“Think they’re going to get in?” Kestok said, taking a bite from his sandwich. He chewed it for a moment, before shrugging happily. “They seem persistent.”
“Yeah, they could be trouble. Ship’s holding up for now though.”
“For now,” Kestok said, as he ate his lunch.
Gravult led them along the street, it’s gentle curving unnoticed as they walked. Seeing the horizon curve up into the sky was disconcerting at first, but the assembled mixture of aliens quickly adapted. As they walked Merydians gawped at them, taking in the first off-world creatures they had ever seen. Mellok drew particular attention, his differing body design being the most alien.
“Please, after you,” Gravult said, stopping at a large vehicle that was parked at the side of the street. His black-clad attendants swarmed around him, racing to open the door. It swung open, revealing a set of seats placed inside. Like the blimp cabin, there were no windows, the vehicle guided by a brass seeing tube.
Michael stepped past, followed by the others, taking a seat inside. The bodyguards followed, shutting the door behind them, one of them taking up a position at the seeing tube, his hands gripping two levers, one at each side. He pushed them forward and the machine began to move, a low whine echoing through the cabin.
“So, uh, I think I’m not the only person who wants to ask this, how is this moving?” Michael said, leaning forward in his chair. It was uncomfortable, lacking the padding of the blimp seating.
“Do you not have automobiles on your world Star Child?” Gravult, turned in his seat, pushing himself around with his cane.
“Oh yeah, loads of them. Too many really. But when we landed here, all our technology stopped working. Nadda. Bupkis. Nothing. How are you powering this?”
“Ah, you are speaking about the great failing.”
“Am I?”
“Yes, the scrolls say that the old technologies began to fail when the Vystok came.” Gravult was nodding sagely as he spoke.
“Right, uh, makes sense. Doesn’t answer my question though. Not really.”
“You shall see soon enough,” Gravult said. “It is what I’m taking you to see.”
“Way to jump the gun, Michael,” Aileena said. She elbowed him playfully as she spoke.
“I was just asking. Trying to learn as much as I can. I wandered into the last situation somewhat blind. “
“Hey look, it learns,” Aileena said.
“Leave him alone, Aileena, he’s trying,” Brekt said.
“You are very… informal, for saviours from beyond the stars,” Gravult said. “Still, I am not to question your methods I suppose. Anyway, we have arrived.”
The vehicle stopped, the doors swinging open, Gravult limping out first. His henchmen followed, standing at either side of the doorway, an honour guard for Michael and his friends. They had arrived outside a large building, a set of steps leading down beneath the surface of the street. It looked like a massive bunker, out of place amongst the structures next to it.
Those other buildings reminded Michael of the high-rise blocks of flats that peppered London. People were walking back and forth on balconies, and as the occupants were Merydian were also scrambling up the front, leaping from balcony to balcony. Several of the glass windows were broken, their replacements thick curtains or shutters made of metal.
Michael leant over, bringing his head near to where he assumed Mellok’s ear was. He wasn’t remotely close. “I don’t think they can make glass,” he said.
“No, it would appear a great many technologies have been lost.”
“I wonder what they want to show us then?”
“I have no idea, knower,” Mellok said. “Though they seem very eager.”
A cluster of Merydians had rushed up the stairs to meet Gravult, tails bouncing as they ran. They were wearing thick overalls, each of which had large stitches across them, as reused and recycled as the other cloths Michael had seen.
“Prime minister, you honour us with your presence,” said the leader Merydian. He bowed slightly, his hands crossed across his chest. Gravult repeated the motion.
“Gurret, I would like you to meet the star child and his retinue.” Gravult gestured behind him.
The apron-wearing alien squinted his feline eyes, before stepping closer to Michael. “They aren’t what I expected.”
“Is Skorra here?”
“No, Prime Minister. Skorra is where she always is.”
“Of course. Where else would she be?” Gravult rubbed the side of his head, messing up his fur. He licked his hand and smoothed it down. “Still, I would like to show our friends here the crystal chamber.”
“Is… is that wise, prime minister?” Gurret said.
“I believe so. How long have we waited for the star child? I think they should know everything before they go to slay the Vystok.”
“When you say slay, you mean like, kill dead?” Michael said.
“Of course, Star Child.”
“Just checking.”
“Well then,” Gurret began. “If you could follow me then please.”
The stairs led downwards, winding around beneath the streets of the city. The strange dimensions of the tower played on Michaels mind, trying to twist into place exactly how this subterranean burrow fitted. It was well lit, ancient lamps lighting the way.
Gurret and his assembled coterie pushed open a set of massive doors at the bottom of the stairs, revealing an oddly sparse chamber. Within the centre was a bronze cylinder, wires stretching forth from the top, vanishing off into the ceiling.
“Behold!” Gravult said. “The pinnacle of Merydian science.”
“A metal drum?” Aileena said. “Sorry, our engineer is back on our ship. I’m not sure exactly what we’re looking at.”
“Wait, there are more of your number? And you left them alone?”
“Trying to repair our vessel yes. Our landing was… rocky.”
“Ah,” Michael said, jumping at his chance. “So, you do admit it was a bad landing?”
Aileena ignored him. “Two of our people are still there.”
“Vurtle!” Gravult snapped. One of the black-clad guards ran to his side. “Take the men, and the blimp, and find their ship.” He turned back to face Aileena. “The Vystak are not the brightest, but they are stubborn, they will find a way inside of your craft eventually. My men will recover the rest of your crew.”
“I better go with them,” Mellok said. “I have not yet linked with them. They will not understand your men.”
“Oh,” Michael said, seeing the confusion on Gravult’s face. “Mellok is our, translator. Did you not wonder why we spoke your language?”
“I just assumed that as you are here to save us, you would have learnt it in advance.” Gravult slammed his staff on the hard-stone floor, the strike echoing around the room. “Leave me, go! I will be fine.”
The black-clad guards ran from the chamber, Mellok in pursuit, his legs pounding like a fleeing spider.
“So, what is this then?” Michael said once the dust had settled. “I imagine it’s important somehow, to drag us down here.”
“Open the cover,” Gravult said. At the far side of the room, Gurret was ordering around his compatriots. They began to pull at levers and chains. The cylinder rumbled, and the front started to lift, revealing the contents inside.
Within, was a large pink crystal. It was held in place by a lattice of pins. Across its surface lighting pulsed, arcing into the pins and vanishing within the machine.
“This is what makes it all possible, the tower, our way of life. It works our machines, keeps the city warm and the lights still running.” Gravult was smiling, proud of his people’s work.