obelisk, excited and fearful. The obelisk had not destroyed him last time, and he prayed it would not kill him today. After announcing who he was, he said the four words that Weenow had discovered in the children’s book. “Ennay Klondoo Tubree Leenaw.” Just as before, the top of the obelisk began to glow and vibrate, slowly at first then growing in magnitude. Soon he heard a soft humming, but this wasn’t like the last time. This was more serene, friendlier somehow. Then the surface turned into water ripples which kept beat to the vibrations.

“Just like a portal into FarCore,” Earon thought. As he continued to watch, the ripples congregated together, forming a pattern, an outline of something. More and more ripples were pulled inward until a face was formed, a face of what appeared to be a twelve-year-old human child.

Earon expected to see the elder’s face with the long beard, the one that had appeared before. Not the face of a child. The monarch wondered who this being was and if he, or she, was a Librarian also. Suddenly, the eyes opened catching Earon off-guard. He almost fell to the ground in surprise.

“Are you Leenaw?” Earon tentatively asked.

“I am the remembrance of Leenaw,” a voice inside Earon’s head answered.

“A remembrance? Where is the real Leenaw?”

The face looked over where the starship had been buried. “I do not know. He resided in the vessel that has always occupied that location.”

“You mean the starship?”

“Yes, I believe that is what you Oonocks call it.”

“How do you know I am an Oonock?” Earon asked.

“I have known of your presence ever since you arrived,” the small child replied. “And that you belong to a world embraced by the Orbs.”

“Do you know of the others on this planet?”

“Yes. There are sixteen Oonocks and one half Oonock-half blue planet. Eighty-six beings from the blue planet and fifty-three beings from outside the current solar system walk this planet also. Inside the Library is one Ancient and another half Oonock-half blue planet being, one thousand, eight hundred and fifty-two Oonocks asleep and three billion eight hundred and seventeen native lifeforms.”

“So you know of the Ancient and our people asleep inside FarCore?” a surprised Earon asked.

The image gave Earon an odd look. “Why would I not know of those asleep inside the safety of the Library? I gave the being you call an Ancient the power to whisk them through my portal, along with the lifeforms of this planet.”

“Why did you do that?”

“An evil being was destroying the planet, intent on ending the lives of the Oonocks,” the face replied. “I was able to damage their ships, but I could not completely destroy them. Some of the beings contained within their shiny boxes also were recipients of the Orbs. I cannot destroy what is Orb.”

JeffRa and his Oonock followers, Earon thought. The obelisk recognized them as Oonocks, and all Oonocks are connected to the Orbs. Plus, even though exiled to Ganymede for his treason, JeffRa was still royalty and probably had been allowed to keep his amulet. Had Earon’s father, King Enok, removed that one piece of jewelry the obelisk might not have held back and their past would have been very different.

“Are you a Librarian?” Earon eagerly asked.

“I am the image of the Librarian known as Leenaw, which I have already told you.”

“Forgive me, I was not sure if Leenaw was a Librarian or not,” Earon apologized.

“Who else could we be? A Gigglehopper? No beings possess technology greater than the Gruels, who you call the Librarians,” an annoyed face said.

“Do you have a name?” Earon asked.

“I am Leenaw’s image, a thought he placed inside this obelisk when he realized he could not repair his ship and return home,” the face replied. “He knew that one day sentient beings would walk across this planet and discover his ship and Gruel technology. This is not allowed. To ensure it did not happen, Leenaw buried the ship under dirt and rock and left me to guard it. At the first sign of discovery, I was to disintegrate him and the ship.”

“Why did you not?”

“Why did I not what?”

“Why did you not disintegrate the ship when we found it?” Earon asked.

“You and the female wear the mark of the Orbs, as did the other female you took from inside the Library and the one who entered the ship,” the face answered.

“Is that why you saved the one who entered the ship that day when the rock flew into the air and was going to kill him?” Earon asked.

“Yes. Those who wear the mark of the Orbs must be preserved.”

