The Book of Ominiue: Starborn (26 page)

‘I am afraid the hour brings little but grief, friends from the stars, for my time on this world is drawing to a close.’ With this introduction the UeVarda coughed painfully, raising a cloth to his mouth and afterwards looking at it with disdain. Shayne turned to his Earthmen companions and spoke briefly in English before turning back to the UeVarda, an act that received shock and disgust from two of the natives.

‘May I ask what ails you,
Sire
?’

‘Nothing we can cure. Not a single moment in time goes by without suffering, every breath is a labour, and it is so that even this conversation, though greatly cherished brings me great pain.’

‘UeVarda, we are a people of great advancement, it is rare for a developing civilisation such as yourselves to recognise science as an art, like your nation does, rarer still to accept us so willingly. We travelled many lengths of the stars to reach your world, give our doctors permission and we
will
cure your illness.’ Upon hearing this, the small crowd burst into excited chatter and his wife, the Venra’s eyes brightened in hope.

‘Your concern, Afra’hama brings me joy, but I do not think I could bear much more, I can feel death approach, if I last beyond this week I will be much surprised.’

‘One of the reasons for our audience with you, UeVarda, was to obtain permission to bring our flying machines to your nations; to initiate trade and to explore uninhabited lands for precious minerals that we require.  In return we offer knowledge, technology and medicine. Give the order and we will have one of our machines here within 15 minutes
[12]
,’ the Varda’s wife clasped his arm again, drawing his attention.

‘Daí karn galaman amark malikan kev, dol Heiman ka Areda? Han anos barka anosmó bine amdó luf ra ilshann ten onarnŭ keró ho hunmark aunkun amdó dando amark vanda.’

With a deep sigh the king replied to his pleading wife, ‘I am so tired, Daí hafama hama Ta’Orian malikan koolungŭ? My kev v’angal pundan my und horken jahra randarder.’

‘Anos nan daran tellus — anosmó valhinan nan daran tellus — bahool the anosmó onanífa,’ she spoke with such strength and compassion that the king’s face changed. He looked upon her with sorrow as he raised his hand to touch her face, closing his eyes in thought.

‘What do you have to lose, my love?’ she finally said after his extended pause. ‘You can barely eat as it is; we all know that if you do nothing now then it may soon be too late. If you do not accept their help now, then you will be scattered to the four winds like the UeVarda’s of old; sooner than your time. Do you truly wish such a fate? If we try, then maybe you will be given the years you deserve!’ The lionman king looked deep into her eyes which now held tears: his heart broke at seeing her in such a way. He weakly nodded, turning to face his new guests.

‘Afra’hama, bring your flying machines and healers, for I will receive your treatment.’

‘My Lord,’ Shayne bowed again, ‘we shall bring the
doctors
, but please understand that you might have to come to our settlement to receive the necessary treatment.’

‘I understand, but I ask you to do all that you possibly can in the safety of my palace, if after that time you still require me to turn to your medical-halls then I shall, but not first.’

Shayne bowed his head slightly in acknowledgment. He nodded to Brigadier-General Hanniver, who then ordered the other droid, 14D-SCMSR to arrange transport and designate a drop off point within the grounds. The android, accompanied by Dominic gave the silent command as it made its way out of the hall. A high ranking shytarda organised a group of Imperial Guards to announce to the public that strange flying machines would be coming to the city. Soon the throne room was in a rush as guards came and left to deliver messages and issue commands.

‘What is the consensus?’ Shayne asked the other robot while the Earthmen huddled together to listen.

‘97 percent probability of Lung Cancer,’ the droid automatically responded. ‘Though uncertainty arises in unknown areas of lionmen anatomy. The pitch and nature of the cough holds variations that might not be related.’

‘And when this difference is accounted for?’ the Brigadier asked.

‘95 percent probability if they share the same genetic ancestry as known life,’ the robot responded causing Rae to roll her eyes.

