Chapter 22
____________
Zalantha
As the purple planet came into view, tension fired in my heart. Its atmosphere was veiled in a mysterious lilac haze, lending a soothing aura to its rugged terrain. Despite the ominous appearance, evidence of life dotted the landscape. Fields of golden wheat stretched across the valleys, contrasting vividly against the dark volcanic-style mountains that rose majestically into the lavender-colored sky.
Dread clogged my throat as we approached. I was hopeful with Malantha by my side, but still, heading to that place where I”d vowed never to return filled my soul with anguish. The memory of past torment surged. This time would be different, though; I wouldn”t be subjected to torture again, and I would put an end to Mesothraxus”s corrupt ways. I had to fire on all cylinders. Lyra was there along with her Mom, and I hated to think what that ruthless leader would do to them.
”You ready for this?” asked Malantha, his gaze steady and resolute. His features were chiseled, and his stance exuded courage. Despite the gravity of our mission, his solid frame emanated unwavering determination.
”I”ll never be ready to return, but we must do this.”
”We could turn around and go back to Earth. Maybe it”s too late to save them anyway.”
I knew he was joking, just trying to lighten the mood.
”I”d never live it down,” I said. ”Besides, I think I”ve fallen for Lyra.”
”Fallen for her? What do you mean, in a romantic way?” he asked, wiggling his eyebrows.
”No, in a Humpty Dumpty way. All I need now is all the King”s horses and all the King”s men to put me back together again.”
”What the hell are you on about?” he asked, chuckling.
”It”s a British nursery rhyme.”
”It does ring a bell, but what”s that got to do with our mission?”
”I”m not sure; perhaps I”m just nervous.”
”That”s normal. You obviously like Lyra, but we”ll get her back, you”ll see.”
”But what if you”re right? What if it”s too late?”
”There”s only one way to find out. As far as I can see it, she”ll either be in one of the cells or already in a pod.”
The mere thought of Lyra confined in a suffocating capsule, bound and tied up as the remaining alcohol in her system was sucked away filled my heart with misery.
”Let”s try and stay positive and hope she”s in the cell.”
”Good call. We should head towards the tower and try to sneak in somehow.”
”Sounds like a plan.”
As we descended, the shuttle trembled with each passing moment, the anticipation palpable. Through the viewport, the landscape of the mysterious planet unfolded before us, shrouded in its distinctive purple haze. The descent seemed to slow time, allowing memories to flood back, memories of my first arrival in this unforgiving world.
”You”re a young fool,” Mesothraxus had said. ”Now, it”s time to take that drink from you.”
The sight of the pods scattered across the terrain like ominous sentinels triggered a visceral reaction within me. I remembered the feeling of being lifted by the guards, the cold metallic walls of the padded room enclosing around me. The thrum of fear and uncertainty coursed through my veins once more, accompanied by an overwhelming sense of determination to confront whatever awaited us below.
As we drifted down, I could see the fields in the distance. There were so many more pods than before.
”Fuck, Mesothraxus has been busy.”
”It would seem that way,” said Malantha. ”If people on Earth would keep drinking, it”s bound to happen.”
My trip back to Earth had shown me that nothing had changed. People still went about their daily lives, fooling themselves into thinking that alcohol helped their brains and made them stronger and more courageous. But little did they know, over time, it made them weaker, less confident, and more worrisome.
”We have to sort this out. Can we end it all somehow?” I asked.
”Maybe we can, but first, we must end Mesothraxus” ruling.”
”Then let”s do it.”
We drifted down, the shuttle navigating through the thick atmosphere, guided by Malantha”s steady hand. Around us, the majestic purple landscape unfolded, its beauty marred only by the ominous presence of Mesothraxus”s stronghold.
”Stay away from the tower,” I said.
”I plan to.”
Malantha veered us away from Mesothraxus”s base, seeking refuge in the dense foliage of the forest.
Once out of the way, he swooped lower and with a gentle thud, we touched down, the shuttle blending seamlessly into its surroundings.
”Let”s get ready,” said Malantha. ”I have something that may interest you.”
My heart pounded with anticipation and apprehension as we prepared to embark on our perilous mission. Malantha led me towards the exit, stopping to open a small metal cupboard.
”Here, this may come in handy,” he said, handing me a plasma blaster.
”Where did you get this?”
”I stole a couple before I left. I knew these trusty firearms would come in handy.”
”Good thinking,” I said, wrapping my fingers around the gun.
It was time to fight and find my Lyra.
As the exit door buzzed open, that familiar smell of wheat went up my nose, making me nauseous. Pushing away further memories of my enduring time working in the fields, I pushed on, glad that Malantha was with me.
We walked through the forest, the foliage whispering secrets of the land as we pressed forward. In the distance, towering above the landscape, loomed the imposing skyscraper, Mesothraxus”s fortress, its dark silhouette piercing the purple-hued sky.
Soon, we reached an opening in the forest, just a few meters away from our target destination. Alongside it, a couple of reptilian aliens patrolled with sinister intent. I held up my blaster, aiming for their heads.
”Hey,” whispered Malantha. ”What are you doing?”
”Just practising,” I said, closing one eye as I aimed.
”Be careful, they might see you. Besides, we need to get inside without causing a scene. Look over there. It looks like we may have our distraction already.”
Hope filled my heart as a line of purple beings trundled toward the skyscraper. They looked tired and burnt out after working in the fields all day. The Mesothraxians stood by the door and waited for them to enter.
”Now”s our chance,” said Malantha. ”We have to sneak into the line.”
”Go for it.”
I took a deep breath and followed Malantha. Seizing the opportunity, we sneaked up and merged seamlessly into the pack, our nerves taut with anticipation as we edged closer to our target.
”What do we do once we get inside?” I whispered to Malantha, hiding my blaster out of sight.
”New prisoners are usually on the ground floor, remember?”
”That”s true.”
With a shared nod, we continued with the purple beings, our hearts racing with the weight of our mission as we prepared to confront the darkness lurking within Mesothraxus”s stronghold.
We got past the guards unscathed. There was no reason for them to suspect we had just returned to Mesoterra, and they were too foolish to spot our blasters.
Once inside, we waited for the perfect moment and slipped out of line and through the doors on the ground floor. As we cautiously made our way through the corridor, the faint hum of machinery echoed around us, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the fortress.
In my heart, I could sense Lyra was close. I hoped she was in a cell and not in one of the pods.
Suddenly, we turned a corner and stumbled upon two Mesothraxians loitering outside a cell.
”Careful,” I whispered to Malantha, grabbing his shoulder.
We moved backwards and crouched down.
”That was close,” he said.
”What if they”re protecting Lyra”s cell?”
”Let”s hope they are.”
As I peeked around the corner, my stomach tightened. The ominous figure of Mesothraxus stomping towards the Mesothraxians made my throat fire up with fear.
”You”re never going to believe this,” I said.
”What?” asked Malantha, peering around the corner. ”Oh fuck. There he is.”
”Indeed,” I said, holding my blaster tight as he reached the Mesothraxians.
”Has she eaten?” said Mesothraxus.
”Yes,” replied a Mesothraxian with big, bulging eyes.
”Good,” said Mesothraxus as he put his face in front of a scanner, opening the door.