Earon now wondered how many times the amulets had saved all their lives, times they had no knowledge of. “You said Leenaw was inside the starship that is now gone,” Earon stated. “Is he alive or dead?”

“I do not know this word ‘dead’,” the face said.

“Cease to exist.” Earon saw the face still did not understand. “Do you remember when the evil being destroyed the lifeforms? Some you were not able to save, and they ceased to exist. They died, or were ‘dead’.”

“I remember,” the face replied, a deep sorrow covered it. “I should have tried to save them all rather than trying to stop the aggressor. Many became dead because of my actions.”

“You did what you thought best,” Earon stated. “Your actions also saved many lifeforms. Now that you know what the word ‘dead’ means, is that what happened to Leenaw?”

“Gruels do not die,” the face replied. “He is asleep, like those the obelisk saved.”

“Asleep? Inside FarCore?”

“On his ship.”

“Leenaw is asleep somewhere inside that starship?”

“Did I not just say that?”

“Can you wake him up?” Earon asked.

“Again, I already said I do not know where he is.”

“But if you did, could you?”

“No, I cannot wake myself up,” the face said, greatly disappointing Earon. “But you or another could. You simply need to say the words you spoke earlier to awaken me. The words will awaken my body.”

“You said Leenaw could not return home because his starship was damaged and could not fly. Why was it able to fly now?”

“Is that what happened? Our ship was able to reach the stars? But why did he not take the obelisk and me with him? That was his purpose, his mission, to collect this obelisk.” Earon explained that it was not Leenaw, but his Uncle that had accidentally flown the starship. “Many stars have been born and died since Leenaw crashed upon this planet. The ship has had enough time to heal itself. It is now necessary to wake Leenaw so he can take us home. You must awaken him immediately.”

“Unfortunately, we currently have no way of sending my uncle the words needed to wake Leenaw,” Earon regretfully replied. “We received a message from them two days ago telling us where they are, but we cannot figure out how to send a message back.”

“There was a young Ancient that was with this uncle of yours,” the image said. “And four other Oonocks. Is that correct?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Like the ship, my powers have grown over the Expanse of time. I can reach your Ancient’s mind and give her your message. What do you need for me to say?”

“Before I tell you that, what about my niece, Mary?” Earon asked. “Why did you take her?”

“Her taking was necessary if the purple-blooded beings were going to return to their lilac waters,” the image said. “She is unique. Part of another, both strongly connected to the Orbs. The two together would form a bridge and find a way to repair the broken window. They would reveal the truth of who I am.”

“You are not able to repair the Window of Universes?”

“I cannot fix the other side, the side that looks into the travel chasm. I can only repair the side that is on this planet.”

“Are you telling me that if the outside glass is repaired, you could mend the inside glass? That Mary and Weenow do not have to place their dwindling blood on it to fix it?”

Once again, the image stared at the Oonock, a look of annoyance clearly visible on his face. “I perceived the Oonock face as being intelligent, yet you keep asking questions to words I have already said. Or do the Oonocks have difficulty hearing? Would it be easier if we found another form of communication?”

“No,” laughed Earon. “I am just happy and want to make sure I understand what you are saying. We have already repaired the outside pane of glass. It is only the inside pane that is now in need of repair.”

“Then, yes, I can repair it.”

“Woo-Who!!” screamed Earon causing the face to blink several times in astonishment and confusion.

“Is that the message you wish for me to send to the young Ancient?” the face asked.

“No, no,” laughed Earon again. “Is there any place, in particular, she needs to be standing when she says the words to awaken Leenaw? His quarters? The bridge?”

“She should stand before the great Gruel symbol in the Captain’s resting area,” the face said. “The symbol is a golden circle, surrounded by three curved lines. It is the mark of the Gruel. It will either be on the wall or the sleeping platform.”

“Yes, I am familiar with your mark,” Earon smiled. “We thought it was the mark of the Ancients.”

“Why would you believe such a thing?” the face asked, puzzlement once more showing on his face. “The Ancients have no such symbol.”

