Part 6
The first sight of the huge looming wall ahead of them caused all four crew mates to stop and stare for a moment. Till that point, the trees had obscured the magnificent structure, but now they could see it towering over the trees before them in all its glory, roughly two miles ahead.
"That wall extends all around the city?" Rhade checked.
"Completely," Dylan answered. "It's over ten meters thick, almost 50 meters tall," he added.
"How large is the city?" Beka asked, as they began to walk again.
Harper piped up enthusiastically. "It covers almost twenty-five miles squared, although twenty percent of that is fields where they grow and produce their food for the entire community."
"There are nearly sixty thousand people inside those walls," Dylan added.
"And it's defences?" Rhade questioned.
"Within the actual walls there is enough technology to protect the city," Harper stressed. "We can't see it, but there's a protective shield that is generated from the top of the wall to produce a dome over the city, once we get inside you'll see sporadically a number of tall towers that strengthen that dome."
"You really did do your homework, Mr Harper," Dylan spoke up, remembering their earlier discussion.
"Still baffles me why they feel the need for Commonwealth help," Rhade frowned.
"Maybe they're lonely," Harper offered with a smirk.
"OK, let's not take any chances," Dylan then announced. "Breathing apparatus on, the foliage around here will soon become more toxic the closer we get," he explained as the others found their masks.
"Gotta love their twisted sense of the big welcome," Beka mocked.
Once they were all kitted out with their breathing apparatus, they again began to move forward, though now in silence, as their words were stifled by the equipment they wore.
Harper started to hate the silence as he approached, there was something eerily wrong inside of him, a sense of impending doom almost and he was sure having to wear breathing equipment was not helping his growing nerves. This was Eden, or rather Edenia, and he began to question his own stupidity for being here, and the reasons he was here.
When he had first heard they were coming here, he desperately wanted to come too. Every kid on Earth was told the ancient story of the Garden of Eden, it was like the promised-land and he had wanted to believe it had once existed for his home. Was this place somehow connected, he wondered, and then easily dismissed it as a ridiculous thought, this planet had no connection to Earth, so why was he really here?
The closer they got, the more troubled Harper felt trying to figure out what he was really hoping to find in this cut off place. The storm had been magnificent, and had brought back all his loves and energy for planets and the natural environment, so maybe that was why he was here after all, to just get his feet back onto dirt, and be amongst the living environment again, as opposed to his second home amongst the mechanical.
After a while, as they continued their trek, he decided that was the reason, he simply needed a break from the artificial. Harper had to admit that being planet side again was actually enjoyable, for the most part, and he remembered back to the previous night and the feeling of the rain against his skin with fondness.
There was then a jab on his arm, and Harper turned to see Beka looking back at him, and as ever with concern. After a glance of 'I'm ok' Harper was left alone once more with his thoughts, but noticed they were getting ever closer. Looking at the walls now, he could only admire the work that went into constructing them, seeing for the first time the stone work and carvings that graced the outside, and he allowed himself to get lost in that, dismissing his concerns, until they all finally reached the main gate, and prepared to step inside.
The Edenians must have been observing their approach and had already identified them, as the large drawbridge slowly came down to greet them and a split second of static was seen, as the first of what seemed like two force fields located at each end of the tunnel within the huge wall deactivated, giving them privileged access to the inside.
Dylan glanced at his crew before taking the first step, and one by one they walked slowly forward and into the massive structure of the wall. The sheer size of the wall was now dwarfing them, and the instant coolness once they were walking inside, treading with care through the tunnel, was refreshing and a little overwhelming. A figure approached them, and indicated that it was now safe to remove the breathing equipment that they had been wearing for the past hour.
Harper stepped aside so he could look at the figure with more appreciation, she was slender in build, and her skin was pale, so smooth almost like china with the slightest hint of blue and green in complexion. They dressed in simple and natural ways, clothes made by hand using what looked like hand woven materials. Her hair was a striking black that also showed hints of blue in the light, as they stepped back into the light and out of the tunnel, into the city for the first time.
