Chapter 2 (1/2)
II: Starcops, Legions and Pillars
The earth trembled and stones and ashes scattered all around due to the pod’s loud explosion. It made me unconsciously close my eyes and cover my ears. It was as if I become deaf even if we’re already far away from the blasted place. Well, it can’t be helped since ten remote detonating nukes had been used to blow it up. However, the nukes flared up too strongly, it could even burn the whole forest. Fortunately, the place around it was only littered with huge rocks and big chunks of stones and not by trees or else, a wildfire will appear in front of us.
For sure, somebody will be startled by the deafening noise made by that explosion so we decided to leave.
While walking away from that place, I glance on my body. I don’t feel comfortable with my current get up. Aside from the fact that it makes me itch all over, I also hate the stinky and unpleasant direwolf scent. Like this disrespectful woman who doesn’t know how to respect his prince, I’m now also wearing clothes made in wolf skin. The boots which seem too small for my feet and the ripped jeans which look like rags are the same.
“It’s odd but you look more masculine with your new appearance.” The woman complimented.
If you only knew how much those clothes you burned cost, it’s pricier than your life and even if you work to death or even for a hundred years you still won’t be able to pay for it.
I avoided replying to her. Even now, I still feel at lost for my haircut which she cut and immediately dyed using a Reverse DNA Rod. I can’t seem to get use to this. My ash-colored hair turned coffee-colored.
She did not only change my hair’s style and hue, she also changed the color of my eyes. Now those green eyes I inherited from my father became chestnut in shade. She even put a mole under my left eye. Now, I’m no longer Orion Tudor. Not anymore. I see a different person from the clear waters of the lake. My face is being reflected clearly by the waters because of the moonlight which is the only form of illumination in this dark woodland.
“Until we find your soulmate, we have to a.s.sume other ident.i.ties to avoid being hunted by the Legions. From now on, you’re my twin brother. You will address me as Stellar Celestial while I will call you my brother Pollux Celestial.” She reminded me.
“What is with this gimmick of yours?”
“As if you should still let yourself be called Orion Tudor?! You really are not using your brain.” The girl rudely remarked.
Fine. She’s got the point. As long as possible, no one must discover my real ident.i.ty or else it will spark a huge scandal. A scandal which will surely taint the Tudors’ reputation. History, the people, and all the loyal disciples and subjects will definitely shun me. My father and mother’s reign will also be ended, that’ why it must not happen.
“But why are we twins? We don’t resemble each other.”
“We’re siblings to escape from people’s malice. Also, since we’re fraternal twins, it’s okay to not look alike.”
After several minutes of walking, we reached the sputnik’s location which was near the entrance of the lake. A sputnik is a common transportation vehicle use by the commoners and it is my first time seeing one. This sputnik is only as large as a s.p.a.ce pod. I estimated it has a width of five meters and length of three meters. In other words, a small air vehicle, very unlike my thousand Royal Shuttles since it could only fly twenty six meters above ground and with the speed of two-hundred kilometres per hour. It’s not fast enough so it will only suit the poor.
“Ahem… ahem…” The woman cleared her throat. “Voxie will sit here. Go to the back!”
I almost took the seat beside her but her pet s.n.a.t.c.hed the spot. Don’t tell me this girl wants to be with her cat more than her prince?
I stopped myself from complaining since it looks like my words don’t matter to her. Now, if possible, I no longer want her to speak any more depressing phrase. I positioned myself inside the sputnik and the unexpected and unpleasant stench of her cat a.s.saulted my nostrils. This transportation medium is not attended and cleaned for several years, I’m absolutely sure.
This woman is very unladylike! This is too much!
I shook my head and fasten my seatbelt. That’s when the engine started.
We maintained silence throughout the journey. Later on, I slipped into the dream world and had slept tight. After several hours, the sun’s intense lighting irritated my eyes. I opened it up exactly just when the machine noises died down.
So it’s morning already. Probably we’re here now?
“Wake up! We arrived.” The woman informed me.