“We were in error,” Earon chuckled to himself. He had thought the Ancients were literal, but the Librarians proved to be more so. Knowing better than to repeat the face’s words in a question, Earon asked, “Is there anything else she needs to do besides stand in front of the Librarian, I mean, Gruel symbol in the Captain’s sleeping quarters and say the four words.”

“No, that is all.”

“Make it so.” The face just floated there on the obelisk. After five minutes, Earon asked. “Did you send the message?”

“No, you did not ask me to.”

“Then what have you been doing?”

“Searching my memory for something called ‘so’ to make.”

Earon thought he was going to burst out in laughter. “No, no. That means to do it. Send the message.”

“Had you said so I would have.” There was a brief pause while the face closed his eyes.

“Well, Commanders, I figured out everything about how to get us back home through the worm holes,” Soojay said, entering the kitchen, his book of schematics in hand. He sat the book on the table and poured himself a cup of what resembled coffee, and a baked good Quigbee came up with. The soldier was turning out to be a pretty good cook. “Everything, that is, except how to turn the engines on.”

“I don’t think we’re going to get too far without engines,” Jeanip replied.

“That was my exact thought,” Soojay said.

“Perhaps there’s a second book we haven’t found,” Swaybuk suggested.

“Anew is searching the Captain’s quarters as we speak,” Soojay responded.

Suddenly, Quigbee’s voice came over the speaker system. “Commanders, I need you on the bridge immediately. We may have trouble heading this way.”

The three jumped up and ran down the hallway toward the lift, Soojay making sure to grab the book. Upon reaching the bridge, Swaybuk was glad to see Anew was already there.

“What’s up?” Jeanip asked.

“If I’m reading their sonar right, we’ve got four or five large ships headed in our direction,” Quigbee said, pointing to several blinking blobs on a screen. “There’s no way to tell if they’re friend of foe.”

“That many together, chances are they’re not friendly,” Swaybuk stated.

“Anew, can you activate the screen and show us what these dots are?”

“I can try, Commander,” Anew replied. She turned toward the back view screen and touched the area around the blinking dots “Adreena, enlarge specified area.” Instantly, the front view screen transformed into a picture of five approaching starships. “Enlarge eight catops.” The images tripled in magnification revealing their characteristics.

“Those are definitely warships,” Swaybuk said upon seeing the large cannons and guns mounted on the starships. “We might be able to hold our own against one or two of them, but not five.”

“Anew, can you defend us from those ships?” Jeanip asked. “Or, at least, get us out of here?” He waited for an answer that did not come. “Anew?”

Everyone turned their attention to the Ancient. She was standing there, staring into nothing, in one of her trances. They heard her say four words, “Ennay Klondoo Tubree Leenaw.”

Earon rushed into the Communications Room. “I need to send a top priority, number one, classified message to the Estate on Earth.” He handed his message to the communications officer, who looked over at the Station Commander. He had the only authority to order such communiques.

“Go ahead, soldier,” the Commander stated. “Send his message of good news.”

After spinning Medi around in the air several times, and kissing her twice, EJ ran down the hallway and through the portal into FarCore. Not stopping, he ran across the hallway and entered the other portal and emerged at the Complex. Taking no time to return the royal salutes, he raced to his parents’ habitat, startling young Teelons who had decided to emerge from his father’s pouch for the first time. Frightened, and not sure how to return to the sanctuary of his pouch, Teelons began to cry loudly. Holding him close to her chest, Europa quickly swam over and put the crying child back inside his pouch. The frightening Oonock now out of sight, Teelons settled down into the pouch, hungrily grabbing his feeding tube and curling up in a tight ball.

“EJ, you scared poor little Teelons half to death,” scolded Europa. “I finally coaxed him out so I could hold him for a while.”

“After your abrupt entrance, it may take her days to get him to venture out again,” Kiijon scolded also.

“I am sorry, Mattwa, Dattwa, but perhaps you will forgive me when I tell you the news,” EJ said in his defense, a huge smile on his face.

Seeing her oldest son’s smile, one began to appear on Europa’s face also. “It worked. Earon was able to contact this Leenaw?”

