Eon

Chapter 19

Commander Zhou entered into the dimly-lit hologram room of his ship and stood watching the stars as they aligned themselves above him. The sunroof was not a practicality and at first Zhou had sought to cover it, but now as he looked up at the distant void that was space infinite he told himself it was for the best that such things should be seen in such dire times as these. He took a deep breath, blinked once, and then stepped forward onto the circular disk and watched as all around him lights began to dance in the dark. Each mesmerizing spectacle was like fire and as Zhou felt himself being lifted up into the nether he appreciated these flashes of brilliance for they were his sigil, the last fires of the Chinese.

When the commander exhaled he found himself in a mansion, draped in blue and white cloth. Out of a window and in the distance he saw a dead sea which sat transfixed in his mind and even when he tried to rid himself of the image it kept coming back to him like some strange case of déjà vu. Above him more sunroofs were present, although these were outlined in marble and shone brilliantly underneath the dull sun. To Zhou's right was a fireplace which burned brightly. He stared at the fire, for a time, until the blinking of another host came forth and took his attention away from the burning and decay.

In front of him stood a large Cask who had a bony hide and hidden face. Its armored appearance masked the alien's features, and it might have been mistaken for a common footsoldier if not for the brand on his chest. There sat the image of a hand, displaying five fingers which were outlined in brilliant orange. The Cask turned to Zhou but said nothing for there was little that needed to be said. They had long since come to an agreement. Who cared what the Americans thought? The Insurgents were largely dispensable for both sides and the Cheson were an irritant at best. Zhou told himself then that his agreement with the Casks was the best course of action, but he still held some doubts.

To Zhou's left came Shiau Xin, Ung Minzhe, and Pei Lanfen of the Chinese highest order. They sat transfixed, although Zhou saw Pei turn to him ever so slightly and nod. That was it then. Zhou was now the keeper of Eon, the decider who would guide the course of the planet. Zhou dared not smile but inside he felt all aglow. Finally, he had been given the power to dictate, to be decisive, to show the Americans that China was greater than even the sum of her parts.

To Zhou's right, placing himself in front of the fire, came General Montgomery. He stood rigid, transfixed like the Chinese. Beads of sweat covered his face. It seemed as if he was about to say something but then a blue light shone behind him and there, with their wicked smiles and terrible black suits, were the jailors. In the middle of the five stood a man, old, with a wrinkled hide and a pale complexion that shone through the blue hologram. The old man placed a hand on the General's shoulder, an ethereal thing which draped over the physical.

There was a tension in the air, as if all of the parties were being watched.

"Gentlemen and lady," the General began, "thank you for coming on such short notice. We have much to discuss and almost all has to do with Eon."

The silence that hung in the air after the name of the primary planet had been uttered was in and of itself dominant and true. Zhou dipped his head low as if he was searching for something.

"I would like to discuss the actions on behalf of the Casks," the General said, turning to the Cask. "The attack of the native village was a breach of policy that was enacted on this day ten years ago when our races first met with one another. I would ask the Esteemed One what the Casks want out of this destruction, and to give reason why such an evolved race was attacked with technologies far superior to their own."

A thin strand of sweat slithered down the General's neck. Zhou noticed it instantly, turning to the Cask and then to the jailors who had said nothing since their coming, only staring, constantly staring.