Page 33 of The Space Traveller's Lover
She breathes in the dense atmosphere’s heavy metallic scent, expectantly looking around her. The high ceiling and concave walls shimmer with bright stereoscopic images of alien spaceships and bizarre celestial bodies. Suddenly, the aisle opens up into a vast double-sided arena, packed with impassive attentive onlookers, sitting in orderly rows on the slanting terraces. At first, she thinks they are real people, but then she notices their jointed body parts and glistening metallic skin. They have two primary eyes, gleaming in a bright green colour over their pointed noses and thin mouths, but they also have a row of smaller eyes extending in a circle around their oval heads. Blinking in succession, the robots’ watchful eyes are tracking her every move as she walks by.
Rothwen clutches her hand reassuringly while explaining through their tuned thoughts,They are our guardian robots. Keep walking. Don’t look at them.
As they make their way through the large amphitheatre, under the watchful gaze of the motionless robots, Shaillah looks up at the intricate floating images. She is sure she can read and follow the history of theRom-Ghenshar conquests and victories in the painstakingly decorated scenes.
Rothwen keeps urging her,Look ahead!
When she finally discerns the impressive figure of Kuzhma-Or, majestically sat on top of a high golden throne, she feels a sudden jolt of awe and anticipation. The intense pain in her chest makes her feel as though her heart is grinding to a halt, but she promptly manages to compose herself and bring her heartbeat under control. With every step she advances, her confidence grows, encouraged by Rothwen’s praising words.
Rothwen stops at a short distance from the supreme commander, resting his arm over Shaillah’s shoulder and making her bow briefly as a sign of respect.
Kuzhma-Or leans forward while his gleaming black helmet barely moves. The glittering throne stands over the glassy platform, making him look even taller, even more imposing. She feels the pressure of his invasive stare all over her body. Still, she manages to stay firm, controlling her nerves, in time to confront Athguer, who has appeared by Kuzhma-Or’s side while intensely observing her. They are both looking for any sign of weakness, any sign of fear or hesitation.
Kuzhma-Or raises his chin and his long thin lips ripple as he recognises Zula-Or’s Quark-Star diamond sparkling on Shaillah’s chest, the unmistakable signal of approval from the high counsellor herself.
“Zula told me you have visited her. I can see she is very pleased with you,” the supreme commander admits somewhat reluctantly.
“I feel privileged to have met our distinguished wise lady, Zula-Or,” Shaillah calmly replies.
“Shewe” (Very well). Kuzhma-Or keeps looking at Shaillah, slowly nodding while stroking his glossy white beard.
At the same time, Athguer lets a subtle proud smile escape from his usual hermetic expression.
No one is speaking a word, but they are all mind-conversing. She keeps hearing phrases inside her head, their meanings getting more apparent as she starts deciphering their words of judgement.
“Soyelani, Yei Boishen” (I am ready, My Commander), she proudly announces.
Kuzhma-Or raises his thick eyebrows at Shaillah’s resolute and self-assured stance. “I see that Rothwen is very pleased with you as well,” he concedes, his prying gaze steady. He bends his sturdy body even further towards her. The shiny images of the two suns distinctively etched on his backrest flash in front of her eyes.
“Come, Shaillah.” He beckons her by briskly moving his head as he stands up from his golden throne.
Rothwen gently pushes her towards the platform, making her climb the glistening steps.
Suddenly, Shaillah finds herself standing over an endless dark background, bristling with the bright swirls of infinite star clusters. She doesn’t dare make a move, lost in the vastness of the fascinating cosmos unravelling at her feet.
Kuzhma-Or’s face beams with an arrogant smile as he watches her dazzled reaction. “That’s right. We all wonder at the riches of the universe. We all want some of it. Watch as I am standing on your local zone,” he boasts as he pompously opens his arms while ordering her to come closer.
Shaillah slowly moves forwards, her eyes fixated on the floor. As she steps on a star point, the view under her boot focuses and zooms in on that particular region. She stops at a prudent distance from the supreme commander, still staring at the multitude of glittering celestial bodies moving towards her, their sizes growing against the starry background.
But as she feels Kuzhma-Or’s powerful presence stirring the air around her, she can’t help but lift her head. Her eyes slowly follow the tall, sturdy figure blocking her path. Starting from his ebony boots, she inspects the highly decorated uniform and the intricately braided belt, studded in multicolour gemstones. A thick golden pendant in the shape of an arrow-like ring-bound spaceship hangs from his broad shoulders. Sweeping over his white-silver beard, she confronts his piercing, overpowering gaze.
Their gazes are locked in a silent duel. Shaillah is looking for acceptance with an unwavering stare, while Kuzhma-Or’s prying eyes are still trying to find even the slightest imperceptible hesitancy.
He points at the colourful view zooming in under her feet; she follows his finger hovering over the yellow sun and its familiarly shaped planets. She immediately knows she is beholding her own solar system.
“Just another star at our disposal. We ignored it for aeons as we extended our grip around more challenging star-studded regions in our beautiful Senyeraikh” (Milky Way). “But not anymore. Now we are here, and we must take what is rightfully ours. There will be no respite, no withdrawal.” Kuzhma-Or’s pupils contract and widen, flashing with a fearsome glare as he speaks in a vengeful tone.
Shaillah hardly reacts to Kuzhma-Or’s foreboding words. She knows she can’t flinch in the least, and she feels proud of herself, as she puts one arm across her chest while cheering, “Suan enjie Rom-Ghenshar.”
She looks out for Rothwen through the corner of her eye, and she gleefully smiles as she sees him walking towards her.
“Impressive!” Kuzhma-Or cheers as he turns to his chief scientist. “What do you think, Athguer?”
“Perfect, she looks perfect,” Athguer boasts while walking towards them with an all-triumphant grin.
Then Athguer takes both of Shaillah’s hands and holds them tightly against his chest while noting in a sceptical tone, “She should not only have our greatness in her looks, but also she must have our unbreakable spirit. I perceive something deep in her mind that still hasn’t settled down … It’s troublesome.”
Shaillah swiftly withdraws her hands from Athguer’s grasp while firmly staring at him. “I’ll prove you wrong!” she ripostes, her face beaming in sheer conviction.