“Yes, it worked,” EJ said, swimming over and grabbing his mother, spinning her around in the water. “But not quite the way we exactly intended it to.”

“Stop, EJ,’ Europa laughed.

“Tell us what happened,” Kiijon ordered.

Setting his mother down, the young prince told his parents all the news about Leenaw’s imagine, what he had said about the real Librarian, how he could contact Anew and, last but not least, how the Gruel was going to finish repairing the broken window. “He is going to fix the window this afternoon at sixteen hundred hours,” EJ stated. “With Barook or Hygone’s help, Mary can step through to our side.”

“Oh, this is wonderful news,” Europa said, hugging her son. “What about the colonists? When can they return?”

“The message did not give a time or date, but I imagine once the window is fixed, we just need to pick a departure date and they will be awakened from their sleep. Just think of it. Our Mary back home, safe and sound.”

“Diiromay has everything ready for the colonists,” Jazee stated. “You may bring them home, Your Majesties, whenever you are ready.”

“I wish Jeanip was here to greet them,” Europa sighed.

“He’ll be home soon,” Kiijon said. “Jazee, do you know if Commander Jillian happens to be on Earth?”

“I believe her ship is due to dock at the end of the week,” Jazee answered.

“Ask her if she could spare a few days to help us with a little homecoming,” Kiijon said. “Notify Graybin we are in need of her smiling face also. And I believe King Jun and Queen Abrow need to be extended an invitation. Perhaps one of them may know of some Oonocks on Europa who might have known the Nuuk clan.”

“I’ll personally go and talk with King Jun and Queen Abrow,” Europa replied. “They will be the ones to oversee their arrival, not us.”

“Of course, My Love,” Kiijon said with a smile. “I sometimes forget they reign over Europa, not us.”

“I’ll make arrangements right away, Your Majesty,” Jazee stated.

“I will go as soon as I wrap my wings around Mary,” Europa said.

“You two do realize there is the possibility Mary may not want to return to Europa or Earth,” Kiijon said. “She went to Mars to find the lost colony. She has barely begun her search.”

“I would say she fulfilled her quest,” Europa laughed. “Not only did she find the lost settlement, she found the lost colonists.”

“True, but just keep the possibility in mind,” Kiijon said.

“If you have no further need of me, I will take my leave,” EJ stated, bowing to his parents. “I want to get back to Medi.”

“We’ll see you at fourteen hundred hours in FarCore,” Kiijon announced.

That afternoon, everyone one more crowded around the Window of Universes, staring intently at the still cracked window of Mars. At exactly two o’clock, the face of Leenow’s imagine was seen on the window. A crackling sound was heard as the repaired part of Mars’ window began to expand toward the outside edges. When the face disappeared, and the crackling stopped, the window pain was whole. True to his word, the likeness of Leenaw had healed the broken window. It was now possible for animate objects to pass through.

Barook had moved the window even closer to aid in Mary’s arrival. For added insurance, both EJ and Hygone both were going to erect force shields around her as she drifted across, thus allowing Barook to concentrate on bringing her over. Not waiting for the Council’s approval, Barook returned Weenow’s powers to him, thus allowing him to join his brother and sister in the Expanse.

“There they are,” shouted Medi, as Mary and Weenow stepped in front of the window. Barook drifted over and reached inside the window, taking Mary’s hand. He nodded to the Ancient and Prince, who formed a barrier around the young female as she stepped through the glass, first one leg, her hand, then the other leg, and the rest of her body. Everyone inside FarCore held their breath as they watched Barook guide her across. Within seconds, they saw Mary’s foot slip through the window followed by the rest of her.

“Thank the Waters of Life, you are home and safe,” Medi said, rushing forward and pulling her missing daughter into her arms. “I never thought I’d feel my arms around you again.” EJ wrapped his wings around his mate and daughter, kissing both on the forehead.

“Your Majesties, I would like you to meet my younger brother, Weenow,” Hygone smiled as the cloaked Ancient glided through.

