Imperial Voyage

Part 4

'You're from that backwater we took over, aren't you? I hear you actually farm for food like savages.'

I opened my mouth to talk, but nothing came out. I didn't know what to say, what to do. I just looked at them blankly.

They looked at each other briefly before bursting into laughter. 'Liar boy can't even talk now, what a shame.'

My heart pounded in my chest; my whole body was tense.

'I can talk just fine! I may not have your precious Prox and I may come from a backwater planet. But that doesn't make you better than me, I'm still a person, we're no different. I'm not wasting another second talking to any of you! So, fisa off!' I shouted, storming out.

They glanced at each other and laughed.

Stopping just outside, I leant back against the wall and took a deep breath. It was over, but why had they acted that way? I didn't do anything; I didn't even know them. Crowds of people passed by, some grasped heavy bags full of shopping. Others dragged screaming children. I wasn't going back into that holotheatre again. Not with people like that in there. I turned and looked longingly at the theatre, maybe I could try again. I wouldn't let them put me off. I had a right to be here.

Unexpectedly, I felt a hand on my shoulder, I jerked forward in response and turned around. A man stood there. He was tall, wearing dirty blue overalls with a smile stretched on his face.

'Who are you? Why are you touching me?' I demanded.

'Hey, take it easy mate. It's alright, I heard what happened in there. I'm Alex. I'm a friend of your Dad. We know each other from Etiene, back in the day,' he grinned.

'Never heard of you. They were jerks to me, just 'cause I don't have their stupid Prox.' I sighed heavily. 'I've never gonna fit in on Aarku. I'm too different, I don't have all the things they have. I just wanted to fit in for once.'

'So, your dad told me this was your first time offworld. It's quite different from Etiene isn't it?

I didn't know there was anyone else from Etiene on the ship. Dad had never mentioned this guy, but then again, he hadn't really told me much about any of this. All I remember him mentioning was that we were the only people from Etiene on the ship. Nobody else was allowed to leave, something about some riots. I dunno.

'Yeah, it's so different. It's like being in another dimension, everything is so different, so advanced. It's just the people who don't like me.'

'Well, ignore those idiots. They're so stuck up their own arses they wouldn't know a gem when they saw one. Where's your Dad, I'll take you back to him?' He held an outstretched hand out towards me.

'I know the way back, I'll be fine, I said as I began to quickly walk away. I looked back at him, but he didn't notice me. He was too busy tapping away at his prox. Everyone here was obsessed!

As I walked towards our cabin, my mind was in a haze. Who was that guy? He was so weird, I doubt he even knew Dad. He was probably lying. Nobody else was meant to be... here. After a few minutes I made it back to the room, Dad wasn't here. As I sat on my bed, I noticed a small piece of paper on my bedside table. I picked it up.

Sorry, I got called away. Had some important work to do, I'll see you later.

Love Dad

Typical, just typical. I'm sure work involved some kind of alcohol or another. But you never know. Maybe he actually had some work to do, he was meant to be an Ambassador after all. I lay down on my bed and felt my eyes slowly close as I drifted off to sleep.

I awoke to the sounds of screaming and shouting. Red lights bathed the room, blinking their hellish glare. I hurried out of bed as the sirens moaned. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Heavy footsteps thudded past outside my room. I reached out for the door, but it was sealed shut. 'Help' I shouted but there was no response. Something big was going on.

'We, er, are suffering a minor malfunction with the ship,' a voice calmly said over the ship's speaker. Panic rose in their voice. 'No need to worry. Everything is perfectly...' T

The voice stopped abruptly.

There was an eerie silence until it was replaced by another.

'Listen up, my name is Idris Kelmer. I am from a planet called Etiene, you might not have heard of us, and how could you while you gorge on the blood of my people like the vampires you are. My planet has been occupied by your Imperial forces; your dreadnoughts cover our sky as you murder our people and corrupt our identity. We never asked for you to come. You may claim you were invited, that you came to help us. But that is a lie! Our cowardly leaders were threatened into allowing you to come. We do not want you here, our people still starve in the thousands. Any who dare to question your rule are held in camps, forced to stay until you have changed them forever. In order to free our planet from the tyranny of the Imperium, we have placed bombs throughout the ship. We demand that your Emperor recognizes Etiene as a free and sovereign planet, with a legally binding treaty published which stipulates this. If this does not happen every life on this ship is forfeit. We have taken complete control of the ship; nobody can leave or enter without our consent.'

There was a brief pause.

'All ambassadors on board will turn themselves in to us, we are particularly interested in the traitor, the ambassador from Etiene. We have your son Lucas in our custody, if you continue to hide, his continued safety is not guaranteed. It is your choice, what happens next.'

When the speaker went silent, I stood in horror. What were they gonna do to me? And where was Dad, what was he doing? I tried thinking back. Any clue to where he could've gone.

'Dad,' I murmured to myself. I prayed that he was ok. I heard a knock on my door.