Chapter 10: Maetel
Note: Mention of planet Amaet and events in "The Academy trial" from here on is with Cindy Noble's permission.
Alita was quiet as she and the rest of the Lightning League went through the procedures after landing on the planet's surface, which included security scans and Customs. As suggested, she let Audric and Herc do the talking when they asked questions about her.
Like they're gonna believe that I'm from Earth in the distant past and that my body's changing because of who knows what...
She remained silent until they stepped out from the spaceport and into the city itself.
"Whoa..." the teenager said in a low voice as she looked around her.
The roads in front of them were neither dirt nor covered in tar and asphalt, but rather were paved, white and shining in the sunlight. She bent down to look closely and saw that what had been used to pave them were shaped like bricks. The sidewalks also looked to be made of the same material, whatever it was, as the streets.
Audric smiled and Gillian chuckled as she rapped on the road. The wizard said, "They look like bricks on Earth, don't they?"
"Yes, they do, but they feel like smooth stones. They're so white, almost like ivory in color, and in a way, it reminds me of opals."
"They are stones, my child," he replied, "They emit light, but not so much that one is blinded by it in the sunlight."
"I'm not surprised by your reaction," Audric said to her, "A lot of people that come here for the first time do the same thing that you're doing. If you think the roads are impressive, look at the buildings."
She got up and looked around. The buildings themselves looked to be made of metal and ivory, with statues of people that seemed to be carved as part of the walls. Near the sidewalk...
I don't see any edges...no gaps or anything...it looks like the buildings were grown right where they stand...but that can't be.
Up and down the sidewalk where rows of grass, flowers and trees, and in front of some buildings were tables, chairs and large umbrellas. There were people standing and talking, and a few walked on the sidewalks, but not that many. Above them, a number of machines, some small and others larger, flew across the sky, traveling to different parts of the city.
A moderate wind blew, and out of habit, Alita put her hand close to her ear, trying to keep it out of her face.
Wow, she thought, right out of a science-fiction novel!
"So," Herc asked, "Where's everyone gonna go to?"
"I need to speak to a friend," Audric replied.
"I'd like to go over to the Grand Library," Gillian said, "There are legends that I need to research."
"Legends of who?"
"The being that blessed your sword, Alita...Aruleia."
"I'll leave the legends and magic stuff to you, old man. You know where I'll be," Herc said with a grin.
"You'd better--"
"Don't worry, Audric, I won't get myself arrested."
"Well, I heard there's a huge garden near the center of the city," Flora said, excited, "I wanna go there, then over to the Grand Library!"
"I'd better go with you," Alita said with a smile, "I want to see both places, and someone's got to keep an eye on you."
"A-and I'll go with you and Flora, Mistress Lita!"
She nearly told the Squire to quit calling her that, but sighed and didn't object.
He does have a valid reason to call me that now. I don't like it, but it's true.
"Oon, have you even been to Maetel before?"
"Of course I have, Mistress, once with Master Audric. He was here for a few months, right along with miss Mask--"
Audric quickly and firmly said, "Oon, that's enough."
"O-oh! Sorry, master."
Alita raised an eyebrow, then said, "Good, now I don't have to worry about getting lost. Where should we meet back?"
"Over at the Grand Library. I'll call everyone when it's time to meet."
She nodded then said, "Ok, then. See you all later!" The woman then motioned for Oon and Flora to come on.
As the two girls and the Squire took off, Audric sighed and shook his head.
That was close...
00000
Gillian arrived at the Grand Library soon after departing from the other members, by way of a teleportation spell simple enough to get him there without too much stamina being lost.
Besides, I'll have ample time to rest while doing my research.
In fact, not even ten minutes later, the wizard was at a table, with a pile of books and text on top of it. One of the books, Divine Legends, was open and right in front of him.
"Hmm...now where was it," he muttered to himself as he looked through the pages, glancing at the names, "The Alestia gardens...ambrosia...angels. Getting closer...ah, there it is! Aruleia..."
He fished around in his robes, and after a moment, he pulled out what looked almost like a small, white recording device. The wizard pressed a red button in the center, cleared his throat, then began speaking and reading.