“We owe you a debt of gratitude for taking care of our granddaughter,” Europa said.

“It was she who took care of me,” Weenow replied. “On several occasions. Without her presence, and that of her sister, I would still be asleep in my crystal.”

“Thankfully, that time has passed,” Hygone said.

“Thank you, Barook,” EJ said upon releasing his wing from around his family.

“It is Hygone and me that owe your family thanks, Your Majesty,” Barook said. “As my brother said, without your wonderful daughters this reunion would not be possible, and I would still believe my brother was dead.”

“If you will excuse us, we have some celebrating to do,” EJ said.

Once everyone was gone, the three Ancients shed their clothing and transformed into the light beings they were. They rejoiced, intertwining around one another, ecstatic to be together once again. They adjourned to Hygone’s rock in her hidden cavern to hear of each other’s adventures.

Swaybuk softly shook Anew, trying to bring her around. He heard her silently whisper a soft, “Yes,” as if she was listening to someone.

“Swaybuk, what’s happening?” Jeanip asked.

“She’s in one of her trances,” Swaybuk said. “Perhaps the ship is telling her how to defend us.”

“Sire, I can’t mount a defense without Anew’s help,” Soojay stated. “They’ve picked up speed and should be within striking range in six hours.”

“That gives us about four hours, then, to get her awake and functioning,” Jeanip replied. “Swaybuk and I will take her to sickbay. You stay here and help Soojay figure out how to defend this ship,”

“Why are you taking me to sickbay?” Anew asked, unaware anything unusual had transpired.

“You were in one of your trances. Did Kree come back? Did the ship tell you how to defend us?”

The female Ancient’s eyes grew wide in wonder as she remembered what had happened. She had talked to someone, a shadow of someone with them, but not one of her fellow crew members. And not Kree. It was possibly a Librarian. No, that wasn’t right either. It was a shadow of a Librarian. A Librarian that lived within the ship. Leenaw. Grabbing Swaybuk and Jeanip’s hands, she ran with them towards the Captain’s sleeping quarters.

“Soojay, you and Quigbee keep an eye on those ships,” Jeanip ordered as he was dragged from the bridge. “Let me know the instant they reach the outer defense perimeter.”

“Anew, what are you doing?” Swaybuk asked. “Where are we going?”

“To the Captain’s quarters,” she giggled.

“Why?”

“You’ll see when we get there.” It did not take them long to reach the Captain’s door. Upon entering the room, Anew said, “Now watch.” She searched the room for the Librarian’s mark, a golden circle, surrounded by three curved lines. When it was nowhere to be found, she carefully examined the sleeping platform. Again, nothing. “Where is it?”

“Where’s what?” Swaybuk asked. “What are you looking for?”

“The voice told me it was here,” she stated. When she raised her vision to address Swaybuk, something caught her eye. She looked to the right of Swaybuk at a mirror on the wall. There, in the mirror, was the elusive emblem. She rushed over, but when she went to touch the image her hand only met glass. The golden symbol was only a reflection. Quickly looking at the wall the mirror was reflected, she saw nothing. She ran over to the wall and ran her hand across it trying to detect the symbol. As her Ancient amulet began to glow yellow, a golden circle encircled by three circled lines appeared. She took three steps back and said “Ennay Klondoo Tubree Leenaw.”

The wall began to bubble and vibrate as if there was a kettle of boiling water bubbling below the surface. Not sure what was happening, Swaybuk reached out and pulled Anew away from the wall, a weapon in his hand. Jeanip also took out his gun, aiming at the bubbling and churning wall. As the bubbling intensified, the outline of a form began to appear. An arm reached out, then the other arm. Two legs emerged next along with a torso. At last, a head appeared, a head with yellow eyes and golden, wavy hair. The being was a slight built, about five feet tall.

“I would be very upset if you two males shot me the moment I awaken,” the stranger said. “I assure you, I mean you no harm.”

“Swaybuk, Jeanip, meet Leenaw, the Librarian who owns this starship,” Anew happily stated. “He is going to take us home.”