But it’s the stunning views of a dazzling starship, floating majestically over the Moon’s edge, that ultimately takes her breath away. She contemplates its massive gleaming fuselage, realising she’s beholding the long-pointed ringed body of the Rom-Ghenshars’ lead mothership. She has seen it in Kuzhma-Or’s bulky talisman he wears on special occasions. She has seen it on their uniform badges and the backrest’s engravings, and she has seen it in the numerous stereoscopic images all across their compound. But she could never have imagined it would fill her with so much awe and fear the moment she saw it lingering so close to planet Earth.
Shaillah feels numb and helpless as she ponders the forthcoming doom. In her desperation, all she can think of is to go and find Rothwen and plead for his mercy. She flies up through the antechamber, then dashes through the UniverseScope’s arena, accelerating with all her vigour and sheer force of will—before remembering she can get into the space-tunnel.
She reaches the central hexagonal platform, leaning over the golden rails as they reflect the tenuous rays of the looming sunrise. The flickering orange lights on the hovering departure-craft make her stomach churn, reminding her that, as soon they all depart, the human race will come to a devastating end.
She turns around, but her body suddenly bumps against a solid barrier. She is so overwhelmed with anguish that it takes her a few seconds to realise it’s Rothwen, who is holding her close against his chest.
“Shaillah, at last you’re here. What’s wrong with you?” He tries to keep her steady, but she keeps breathing heavily, still struggling to break free.
“I asked Zula for guidance. I saw the mothership,” she snaps, glaring at him through the wet hair strands dangling over her forehead.
“I see,” he says impassively.
Rothwen’s frosty expression disheartens her, but she continues with her plea nevertheless.
“Then I ran, I ran looking for you. I ran to beg you. Please stop this monstrous plan. What you are about to destroy is very special … irretrievable. It is part of my history—our history.”
“I can’t … and I won’t,” Rothwen grabs her firmly by her shoulders as if trying to make her abandon her plight. But Shaillah keeps looking at him with imploring eyes.
“Shaillah, we have bigger things to worry about. Soon, we will be leaving onEi Reishojenand meet the rest of our Grand Fleet, ready for our next mission.”
As Rothwen speaks, his face hardens up, his steely piercing gaze exuding such immovable resolve that Shaillah knows by now she has lost her battle. Her body writhes in torment as if she is at the point of total breakdown.
“Do it for us. Oh, Rothwen, do it for our love!” she pleads as if this is her final chance. But all she gets for her most heartfelt clamour is an indifferent glacial stare.
“What do you mean ‘our love’? I don’t love you, Shaillah. I don’t care … about you,” he bluntly tells her, every word hitting on her soul like a heavy axe.
“Right,” she gasps as her shattered heart jolts and flips inside her aching chest. But deep down in her soul, Shaillah feels the tiniest of hopes that, after all, he may be lying. And that remotest of possibilities fills her with renewed purpose.
She confronts him again, looking straight into his searing gaze, their pupils locked in a silent contest of willpower. “Then don’t look at mewith those lust-hungry eyes anymore,” she says, her gaze and voice full of remorse.
“Fine!” Rothwen snaps. “Everything is going to be all right. Athguer can blank out all these weak human feelings of yours, and you won’t have to worry about them—ever.”
“You do not tell me what to do. I can take care of myself,” she shouts and spits in his face.
Rothwen groans, grasping her wrists behind her back as he walks up to the guard rails, making her walk close beside him. She has no room to even attempt to break free.
“Our aircraft is ready to depart. We must go now.” He orders in an unyielding tone.
Shaillah stops struggling, easing her heavy breathing and nodding in submission. Her gaze turns humble and obedient, so Rothwen lets go of his tight grasp.
“Are you feeling better?” he asks her, trying to look into her eyes.
But she abruptly turns her face away.
“As you wish. It’s up to you how you feel, what you think.” Rothwen seethes while she stays resignedly still.
He extends his hand to her impatiently. “Take my hand. Let’s go!”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Shaillah steps back, still avoiding looking at Rothwen.
“You can’t stay here. I probably won’t come back for another thousand years.” Rothwen softens his voice as he tentatively walks towards her.
“Get away from me!” she cries in despair while running to the other side of the platform.
She climbs on the broad railings and looks down on the wavy ocean as if she is about to jump into the air. And then she looks back at him, squinting her eyes and pursing her lips in contempt.
“Don’t touch me, or I will burn you,” she threatens as he approaches, her exasperated glare making him stop in his tracks.