‘Are we able to treat him now? Do we have anything that can help him?’ Shayne addressed Rae.

‘Yes,’ she responded, ‘pain killers are always available and the medical class military machines always carry a variety of other meds, including cancer restrictors, in case of something like this.’

‘The stupid robotic laws make them impractical at times,’ Omar scoffed.

‘It has proven its worth today,’ Shayne reasoned.

‘Which is their argument’ Rae added ‘Do you have a lung inhaler?’ she asked the droid who brought out a small medical box from a compartment in its leg, a sight that caught the attention from the nearby natives. 73B then opened it to show a collection of vials and pumps split into various categories.

‘What if he has a reaction to the meds?’ Hanniver suddenly warned, placing a hand on Shayne’s arm.

‘We have everything needed for such an event,’ Rae replied.

‘But that’s for humans, who knows what differences lie within these creatures.’

‘They share the same native medicines with the humans on this planet, by what I hear they also appear to be affected by same viral infections. It is reasonable to assume a common genetic component. I don’t think we have any reason to be worried about
alien
factors,’ rationalised Shayne.

The Starborn then returned to the bottom step of the throne. ‘We have medications that could help ease the pain right now. May we approach?’ Two guards standing beside the throne shifted uneasily, with one muttering a protest, but the UeVarda raised his hand; silencing them. He then nodded to Shayne who signalled for Rae Wong and the android to approach.

‘This is Lieutenant Wong, one of our healers, and this is 73B–GMSR,’ Shayne indicated the machine. ‘They both can help you.’ Rae received a little cartridge from the robot with the two vials placed into the injector. She then stepped up to the throne with Shayne at her side.

‘What is that Afra’hama?’ asked the UeVarda, his eyes though tired were full of curiosity.

‘This is an injection needle, forgive me UeVarda, this shall hurt a little, but I guarantee that your sickness will subside and you will feel much better. After this we can properly examine you without too much discomfort.’ Rae took the cap off as she then gently twisted the king’s arm and found a vein. She dabbed it with disinfected before she placed the object on his arm and softly pushed down. A soft click sounded; allowing the fluid to flow into his bloodstream. The king flinched at the injection. His eyes betrayed shock and a little anger but he quickly regained himself.

‘We don’t have the correct equipment to fully assess you,’ Rae gently spoke with the training of a medical officer while the machine relayed. ‘If you came back to
Landing
with us, we could do a full medical, but right now we can cover all the basics. A
doctor
will come with what is necessary to assess any other problems.’ When she let go of his arm he lifted it and rubbed where the needle had entered.

The android handed Shayne a small device. ‘You should demonstrate the use of this.’

‘This is a
protein-pump
,’ Shayne lifted the little plastic device for the UeVarda to see. ‘Just put it in your mouth and push down on this point here and breathe in, like this.’ Shayne put the apparatus in his mouth and demonstrated the process; taking a very deep breath. ‘The clicking sound indicates you have used it correctly,’ Shayne then handed the pump to the UeVarda who after examining it for a moment tried it for himself. He coughed at his intake of breath and then pulled a face at the taste; sticking his tongue out.

‘Even Star Ta’Orian medicine taste terrible.’

‘Good,’ Shayne commented. ‘Use that twice a day until it is empty.’

‘How do these things work?’ the Venra asked. ‘Is it some kind of Wizardry?’

‘It is
science
,’ Rae corrected her. ‘They are both designed to destroy cancer; a disease that attacks inside the body.’ She then directed her attention back to the king. ‘The needle I gave you had a painkiller within it and also a variety of cultivated cells to fight many forms of cancer that can be reached through the bloodstream. A pill can also be taken for the stomach and bowel, but we shall wait to see if that is needed. The needle is always a good surety, but the doctor should be able to give you more detailed analysis and more specialised treatments if needed, which at this advanced stage is likely.’