"Now...according to ancient legends, people of the different planets had many views on Aruleia. Some saw her as the creator of the universe...hmph, very unlikely...a few thought that she was a demon...but most others view her as an angel. The latter view is most likely, since she either had a hand in or actually created 9 Divine Objects. 7 of the objects have been confirmed and documented. Each one contains a holy power that, in the wrong hands, would bring disaster. In the worse case scenario, forces of evil could realistically use them to end not only the universe...but time itself."
That made him, as well as one of the nearby workers, shudder.
"The 7 documented objects include a large stone with powers used to protect life and find living beings aligned with light, including people--"
Gillian stopped reading for a moment, very surprised. Large stone with powers...if I'm right, then we've already come across one of the Divine Objects. To think that the Liberty Stone had such origins. I wonder how Aruleia would have felt about how it was used, and its destruction...
"...including people," he continued, "This item's whereabouts are unknown and goes by many names, but the most common amongst them is the Liberty Stone."
Reading that made Gillian feel sick.
My goodness...I never would have thought that the Liberty Stone was that powerful, or that dangerous. If Jayce had known, I don't honestly know what he would have done.
"Ahem...another of the objects is a type of hammer...anything made with it is given life. It is rumored that the hammer that Squiresmith Wixlan uses to create the Eternal Squires is one and the same. If that's true, it would disprove the view that the Visani's mastery of magic was responsible. Although...the truth may well be that both the hammer and magic are used...hmm... The third Object is..."
The wizard continued dictating into the device, reading from the book.
As I thought, one of the undocumented objects is Alita's sword. The only rumored object left is, according to this text, a circle of diamond-like stones. Just how many of the Divine Objects have we come across and not known it, I wonder?
About an hour later, he stopped talking as he saw the next section: Aruleia, Vessel of.
The wizard looked around him, then cast an anti-sound barrier around him before he continued speaking.
"This...is a section I've never even heard of before. Several eons ago, Aruleia's body split from the soul. Sometime around then, the soul went into a type of sleep, only to awaken whenever an evil force known as the Black Wave threatens all of existence. It is unknown how, or if, the body reappears, but the soul is another story. That crucial part of the angel always sleeps within the innocent, and transfers itself to another either when the vessel dies or turns to evil. The carrier is known by many names, but the most direct one is the Vessel of Aruleia. As stated before, only when the Black Wave poses a menace does she return, but even then it's under very specific circumstances. There is a spell that is connected to the Vessel, but it also serves as a way of identifying him or her. The words are..."
Gillian trailed off, reading the last part to himself. After a few moments, he looked up and shut off the recording device.
"This..." he whispered, then shook his head, trying to clear it.
Ever since Orias, I started having a bad feeling about our current situation, he thought, but the more I read about Aruleia, the Divine Objects and the Vessel, the worse the feeling gets. I've lived for over a thousand years, seen and learned much. I don't know what we've gotten ourselves tied into. I can sense, though, that whatever it is, it's been set into motion. It's far too late to prevent any of it now.
00000
Audric sat at an outdoor table, on the veranda of one of the cafes in the city. The wind blew in his face, making his hair and beard flap around. The slight chill it had taken since the Lightning League had arrived, however, made him shudder.
Where is he...? he thought, the message said that he was here...
The door to the main part of the establishment opened, and one of the waitresses came out. She went right to the table and asked, "What can I get you today?"
The scientist replied, "What's the special?"
"Special is Maetel's beef stew, using spices from Orias."
"I'll have one of those...and Light's Glimmer."
The waitress nodded and said in a low voice, "Your friend will be here soon. Also, I have a message from Gorda."
He nodded in a way that showed that he was listening.
"'Cappela the 4th got mired into tar and moss. Needs cleaning."
Audric grimaced at that message, groaning a little.
"Understood. The cleaning crew be on their way as soon as possible."
She nodded, then looked over as the door opened. "Ah, there he is. I'll get his order, now. Want anything to really drink?"
"Maetel's grape-water."
She laughed and replied, "That sounds just like you. All right, that'll be a few minutes," before walking over to the new arrival, a short and squat man that looked like what Lita called an ancient Viking. He was only a little taller than Oon. Once she got his order, she hurried back inside the main building.
"I was starting to worry about you, Wixlan," Audric said.
"Sorry, I had to take a call," he replied, then sat down in the chair in front of the scientist. He continued, "I was quite surprised to get your transmission. How did you know I had left Forge Home to come here on business?"
