Prophecy

'Now how the hell do you know that?' she demanded. 'And what am I supposed to do about it?'

'My masters gave the prophecy to the Atlanteans. My masters travelled between the universes, and encountered the Envoys.'

'And who gave it to the Draycons?'

'No one. They learnt of the prophecy and knew that if Atlan fell, they would be able to take over, so they made up a prophecy of their own. They are deluding themselves, however, for the Envoys have no interest in them, and will destroy them too.'

Rayne put down the half-eaten sandwich and rubbed her face, trying to assimilate all this astounding information. Fatigue made her eyelids droop, and her brain laboured to absorb everything. 'Okay, so what am I supposed to do about this Envoy?'

'I am not certain, but my masters claimed that one such as you could stop it.'

'By warning the Atlanteans?'

'No. I, or my masters, could have done that. The Atlanteans will be helpless to prevent the next crystal ship from entering their atmosphere. Their weapons will be useless against it in space, and once in the atmosphere, anything powerful enough to destroy the ship will also wipe out the population, just like on Elliadaren.'

'So what's so special about me?' she asked, almost dreading the answer.

'I do not know,' Endrix replied.

'Well, that's a first. All right, tell me about your masters. Do I get to meet them?'

'No. That is a long and even more complicated tale. If you wish to hear it, I recommend we travel to my masters' world. I do not believe you should attempt that now, in this ship, however. I will return you to the Cerebilus Moons, then you can return to Atlan. But I must urge you to do something to arm yourself for your coming conflict with the Envoy.'

'What?'

'Seek out the Shrike and befriend him. Only he can provide you with a ship that will be able to take you where you need to go and help you in your battle with the Envoy.'

Rayne sat bolt upright, her fatigue banished. 'Are you nuts? He's a damned slaver! A murderer! An outlaw! He'll never help me, and he's…'

'He has already helped you, and he will again, if you are pleasant to him.'

'Pleasant…' She scowled. 'I never want to see him again.'

'That is not true. He did not murder his people. He saved them from untold suffering. He has killed many men, it is true, but they deserved to die. As for the rest, I recommend you ask him about it. His answers, if he is truthful, may surprise you.'

'Why would he help me, anyway?'

'Look at the planet on your screen,' Endrix replied, and she gazed at the dull grey world. 'That is his world, destroyed by an Envoy. If for no other reason, he will do it for vengeance.'

'Couldn't you help me? Talk to him?'

'No. In this instance you do not require my aid, nor would he welcome my interference.'

She sighed, slumping. 'Okay, answer this question, if you can. Why the hell are these sadistic, cannibalistic monsters called Envoys?'

'Since we have never communicated with them, we have no idea what they call themselves. My masters named them Envoys because, even in their own universe, they come from deep space, where few ever venture. They fall upon a planet broadcasting peace and love, just as an emissary would, and only when they have gained access do they show their true natures.'

'More like a Trojan Horse,' she said.

'The Trojan Horse of your history was a gift from a warring king, which turned out to be a trick. This is not an accurate description of their actions. They come as envoys, but they consume their hosts.'

'Parasites.'

'In a sense.'

A short silence fell as she pondered this last bit of information, and, after a few minutes, Endrix said, 'I think it is time to return you to the Cerebilus Moons, and for you to return to Atlan. Your next priority should be to seek out the Shrike. The time of the Envoy's coming draws near.'

She stifled a yawn, clamping a hand over her mouth. 'I have to sleep, I'm pooped.'

'Pooped?'

'Tired.'

'Would it help if I returned you to Atlan? My appearance may cause some consternation.'

She waved a hand. 'Don't worry about that. I'd be most grateful. I have absolutely no wish to be hooked up to that damned neural net ever again.'

'Very well.'

The crawling golden fire engulfed the screen in a solid curtain, and when it faded, Atlan's pearly orb hung there.

Chapter Fifteen

'Are you nuts?'

Rawn placed his hands on his hips and scowled at his sister, who sat on one of the comfy sofas in her lounge. The shade shields on the vast windows that overlooked the wild garden were withdrawn, allowing the warm rays of a glorious sunset to stream into the airy room with its pale decor and crimson carpets. Tallyn sat on a plush white faux leather chair on the other side of a low crystal-topped coffee table, frowning at her. She shrugged, and Tallyn leant forward.

'The council will never allow you to seek out the Shrike, Rayne.'

'Look, I'm not keen on the idea either, but I'm following my guide's instructions, and he seems to know a lot more about this story than you do. After all, he knew the Shrike didn't murder his people.'

'How were we supposed to know that?'

'Go down to the planet,' she said. 'See the remains of the Crystal Ship for yourself.'

'We can't. The radiation is too intense; the result of several hundred high-yield nuclear bombs. It will be hundreds of years before anyone can safely go there again. You shouldn't have gone; you took a hell of a risk.'

'I'm fine.'

'You should see a doctor, just in case.'

'Endrix said it was safe, and I believe him.'

Tallyn rose and went over to the window to gaze at the sunlit garden. 'Anyway, now that we know what we face, we can arm ourselves against it. That ship won't be allowed anywhere near Atlan, and certainly not into our atmosphere.'

'You can't stop it. It's immune to your weapons, just like Endrix.'

'Then we'll find other weapons. Our scientists will start work immediately.'

'It won't work. Don't you see? That's why Endrix's masters gave you the prophecy. I'm the only one who can stop it, and I don't even know how, but I need the Shrike's help, so I must find him.'

'What can he do that we can't?'

'He has more advanced ships. Endrix says I'll need one.'

Tallyn swung around, scowling. 'Why would he give you one, or even lend you one? He'll sell you at the nearest market.'

'He'll do it for revenge.'

'He won't, because it's not his planet that's threatened this time. Atlan's demise would please him.'

'No.' She shook her head. 'He told me he doesn't want Atlan to fall. That's why he let me go.'

'He let you go to throw us off his trail. He made his escape while we stopped to pick you up. If he had killed you, we'd have hunted him down, and he knew it.'

Rayne jumped up. 'Fine, think what you want. I have to find him, whether you like it or not.'

'But if we don't help you, how will you find him?'