No words were spoken, and Harper tore his attention away from the female leading them enough to begin to notice the similar looking natives of the city. They stared back, no one saying a word as the visitors made their way through the narrow stone streets. Harper wanted to speak, and wanted to ask why the locals seemed afraid by their presence but when no one else spoke, he chose to remain silent. Looking at the locals, Harper noticed that they were in groups, and guessed it was a time of day where they took a rest, maybe had some food, due to their inactivity. Maybe word of their arrival had spread, and they were simply curious, he considered, growing a little uneasy by the stares they were receiving and the intimidating closeness of the stone buildings surrounding them.
As they walked, more of the citizens joined and walked with them, but no one spoke a word. Harper couldn't take the silence any more and quickened his pace slightly, to walk alongside Dylan.
"Boss, quiet ain't they?"
"Maybe it's their way, very little is known of these people," Dylan returned in a whisper.
"They're giving me the creeps, boss," Harper complained lightly, and in hushed tones as he continued to glance around.
"I think we're nearly there, there's a huge building at the end of this street," Dylan gestured and Harper saw what Dylan was referring to.
"I don't like this," Harper simply added but Dylan didn't respond, and the human took that as a request for silence.
Beka now moved to Harper's side when the engineer let Dylan move ahead. "Either they have weird ways of making visitors feel welcome, or something isn't right," Beka noted quietly.
"Tell me about it, I feel like we're being led to our execution," Harper stressed. "The way these people are looking at us," he gestured, and saw two older ladies bowing their heads as they walked, as if to justify his point. "It appears to me like they are looking at us with pity."
"Maybe we're just a little edgy after two days in the woods without communications with the outside worlds," Beka attempted to explain. "Remember that we are the aliens to these people, just as they are alien to us."
"Maybe you're right," Harper conceded, and tried to relax.
They then walked into what was obviously the main square and suddenly they were met by what seemed like a few thousand people. The sheer number caught all four by surprise, and they could only look around at the blanket of people, as they were led to a much smaller group of five people, stood on a podium.
The noise and hum of voices surrounded them as they took their places, and Harper glanced around trying to take it all in. The buildings that marked out the square were like something out of Earth's past, he had seen pictures and photos of old Earth when it had had places like this, in its cities and towns and he needed a moment to truly appreciate it.
His attention was quickly drawn back to the situation, as finally one of the Edenians spoke.
"Captain Hunt, my name is Kenan and I am the elected ruler of Edenia."
"It is a pleasure to be here, we have travelled far to respond to your invitation," Dylan spoke with authority and warmth.
"Yes," Kenan spoke, and he glanced to his fellow Edenians who sat with him. "You are mistaken in your facts, I did not invite you."
Harper immediately turned to Dylan, who showed little reaction to the revelation, so turned to Beka who seemed to share his concern.
"I received word from your people about a desire to join our Commonwealth," Dylan spoke calmly.
"Your journey has been a wasted one," Kenan simply announced.
"I knew this was a bad idea," Harper remarked under his breath, and both Rhade and Beka seemed to agree with his words.
"I am sorry to hear that," Dylan stated. "However, by allowing us entry, plus the warning about the poisons in the foliage, and indeed the fact you know who we are suggest otherwise, that you have been expecting us."
"He's gotta point," Harper realised. "Though not sure that improves the situation," he feared.
Kenan stood up. "A request was made, and I was made aware of it a day or so ago," he stated. "Unfortunately for you, the request was made by the people who oppose my rule."
"Then that is unfortunate," Dylan agreed.
"For you, yes," Kenan stated. "But I always try to make good on any situation," he gestured to his guards who immediately took up position behind the four crew members.
"Ah crap," Harper complained. "Look we've done nothing wrong except not be up to date on the state of affairs within your lovely community," Harper explained frantically. "We didn't know we were responding to the wrong group."
"He's right," Dylan supported. "If our presence here offends you, we will leave immediately and you will never see us again."