"Dea told me."
"Ahh yes, the Aunitian Director. She certainly is clever and has her own information sources, doesn't she?" Wixlan leaned back and asked, "Did you do as I suggested?"
"Yes. She's his master now. She's not happy about it, but she accepted the responsibility."
He nodded and said, "Now, what else has happened?"
"My son has appeared, twice."
"Oh?"
"Once on Erida II, the other time on Orias. On Erida, I spoke to him briefly, but Herc says he saw and talked to him on the desert planet."
Wixlan nodded as he looked to the windy sky with an unusual expression: dread.
"You still have that bad feeling?"
"Yes, and it's gotten even worse. A lot of things are going on at one time, too many to be coincidences."
"You mean everything I've mentioned?"
"And more. Don't ask me to explain everything right now; I'll tell you another time." The old Squiresmith sighed and said, "You'll be off again soon?"
"Tomorrow morning. The others are taking in the city's sights, especially the new one."
Wixlan nodded grimly. Though he spoke to Audric of news he had gathered, he thought, No need to tell him the rumors of the Light Avatar being reborn. That would lead to things that my old friend has no need to know right now...
00000
Upon terminating the connection with Wixlan on Maetel, Dea sat back in the chair in her office and rubbed at her temples with her index fingers.
Rumors are already spreading all over the universe about the girl with the Dataform, the one that killed one of the original Monster Minds. Some say that she's the Dataform and that the lifehost is someone else, while others think that she's from outside of this universe. But those rumors aren't as disturbing as the other topic.
Dea had heard, from some of her sources, that the Light Avatar had been reborn.
That bit of news was enough to make her blood run cold.
Gods...if that's true, then the Prophecy of Ascension is upon is, and with it is the War of the Light. If Sawboss hears of this, he'll send out Monster Minds to kill him, she thought, then added belatedly, or her.
A beep sounded a few moments later, and the receptionist appeared on the screen.
"Director Dea," the brown-haired woman announced, "You have an incoming transmission from someone named Morganna."
The blonde-haired woman replied, "Patch it in."
On the screen was a woman with long, ravel-black hair, a hard face and cold eyes.
"Hello, Lady Morganna," Dea greeted cordially.
"No need for that. Call me Morganna."
"Of course. How is the Guild doing?"
"Ugh. Some of them lost their spirit after that kid pulled his vanishing act. They want us to go back to being pirates, saying that he's dead and that their promise is void."
She winced, "My condolences. You can tell them that he's not only alive, but been sighted on two worlds, including Orias."
The woman nodded, then said, "Is it true? That he's alive?"
"I wouldn't say it if it wasn't. Listen, Morganna..."
"Yes?"
"I need you to gather all of your members and prepare for battle."
"What for?"
"The Pride will eventually head for Aunitia, with precious cargo on board. They're going to need armed assistance."
"Armed assistance, eh? I take it that Sawboss will try to keep them from reaching you."
"As a certain ex-pirate might say, 'even money bet'."
"I see. I'll have them ready to leave as soon as I get a signal from you."
Dea smiled. "Good. They'll have plenty of action soon enough. Aunitia out."
Just as the image blinked out, the receptionist appeared again.
"Another call?"
"Yes. It's from Orion's Hunters."
The woman sighed and replied, "All right. Patch him through."
This is going to be a long day.
00000
Alita, Oon and Flora walked about the city, and at one point, the three of them went into an indoor restaurant to not only get out of the wind, but to get something to eat and drink.
Inside, the place had a cheerful air to it as people danced to music on a medium sized dance floor, with a glittering silver ball that was hung on the tall ceiling. At the moment, though, the ball was unlit.
The trio took their seats in a booth overlooking the dance floor, with Alita and Flora sitting on the right side and Oon on the left.
"Are these menus?" Alita asked, pointing at some brown folders that were on the other side of the table.
"Yeah, they are."
The teenager gave the child one and looked through the second one. One thought ran through her mind as she read what the place served: Thank goodness I can read these, I was worried that they would be in a foreign language...
A waitress came up to them and said, "My, don't you three look cute, especially you two sisters. "
"We're not sisters," the older teenager replied.
"Oh, sorry. You sure look like you are, though. Can I get you anything today?"
