Science Fiction:

Soar

by Sajitha Prematunge

Summary

Fotan, an over populated colony of a former empire, never thought that they would be able to build their home buried deep in the ice of the comet Icera. But they have. However the castaways of Icera, on their perpetual whirl around the universe, will always yearn for a stable planet to call home.

After centuries of exploration, to their exhilaration, they detect a planet capable of sheltering life. But the inhabitants of the alien world possess technology. And with technology comes destruction. In fact there was already signs of an ongoing war.

The Icerans may loose their only chance of landing on a planet for at least another 150,000 years. Pressed with time they decide to send reconnaissance robots, only to behold a scene of war among spaceships and some wired flying beings.

When Centrino turned around a silver sphere was hovering just above his head. He staggered back in mid air and almost toppled to the ground as his bulky wings couldn't cope with sudden turns. It did not look like any of the other assault weapons of the enemy. But Centrino didn't want to take any chances. he blasted the silver sphere with his ray gun.

The smoke momentarily covered his vision but when it cleared he saw the sphere hanging there unharmed. Before Centrino could even flinch, he felt the phere intervene his thoughts.

'We come in peace' it communicated in a strange robotic voice. Centrino felt as if he was being hypnotized. But he also knew, some how, that this silver sphere, what ever they may be, weren't the enemy. A sudden blast over head broke the trance.

And with great difficulty he made himself abandon the phere and returned to his companions who were in need of his help.

Dell, the controller of the silver sphere on the bridge of Icera manoeuvred the phere to show a picture of a gruesome war in mid air. The helpless flying beings were no match for the great ships of their enemies.

Although few in number the great space ships were in possession of extremely powerful and technologically advanced assault weapons. 'We must help them Commander.' said Dell. 'We cannot. Not without knowing whom we're protecting.'

'Look they are retreating.' said another officer of the bridge. 'But they are still attacking them....' exclaimed Dell. 'That at least should be a worthy cause Commander.' he said looking at the Commander. Only able to rely on themselves, the Icerans had developed their own technology over the Millenias, which was unsurpassed.

And the Icerans could have easily taken the space ships out. But the Commander knew by experience that getting involved in others wars only brought trouble to his own kind. 'Fine...' he said making up his mind.

'Fire a warning shot and if it doesn't work, bring down one at a time.' As ordered the ammunition officer fired a warning shot. The powerful ray whizzed passed one of the space ships.

It fired back but it did not have any effect on the sphere what so ever. But then the other space ships started firing at the sphere as well. The image coming over the camera of the sphere started to crackle and fuzz. 'Take one out.' ordered the Commander. The officer did as he was told.

Centrino knew that he would die. The space ship was heading towards him, there was no way they would miss. And the last thing he remembered was hearing a blast from behind the spaceship.

When he opened his eyes he was face up on the grassland with a silver sphere hovering right over his head. His instincts told him to reach for his weapon. But he realized that he couldn't even move. 'We come in peace' The Commander spoke from the bridge, but Centrino could only see a silver sphere.

'What are you?' said Centrino weakly, hoping that the sphere would understand his language. 'We are Icerans came the answer.' To Centrinos comfort. So they can understand each other.

'I owe my life to you...' Said Centrino trying to get up. 'How can I repay you?' 'We are castaways of the distant planet of Fotan.' Captain started relating the story of his ancestors to this strange being. 'We come in peace, but we are badly in need of help. The Comet is over populated and our food sources are no longer able to keep up with the growing demand...'

There was an eerie silence and then Centrino said 'At least you were civilized enough to ask and you did save my life. Come I will take you to our base.' Centrino pulled himself out with great difficulty, flapped his wings to test if he could still fly and lifted swiftly off the ground. He looking down at the sphere he said. 'Icerans welcome to Soar.' 'Fitting name for a world of flying beings.' said the Commander to the officers at the bridge.

The sphere followed Centrino over the grassland and found themselves at the foot hills of a magnificent mountain.

'From here on it's straight up. Can you manage?' he asked from the sphere almost sarcastically and shot straight up.

The sphere followed. When they came to the peak Centrino said 'Behold the great base of Soar, impenetrable and unescapable.' The scene over the peak left the Icerans dumbfounded.

It was some sort of a crater, the peaks of which penetrated the clouds of Soar. And on ground were lines and lines of prisoners, the enemies the inhabitants of Soar were fighting and, indeed the Icerans helped to defeat. They were humans, the great ancestors of the Fotans, ancestors of Icerans, humans of the Great Empire.

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