Chapter 3 - Mirage (The Ari Chapter)

Escape

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“We would need to keep your ship within the magnetic shield. As per protocols we cannot allow you onboard.” Informed Adam matter-of-factly.

“Ari, hope you have enough supplies onboard to last the journey” enquired Captain Viz empathetically. He was concerned for the infant.

“Yes, the ship has emergency supplies, which should be good for the journey”.

Adam set the course of the silvery blue 191 to the coordinates provided by Ari. They were on their way to Xeno – the space station outpost setup by Arnon as a launchpad for their explorations in the galaxy. That would to be a safe place for Ari.

“I don’t know what to expect.” exclaimed Captain Viz as soon as Adam muted the communication with the ship. “We have taken Ari on face value. What if it’s a trap?” The human instincts started to surface.

“Captain, while I have locked the ship surrounding it by our safety bubble, I will continue to search our past databases for any clue while also keeping an eye on Arnon.” Adam responded mechanically – as it was programmed to do. Adam was making sure all possible known threats were being covered and all risks mitigated.

“Yes please, Adam. Any further information will be helpful.”

Arnon and Arthe were two of the six planets of this planetary system of the star AM-241 that Captain Viz was exploring. While these two were the only inhabited ones, the rest were far away and icy. From the coordinates, space station Xeno was near the farthest planet.

Although confident, Captain Viz wanted to rule out any threat to 191 and its crew. He wanted to be helpful to Ari but not at the cost of his crew’s safety.

“Captain, we are now closing in – approximately thirty minutes to rendezvous with Xeno” Adam’s update broke the Captain’s chain of thoughts.

“Very Well. Please inform Ari.”

Adam unmuted the communication link to the ship.

“Ari, Xeno will be in our view shortly.” Informed Adam to Ari.

“All key personnel to take positions. We will be approaching space station Xeno soon”. Captain Viz instructed his crew. Captain Viz took his position at the center and started looking at the main center screen. Fifteen minutes passed.  A silhouette of a space station could be seen. Well, that must be Xeno.

It was a tubular structure with large panels on the side. It appeared like a large moth.

“Captain, we have Xeno in our view now.” Informed Adam routinely.

“Ask Ari to establish contact with Xeno and keep us on the same communication channel.” commanded Captain Viz. He was doing this to ensure that they are aware of all the communications between Ari and Xeno.

“Xeno – this is Ari from Arnon. Arthe attacked us and I was able to escape. I am being escorted by a friendly spaceship from Earth.”

Silence.

The message was not responded.

Strange.

Ari repeated the message a few times but still no response.

Captain Viz was getting concerned. Something was amiss.

“Adam, scan Xeno”

“Yes captain”. Adam unleashed a pinging beam which would deflect off the surface of Xeno to get them a firm location and then a scan beam array would be sent out. This advanced scan would give them information on all aspects of the station.

“Captain, we are not able to ping Xeno. The pinging beam is going thru it as if it does not exist”.

Captain’s suspicion of this whole thing being a trap started to grow. He glanced on the left screen which was showing Ari. She was getting very worrisome.

“Ari ?” thundered the Captain. His suspicion of Ari was growing by the second. He was beginning to repent for helping her.

“Captain, I can see another space station in a distance. It is now coming up on the central screen in the left corner.” Adam informed.

“Adam, what’s’ happening?”

“Checking, Captain.”

 “I see yet another station. This is mind boggling. What’s happening Adam?” Captain Viz was on his wits end, not understanding what was happening.

Soon they passed the original Xeno – of course, which was nothing, and now had two more space stations in the distance.

As the 191 moved towards the new Xeno – it seemed to be trapped in a circle of many space stations. The strangest thing was that they were not getting any pings established. These were mere images in thin air. But the chance of their being real could not be ruled out. This complex situation perplexed the crew and only added to their worry that they could be attacked. This indeed was a way to confuse and trap the 191 and capture it. Ari was the mastermind.

“Captain….”Ari wanted to say something.

“No Ari !! I don’t want to hear anything.” Shouted the Captain back at her. “I now know of your sinister plan to take my ship and my crew as prisoners. You laid a trap and led me by your story. Let me now show you how we Earth Humans can defend ourselves and win over our adversaries.”

“Adam, prepare to launch attack in all directions” order Captain.

“No Captain.. No Captain.. please don’t do that.. I have been truthful. There must be something here…” cried Ari.

“Just a minute Captain.. we have an incoming message.” announced Adam. Ari and Captain both looked perplexed.

An image of a man wearing a robe, the same colors as Ari’s, appeared on the screen.

“Hello, my name is Moser…I am the chief of Xeno. We are in receipt of the message from Ari. We would like to know if she is fine”

“Yes, Chief, I am fine, and this spaceship is from Earth. They are helping me reach Xeno” interjected Ari. “Arthe backstabbed us and attacked us despite a treaty. Captain, please also send the same introductory message. They will know.”

“But we cannot seem to see Xeno. We have been surrounded by..err..multiple images of Xeno” Captain Viz replied – still perplexed by the whole thing.

“We wanted to make sure that it was not a hoax or a trap and to make sure that it was not a threat, we had to deploy our Holographic Security Mechanism. Xeno has moved away and created a holographic image of itself in a circular fashion. We are outside of this circle of images, monitoring your every move, to be able to safeguard ourselves.” Chief Moser informed. 

“You are all clear to approach Xeno and let go of Ari’s ship to enable its docking with Xeno.” Continued the Chief.

Chief Moser provided the coordinates of Xeno. Adam charted the course to it and as they neared it, they let Ari go. Ari was on her way to Xeno – her new home.

“Thank you, Captain. Your help to Arnon will never be forgotten. I and my child will be indebted to you forever for saving us.” Ari said thanking the Captain.

“Ari, we wish you the very best and also pray that you are able to take back Arnon and return it to its glorious past. All the best.” Captain Viz bid her adieu.

“Adam, that indeed was a scare – the space station was there but not there, as if it was a …”

“Mirage” Adam said matter-of-factly.

Captain Viz smiled wryly.

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