Flora said, "I'll just have some spiced pancakes with plenty of syrup and some Maetel grape-water."
Alita chuckled but only said, "I'll have the special and some spiced ginger tea."
The waitress nodded as she wrote the orders down. "Good choice. It'll be a few minutes. Oh, while you're waiting...if you want to request something, we have a music player next to the dance floor."
Flora's eyes widened a little as she said, "Thanks! I just might check it out."
After the woman took off, Alita said to the girl, "Shall we?"
The plant-girl chuckled and nodded right before she bounded out of her seat. The older woman hurried carefully after her. Once both arrived, Flora started to go through the songs available.
A lot of these I don't know...then again, I haven't been in this time all that long, either.
The girls' eyes widened when they saw one song title in particular.
"Oh, wow! They do have it here!" Flora said with a wide smile.
Alita said, incredulous, "This one? Godsibb?!"
"Yeah! How do you know about it?"
"Hold on...it could be a totally different song than the one I know. After all, how much time's passed? A few million years?"
"Hmm...well I know it because back in Gillian's garden, this song would sometimes play. I've always liked it."
She nodded and said, "Well, let's pick this one, then. It'd be funny if that tune's the same as the one I know."
Flora nodded and pulled out a card and inserted it into the music player. After a moment, she touched the song's title on the screen, then pulled the card out a moment later.
As the two girls started back to their seat, the current song stopped and another began. When they heard the first notes, Alita's breath caught in surprise.
It is! That's the one from Kajiura-san!
Flora grinned and hurried to the dance floor before Alita could stop her. As soon as she found a spot, the younger girl started to dance in time to the beat.
Alita stood just to the left of the floor's entrance, watching and listening.
I know this song...
In her mind, she heard a voice she hadn't heard in some time.
The Guardian said, I know this song...
An image unfolded itself before her eyes...
A younger red-haired girl was talking to some plants in a magical garden when she heard a familiar, favorite song. She stepped a short distance away so she wouldn't hurt any of the plants and began to dance.
A short distance away, Gillian was watching. When he had heard the sound station begin this piece, he turned the volume up so that the child would be able to hear it.
There was a laugh from a young kid, perhaps around fourteen, then he said, "You really do like that song, don't you, Flora?"
"Of course I do!" she said as she turned and stepped, then turned in an arc, "It really makes me want to dance, and most music that I listen to doesn't."
"Where's the song come from?"
Gillian replied, "Originally? It's a very ancient bit of music from a world that no longer exists. However, someone got a hold of a copy that's just as ancient and made it new again. It's very popular on the planet Maetel."
"It is pretty catchy," the boy admitted, "How did she first hear it?"
"One of Audric's workers brought a copy and played it when Flora was very small. She's been hooked on it ever since."
"Aw, she'll grow tired of it."
"Somehow, I don't think so, my boy. I don't think so."
Alita shook her head and asked, "Is this your memory?"
There was no reply.
The words are different, but it's the same one, she thought and heard herself singing the original lyrics.
00000
Flora's eyes were closed as she danced to the song that she had always liked. Her steps were in time to the beat, and as the beat started to quicken, she would also arch slightly before her arms began to spiral downwards from her head. A few of the other dancers had to maneuver out of the way, and a couple of them were a little irritated to do so.
It's been so long since I've heard this song! I'm really glad to dance like this, especially after everything that's happened. This is so fun, I feel so free--
Kuela.
Her eyes snapped open and she gasped in surprise.
Her green eyes grew very distant as she realized that the voice, sounding like a very little girl, was in her mind and not spoken aloud.
What was that...?
Kuela!
"Kuela...?" She repeated out loud.
Alita hurried to the younger teenager and shook her shoulders lightly. Her expression changing to concern, she bent a bit and spoke quietly in the younger one's ear.
"Hey, Flora...the drinks are here and the food's coming. C'mon back to the table, okay?"
"O-Okay..." she said as she shook her head, as though trying to shake something loose.
As she was led back to the booth, she heard the older woman ask, "You okay? Sense any Monster Minds?"
"N-no...I didn't sense anything," she replied.
Flora said nothing more about what had happened....not out loud anyway.