‘And the breathing thing?’ the UeVarda lifted it up to examine it again, as if doing that would reveal the secret to its mechanism.

‘The
inhaler
contains a
protein
crafted using
nanotechnology
.’ Shayne added. ‘It works much like the injection but you breathe it in, like air. Used to fight diseases in the lungs. If you contain affected
cells
you will develop a dry cough, it is a positive response, and it means it is doing its job.’

‘And if I do not get this cough?’ he asked.

‘Than it means you never had it,’ he said. ‘The
proteins
you breathed in will break down and bind themselves to
carbon dioxide
that is naturally produced in your system, and you will breathe it out.’

‘You think I have this
long canser
?’

‘Undoubtedly, the
droid
confirmed it from your
symptoms
.’

Shayne, Rae and the gemscar excused themselves from the native king to stand with the other Earthmen and await the transport plane. There were a few who bowed as he passed them but their attention was mostly directed to their king. As if the medicine given to him would create a miraculous and sudden improvement. The morphine distilled from a planet from the ‘Remus- Centauri’ system began to take effect and he did look slightly better though his cough remained dampening any ‘instant cure’ hopes the entourage had.

‘Who is the man in the mask?’ Hanniver found himself asking. They all glanced at the two monks who watched them with grim scepticism. While attending the king Shayne was able to clearly see them and confirmed that one was wearing a metal mask, covering the top half of his face and running down to his jaw line. ‘There’s an old saying, “never trust a man in a mask,”’ Hanniver quoted without suspicion but merely because Kíe had not yet replied.

‘Unless it’s Batman,’ Omar added.

‘Well, I meant real people.’ Hanniver replied with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

‘Plenty of masked vigilantes out there, don’t have to be fictional,’ Omar defended.

‘He is the second head of
The Order
,’ Kíe answered, ‘He is one  of the councillors of the UeVarda, and a bodyguard, even though he is a Ta’Orian and not an Imperial Shytarda.’ The look in the young lionman’s eyes was almost fondness, but Shayne was not sure if it was directed to his king or to the masked man.

‘Yeah, but why the mask?’

Kíe made a movement that Shayne came to know as their equivalent of a shrugged, ‘A good question. Some say that only the UeVarda knows who he truly is. He is the greatest fighter in Kérith-Árim. He can disarm a Fa’Orian with nothing but his hands.’ Kíe held his hands out with their palms out to emphasis the gesture; he then paused for moment; his expression turning slightly shifty.

‘I think he’s a Prince from across the great water in the south. Common rumour says he is a descendent of the cold land pirate raiders. These days we trade with those descendants but rumour of the occasional raid does reach us up here.’

‘Still doesn’t explain why he wears a mask.’ Rae added.

‘Common rumour says he was found one day upon the beaches of the southern coast, on the edge of death. He was scarred so badly that he wears a mask to conceal his hideous face and that he pleaded for sanctuary in Karmoníth from assassins. He has been in the land ever since.’

‘There is an awful lot of “
common rumour
” in this tale.’ Shayne bluntly remarked. He had to speak a little louder as he stood slightly away from their gossiping circle. The others spoke in hushed tones as the room echoed and some of the natives tried to move in closer without being noticed to listen in on them.

Kíe’s head reared in defence. ‘Everyone knows they are just stories Afra’hama; no harm in them.’

‘And what about their Order? What are they exactly?’ Dominic inquired.

‘Them? They are the
Kerwin
. Warrior Monks. Tales have it that the
Order
was founded in Isradia, from a hidden temple on an Island in an underground lake.’

‘That sounds extreme.’

‘Pretty much all Isradian cities are underground. It’s plausible. Anyway schools and temples are scattered throughout much of Dífrun. There are three monasteries that I know of this side of the mountains. One here in Karmoníth, the only one in a city and the only one the public are allowed to visit. The rest are in isolated places. I know one is in the Bohaníde mountains. Crazy if you ask me, too cold up there.’