"No, your presence here pleases me," Kenan smiled. "I want to show the detractors that they have done me a favour by bringing you, Captain Dylan Hunt, to my attention."
"I am unsure if I should feel honoured," Dylan returned.
"I have ruled this city for a number of years," Kenan spoke. "Yet no one outside of these walls knows, I want to expand my power, but have not had the means to do so but now, here stood before me are four influential members of the New Commonwealth, and suddenly I have the means of diverting attention to our fair city, and show this universe the true power of the Edenians."
"What, so the Nietzscheans can bring their biggest task force to blast you to the ground?" Harper quipped.
"Little one, you talk big," Kenan approached Harper. "But I wish to welcome the Nietzschean's, the Commonwealth, we have the fire power to protect ourselves and the more that come, the more we can destroy."
"You're kidding, right?" Rhade spoke up. "I think you've been on your own too long, become too confident in your surroundings."
"No one has ever penetrated this city's defences," Kenan stressed. "No one ever will, and just as much as they keep people out, they also keep people in."
"Boss," Harper spoke up, concerned now.
"You can not hold us here, our ship is in orbit and will note our absence if we do not return in three days," Dylan spoke up.
"Good, maybe the good ship Andromeda will be the first to feel the force of Edenia's defence system," Kenan exclaimed.
"The man's a joker, give him that, he's challenging Rommie," Harper noted with surprise to the others, mocking Kenan. "Look, you have a good thing going on here, I can see that so don't jeopardise it by getting in too deep, with stuff you know very little about!" Harper stressed.
"What my engineer is trying to say is that you still have a chance to let us go without incident, and save yourselves," Dylan spoke sincerely.
"Strip them of their possessions," Kenan ordered loudly and Harper felt himself being jostled forward, and his back pack was roughly removed. Harper managed to look to his side, as they continued to pushed him around and saw the other's getting the same treatment. Rhade attempted to fight his cause but was met with two men who enforced the order.
Jewellery and accessories were the next items to be taken, and then Harper felt his weapon and holster being removed. The next things to go were belts, and any loose items. Harper struggled for a moment, seeing his fellow crewmates receiving the same dressing down, all being disarmed, and he noticed for the first time the cheers and jeers the actions were receiving from the crowd.
Then Harper felt hands on his data port, and yelped as one of the guards tried to twist it.
"Sir," The guard then spoke. "This thing, it's attached, what shall we do?"
Harper's heart skipped a beat as Kenan walked over and roughly held his head, to examine the port for himself.
"What is this?"
"A data port," Harper answered, a touch of fear in his voice. "It's attached, can't be removed, ok?"
"It can't stay," Kenan decided.
"You can not remove it!" Beka protested, and both Dylan and Rhade voiced their support for Beka's words.
"The data port is directly attached to him, Kenan," Dylan then calmly spoke, in defence of Harper. "It's not an accessory or jewellery."
"It could compromise us," Kenan argued. "I am not so ignorant that I will allow this thing to stay, I run a tight ship here," he added and turned to his guard. "Take him to Tirus, tell him to deal with this problem."
Harper struggled as two guards wrestled him away from the platform. "No!" Harper yelled, on being separated from the group.
"Kenan, listen to me we are not your enemy!" Dylan protested, keeping an eye on Harper as the guards continued to escort him away. "But your actions are quickly making us just that, stop this now, let's talk this through!"
"There's nothing to discuss," Kenan decided. "You are now a prisoner of Edenia, and you will exist as one of my subjects, you will never escape."
"You've just made your first mistake," Rhade sneered. "No one tells Dylan Hunt what he can or can't do."
Guards roughly escorted the remaining three away, and Kenan smiled with pride as he gestured to the gathered people. "The time of our recognition is near, people, we will soon be at one with the universe, instead of in hiding, we will soon show our power, and take what is ours!"
The cheers reverberated around the square, as the people rejoiced, and Kenan walked back into the main building, tasting sweet victory and the ease with which it had occurred.
TBC