00000
At sunset, Alita, Flora and Oon were the first ones to arrive right in front of the Grand Library. The older woman looked about and saw Gillian, sitting on the left side of the steps.
"Flora, how about you talk to some plants here? Maybe they've heard something about you-know-who."
"They might," she replied and went off to one section of the walkway where a small garden of flowers was growing.
Alita quietly went up to the wizard and said, "Am I glad to see you, Gillian."
He raised an eyebrow at her words and asked, "Has something happened with Flora?"
She chuckled and replied, "You don't miss a thing. Yes, something happened. Over at a restaurant, she heard a song we both know," she paused before continuing, "One you used to play in your garden, one that Audric's assistant introduced her to--"
His eyes narrowed as he asked, "How do you know that?"
"That's not important right now—"
"I beg to differ, my girl, but it is."
She sighed and said, "While over there, this memory appeared into my mind, but it sure isn't mine. You were talking to a boy about Godsibb and Flora while she danced to the song playing on a radio..."
His eyes widened and he murmured, "I'm glad that I'm already sitting."
Alita continued, "Anyway, about Flora, while she was dancing at the restaurant, she gasped and looked a little spacey. She also said a strange word."
"What word is that? Do you remember it?"
"No way I'd forget something like that. She said Kuela."
There was a sharp intake of breath at this. Before he could reply, though, he heard familiar voices, coming from 2 different directions.
"Heeey there, you guys!" Herc called out, waving a hand as he approached from the southwest path.
"I see everyone's already here," Audric said as he came from the southeast, "How about we go back to the Barge before anything's discussed--" He cut himself off as he asked, "Old friend, are you all right? You don't look well."
"I feel rather ill," he admitted, "Let's go back as quickly as possible."
"Will you be well enough to move?" Alita asked.
"Yes, I will," he simply replied.
The scientist nodded, although he and the swordswoman both wore dubious expressions.
00000
Once everyone was on board the Barge, Gillian quickly went to his chambers, saying that he still felt ill and needed rest. Everyone else went onto the bridge.
"So, what's going on?" Alita asked.
"We've received a request for help from Cappela IV," Audric said plainly.
Alita asked, "Monster Minds?"
"Exactly."
"Cappela IV? Isn't that one of those science planets?" Herc asked.
"Yes. To be honest, I'm a little reluctant about taking this one on. The people there are very similar in attitude to those on planet Amaet."
Alita suddenly felt sharp, strong anger when she heard this and audibly hissed.
Amaet! I remember them. I remember what they did!
"Hey, Alita, you okay?" Herc asked.
"Hm...? Y-yes, I'm fine."
"You don't look fine. In fact, you look like you're about to blow."
She took a few deep breaths, trying to quell the strong anger that had appeared. After a few moments, her expression became normal, though concern and anger bubbled beneath the surface as she said, "What about Flora?"
"What about her?" Herc asked.
"Back on Earth, there's a nation that would see someone like her and decide to do a dissection. If this planet is a science world, like you say--"
Audric nodded, "You have a point." He then turned to Flora and said, "I'd prefer it if you stay on the ship."
She shook her head, "No. I'll fight, too."
"Flower face!" Herc exclaimed.
"Flora, no," both Audric and Alita said at the same time.
"Cappela's real dangerous for living plants," Herc agreed, "You really don't wanna know what they'd do to you if they get their claws into ya!"
"Herc, I'm thirteen years old. I'm not a little kid anymore!"
"Little enough to get snatched."
She sighed and asked after a moment, "How about if I stay with one of you, like Lita or Audric?"
The others thought, then Audric said, "All right...but the one you'll be riding with is Herc."
She smiled sweetly and replied, "Thank you!"
Herc gave a hassled sigh before asking, "So we're gonna go liberate Cappela IV?"
"Yes."
Alita nodded and felt the anger subside within her. She asked, "How soon before we get there?"
"It'll be a couple of days if we start now."
"I'll get the course set," Herc stated as he went to the navigator's position to do just that.
"As for the rest of us, I think Gillian's got the right idea," Audric said, trying to fight back a yawn.
"I am a little tired myself," Alita agreed, "I'll go to our quarters and get some sleep."
"Night, Lita," Flora replied, "I'm gonna check on Gillian before I turn in, too."
She nodded and left the bridge, going straight to the quarters she and Flora were sharing.