Because of my wrong sleeping posture earlier, the back of my neck started to hurt. I peek outside the sputnik’s window and see the pit she’s talking about. It’s actually a huge and deep cave etched on the stony mountain covered in darkness. It’s a fascinating cave entrenched on the steep part of the mountain hidden by tall trees and verdant plants. When the sputnik entered, only its headlights illuminated the dark pit. The machine’s piston slowly weakens until it landed on the cave’s deepest part.
When the door opens, I came out to go after the woman who is still clinging with her pet cat. I’m very much shocked when I saw that this pit she’s been mentioning all along is a gigantic laboratory with rocky grounds as its foundations. The place is abundant with water. Surrounding the vehicle’s Landing Circle are waterfalls and rivers which continuously create beautiful water sounds. Truly, this is where anyone’s mind can be put at ease.
“I didn’t know the Maxmillan family has this kind of property.” I said but Stellar ignored me and walked towards the narrow entrance. Together with her cat, I follow her and noticed how the ceiling’s fluorescent lamps automatically lighted up the dark pa.s.sage.
When we get to the pa.s.sage’s end, there’s a huge gate sealed inside one of the laboratory’s room. Stellar let the biometric scanner scan her blue retina. “Access denied.” A woman’s virtual voice responded after the scanning process.
“What the—“ Stellar was flabbergasted. She suddenly put off her two gloves and that’s when I learned the truth.
“You’re a demon child?” I blurted out those words after seeing no Gemini prints.
“Yes, so what?” She replied as if it’s not a big deal.
“Why did you not tell me?”
“You did not ask.”
“Aha!” For an unknown reason, I felt joy. “Who would have thought? The daughter of my trusted general is actually a demon. Your father is a criminal! He will be judged by the judiciary.” I threatened.
Now I’m not alone in this precarious situation. Thank goodness that I’m with another demon child now.
“It seems you forgot the son of His Majesty is also a demon. We’re even.” Stellar directed me a sarcastic smile. This girl is really smart, huh. It’s hard to hold her in neck.
She tried putting her palms above the biometric scanner then a green radiation came out of it. “Access denied!” The virtual a.s.sistant voiced out once again.
“Why is that so?”
I gave up minding her business. I think it’s no longer fun to be reproached by her.
Stellar tried two ways of opening the gate but all failed. Without further ado, she opens her mouth. “This is Stellar Maxmillan and I demand to open the hatch!” She commanded the virtual a.s.sistant.
“Your voice is not programmed in the security system and matches no log records. Please enter the pa.s.sword in the a.n.a.log box for the fourth log-in option. After three wrong attempts, the firewall will be activated.” Replied the Virtual a.s.sistant.
Before she even managed to press the a.n.a.log box to put the pa.s.sword, loud sounds started to alarm our hearings and it came from an unknown direction. Someone’s coming! Stellar pulled out her laser gun and beam pistol from her weapon bag.
“Shhh!” She warned me. Her cat seems to transform into a wild beast. She and her cat readied their selves for the incoming danger. I can feel them being alert. I don’t know why but I’m being nervous. I thought I’m already out of peril but it seems I am not.
“What’s that?”
“Shhh!” Stellar hissed at me and it looks like her brow arched up due to annoyance.
Silence.
It was followed by the sounds made by hurried and synchronized steps. There are many of them. But who are they? The light sometimes dimmed out and it only made my racing heart beats faster. I felt the sudden flooding of anxiousness. Then from my peripheral vision, I seem to see something which flew fast at me. The next thing I know, I’m feeling dizzy. While groaning, I reach out for the thing which hit my back. I feel weak. What the heck is happening to me? I try to stabilize myself as I lean on the wall.
“What the —“ Stellar also grunted. The same also occurred to her Meircat. That’s when I realize the reason why we suddenly felt dizzy. On the woman’s shoulder is a tranquilizer dart. I’m sure it’s the same with the thing which dig into my back. “N-n-no… a trap!” She stuttered in panic.