Page 42 of When Eden Falls

Dybgo stopped next to me, now surveying the large hole. “It’s possible. But the sun’s hot today. The Igknamai won’t linger for long if it’s warm inside.”

“Without the air coolant running, it’ll be stifling,” Kobe said.

“Then, there’s a good chance they would’ve left for the day. They don’t function well in the heat.”

“What do you mean by that?” I looked up at Dybgo, shielding the harsh sunlight from my eyes with my hand. He moved,shadowing my face with his tall body. I gulped at his closeness—at the pale, toned chest directly in front of me—realising he was merely being a gentleman, blocking the sun from blinding me. Would either Rooke or Kobe have even considered doing that? I doubted it.

“The heat slows the Igknamai down. They’re rarely seen between the hours of ten and fourteen.”Ten and fourteen?He meant 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. “They prefer the coolness of the night.”

“So, you’re saying,” Rooke added, “the Igknamai don’t like the heat nor the rain?”

“That’s correct.”

“It’s always hot and raining here. How the hell do they thrive?”

“That’s a question my ancestors have been asking for centuries.” Dybgo looked round at his men, barking an order in his native tongue at them. He turned back to us and said, “My warriors will make sure the ship is secure before you enter.”

I looked at Rooke, who was staring at Dybgo with stern ferocity. Whether or not it was because of a reluctance to bow down to Dybgo’s authority, or if he was digesting the intel regarding the Igknamai, I couldn’t tell.

Two Akquarians hauled themselves up into the irregular ship cavity, disappearing into the darkness. We stood in silence as we waited, listening attentively. After several minutes, a harsh voice shouted down to us.

“He says it’s clear,” Dybgo interpreted.

Rooke immediately headed for the opening. He entered, followed by Kobe and two more Akquarians. As the opening was only a metre off the ground, I easily pulled myself through, but a sharp pain pricked my skin as I skimmed the edge. I must’ve snagged my leg on a sharp piece of metal. I stifled the hiss trying to escape from my lips. With Dybgo behind me, I was more than aware the Akquarians regarded their females as weak. I had no intention of proving that about my species.

Climbing in the darkness, I followed the others upwards, gripping gnawed cables and jagged edges to gain height.Eventually my head appeared through the floor of the dully lit loading bay. Pulling myself clear, I noticed the area seemed untouched. It would appear the Igknamai had concentrated on feasting on the lower levels. Maybe the climb was too strenuous for their feeble looking legs. It had left me breathless. And it was hot up here, really hot.

“Main power is out,” Kobe said from the panel on the far wall, “but auxiliary power is working.” He pulled a lever and the room fully lit up.

Leaving Rooke in the loading bay with the Akquarian warriors, I accompanied Dybgo and Kobe down the short corridor to the analysing room. The consoles illuminated as soon as we entered. Again, everything appeared untouched.

I made a beeline for the comms desk. Rooke had instructed me to charge the three radio sets, while Kobe downloaded any information The Orka had sent during its orbits around the Earth, albeit without drawing attention to the task.

In the corner of my eye, I could see Dybgo strolling around the circular space, surveying. One hand on the hilt of his sword, the other holding a long spear. He certainly held a domineering presence.

To my surprise his voice echoed through the room. “This…this isn’t what I expected.”

I glanced at him over my shoulder. “What did you expect?”

His eyes swept the computers. “I pictured your ship to be more…more futuristic.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Kobe retorted as he stood up. He looked over at me. “Eden, can you keep an eye on this?” He indicated to his desk screen. “I need to check something with Rooke.”

“Sure.” Kobe left and I moved over to his desk.

“I’m not disappointed,” Dybgo went on. “Just surprised.”

I smiled. “I think you’ve been reading too many ancient human Sci-Fi books.”

He chuckled and I leant back on the desk, obscuring the screen from his view.

In the dull light Dybgo looked human. A rather tall, muscular human with a sculptured face, but the similarities were there.

“Can I ask you a question?”

He inclined his head. “Of course.”

“Why do you not wear your armour outside the fortress, where it would possibly be useful?”